Last evening our students put on a wonderful Christmas Concert!!! Our gym was full of children, family, and joy!

Christmas reminds us that we were all children once - and especially God's children!

And - to illustrate our inner child, we had the largest St. Mark's Choir sing-a-long with "Jingle Bells."

Make this Christmas the best ever and make as memories as you possibly can because your children will only be this age once!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." John 3:16

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!
2 days ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
00
00
Together, with our families and community, we work to develop the whole child. We offer rich opportunities for students to excel and explore outside of the classroom, empowering them to stretch themselves, take on new challenges, and grow into capable, confident young people.

Ever wonder what our students do outside of the classroom? Well – it’s a long list but here are just a few:

* Musial performances
* Irish Dance
* Lego League

What will tomorrow bring??!! GO BE A MARKSMEN!!!!
10 days ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
00
00
00

Today we celebrated our Virtue of the Month winners. November's virtue was "Gratitude." Virtues are positive character traits guided by faith that direct us toward goodness and away from sin.

We are also "Grateful" for our Atrium and the Cathechis of the Good Shepherd!

It's great to be a Marksmen!!!! Congratulations to all!!

15 days ago, Tim Dotson
4390672548172090904
00
From all of us at SMS, wishing you and your family a Thanksgiving filled with God’s peace, joy, and overflowing blessings.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

23 days ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
Last Friday our hearts were full as we hosted our Grandparents & Special Persons! Thank you for modeling the Faith for us. We see you at Mass, when you Genuflect, when you Pray – all those examples remind us of what it is to be Catholic!

We are extremely grateful for those relationships! It was great to see different generations interacting and learning from each other.

We then ended our week in Adoration using the Monstrance celebrating 150 years of the Peoria Diocese!

IT’S GREAT TO BE A MARKSMEN!!!!
26 days ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
Happy Principal Appreciation Day to the one and only Mr. Dotson!
The man who can golf 18 holes, play the trumpet like it’s the Salvation Army bell choir, tell the best jokes, drink a Starbucks the size of a baptismal font, AND still greet every kid at the door with a smile.
We don’t know how he does it…
Holy Spirit? Black Coffee? Miracle?
(Probably all three.)
Thanks for leading our school with faith, humor, and a trumpet that absolutely no one asked to hear at 8:00 AM. We appreciate you!
about 1 month ago, St. Mark's School
Untitled design-4
Who is ready for Grandparents/Special Person's Day tomorrow??!!

Are you too excited to sleep??

We are!!!!!!

IT'S GREAT TO BE A MARKSMEN!!!!!!!

about 1 month ago, Tim Dotson
00
Last evening Bishop Louis Tylka bestowed upon our 7th & 8th graders the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation, along with Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. We say that Confirmation completes our Baptism. When we are baptized, we receive the life of the Trinity inside of us. In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit pours out the Gifts we received at Baptism! It will be very exciting to see these Gifts unfold in our newly confirmed ladies and gentlemen!

GO BE A MARKSMEN!!!
about 1 month ago, Tim Dotson
00
Last Friday we had the opportunity to recognize and honor our Veterans for their protection of our Freedoms. We have placed those Freedoms in the "hands" of our Veterans and they have always answered the call! Just as we place our hopes, fears, desires, and prayers in God's Hands - we know He answers our calls, too!!!

* We invited our Veterans to our School Mass.
* Father Lampitt gave our Veterans a special blessing!
* Our choir performed!
* And.....different generations had the opportunity to visit and learn from each other!

May God Bless America and may God Bless St. Mark's Parish and School!!!!
about 1 month ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
Today was just another reason why it is so great to be a Marksmen!!!

We celebrated Mass and recognized our Virture of the Month Students. This month focused on "Respect" - for God, others, and self.

And....our Championship 7th & 8th Grade Boys Soccer Team received their Championship t-shirts!!!!

We are truly blessed at SMS!!!!



about 1 month ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
Our mission at St. Mark's is to .."Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...." MATTHEW 28:19.

The Cathechesis of the Good Sheperd Program, also known as CGS, is a Montessori method to the religious formation of children that is offered at St. Mark's. CGS provides students a "hands -on" approach to living the Faith.

Our Pastor, Fr. Lampitt, also teaches our students the parts of the Mass and how students can be directly involved by being altar servers.

GOD IS GREAT!!!
about 1 month ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
Our St. Mark School community is deeply saddened by the passing of Elisha Gilbert, a 2020 graduate who was part of our school family for many years. We ask you to please keep him and his loved ones in your prayers. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
about 2 months ago, Laurie Petrany
eg
eg
eg
what
her
eh
eg
eg
eg
Ty
Today at St. Mark's our 8th graders made a visit to their 2nd grade Prayer Partners. They read stories to the 2nd graders and then the 2nd graders were able to take an AR test! How awesome is that??!!

It was a great example of the St. Francis Prayer.....

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
Amen.
about 2 months ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
Our 1st Accelerated Reader Party of the year was held last Friday - everyone had a great time! The Accelerated Reader Program encourages students to read independently. Once students finish reading a book they can then take a test to earn points towards their reading goals. Students that made their reading goal were able to attend the party. We know that reading is the gateway to knowledge. In the primary grades you are "learning to read" but then in middle school it's "reading to learn." Students have set their own goals for the next grading period.

Keep reading and see you at the next AR Party!!!!
about 2 months ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
00
00
00
One of our new components this year at SMS is the implementation of the Accelerated Reader Program, or AR as it is called, to our students. Tomorrow will be our first AR Party for grades 5 - 8 that achieved their reading point goals.

What could be in store for tomorrow???!!!!! Remember - reading is knowledge!!
about 2 months ago, Tim Dotson
00
It was another great week at St. Mark's School! Part of our mission is to emphasize the importance of service and giving back. Jesus wants us to do "good works."

* Students gave speeches to serve as officers for Student Council.
* Our 8th graders serve as crossing guards to keep our school safe.
* Our own Mr. Ripp models service by always driving for our fun field trips!
* Mr. Katz came to speak to our 8th graders about the Holocaust.
* FatherLampitt is active at school and scored a goal!
* Our Seminarian Luke Olson spent the day getting to know our students.

Come experience what it means to be a MARKSMEN!!!!!

2 months ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
One of our Faith Formation components at SMS is Virtue Education. A virtue is a good habit that helps us overcome bad habits that can lead to sin. Each month we recognize a student or students in each class who best personify the virtue for that particular month. This month we honored students for our August/September virtue, "Optimism."

Congratulations to all! GO BE A MARKSMEN!!!
2 months ago, Tim Dotson
00
Once again this week at SMS just reminds us why being a MARKSMEN is so great!!!

* 8th Grade visiting the Career Spark Expo.
* 4th Grade reviewing place value.
* 1st Grade learing about mixing primary colors.
* 5th Grade discovering the advantages of worms in our gardens.
* Specialized and individualized instruction for our students.
* Center-based instruction.
* Playground fun with friends and hula hoops!
* Learning Cardinal and Cub fans love thy neighbor!
* And ending our week with the Rosary!

As Father Lampitt reminds us, "Where there is more love, there is more God!!"

3 months ago, Tim Dotson
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
🌟 Happy Custodian Appreciation Day! 🌟
Today we give a huge THANK YOU to our amazing custodians — Carlos, Joe, and Brandon — for all that you do to keep St. Mark School clean, safe, and welcoming each and every day.
Your hard work often goes unseen, but it never goes unnoticed. We are so grateful for your dedication to our students, staff, and families. 💙💛
#CustodianAppreciationDay #ThankYou
3 months ago, Laurie Petrany
Screenshot 2025-10-02 at 9
Screenshot 2025-10-02 at 9
✨💕 Mom’s Night In at St. Mark! 💕✨
What a wonderful evening of laughter, friendship, and community. Thank you to all the amazing moms who came out to relax, connect, and enjoy some well-deserved fun together. 💛💙
3 months ago, Laurie Petrany
IMG_5104
IMG_5103
IMG_5100
IMG_5098
IMG_5096
image0