St. Mark’s Episcopal School is the primary ministry and outreach of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Our history originates in the church, our culture is informed by the church and our governance makes us part of the church. As an Episcopal school, we are part of a larger story: the story of Anglicanism as one particular expression of a Christian educational community. We are a faith-based school rooted in the love of God as expressed in Jesus Christ.
We integrate spiritual formation into all aspects of our students’ educational experience. Our mission, ethos, and practices are upheld by the basic principles of the baptismal covenant.
In practice, our principles and ideals are expressed through:
School worship – that is creative, inclusive, draws fully upon the liturgical resources of the Episcopal Church, and is a regular part of school life.
Community life – in which reflection, prayer, and matters of the spirit are honored and cultivated and the physical, mental, and emotional health of all are supported and nurtured.
Religious formation and study – that is meaningful, academically substantive, and age-appropriate; and in teaching the Christian tradition, fosters dialogue with other faith traditions
Social justice – the integration of the ideals and concepts of equity, justice, and a just society throughout the life of the school; the embracing and honoring of diversity; and the inclusion of community service and service learning as an integral part of the life of the school.
Community life – in which reflection, prayer, and matters of the spirit are honored and cultivated and the physical, mental, and emotional health of all are supported and nurtured.
Religious formation and study – that is meaningful, academically substantive, and age-appropriate; and in teaching the Christian tradition, fosters dialogue with other faith traditions
Social justice – the integration of the ideals and concepts of equity, justice, and a just society throughout the life of the school; the embracing and honoring of diversity; and the inclusion of community service and service learning as an integral part of the life of the school.
By weaving these principles into the very fabric of the school’s overall life, St. Mark’s ensures that our mission is built on the sure foundation of a Christian love that guides and challenges all who attend our school to build lives of genuine meaning, purpose, and service in the world they will inherit.
Adapted from Reasons for Being, by the National Association of Episcopal Schools