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.
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.
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.
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!!!!
Keep reading and see you at the next AR Party!!!!
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!!
What could be in store for tomorrow???!!!!! Remember - reading is knowledge!!
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!!!!!
* 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!!!!!
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!!!
Congratulations to all! GO BE A MARKSMEN!!!
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!!"
* 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!!"
🌟 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
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
✨💕 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. 💛💙
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. 💛💙
Today the Saint Joseph Newman Center sponsored a Day of Grace, and our SMS students were able to participate. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with Jesus, and be thankful for all of the blessings that He bestows upon us! Our Lord loves us and wants us to be near him!
"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
No two weeks are ever the same at SMS, but ever week we develop the mind, body, and spirit. Want to see what you missed??!!!!!
* 2nd graders learning the parts of the Mass.
* Students participating in the Mass by presenting the gifts.
* Kindergarten learning about shapes and movements.
* 8th grade exploring the rules of exponents.
* Our choir signing at our school Mass.
* 4th grade studying 9-11 and understanding how important God and freedom are for our country.
* Our baseball team playing in regional play and displaying sportsmanship afterwards.
* Learning that every day is a good day to wear a hat!
* And....knowing that it is alway best to hold hands and stick together!!!!!
MARKSMEN are the BEST!!!!!!
* 2nd graders learning the parts of the Mass.
* Students participating in the Mass by presenting the gifts.
* Kindergarten learning about shapes and movements.
* 8th grade exploring the rules of exponents.
* Our choir signing at our school Mass.
* 4th grade studying 9-11 and understanding how important God and freedom are for our country.
* Our baseball team playing in regional play and displaying sportsmanship afterwards.
* Learning that every day is a good day to wear a hat!
* And....knowing that it is alway best to hold hands and stick together!!!!!
MARKSMEN are the BEST!!!!!!
At St. Mark's we are challenged to "make disciples of all nations." We are committed to nurturing every student — mind, body, and spirit. However, sometimes we learn more from our students than they learn from us! Yesterday we had a loose tooth that was "wiggly." Today - it was even more "wigglierly." :)
"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 was the Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa was always a loving servant to the poor and those in need. At today's Mass, Father Lampitt encouraged us to pray for someone that might be "hard to love." We finished our week at SMS with the Rosary in our Grotto, asking Mary our Mother to intercede for us.
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."
- Mother Teresa
GOD IS GREAT!!!!
"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."
- Mother Teresa
GOD IS GREAT!!!!
Yesterday Owen Johnson and Zach Perry represented St. Mark's and St Vincent De Paul in the IESA State Golf series at Parkview Golf Course in Pekin. Golf is a sport that teaches you just as much about yourself as about the game itself. The boys:
* Made some great shots!
* Learned how to navigate the shots that were "not as good."
* Represented St. Mark's and St. Vincent De Paul so very well!
* And....at the end of the round, displayed great sportsmanship by congratulating their playing partners on thier round!
Who wants to join next year??!!!!
* Made some great shots!
* Learned how to navigate the shots that were "not as good."
* Represented St. Mark's and St. Vincent De Paul so very well!
* And....at the end of the round, displayed great sportsmanship by congratulating their playing partners on thier round!
Who wants to join next year??!!!!
Today at SMS we celebrate and honor Father Bernard's birthday! We are grateful to have him here with us! And now Father Bernard has his own St. Mark's story to tell!! Happy Birthday - may God continue to Bless you and your Priesthood!!!
Every Friday at SMS, our students attend an All-School Mass and today is the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Father Lampitt encouraged all of us to pick one person to pray for that Mary, our Blessed Mother, can intercede to her son Jesus. The Gospel also spoke to us about the most important commandment, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all you heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." MATTHEW 22: 34 - 40
At SMS, we try to live by those commandments:
* Our Mother, Mary, intercedes for us!
* Our staff helping students enter the building joyfully!
* Siblings supporting each other for a good day at school!
* Mentoring across all grade levels!
* Sharing a snack, especially a cheese stick, with each other!
* And teaching Mr. Dotson how to open a bag of apples when he can't do it!
GOD IS GREAT! What a Wonderful Week to be a MARKSMEN!!!!!!
At SMS, we try to live by those commandments:
* Our Mother, Mary, intercedes for us!
* Our staff helping students enter the building joyfully!
* Siblings supporting each other for a good day at school!
* Mentoring across all grade levels!
* Sharing a snack, especially a cheese stick, with each other!
* And teaching Mr. Dotson how to open a bag of apples when he can't do it!
GOD IS GREAT! What a Wonderful Week to be a MARKSMEN!!!!!!
What a great Opening Day at SMS! Our students and families "Knocked It Out Of The Park!" A new school year always generates excitement, along with some nervousness, too. However, our staff and students made everyone feel welcome -ready to take on new beginnings and new challenges. The building is just never the same without our students so here is a litle snapshot of the day:
* Parents taking pictures for the first day of school.
* It's new year = new fist bumps!
* Classrooms filled with students!
* Even our playground felt appreciated again!
* Father Lampitt and Father Bernard made welcoming visits, too!!
Be a part of something special - BE A MARKSMEN!!!!!!!
* Parents taking pictures for the first day of school.
* It's new year = new fist bumps!
* Classrooms filled with students!
* Even our playground felt appreciated again!
* Father Lampitt and Father Bernard made welcoming visits, too!!
Be a part of something special - BE A MARKSMEN!!!!!!!
At SMS, we are ready for "Opening Day" for the 2025 - 2026 school year!!! Our staff is excited to begin another amazing year full of learning, growth, and new adventures. God wants us all to be the best version of ourselves! Let’s support each other, stay curious, and make it one of our best school years yet!
"ONCE A MARKSMEN, ALWAYS A MARKSMEN!!!!!"
"ONCE A MARKSMEN, ALWAYS A MARKSMEN!!!!!"
Thank you to everyone that came out for the Taste of St. Mark's last Saturday! It truly was a great day to celebrate all there is about our parish, our school, and our community!
* We had several families bring thier children to visit their classroom, meet their teachers, and rekindle those relationships with friends!
* Special thanks to the Men's Club and PSA for sponsoring the Taste of St. Mark's!
* And in a true sense of community, several of our families attended the West Peoria Mass sponsored by the Heading Avenue Fransican Sisters on Sunday.
* The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Tylka and concelebrated by Father Lampitt. Our own Peter Taylor helped serve.
How Blessed We Are At St. Mark's!!!!!!!
* We had several families bring thier children to visit their classroom, meet their teachers, and rekindle those relationships with friends!
* Special thanks to the Men's Club and PSA for sponsoring the Taste of St. Mark's!
* And in a true sense of community, several of our families attended the West Peoria Mass sponsored by the Heading Avenue Fransican Sisters on Sunday.
* The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Tylka and concelebrated by Father Lampitt. Our own Peter Taylor helped serve.
How Blessed We Are At St. Mark's!!!!!!!
Summer is a wonderful time to share with family and friends! While that time is definitely needed, our school is not the same without our students. You may have wondered - what's going on at SMS? Well - here is a small snapshot:
* The Grotto area is being beautified!
* New mulch was installed in the playground and all old railroad ties were removed.
* The second stage of our window replacement project is in full swing.
And - we know not everyone is ready for school to start - but there is still plenty of time to enjoy the summer!!
If you want to know what it's like to be a MARKSMEN, give us a call at 309-676-7131!
* The Grotto area is being beautified!
* New mulch was installed in the playground and all old railroad ties were removed.
* The second stage of our window replacement project is in full swing.
And - we know not everyone is ready for school to start - but there is still plenty of time to enjoy the summer!!
If you want to know what it's like to be a MARKSMEN, give us a call at 309-676-7131!
