St. Mark's School -

To the absolute BEST secretaries — Mrs. Alexander and Mrs. Tigue — Thank you for everything you do to keep us organized, supported, and always smiling. Your dedication, kindness, and hard work never go unnoticed. We appreciate you more than words can say! 💐❤️

Caterpillar 10:1 Match for a limited time! Calling all Caterpillar employees who are friends of St. Mark's School! Beginning on Monday April, 21 Caterpillar will match donations by employees of up to $500 by 10 times! A $500 contribution to St. Mark's School by any Caterpillar employee will be matched with $5,000 by Caterpillar ($100 matched with $1,000, and so on)! This special match program will only last until May 2 or when the allotted match funds of $10 million are gone! If you are a Caterpillar employee (or have any family and friends who work at CAT and would like to support St. Mark’s school) and are interested, we encourage you to give on April 21 or as soon as you are able to ensure that you can take advantage of this incredible opportunity! Thank you for your support of St. Mark’s School! GO MARKSMEN!!!!

As we enter into Holy Week, our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students led walking Stations of the Cross this morning.

While we’re sad to say goodbye to Ms. Freeman, we’re so excited for her as she begins a new adventure at Notre Dame—what a lucky school! With her departure, we’re now looking for a passionate and dedicated middle school math teacher to join our amazing team. Help us spread the word and find the perfect fit for our St. Mark family!

Calling all Marksmen and Friends of SMS! Congress is currently considering a tax credit scholarship program that would provide 100% scholarships to attend private and parochial schools in Peoria including St. Mark's. Families that make under $292,800 would be eligible to receive scholarships under the current proposed legislation. This proposed legislation is called "The Educational Choice for Children Act". Our two local Congressman Rep Sorensen and Rep LaHood will have a critical say on whether this legislation passes and becomes law. Please take a minute to send them a message in support of the ECCA using this link. https://theurbancenter.quorum.us/campaign/115051/

Today we celebrate Mrs. Schafer, our incredible school librarian who goes above and beyond every single day for our students and staff. Whether she’s helping students discover a new favorite book or assisting teachers with resources, Mrs. Schafer does it all with a smile and an inspiring dedication. Thank you, Mrs. Schafer, for your hard work, your kind heart, and your unwavering support of our school community. We’re so lucky to have you! 💛📖💙

So what is it that makes St. Mark's, St. Mark's??? * Our Faith is practiced daily. Students participate in the Stations of the Cross. * Opportunites for strong academics and the fine arts. * Prayer buddies that learn from each other. * Sports and other extra-curricular activities. * A Pastor that is invested in our students and our school. * And a sweetness and love like no other! Come see what being a MARKSMEN is all about!!!!

The SMS Musical, "Broadway Review: Pure Imagination" is less than a month away! Shows are Friday, April 4 at 7 PM and Saturday, April 5 at 2 PM & 7 PM. More information regarding tickets will be out soon!

Here is a "sneak-peek" for the SMS Fine Arts Show! Doors open at 5:30 PM on Saturday, March 8th. Come to the 4:30 PM Mass and then head over to the school. Our students will treat you to some outstanding art work! You can also hear performances from our SMS Choir and the cast of the SMS Musical! See and hear what it's like to be a MARKSMEN!!!!

Calling all Marksmen! Dress in gold tomorrow for St. Jude! Bring in a donation of $1 or more and help us raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We can't wait to cheer on our preschool students as they participate in their 8th Annual Trike-A-Thon too!

Congratulations to our Marksmen Alumni for all their academic achievements at Peoria Notre Dame! We are proud of your hard work and commitment to excellence and you are role models for our current grade school students! Keep up the good work!

Step up to the plate and join us for a fun-filled, educational event. Whether you're a rookie or a pro, our preschool and kindergarten team is ready to show you around! We can’t wait to hit a home run in introducing you to our classrooms and staff. Bring your little ones for activities and a sneak peek into all the fun that awaits at our school. We'll have plenty of snacks, smiles, and a grand slam of excitement! Get ready to catch the spirit of learning as a SMS Marksmen!

Join us for a colorful evening of creativity at our SMS Fine Art Fair! Our students have been busy this year, singing, playing, creating and growing and they are ready to share their talents with you! We would love to see you as we celebrate the students of St. Mark! Explore stunning student artwork and celebrate the artistic talents of our young creators. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled event that inspires and delights!

Please join our PSA for the meeting tonight in the library at 7 PM. GO MARKSMEN!!!

At SMS musical rehearsals are in full swing! Please save the date for the SMS production of "Broadway Revue Pure Imagination!" Friday, April 4, at 7:00 PM Saturday, April 5, at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM It will be a show you do not want to miss!

What a wonderful week at SMS to celebrate Catholic Schools Week! As Father Lampitt said in his homily, "Catholic Schools are worth fighting for!!!!" This week we had the opportunity to celebrate our students, our staff, and our parish! * We began our week with our Living Rosary. * We recognized special guests that are part of our school and parish. * We honored our 8th Grade Girls Volleyball players. * Students had the opporunity to dress as staff members. * And we ended our week with our 8th Grade vs. Facutly Volleyball Game. Come be a MARKSMEN!!! There's always room for one more!!!!

Father Lampitt came to share with our fifth grade class about his call to priesthood. We will continue learning about vocations this week in honor of Catholic Schools Week!

SMS students started the day off right with a delicious breakfast with their buddies! Each buddy class pair wore matching colors and then spent time eating, chatting, and talking about all the reasons they love SMS! We are proud of the community we are building every day at SMS!

The students were absolutely delighted to get a special lunch treat - ice cream! Our Marksmen work so hard each day to learn and grow and we are thrilled to celebrate them today, during Catholic Schools Week 2025!

Congratulations to the 2nd graders who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on January 25! May you celebrate this great gift of God’s mercy often! We look forward to May 4 when you will join us at the Lord’s Table to be nourished with the Holy Eucharist!