Getting Ready

Over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen, may be kept in student rooms. Cough syrup is not allowed in the rooms but is available at Health Services. All prescription medications must remain at Health Services for distribution by the nurses.

Fifteen professional musicians teach and coach in the St. Mark’s Music program. Typically, over sixty students participate in our private music lesson program. Lessons are offered for a fee on a non-credit basis, or for credit as part of the Music Studio course. Students may also seek permission to take lessons as an independent study project or in lieu of sports.
Select this link to sign up for private lessons.

Instruction is offered in these areas:

• Keyboard — piano (classical, jazz, pop), classical pipe organ
• Voice — (all styles)
• Strings — violin, viola, cello, bass, Chinese guzheng
• Guitar — acoustic, electric, bass
• Winds — flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon
• Brass — trumpet, trombone, French horn
• Percussion — timpani, drum set, ethnic drumming

As we approach August, I encourage you to take some time to carefully review the St. Mark's Saturday Guide.
It’s essential to understand the parameters and philosophy of this program thoroughly. Please review all the details provided in the guide and make sure to block all the relevant dates on your calendar. Attendance in each class is mandatory for both learning and earning a passing grade. Every student must complete the Confirmation & Registration Form.

SM Saturday Information, Confirmation & Registration

• Review the St. Mark's School Saturday Guide
• Block out all 14 Saturday dates on your family calendars, attendance required at all times
  • Semester One: Sept 14, 21, & 28, Oct 5, Nov 2, 9, & 16
  • Semester Two: Jan 25, Feb 22, Mar 1 & 29, Apr 12 & 26, May 10
• Complete the Confirmation & Registration Form (Open now)
  • Instructions can be found here.

SAT and ACT

• Students must register directly with the College Board or ACT.

• Students with testing accommodations must coordinate with Director of Academic Support Sarah Eslick well in advance of the test date.

• All SAT and ACT exams are held off-campus.

• We can only provide boarding students with transportation to/from Westborough HS, Algonquin HS, Marlborough HS, and Framingham HS for exams. Please note this when registering for exams.

• Students are responsible for reading and responding to emails related to test transportation.

• Students are responsible for following instructions from the testing agencies regarding test-day preparations (computer readiness, admission tickets, identification).

2024-2025 SAT and ACT Test Calendar

ACT Dates: Saturday, September 14, Saturday, October 26, Saturday, December 14, Saturday, February 8, Saturday, April 5

SAT Dates: Saturday, October 5, Saturday, October 26, Saturday, November 2, Saturday, December 7, Saturday, March 8, Saturday, May 3, Saturday, June 7.

PSAT and Practice ACT

We strongly recommend all students take advantage of practice exam opportunities!

• Practice exams are administered at St. Mark’s.

• Students will register for these practice tests through St. Mark’s via Google Forms that will be emailed in September (PSAT) and November/December (Practice ACT).

Saturday, October 26: PSAT for IV and V Formers*
Saturday, January 26: Practice ACT for IV Formers

* PSAT for V Formers includes the National Merit Qualifying Test.

Advanced Placement Exams

While St. Mark’s is NOT an AP school and does not offer AP classes, AP exams are administered on campus each year in early May. Teachers in Advanced classes will discuss course alignment with the relevant test(s) and students will receive registration information in October. Please read the following information regarding AP tests:

• St. Mark’s does not require students to take AP tests.

• U.S.-based colleges and universities do not require AP tests.

• While many colleges and universities do offer college credit for some test scores, earning credit cannot be assumed.

• Admission officers consistently report that they place significantly more value on whether applicants have successfully navigated their respective schools' most challenging academic offerings (based on what makes sense for each student) than on a single test score.

• Each spring, we watch too many students jeopardize their physical and mental health, not to mention their grades in SM courses, as they pursue AP tests. This reality is particularly true for students who choose to self-study for exams that are not directly related to a SM course in which they are currently enrolled.

• We, therefore, strongly discourage students from self-studying for exams and recommend students register for exams only related to courses they are taking/have taken.

Test Preparation

St. Mark’s maintains a relationship with The Academic Approach, a Chicago-based test prep company to provide SAT and ACT classes in the fall and spring. All classes are virtual and occur on Monday and Thursday evenings prior to study hall and also include several online practice exams scheduled on Sunday afternoons. The website includes detailed information, including registration, costs, financial aid, and class schedules.