julienugent

May 22, 2015

In This Issue…

Dear Parents,

It’s Memorial Day Weekend with Prize Day on Monday! VI Formers are definitely ready for the upcoming Prize Day celebrations which start this weekend. It should be an exciting, celebratory experience! Go Lions!

Photos from the VI Form Dance!

Check the Web Site for more news about:

Prize Day News

  • Be aware … there is a Memorial Day Parade in the Town of Southborough Monday morning. The Rt 85 and Rt 30 intersection will be closed while the parade marches on Main Street. You may want to come to St. Mark’s from the north and avoid Main Street.
  • Here is a timetable of events this weekend:Saturday, May 23rd9:00 Saturday Showcase9:00–4:00 p.m.NEIRA New England Intersscholastic Rowing Association Championships – Lake Quinsigamond

    2:15 p.m. Home Groton Games

    JV Girls Lacrosse Varsity & JV Boys Tennis Varsity & JV Boys Lacrosse Varsity Baseball 6:00–8 p.m.All School Picnic Dinner with John and Laura Warren at Choate House

    8:30 – 11:00 End of Year Dance – Crash the Quad! Athletic QuadSunday, May 24th

    11:00 a.m. Baccalaureate – required for VI Form (chapel dress) – Rehearsal to follow

    11:30 – 1:00 Brunch – Dining Hall – All are welcome

    4:00 p.m. End of the Year Musical Performances – Class of 1945 Hall in the PFAC

    5:30 p.m. Dinner for VI Form, Families and Faculty –VI Form Quad

    6:30 p.m. Athletic Awards – Belmont Field – (chapel dress)

    Monday, May 25th

    9:00a.m. Handshaking Ceremony

    10:15 a.m. Faculty line up to process

    10:30 a.m. Prize Day Ceremony –Belmont Field

    12:30 p.m. Luncheon – VI Form Quad – All are welcome

  • No doubt that there will be some graduation celebrations after Prize Day. We are hopeful that parents and students will continue to use good judgment when it comes to off-campus get togethers. Safety is always a concern, particularly at this time of year. We need to remind all parents of the Massachusetts Social Host Liability Laws and of the School’s expectations around substance use. Social Host Liability is the legal term for the criminal and civil responsibility of a person who furnishes liquor to a guest. We have all heard the stories of when good kids make bad decisions and well-meaning hosts painfully discover that the parties that they thought were harmless fun turn into catastrophes. We expect students to obey the rules of the School and the laws of the Commonwealth concerning the use of alcohol and drugs, and we continue to expect our parents to support the health and safety of our students in this effort. Thanks!
  • After Prize Day and during the week of final exams, graduated VI Formers are not return to campus so that underformers can prepare for exams and our maintenance staff can get ready for the summer. Thank you for your support.
  • For Prize Day, we remind parents that St. Mark’s is a tobacco-free campus. We ask that all tobacco products, including celebratory cigars, remain off-campus. Thank you.
  • Special Bookstore hours during Prize Day WeekendSaturday 11-1 (Groton Games away)Sunday 12-2 (Baccalaureate Service)Monday 12-2 (Prize Day)
  • There will be a Textbook Buyback event in the Bookstore on Thursday, May 21st and 28th from 10-2. Students will be given cash for their gently used textbooks and paperbacks.
  • Diploma frames are available for purchase through the store. Contact Ginny Umiker if you would like one mailed directly to your home.
  • Be sure to check out our Facebook page, The Pride for up-to-date information and new items.

Academic News

  • Students have been reminded of the importance of academic honesty as we end classes and head into exam week. We would appreciate parental support in reinforcing the message regarding our academic honesty expectations. Please encourage students to access their resources (advisor, student leaders, parents, faculty, etc.) before making an unwise academic decision.
  • As you know, the course planning season continues as advisors, students, and families have additional conversations about next year’s plans. Please be reminded that the initial round of planning involved students and advisors submitting course requests. The Academics office does not begin the actual scheduling process for another few weeks, giving time for processing of course requests from new families. While we do our best to create the optimal schedule for each student, there are times when students will have to make decisions based on their requests and what is actually possible in terms of building their schedule. Most of the building of schedules happens over the summer. As usual, preliminary schedules will be available in August. If you have any questions, please contact either Lynette Sumpter (5th/6th form dean) at lynettesumpter@stmarksschool.org or Nat Waters(3rd/4th form dean) at natwaters@stmarksschool.org.
  • The School is formalizing what had become, in recent years, an implicit expectation, to better communicate to students and families the tools they need to be successful as St. Mark’s students. The vast majority of our students already have and use laptops to support their studies as an irreplaceable research, writing and presentation tool in the early twenty-first century. The School has shifted from recommending to requiring laptops to ensure that all students have equitable access to the tools they need to pursue their studies. By ensuring that all students have comparable devices, the School better supports instruction in the classroom, allowing faculty to plan for predictable and reliable access to technological tools throughout the curriculum.Director of Academic Technology, Seth Battis, spoke about this program at a recent Parent Forum, and shares some of our thinking and planning behind this program.

Center Student Showcase

  • On the morning of Saturday, May 23rd, campus will be alive with students presenting their academic work for the broader community. The Center Student Showcase is a celebration of the intellectual vibrancy of our community in all of its various manifestations — the perfect capstone activity for our final academic day! Offerings will include projects, artwork, music, written work, and presentations, demonstrating academic excellence, curiosity, inquiry, and exploration across the broad range of our curriculum. We expect students to be present on campus for the morning programming, running from 9am to Noon. More importantly, families are also welcome and encouraged to attend!
  • Please be reminded that Window 4 closes, Saturday, May 23rd. Grades will be available in NetClassrom on Friday, June 5th. Please be reminded that we have changed the grading cycle this year and their will be no comments accompanying Window 4 grades.
  • As you know, next week is exam week for underformers. Exams start on Tuesday. Here is the exam schedule for the weekExam TimesTuesday 9-11 AM (Arts)Various Arts assessments dueTuesday 2-4 PM (Arts)

    Various Arts assessments due

    Wednesday 9-11 AM (Modern Languages)

    Chinese, French, German, and Spanish (Levels 1-3)

    Wednesday 2-4 PM (Modern Languages)

    All Advanced Courses

    Thursday 9-11 AM (Math)

    Geometry, Honors Algebra II, Advanced Topics

    Precalculus Presentations

    Thursday 2-4 PM (Math)

    Algebra I, Algebra I Enhanced, Alegbra II*, Honors Precalculus, Calculus, SFT

    Friday 9-11 AM (History/English)

    Survey of Literature

    Various class activities

    American Literature

    Various History assessments due

    Friday 1-3 PM (History/English)

    Various History assessments due

STEM News

  • As the academic year closes out, work on the STEM building is kicking into high gear. Over the last week, the crew punched through the basement wall connecting the new construction to the existing building. Crews will continue to connect the buildings over the coming weeks. To complete work on the existing math wing in time for the start of the 2015-2016 school year, the crews are starting their work on Saturday. Projectors are being pulled off the walls, along with whiteboards. Major demolition work will begin on Tuesday and the construction work will continue throughout the summer. We are grateful for the hard work of so many faculty, trustees, architects, and laborers in making this vision a reality in time for a new school year!

Campus News

  • We are already working hard to get students packing and organizing. All students need to return library books and sports equipment, return borrowed items and retrieve loaned ones, and at final departure students need to leave rooms “broom clean” with all trash emptied into bins that will be available, and they need to return room keys and swipe cards. If you have questions about shipping (Mark’s Moving will be on campus on May 30th) or storage, please contact Ms. LaFreniere in the Dean’s Office.
  • As VI Formers transition to their college experience, please note seniors with accommodation plans on file at the school will need to contact the appropriate office at their respective colleges to arrange for accommodations there. Students have been notified of this as well. If there are any questions, please contact Lynette Sumpter at lynettesumpter@stmarksschool.org.
  • School closes at Noon on Saturday, May 30. We ask all families to make arrangements for children in line with this departure day and time so that Faculty can attend to the business of closing the school year.
  • Packing and Storage – All students have received a timeline for packing and end of year move out that works in line with our school schedule. Please remind your children to attend to packing earlier rather than later. Many students will say they are saving the packing for families to help yet, we are working to help students take on the lion’s share of work as there is a structure that includes ample time for this work.
  • VI formers using the storage and delivery service need to have items packed and ready to go on Saturday, May 23. Underform students using the service need to have items packed for Thursday, May 28. Boxes and other packing materials can be purchased at the Bookstore.If you would still like to make arrangements with Able Moving and Storage you may contact them directly:Sharon Zayassharonz@able-moving.com

    800.886.2340

    This is the last year that storage space will be available at school. Students attending to their own packing and storage will have access to the two school storage spaces during lunch and dinner hours beginning next week. All items need to be securely packed and students should not plan on using school storage for valuable items.

  • Our facilities staff works very hard to ensure student rooms are given much care prior to their issue in the fall. We expect that all rooms will be left in that same condition upon student departure. Students who do not leave rooms in acceptable condition will be charged a fee and be asked to return to school in order to complete the cleaning process.
  • Parents of Graduates: Please note consistent with School policy, all Lion Cash accounts must be current and have enough funds to cover VI Form Graduation Activities. If accounts are not current by May 18th blank diplomas may be issued and transcripts held. You can log in and add value at the Lion Cash Account Center, located here: https://sms.campuscardcenter.com Any questions please contact the Business Office.

Athletic News

  • On Friday, May 15, the St. Mark’s Varsity Girls’ Tennis team took on Marianapolis prep in the quarterfinal round of the Class C NEPSAC Tournament. The match began with #1 doubles Grace Conrad and Eliza Wyckoff taking on the #1 doubles team of Marianapolis Phoebe Reagan and Nicole Xie. They took #1 doubles 8-2 and St. Mark’s subsequently won at it’s #2 and #3 doubles as well. With a win by Grace and Kolbe Renkert at singles, they were able to secure a spot in the semifinal round against Beaver Country Dayon Saturday. The wins by the #1 doubles team, singles wins for Kolbe, Grace, Kahler Mabbs, Eliza Wyckoff handed St. Mark’s tennis their win over Beaver Country Day, securing a spot in the finals against Millbrook on Sunday. The wins by the #1, #3 doubles team, singles wins for Grace, Kolbe, Eliza secured the win against Millbrook for their 2015 Class C NEPSAC Championship title! St. Mark’s Girls’ Varsity Tennis has an overall record of 15-2 so far on the season.
  • This past week co-captain Maddie Torgerson led the Varsity lacrosse team to two big victories over Tabor Academy and Middlesex School with scores 19-6 and 15-6 respectively. Maddie scored 3 goals and had 1 assist against Tabor, and won the most draw controls for either team with a total of 6. In the Middlesex game, she started off the scoring with the first 2 goals of the game for St. Mark’s (including a goal while we were man down), and proceeded to score 3 more in the first half alone, to bring St. Mark’s ahead 9-3 at half. She followed up with 2 goals in the second half for a total of 7 goals, and 1 assist. She also pulled down 5 draw controls in the game. Maddie currently leads the team in goals and draw controls with 57 goals and 58 draws, and has 13 assists.

Parent Association News

  • The Spring Exam Bake will be held on Wednesday, May 27 from 4:00-5:00 pm in the Hinkle Room. This amazing feast of treats, from cookies, brownies and cupcakes to salty snacks, fruits and beverages, is a welcome break for students in the midst of exams. Please visit the SignUpGenius page at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A094EA9AE2BA75-spring3 to indicate what you will provide and/or to volunteer to help on the 27th. For additional information, contact Sue Gorman, slgorman17@gmail.com. Let’s give the students a fantastic Exam Bake as they finish out the year!
  • Many thanks to the following families for opening their homes for our spring Form gatherings!Thanks to Steve and Judy Hoffman for hosting III Form parents!Thanks to Anne and John Gobron for hosting IV Form parents!Thanks to John and Hayley Drohan for hosting V Form parents!

    Thanks to Beth and Billy Depietri for hosting VI Form parents!

  • Did you see the video? Our gifts to the Annual Fund touch every aspect of life and learning at St. Mark’s, and our students and teachers want us to know that they appreciate our support! Thank you to everyone who has already made a gift- your support truly matters. If you haven’t yet made your gift (or if you’ve not yet fulfilled your pledge) please go online now and make your gift. We ask every family to support the Annual Fund- at whatever level feels appropriate for you- every year. Thank you!

Since we will be in session for another week, there is one more newsletter to come (I hope!)

All the best,

Dave

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