The Faith & Academics Committee includes the following:

Accelerated Reader
The Accelerated Reader Committee provides volunteers in the school computer lab on a daily basis from 7:30-8:00 a.m. to help students log on to the computers and take AR quizzes.  Volunteers also help by working in the “AR Store” one day per quarter to collect the students “AR dollars” and help them with their purchases. The AR Store is a table that is set up outside the cafeteria where students can use their AR dollars to purchase toys, dress down passes, free ice cream certificates from the cafeteria, and more. Students earn dollars by accumulating points as they read AR books and take AR quizzes.

Chess Club
The St. Mark Lion Kings meet every Thursday from 2:45-4:15 pm. Students from 2nd – 8th grade are invited to join the club at any time. The club’s format includes:
• 15 – 20 minutes of instruction (for beginner through advanced players),
• chess ladder play based on level (beginners, intermediate and advanced), and
• endgame, or free play time.
Anyone can join and learn the Royal Game. The Lion King’s members have the opportunity to play in individual or team tournaments. Parent volunteers help to supervise children during club meeting time. No chess knowledge or experience is required.

Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is a program that educates students about business, economics and free enterprise. The curriculum, taught at an appropriate age level using reading, writing and math concepts, is delivered by business role models, parents or teachers and bridges community to the classrooms. For our 4th graders we have our Biz Town field trip, which allows them to learn about the operations of a city and follow-up with a visit to “run a city” for a day in downtown Charlotte. Junior Achievement is a rewarding volunteer opportunity allowing you to make a difference in the classrooms of your school.

Lego Club
An after-school club for students in 4th through 8th grade that meets twice a month. Parent volunteers help supervise the students in the club. A very popular club!

Math Mania
Math Mania is an after-school math club for 4th and 5th graders designed to promote Math as FUN! The students work in small groups and have fun playing math games, and logic games, creating origami characters, and more. The club meets bi-weekly starting in September, and ends in early spring. Parent volunteers of the students in the club help to supervise the small groups during the club meeting time.

Middle School Math Club
Middle School Math Club is a math enrichment program designed for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. The club meets every other week after school. The club is based on the national Math Counts program, and a team of students will represent St. Mark in the Math Counts Competition held yearly in February at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). Parent volunteers help supervise the students and answer occasional questions as they work in groups to solve math problems.

Middle School Math Plus
Middle school students complete math sheets and receive extra credit toward their Math grade. Math worksheets are posted on Edline. Parent volunteers help administer the program and grade the worksheets.

Math Superstars
Math Superstars is an enrichment program that provides an extra challenge for students in mathematics. The students are presented with problem-solving activities through weekly worksheets beginning in October. Students in 1st -5th grade are given 20 worksheets throughout the year, and Kindergarten students are given 10 worksheets. Kindergarten students start the program in January. There is an incentive program with awards such as dress down passes, lunch with the principal, and an end-of-year ice cream party based on the number of worksheets completed. Parent volunteers help grade the worksheets on a weekly basis.

Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an after-school club for Middles School students who are interested in Science. Led by Mrs. Lyles, the club works toward an annual competition in the spring of the year. Parent volunteers help the students design, build, and test their projects. Volunteers may also serve in a one-time “consulting” role to share expertise in a particular subject to help the students.  What began as a grassroots assembly of science teachers is now one of the premiere science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based challenges to more than 5,700 teams in 48 states. The events are designed to enhance and strengthen both science content and process skills, as well as provide the students exposure to a variety of career choices and to practicing scientists and mentors.

Advent Wreaths
Volunteers place advent wreaths in all the classrooms, school office, library, etc…to be used in the celebration of the Christmas season.

Catholic Schools Week (CSW)
Volunteers organize week-long activities to celebrate the gift of Catholic Education. Catholic Schools Week always begins the last Sunday in January and concludes the first Saturday in February. The CSW Steering Committee organizes activities that support the following days:

Monday – Community Appreciation Day
Tuesday – Staff Appreciation Day
Wednesday – Faith Appreciation Day
Thursday – Student Appreciation Day
Friday – Family Appreciation Day

Parent volunteers give of their time to help plan the activities prior to CSW, and to help execute the wonderful events during the week.

Feast of St. Nicholas
On December 6, St. Nicholas visits the Kindergarten – 4th grade children in the gym for an assembly and talks about the life of St. Nicholas. The children leave one shoe in the hallway and during the assembly, parent volunteers fill the shoes with St. Nicholas treats!

Helping Hands
Volunteers are devoted to providing help and support to those families at St. Mark who may be in need due to sickness, the loss of a loved one, the birth of a new child, and events that may require helping hands. Volunteers prepare meals for the families. Family requests are coordinated through Mrs. Butler, and then passed to the committee.

Living Rosary
The entire student body comes together outside in the courtyard twice a year to recite the rosary together. The school has a “giant” rosary, and the students each hold the beads and pray together. Parent volunteers help the 4th/6th graders practice and organize the event.

Living Stations
The 5th grade class leads a reenactment of the Passion of Christ for the entire school on the last day before Easter break. The reenactment is held in the St. Mark Church. It is a beautiful assembly that keeps the focus on the death and resurrection of Christ during Holy Week. Parent volunteers organize the students into the different parts, and help them practice the reenactment.

May Crowning
St. Mark has a school-wide May Crowning Ceremony in the school courtyard, accompanied by the recitation of the Rosary. The May Crowning follows the 9:00 all school mass during the month of May. Students process from the church to the courtyard, while reciting the rosary. Second graders are dressed in their First Holy Communion attire, and the eighth graders typically lead the rosary.  Parent volunteers organize the event and a cookies and punch reception held in the courtyard.

Parents In Prayer
Volunteers meet weekly on Thursday mornings from 8:30-8:50 am in the school chapel to pray for the intentions of the students, families and faculty of St. Mark. What a wonderful way to start the morning by praying for your children!

St. Mark Feast Day
St. Mark celebrates its feast day with an all-school mass. The 7th grade is responsible for planning the mass. Parent volunteers assist the teachers with planning the mass.