On Friday, November 18, St. Mark Catholic School 6th grade classes transformed from their traditional navy blue and khaki uniforms to an assembly of flat caps and kennel/gable headdresses, velvet jerkins, simar robes, puffed shirts, funnel sleeves, upper and nether hose, large hip dresses, wrist ruffles and duckbill shoes. After all, Renaissance clothing followed suit with all other types of creative expression during this age of rebirth.
In order to enhance their understanding of the European Renaissance, each student assumed the role of a prominent Renaissance figure and attended a ball given to honor and to celebrate their character’s achievements. As students learned through their research, the period of 1450 - 1600 saw an explosion of inventions and discoveries in science and the arts.

Christopher Columbus came to America, Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel and William Shakespeare was writing his famous plays. Leonardo da Vinci was considered a true Renaissance man because he was a painter, architect, inventor, scientist, poet, musician, and teacher. Giovanni Palestrina was one the period's most important composers who wrote mostly religious works and Masses. The musical Mass was an important part of the Catholic Church's religious service. Each part of the celebration would have a different musical number and was sung in Latin and performed in this order: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei.

Renaissance figures attending the ball had an interview with the King and Queen played by Social Studies Teachers John Thomasson and Kathy Louis. Students discussed the importance of their figure’s achievements using props, costumes and presentation posters.

Dancing was a favorite pastime during the Renaissance. Educated people were expected to know how to dance, which is no exception for students at St. Mark. The highlight of the ball was the Pavan, a slow dance in an even meter where students walked in pairs. Visitors and guests were in attendance and cookies and punch served.

The 6th grade class led the entire school in praying a Living Rosary in the school courtyard on the afternoon of Thursday, October 6, 2011. Deacon Louis Pais opened the ceremony.

Now in its 9th year, this very prayerful tradition is known as the Living Rosary. It is prayed in the same way as a regular rosary. However, rather than everybody sitting in a traditional setting, the community sits in a circle and forms the rosary with their bodies.

More than 750 students, staff, clergy and parents filled the school’s courtyard to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary which is traditionally celebrated in the beginning of October. Parent-volunteer Terese Sides said, “It is amazing to see all the 6th grade kids practice and work together to accomplish the goal of praying to the Blessed Mother as one school.”

The next Living Rosary will take place in May and will be lead by the 4th grade students.

Sixth Graders Experience New Challenges During Two-day Event  Rise and Shine! On September 12 and 13, 2011, eighty-nine 6th grade students from St. Mark Catholic School participated in an overnight field trip to the YMCA’s Camp Thunderbird, located on Lake Wylie, S.C. The goal of the trip was for students to make the connection between God, nature and daily life. To achieve this, students reached a new level of understanding for each other as well as our environment through respect, communication, accomplishment and fun.

Over the course of two, 85 degree days, students rotated through four different field stations designed to provide a level of personal discovery and challenge, putting some beyond their standard "comfort zone.”

At the high ropes course, students encouraged each other to free fall down a zip line. Rocks spun and balancing was difficult on the unsteady cables of the enormous alpine tower challenge. The low challenge included a series of team building exercises that forced students to plan and communicate strategies to reach a common goal. During the eco-challenge students learned how to navigate with a hand-held GPS on a course filled with information on how to garden, how to transport food and how to compost. They also reviewed the importance of reuse, renew, and recycle.

The campers were treated to an evening of wacky races, campfire skits and songs by the Camp T-Bird counselors. Finally, in the dark and stillness of the night, campers, chaperones and teachers sat with a rosary made out of glow sticks, prayed and gave thanks for all that they had experienced. Parent chaperone Patty Malyszko summarized the experience by saying, “It was a special way to celebrate the gifts we share through the grace of our faith. This was a perfect opportunity for St. Mark students to demonstrate their values of caring, respect and responsibility and was an experience that the 6th grade will remember for years to come.”

YMCA’s Camp Thunderbird is home to 100 acres of nationally recognized water programs, including wakeboarding, water skiing, sailing, kayaking, and canoeing. The camp offers 28 land activities varying from traditional to innovative that include horseback riding, arts, and sports.

The St. Mark Lion Kings participated in their third Charlotte Mecklenburg Scholastic Chess Association team tournament on Saturday, April 9, 2011.

Team tournaments are a great way for new players to enter a tournament while enjoying the camaraderie of playing alongside friends from school. Play began at 9:30 a.m. at South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte.
The students did an outstanding job representing St. Mark and battling hard in the royal game.

The St. Mark Chess Club is lead by two coaches, Chris Hlebak and Barry Hester. They both have dedicated so much of their time and talents to the Chess Club at St. Mark. The tournament was a rewarding experience for the students and the parents who attended.

Since 1985, the CMSCA has provided instructors, including national masters and experts, to teach in chess clubs at over 100 schools in the greater Charlotte area.