St. Mark School in Bristol roars back mightier than ever

BRISTOL BOROUGH - St. Mark School recently proved that it truly is as mighty as a lion. Like the lion, the mightiest of beasts, St. Mark recently triumphed, winning its appeal to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia keeping the school doors open. This victory revealed what many have known for nearly 125 years about this school on the Delaware River. It offers a perfect environment to learn nurturing the mind, body and soul.

St. Mark provides a superior academic program including foreign language study and a renewed emphasis on art, music and band instrumentation. Working with the staff of The Margaret R. Grundy Library, an enrichment program reinforces what is taught in the classroom as well as provides more than the ordinary level of work. The faculty recently attended the Connelly Foundation’s Summer Tech Academy, an advanced faculty enrichment course offered to enhance the ability of Catholic elementary school teachers to effectively instruct 21st Century students. Seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and College also assist with classroom instruction. This combination of investments has resulted in a high matriculation rate of students attending Archdiocesan high schools.

A 2012 eighth grade graduate won a prestigious Neumann Scholarship. This scholarship program identifies academically talented eighth grade students through an independently administered competitive examination and provides a four year scholarship to attend an Archdiocesan high school of choice. To maintain this rigor and mo- mentum, Reverend Dennis M. Mooney, Pastor of St. Mark Parish established a School Advisory Board. Its mission is to ensure St. Mark School is a model school, both spiritually and academically; to pave the way for enhanced and continued excellence and to maintain financial strength and long-term sustainability.

Significant interior improvements to the school were also completed in the summer including a remodeled and modernized school kitchen. This will be an important asset when the revamped and expanded CYO program is launched featuring soccer, basketball, track and field and the introduction of lacrosse fundamentals. Watching over all this activity is the recently dedicated statue, Our Lady of Bristol, situated in the school yard overlooking the Delaware River, blessed by our former parish priest, Bishop John McIntyre.

A lot is happening at St. Mark School. To learn more visit www.stmarkbristol.com or call 215-785-0973 to arrange a personal tour.

It’s not a surprise or a coincidence that the school’s mascot, a lion, is the king of the jungle.