Science, Sustainability, & Art at St. Mark's
Dr. Luigi Bundone, a multilingual conservationist from Italy who has been partnering with Barbara Putnam and students in the St. Mark's studio art classes, spoke to the entire School community on Thursday, December 2, 2021. In his interactive Gray Colloquium presentation, Dr. Bundone shared the challenges of research and data gathering in his efforts to monitor and protect the Mediterranean monk seal, a species for which he has developed the first digital catalogue system of photo identification.
Image by Al Williams Photography
NEW THIS WEEK
Academics News
NEW: Assessment Week December 13-16, 2021
Each December, St. Mark's conducts an assessment period which accommodates the diverse needs of advancing coursework before winter break. The assessment period starts Monday morning, December 13, and runs through Thursday afternoon, December 16. Each student's class has been allotted a two-hour block of time for meaningful academic engagement. Depending on the course, class work may be in the form of a cumulative test, project-based work, writing workshop, or some other activity or assessment. Please also note that we build a reading block into the schedule on Wednesday morning to allow students time for preparation and extra help. Students may depart for winter break following their final academic or athletic commitment.
To view the Assessment Week Schedule, click here.
Athletic News
NEW: Important Athletics Health & Safety protocols for Winter
On Tuesday, December 1, Head of School John C. Warren '74 outlined the St. Mark's Athletics Health & Safety protocols in an email here. Please take a moment to read this email carefully. An excerpt from this email follows:
"The ISL has carefully examined the protocols of each member school and shared expectations for each school's competitions with the St. Mark’s Athletic Department, including all of our coaches. As part of our overall risk management, we will require all spectators to wear masks when indoors and adhere to the vaccination requirement in our visitor policy. This applies to all visitors, including guests associated with visiting schools, family members and friends of St. Mark’s students, as well as St. Mark’s students. If you are unable to adhere to our protocols, we request that you please refrain from attending the related event(s).
The attestation required for our visitors, including spectators, includes a set of questions about vaccination status and symptoms of COVID-19. This process is similar to the one we had in place for Family Weekend and that we have utilized for campus visitors this fall. Signs articulating our visitor policy will be posted at the entrances to our athletic facilities. These signs will include a QR code so visitors can provide attestation if they have not already provided that information to the School."
Dean of Students News
NEW: Ms. Caron is the New Interim Director of Residential Life
Maggie Caron is now serving as the interim director of residential life in the Dean of Students Office. She is taking over this position from Mr. Chiasson, who helped out temporarily in the Dean's Office this fall. Any questions about housing or residential life should be directed to Ms. Caron, and in the same manner, requests or questions concerning permissions should be sent to Ms. Caron at margaretcaron@stmarksschool.org or Ms. Allen at stacieallen@stmarksschool.org. We are happy to have Ms. Caron join the SM Dean Team!
NEW: Winter Break Transportation Information
St. Mark’s will be providing bus transportation to New York City and shuttles to airports for the winter break. Please see the transportation dates and times below. The deadline to sign up is Friday, December 10, at 4:00 p.m. If you have questions, please contact Stacie Allen at stacieallen@stmarksschool.org.
Thursday, December 16 - 4:00 p.m. shuttle to Logan
Friday, December 17 - 10:00 a.m. shuttle to Logan
Friday, December 17 - 9:30 a.m. bus to NYC/CT
Friday, December 17 - 12:00 p.m. shuttle to Logan (if needed)
Please note: Houses close at 1:00 p.m. on December 17, 2021.
Tuesday, January 4 - 9:30 a.m. bus from NYC/Conn.
Tuesday, January 4 - Noon bus from Logan
Tuesday, January 4 - 3:00 p.m. bus from Logan
Tuesday, January 4 - 6:00 p.m. bus from Logan
Transportation will be charged to the Lion Card: $100 each way to Conn./NYC and $35 each way to Logan Airport. Please provide 24-hour cancellation notice, or you will be charged.
Weekend Activities
NEW: Weekend Activities at St. Mark's School - December 4 & 5
What's up this weekend? This weekend's campus activities include:
- A Hanukkah party, gingerbread houses & cards for hospitalized Kids (CFHK is an international charitable organization)
- Movie and Thinkfast trivia, holiday music bingo, and broomball
- Trips to the MFA and the Natick Mall
Upcoming On-Campus Event News
UPDATE: First Wellness Day at St. Mark's this Saturday, December 4
The First Wellness Day at St. Mark's takes place tomorrow! Students will participate in a variety of workshops and activities designed to promote physical, mental, and emotional well being and help St. Markers understand how to become the best versions of themselves.
On Saturday, December 4, our St. Mark's community has the opportunity to choose between two keynote presentations, one on Building a Better Body Culture and another on Anxiety in Athletics. The keynote presentations will run between 9:30 and 10:15 a.m. Students will then have a 15-minute transition period to move to a smaller group session, where they can explore a variety of wellness activities and workshops. You can view a complete list of activities and workshops here.
NEW: Bookstore Open for Evening Holiday Shopping December 7 & 9
The Bookstore will stay open until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7, and Thursday, December 9, for families to shop in-person.
NEW: Lessons and Carols on Thursday, December 9
St. Mark's School's Service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas will take place on Thursday, December 9, at 6:15 p.m. Please join the St. Mark's School Choir and Orchestra for a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas! NOTE: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the in-person service is for students and faculty only. Parents, alumni and the public are invited to watch via live stream by clicking on the link here.
The service will include the traditional lessons as well as music with harp from Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" and pieces by Rütti and Joubert, as well as an original work by Director of Music James Wallace.
NEW: School Portrait Orders & Picture Retake Day, December 14
On November 19, Coffee Pond Photography emailed instructions to families on how to order your student’s school portraits. If you did not receive this information via email, please contact their Customer Care Department directly for assistance by phone at 800-632-2323 ext. 0 or by email at lifeguards@coffeepond.com. Please be sure to have your spam blocker set to accept emails from lifeguards@coffeepond.com.
Picture Retake Day will be Tuesday, December 14, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Lion's Den for those who were absent.
Parents' Association News
NEW: Philanthropy Days, December 7 & 8
Celebrate St. Mark’s return to campus during SM Philanthropy Days! Help create a flurry of support with your Annual Fund gift during SM Philanthropy Days and unlock a substantial donation when the community joins together to benefit St. Mark’s School. An anonymous donor will make a $100 gift to the School for every gift made here before the end of the day on December 8.
That’s $100 added to your gift, $1,000 for every 10 gifts, and $5,000 for every 50 gifts! Imagine the snowfall of generosity if 500 donors give during SM Philanthropy Days. Be on the lookout for more details in upcoming emails.
UPDATE: Answer the Call! Parent Phonathon, December 6-8
The Parent Phonathon will take place Monday, December 6, to Wednesday December 8. This is a crucial part of raising funds to support our students, so please be sure to answer the phone when a parent volunteer calls.
We could still use a few more volunteers. If you can help out on those nights, or at other times, please sign up here.
NEW: Exam Bake Returns on December 14
We need parent volunteers to help make this event a success! Our students love the healthy snacks and sweet treats that parents provide. If you can help, please contact Gage Gillis at gagegillis@stmarksschool.org.
Health and Safety & COVID-19 Updates
NEW: Important Health & Safety Protocols Update
If you have not done so already, please read the emails to the community this week from Head of School John C. Warren '74 available here. They outline important changes made this week by the Health and Safety Task Force.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
REMINDER: Class of 2024, Practice ACT Exam on December 11
Parents and students, please read this form. To provide students with the opportunity to experience the other major standardized test used in college admissions, we will be offering IV Formers a practice ACT exam on Saturday, December 11, at 8:00 a.m. (There is no St. Mark’s Saturdays programming that day, and students who take the practice test will not miss any School commitments.) Giving students an opportunity to experience both SAT- and ACT-style standardized tests at this relatively early stage allows us to help them assess whether one test better suits their learning and/or testing style and to more intentionally guide their testing plans moving forward. Students will receive an email with a link to sign up.
REMINDER: Volunteers Needed to Decorate for Lessons & Carols
This year, our beloved tradition of Lessons and Carols will be held in the Putnam Family Arts Center's Class of '45 Hall on Thursday, December 9, and we need your inspiration and assistance. If you are interested in designing and decorating the space in a holiday style, please contact Head Chaplain Barbara Talcott at barbaratalcott@stmarksschool.org. We need all the help we can get, so any assistance is appreciated.
REMINDER: Parent/Faculty/Staff Book Club Wednesday, December 8
The December meeting of the St. Mark’s Parent/Faculty/Staff Book Club will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, December 8, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. (EST) Please note the new, earlier start time! The title selected for our December discussion is House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III.
Additional suggested titles:
The January book title for discussion will be selected at the end of this meeting by those in attendance.
REMINDER: VI Form Parents, Purchase a Recognition Ad
Looking for a way to celebrate your graduating VI Former? Purchase a recognition advertisement in the yearbook! They make great birthday, holiday, or graduation presents that last a lifetime. The deadline is January 31, 2022.
Please see this form for more information and to order.
REMINDER: The Fall Issue of LEO: St. Mark's Academic Journal
The editorial team recently shared the Fall 2021 issue of LEO, which features prize winners from last spring and the work of other St. Markers.
REMINDER: No St. Mark's Saturdays Classes in December
Please note that St. Mark's Saturdays courses do not meet in December, and the winter season will begin on January 8, 2022. Winter St. Mark's Saturdays class dates are: January 8, 22, 29; February 5, 12, 26; and March 5, 2022.
REMINDER: Essential Dates Calendar
REMINDER: Please Notify Health Services of Health Related Absences
Parents should notify Health Services (particularly in the mornings), of any health related student absences, missed classes or St. Mark’s commitments.
REMINDER: Health and Safety & COVID-19 Updates
- Marlborough Hospital is offering free, drive-through PCR testing with a quick turnaround, should your family need a PCR test.
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Important messages from Head of School John C. Warren ’74, and additional details pertaining to COVID-19, can be found on our website.
REMINDER: Previous Deans' Weekly Newsletters
All Deans' Weekly newsletters can be found here on our website.
Upcoming Events
Monday-Wednesday, December 6-8
Parent Phonathon
Please answer the phone when a parent volunteer calls.
Tuesday-Wednesday, December 7-8
SM Philanthropy Days
Help create a flurry of support with your Annual Fund gift.
Thursday, December 9
Lessons and Carols
6:15-7:15 p.m. EST
Save the date for a time-honored St. Mark’s tradition!
Everyone can enjoy this event through the livestream link here.
Recent News Stories
To read the recent news story about the St. Mark's Fall Athletics Awards, click here.
You can read all St. Mark's news stories on our website here.
