User:Terra Linda School

Saint Mark’s School is a coeducational, independent kindergarten-eighth grade school in San Rafael, California. The school was established by an Episcopal parish in 1980; very soon after its founding it moved away from the Episcopal Church and is now an independent school with no religious affiliation.

Mission and Philosophy
Saint Mark’s School discovers and nurtures what is finest in each child in a vibrant, inclusive, non-sectarian learning community. Innovative and full of heart, Saint Mark’s strives to develop well-rounded critical thinkers in a challenging program that fosters academic excellence and responsible world citizenship. (See Philosophy Statement.)

The Saint Mark’s community adheres to a set of ethics called the Seven Pillars of Character: caring, courage, citizenship, respect, responsibility, honesty, and fairness.

Special Programs and Curriculum
Among the highlights of Saint Mark's curricula are an emphasis on hands-on learning; the use of Guided Reading in the Lower School; the inclusion of the University of Chicago's Everyday Math curriculum in Kindergarten through grade six; rich offerings in the visual arts, drama, and music; physical education every day; a chess program; and extensive after-school sports and enrichment classes. Saint Mark’s is the only K-8 school in Marin County with a curricular Mandarin program beginning in Kindergarten. The formal curriculum also includes visual arts, theater, and music. Through a special arrangement with the Marin Civic Center, the school performs its plays at the center's Showcase Theater.

Many important figures have spoken at the school, including civil rights leader and journalist Melba Beals, astronaut Leroy Chiao, and Holocaust survivor Dora Apsan Sorrel.

In 2006, Saint Mark’s initiated Northern California’s only all-female chess tournament.

School Partnerships
In 2000, Saint Mark’s established a partnership with eSibonisweni Primary School in Kwazulu, South Africa. In addition to raising funds for food programs, a potable water system, and school supplies, Saint Mark’s has sent two delegations, in 2006 and 2008, of faculty members, parents, and students to eSibonisweni to do joint academic and art projects and to assist with building new facilities and classrooms.

The program is unique, a true partnership in that it has no overhead costs for either school, so all funds raised and goods provided go directly to those who need them. Saint Mark’s has helped other independent schools develop similar partnerships, and the school’s Director of Special Programs has recently launched a nonprofit, called EduWeavers, to further this mission.

In 2003, Saint Mark’s partnered with Canal Alliance, a nonprofit center supporting the Hispanic community in Marin County on immigration and education issues. The two organizations created an ongoing language-tutoring exchange between students.

Environmental Stewardship
The school has made environmental awareness part of its program and has a native-butterfly habitat garden and an organic fruit, vegetable, and flower garden.

Accreditation and Memberships
Saint Mark’s is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the California Association of Independent Schools, among many other affiliations. In 2008, CAIS awarded Saint Mark’s an accreditation of six years, the longest term possible.