Dear St. Mark Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Matthew 5:17–37, Matthew continues the Sermon on the Mount with a three part instruction by Jesus on the Way of Life in the kingdom of heaven. Sunday’s reading is part one and deals with the Law. Part two deals with worship and religious practice and contains the Lord’s Prayer. Part three deals with trusting God and deeds of loving service to our neighbor.

When Matthew speaks of “the Law and the prophets” he means the whole Scripture. When the Messiah brings the fullness of the kingdom, none of scripture will be done away with. Instead it will be fulfilled. Matthew’s Jesus does not overturn the Law of Moses, nor does he set his followers free from the Law. He requires his followers to go beyond the Law by doing more than the Law requires.

The Law condemned murder. Jesus condemns anger. The Law condemns adultery. Jesus condemns even lustful looks.  Sunday’s readings invite us to dig deeper by walking as Jesus did. We are called to do more than what is easy.   Jesus is calling us to a higher standard of attitude, behavior and action.

As we move closer to the Lenten season, we are called to find ways to go a little deeper in our school community and in our church, so we can walk in the ways of Jesus with works of truth and love. © Loyola Press Sunday Connection

I wish you all God's Blessings and Grace.

Yours in Christ,

Mrs. Warner 

Living our Faith

Most Reverend Bishop Frank J. Caggiano introduces the concept of “The One” as a challenge of both faith and focus that relates to a new evangelization and catechesis that capitalizes on the different ways people encounter the person of Jesus Christ through missionary discipleship.  As a Catholic School, we foster opportunities for our students to  encounter Jesus and we work together to transform the lives and souls of the children entrusted to our care.  In the coming weeks and months, our teachers will focus their energy on creating an opportunity for students to share their experiences from mass, interpret scripture and Gospel messages, and encounter Christ in an open and caring environment. Click here to read more about “The One”.

2023-2024 Registration Process

If you haven’t completed your 2023-2024 registration (enrollment contract and FACTS) please check your inbox for a reminder email from our Admissions Team.

Please re-enroll your child by February 24th as we will open up enrollment to new families after that date. Thank you.

Any questions, please contact our AMEN Team amenteam@stmarkschool.org 

Bishop's Scholarship Fund

Bishop’s Scholarship Fund (BSF) provides tuition assistance to help families afford a Catholic Education. 

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 school year! 

All families with students in next year's grades Kindergarten through Grade 8 are eligible to apply.

Families apply online via FACTS Grant & Aid www.FACTSmgt.com/aid.

Complete all questions regarding BSF, submit supporting documentation and the $30 FACTS processing fee.

The application requires the entire 2021 (or 2022) IRS Federal tax return along with 2022 W2s. If applicants do not receive W-2s, then they must submit a 2022 tax return. 

Deadline to apply for current families is March 15th, 2023. Award notifications will be communicated in early May.

For more information visit: http://www.foundationsineducation.org/bishops-scholarship-fund

Children's Educational Opportunity Foundation of Connecticut, Inc.

Since 1995, Children's Educational Opportunity Foundation of Connecticut, Inc. (CEO), has been awarding scholarship monies to families residing in Bridgeport, Hartford, East Hartford, and New Haven who strive to have equal access to quality education for their children.

CEO will provide half of the annual tuition – up to a maximum of $2,100 per academic year.

Guidelines:

• Students must reside in Bridgeport, Hartford, East Hartford or New Haven and live in the home of the applicant parent or guardian.

• Students may enter CEO between grades K-5.

• Renewing students may be supported through grade 8.

• Families may choose any accredited private or parochial school in Connecticut.

Online applications are available at www.ceoct.org for the 2023-2024 school year!

2nd Quarter Marking Period

2nd Quarter Marking Period report cards were distributed to students in Grades PK3 through Grade 8 on Monday, February 6th.  

Please return the signed, empty report card envelope to your child's teacher. The report card is yours to keep.

Grades 6 through 8 Honor Roll

In accordance with Diocese of Bridgeport Policy 2.204 - Honor Roll, the honor roll in elementary schools are as follows:

High Honors: No grade lower than an A- including only 1s or 2s in conduct and effort. All major subjects are included in calculating High Honors.

Honors: No grade lower than a B including only 1s or 2s in conduct and effort. All major subjects are included in calculating Honors.

Above honor roll criteria is used to determine National Junior Honor Society eligibility 

Foundations in Education Grant Award

Foundations in Education is an independent non-profit initiative created to assist the Diocese of Bridgeport’s ongoing mission to support Catholic education in Fairfield County. The grant program, now in its sixth year, promotes excellence in Catholic education by supporting teachers’ creative projects and professional development. Grants funded through this program are intended for transformative initiatives that benefit multiple grade levels and have a long-term impact on student learning.

I am proud to share that this year, St. Mark School Middle School Social Studies teacher, Matthew Bonito, was recently awarded grant funding in the amount of $11,076 for his grant application “Virtual Reality Headsets: Using Technology to Travel Through Space and Time.” Grant funding will be used to purchase a classroom set of virtual reality headsets, controllers, metaverse classroom tools and site license.  The VR headsets will allow students to visually and personally connect themselves to environments and iconic moments from history.  In Middle School, students may read about the dreadful conditions of trenches during the First World War in a textbook, and are likely to forget soon after. With a VR headset, students will visually immerse themselves in this environment, learn about the conditions in an age-appropriate way, and cement the image of themselves in the very conditions they read about.  Although having 6th grade students physically travel to Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, China, India, Egypt etc. is not physically or financially possible, VR headsets can provide a valuable learning experience for students to “travel” to regions t in a stimulating and, quite literally, eye-opening way.

Supply Reminders

Headphones/Earbuds

Please check with your child or his/her teacher to ensure they have properly working headphones/earbuds for use in school. Many of our digital learning tools require headsets for online use.

Water Bottles

Please send a water bottle to school with your child daily. Water bottles can be disposable or reusable. No glass bottles, please.

7th & 8th Grade Science Fair

Students in Grades 7 and 8 participated in St. Mark School’s annual Science Fair this week. Students presented their projects and were interviewed by a panel of judges.  Each and every project was remarkable. Top projects in Grades 7 & 8 will compete at the State of Connecticut competition to be held in March.

7th Grade

1st Place: The Stroop Effect -- Julianne

2nd Place: How Different Liquids Affect Growth of Plants-- Sara & Sofia P.

8th Grade

1st Place: Lettuce Tell You About Hydroponics -- Brady, Colin & Michael

2nd Place: Does Personality Affect Memory -- Miranda & Avani

Food Policy

St. Mark School is a Nut-Aware School. Our classrooms and school are kept free of peanuts and tree nuts to the best of our ability. While school is in session, we make every effort to see that our classrooms and school are free of peanuts and tree nuts. 

As a reminder, foods containing nut products are not allowed in the school building.

February Calendar Updates

Kindness Week

During February, students will be learning all about kindness. In addition to this being our theme for Models in Christ, students will participate in Kindness Week from the 13th to the 16h. During the week, students will have activities based on the theme of the day. I invite you to also have conversations at home about the importance of being kind not just to others, but to ourselves.  

Monday, February 13th: Spread Kindness

Tuesday, February 14th: Kindness is Love

Wednesday, February 15th: Kindness is Contagious

Thursday, February 16th: Acts of Kindness

Coin War

During the week of February 13th through February 16th, students are invited to participate in Coin Wars.  All proceeds will support the Hoth Family. Each classroom will collect loose change in exchange for points. The class with the most points will win a Free Class Dress Down Day.

St. Joseph High School Stuff-A-Bus 

It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we invite you to join us in partnership with St. Joseph High School for our first annual "Still Hungry" Stuff-a-Bus Food Drive!

On February 23, we will help fill SJ buses with non-perishable food for those in need at The Bridgeport Rescue Mission, The Sterling House Community Center, and The Thomas Merton Center.

Ready to get involved? Check the printable pantry wish list and begin collecting non-perishable food for donation. Please bring your donations to St. Mark School by February 23.

Important Updates 

Demographics

Has your family moved? Have you changed your email address or phone number? Please contact the Main Office with any changes. It is very important that we have your most current contact information. 

2022-2023 Parent/Student Handbook

Please be advised that the following information regarding St. Mark School’s attendance policy inadvertently did not carry over from the previous year’s Parent/Student Handbook:

• Every 5th unexcused absence in a marking period may result in a one-hour after school detention

• Every 5th unexcused tardy in a marking period may result in a one-hour after school detention

As such, the 2022-2023 Parent/Student Handbook is amended to reflect this past practice.  

As a reminder, the Early Dismissal of Individual Students policy (pg. 38) states, “Parents must notify the main office and the homeroom teacher of a student's need to be dismissed early. Parents or guardians must report to the school office when picking up a student who is to be dismissed early and the student will be called to the office. Parents should make this request in writing. Phone calls are not acceptable. In the event of an emergency, the Principal shall give permission for a student to be released.”

Punctual and regular attendance at school is vitally important to a child’s success.  Thank you for your anticipated cooperation with our attendance policies.

Athletics Update

The St. Mark Basketball Tournament Program/Ad Booklet has been a long-standing tradition of our annual tournament. Please consider placing a congratulatory ad for a St. Mark Player, Team, Coach, or business!

Ad Pricing

Full Page: $50    

Half page: $25    

Quarter Page: $15    

Business Card Size: $10 

Ad Details

• All ads will be in black/white
• You can create the ad or have the ad created for you
• Please contact Nicole Harmon, Basketball Tournament Committee Member, at nicole.harmon3@gmail.com for full submission details
• Ads and payment are due by Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

Parish News

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus, Saint John Paul II, will be hosting a blood drive for the Red Cross on Saturday, April 1st in the Parish Center from 8A to 1P. Potential donors can sign up for an appointment at www.redcross.org. Our blood drive last year was a great success and we hope this year will be a success too!  

Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

We will celebrate a Mass in honor of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Sunday, March 26, at 7:30 a.m. All are welcome.  

Lenten Fish Dinner 2023

We are happy to announce that Father Birendra is bringing back the annual Lenten Fish Dinner.  Please mark your calendars for Friday, March 31, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Center. An order form is included in the bulletin starting this weekend.  You may mail to the office, drop off, or put in the collection basket, your order form and payment. Please mark your envelope “Paula.” You will note that our “fish” dinner cost has risen to $20; however, we kept the children’s and grilled cheese selections priced as before.  As many of you know from grocery shopping, prices are exorbitant. We thank you for helping us to cover costs. The event is open seating; we are not booking reserved tables.  

Ash Wednesday/Lent

We are less than two weeks away from Ash Wednesday. The schedule for Masses during Lent, and for Ash Wednesday, are posted on the St. Mark Parish website.

Men's Bible Study

There is still time to sign up for the bible study program exploring “The Passion and Resurrection Narratives of Jesus” will begin Monday, February 13 at 7P in the Upper Room. It is open to the men of the parish and will continue for the next six Mondays ending just before Holy Week. There will be a small charge for the course materials. Please call Dave Robertson – 203-913-7484 with any questions. 

Missionaries to the Family

An Initiative to Revitalize the Domestic Church - For couples interested in participating in the Missionaries program, you are invited for Thursday, February 23rd, 6P dinner, 6:30P presentation, at Our Lady of Peace Church, 651 Stratford Road, Stratford, CT. Initiative includes: a year of Catholic formation, weekend retreats, training in accompaniment. For further information, phone 203-377-4863, or visit https://paradisusdei.org/missionaries-to-the-family. RSVP by February 17.  

SEEK Where You Are

St. Pius X, Fairfield, CT, will be joining hundreds of parishes across the country in hosting the program SEEK Where You Are! Open to all.  The program hopes to foster an encounter with the heart of Jesus through sacraments, small groups, and world-class speakers. Special Guest Speaker: Mother Olga, founder of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth. All the details are in the bulletin.  

• Monday, February 13th - Thursday, February 16th: Kindness Week

• Friday, February 17th: No School, Presidents' Day Weekend

• Monday, February 20th: No School, Presidents' Day Weekend

• Tuesday, February 21st: St. Mark Basketball Tournament Begins

• Wednesday, February 22nd: HSA Snack Shop, $1

• Monday, February 27th - Friday, March 3rd: Read Across America Week

God gives each one of us sufficient grace ever to know His holy will, and to do it fully.

St. Ignatius of Loyola