In This Issue

• Last Call: Kids Activity Day is This Friday
• Save the Date: Passport Day
• EARLY BIRD Tickets to the Auction on Sale Now!
• It's not too late to donate to the Auction
• Important reminder: please do not park in handicap spots unless you have a placard
• Lost & Found: Feb 14 & 15
• Register for summer camp at Mark Day
• Upcoming Events:
  • Feb 8: Peking Opera and Chinese Orchestra
  • Feb 9, 10: Budget and Philanthropy Town Hall
• Reading Corner: Rockstar Recs
• Just Imagine Club: Way Out
• Athletics:
  • Feb 8: 7th Grade Boys & Girls Basketball
  • Feb 14: 6th Grade Boys & Girls Basketball
• Classroom Window: Welcoming our Beijing partners

Heads Blog

What Does Differentiation Look Like? by Dave Hickman, Head of Upper School

February SEL Theme

Ethics (honesty, up-stander, responsibilities)

LAST CALL: Kids Activity Day is This Friday

Kindergarteners through 4th graders are invited to Kids' Activity Day, a Friday afternoon (2:30-5:15pm) of fun organized by the Mark Day School 8th grade class of students and parents. This event is a fundraiser for the 8th Grade Fund, which is donated to a charity and the class gift to the school at the end of the year. We especially encourage kindergarteners to come and spend a full afternoon of activity and laughter with their 8th grade buddies.

Sign Up Here

The cost is $40 per student If you have any questions, please email erin_hansen@comcast.net or mbromberg@comcast.net. Thank you for your support!

As part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive community at Mark Day School, we strongly believe that every student should be able to participate fully in school community activities. Our Indexed Tuition policy includes coverage for curricular and co-curricular events like this one. For information about this or any other aspect of Indexed Tuition, please contact Rhona Lovett in the business office.

SAVE THE DATE: Passport Day to Our South African Partnerships (March 10)

Sawbona (hello in Zulu)! We are very excited to celebrate our South African partnerships this Passport Day on Friday, March 10. Your children will spend the day immersed in the South African culture of our partnership friends from Kliptown Youth Program in Soweto, to the students at eSibonisweni School and the Girls Scholarship Program six hours away on the Mozambique border. Mark Day students will gumboot dance with our KYP friend, Thando; learn the art of African drumming with our own music department and guest African dummers; write letters to fellow students at KYP; listen to magical storytelling; create an amazing recycled art project; and enjoy a delicious South African meal. Opening and closing assemblies will celebrate the amazing partnerships between our schools and be filled with the music and dance at the heart of our partners.

What do we need? Clear soda bottles of all sizes for our recycled art project. We need to collect 500 bottles! Please leave all bottles in the box outside the main office.

Get Your EARLY BIRD Tickets to the Auction Now!

Early bird tickets are currently on sale until Sunday, February 12th. Early bird tickets are $150. Click here to get your tickets now.

Get Tickets

Questions about the event? Please contact Kathryn Freeman, Auction Chair (kathrynfreeman01@yahoo.com) or Christine Maguire in the Development Office (cmaguire@markdayschool.org or 415.472.8000 x1016).

It's Not Too Late to Donate to the Auction

Many thanks for all of the great donations to Seas the Day this year. Interested in making a donation, but not sure what to contribute? Consider wine and spirits, tickets to a sporting event, or putting together a basket for the silent auction! Just pick a basket theme and sign up here today. Click here to donate online this week. You have until February 28 to drop off the items themselves. For basket questions, please contact Pamela Emo. For wine and spirits, contact Megan Greene, Bibi Moore, or Jennifer Dutro.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Handicap Parking Spaces

The handicap parking spaces in the parking lot are reserved for those with placards only. Please do not park there if you do not have a placard—even for a quick drop-off.

Lost & Found: February 14 & 15

Items will be hung out on the fence and on display. Please claim your items before Wednesday by 2:15pm. On Wednesday afternoon, all items with names will be returned and unlabeled items donated to a local non-profit. Rain cancels.

Register for Summer Camp at Mark Day School

Camps include Arts in Action, SUPERTECH, So You Want to Be a Writer?, Minecraft Challenge, Xtreme Minecraft, HoopZone, GoMandarin, and Early Learners. Register here.

February 8

Peking Opera and Chinese Orchestra, 5:30pm (Gym)

The delegation from our partner school in Beijing will perform for us tonight! Similar to last year, we will host a Panda Express dinner after their performance, at 7:00pm.

Coming to dinner? Please RSVP for dinner here.

February 9

7:00-8:30pm

Media Center

February 10
9:00-10:30am

Media Center

Budget and Philanthropy Town Hall

Board finance chair JT Herman and Head of School Joe Harvey invite parents and guardians to Budget and Philanthropy Town Hall, an introduction to Mark Day School's finances and budgeting process. If you're interested in learning more about the components and complexities of the school's budget, including the board's approach to setting tuition, managing the endowment, supporting indexed tuition and more, this is a great talk to attend. We look forward to seeing you in the Media Center!

Rockstar Recs

Check out the Library Blog (markdayschoollibrary.weebly.com) for the overwhelming results of our Reader's Choice meeting on Friday. Our 4th and 5th grade readers were eager to share their recommendations, and came up with something for just about everyone! Enjoy!

Way Out (1961) "William and Mary" starring Fritz Weaver, Mildred Dunnock, and Henry Jones. A dying scientist has his brain preserved after his passing.

Just Imagine Club takes place on Fridays in the Gym during lunch period (12:30-1:10). Kids bring their lunch, drop in and watch a movie. This year, we're celebrating classic science fiction, fantasy, and horror television.