Student Life
Student life at Mark Day School underscores our commitment to discovering and nurturing each child in a vibrant community that is full of heart.
Children here are encouraged to work and play collaboratively, enabling them to build healthy relationships and interact in positive and productive ways. Our community gathers for assembly twice a week, and there are a wealth of lunchtime clubs, special activities, and co-curricular programs that provide every student with multiple avenues to self-discovery, opportunities for community contribution, and a sense of belonging.
Highlights of Student Life at Mark Day
Mentor Program
In our mentor program, 7th and 8th graders gather regularly in small groups, each led by a member of our faculty, that serve as a support network and provide a safe place to discuss all aspects of adolescent and student life. They also carry out community engagement projects, plan divisional assemblies and dances, and sometimes just hang out.
K/8 Buddies
When students reach 8th grade, they have the opportunity to become buddies to Kindergartners. We know that strong ties between students of different ages create an atmosphere of caring and support. Together, Kindergartners and 8th graders read, play games, do art projects, and develop a memorable bond that often extends beyond graduation.
Clubs
We encourage students to follow their interests and form communities around them, particularly through middle school clubs. These groups provide a forum for middle school kids to explore their passions, develop leadership skills, and make a difference in their school community and beyond. Currently, we offer the Chess Club, Just Imagine Club, and Mathletes.
Hot Lunch & Recess Activities
At lunch, students can choose from a wide variety of activities in school, including hanging out in the Learning Commons, playing chess, practicing acting skills in the drama room, tinkering in the Creativity Lab, enhancing language skills in Mandarin Club, creating art in the art room, exploring the garden as part of Green Thumbs, learning an instrument in the music room, and discovering classic films in Just Imagine Club. We offer a hot lunch program for students in K-8 throughout the school year from Marinwood Market Monday-Thursday and Stefano's Pizza on Fridays.
Outdoor Ed & Organic Garden
Outdoor learning provides students with hands-on experience interacting with the natural world, on campus and off. Outdoor learning includes outdoor ed, which is offered in grades 3-8, and utilizing the school’s organic garden to care for our chickens, nurture growing plants and veggies, and literally get their hands dirty. These activities tie directly into our ecoliteracy curriculum.
Extended Day Program
Our Extended Day Program, which provides after school activities for kids, is open to all K-8 students. Our Adventures After School program offers fun activities like Let’s Get Cooking, basketball, kung fu, golf, soccer, chess, and more; it’s available for both Mark Day and non-Mark Day students. Our middle school sports program offers a variety of sports teams for students in grades 4-8, including volleyball, cross country, flag football, basketball, golf, and track and field. And the After School Club provides before and after care for students across grade levels.
Affinity & Alliance Groups
Affinity and Alliance groups are safe spaces where students—and faculty/staff—can come together around a common identity to talk about their experiences and discuss issues that are specific to that identity. Most affinity and alliance groups are student-driven, and may change from year to year.
Theatrical Productions
We hold two theatrical productions per year for students in grades 4-8. The fall play and spring musical are typically held at the Marin Civic Center’s Showcase Theatre on a full theatrical stage. Among our recent productions are Annie, Jr., The Lion King, and Willy Wonka, Jr.