I'm happy to share with you that our St. Mark School Pre-K through Grade 8 Open House Tours were an overwhelming success! A record 50 families reserved tours to visit our school and all were impressed with our welcoming community and everything our school has to offer. I'd like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to all who made the day possible, including our St. Mark School AMEN Team, our classroom teachers, specials teachers, parent and student ambassadors, for taking the time to share what makes our school community special with prospective new families.

I wish you all continued good health and God's blessings.

Registration for current St. Mark families is open for the 2021-2022 school year. Both the Current Family Registration form found here and the registration fee must be submitted for your registration to be complete. Both are due by Friday, February 5, 2021 and will reserve your child’s spot in next year’s class if returned by that date. Click here for 2021-2022 registration and tuition rates.

As you may know, we have had a lot of new families express interest in St. Mark School and we expect to have wait lists in multiple grades next year. We will begin accepting enrollment from new families after February 5, 2021.

Current families are strongly encouraged to complete registration for the 2021-2022 school year to hold your child's seat in their class before registration is opened to new families. Due to social distancing protocols, many of our current classes are at capacity, and we continue to receive inquiries in grades K through 8 for next school year.

For this 2020-2021 school year only, returning families with children in grades Kindergarten through Grade 8 that submit both the registration form and registration fee by February 5th will have up to 10 of the 30 required K- 8 family service hours deducted from their obligation for the 2020-2021 school year. This reduction in service hours applies to family hours only. Family service hours are not transferable year to year. Service hour obligations are not applicable to Little Lions Preschool families.

Applications Open Feb 1st!  

Deadline to apply

With the chance of snow forecasted this week, I would like to take this opportunity to remind St. Mark families of our 2020-2021 weather related delayed openings and early dismissal plans.

When Stratford Public Schools call a weather related school cancellation, it is the policy of the Board of Education Transportation Department that buses do not run that day. This includes buses for St. Mark School.

If Stratford Public School calls a delayed start or early dismissal, it will be posted and announced as usual, regardless of whether Stratford Public School students are in-person or remote learning. Buses will run for St. Mark School on delayed start or early dismissal days independent of the public schools' mode of learning.

Any weather related school cancellations after January 4th, 2021, St. Mark School will transition to remote learning via Google Meet and Google Classroom.

Remote learning snow days will follow an early dismissal schedule with school hours from 8am-12pm. This adjustment will meet the state mandated 4 hour minimum that constitutes a school day while still giving children an opportunity to enjoy the snow and adults time to clean up snow!

On remote learning snow days, students will receive a combination of synchronous instruction via Google Meet and asynchronous assignments via Google Classroom. Classroom teachers will provide students and parents a "snow day" schedule via email. Specials classes will post asynchronous assignments depending on the day of the week and individual specials schedules. As snow day cancellations are sometimes unpredictable, our teachers have curated various resources to enhance their instruction without depending on traditional textbooks that may be in classrooms and not available on a snow day.

In the case of a school cancellation, delay, or unplanned early dismissal, you be contacted by our emergency alert system via phone call, text message, and email to the primary contact information provided to the Main Office. Please contact Mrs. Mannino cmannino@stmarkschool.org with any updates to your contact information.

If there is a delayed opening St. Mark School will open at 9:30 a.m. with class beginning at 9:45 a.m.

If school closes early for weather related reasons, dismissal will be at 11:25 a.m. Parents will be alerted through our emergency alert system. Our After School Program will not be held when there is early dismissal due to weather or emergencies.

Although this year, Catholic Schools Week may look a little different, we are grateful and blessed to be together in celebration of Catholic education. The faculty, staff and I are grateful for our St. Mark students and their families and I am proud to share with you how grateful our students are for their Catholic Education. Please click this link to hear what Catholic education means to the students of St. Mark School.

Sunday, January 31st: Open House School Tours

by reservation only, 10am-12pm

Monday, February 1st: Silly Sock/Silly Hat Day

Tuesday, February 2nd: Student Appreciation Day

Wednesday, February 3rd: Care and Share Day

Thursday, February 4th: Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day

Friday, February 5th: Mass with Bishop Caggiano

Models in Christ is a new social and emotional learning program created by Ms. Flynn, school counselor, that is based on the Catholic Theological Virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Students in grades K through 8 will be recognized for demonstrating the character trait that is highlighted each month such as respect, kindness, responsibility/accountability, citizenship, perseverance, and trustworthiness.

Our vision is that this program will teach students the value of strong moral character and the positive impact of their actions do not go unnoticed. Our faculty and staff would like to recognize students who embody the ideals of St. Mark School through actions and attitude; those students who go above and beyond inside the classroom and school community to show they are models of Christ.

On Friday, the following students were recognized by having their name announced and presented with an award and commemorative gold cross pin.

If there is a change to your child's dismissal, parents are asked to send a note into school with your child in the morning. You can also contact Mrs. Mannino at cmannino@stmarkschool.org or (203) 375-4291.

Please call the Main Office at the number above prior to pick-up, to allow enough time for the classroom teacher and your child to gather and pack-up his or her belongings in advance of your arrival.

Any student being dismissed early from school is requested to be picked up no later than 1:50pm.

St. Mark School will be following recommendations of the Stratford Public School Nursing Department regarding Valentine's Day card exchange. The recommendations are simple to follow and allow for students to enjoy some normalcy in a safe way.

Any questions or concerns please feel free to contact our school nurse, Wendy Frate, RN via phone 203-375-4291 or email fratew@stratk12.org

Our January Scholastic Book Fair is online! Support our school and help your child discover new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more! You'll love the fun new option to shop for Book Fair exclusives directly from the interactive booklist and enjoy free shipping on book-only purchases over $25.

Our interactive Virtual Book Fair empower kids by letting them browse and choose books in the fun and interactive way. Children can experience the joy of book cases, characters, view exclusive book trailers and curated reading lists, and shop over 200 hot, new books and premium titles in a safe and virtual experience.

Click here to shop St. Mark School's Scholastic Book Fair today!

Help support and expand your child's classroom library by purchasing and donating a book from the classroom wish list found here.

This week, students in grade 4 created masterpieces using pointillism in Art class. Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image made famous by Georges Seurat.

In-person and Distance Learning Grade 1 students explored place value during their Personalized Learning Math block this week. Students worked independently, with a partner, and in teacher-led small groups to count by 10’s and then by 1’s to make 2-digit numbers.

During their Reading Personalized Learning Block, Grade 6 students worked in small groups to create visual presentations as a culminating activity of their Graphic Novel unit.

Grade 7 students have been focused all year on motivation, positive self-talk, goal setting, and gratitude. Over the past week, students created original motivational postcards to encourage themselves and each other. Each post card is displayed on a classroom bulletin board.

If you have a prayer intention, please submit your request to St. Mark School's prayer line by clicking here. Your intention will be remembered during our Afternoon Prayers and Announcements.

For Parish information, visit: https://www.saintmarkchurchstratford.org/

For important information and updates on COVID-19, visit the

Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools website

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.