St. Mark School
A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
St. Mark School is a Christ-centered learning environment that teaches Gospel values and fosters academic excellence. Aware of the dignity and uniqueness of all students, we are committed to the spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, and physical development of each child.

February 2, 2020
Dear St. Mark Families,
 
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. Because Simeon and Anna lived lives of prayer and fasting in the Temple, they were filled with the Spirit of God. As partners in your child's Catholic Education, we too are called to recognize Jesus as Lord.

At St. Mark School we pride ourselves on our dedication to service. In just this past week alone, our school community has collected canned goods, new winter hats, and warm socks to donate to those less fortunate. Our students created individual Valentines and prayer cards for elderly parishioners of St. Mark Church and those that are home-bound. This week, I encourage you to take time together as a family discuss ways to recognize Jesus as Lord by praying and attending Mass, fasting, and serving others.


Yours In Christ,
Melissa Warner
National Catholic Schools Week affords us an opportunity to celebrate the gift of Catholic Education. This week, we recognized our students, faculty and staff, our parish, our community, our families, and our faith. Check out just some of the many highlights of the week!
School/Home Communication

In an effort to expand upon the positive relationships and open communication between classroom teachers and parents, each classroom teacher will be sending brief email communications to keep you up to date on what your child is learning and doing in our classrooms on a weekly basis. We hope you find these updates informative and meaningful as we continue to partner in your child's education. Please check your email inbox weekly for these important updates!
St. Mark School Testimonials!

Read what our current families, alumni parents, alumni, and stakeholders have to share about why they love St. Mark School!
Class of 2020

Congratulations to students from St. Mark School's Class of 2020 on their acceptance to Notre Dame Catholic High School, Fairfield Class of 2024!

Ryan Blake
Ryan Darcy
Daniel Feliciano
Naia Harmon
Matthew Krekoska
Justin Tayman

To date, the class of 2020 has been awarded $106,000 in academic and/or merit scholarship monies to Catholic High Schools! The outstanding academic achievements of our graduating class is a clear reflection of how truly prepared our students are to excel as they continue on in their academic careers. Congratulations!
2019-2020 Annual Fund Update

The Annual Fund is St. Mark School’s largest fundraiser and the proceeds go directly toward supporting the operating costs of the school. Our goal is to continue to offer academic excellence at an affordable tuition. St. Mark School believes in teaching to the heart, mind, and soul of each child and is blessed with the talent, time, and energy of wonderful educators.  

We are profoundly grateful for our faculty, grandparents, current parents and School Advisory Board who give so generously to St. Mark School Annual Fund. Your generosity allows us to grow and thrive and breathes life into our mission. Whether you are an annual giver or are considering giving for the first time, ­­­­­your gift to the Annual Fund is an investment in Catholic education. Thank you!

To help us reach our goal of raising $12,000 for this year's annual fund, please click  here  to visit our school website and give online.

Gifts to St. Mark School are tax deductible to the extent provide by law and are eligible for matched giving.

Percent of Annual Fund Participation
Grade

Grade 8 - 25%
Grade 7 - 14%
Grade 6 - 5%
Grade 5 - 14%
Grade 4 - 11%
Grade 3 - 8%
Grade 2 - 2%
Grade 1 - 8%
Grade K - 5%
Grade PK - 8%
Constituents

School Advisory Board - 100%
Faculty/Staff - 81%
Current Parents - 19%
Grandparents - 7%
The Annual Fund makes a difference in the lives of our students. It's not the size of the gift that matters, it's your participation. Thank you!
Cold and Flu Season

In an effort to keep our school community healthy, please consider keeping sick students home when cold, flu, or strep throat symptoms appear.

As a reminder to our school policy, students must be free from fever, diarrhea, or vomiting for 24 hours before they can return to school.

Catholic Schools Week
Thank you!

As we close another extremely successful Catholic Schools Week, I would like to take this opportunity to share how truly blessed we are at St. Mark School to have such a dedicated, passionate, and energetic group of students, faculty, staff, advisory board, and parent community who exemplify this years theme:

Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.

To read a personal letter of gratitude for the gift of Catholic Education from Dr. Steven Cheeseman, click here. Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools Annual Report for the year 2018-2019 can be found here.
Open House Lawn Signs
A great big, THANK YOU to those who helped promote our Open House by posting a sign!

Please return your lawn sign to school with your child or return it to the Main Office and consider exchanging it for a St. Mark Pride sign that can be displayed year round!
Bishop's Scholarship Fund

Bishop’s Scholarship Fund (BSF) provides tuition assistance to help families afford a Catholic Education. 

Applications are now being accepted!   

All families with students in next year's grades Kindergarten-Grade 8 are eligible to apply.

Families with multiple children registered in a Catholic School are automatically awarded a scholarship, regardless of income.

Families apply online via FACTS Grant & Aid, making certain to complete all questions regarding BSF, submit supporting documentation and the $30 FACTS processing fee.

Application requires the entire 2018 IRS Federal tax return along with 2019 W2s. If applicants do not receive W-2s, then they must submit 2019 tax return. 
  • Deadline to apply - March 15 for current families; April 15 for new families 
  • Award notifications - Early May for current families; Late May for new families 

Reporting Absences

Per St. Mark School's Student and Parent Handbook, parents are responsible for calling Nurses' Office at (203) 386-1955 before 8:30am to report an absence from school. Parents are asked not to take students on vacations while school is in session. It is the responsibility of parents to communicate absences with the Main Office.
Click here for St. Mark School's 2019-2020 Student and Parent Handbook. Absence policy can be found on page 11.
Children's Educational Opportunity Foundation of Connecticut, Inc.

Since 1995, Children's Educational Opportunity Foundation of Connecticut, Inc. (CEO), has been awarding scholarship monies to families residing in Bridgeport, Hartford, East Hartford, and New Haven who strive to have equal access to quality education for their children.


CEO will provide half of the annual tuition – up to a maximum of $2,100 per academic year.
Guidelines:
 
  • Students must reside in Bridgeport, Hartford, East Hartford or New Haven and live in the home of the applicant parent or guardian.
 
  • Students may enter CEO between grades K-5.
 
  • Renewing students may be supported through grade 8.
 
  • Families may choose any accredited private or parochial school in Connecticut.

Online applications will be available on www.ceoct.org beginning on March 2, 2020 for the 2020-2021 school year!
Please visit our school website regularly at www.stmarkschool.org . Important school updates including copies of notices, newsletters, HSA links, and school calendars can all be accessed on the website.

Please also visit our social media pages for updates on our school community.
Dates: At A Glance
February 3rd: Father's Club Meeting, 8pm

February 7th: First Friday Mass

February 11th: HSA Meeting, 7pm

February 13th: Dress Down Day $1 (rescheduled from January)

February 14th: No School

February 17th: No School, Presidents' Day

February 20th: Dress Down Day $1

February 20th: Snack Shop

February 21st: Robotics

February 26th: Ash Wednesday
St. Mark School | 203-375-4291 |  www.stmarkschool.org
500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford, CT 06614
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Luke 2:40