ST. MARK Catholic School

Alumni, Former Faculty, Parents, and Guests are invited to ST. MARK Catholic School on Thursday, August 31, to celebrate our 20th Anniversary. Please join us for a special Mass celebrated by Father Pat, followed by a small reception in the Cassidy Activities Center. Those wishing to join us are invited to sign-in at the school office beginning at 10:15am. Tours will be offered at 10:15 and 10:25. For additional details, or to schedule a private tour of our amazing school, please call us at (703) 281-9103.

ST. MARK Catholic School is looking for a Kindergarten teacher for the 2023-2024 school year.

If you or someone you know has:
• A love of children and a desire to work for a Catholic school
• A Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree
• Flexibility, a collaborative spirit, and strong communication skills
this opportunity could be for you!
Interested in applying? Please send a cover letter and resume to Kimberly Parker, Principal, ST. MARK Catholic School ([email protected]), or call 703-281-9103.

The full job description can be found at: https://arlingtondiocese.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=578

It's not too late! There are still spots available in our preschool classes. Apply on our website today! (link in bio)

At ST. MARK Catholic School our students are some of the hardest workers we know. Here are just some of their achievements from the past school year!

Thank you for a wonderful school year.
The teachers and staff at St. MARK want to wish all of you a wonderful summer filled with blessings and God's grace. May the beauty and splendor of this season bring you closer to our Lord.
We hope your summer includes family time, ice cream, laughter, and fabulous memories.
Be safe and enjoy the days ahead full of sun and leisure!

Please join us in celebrating the achievements of our 8th-grade students as they embark on the next chapter of their academic journey. Congratulations to all graduates! We wish you the best. God bless you all.

ST. MARK Catholic School faculty and staff want to congratulate all of the children who recently received the sacrament of Confirmation. May the memory of this special day always stay with you and be your guide along with the faith you have in your heart. We pray that your belief in Jesus Christ grows strong with time and sustains you now and always.

ST. MARK Catholic School faculty and staff want to congratulate all of the children who recently received their First Holy Communion. Through receiving the body and blood of Jesus Christ for the first time, may you feel your union with Jesus today and every day as you live a life of faith dedicated to Him. May the peace and the Lord's love be with you every day.

Thank you to all of the families who contributed to this year’s International Night, and to everyone who participated and provided cultural enrichment with food samples, arts and crafts, and fabulous performances. A fun time was had by all. International Night is just one of the many ways we strive to enrich our students’ educational lives and connect our community.

ST.MARK Catholic School is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. Spots remain in Pre-School, Kindergarten, first, and second grades, so please apply soon. ST. MARK strives to meet the academic needs of our students through a challenging curriculum taught by caring and dedicated teachers all within a strong faith-based community.
To learn more about our wonderful school, please visit our website at www.stmark.org/school/future-families or contact us at [email protected] to schedule a tour or visit our website.

Join us for a Preschool Open House

Catholic schools have a long-standing tradition of opening their doors to everyone. The opportunity for Catholic education is possible in part because of the financial assistance families may receive from dioceses and local parishes.
The Diocese of Arlington and ST. MARK Parish provides financial assistance for Catholic education, for K-8 students who qualify. An overview of the Diocesan Tuition Assistance Program is available at https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholic-schools/tuition-assistance/
FACTS Grant & Aid is the tuition aid program utilized by the Arlington Diocese. Step one for consideration to receive financial aid is to complete the online FACTS application. To access the application go to https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4F4X2

The due date for next school year’s financial aid applications is March 15, 2023.

ST. MARK students live the mission every day. A big part of living the mission is developing virtue – practicing the art of doing good. Each month, one grade level chooses a Virtue for the entire school community to practice. Third grade has the February virtue of the month (justice). Justice can be demonstrated in many ways. The third grade is asking that you help promote justice by making sure there is an equal opportunity for all people in our community.
Throughout the month of February, ST. MARK students will be collecting needed items to support The Lamb Center, a homeless shelter located in Fairfax County. The school will be accepting donations of men’s clothing, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, household items, and general items like disposable masks, umbrellas, and ponchos. You can drop off your donation in the school foyer during school hours. We are counting on the generosity of our ST. MARK community to make this school service project a success.
To learn more about the good work of the Lamb Center, check out their website. https://www.thelambcenter.org/

Congratulations to all 7th-grade students who presented their Science Fair projects this past Thursday, February 02, 2023, in the Cassidy Activities Center. The Science Fair represents the culmination of months of study, experiments, data collection, and research. Our students presented work in the areas of Physics, Biology, Biomechanics, Chemistry, Psychology, Zoology, Physiology, Cognitive Science, and Scientific Method. We are very proud of our students’ hard work.
We would like to express our gratitude to our parents, teachers, and parishioners for their support of our students, especially to those who acted as judges. Thank you for your support and commitment to Catholic education.

We look forward to seeing you THIS SUNDAY! Please use the link below to let us know you will attend: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI8qZLDQu8v8rDRvu61uD9gwBDjF_e_lEZVCXx7_QyCWqVgg/viewform?usp=sf_link

For 49 years, Catholic School Week has been celebrated from the last Sunday in January through the following Saturday to highlight the value of Catholic schools. Catholic schools around the country show the rich traditions of Catholic education where academic excellence marries faith, culture, and life. It is truly a reason to celebrate.
Here at ST. MARK Catholic School we use this weeklong event to highlight what is great about Catholic schools. A few reasons to celebrate are:
• Catholic schools continually outperform public and other private schools on national assessment tests, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
• Catholic high schools have a 99 percent graduation rate compared to 86 percent of public schools.
• Catholic schools’ service programs expose students to different communities of need and service to others, raises their social awareness, and help to build a better society.
• Catholic schools are near the top in national testing in learning outcomes for students receiving free and reduced-price lunches.
• Catholic school attendance boosts the likelihood that a minority student will graduate from high school from 62 percent to 88 percent.
Visit us on January 29, 2023, from 12-1:30 pm and experience all Catholic education has to offer.

Reserve your spot Now! Click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI8qZLDQu8v8rDRvu61uD9gwBDjF_e_lEZVCXx7_QyCWqVgg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please join us for our Open House on January 29th!
Let us know you will attend by RSVP'ing at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI8qZLDQu8v8rDRvu61uD9gwBDjF_e_lEZVCXx7_QyCWqVgg/viewform?usp=sf_link

During this holy season of Christmas, we ask for God’s blessings on all our school families. We pray for joy in our hearts, hope in our God, love to forgive, and peace upon the Earth. May we remember in our prayers, throughout this season of light, our neighbors, friends, and our brothers and sister in need of food, shelter, safety, comfort, and peace.

Today, ST. MARK Catholic School is participating in GivingTuesday, the global day of unity and giving. Our mission, at ST. MARK School, is to share the light of Christ as we grow in Faith, Knowledge, and Service. We are asking you to collaborate with us as we teach our students the joy and fulfillment of cultivating a heart of service.

We believe that if we can change behavior – inspiring young people to default to kindness, empathy, and radical generosity - that we will create a just society rooted in love and service. That is why each month; our students choose a virtue; generosity, hope, gratitude, to name a few upon which to focus as a school community, as well as a corresponding service project.

You can help us continue to provide our students with the moral foundation they need to live a life focused on service to others, and to cultivate in them the agency to create change in their community.

We need your support, and your help to spread the word. Please tell your friends and family why you believe in our mission and encourage them to support us too. Together we can continue to cultivate a heart of service and a spirit of generosity in our ST. MARK students!

Supporting us with a tax-deductible gift to ST. MARK would provide funds for immediate use for school needs and top priorities in the education of our students. Join the movement today! No amount is too small.

Thank you for being a part of the ST. MARK family.
Click here to donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=NBK5GHJ6RR2AC

The teachers and staff at ST. MARK Catholic School would like to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the love and support received by parents, grandparents, volunteers, and parishioners since the start of this school year.
“Thank You, Lord, for all You accomplished in our lives and the lives of our students. We accept Your unconditional love and hope to become worthy of Your generosity. Thank you for the gift of family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Thank You for the beauty of friendship, colors, music, and love. Lord, Thank You for your presence in our lives and the promise that you will share this journey with us always”.
Amen.

Discover Catholic Schools

On Nov. 16th, 2022, ST. Mark Catholic School will offer in-person scheduled visits and tours to prospective parents and guardians. Parents and guardians can call (703) 281-9103 or email Mrs. Kennedy at [email protected] to schedule a visit and tour of the school.

There will be five visits and tour opportunities on Nov. 16th, 2022. All participants will receive a packet with the ST. MARK Catholic School logo. In the packet, visitors will find information on school academics, enrichment programs, tuition, a welcome letter from our principal, graduate profiles, and Diocesan Tuition Assistance Program.

Veterans Day

ST. MARK Catholic School will host a school assembly on November 10. In honor and thanksgiving of the selfless service of our nation’s veterans. All Veterans of our armed forces are invited to attend the assembly. Speakers from each service branch will discuss what their service has meant to them and the impact of their military service on their lives. Please join us in celebrating tradition, dedication, service, and sacrifice this coming Veterans Day.

“Bullying isn’t just the mean things you do,
it’s the nice things you deliberately never do.”
Jodee Blanco
All ST. MARK parents and interested parishioners are invited to join us on October 28 at 8:45 am in the Cassidy Activities Center to hear a presentation by Jodee Blanco, best-selling author on the topic of bullying and proponent of compassionate discipline. Survivor, expert, and activist Jodee Blanco is one of the country’s pre-eminent voices on the subject of school bullying. She is the author of The New York Times bestseller, Please Stop Laughing At Me . . . One Woman’s Inspirational Story. This transformational event is made possible by the generous support of ST. MARK PTPO.

On October 27th, ST. MARK students will enjoy this year’s Trunk or Treat event. You might ask, what is Trunk or Treat? During Trunk or Treat, parents and their families decorate their cars for Halloween, sometimes creating elaborate scenes out of their trunks. Then students will walk from vehicle to vehicle, collecting candy the way they would during a normal trick-or-treating outing. The goal of Trunk or Treat is to provide a safe environment for our students and to bring the ST. MARK community together in a relaxed and family-oriented atmosphere. This exciting family event is sponsored by our wonderful PTPO.

Throughout the school year, our students learn about different Catholic virtues. The virtue for the month of September is Faith. In September and as part of Hispanic Heritage Month our students will support the Pulsera Project. This organization partners with schools to raise money and awareness of social justice issues and Central American art. Students can make a monetary donation in support of the Pulsera Project during the last week of September. Students that donate to the Pulsera Project will get a special dress-down day and are asked to wear vibrant, colorful clothing in keeping with the beauty of Hispanic art. Monetary donations to the Pulsera go to support educational programs, scholarships, community development, and housing in Nicaragua.

Band is back at ST. MARK!
We are excited to introduce into our music curriculum a new string program and welcome back band to our school.
On September 6, students and parents were able to participate in an information night at the school gym. Students were able to ask questions, interact with instructors and familiarize themselves with different instruments. We are grateful for the support of all the parents that participated in the band and string information night. The school’s band and string program will start this coming week.
We are looking forward to the wonderful sound of music!

8th Grade students across the Diocese of Arlington will have the opportunity to take a High School Placement review course. The review course will take place from September 19 - November 19, 2022. The review course is designed to teach test taking strategies. The deadline for enrollment is September 07, 2022.

Important Dates
September 2: 12:25pm Dismissal
September 5: NO SCHOOL :( Labor Day
September 6: Extended Day (EDC) begins
September 6: Pre-school begins; band information night
September 7: Back to School Night Grades 5-8
September 8: Back to School Night Grades K-4

Here at ST. MARK we are excited to welcome back all returning families and to receive with open arms all new families to our school. Please, refer to your school email regarding the date for SMCS New Families Orientation and Welcome Back Day. For your convenience, you can find the day’s schedule below.

• 9:30 am – 10:15 am -- New Families Orientation in the school gym
• 10:15 am -11:00 am – New families visit classrooms/teachers
• 11:00 am – 12:30 – Returning Families visit classrooms/teachers

Calling All Teachers
We are looking for passionate full-time 3rd and 4th-grade educators to join ST. MARK Catholic School for the 2022-23 school year.
The ideal candidate will meet the following requirements:
• Bachelor's or Master's degree
• Teaching experience preferred
• Comfort using digital platforms for both planning and instructional purposes
• Commitment to creating an inclusive classroom environment where students of all abilities are accepted and engaged in meaningful ways
We are also looking for part-time staff for our Extended Day program and full-time Instructional Assistants to support our Preschool – 2nd-grade teachers.
All positions require:
• A love of children and a desire to work for a Catholic school
• Flexibility, a collaborative spirit, and strong communication skills
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Kimberly Parker, Principal, ST. MARK Catholic School ([email protected]), or call 703-281-9103. To learn more about our wonderful school, visit our website at https://stmark.org/school.

www.stmark.org The year is off to a wonderful start! See the full 2022-23 Parent Planning Calendar and most recent monthly calendar by clicking here.

Service Spotlight from ST. MARK Youth Ministry -

SERVICE OPPORTUNITY this Saturday, July 23 from 8:30-11 am

Finish mulching the CFC/ST. MARK SCHOOL playground.

PLEASE RSVP TO KEVIN FLORES ([email protected]) IF YOU CAN HELP!

Ptpo St Mark St. Mark Catholic Church - Vienna, VA

Looks amazing! ST.MARK graduate Matthew Brown on keys!

St. Mark Catholic School alumni and Parish musician Matthew Brown on keys. Go check it out!

ALL ABOARD! Last call for Vacation Bible School registration! Only 13 spots remain!
VBS will be held July 11-15 from 8:45am-12:00pm.
Registration will close on July 1 at 4:00pm or when all spots are filled.
Go to http://formation.www.stmark.org/children-youth/vacation-bible-school-2/ to register.
Volunteers are still needed – contact Sarah at [email protected] for more information.

All county children under age 18 are eligible for free meals.

🍎 Summer Meal Kits will be offered every Tuesday.

For hours and locations: http://ow.ly/5qQf50Jy6Yf

Happy birthday, Bishop Burbidge!!

Important message from the Ptpo St Mark - School Supplies Ordering Deadline!

THIS IS IT! If you haven't purchased your School Supplies kit for next year, now is the time to do it! The deadline is TOMORROW - June 15th!

Simply click the link below and order supplies for each of your students and they will be delivered straight to their classrooms in August!

http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=110397

ST MARK CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS: Order Your School Supply Kit Now! Your pre-built school supply kit is ready to order with the exact school supplies your teacher requested. Click here to order now from 1st Day School Supplies.

Annual staff outing to Nationals Park!! We even made the Jumbotron!! 🤣

Whole-school Mass + Whole-school Assembly = Happy Hearts! ❤️

Ptpo St Mark St. Mark Catholic Church - Vienna, VA