St. Mark School joined Catholic schools across the country in observing the 41st annual Catholic Schools Week. This year’s national theme celebrates Catholic Schools as “Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,” which reflects St. Mark’s motto: “Academic Excellence, Faith and Service.”
“Faith” is a yearlong journey that begins when St. Mark School opens its doors in August. Religion class is taught every day, and each grade goes to church weekly and takes turns doing the readings at Mass once a month. Many students altar serve and volunteer their time teaching religious education to public school students after school. “Knowledge” is highly regarded at this nationally awarded Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. St. Mark School believes that technology increases students’ learning potential.
This year the school upgraded to the state-of-the-art fiber optic technology. This high capacity Internet line is particularly effective with the school’s iPad technology. “Service” is how students chose to celebrate their school’s Golden Jubilee this year. In honor of the school’s 50th Anniversary, St. Mark School is performing “50 Acts of Kindness” throughout the year. The students are excited to celebrate this historic occasion by “giving back” to others. To date, they have achieved 30 acts, with many service projects performed during Catholic Schools Week.
The week-long celebration of Faith, Knowledge and Service began with a school-wide assembly that opened a time capsule marked “Do not open until 2015,” buried by students and faculty 25 years ago. The school also hosted an Open House where student ambassadors and the lion mascot gave tours of the school. Other fun-filled events such as an indoor Winter Carnival, Faculty vs. Grade 8 Volleyball Game, Crazy Hat Day, and Science Fair also filled the busy week.
St. Mark students Skyler Johansen grade 4; Skylar Hinton grade 1; and Mea Grant grade 4.