FORTY REMARK RE MARKABLE ABLE YEARS It’s been 40 years since Mark Day School opened in 1980. Over the past four decades, the school has been on three campuses, changed its name, graduated over 1,500 students, and more. We looked back on some of our most notable milestones.
1980
1981
SCHOOL OPENS IN SEPTEMBER Founded by Ray Bizjack and William F. “Buzz” Nern, the school’s guiding philosophy was to provide high quality education in an atmosphere of love and care in which each member of the community was responsible for the well-being of others.
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1982
1ST SCHOOLWIDE CHESS TOURNAMENT P.E. Teacher and Athletic Director Ray Orwig initiated the first chess tournament, inviting all students to play. Forty-eight students participated in the tournament. There has been one every school year since 1981.
1983
JUST IMAGINE CLUB BEGINS Ray Orwig and his wife Gail start Just Imagine Club, a lunch club showcasing old sci-fi, fantasy, and horror movies, in response to growing student interest in the genre. The Just Imagine Club originally met every other Friday at lunch.
1984
CAMPUS RELOCATION: 375 BLACKSTONE On the first weekend of new Headmaster John Pistel’s arrival, the school moves to its second campus located in the Marinwood neighborhood of San Rafael.
OFFICIAL ACCREDITATION Mark Day is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleages (WASC) and is given full membership with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS),
