Cub Chronicles: September 19th, 2025
Dear Parents and Families,
Thank you for the trust and support you continue to show as we work together to make St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School a safe, nurturing, and joyful place for your children. I want to share an update on the next steps in our ongoing efforts around school safety and staff training.
As I mentioned in my earlier letter, the safety and well-being of our children, staff, and families remain our highest priority. In that spirit, our teachers and staff will soon participate in three important professional development opportunities designed to strengthen both our safety protocols and our ability to support children in their daily learning and growth.
Schedule Reminder
Please note that there will be no extended care on Monday, September 22 so that all faculty and staff can fully participate in these trainings.
Campus Walkthrough with Security Experts
This week, two security experts will join me in walking our campus as we evaluate ways to strengthen our protocols and procedures. Their insights will directly inform our training and lead to updates in our Emergency Preparedness Plan, including fire drills, weather and lockdown drills, and other emergency responses.
Safeguarding God’s Children
One session will focus on Safeguarding God’s Children. In the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, we are committed to creating environments free of abuse, exploitation, and harassment. This ministry helps us set healthy boundaries in behavior and relationships, while also equipping us with tools for screening, training, reporting, and investigating misconduct. Safeguarding is part of the Episcopal Church’s Safe Church, Safe Communities program, which ensures that our schools, congregations, and institutions remain safe spaces for even the most vulnerable in our communities.
Behavioral Training with Robert Prudhomme
Our faculty will also take part in training with Robert Prudhomme, a Licensed Behavior Analyst. This session will help teachers use their daily observations to better understand the function of behaviors and apply effective interventions. By doing so, teachers can strengthen their support of each child’s social-emotional growth and foster learning environments that are positive, responsive, and developmentally appropriate.
We believe these trainings will reinforce our deep commitment to safety while also equipping our teachers with valuable tools that directly benefit your children in the classroom. As always, we welcome feedback from families and staff as partners in creating a safe and healthy environment for every child.
With gratitude,
Whitney Zisman, M.Ed.
Head of School
St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School
No Extended Care Monday, September 22nd
Please note that there will be no Extended Care on Monday, September 22, as our staff will be participating in a professional development day. Thank you for planning ahead, and we appreciate your support as our teachers continue to grow and learn.
Chapel Began this Week!
We were so happy to gather for our first chapel of the school year. The children joined together in song, prayer, and story, and it was a wonderful reminder of the special community we share at St. Mark’s. We look forward to continuing this weekly tradition throughout the year. Parents are always welcome to join us in Grace Chapel. Our 3’s and 4’s classes attend every Wednesday at 9:30. Families of our 2’s will be invited to participate once classroom routines are more established.
Thank you Station 11!
Our students were thrilled to welcome the firefighters this week! The children got a close look at the fire truck and its equipment, learning about the tools firefighters use to keep our community safe. They also practiced important safety tips, like what to do in case of a fire and how firefighters are helpers we can always trust. Thank you to Station 11 for such a fun and educational visit!
Back to School Bash
Thursday, September 25th from 4-6 p.m.
Mark your calendars for our Back to School Bash! This is one of our favorite days of the year, when the whole St. Mark’s community comes together to kick off the new school year.
Fall Picture Days
October 21-22
We officially have fall picture days on the calendar! Barbara Legere will be back behind the camera this year. St. Mark’s will provide digital files for all individual photos. Class schedules will be shared as we get closer to the date.
Another week of fun! We’re growing and learning more every day.
Let's Grow our St. Mark's Family!
Have a family you’d love to introduce to St. Mark’s? We’d love to meet them! Invite your friends, family, and neighbors to learn more about our school at our Open House on October 23rd. It’s a great opportunity to see our classrooms, meet our teachers, and experience the St. Mark’s community.
Help us spread the word, we can’t wait to welcome new families!
Annual Chicken BBQ & Block Party
The 2025 Chicken BBQ & Block Party is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, 2025. We hope to see a lot of our Day School Families there!