St. Mark School E-Newsletter - November 11, 2022

St. Mark School

A 2009 National Blue Ribbon

School of Excellence

St. Mark School is a Christ-centered learning environment that teaches Gospel values and fosters academic excellence. Aware of the dignity and uniqueness of all students, we are committed to the spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, and physical development of each child.

November 11, 2022

Dear St. Mark Families,

This Sunday’s Gospel reading appears near the end of Jesus’ teaching in Jerusalem, just prior to the events that will lead to his crucifixion. In the Gospel of Luke, 21:5-19, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and warns his followers that persecution will come before the end of time.

In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus warns that His followers will face persecution for their beliefs. In persecution, God's wisdom and power will be shown in the example of followers of Jesus. Perseverance in the face of persecution will lead to their salvation.

Here Jesus is assuring His followers that God is present to all believers, even in times of trouble. Ultimately, Jesus will witness this with His own death. As disciples of Jesus, we try to follow His example, trusting in God's mercy and protection, even when we are facing difficulties. © Loyola Press Sunday Connection

I wish you all God's Blessings and Grace.

Yours in Christ,

Mrs. Warner

K through 8 Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences

During the week of November 14th, 2022, St. Mark School will issue Quarter 1 Report Cards for students in Grades K through 8 and will hold in-person Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, November 17th and Thursday, November 18th. Please note, Preschool conferences will be held after the New Year.

Please sign and return the report card envelope to your child's teacher by Friday, November 18th. The report cards are for parents to keep.

If you have not yet signed up for a parent/teacher conference, please contact your child's homeroom teacher.

Specials teachers will hold conferences at a parent's request. Please email the following specials teachers to set up a time to conference.

Ms. Sarah Carrano, Art scarrano@stmarkschool.org

Ms. Sarah Carrano, Innovation K-2 scarrano@stmarkschool.org

Mr. Fernando Hernandez, Spanish fernando.hernandez@stmarkschool.org

Mr. Alex Kennedy, Innovation 3-8 alexander.kennedy@stmarkschool.org

Please email me mwarner@stmarkschool.org if you would like to schedule a conference with the following teachers:

Mr. Kevin Dougherty, Physical Education

Ms. Irmani Jones, Music

Weather Related Emergency Alert System

In anticipation of the winter season, St. Mark School's emergency alert system (which will call, text and email) was tested on Saturday, November 5th at 12:00 pm. If you do not receive the test alert, or need to make changes to your contact information, please email Mrs. Mannino at cmannino@stmarkschool.org.

Delayed Openings and School Cancellations

When weather conditions or other emergencies warrant the closing of school, Preschool through Grade 8 families will be contacted by our emergency alert system. When the Stratford public schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather, St. Mark School will also be closed or delayed.

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 an early dismissal due to weather or emergencies.

Snow Days and Virtual Learning Days

Please be advised that when Stratford Public Schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather, St. Mark School will also be closed or delayed.

The first day school is closed due to snow will be a "traditional" snow day, with no virtual learning for all students PK-8.

In the event that there is a large storm resulting in multiple days in a row of school closure, the first day will be a traditional snow day. The consecutive day will be a virtual learning day for students in grades K through 8. Virtual learning days will begin at 8am and end at 12pm.

For the 2022-2023 school year, St. Mark School will observe 2 "traditional" snow days with no virtual learning. After 2 traditional snow days have been recorded, the remaining snow days will be virtual learning. Therefore, 2 days at most, will be added to the end of the school year. Virtual learning days will not be added to the end of the school year calendar.

Per the 2022-2023 school calendar, the anticipated last day of school will be June 13, 2023. However, if 2 traditional snow days are added to the end of the school year, the last day of school will be June 15, 2023.

Please be assured that classroom and specials teachers have been preparing students for the possibility of virtual learning snow days during class time.

Class Field Trips

Class field trips are designed to correlate with instructional units and to achieve curricular goals. To that end, students are expected to participate in field trips, unless student participation is restricted or denied by the teacher, in consultation with the principal due to, but not limited to, poor academic performance and/or poor conduct.

Once a class field trip is scheduled, if you have concerns about your child’s participation, please contact your child’s teacher immediately.

School Portrait Retake Day

If you are unhappy with your child’s school photo, please return the photos to school on November 15th and their photo will be retaken that day.

Any children that were absent on school picture day, October 3rd, his or her photo will be taken on November 15th. This is the last opportunity for individual school portraits. Class photos will be taken in the spring.

Lost and Found

Parents are reminded to please label your child's name on ALL of his or her belongings-especially sweatshirts, sweaters, fleeces, and coats/jackets. Our school Lost and Found has accumulated many items thus far. If your child is missing an item, please contact his or her teacher to arrange a time to check the Lost and Found. A Lost and Found table will be located in front of the Main Office during conference days.

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.

Out of Uniform “Dress Down Days”

Please be advised that the 2022-2023 Parent/Student Handbook states that jeans without holes or tears are permitted on Dress Down Days.

The handbook has been amended to clarify that pajama pants or “lounge pants” are not permitted on Dress Down Days. However, sweatpants in a similar style and structure to our PE uniform pants are acceptable. Thank you for your support and understanding of this policy.

K-8 Boys and Girls Sweaters

There is a typo error in the 2022-2023 Uniform Policy for Grades K through 8 found in the Parent/Student Handbook. Boys in Grades 1-7 are permitted to wear plain navy blue crewneck sweaters with or without the school name. Girls in Grades 1-7 are permitted to wear plain navy blue cardigan sweaters with or without the school name.

Extracurricular Activities

Our Giggling Pig Afterschool Fall Session has ended, I hope all our participants enjoyed this program. Stay tuned for further sessions.

St. Mark School

PreK and Kindergarten Open House

November 13, 2022

We are hosting a Fall Open House for PreK and Kindergarten. Click here for more information and please help us spread the word! If you live on a busy road or have a business, consider posting an Open House yard sign. 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!

The Open House is from 10A-12P for new families, but we added a special 9A-10A preview hour for our current PreK families. If any of our current Little Lions are interested in attending, reserve your tour by clicking on the link below.

High School Open House and Entrance Exam

Fairfield Prep

Fairfield Prep is a Catholic, Jesuit high school for boys located on the campus of Fairfield University. To learn more about what makes Fairfield Prep unique, families of boys in 7th and 8th Grade are cordially invited to an in-person Open House on Saturday November 19th, 2022 (9:00 or 10:00 am session). To register visit https://www.fairfieldprep.org/admissions/visit-prep and click here for more information.

Notre Dame - Fairfield

On Saturday, November 12th at 8:00 a.m. Notre Dame’s entrance exam will be given. All eighth-grade applicants must take an entrance exam and must complete an online application prior to the exam. Registration information can be found on the school’s website, www.notredame.org.

St. Joseph High School

Take Your Entrance Exam at St. Joes on November 12! The High School Entrance Exam (HSPT) is required of all freshmen applicants. When you take the entrance exam at St. Joes we will include the application and exam fee in one cost ($50). St. Joes will offer the exam on November 12, 2022. This is the last exam before the application deadline! Register at sjcadets.org/apply.

Parents, while your student takes the exam, you're invited to a Morning Coffee & Admission Information Session from 8:15-9:15am! Join us for coffee and an admission overview after you drop your child off for their entrance exam. We can't wait to meet you and learn more about your family's high school goals.

Parish News

St. Mark Parish Giving Tree Program

We are continuing our Giving Tree program. Please consider taking home a tag or two and make someone else’s Christmas special! The trees will be in the front foyer of the church beginning November 19/20, November 26/27, December 3/4, and December 10/11. All presents MUST be returned by Monday, December 12.

Adoration Chapel

The Adoration Chapel is going to remain open for the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

Mass of Thanksgiving

A reminder that our Mass of Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving Day) is Thursday, November 24, at 9:00 a.m.

St. Mark Ladies Guild Christmas Luncheon

St. Mark Ladies Guild invites all women of the parish and their guests to join them on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m. for the Guild Christmas Luncheon at the new Lodge Restaurant at the Oronoque Golf Club (former Oronoque Country Club). The Plated Custom Lunch will be served which includes: Cheese and Crackers, House Salad, Roasted Potatoes, Vegetable Medley and choice of Chicken Piccata, Sliced Flank Steak, or Baked Cod (w/bread crumbs) and Brownie a la mode and Coffee or Tea. Cost: $35. RSVP Nancy Lou Maco, (203) 522-6359 or Gerri Szabo at (203) 378-2552 by Dec. 6.

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

For important information and updates 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.

Visit our social media pages for updates on our school community.

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