Cub Chronicles: October 24th
Dear Families,
We are so excited for our Trunk or Treat celebration next week! This wonderful event is one of our favorite traditions — a time for our community to come together, celebrate the joy of childhood, and enjoy some good old-fashioned Halloween fun. Seeing our children laugh, dress up, and delight in each decorated trunk always reminds us of the magic of these early years.
A big thank you to all of the families who have already signed up to host trunks! Your creativity and enthusiasm make this event so special. And if you haven’t yet signed up, it’s not too late — we’d love for even more of you to join in the fun and help create a memorable evening for our children.
On a personal note, I wanted to share that I will sadly miss this year’s event. I recently received wonderful news — my 23-year-old son, Robert, is finally coming home from a year-long deployment overseas. I’ll be heading to San Diego to welcome him back to the USA, and I couldn’t be prouder or more excited to see him. It truly feels like just yesterday I was picking him up from preschool and taking him to Trunk or Treat events of his own. Time moves so quickly, and our children seem to grow up right before our eyes.
As we watch them parade around in their costumes next week — full of wonder, laughter, and sticky fingers from too many treats — I hope we can all take a moment to pause and soak it in. These are the memories that stay with us long after the candy wrappers are gone.
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” — Dr. Seuss
Wishing everyone a joyful and safe Trunk or Treat! I’ll be there in spirit, cheering on all our little ghosts, superheroes, and princesses from afar.
With warm regards,
Whitney Zisman
Head of School
Trunk or Treat!
October 30 & 31
Get ready for one of our favorite fall traditions: Trunk or Treat! Parents decorate their car trunks with festive Halloween fun, and children visit each “trunk” to collect treats and enjoy the creative displays.
Thursday, October 30: T/Th Bears, Butterflies, Owls, and Foxes
Friday, October 31: Ladybugs, Otters, and MWF Bears
We’ll celebrate from 8:40–10:45 a.m. each day. Children are welcome to come in costume, but please send an extra set of clothes if their costume isn’t comfortable for play or classroom activities.
We can’t wait to see all the creativity (and candy!) this year.
Dia de los Muertos Altar
Our Día de los Muertos Altar is back this year! A Día de los Muertos altar is a colorful display created to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away, often decorated with photos, flowers, and meaningful items. If you shared photos last year, we still have them and will display them again.
If you’d like to add something new to the altar, please bring a photo to the office or email it to mayra@stmarksdayschoolaustin.org.
The altar will be available for viewing in the Parish October 28–November 3 before and after school.
No School November 4
Just a reminder, there is no school on Tuesday, November 4, in observance of Election Day.
Open House Recap & Sibling Waitlist Reminder!
Our fall Open House was a huge success! We loved meeting so many new families interested in joining our St. Mark’s community. As we start planning for the 2026-2027 school year (and beyond!), we’re also making sure we have accurate numbers for returning families with younger siblings.
If you have a younger child who might be ready to join us this next year or beyond, please take a moment to complete our waitlist form. Siblings receive priority enrollment, but we still need your form on file to hold a spot.
Please note there is a $50 waitlist fee, which will be sent through Brightwheel once your form is received.
This helps us gauge how many new families we’ll be able to welcome, both this year and in future enrollment cycles. Thank you for helping us plan ahead, and for continuing to be such an important part of our St. Mark’s family!
Know a Family Who Missed Our Fall Open House?
We’re excited to share that we’ll be hosting another Open House on Wednesday, January 22. It’s a great opportunity for prospective families to tour our campus, meet our teachers, and see what makes St. Mark’s such a special place to learn and grow.
If you know a family who might be interested, please help us spread the word!
The holidays are quickly approaching, and it’s time to mark your calendars for our annual Christmas Pageant! Each class will have its own special day to shine:
Thursday, December 18th: T/Th Bears, Otters, and Owls
Friday, December 19th: MWF Bears, Ladybugs, Butterflies, and Foxes
We can’t wait to celebrate the season with all of our families!
Another week of fun! We’re growing and learning more every day.
GreenJay Baby Sessions
Expert-led playdates for babies and their grownups
October 30th Babies newborn to crawling
Hosted by GreenJay Therapy | At St. Mark's Preschool
Snacks & light refreshments
Reserve your spot here
Support your baby's development from day one
Master tummy time without the tears
Learn milestone-boosting play for every age
Prevent flat head and support symmetry
Connect with infant development specialists
Meet other families and build your confidence