Ready to become a Future Marksman? 💙💛
Tour our school, meet our teachers, and grab a goodie bag while you’re here!
Tour our school, meet our teachers, and grab a goodie bag while you’re here!
Happy Birthday to the dog who’s attended more church events than most of us combined.
She’s mastered the art of greeting guests, begging for snacks, and looking completely innocent after shredding tissues all over the rectory.
Somehow, she’s never done anything wrong in her entire life… according to her.
Happy Birthday, Roma!
She’s mastered the art of greeting guests, begging for snacks, and looking completely innocent after shredding tissues all over the rectory.
Somehow, she’s never done anything wrong in her entire life… according to her.
Happy Birthday, Roma!
Third Grade took on Champaign! They explored Solar Farm 2.0, learned about renewable energy, ate our weight in Culver’s, and wrapped up the day with a special visit to Holy Cross to see Msgr. Brownsey.
Highlights of the trip included:
🚛 Successfully getting semis to honk on the drive there
😄 Looking extremely official in hard hats and safety glasses
🚻 Only needing ONE bathroom stop for the entire trip (a minor miracle)
🧀 Consuming impressive amounts of cheese curds
Safe to say the kids... and Mrs. Petrany... had a pretty great day!
Highlights of the trip included:
🚛 Successfully getting semis to honk on the drive there
😄 Looking extremely official in hard hats and safety glasses
🚻 Only needing ONE bathroom stop for the entire trip (a minor miracle)
🧀 Consuming impressive amounts of cheese curds
Safe to say the kids... and Mrs. Petrany... had a pretty great day!
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing moms, grandmas, and special women in our St. Mark family!
Thank you for the love, encouragement, late-night homework help, rides to practices, packed lunches, hugs, prayers, and everything in between. Your support helps our students grow, dream big, and shine each and every day. 🌷
As we wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week, we also want to give a HUGE thank you to our incredible PSA for absolutely spoiling our teachers and staff this week! From treats and goodies to thoughtful surprises and kind notes, you made our staff feel so loved and appreciated.
This week was a beautiful reminder that the St. Mark community is truly something special. Thank you for always supporting our teachers, students, and school family.
Where Christ is loved, excellence is expected, character counts, and traditions thrive. 💙💛
Today was one of those days at SMS that you just can't gauge on a standardized test. Students in Kindergarten, 6th Grade, and 7th Grade were the winners of the "Coin Wars" for our annual auction. They were rewarded with a "Foam Party" followed by some ice cream.
Different age groups interacting with each other and having fun all at the same time.........and there is no test that can measure that!!
COME BE A MARKSMEN!
Different age groups interacting with each other and having fun all at the same time.........and there is no test that can measure that!!
COME BE A MARKSMEN!
Third Grade took over the courthouse last week! From the judge’s bench to the “jail cells,” our Marksmen got a behind-the-scenes look at the justice system… and may have tried to sentence each other a few times.
A huge THANK YOU to Judge Bach for the amazing tour and to our County Board Chairman for the VIP parking spot that had the kids convinced we were kind of a big deal!
A huge THANK YOU to Judge Bach for the amazing tour and to our County Board Chairman for the VIP parking spot that had the kids convinced we were kind of a big deal!
Last Friday at SMS we honored our virtue winners for Charity (March) and Mercy (April).
Congratulations to all of our students that were recognized. Part of our mission at St. Mark's is to build and strengthen our Faith!!
As Father Lampitt has shared, "Where there's more love, there's more GOD!"
Congratulations to all of our students that were recognized. Part of our mission at St. Mark's is to build and strengthen our Faith!!
As Father Lampitt has shared, "Where there's more love, there's more GOD!"
We’re only slightly fashionably late… but way too grateful not to post!
Last Friday was Principal Appreciation Day AND School Lunch Hero Day… and let’s just say....we hit the jackpot with BOTH at St. Mark!
Our fearless leader… thank you for your leadership, patience, and for wearing approximately 47 different hats every day (and somehow keeping everything running smoothly!).
And our incredible lunch heroes...
From serving up smiles to keeping our students fueled and ready to learn… you are the real MVPs!
We may be two days late…
…but our appreciation is right on time.
Once a Marksman, Always a Marksman!
More pictures from "Kids Ruled the School" Today - they did a great job!
Our future is bright at SMS!!!!!
Our future is bright at SMS!!!!!
Hello SMS -
This is principal Isiah Strickler letting you know that "Kids Ruled the School" today! We have made some changes that we believe are going to be great and still raise test scores!!!
* Extra PE and recess daily
* No Homework
* Stuffed animals will now be responsible for math
* Chewing gum, popcorn, and ice cream are allowed all day long
(Look for more pictures in the next post)!
It's a GREAT DAY TO BE A MARKSMEN!!!
This is principal Isiah Strickler letting you know that "Kids Ruled the School" today! We have made some changes that we believe are going to be great and still raise test scores!!!
* Extra PE and recess daily
* No Homework
* Stuffed animals will now be responsible for math
* Chewing gum, popcorn, and ice cream are allowed all day long
(Look for more pictures in the next post)!
It's a GREAT DAY TO BE A MARKSMEN!!!
Congratulations to Paul Tomlins and Isaac Lichtenberger who represented St. Mark's last week at the Region 1 Diocesan Spelling Bee. Both Paul and Isaac finished in the top five!
Well done and great job to both!!!
And how do you spell success? MARKSMEN!!!!!
Well done and great job to both!!!
And how do you spell success? MARKSMEN!!!!!
Congratulations to June Mitchell for earning a 1st rating for her flute solo at the IESA Solo & Ensemble contest at Brimfield High School this past weekend!
Our own Mrs. Strauss served as her accompanist and they sounded great together!
And if you haven't heard, we are "getting the band back together" at SMS!
Our own Mrs. Strauss served as her accompanist and they sounded great together!
And if you haven't heard, we are "getting the band back together" at SMS!
Today at SMS we joined the Catholic Braves from the Newman Center for a “Day of Grace” with Mass and a Eucharistic Procession to the Bradley Quad. Eucharistic Adoration was available on the Quad throughout the day!
Jesus is always with us, and we should always spend time in prayer, but when we are with Him in Adoration, He is right in front of us, truly present - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity - in the Holy Eucharist!
Just another reason to be a MARKSMEN!!!! (And all the reasons are truly great!!!)
Jesus is always with us, and we should always spend time in prayer, but when we are with Him in Adoration, He is right in front of us, truly present - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity - in the Holy Eucharist!
Just another reason to be a MARKSMEN!!!! (And all the reasons are truly great!!!)
The importance of young children learning to play and socialize is huge—it’s not just about having fun, it’s how they build the foundation for almost everything else in life.
Today in Preschool students were learning their capital and lower case letters and enjoying "play" - something we can all still learn to do!
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
Today in Preschool students were learning their capital and lower case letters and enjoying "play" - something we can all still learn to do!
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
🎶💙 Little voices, BIG praise 💙🎶
Today our St. Mark students filled the church with beautiful music as we gathered for Mass on this Wednesday of Holy Week. From the choir loft to the pews, their voices were a reminder to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for what’s to come.
Even in the quiet moments of Holy Week… our Marksmen know how to lift it up in song.
Today our St. Mark students filled the church with beautiful music as we gathered for Mass on this Wednesday of Holy Week. From the choir loft to the pews, their voices were a reminder to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for what’s to come.
Even in the quiet moments of Holy Week… our Marksmen know how to lift it up in song.
🛑 Breaking News from St. Mark
A mysterious explosion of SILLY STRING has taken over the blacktop…
Suspects include:
✔️ Students
✔️ Mr. Dotson
✔️ Anyone within spraying distance
All jokes aside... this mess was WELL earned! These classes brought in the most donations for our canned food drive and celebrated in the best (and messiest) way possible!
Faith in action… with a little chaos!
A mysterious explosion of SILLY STRING has taken over the blacktop…
Suspects include:
✔️ Students
✔️ Mr. Dotson
✔️ Anyone within spraying distance
All jokes aside... this mess was WELL earned! These classes brought in the most donations for our canned food drive and celebrated in the best (and messiest) way possible!
Faith in action… with a little chaos!
We told the Marksmen to “open a book”…
they took that VERY seriously 📖😂
they took that VERY seriously 📖😂
Each month at St. Mark's we have a virtue of the month. In February, the virtue we focused upon was "Hope." Hope is a gift from God. It enables us to desire eternal happiness and to trust in Christ and His promises to obtain it.
Congratulations to these students who represented the Virtue of Hope!!
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." HEBREWS 10:23
Congratulations to these students who represented the Virtue of Hope!!
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." HEBREWS 10:23
While it has been a rather long winter, we are staying busy at SMS! The cold weather does not stop us!
• Our Annual Art Fair was last weekend. Thank you to Mrs. Tomlins and all of our outstanding artists!
• Paul Tomlins and Issac Lichtenberger will represent SMS in the Diocesan Spelling Bee in April.
• Jay Highfill competed in in the 2026 USA Champion International Taekwondo Championship in Hammond, Indiana. He placed 3rd in both sparring and breaking.!
Come be a MARKSMEN and get involved! Remember, there is always room for one more!!!!!
• Our Annual Art Fair was last weekend. Thank you to Mrs. Tomlins and all of our outstanding artists!
• Paul Tomlins and Issac Lichtenberger will represent SMS in the Diocesan Spelling Bee in April.
• Jay Highfill competed in in the 2026 USA Champion International Taekwondo Championship in Hammond, Indiana. He placed 3rd in both sparring and breaking.!
Come be a MARKSMEN and get involved! Remember, there is always room for one more!!!!!
Kindergarten Roundup is THIS Friday!
📅 Feb. 27 | ⏰ 8:00–9:00 AM
📍 St. Mark School – 711 N Underhill, Peoria
Meet the teacher, explore the classroom, and get excited for kindergarten!
We can’t wait to meet the Class of 2039!
📅 Feb. 27 | ⏰ 8:00–9:00 AM
📍 St. Mark School – 711 N Underhill, Peoria
Meet the teacher, explore the classroom, and get excited for kindergarten!
We can’t wait to meet the Class of 2039!
