Academics
- Summer Reading
- Textbook Information
- Technology
- Private Music Lessons
- Academic Programs
- Signature Programs
Summer Reading
English Department Required Summer Reading
There is required summer reading for students at each grade level. Please bring your book to St. Mark’s when the school year begins. Your English teacher will expect you to write about your summer reading text at some point during the first weeks of school and will use the text as a touchstone throughout the year
III Form - Writing Workshop
Required for all III Form Students
All III Formers will read Walking in Two Worlds by Wab Kinew.
While the trials of the main characters, Indigenous and Chinese respectively, are featured in the novel, Writing Workshop's approach to Walking in Two Worlds will include an in-depth examination of the ways many nations have excluded or targeted minorities within their populations. St. Mark's highly values belonging and inclusion, and the III Form English teachers will use the text as an opportunity to discuss the intersection between personal identity and community. In addition to rewarding discussions on resilience, strength, communication, and celebration, we will work to answer this question: How do you connect with your community while staying true to yourself and your cultural identity?
IV Form - Survey of Literary Genres
V Form - Inquiry and Revelation
All V Formers will read Chemistry by Weike Wang
“At first glance, the quirky, overworked narrator of Weike Wang’s debut novel seems to be on the cusp of a perfect life: she is studying for a prestigious PhD in chemistry that will make her Chinese parents proud (or at least satisfied), and her successful, supportive boyfriend has just proposed to her. But instead of feeling hopeful, she is wracked with ambivalence: the long, demanding hours at the lab have created an exquisite pressure cooker, and she doesn’t know how to answer the marriage question. When it all becomes too much and her life plan veers off course, she finds herself on a new path of discoveries about everything she thought she knew. Smart, moving, and always funny, this unique coming-of-age story is certain to evoke a winning reaction.” (Penguin Random House)
VI Form Electives
Required for all VI Form Students
Summer Reading Anthology for VI Form Students
This summer, among the many amazing things you'll be doing, the English Department has required summer reading for you in the form of an anthology created by the VI Form English teachers. You should read each piece in the anthology, even if you think you identify some as for your particular electives.
We hope you enjoy the interesting selection of readings!
“In the Old Days” by Edwidge Danticat (21 pages)
“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (10 pages)
“Baseball Magic” by George Gmelch (6 pages)
“Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka (28 pages)
“On the Marionette Theatre” by Heinrich von Kleist (5 pages)
“The Paper Menagerie” By Ken Liu (9 pages)
“The Premature Burial” by Edgar Allan Poe (11 pages)
Poetry Selection (8 pages)
“Rear Window” by Cornell Woolrich (22 pages)
Textbook Information
Many of the books used in our courses have online components, which cannot be purchased with used books. For this reason, textbooks are distributed on the first day of class. Faculty provide our bookstore with a list of the books a student has received, and the bookstore charges the student's Lion Card.
All books and supplies will be available for purchase in our bookstore.
Technology
The school’s technology system provides a communications network within the school, educational resources and access to the internet. Use of this system is dependent upon members of the community abiding by the standards outlined in the School Handbook. If you have any questions about this access, the community standards, or the technology needed to use this system, please contact the Academics Office (DeanofAcademics@stmarksschool.org), the Dean of Students Office (DeanofStudentsOffice@stmarksschool.org) or the Technology Department (Helpdesk@stmarksschool.org).
Computer Hardware and Software Requirements: The school supports both Windows and Macintosh computers on the network. All student rooms have wired access to the network and an ethernet cable (RJ45) is required. In most areas of the school, wireless access is also available. For more details on the Technology Requirements please check the link to the right.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
MS Office is the school standard and can be downloaded, free of charge, from the MS Office online portal using your St. Mark’s credentials. Additional information for this process will be provided during Orientation.
Please note: St. Mark’s does not allow attaching personal wireless devices (including wireless routers) to the data network
Private Music Lessons
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
Academic Programs
Course Registration
An email will be sent to new students and parents/guardians in early May with links to Course Request Forms and Placement Tests. If you have questions about courses, please contact the Academics Office. Select this link to learn more about the academic departments.
Academic Placement materials are released in early May and due May 26.
Signature Programs
St. Mark’s educational philosophy is to advance three core values: intellect, character, and leadership. By advancing these core values in a developmentally appropriate method, St. Mark’s provides an education of consequence, sending into the world individuals who are prepared to make a meaningful difference in whatever arena they choose to focus their talents.
Our commitment to innovation as well as to interdisciplinary, experiential and community based learning is what sets us apart and is at the core of what our Signature Programs are built on.