St. Mark Catholic School
Weekly Bulletin
May 16, 2014
In This Issue:
Reminders for the Next Two Weeks
Virtue of the Month
Principal’s Corner
St. Mark “Teacher of the Year”
A Note of Thanks
High School Spirit Day for 8th Graders
Lifetime Lions & Legacy Bricks – There’s Still Time
Pre-order 2014-15 School Supplies
News From The Athletics Department
Academic Outfitters Sale
At St. Mark, We Serve.
Seen & Heard Around St. Mark
Reminders for the Next Two Weeks
Monday, May 19 - 7:30-8:00 AM - 8th grade Memory Boards due, Cafetorium
Wednesday, May 21 – High School Day for 8th Graders
Thursday, May 22 - 12:30 PM to 1:10 PM- 8th gradeParent/Graduate Luncheon, Cafetorium
Friday, May 23--
8:30 AM - All School Mass - Farewell to 8th Grade class, St. Mark Catholic Church
5:30 PM - 8thGrade Photos - SchoolLobby
6:30 PM - 8th Grade Mass & Graduation ceremony,St. MarkCatholic Church
8:00 PM - 8th Grade Parent/Family Reception, Cafetorium
9:00 PM - 8th Grade Dance, Cafetorium
Monday, May 26 - Regular school day, early dismissal 12:00 NOON
No lunch service; no After School Care
Wednesday, May 28 -Field Day!
Friday, May 30 - Last Day of School, early dismissal 12:00 NOON
No lunch service; no After School Care
Virtue of the Month - ACCEPTANCE
Each month, our students are asked to focus on a virtue. For the month of May, it is acceptance. Teachers incorporate the Virtue of the Month into their classrooms through stories and activities that enable students to see the virtue in action.
Principal’s Corner
Announcing a new and innovative approach to our presentation of the St. Mark Early Childhood Education program, beginning with the 2014-15 school year. As everyone knows, our current preschool building is beautiful, and is designed to meet the needs of the Early Childhood learner. We are pleased to be moving our Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes to the existing preschool building, which will be renamed the “Early Childhood Education” building.With this move, St. Mark is able to utilize each classroom for Early Childhood Education daily instruction. The current Kindergarten space will be dedicated to our After School Program. Our After School Program numbers continue to grow, and this will enable us to assign those students to age-appropriate classroomsand activities. Preschool through 8th grade After School students will be housed in this area, enabling parents to pick up all siblings in one location. I am confident that this approach to the Early Childhood Education concept will allow us to spotlight all of the good work we do in that arena, and allow us to showcase the essential benefits of children receiving astrong beginning to their formal education. The move doesn’t change the quality of our existing program, it just affords us the opportunity to showcase our excellence in a facility that is specifically designed for it.
It is always rewarding to know how our funds are being used, especially when they directly affect and improve our parish and our school. I thought our families would like to know some of the projects we will undertake this summer. If you happen to come by the school during June and July, you may want to wear a hard hat! We are anticipating a flurry of activity, but the ultimate improvements will be worth it.
School funds will be hard at work as we begin creating our new entry. Two years ago we completed the outside entry, and this summer we finish the project by creating a new entry and reception area which will include a double entry door configuration.
The bulk of our Auction funds will assist in creating a technology reality. We will lay the groundwork by installing fiber optics, internal cabling, and wireless connectors. Our ultimate goal is to get technology in the hands of our students, and to allow more integration with instruction.
We are blessed to have access to a large athletic field in order to provide outdoor activities both during the school day and for extracurricular sports. Our funding will help provide new code-compliant lights placed at both the east and west ends of the athletic field.
Family contributions to the parish continue to be used for ongoing improvements in our school facilities. This summer, parish funding will be applied to the installation of a Wi-Fi thermostat system which will provide upgrades and repairs to our heating and cooling system.As a result of a very generous donation from Lennox, we have five Lennox AC units. Mr. Mowery, a school parent and parishioner, was a lead contact at Lennox and we thank him for his efforts on our behalf.
Parish funds will also be applied to providing cost-effective and higher quality lighting in both of our gymnasiums. The ultimate goal is to provide cost-effective lighting throughout the entire facility. Going green can pay off in the long run.
We are truly appreciative of the generous stewardship displayed by our families. Tuition funds continue to help keep St. Mark a school of excellence, and your parish contributions help us realize that this is truly a place “Where Faith and Knowledge Meet.”
St. Mark “Teacher of the Year”
Each year, every school in the Dallas Diocese is asked to nominate their “Teacher of the Year” through a formal nomination process. This year, one of our Kindergarten team members, Dr. Tara Blankenship, was nominated as St. Mark’s “Teacher of the Year.” Dr. Blankenship, along with the other schools’ nominees, were recognized at the Diocesan Distinguished Educator Recognition Dinner held on May 9th. Congratulations, Dr. Blankenship!
A Note of Thanks
Recently, one of our school families lost their home and all of their belongings to a fire. Our community came together to provide them with basic household items to help get them back on their feet. Following is a note from the family …
To all St. Mark Families, Teachers, and Administration – Our family is overwhelmed by the generosity of our St. Mark community families.Words cannot begin to convey the appreciation our family has for each of you who were so kind and thoughtful to help us during this time of need.Many people we know personally, and others our paths have not crossed, but all of you hold a very special place in our hearts.There are many things I have always cherished about St. Mark, but the families and community have always been at the top of my list.We are very fortunate to be a part of such an extraordinary group of individuals and cannot begin to express the gratitude we have for each of you.In our nightly prayers we thank God for our friends and families and we are truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community.
High School Spirit Day for 8th Graders
Attention all 8th graders: High School Spirit Day is next Wednesday, May 21st. Wear any spiritwear from your future high school. We want to see your school pride! (Appropriate clothing includes pants or skirts, and close-toed shoes. No shorts, sweatpants, or leggings, please.)
Lifetime Lions & Legacy Bricks – There’s Still Time
Calling all 8th graders (and ALL St. Mark Alumni) – Commemorate your years at St. Mark and stay in touch! Be sure to register for our official alumni network, Lifetime Lions. Simply visit our website to register and learn more. Each graduate who registers will receive a numbered Lifetime Lions membership certificate, and will be placed on our mailing list to receive future alumni communications, including opportunities to come back and mentor St. Mark students while earning valuable high school service hours.
And don’t forget to order yourLegacy Brick to commemorate your child’s years at St. Mark (or to honor your family or organization). Click here for information and the order form.
Pre-Order School Supplies Now for 2014-15
St. Mark school families can now pre-order/pre-pay for school supplies for the 2014-15 school year. There will be ONE order form (attached) for all required supplies. Pre-orders will be accepted throughJune 13, 2014. If you will be purchasing your school supplies elsewhere you must still use thisform to order the mandatory St. Mark Specialty Supplies.2014-15 school supply lists by grade are now posted on the St. Mark School website under the “Parents” tab.
All pre-ordered supplies will be available for pickup onSunday, August 3rd from 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON in the OLD GYM. We will have a limited stock of supplies available for sale on a first come/first serve basis.
Pre-ordered supplies require pre-payment. For your convenience, payments can be made via cash or check to the school office, or electronically through the school website via credit/debit card.
News From The Athletics Department
Calling All Incoming 5th and 6th Grade Lions!
2014 Football Registration is Open!
Join theSt. Mark JV Football Team
Play for the Green and Gold
Play for your School
Play for the Pride
Sign up today on the school website – go to “Athletics,” then “Athletic Forms,” or click here.)
Games This Week:
Sunday, May 18th, 3:30 PM- Varsity Softball: First round of playoff games.
JV Baseball ( 5th / 6th combo team) - First round playoffs have been postponed until Sunday.
The Varsity Soccer Tournament is taking place this week, and our St. Mark Lions are seeded #1! Following are the results so far …
Pool Game 1 – St. Mark - 2, St. Rita White - 1
Pool Game 2 - St. Mark- 3, St. Pius - 0
Pool Game 3 - St. Mark- 3, MIS - 1
With pool play complete, St. Mark has clinched Seed 1, and will play Seed 8 on Saturday at
6:30 PM in the Quarter Finals!
Please check the DPL website for more information. GO LIONS!
Academic Outfitters Sale
Academic Outfitters invites you to their “Store Expansion Sale,” May 15-30. 10% off all merchandise, services, and clearance items. 700 Alma Drive, #112. (972) 509-0010. Hours: M-F 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sat. 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
At St. Mark, We Serve.
Even Our Youngest Students Can Make A Big Impact: Earlier this school year, 1st grader Julianna C., with the help of her family, organized a food and supply collection to benefit area food pantries, including the St. Mark chapter of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Julianna’s goal was to collect 100 pounds of food in her neighborhood, but much to her surprise, neighbors donated 1,000 pounds to those in need! Her accomplishment was even featured in her community newspaper. Congratulations to Julianna for organizing such an impressive effort!Also earlier this school year, Kindergartner Aidan C. joined with a group of volunteers on Saturday mornings to make approximately 1,000 sandwiches for the homeless. The sandwiches were combined with chips and cookies and taken to the Soup Mobile in downtown Dallas. Aidan’s good deed was featured on CBS’s Morning Show and KTXD’s “The Broadcast.” Nice job, Aidan!Kindergartner Alex V.recently worked with Hungerbusters in downtown Dallas, helping to prepare and package 400 sack dinners for local children (many of whom attend school in the DISD) who typically don't get a meal outside of the school lunch program. Hungerbusters is a volunteer group that operates with financial donations only from the local community. They operate Monday through Thursday providing meals on a daily basis. Good work, Alex!
Seen & Heard Around St. Mark
Second Grade Receives First Communion:Our second grade students received the gift of Eucharist for the first time last Saturday. The Mass was lead by Father Cliff with assistance from Father Lauro. Our second graders sang their traditional “Sunflower Song” following the ceremony. Students, family and friends then gathered in the Narthex for a wonderful reception hosted by the 1st grade class. Congratulations second graders!
Preschool Makes Rosaries:Another example of how our youngest students can sometimes create the most meaningful things. This week, our PreK-4 classes made beautiful rosaries using big, colorful beads -- just the right size for their little praying hands. Beautiful job!
Band Concert: On Thursday, our St. Mark band performed for the entire school. Thank you to all of our band members for a wonderful performance, showcasing all of your hard work throughout the year!
Teachers Are Our Students’ Biggest Fans: Some of our 1st graders had a special visitor at a recent baseball game. Mrs. Rood came to cheer them on, and took a photo with the team. There’s always a little more incentive to play your very best when your teacher is in the stands!
Special thanks! Thank you to the 3rd and 4th grade classes for hosting a wonderful Teacher Luncheon this week. This luncheon was extra special, as it was Mrs. Bacot’s last. The students from these grades each wrote a word on a card that they feel describes Mrs. Bacot. The cards were placed on a display board for her to enjoy, along with flowers, and a beautiful cake. See the photo at the top of the bulletin.