It is a K-8 experience that’s as extraordinary as the students themselves. Nurtured yet challenged, children thrive in an environment where they can explore, grow their talents, and simply be their amazing selves.
It’s the thought that counts
Starting in kindergarten, students study Spanish and Mandarin language as well as culture. Research shows that learning a language improves cognitive abilities and brain function and younger learners are better able to mimic new sounds.
Students have daily PE for physical benefits as well as improved focus.
Every facet of our program and every single decision come from careful consideration and extensive research. From kindergarten to 8th grade, our nine years of curriculum are thoughtfully interconnected, seamlessly woven together, and always
Weekly art, drama, and music translate to better academic performance, self confidence, and collaboration.
evolving. Teachers continually pursue professional development and hone their craft. Thought is everywhere here.
Public speaking starts in kindergarten and culminates with all 8th graders giving a graduation speech reflecting on their time here. In between, kids take the stage and give presentations to craft this lifelong skill.
Our twice-weekly all-school assemblies feel like family dinners. Students, teachers, and families come together to share news, celebrate achievements, tell jokes, and just enjoy each other.
Students develop friendships across grades, teaming up with their buddies for reading, field trips, spirit days, and community projects.
Classmates, parents, teachers‌at Mark Day we cheer each other on and pick each other up. This sense of belonging helps students build confidence they will carry with them for life.
Parents are an integral part of our community, volunteering, carpooling, hiking, and even playing ukulele together in an on-campus band.
THREE
When it comes to learning, one size does not fit all. Our teachers know and understand how each student learns best in a rigorous academic environment. We set the bar high and give every student the tools to jump over it.
• Teachers differentiate by stretching all
students just beyond their comfort zones. This leads to confident 8th graders who lean into a challenge. • Teachers design learning experiences
in multiple ways to engage multiple learning styles. • Projects are often designed so students
can find the learning space that suits them best (quiet, busy) and work in their desired configuration (solo, partner, group).
It’s cool to be smart
Chess players and mathletes are rock stars, recognized at assembly with thundering applause.
Students are motivated and encouraged by their peers to work hard at whatever they want to achieve.
There is no inner geek here. Kids wear their passion for intellectual pursuits loud and proud. It’s the norm to do your best every day, and students celebrate each other’s successes and passions, inside and outside of the classroom.
Instead of having student government or honor roll, every student rises to the occasion.
It is common to see students on campus lost‌ in a good book.
With small class sizes, teachers can help students pursue and cultivate their interests.
Maybe it’s art, drama, birds...or all of
At lunchtime, students can be found running across the playground, enjoying Legos, tinkering in the Creativity Lab, sculpting in the art studio, playing chess, studying world languages, or whatever it is that sparks their curiosity.
the above. We encourage students to expand their interests by trying new things. This is the time and the place for students to find their individuality and to revel in it.
Teams include flag football, basketball, volleyball, cross country, track and field, golf, mathletes, and chess.
Go out on a limb
SIX
Dig deep
Classrooms at Mark Day extend well beyond four walls. Students learn about topics in great depth with lessons that often span across multiple subjects, connect with other grades, and use project-based learning. Research shows that kids retain information better when they gain a deep understanding of the topic and with hands-on projects. For example, 1st graders strive to answer the driving question of “How can we, as stewards of the worm bin in the school garden, help others understand the importance of vermicomposting?� The students begin a 4-6 week intensive study by observing redworms in the Mark Day School garden and building a vermicompost habitat. They delve into a differentiated research process by practicing reading non-fiction sources and taking notes with a teacher, on their own, or in small groups depending on their learning styles. As a group, they organize these notes and create a non-fiction book to share with our global partners. From digging in the garden, to constructing clay models of redworm habitats in the art room, to sharing their books with our South African and Costa Rican partners, the world is their classroom.
Go beyond the norm
No matter what we teach, it’s how we do it that makes all the difference. For example, social-emotional and ethical learning is a critical of part of who we are as a community. It’s infused into every aspect of our curriculum and daily life, not just talked about but acted on continually—from weekly scheduled classes to the playground. The same can be said for tinkering. Relatively new in some circles, we’ve been tinkering since 2000 when our Assistant Head for Educational Design & Innovation returned from Harvard and MIT’s Media Lab. What started with Lego robotics has grown into a full-blown Creativity Lab that ignites students’ curiosity, critical-thinking, problem solving and collaboration. From building cardboard villages to PVC pipe microscopes, kids get hands-on experience and test their ideas in real time.
• Our faculty teaches SEL though carefully constructed classes each week. • Students learn to use a “toolbox” of techniques to understand and regulate their feelings and behaviors and build upon this groundwork as they develop and are exposed to new social situations. • In addition to SEL, our Seven Pillars of Character: honesty, respect, caring, fairness, citizenship, courage and responsibility, guide us on campus and in life. • Lunch bunch, recess leaders, buddy programs and school families foster emotional growth.
Delegation visits go beyond language or service trips. Students stay in local families’ homes, learn side-by-side in classrooms, and immerse themselves in daily life abroad.
From day one, students learn about and build relationships with different Kids and teachers from our global partner schools come to Mark Day School each year, teaching and learning in the classroom and sharing experiences at assembly.
cultures and people from various communities, understanding that we all have something to teach and something to learn. With local and global partnerships, students develop the skills to thrive in our diverse society. Locally, students engage with different communities to appreciate that we can grow beyond our comfort zones without even traveling. Students play board games at senior centers, serve meals at Glide Memorial, garden at Head Start, and learn weaving from the experts at Cedars of Marin.
Set up is everything
The foundation for confident, successful students lies in preparing
Developing ecological literacy reminds students that we are all a part of Earth’s ecosystem and responsible for being stewards of the environment. School-wide, we practice waste-free lunches and composting, and care for our organic school garden and beloved hens. Older students serve on our Green Team, raising awareness and offering solutions for greater ecological efficiencies.
them well beyond math, science, English, and history.
“My experiences at Mark Day will guide me throughout my career. Not too many people can say they learned the most from their elementary or middle school, but that is the case for me.” —Neha B., Mark Day School ‘08, Marin Academy ‘12, University of Pennsylvania ‘16
A foundation in media and information literacy teaches students how to understand, interpret, and evaluate the media they encounter each and every day and to shape their own powerful messages responsibly. From decoding food labels and analyzing marketing messages to learning how statistics are manipulated in mass media, students gain real world insight and skills.
TEN
Confidence and drive don’t magically appear. Passion isn’t found by accident. It’s a direct result of being known, feeling safe, and being given the opportunity to dig deep, work hard, make mistakes and cultivate talents. This is the foundation students need to become successful leaders and citizens. This is the foundation that’s built here. Day in and day out.
“The skills, habits, and techniques I learned at Mark Day gave me a head start in high school and in my overall approach to learning.” —Dylan W., Mark Day School ‘12, Drake High School ‘16, Stanford University ‘20
“For me, Mark Day gave me more than an excellent education. It is a place where I still feel known and loved. They gave me a second home.” —Andrea G., Mark Day School ‘12, Branson School ‘16, Skidmore College ‘20
OUR MISSION Mark Day School discovers and nurtures what is finest in each child in a vibrant, inclusive learning community. Innovative and full of heart, Mark Day School strives to develop well-rounded critical thinkers in a challenging program that fosters academic excellence and responsible world citizenship. We’re proud to enroll students who will gain the most from a Mark Day School experience, regardless of financial circumstance. Mark Day School welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. When choosing Mark Day School, families and faculty become part of a socially responsible community striving to become conscious of, and teach about, all aspects of diversity and inclusiveness. To learn more about Mark Day School or the application process, please contact our Admission office. 415-472-8007 www.markdayschool.org admission@markdayschool.org