Health Services
NEW: Just Released! Health & Insurance Forms
In preparation for the 2021-2022 school year, please complete both the Health Form and Insurance Form packets by July 1.
If you have any questions regarding the Insurance Forms Packet, please contact Jack Clemens, controller, by email at
controller@stmarksschool.org.
NEW: Important Message Regarding COVID-19 Vaccinations
Parents and Guardians received an
important message regarding COVID-19 vaccinations on
Thursday, May 27, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. EDT. To view this email,
select this link.
REMINDER: Vaccine Waiver and Release
A waiver and release regarding St. Mark's COVID-19 vaccination requirements for 2021-2022 will be sent on Monday, May 24. Please sign and return the waiver and release by June 18, 2021.
REMINDER: Documentation of COVID-19 Vaccine Immunizations
Please submit a copy of your student’s vaccination card if they have received the COVID-19 vaccine. These copies should be submitted by emailing Director of Health Services Adria Pavletic at adriapavletic@stmarksschool.org.
Campus News
NEW: Important Move-Out Updates
- VI Formers must be out by 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, after the Prize Day Ceremony.
- Underformers must move out by noon on Friday, May 28.
- Students may have up to two family members/guardians assist them with moving out.
Academics News
NEW: Window Four Grades and Advisor Letters
Grades for Window 4 will be available in the Parent Portal on Tuesday, June 8. Please be reminded that there will be no narrative comments accompanying Window 4 grades. As is our custom, advisors will be composing advisor letters as a summation of each student's progress in the second semester. As in the past, these letters will be sent digitally. Our current target for delivery is Thursday, June 17.
NEW: Summer Reading Materials Now Available!
A note from Dean of Academics Nat Waters:
Dear St. Mark’s Families,
We believe strongly in the goal of maintaining intellectual engagement in the summertime. Our standard advice to students is not to preview material and study ahead for upcoming courses. In some cases, it may be necessary to pursue enrichment and reinforce topics covered in the previous year. We hope that all students will prioritize reading widely and pursuing activities rooted in curiosity. Summer is an ideal time for interests that students may not have enough time and space to explore during the school year and to pick up new ideas and projects. Ultimately, this is the foundation upon which we build a community of lifelong learners.
At St. Mark’s, we are committed to doing the work of creating a more just, global society, and look forward to unpacking the complexities of systemic racism, COVID-19, and many more challenging issues together this fall in thoughtful dialogue. We offer this curated list of required and elective resources to our students to push them to consider how they might contribute to these conversations, and also find a selection or two (or ten) to add to their own bookshelves or e-readers this summer.
Here’s to a healthy and productive summer. I wish you happy learning!
Sincerely,
Nat Waters
Dean of Academics
To download a printable .PDF regarding the Summer Reading resources and a note from Dean of Academics Nat Waters, select this link.
2021 Prize Day
REMINDER: IMPORTANT UPDATE
In previous communications about Prize Day events, we made note of a remote viewing location on campus to accommodate unregistered guests. After further examination of this plan, in the interest of the health and safety of the St. Mark’s community and our guests, the School has determined that it will not be possible to offer a remote viewing location for the ceremony on campus. The Class of 2020 diploma ceremony, Baccalaureate, and the Class of 2021 Prize Day ceremony will all be livestreamed.
As a reminder, registration is required for this year’s ceremony. Graduates are able to register up to six (6) guests. Because of the limited seating capacity in the tent, St. Mark’s must enforce the six-guest maximum for the Prize Day ceremony, as well as for Baccalaureate. Only registered guests will be allowed to attend these ceremonies. We are not able to accommodate requests for additional guests. If you need to make changes to your guest list, please email Marissa Papazian at marissapapazian@stmarksschool.org.
In addition, as we have communicated previously, St. Mark’s will require that all graduates, faculty and staff members, and guests wear masks at all Prize Day weekend ceremonies. Our decision to employ this protocol is driven by our continuing commitment to doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of everyone on our campus and is guided by advice from our consultants at EH&E. This protocol will remain in place whether or not any agency guidelines change between now and Prize Day.
REMINDER: VI Formers Placed on "Probationary-Like" Status
As of Friday, May 14, all VI Formers have been placed on a "probationary-like" status until after Prize Day. Any Level I, II, or III rule violation may jeopardize their privilege of attending Prize Day and/or possibly graduating from St. Mark's. This is something we have traditionally done for a number of years in order to keep VI Formers focused on Prize Day and finishing the year, and their St. Mark's careers, in a positive manner. Prize Day will be here before we know it and we ask that parents encourage students to make smart choices on and off campus as we approach the big day. We want everyone to have a wonderful few weeks culminating in receiving their diplomas.
Please refer to the Prize Day website for information about the upcoming celebration.
Prize Day Digital Swag & Printables
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about the upcoming Prize Day festivities? If so, please check out our new Frequently Asked Questions webpage. Be on the lookout for a registration email next week.
Schedule of Events:
- Cum Laude Induction Ceremony | Friday, May 28, 9:00 a.m.
- Class of 2020 & 2021 Dinner & Social | Friday, May 28, 6:00 p.m.
- Baccalaureate | Saturday, May 29, 8:00 p.m.
- Class of 2020 Diploma Ceremony | Saturday, May 29, 10:30 a.m.
- Class of 2021 - 156th Prize Day Ceremony | Sunday, May 30, 10:30 a.m.
For more information, please visit the Schedule page of the 2021 Prize Day website.
Admission & Business Office News
NEW: A Heartfelt Thank You
Dear Parents & Guardians,
As we near the end of school, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you for your ongoing commitment to St. Mark’s this year! This has been quite a journey and we are so grateful to all of you and your children for making the best out of a very difficult year. Some days were harder than others and there is light at the end of the tunnel as we think about the fall.
Thank you to all those who returned your enrollment deposits along with the enrollment contracts for the coming school year. We are looking forward to having your children back next year and we can’t wait to hear how the first year of college goes for our graduating VI Formers. We want you to know how much we value you and how much we appreciate you as continuing members of our St. Mark’s community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
-Anne Behnke, Admission Office & Rob Kuklewicz, Business Office
Parents' Association News
NEW: Parent-Faculty-Staff Book Club
Thank you for a wonderful year full of reading, discussion, and community.
The summer reading titles selected at our May meeting are:
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A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
-
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
-
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard
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Bravey by Alexi Pappas
Other titles currently on members’ nightstands:
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Circe by Madeline Miller
-
Hill Women: Finding Family and a Way Forward in the Appalachian Mountains by Cassie Chambers
-
Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk
-
The Son of Good Fortune by Lysley Tenorio
-
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
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We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson
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The Blue Sky by Galsan Tschinag, Katharina Rout (translator)
-
The Book of Last Names by Kristin Harmel
-
The Devil May Dance by Jake Tapper
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Monkey Boy by Francisco Goldman
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Writers and Lovers by Lily King
-
The Promised Land by Barack Obama
-
Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan
We are excited to introduce Shalini Yerabothu P ’20, ’23 as the book club's co-chair for the 2021-22 school year! Thank you, Shalini! We look forward to gathering in some form to discuss the summer reading titles at our first meeting of the 2021-2022 school year in October 2021.
Congratulations to the St. Mark’s School 2021 graduates and their parents/guardians. “Graduating” parents/guardians, if you no longer wish to receive these book club email notifications, email Joanne at joanne@flathersfamily.net with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line. Otherwise, we will happily send out these reminders to all who wish to continue to receive them.
