News from the St. Mark's Dean of Students, Dean of Academics, and Dean of Faculty
May 7, 2021
FEATURED IN VIDEO ABOVE: May 17 - Parent Speaker Series: State of the School, 7:30 p.m. EDT - Head of School John C. Warren ‘74 discusses highlights of the past year. Register here.
Health Services 

NEW: 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

NEW: Case of COVID-19 at St. Mark’s
St. Mark’s became aware of a case of COVID-19 in our community on May 5. The individual is a member of our adult community and is in isolation.
Our campus operation phase level will remain in Yellow. 
For the latest COVID-19 information and updates, visit our website.

Campus News

NEW: Remote Student Return to Day Student Status
We recently heard from our consultants at EH&E as part of an examination of our current protocols. They provided updated guidance which was accepted by our Health and Safety Task Force along with Head of School John Warren. Students who are currently remote who are fully vaccinated—that is, who have received their Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of their Moderna or Pfizer vaccine at least 14 days ago—are now eligible to participate in the St. Mark’s educational program as day students.

The process for fully vaccinated remote students to return to St. Mark’s as day students for the remainder of the 2020-2021 academic year is as follows:

1. Families should contact the Office of the Dean of Students to communicate their desire for their child to return to St. Mark’s as a day student. 

2. Families should contact Health Services to verify their student’s eligibility to return to campus as a day student.

3. St. Mark’s will check capacity in the classes of each student requesting day student eligibility to make sure there is room in each classroom for students who wish to return. 

4.  The Office of the Dean of Students will determine the appropriate date for the student to begin as a day student. Families should then contact Health Services to schedule a PCR test on campus.

Fully vaccinated remote students who wish to return as day students can begin this process at any time. Please contact the Office of the Dean of Students with any questions. 

NEW: Off-Campus Activities for Boarding Students 
Boarding students who are fully vaccinated can participate in off-campus activities without a 14-day quarantine and without having to obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test, beginning on Thursday, May 27. Beginning on this date, the campus will be de-densified to the point where the School is comfortable with vaccinated boarding students having this flexibility. The vaccination is essential to this process. Boarding students who are not vaccinated will not be eligible to leave campus before the end of the academic year. 

This decision was made in order to provide some flexibility for student visitation with families—for example, to leave campus for a meal with parents—as we approach the end of the academic year. Given the success rate of the COVID-19 vaccines to date and the fact that the boarding population of St. Mark’s will decrease significantly on May 27, we feel this is a safe and appropriate change. Please contact the Office of the Dean of Students with any questions about off-campus activities.

NEW: Eight from SM Attend White Privilege Conference
Eight St. Mark's faculty members attended the 2021 White Privilege Conference (WPC), held virtually this year from April 7-10. The conference, facilitated by The Privilege Institute (TPI), included workshops as well as keynote speeches by diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders including Robin DiAngelo, Fatima Cody Stanford, Linda Sarsour, and Joy Degruy. Read More.

NEW: Newest Cum Laude Inductees
Congratulations to these recent VI Formers who have achieved Cum Laude distinction:
  • Tommy Flathers
  • Tate Frederick
  • Brillon Joseph
  • Jake Oblak
  • Waverly Shi
  • Catie Summers
  • Oliver Tian
  • Richard Zhang

This year’s virtual Cum Laude Induction Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 28 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. More information coming soon.

NEW: Advisor Selection
Advisor Request Form went out to students on Friday. Check out the last year's LOOM video from the Deans’ Office focusing on the Advisor Selection Process. 
 
NEW: Housing Lottery
The housing lottery takes place in mid-May. All St. Markers should reach out with a classmate whom they feel they can room with for the coming academic year. While some singles may be available, they are first granted to House Prefects, followed by VI Formers. Most of our students have roommates for the duration of their time at St. Mark's. As the process nears, encouraging honesty and an open mind are very helpful. 
 
  • Step #1: May 10-15 - Students select someone of the same form as an intended roommate
  • Step #2: May 14 - All students select a lottery number to be used in the house selection process
  • Step #3: May 17 - Student who would like the opportunity to select a single participate in the singles lottery
  • Step #4: May 20 - Students not in singles participate in doubles house selection 

End of School Year & Underform (III, IV, V Form) Departure Dates
The last academic day of the 2020-2021 School Year is Thursday, May 27. Day students will depart campus after their last commitment, and move-out for boarding students will take place that afternoon and on the morning of Friday, May 28. More details will be shared in a separate communication with families.

Moving and Storage
Moving and storage will be provided for students through On Demand Storage. Families and students will receive a direct web link to secure services and packing materials will be provided for students using this service.

Day Student Weekend Access to Campus
As we move into the spring, we are gradually opening the campus inviting day students on weekends. Day students have been able to come to campus for morning practices and specific events. Here is the plan moving forward:

  • May 8 and 9: VI, V, and IV Form
  • May 15 and 16: All Forms
  • May 22 and 23: All Forms

Health checks and check-ins will take place during brunch and dinner as well as in the morning during athletic practices. Day students must be given a bracelet to be on campus for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Due to capacity limitations, day students cannot join smaller trips to locations such as Target, Chipotle, etc. 

2021 Prize Day 

NEW: Registration REQUIRED
Instructions on how to register for the 2021 Prize Day and Class of 2020 Diploma Ceremony were emailed directly to families on Monday, May 2.

Class of 2020 Diploma Ceremony

Class of 2021 Prize Day

Prize Day Digital Swag & Printables
To help the Class of 2021 celebrate their upcoming Prize Day, St. Mark's has curated a collection of digital swag and printables. Check out the graphics online and show your Lion Pride in all of your posts, stories, snaps, and yards until Prize Day and beyond. 

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:
  • 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 News

Spring Information Session | Saturday, May 8
Join us for our Spring Information Session via Zoom on Saturday, May 8,
from 9:00-9:45 a.m. EDT. This is an opportunity for prospective 2022-2023 school year applicants to connect with admission representatives and current students to learn more about a St. Mark's education. Register Now.
Athletics News

REMINDER: Return to Spring Competition & Game Day Family Member/Spectator Guidelines
A Note from Director of Athletics John Levandowski 
 
In conversation and coordination with the ISL athletic directors and heads of school, the following guidelines are in place to provide the safest environment for our student-athletes to compete, and the greatest likelihood for a successful and complete season.
 
Please refer to the Athletics website’s Upcoming Games page to confirm the weekly game schedule.
 
Game Day Visitor Guidelines
  • Home games are limited to two family members per player.
  • Family members/SM spectators are NOT allowed to attend away games.
  • Varsity home games will be filmed and made available on our new Athletics YouTube Channel (film to be uploaded after the game): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2LTNTe8Ie3xoTSFYHCU2dg/videos
  • Family members/spectators must wear masks and maintain social distance at all times.
  • Family members/spectators are not allowed to access campus buildings or bathrooms. Temporary bathrooms will be made available outdoors. 
  • No tailgating or gathering allowed following the games.
  • You may want to bring a chair as the bleachers are not available for use.
 
Go Lions!
Parents' Association News

NEW: May 17 - Parent Speaker Series: State of the School,
7:30 p.m. EDT
Head of School John C. Warren ‘74 discusses highlights of the past year. Register here.
 
May 12 - Parent/Faculty/Staff Book Club
The next book club meeting will take place via Zoom from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. EDT. We will discuss The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré.
 
Interested in attending? Please email Laurie Kalapinski (lauriekalapinski@stmarksschool.org) or Joanne Flathers P’15, ’19, ’21 (joanne@flathersfamily.net) to receive the Zoom link the morning of May 12. At the end of this meeting, we’ll choose summer book titles. 
 
Other book titles mentioned by members, in no particular order, are:
  • Lilac Girls by Gladis Gervas
  • Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
  • Conviction by Denise Mina
  • The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
  • Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews Edwards with Emma Walton Hamilton
  • We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida
  • The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
  • Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
  • Facing the Wave: A Journey in the Wake of the Tsunami by Gretel Ehrlich
Calendar News:
Weekend Activities - May 8 & 9
May 12 - Parent/Faculty/Staff Book Club
May 17 - State of the School, 7:30 p.m. EDT, Register Here
May 20 - No Classes, Spring Day Off
May 24-30 - Prize Day Week