In the daily activities of family life, we can easily find excuses for not attending to our spiritual lives. If not given top priority, prayer can become an occasional activity rather than daily practices. During today's homily, Deacon Kurmay asked St. Mark students to continue to pray for the holy souls in purgatory during the month of November. He poignantly explained that we can help departed souls complete their preparation for heavenly life through our prayers, good work, and the offering of Mass. We can look forward to meeting those grateful and happy those souls that we prayer for when we meet them in Heaven.

I encourage families to recite the following prayer for the faithful departed in purgatory, that they their souls can be cleansed and perfected so that they may enter into heaven.

Academic Honor Roll Eligibility

(Diocesan policy 2.204)

In accordance with Diocesan Policy 2.204 and as outlined in the 2021-2022 Parent/Student Handbook, the quarterly academic honor roll is applicable to students in Grades 6-8. The following criteria is used to determine academic honors:

Monday, November 1st, our school community celebrated The Solemnity of All Saints. In keeping with our St. Mark tradition, Grade 2 students presented their saint research project and dressed as their chosen saint. Students were recognized by Father Russ during Mass as St. Mark parishioners guessed the names of each 2nd Grade saint.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our HSA leadership: Mr. Averaimo, Mr. Rosati, Mrs. Christoffersen, Monster Mash Committee Chairs: Mrs. LeMoine and Mrs. Szczerba, and the Monster Mash planning committee and parent volunteers for planning, setting up, and carrying out a fantastic event for our St. Mark students. I'm sorry to have missed what I heard was a fabulous event, my son and daughter had their own school sponsored Halloween celebration and loved showing off their witch and Mario costumes.

PlusPortals is the Diocesan Student Information Web Portal System available to all parents grades K-8. PlusPortals provides parents access to student grades, attendance, announcements, and teacher emails.

A feature has been added to parent's PlusPortal dashboard this year: e-locker. Parents of students in Grades 1 through 8 can find a PDF copy of the 21-22 Quarter 1 Progress Reports sent home via backpack mail last week in the e-locker. Moving forward, all progress reports for each quarter will be shared with parents via PlusPortals. For Quarter 1, Report Cards will be sent home via backpack mail as well as uploaded to PlusPortals.

For our new families and Kindergarten families, you should have received an email from PlusPortals with an activation link to the primary email address provided on your child's emergency contact form in September. If you did not receive an activation link email from PlusPortals, please email Mrs. Mannino at cmannino@stmarkschool.org.

Any returning family that needs PlusPortals activation resent, please email Mrs. Mannino at the email address above.

Winter uniforms begin on Monday, November 1, 2021. Boys in Grades 1-8 are required to wear button down shirts and ties. As a friendly reminder, sweatshirts are not permitted to be worn in class. The only exception to this rule is for our Grade 8 students who may wear their Class and/or High School sweatshirts. Please click here to review the Winter Uniform Requirements. Please note, shorts of any kind are not a part of the winter uniform policy.

If you have any Dress Code questions, please contact Mrs. Mannino.

While we are happy to return to our hot lunch partnership with Sodexo Food Services, the success of our program depends on our parent volunteers who are responsible for sorting and distributing hot lunch meals to students.

Hot Lunch Volunteers still needed on a regular daily schedule from 11:30am-1:00pm. Hot Lunch Volunteers earn 2 hour HSA volunteer credit per shift.

If you are able to help please email HomeSchoolAssociation@stmarkschool.org for further details.

This week, St. Mark School's Cross Country team participated in a Diocesan Athletics Association meet at Seaside Park.

Francesca, Grade 8

Avery, Grade 7

Sofia P., Grade 6

Emmett, Grade 6

Amelia, Grade 6

Anna, Grade 6

Sara G., Grade 6

Maeve, Grade 6

Michael F., Grade 4

Our runners finished a 1.8 mile run against two other Diocesan elementary schools, with some awards to show for it!  Congratulations to the entire team!

Please be advised that Mrs. Mannino continues to contact families who have not yet returned the following forms:

If you have not yet returned the required policy forms, please contact Mrs. Mannino cmannino@stmarkschool.org. Thank you for your diligence on this matter!

As always, “it takes a village” and we appreciate any and all support. Please contact me at mwarner@stmarkschool.org. Thank you!

Help us promote our Open House by posting a yard sign! If you live on a busy road or have a business, please let us know. You can stop by the main office to pick up a yard sign or give us the address and we’ll post it for you!

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.

Don't use social media? Not to worry...Our social media posts feed to our school website home page!