Beyond Curriculum
We know more today about student learning than we have at any other time in the history of formal education. While many traditional foundations remain effective, many new methods for learning are emerging. As stewards of our students’ intellectual curiosity, we commit ourselves to exploring engaging opportunities for our students to embrace their passion for discovery.
- Zero Hour
- Middle School Electives
- Library
- Service Learning
- Social-Emotional Learning
- Leadership Opportunities
- National Junior Honor Society
- Academic Enrichment & Support
- Awards
Zero Hour
Zero Hour takes place before the regular school day starts each morning from 7:40 - 8:25 AM. Our Zero Hour program expands the school day in order to broaden our ability to meet the varied needs of our students and families, providing advanced opportunities in both core academics and the arts for our students who are ready for the next level.
Middle School Electives
Our middle school electives are designed and categorized into four collections: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Communications, and STEM. As we prepare our middle schoolers for the path ahead, we recognize that resilience, grit, and autonomy can be learned during the process of selecting their own electives and deciding whether to explore the variety of options we offer or dive down deep into a specific collection. Students attend electives every day, and most electives take place 3 out of 6 days in a rotation, allowing students to take 2 unique electives each trimester.
Library
The St. Mark's Library is located on the second floor of our campus, where it provides students with a warm and engaging space to read, study, research, create, and relax. Boasting over 15,000 volumes, the St. Mark's library is a well-stocked and well-loved place on our campus. St. Mark's students love to read!
By providing the best collection possible, our librarians aim to foster a lifelong love of books, libraries, and reading. Maintaining a multitude of materials that support school curriculum, a culture of diversity, and interdisciplinary units, our library offers quality readers’ advisory and reference services. Our librarians share not only a passion for reading, but also a high level of creativity, which allows them to offer special programming to promote a love of reading.
Reading Lists
To view age-appropriate reading lists from HAISLN (Houston Area Independent School Library Network), click here.
The 2X2 Reading List consists of picture book titles chosen by the Texas Library Association and recommended for children age two to 2nd grade.
In addition, students entering the 3rd through 6th grades should check out the Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominees. 3rd grade students should read or listen to 8 or more, and 4th through 6th graders should read or listen to 10 or more in order to qualify for the Bluebonnet Breakfast in early March.
6th through 8th graders may participate in the Texas Lone Star Award program. Any 6th through 8th grader who reads 6 or more of the Lone Star titles will be invited to the annual Lone Star Sundae Bar in the spring semester.
Kristin Uptmor, Primary and Lower School Librarian
Laurie Mitchell, Librarian
Service Learning
Service Learning
As an Episcopal school, we are dedicated to teaching our students to look beyond themselves and develop into people with a heart for service.
Our service learning program aims to provide each student with opportunities for serving the wider community each school year.
As we prepare our students for life after St. Mark's, we hope that they illustrate global awareness, responsible citizenship, gratitude, empathy, and service to others.
In our Primary and Lower School, grade level teachers work with the school chaplain to choose and carry out an age-appropriate service project each year that can be completed on campus. Students combine learning and action to better their local and wider community.
In our Middle School, students venture out into the community to serve those in need. This includes trips to the Houston Food Bank, Houston Care Partners Dementia Day Center, and the Beacon Homeless Day Center, among other activities. Each week students attend a service learning class, taught by our School Chaplain, where they learn about the issue that they will be addressing. This "learning" allows them to truly understand the issues facing our community.
Students are also given the opportunity to engage in a variety of additional outreach projects throughout the year, including projects organized by grade levels, Student Council, National Junior Honor Society, or individual students. In addition, our strong partnership with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church extends opportunities for families to serve together outside of school hours.
Social-Emotional Learning
Life 101
Life 101 is St. Mark's character development program for our middle school students, which focuses on social and emotional topics such as building empathy, respect, kindness, confidence, identity, and self-esteem. These groups meet twice a month with their Life 101 leader. The group members will be in the same grade and same gender. Please note that Life 101 is not group therapy, nor is it a time or space to discuss individual students or groups of students. The meetings are designed to bring relevant topics about character and good citizenship up in a way that specifically addresses our commitment to guiding students toward our Portrait of a Graduate.
Leadership Opportunities
Our goal is to empower students to find their voice and recognize how to make a difference in their community.
- 8th Grade Ambassadors are our student admission leaders who participate in campus tours and open houses, interact with visiting prospective students and parents, and speak at admission events throughout the year. Our visitors are complimentary of their interactions with our students, specifically our Ambassadors. Not only do they provide authentic student perspectives, but they bring our Portrait of a Graduate to life.
- The Connections Committee plans grade level and inter-grade level events and keeps our community connected. Students from each grade level are nominated by their teachers for positions on this committee.
- The Hospitality Committee welcomes all our students to school and assist with community events. These middle schoolers meet outside bright and early to be the first smiling faces for our community as students arrive each day.
- Student Council representatives work throughout the year to support school-wide events like Scarborough Fair, Winter Wonderland with Santa, and all-school assemblies. They also plan and organize the grade-level spring socials while working on a budget and event planning, as well as work with the school administration to discuss and enhance the middle school experience at St. Mark's. Student Council is made up of two representatives per middle school grade level, who are chosen by their peers in an anonymous election.
National Junior Honor Society
The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter of St. Mark’s Episcopal School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in five areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship, and character. Standards for selection are established by the national office of NJHS and have been revised to meet our local chapter needs. Students are selected to be members by a six-member Faculty Council, appointed by the Head of Middle School, which bestows this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school each March.
Academic Enrichment & Support
What does the Student Support Team do?
By implementing tools like our Reading Room program, a full-time learning specialist, extensive teacher education, classroom differentiation, extensive programming in Zero Hour, and the Academic Achievement Center, we are responding to the needs of each of our students. We train our students to employ tactical steps and approaches to help them learn how they learn. By the time they graduate, our students are empowered to articulate their own needs and learning preferences. We are a place where students feel confident asking for clarification, seeking additional opportunities to learn more, and finding their voice. Our students become fearless learners, unencumbered to take on new challenges and stretch themselves.
What is the Academic Achievement Center?
The Academic Achievement Center (AAC) is a multi-use space designed to be a peaceful location where students can complete classroom assignments, work with other students, perfect a learning extension project, or receive additional instructional support from teachers or learning specialists. The AAC is outfitted with large whiteboards, sensory tools, and a variety of flexible seating options in the learning environment and style that best suits their preferences. The AAC is available for drop-ins before and after school as well.
Reading Room
The Reading Room program exists to serve students with diagnosed reading differences as a comprehensive literacy intervention that combines the Basic Language Skills course from Neuhaus Education Center with an Orton Gillingham approach. Our program helps children develop essential reading and language skills in a structured and supportive environment. The Reading Room program offers personalized instruction and ongoing support, empowering your child to become a confident and proficient reader and writer.
The Student Support Team
Charlotte Mata, Reading Specialist
Dr. Ping Liu, Learning Specialist
Sarah Aylsworth, Dean of Teaching & Learning
Awards
Students have opportunities to earn special recognition during the school year in both academic and enrichment activities. Recognition of these achievements is made throughout the year and at an Award Assembly near the end of each school year.
- The St. Mark’s Cup is presented to the 8th grade student who best embraces the challenges of a robust educational experience and is ethically and spiritually motivated to make a positive contribution to the school community and the world. This student goes above and beyond what is expected by displaying leadership, respect for others, and exhibits inclusivity.
- The Ambassador Award is given to the 8th Grade ambassador who most exemplifies outstanding character and demonstrates what it means to be respectful, responsible, and kind. This student embodies the Portrait of a St. Mark’s Graduate through his or her representation of our school to prospective families and other guests, demonstrating flexibility of thought and action, empathy, self-awareness, gratitude, and respect for all people. This award recipient is chosen by the Admission Director.
- The Dorinda Howard Faculty Award is presented to the 8th Grade student who consistently strives for and attains high academic achievement through their resilience, ownership of learning, initiative, and a fearless pursuit of knowledge. Presented in honor of Dorinda Howard, Dorinda personified the Characteristics of Professional Excellence, the standards that guide our work as teachers, lifelong learners, and community members. She engaged children and inspired learning; she was passionate and selfless in her dedication to St. Mark’s; and she was always respectful in her interactions with parents, colleagues, and students. For over 30 years, she was the master teacher at St. Mark’s.
- The Scholastic Virtue Award is given to 2 students in each middle school grade who display consistent effort to adopt a growth mindset as evidenced in their attention to addressing challenges, learning from mistakes, accepting feedback, displaying perseverance, asking questions, and taking risks in his or her learning. The recipients of this award are chosen by the grade level advisors.
- The Heart of a Leader Award is given to two students in each grade who display remarkable effort to consistently work effectively with others and, thus, by his or her actions, add value to a group experience. The recipients of this award are chosen by the grade level teams.
- The Sallie Wilson Sportsmanship Award is presented to one 8th grade female athlete and one 8th grade male athlete whose actions and attitude most exemplify the ideals of sportsmanship, including fairness, civility, honesty, selflessness, respect, and responsibility towards their teammates, coaches, officials, opponents, and fans. This award is voted on by the entire coaching staff.
- The Hospitality Award is presented to the 8th Grade Hospitality Club member who was most consistent and enthusiastic in his or her role as Middle School Greeter this year. This student arrived on time for Hospitality duty with a positive attitude and a smiling face to welcome our community to school.
- The Academic Excellence Award is presented to one 8th grade student who demonstrates a consistent effort in producing high quality work, participating appropriately in class, and has achieved a high record of academic performance across all subject areas. The recipient of this award is chosen by the grade level teachers.
- Content Area Awards are presented to 8th grade students who take risks to further their learning, consistently display a growth mindset, and show a passion for discovery in a specific content area. The recipients of these awards are chosen by the content area teacher.
- The Growth Mindset Award is presented to an 8th grader who has shown consistent will and effort to take challenges head on, ask questions, and learn from mistakes, and who demonstrates a positive attitude toward self improvement.
- The Leader of the Pride Award is presented to a male athlete and a female athlete in each of the middle school grades, whose actions demonstrate what it means to be a leader on the field of play. After all, leadership is not a title; it’s an action. The award is voted on by the entire coaching staff and embodies the concept of competing for your teammates rather than with your teammates (multiple sport participation preferred, but not required). Leadership and pride in athletics at St. Mark’s is defined as Prowess, Respect, Integrity, Devotion, and Empathy.
- The Visual Arts Award goes to the student that has a unique understanding of the creative process, elements of design, and fundamentals of art. This student enthusiastically approaches each art project, and his or her passion is reflected in their work.
- The Performance Arts Awards recognize students for their growth and skills shown through our two musical performances of the year. For each show, awards are given for Outstanding Lead, Outstanding Supporting Lead, Outstanding Singer, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Dancer, Outstanding Honorable Mention, Outstanding Stage Management, Outstanding Scenic Design, and Outstanding Sound.