St. Ma rk’s School of Tex as
From the Head of Lower School
Dear Fourth-Grade Families,
Welcome to St. Mark’s School of Texas! We are delighted to welcome you to our community and look forward to getting to know your family. The Ice Cream Social is a special opportunity for you to meet our teachers and connect with other new families. It is the first of many meaningful events we will share in the Lower School.
Enclosed, you will find a letter from your son’s teachers along with a list of helpful topics to guide your transition to St. Mark’s. We hope this information answers some of your questions. If, however, there is a topic we have not covered, please do not hesitate to ask. For your convenience, we have also included important contact information.
At St. Mark’s, relationships and partnerships are at the heart of everything we do. Our community is built on a foundation of family, friendship, and shared values – character, leadership, courage, and honor. We are eager to embark on this journey with you.
Thank you for entrusting St. Mark’s with your son’s education as we walk the Path to Manhood together. Enjoy the end-of-year celebrations at your current school, and we look forward to celebrating and welcoming your family into the St. Mark’s Lower School community.
Warmly,
Marion Glorioso-Kirby Head of Lower School
From Your Homeroom Teachers
Dear Parents,
We extend a warm welcome to you and your son as he joins the Class of 2035. We look forward to partnering with you this year and share your goal of making a smooth transition. Yearbook photographs and a Back-to-School party are scheduled to take place the week before school begins. You will receive details about each of these events during the summer.
We hope you encourage your son to read for pleasure this summer. Have conversations to promote the thinking and curiosity sparked by his book choices. Our reading culture builds in 4th grade as the boys get to know themselves as readers. The summer months afford a rich opportunity to help your son discover books that move him, challenge him, give him ideas, and experience the true magic of reading.
One of the ways you can help your son feel confident with his math skills is to have him practice them over the summer. You will receive suggestions of ways to practice his math skills when the summer email packet arrives in early June. Mastery of basic math facts should be firmly in place to ensure success in fourth-grade mathematics.
We appreciate your participation in your son’s education. Thank you for helping him prepare for a great start. Look for the summer packet, which will be emailed in June. We look forward to a terrific year together.
Sincerely,
Lauren Fischer
Lee-Ann Graham
Julie Harrison
Fourth-Grade Teachers
Dear Fourth-Grade Parents,
On behalf of the Parents’ Association, I would like to welcome your entire family to the St. Mark’s community. We are so glad you chose St. Mark’s and cannot wait to meet you!
As a parent of a Marksman, you are an automatic member of the St. Mark’s Parents’ Association. We are an active group of volunteers partnering with the Faculty, Staff, and Administration to support the boys’ education and development and to build a strong community. Our parents participate on campus in a wide range of areas including the libraries, cafeteria, student store, and Lions’ Closet. There is a volunteer position for everyone to get involved!
The St. Mark’s PA also organizes events throughout the year. A few to put on your calendar right now are:
Lion Pride Night - an All-School Spirit Night, complete with a cookout and a DJ before our home football game on Friday, September 5. This will also be a Lower School Spirit Night where all new Lower School Marksmen will be invited to run onto the football field before the Varsity football game!
Fun Day - a school carnival held with Hockaday for Daisies and Marksmen in grades one through four scheduled on a Fall date TBD.
To get involved in these and many other events, you will volunteer through Sign-Up Genius. Please mark your calendar for Monday, July 14 after 12 pm to log on to the St. Mark’s website and click on the “Volunteer Here” button on the Resource Board. You will see many opportunities listed along with the activity description. When class lists are released in August, please return to the Resource Board for more class-specific volunteer opportunities. Throughout the year, your Grade Reps will update your Class Pages with information specific and helpful to your class.
Finally, if you have any questions during the summer months or the school year, please contact the following parent volunteers:
Class of 2035 – 4th Grade Representatives:
Shaza Almasri shaza.alaloul@gmail.com 469.688.8880
Dafna Kikuchi dafna.kikuchi@gmail.com 972.380.6610 Jill Powers jill.powers@yahoo.com 267.408.4413
SMPA Athletic Liaison (2nd & 4th grades): Sean Allen (2nd & 4th grade) hjcaulkins@gmail.com 914.393.6416
Again, welcome to the St. Mark’s community. Allow me to be a resource on this one-of-a-kind adventure. I look forward to meeting you soon.
As ever, Go Lions!
Rita T. Han
St. Mark’s Parents’ Association President 2026-2027 rita@loreservices.com 214.236.4988
• Contact Mrs. Glorioso-Kirby or Mrs. Mallick with any questions. Mrs. Glorioso-Kirby can be reached at 214.346.8216 or gloriosom@smtexas.org. Mrs. Mallick can be reached at 214.346.8210 or mallickk@smtexas.org.
• Uniforms can be purchased at Culwell & Son, 6319 Hillcrest Avenue, Dallas, 75205, 214.522.7000. Lion Tracks (in the Directory and online) lists all details about school uniform requirements for all grades. Please use a permanent marker to label your son’s uniform shorts, shirts, and sweatshirts.
• P.E. uniform must be purchased in the Student Store. Please use a permanent marker to label these as well.
• Backpacks are necessary for all students and may be purchased anywhere. The Student Store carries backpacks, as well. No wheeled backpacks are allowed in Lower School. Be sure to display your son’s name on his backpack.
• Classroom supplies and books are provided for Lower School students.
• Back-to-School events begin the week before the first day of school. While these events are not required, your son will want to be in town to participate. There will be a back-to-school party for each grade in Lower School and yearbook photos will be taken that week, as well. In August, a “Back to School Basics” tab will be on the SM website Resource Board. First and second grade back-to-school parties are scheduled for Monday, August 17. Third and fourth grade parties are scheduled for Tuesday, August 18.
• Yearbook Photos are taken at School the week before classes begin. Boys should wear a dark sports jacket and any appropriate tie with their white uniform shirt. Jacket and tie are available from the photographer if you are unable to provide these items for your son. Photos are from the waist up. Dates and times will be posted on the “Back to School Basics” tab on the SM website Resource Board.
• The Directory & Lion Tracks is distributed at Lower School Mini-School, scheduled on Thursday, August 20. You should familiarize yourself with Lion Tracks which is the guide to the School’s policies. Lion Tracks can be accessed on the SM website Resource Board, as well.
• Mini-School Parents’ Night is for parents only. This is an opportunity to meet your son’s teachers and receive an overview of curriculum for the school year. Mini-School is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, at 6 p.m.
• Class Lists will be posted on Class Pages in early August.
• Lion Pride Night is an all-school community picnic held the evening before a varsity home football game. This year, Lion Pride Night is scheduled for Friday, August 28, at 5:30 p.m. The Lower School grades will picnic together, and the new boys will be invited on to the football field before the 7 p.m. game.
• Fun Day is our annual Hockaday/St. Mark’s carnival. St. Mark’s boys in grade 1 – 4 and Hockaday girls in pre-K – 4 will meet on the St Mark’s campus this year for an afternoon of fun and games. Fun Day is scheduled on a Fall date TBD..
• Chess Club is open to all Lower School boys and meets throughout the year on Thursday mornings at 7:00 a.m. in Great Hall. A sign-up form will be in the summer email with more information about dates and club meetings.
• Cub Scouts is open for Lower School boys in second, third, and fourth grades. Detailed information about scouting and joining Pack 730 will be sent in the summer.
• Carpool information, including information regarding SchoolPass, will be distributed at MiniSchool. Morning carpool drop-off is 7:35-7:50 a.m. Class begins promptly at 7:55 a.m. Boys are expected to be in class and ready to work at 7:55 a.m. Afternoon carpool pick-up is 2:50-3:10 p.m.
• SchoolPass is the carpool and attendance app used by Lower School. In August, you will be asked to download the most current version of the SchoolPass app.
• Extended Day is our after-school program and is offered to all boys in grades 1-4. Boys are given a snack, complete their homework, and enjoy time on the playground with their friends. Pricing details and registration for the upcoming year will be sent in the summer email. Extended Day registration is by semester only and does not include any drop-ins.
• Student Store will be open during the week of back-to-school parties and yearbook photos. P.E. uniforms and St. Mark’s swag will be available for sale throughout the year, as well. Regular Student Store hours are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., school days. Our online store is always open at smtexasstore.com.
• Lions’ Closet is a resale shop located on the 1st floor in the north wing of the Green Library. Gently used uniform shorts, shirts, sweatshirts, P.E. clothes, and sportswear are available for sale to all families. Lions’ Closet will be open to new families before the school year begins with times posted on your Class Page and Resource Board.
• Team Sports: Lower School Athletic Liaisons Jory Caulkins and Chris Storey will be emailing information about Lower School after-school athletic options as they become available through the Y and other sports associations. Watch for their emails throughout the summer months.
Uniform Requirements for Lower School
(Found in Lion Tracks, St. Mark’s Student Handbook)
Uniforms may be purchased at Culwell & Son, 6319 Hillcrest Avenue, 75205.
Shirt – White shirt, oxford cloth, button-down collar, short or long sleeves
Pants – Gray shorts or gray long pants
Socks – Plain white socks with shorts. White socks should be worn well above the ankles. Solid dark socks may be worn with long pants.
Belt – Conservative black or brown belt or St. Mark’s branded belt
Undershirts or t-shirts – Plain white t-shirts are acceptable under the school uniform shirt. No logo or writing permitted.
Outerwear – Sweatshirts sold in the SM Student Store or Lions’ Closet, solid-color sweatshirts with no decorations (blue or gray preferred) conservative sweaters, and coats are acceptable. College-branded or team-branded sweatshirts are not permitted in Lower School.
Shoes – Tie shoes only if adept at tying them; otherwise, Velcro closure is acceptable. Shoes should be predominantly or entirely black with no other color except white. No high-top athletic shoes.
Extra Clothing – When the temperature is 32 degrees or below, Lower School boys may wear solid-colored sweatpants (blue or gray preferred) over their shorts.
P.E. Uniform – must be purchased in the Student Store. First graders need a P.E. shirt but do not need to purchase shorts. All other Lower School boys are required to have a P.E. shirt and shorts. Please use a permanent marker to label your son’s uniform shorts, shirts, and sweatshirts.
St. Mark’s School of Texas Summer Reading Bingo Fourth Grade
Get BINGO! Put an X in the box when completed. Please write titles on back and have parent initial.
Read Love That Dog by Sharon Creech at the end of summer. Bring it with you on the 1st day of school.
What our Fourth Graders are Reading and Recommend Now
Olivetti - Allie Millington
Max in the Land of Lies - Adam Gidwitz
The One Thing You’d Save - Linda Sue Park
Out of My Mind - Sharon M Draper
The BFG - Roald Dahl
Clementine - Sara Pennypacker
Peter and the Starcatchers - Dave Barry
The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick
Way of the Warrior Kid - Jocko Willink
Cricket in Time Square - George Selden
Holes - Louis Sacher
When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead
One and Only Ivan - Katheine Applegate
The Crossover - Kwame Alexander
Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices
Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
Spy School - Stuart Gibbs
The Last Mapmaker - Christina Soontornvat
Half Magic - Edward Eager
Mystern of Locked Rooms - Lindsey Currie
Dog Town - Kathine Applegate
Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
Enigma GIrls - Candance Fleming
Stone Fox - John Reynolds Gardiers
The Good Dog - Avi
Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster
Lucky Scramble - Peter Raymundo
Ranger’s Apprentice - John Flanagan
Impossible Creatures - Katherine Rundell
The Waltons Go to Birmingham - Christopher Paul Curtis
Hello, Universe - Erin Entrada Kelly
Frindle - Andrew Clements
Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - E.L. Konigsburg
