First Grade New Family

Dear First-Grade Parents,

I am thrilled to welcome you to the St. Mark’s community! This week’s Ice Cream Social is the first of many wonderful events that are planned to celebrate you and your family as we welcome you to the Lower School.

Enclosed you will find a letter from your son’s teachers. As well, there is a list of topics that may be on your mind as you begin the transition from your current school to St. Mark’s School of Texas. We have tried to anticipate the things about which you would be curious. If, however, there is a topic that we haven’t covered, please don’t hesitate to ask. Important contact information is included on the list for your convenience as well.

Enjoy the remainder of the school year at your current school. We are looking forward to getting to know you better in the coming months and years. St. Mark’s School of Texas is an incredible community filled with people who put family and relationships high on the list of priorities. Courage, honor, character, and leadership are just some of the important virtues at the heart of this wonderful academic institution. We couldn’t be happier that you chose us to partner with you, as your son begins his Path to Manhood.

All the best,

Sherri Darver Head of Lower School

From Your Homeroom Teachers

Dear Parents,

Welcome to St. Mark’s! We look forward to getting to know you and your son personally. Parent-teacher conferences, yearbook photos, and a get-acquainted party will be scheduled the week before School begins. More information will follow about these activities, and we look forward to seeing you then.

We know that you will be enjoying a variety of experiences with your son throughout the summer. You will receive an email in June that will provide you with information that will be helpful for your son as his first year at St. Mark’s gets underway.

We have an exciting year planned for the boys, and we look forward to getting to know your family as the year progresses! Enjoy your summer!

Sincerely,

Teri Broom Kay Carrio

From The President of the Parents’ Association

Dear First-Grade Parents,

On behalf of the Parents’ Association, I would like to welcome your entire family to the St. Mark’s community. We are so glad you chose St. Mark’s.

As a parent of a Marksman, you are an automatic member of the St. Mark’s Parents’ Association. We are an active group of volunteers partnering with the Faculty, Staff, and Administration to support the boys’ education and development. Our parents participate on campus in a wide range of areas including the libraries, cafeteria, student store, Lions’ Closet, etc. There is a place for everyone.

The St. Mark’s PA also organizes events throughout the year. A few to put on your calendar right now are:

Lion Pride Night – an All-School Spirit Night, complete with a cookout and a DJ before our home football game on Friday, September 8. This will also be Lower School Spirit Night.

Fall Fun Day – a school carnival held with Hockaday for Daisies and Marksmen in grades one through six scheduled on Friday, September 29.

Celebrate – annual school community celebration scheduled for Saturday, April 6.

To get involved in these and other events, you will volunteer through Sign-Up Genius. Please mark your calendar for July 17 after 12 pm to log on to the St. Mark’s website and click on the “Volunteer Here” button on the Resource Board. You will see many opportunities listed along with the activity description. When class lists are released in August, please return to the Resource Board for more class-specific volunteer opportunities.

Finally, if you have any questions during the summer months or the school year, please contact the following parent volunteers:

Class of 2035 - 1st Grade Representatives for questions throughout the year:

Sara Gail sara.f.gail@gmail.com

Emily Roosevelt

emilycath2@gmail.com

469.951.5177

770.608.4408

Again, welcome to St. Mark’s, and I look forward to meeting you! Go LIONS!

Cindy Hanson

St. Mark’s Parents’ Association President 2023-2024

cindy_a_hanson@hotmail.com

214-335-9681

• Contact Mrs. Darver or Mrs. Mallick with any questions. Mrs. Darver can be reached at 214.346.8216 or darvers@smtexas.org. Mrs. Mallick can be reached at 214.346.8210 or mallickk@smtexas.org.

• Uniforms can be purchased at Culwell & Son, 6319 Hillcrest Avenue, Dallas, 75205, 214.522.7000. Lion Tracks (in the Directory and online) lists all details about school uniform requirements for all grades. Please use a permanent marker to label your son’s uniform shorts, shirts, and sweatshirts.

• P.E. uniform must be purchased in the Student Store. Please use a permanent marker to label your son’s uniform shorts, shirts, and sweatshirts.

• Backpacks are necessary for all students and may be purchased anywhere. The Student Store carries backpacks, as well. No wheeled backpacks are allowed in Lower School. Be sure to display your son’s name on his backpack.

• Classroom supplies and books are provided to Lower School students.

• Back-to-School events begin the week before the first day of school. While these events are not required, your son will want to be in town to participate. There will be a back-to-school party for each grade in Lower School and yearbook photos will be taken that week, as well. In August, a “Back to School Basics” tab will be on the SM website Resource Board. First and second grade back-to-school parties are scheduled for, Monday, August 14, this year. Third and fourth grade parties are scheduled for Tuesday, August 15.

• Yearbook Photos are taken at School the week before classes begin. Boys should wear a dark sports jacket and any appropriate tie. These items are available from the photographer if you are unable to provide a jacket and tie for your son. Dates and times will be posted on the “Back to School Basics” tab on the SM website Resource Board.

• The Directory & Lion Tracks is distributed at Mini-School, scheduled on Thursday, August 17. You should familiarize yourself with Lion Tracks, which is the guide to the School’s policies. Lion Tracks can also be accessed on the SM website Resource Board.

• Mini-School Parents’ Night is for parents only. This is an opportunity to meet your son’s teachers and receive an overview of curriculum for the school year. Mini-School is scheduled for Thursday, August 17, at 6 p.m.

• Class Lists will be posted on Class Pages in early August.

• Lion Pride Night is an all-school community picnic held the evening before a varsity home football game. This year, Lion Pride Night is scheduled for Friday, September 8, at 5 p.m.

• Lower School Spirit Night occurs just before the home football game scheduled for Friday, September 8 (also, Lion Pride Night this year). The Lower School grades will picnic together, and the new boys will be invited on to the football field before the game.

• Fun Day is our annual Hockaday/St. Mark’s carnival. St. Mark’s boys in grade 1 – 6 and Hockaday girls in pre-K – 6 will meet on the Hockaday campus this year for an afternoon of fun and games. Fun Day is scheduled for September 29.

• Chess Club is open to all Lower School boys and meets throughout the year on Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. in Great Hall. A sign-up form will be in the summer email with more information about dates and club meetings.

• Cub Scouts is open for Lower School boys in second, third, and fourth grades. Detailed information about scouting and joining Pack 730 will be sent in the summer email.

• Carpool information, including information regarding SchoolPass, will be distributed at MiniSchool. Morning carpool drop-off is 7:35-7:50. Class begins promptly at 7:55 a.m. Boys are expected to be in class and ready to work at 7:55. Afternoon carpool pick-up is 2:45-3:10.

• Extended Day is our after-school program and is offered to all boys in grades 1-4. Boys are given a snack, complete their homework, and enjoy time on the playground with their friends. Pricing details and a sign-up form for the upcoming year will be sent in the summer email.

• Student Store will be open during the week of back-to-school parties and yearbook photos. P.E. uniforms and St. Mark’s swag will be available for sale throughout the year, as well. Regular Student Store hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., school days. Our online store is always open at smtexasstore.com.

• Lions’ Closet is a resale shop located on the 1st floor in the north wing of the Green Library. Gently used uniform shorts, shirts, P.E. clothes, and sportswear are available for sale to all families. Lions’ Closet will be open to new families before the school year begins with times posting on your Class Page and Resource Board.

• Team Sports: Lower School Athletic Liaisons Danny Ellis and Grant Ruckel will be emailing information about Lower School after-school athletic options as they become available through the Y and other sports associations.

St. Mark’s School of Texas Summer Reading List for Incoming First Graders

Series:

• A-Z Mysteries

• Ballpark Mysteries

• Berenstain Bears Chapters

• Boxcar Children

• Calendar Mysteries

• Capital Mysteries

• Encyclopedia Brown

• Hardy Boys

• Magic Tree House

• Marc Brown Arthur Chapters

• My Weird School

• Time for Kids/Biographies

• True/New True Books

Learning to Read Series:

• Dial Easy-to -Read

• DK/Eyewitness Readers

• Hello Reader!

• I Can Read Books

• I Read to You, You Read to Me

• Puffin Easy-to-Read

• Step Into Reading Levels 1-4

Authors:

• David Adler

• Jim Arnosky

• Jack Canfield

• Matt Christopher

• Beverly Cleary

• Patty Hansen

• Kevin Henkes

• Steven Kellogg

• Arnold Lobel

• Patricia Polacco

• Cynthia Rylant

•Dr.Seuss

• Louis Sachar

• Mark Victor

This guide is to help boys choose books to read, and perhaps, to discover some books they might otherwise miss. These are suggestions, but there are many other good books at your local library. Your son should try to read everyday. It is important to keep your son reading on a consistent, regular basis over the summer. It is equally important for you to continue to read aloud to him. The more he reads, and is read to, the better reader he will become!