Admission Open House Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Evening Program Welcome to St. Mark’s School of Texas. After attending tonight’s program, we hope you will better understand why we are so excited about our School. St. Mark’s is a place where boys learn to become good men, a place where, at every level, character and integrity are taught and valued. Please let us know if you have questions, and, again, welcome to St. Mark’s.
5:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception (A. Earl Cullum, Jr., Alumni Commons)
5:40 p.m.
Opening Remarks (W.W. Browning, Jr., Great Hall)
Matthew Raroque ’20, President of Lion & Sword Society Master of Ceremonies
Colin Campbell ’20, President of the Senior Class
Taylor Hopkin ’20, President of the Student Council
David W. Dini, Eugene McDermott Headmaster 5:45 p.m.
Lower School Tours Begin (Fojtasek Family Lower School) Register for tour times in the Alumni Commons. Tours will continue throughout the evening starting at 5:45, 5:55, 6:05, 6:15, 6:25, 6:35, and 6:45 p.m.
6:05 p.m.
Planetarium Shows Begin (Winn Science Center) Register for show times in the Alumni Commons. Shows will continue throughout the evening starting at 6:05, 6:25, 6:45, 7:05, and 7:25 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
Science Discovery Tours Begin (McDermott-Green Physical Science Center and the Winn Science Center) No registration required. Follow the line from one Science Activity to the next. Open all evening, start and end where and when you like.
6:15 p.m.
Campus Highlights — Session 1
Campus Highlights — Session 2
7:00 p.m.
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Campus Highlights At A Glance Session 1—6:15-6:45 p.m. The St. Mark’s Writing Conference
Centennial Hall 209
The Wilderness Experience
Centennial Hall 105
A History of Military Special Operations
Centennial Hall 227
And the Answer Is: The St. Mark’s Academic Team
Centennial Hall 116
Middle School Humanities: A Recipe for Academic Success
Centennial Hall 108
Scholastic Journalism: Reporting the Dallas Tornado
Hersh Family Journalism Suite Hoffman Center 109
Fine Arts Showcase
Nearburg Hall Atrium and Nearburg Hall 104
Session 2—7:00-7:30 p.m. On the Path to Manhood: Character and Leadership in the Middle School Upper School Student Life
Science Lecture Hall, Winn Science Center Centennial Hall 116
Lion Pride: The St. Mark’s Athletic Program
W.W. Browning, Jr., Great Hall
Fine Arts Showcase
Nearburg Hall Atrium and Nearburg Hall 104
In addition to scheduled programs, several School administrators will be in the Great Hall and in the Alumni Commons throughout the evening to answer your questions.
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Campus Highlights Session 1 ~ 6:15–6:45 p.m. Please choose one of the following:
The St. Mark’s Writing Conference
Centennial Hall 209
Victor F. White Master Teacher in English, Mr. David M. Brown, will explain and demonstrate the St. Mark’s Writing Conference. Mr. Brown created the Writing Conference as a writing skills accelerator, and he has shared his unique program at workshops and conferences in the United States and internationally. At the core of the Writing Conference is a one-on-one feedback session which Mr. Brown will demonstrate with the help of an Upper School student. David Brown, Victor F. White Master Teaching Chair in English
The Wilderness Experience
Centennial Hall 105
Confronting some of life’s basic problems in the wilderness under the guidance of skilled and caring adults can help boys learn to cope with uncertainty while gaining self-confidence and self-reliance. The St. Mark’s Wilderness Program begins in Middle School and culminates in a ten-day trip to the Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico for rising freshmen, one of the School’s most honored traditions. Mr. Sullivan will share details of the program and answer your questions. Mark Sullivan, Director of Physical and Experiential Education
A History of Military Special Operations
Centennial Hall 227
Michele Santosuosso, a member of the Upper School’s History and Social Sciences faculty, will showcase a lesson from her popular senior elective, The History of Special Operations Since 1945. The course’s focus on recent military history and contemporary politics engages the imagination and interest of many St. Mark’s boys. Since the course demands that students follow contentious current events and comment knowledgeably on international affairs and military interventions around the world, “Spec Ops” provides boys with an ideal opportunity to discuss, trade opinions, and learn from each other in a respectful, collegial manner. Michele Santosuosso, History Department Faculty; 9th Grade Class Sponsor
And the Answer Is: The St. Mark’s Academic Team
Centennial Hall 116
The St. Mark’s School of Texas Academic Team will demonstrate their winning form in this fast-paced session of quick wits and amazing skill. Coaches Paul Mlakar and Dr. Bruce Westrate will also discuss their strategies for helping the team operate at peak performance. Paul Mlakar, Director of Academic Information Systems; Mathematics Teacher; Academic Team Coach Bruce Westrate, Ph.D., Nancy and Jeffrey Marcus Master Teaching Chair; Academic Team Coach ~4~
Middle School Humanities: A Recipe for Academic Success
Centennial Hall 108
Take a good measure of history and culture, add a generous portion of close reading and writing instruction, and then, season with collaborative activities and study skills. While simmering, gently finish with a delicious blend of leadership and ethics, and—voila! You have the savory concoction that is Middle School Humanities at St. Mark’s. See students in action as they read, write, think critically, and participate in an important exercise in Middle School scholarship. Rebecca Jenkins, Thomas S. Adams Master Teaching Chair; 6th Grade Humanities; Middle School Academic Coach; Co-Director, St. Mark’s Teacher Institute
Scholastic Journalism: Reporting the Dallas Tornado
Hersh Family Journalism Suite Hoffman Center 109
For seven consecutive years, a St. Mark’s senior has been selected as the Texas High School Journalist of the Year. And in the spring of 2019, The ReMarker newspaper was awarded its 16th consecutive Gold Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association—the longest streak in CSPA’s 94-year history. Visit with the editors-in-chief of the Marksmen yearbook and The ReMarker newspaper as they prepare to publish a special section covering the Dallas tornado. Ray Westbrook, Gene and Alice Oltrogge Master Teaching Chair
Fine Arts Showcase (repeated in Session 2)
Nearburg Hall Atrium and Nearburg Hall 104
St. Mark’s believes in the education of the “whole boy” and encourages Marksmen to seek to achieve their full potential beyond the classroom and athletic fields. We offer boys a wide range of artistic outlets to explore, including our nationally recognized and award-winning programs in photography, ceramics, woodworking, choir, drama, painting and drawing, debate, band and orchestra. The Pride Preview Fine Arts Showcase will feature a performance from the School’s fall production of the Sherman Edwards musical, 1776. Works from our Upper School photography and ceramics program will also be featured. Marion Glorioso-Kirby, Tony Vintcent Fine Arts Department Chair; Upper School Drama Scott Hunt, Arnold E. Holtberg Master Teaching Chair; Photography Instructor; Director of Student Travel
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Campus Highlights Session 2 ~ 7:00–7:30 p.m. Please choose one of the following:
On the Path to Manhood: Character & Leadership in the Middle School
Science Lecture Hall, Winn Science Center
Middle school boys are full of energy, enthusiasm and curiosity. They equally crave the responsibilities of young adulthood and the nurturing support of their parents, teachers, and coaches. As each boy continues down his own Path to Manhood, the Middle School seeks to instill essential concepts, habits, and skills while also introducing new ideas to nurture the development of each boy’s character and capacity for leadership. At this session, the Head of Middle School and the Assistant Head of Middle School will discuss the exciting programs and opportunities available to boys in the Middle School and answer questions from the audience. Dean Clayman, Head of Middle School Jason Lange, Assistant Head of Middle School
Upper School Student Life
Centennial Hall 116
In the Upper School, programmatic studies and a culture of brotherhood promote the six vital qualities of integrity, confidence, judgment, passion, ethics, and balance. The comprehensive curriculum ensures that students gain breadth and depth in all areas of study, going well beyond the acquisition of factual information, to develop keen analytical and problem-solving skills. The Head and Assistant Head of the Upper School, the Junior Class Sponsor, and current students will discuss life in the Upper School and answer your questions about being an Upper School student at St. Mark’s. Colin Igoe, Head of Upper School Chris Disimile, Assistant Head of Upper School Joe Milliet, Suzanne and Patrick McGee Family Master Teaching Chair in Mathematics; Junior Class Sponsor
Lion Pride: The St. Mark’s Athletic Program
W.W. Browning, Jr., Great Hall
The interscholastic sports program teaches boys the value of competition, cooperation, perseverance, and hard work. St. Mark’s fields more Varsity boys’ athletic teams than any other school in the Southwest Preparatory Conference. Come meet the Directors of the most successful athletic program in the Conference. Along with several of our current athletes, the Directors will discuss the program and answer your questions about athletics and physical education at St. Mark’s. Sean Lissemore, Director of Athletics Josh Friesen, Associate Director of Athletics
Fine Arts Showcase (repeated from Session 1)
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Nearburg Hall Atrium and Nearburg Hall 104
Upcoming Admission Events November 20, 2019 ~ Campus Tour December 11, 2019 ~ Morning Coffee January 29, 2020 ~ Campus Tour April 15, 2020 ~ Campus Tour Register online at smtexas.org/visit
Application Deadlines November 20, 2019 ~ Grades 2–4 December 16, 2019 ~ Grade 1 January 8, 2020 ~ Grades 5–11
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REGISTRATION Albert G. Hill Tennis Center Thomas O. Hicks Family Athletic Center Nearburg Hall Fine Arts Wing H. Ben Decherd Fine Arts Center Arthur P. Ruff Field Grandparents’ Courtyard
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Mullen Family Fitness Center W.W. Browning, Jr., Great Hall Perot Family Quadrangle St. Mark’s Chapel D. Gordon Rupe Amphitheater Decherd Performance Hall Fojtasek Family Lower School
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Norma & Lamar Hunt Family Stadium Montgomery Field Silcock Field Morris G. Spencer Gymnasium Ralph B. Rogers Natatorium Robert K. Hoffman Center Ida M. and Cecil H. Green Commencement Theater
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Cecil & Ida Green Library Lower School Playground McDermott-Green Physical Science Building Winn Science Center Centennial Hall A. Earl Cullum, Jr., Alumni Commons
Did You Know? ~ The National Merit Scholarship Program honored 55 seniors in the Class of 2020, naming 26 members of the class National Merit Semifinalists and another 29 Commended Scholars. In each of the past 14 years, more than fifty percent of all St. Mark’s seniors have been named as Finalists, Semifinalists, or Commended Scholars. ~ Dr. Alan Stern, an alumnus from the Class of 1975, is the Principal Investigator of NASA’s New Horizons Mission, which successfully flew by Pluto in July 2015, returning the first surface images of the dwarf planet. On New Year’s Day 2019, the spacecraft flew past Ultima Thule, a Kuiper Belt Object that is now the furthest object explored by man. ~ The mean SAT score for the Class of 2020 is 1,481 on a scale of 1,600 points. ~ St. Mark’s has the highest faculty salaries among independent schools in the Southwest and is in the top 10 percent among schools with enrollments of 500 or more nationally. ~ The Master Teaching Chair program allows St. Mark’s to attract and retain the very best teachers from across the country. Currently, there are 22 endowed faculty positions, including 16 Master Teaching Chairs. ~ The Science Center Project was recently completed with the construction of the Winn Science Center and the renovation of the McDermott-Green Physical Science Building. Together, these two facilities add 75,000 square feet of state-of-the-art learning space, including a planetarium, makerspace, and Lower School science classroom.
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Did You Know? ~ Ty Montgomery, an alumnus from the Class of 2011, currently plays in the National Football League for the New York Jets. ~ For 12 of the last 13 years, the St. Mark’s photography program has been named the “Top Program” in Texas by the Association of Texas Photography Instructors. ~ In 2019, three of St. Mark’s student publications won a Gold Crown, the highest honor given to students from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). The ReMarker student newspaper won its sixteenth consecutive Gold Crown, continuing the longest streak in CSPA’s 94-year history. The Marque literary magazine won its sixth consecutive Gold Crown. The Mini-Marque Middle School literary magazine won its third consecutive Gold Crown. ~ Victor Vescovo, an alumnus from the Class of 1984, has completed the Explorer’s Grand Slam, summiting the highest peaks on all seven continents and reaching both the North and South Poles. In 2019, he completed the historic Five Deeps Expedition, which involved diving to the deepest point in each of the five oceans. Just weeks after breaking the deep-sea diving record in the Mariana Trench, Vescovo returned to St. Mark’s to deliver the Class of 2019’s Commencement Address. ~ St. Mark’s has received the Athletic Directors’ Trophy for the best overall boys’ athletic program in the Southwest Preparatory Conference for 11 of the past 13 years. In the past decade, St. Mark’s has won 31 SPC Division I Championships and 15 State Championships.
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Did You Know? ~ In fiscal year 2019, more than 50 percent of alumni and 87 percent of parents contributed to the St. Mark’s Fund, helping the Fund surpass $4 million for the third consecutive year. Accounting for eleven percent of the School’s annual operating budget, the St. Mark’s Fund helps ensure everyday excellence for every Marksman. ~ In 2016, Steve Miller, an alumnus from the Class of 1961, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joining a class of new inductees that included Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, and N.W.A. ~ A senior from the Class of 2019 was named a United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts, one of only 20 graduating seniors in the country to receive the honor. ~ A senior from the Class of 2019 was named the National High School Journalist of the Year by the Journalism Educators Associations and National Scholastic Press Association. He is also the seventh consecutive St. Mark’s senior selected as the Texas High School Journalist of the Year. ~ Five members of the Class of 2019 made commitments to play college athletics representing Kenyon College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sewanee: The University of the South, the University of California — Los Angeles, and Villanova University. ~ A St. Mark’s seventh-grader competed in the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee, where he was named one of the “Octo-Champs” in an unprecedented eight-way tie.
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Notes
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Lower School Faculty
Head of Lower School Sherri Darver
First Grade
Second Grade
Teri Broom Kay Carrio
Susan Morris Laura Pigg
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Erica Hershner Catherine Wetzel
Debra Materre Shannon Nadalini Lauren Pepe
Lower School Art — Suzuko Davis Lower School Library — Barbara Kinkead Lower School Music — Mary Ann Livengood Lower School Spanish — Emma Noble Lower School Drama — Shannon Schnaible Lower School Science — Matthew Dillon
Administrative Assistant Kathy Mallick
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Office of Admission
David P. Baker Director of Admission & Financial Aid 214.346.8171 baker@smtexas.org
Kerry Schneidewind Assistant Director of Admission & Financial Aid 214.346.8270 schneidewindk@smtexas.org
Korey Mack ’00 Admission Officer 214.346.8197 mackk@smtexas.org
Alicia Alvarez Blaylock Admission Office Coordinator 214.346.8702 aalvarez@smtexas.org
Barbara Johnson Admission Office Administrator 214.346.8248 johnsonb@smtexas.org
St. Mark’s School of Texas does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
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Statement of Purpose St. Mark’s School of Texas is a nonsectarian, college preparatory, independent day school for boys in grades 1 to 12. In accordance with its Charter, the School aims to afford its students well-rounded physical, intellectual, and spiritual education. The School is a diverse community of teachers and students who share a love of learning and who strive for high achievement in whatever they undertake. Challenging studies in the sciences, arts, and humanities form the basis of a St. Mark’s education. Teachers work to instill an enthusiasm for learning, to encourage independent and critical judgment, and to demonstrate the methods for making sound inquiries and for effective communication. To complement this academic experience, St. Mark’s offers boys a rich variety of opportunities for involvement and leadership in the School community, rewarding those who strive as well as those who achieve. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men for assuming leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world. To this end, the School professes and upholds certain values. These values include the discipline of postponing immediate gratification in the interest of earning eventual, hard-won satisfaction; the responsibility of defending one’s own ideas, of respecting the views of others, and of accepting the consequences for one’s own actions; and an appreciation for the lively connection between knowledge and responsibility, privilege, and the obligation to serve.
St. Mark’s School of Texas 10600 Preston Road Dallas, Texas 75230-4047 214-346-8000 www.smtexas.org