St. Mark School is celebrating a storied milestone this year B
RISTOi BOROrGH - St. Mark School is celebrating a storied milestone this year. For 125 years it has provided quality Catholic education to the youth of Bucks County.
Several children in St. Mark are third or fourth generation in the school. Parents and grandparents who graduated from St. Mark are seen at special events, sports programs and at classroom teas. There are many celebrations that stress both family ties and Catholic identity. ParHntV wLOOLnJOy VaFULfiFH tR send their children into an environment that weaves deep spiritual values and academic excellence.
Many of St. Mark’s older generations remember the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary instructing them by rote memorization of subjects such as religion, geography, history, English, music and arithmetic. iatin had at one time also been included in the curriculum. Those grandparents were the generation that laid the foundation for what would become a new world order based on technology and innovation.
That children today have technological aids that enable them to learn more at a younger age is a direct legacy of our Catholic school traditions. Today most teachers are lay teachers but they are hLJhOy TuaOLfiHG, FRPPLttHG to their students, and just as prepared to impart the tenets of their faith as the sisters were.
The core disciplines that are used as a basis for education have yielded dividends that offer graduates opportunities for a bright future. In the last four years the following results highlight this proven approach to delivering a quality Catholic education:
• A UHFHnt HLJhth JUaGH student was awarded a Neumann Scholarship to attend the Catholic high school of her choice. These competitive scholarships recognize broad-based academic talent and potential.
• AnRthHU HLJhth JUaGH graduate recently won an art scholarship to Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland. Villa Joseph is a private Catholic college preparatory school for young women.
• A UHFHnt St. 0aUN JUaGuate was just selected as a 2013 National Merit ScholaUVhLS VHPL-finaOLVt, whLFh places him in the top 1 percent in the country in terms of academic performance and makes him eligible for college scholarships to the most prestigious schools in the country. The National Merit Scholarship program LGHntLfiHV aFaGHPLF taOHnt from a pool of future leaders.
These are only a few examples of the farreaching accomplishments of young people who OHaUnHG thHLU ABCV anG their faith traditions at St. Mark School. Students can supplement their academics and computer training with Iun-fiOOHG aFtLYLtLHV VuFh aV sports and music.
The CYO program offers EaVNHtEaOO, tUaFN anG fiHOG and soccer; sports that exercise young limbs and teach young minds rules, sportsmanship and fair play.
Through the music program children learn percussion, brass or string instruments from individual lessons or as part of the school band.
There is nothing insular about St. Mark School. The students are part of the community. They march in the Christmas parade and the older students participate in community projects that reach the elderly, very young and those in need.
The mascot of the school is the lion, in honor of the power of the gospel written by St. Mark the Evangelist, and in honor of the power RI thH LnfluHnFH Rn VtuGHntV, parish and community. St. Mark School’s roar can be heard loud and clear now, and will continue to be for the next 125 years.