Benefits of Attending St. Mark’s School
Spritiual and Moral Values
At St. Mark’s Catholic School your child receives an education that is grounded in the Roman Catholic faith. Spiritual and moral development permeates the entire curriculum at St. Mark’s. Many non-Catholic families also benefit from the fruits of an education that focuses on the total student: body, mind and spirit.
Student’s spiritual education goes beyond the daily textbook lessons. St. Mark’s students grow spiritually through daily prayer, weekly Mass, awareness and involvement in social justice issues, community service, Advent and Lenten group prayer and reflection, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, Reconciliation and Sacramental preparation. Eighth grade leaders are trained as peer mentors in leading the school population against bullying.
Academics
St. Mark’s students learn from a challenging curriculum which meets and exceeds Diocesan and State curriculum guidelines in science, health, social studies, math, language arts, reading, religion, P.E., and music. They learn to demonstrate academic excellence while preparing for life-long personal and spiritual growth experiences. They also learn to produce quality work and develop a strong work ethic, positive attitude, personal responsibility, time management, self assessment, spirit of perseverance, intrinsic motivation, and self-confidence. Students continually meet or exceed standards on statewide assessments.
Measuring our Success
Information regarding individual student accomplishment is shared by classroom teachers through report cards and periodic parent contact during the course of the year. Up to date grade information is available using the school’s on-line grading program (PowerSchool). Many teachers also use e-mail and phone calls to keep parents apprised of student academic performance and behavior. Samples of student’s work and portfolios are also sent home weekly for review by a parent. Student led conferences in the younger grades have been used to share the “growth story” from each student’s point of view. see charts
Analysis of data derived from standardized testing is shared with teachers and reviewed for ramifications regarding instructional practices. This is done at the beginning and at the conclusion of each school year.
Student performance at St. Mark’s School is measured using informal assessments, standardized assessments that are part of the Diocesan program for student assessment (MAP tests), or assessments that are part of the State of Idaho assessments.
Safe Environment
St. Mark’s School community works hard to insure a healthy and safe learning environment for all students. Diocesan policies regarding a “Safe Environment” are adhered to and the school seeks to develop the whole person as part of the wellness policy. Every parent that volunteers in the school or at any school activity must complete the Diocese of Boise safe environment workshop, and undergo a background check. The schoolwide learning expectations address those areas that are seen as critical to the establishment of a learning environment that is safe and secure for all learners while expecting them to utilize God’s gifts to the best of their ability.
Community Service
St. Mark’s students, staff, and parents are a s
ignificant presence in both the Parish and the Boise Community. Each student in every grade level is required to perform community service hours during the school year. A large portion of school families, staff and students are involved with Rake Up Boise, a yearly community clean up. The school is also involved with Jump Rope for Heart, the Red Ribbon Week, food drives, coat drives, book drives etc. A school recycling program was started last year and parents are encouraged to use the school bus to cut down on the number of cars traveling to and from school each day.
Extracurricular Activities
Over 85% of 5th-8th grade students participate in sports
programs including: football, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, tennis, track, and cross country.
Each year over 50 students from the 6th-8th grade compete in the regional Science Olympiad competition. Students are encouraged to participate in local and state writing and art contests. Cub scouts, Boy scouts, Brownies and Girl scouts are active in the school
The St. Mark’s School choir performs at local public junior high schools as well as nursing homes and retirement centers. The school mass choir sings at all student liturgies.
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