Dear St. Mark Families,

In Sunday’s Gospel reading, Luke 18:1-8, Jesus urges his disciples to pray and not lose heart, for God hears and answers prayers. This is the first of two parables that Jesus tells about prayer and is a lesson in persistence in prayer. While the parable seems to present prayer as nagging God for what we want, that interpretation misses the point. God is not like the judge in the parable, worn down by requests and coerced to respond. The key is found in the description of the judge as corrupt and unjust. As followers of Christ, we know God can be neither of those. God truly wants to hear our needs and respond generously. God wants us to be like the persistent widow, staying in relationship with God, confident that God hears and answers prayers.  © Loyola Press Sunday Connection

As a Catholic School community, our faculty and students start and end our day in collective prayer. I encourage all families to talk to their children about the various forms of prayer (blessing or adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise). As a family, set time aside to pray the Rosary in honor of our Blessed Mother Mary, who is celebrated in the month of October, and assure your children that God hears and answers their prayers. 

I wish you all God's blessings and grace.

Yours in Christ,

Mrs. Warner 

Progress Reports

Grades 4 through 8

As we are at the midway point of the first quarter Marking Period, parents in Grades 4 through 8 are encouraged to check ParentsPlus Portals for the most up to date information on your child’s growth and progress thus far.

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.

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.

Grades K through 3

Progress updates of student work habits were sent home today for students in Grades K through 3 via backpack mail.  Included with progress updates is the current template for the Diocesan Standards Based Report Card for the applicable grade level and a Parent’s Guide to Standards Based Report Cards.  Please sign and return the progress update of student work habits to your child’s teacher no later than Friday, October 21st, 2022.

Parents are encouraged to review the template and marking codes.  Please note that the marking code of X indicates that while instruction of the content standard is being delivered, the student is not yet ready to be assessed.  Finally, as this shift in reporting emphasizes what a student has learned, and the expectation that they will reach mastery (marking code of M for K-2 or marking code of 3 for Gr. 3) at the end of the school year.

Academic Extra Help

I encourage all parents to contact your child's teacher if you feel your child is in need of extra academic help. Each classroom teacher (K through 8) has designated 1 day in the week for "academic extra help" office hours for 1 hour after school.

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.

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. 

High School Open House and Entrance Exams

Notre Dame - Fairfield

On Sunday, October 16th at 1:00 pm Notre Dame High School in Fairfield will be hosting an Open House for prospective students and their families. The open house will give students a comprehensive look at Notre Dame, its academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs as well as ND’s partnership with Sacred Heart University. 

On Saturday, October 29th or 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.

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.

St. Mark Campus Entrance

As a reminder, the exterior door under the blue awning marked "St. Mark Campus" is locked Monday-Friday while school is in session as well as during our Afterschool Program hours.  This decision has been made by our pastor for the safety and security of our students and our faculty.  Visitors will need to call the school phone number to be let into the building until a permanent buzzer system can be installed.

A faculty member  will be stationed at that door from 7:30A-7:45A to let children into the building.  Students who arrive after 7:45A will need a parent to bring them into the office.

If you arrive at school after 7:45A, please park your car, walk your child into the building, and sign your child in as Tardy.  For everyone’s  safety, please do not leave your child unattended at the blue awning door and drive away.

Themed Dress-Down Day 

We will be sponsoring a Pink and/or Blue Dress Down Day on Thursday, November 3, 2022.  This Pink and/or Blue dress down donation is $5.00.  The fee for this Dress Down is not covered by the Pre-Paid Dress Down payment collected at the beginning of the year.  All proceeds will benefit The Bryson & Baker Blatt Foundation which is supported by the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

In Our Community

St. Mark School is proud to announce Christine and Steve Flaig as the recipients of the 2022 St. Augustine Medal, in recognition of their volunteer service to our school community.

The St. Augustine Medal recognizes those who unselfishly give of their time and talents to build up school communities in the Diocese of Bridgeport. 

I know our school community joins me in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Flaig on this distinguished honor and expressing our deep gratitude for your unwavering commitment, dedication, and service to St. Mark School!

In Our Classrooms

Students in Grade 7 assumed the roles of historians/archeologists that explored the jungles of Mesoamerica. They were tasked with finding artifacts and presenting research that the Yale Peabody museum would put on a display for Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, and Incan cultures.

Parish News

St. Mark Parish Junior Youth Group

Students in Grades 6 through 8 are invited and encouraged to join St. Mark Parish Junior Youth Group as we begin the fall semester! We meet Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30pm in the Parish Center Gym. JYG is a place where youth can come together to build friendships, have fun and grow in their faith. JYG combines social activities, games, service opportunities, small group discussions and fellowship to provide youth with a unique experience they are sure to enjoy. It’s a great opportunity to go beyond learning about our faith, and put it into action, while having fun and making friendships to last a lifetime. There is no cost to participate in Youth Group, and all youth are welcome regardless of which school or church they attend. Click here to register for JYG. You belong here, and it won’t be the same without you. Grab some friends and check out JYG!

Gift Cards Needed

Deacon Paul has asked us to reach out to the parish for the purchase of food gifts cards, either Stop & Shop or ShopRite, in denominations of $25 (but we accept anything!). The need for the poor in our area has increased greatly and we go through the gift cards quicker than you think! God bless St. Mark parish for its continued generosity to help the needy in our community.  You can drop the gift cards in the collection basket at any Mass or bring to the rectory office during business hours.  

Knights of Columbus Recruitment

Please welcome members of the Knights of Columbus, St. John Paul II, Council #8, as they commence on their recruitment campaign for calendar year 2023. Invite a Catholic Man to become a Knight! We welcome them for recruitment weekend October 15th and 16th. Please feel free to stop by and speak with a Knight after any of the weekend Masses.  

There are many fun and exciting traditions and fundraisers scheduled for October. Be sure to stay up to date on events like the Cut-A-Thon, Monster Mash, Trunk-or-Treat, Snack Shop, and Lyman Orchard pie fundraiser by frequently checking our social media pages, Home School Association email updates, and school website. If you do not use social media, our school Facebook page feed can be viewed from our school website www.stmarkschool.org

• Thursday, October 20th: HSA Dress Down Day, $1

• Friday, October 21st: HSA Cut-A-Thon

• Wednesday, October 26th: HSA Snack Shop, $1

• Friday, October 28th: HSA Monster Mash

• Saturday, October 29th: HSA Monster Mash Rain Date

• Sunday, October 30th: HSA Trunk or Treat

• Monday, October 31st: Happy Halloween!

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

St. Ignatius of Loyola