Dear St. Mark Families,
As we welcome the month of October, I am happy to report that our students and faculty have settled into their daily routines at school and many of our after school programs have begun. We have a very busy month ahead and there is a variety of ways for you to stay engaged in what is happening at school and get involved.
This week, Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools highlighted our partnership with Macaroni Kid, an online resource for parents looking for great family fun, by celebrating their nationwide effort of spreading kindness with Macaroni Kid Act of Kindness Week (Sept 28 through Oct 5). At St. Mark School, we participated in Act of Kindness Week by recognizing students engaging in acts of kindness in school. Students were "caught" going out of their way to help a friend, fellow student, teacher, or faculty member when there was no expectation to do so. Some "Caught Being Kind" acts we saw this week include:
- an 8th grader stopping to help a kindergartner tie his shoe
- a 2nd grader retrieving a lost Frisbee for 1st grade friends
- 4th and 5th graders helping friends and teachers clean up workstations without being asked
- a 6th grader returning a lost water bottle to a friend
- a kindergartner helping a Pre-K student carry her bag
- a 6th grader filling a teacher's water bottle at the water fountain
These are just a few examples of how St. Mark students share kindness and emulate the compassion and selflessness of Jesus Christ every day.
On Friday morning, we celebrated First Friday Mass on the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi with Father Russ, our St. Mark School family, and parishioners of St. Mark Church. On Friday afternoon, the entire school community gathered again in our church as students in grades 4-8 participated in the Living Rosary. Each decade of the Rosary was announced before students lit their candles and recited the coinciding prayer. Our students did an exceptional job. It was a beautiful, solemn, and reverent ceremony that reminds us all that we are grounded in and connected to each other in our shared faith and devotion to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'd like to say a special thank you to our faculty and parent volunteers who helped make this a truly special ceremony.
Looking ahead, parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for October 16th and October 23rd. I hope that our new Family Conference Preference Form makes it easier for conferences to be scheduled. Parent/teacher conferences are an opportunity for you and your child's teacher(s) to discuss his or her academic, social/emotional, and spiritual growth. I strongly encourage every family to partner in their child's education and to take this opportunity to meet with our teachers.
Finally, there are many fun and exciting events 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, Yankee Candle Fundraiser, and Pie Fundraiser by frequently checking our Facebook Page, School Website, and Home/School Association email updates.
Yours in Christ,
Melissa Warner
