Saint Mark Catholic School offers a curriculum anchored in spirit and academic excellence. Religious studies are an important part of our core curriculum and students attend Mass at least one day per week. Our pre-K and full-day Kindergarten classes focus on inquiry, discovery, pre-reading and pre-math concepts. Coursework for grades 1-8 concentrates on reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, computer, fine arts, music and weekly Spanish immersion.

 

Early Childhood Program
The Early Childhood Program offers a pre-kindergarten and kindergarten learning environment. Children receive special attention, so that the transition from home or childcare to school is positive and non-threatening.  The pre-kindergarten program teachers direct activities that help children develop motor skills and coordination, and learn to follow instructions. Art, music, gym and unstructured play round out the child’s first school experience.  Kindergarten introduces basic academic skills. The curriculum encourages creativity through art projects, music and a broad assortment of classroom activities and outings. Gym class and play time provide outlets for physical and social development. Kindergartners get the message that learning can be fun.

 

Curriculum
St. Mark Catholic School recognizes that each student is an individual with his or her own developmental needs. We also know that a solid classical education gives students the firm foundation they will need for high school and beyond. Couple that with top-notch technological instruction in computer science, and we have students ready to take successful roles in the future.  Our areas of study include mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, religion, art, computer science, music and physical education. Students have additional opportunities to explore creative writing, compete in essay, art and spelling contests, raise their voices in the school choir, and train as leaders.

Religious Education
While the school community includes children of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, St. Marks is first and foremost a Roman Catholic School.  We go beyond teaching our students basic religious education. We know that the morals and values that will guide a child through life do not develop in a vacuum. Here at SMCS, our children learn how they can apply their religious training to everyday life.  From pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, the teaching of religion and moral values is at the foundation of our students’ educational experience.

 

Physical Fitness and Athletics
All students participate in a comprehensive health and physical education program that recognizes the natural interests and needs of our children as they progress and develop. Our after-school Athletics Program includes basketball, softball, volleyball, football and cheerleading. Student games are more than an opportunity for children to participate in sports. For it is here, that many long-lasting parent-to-parent friendships have evolved. Parents not only are cheering, but also coaching the teams.

 

Technology and The Future
New technologies emerge with regularity, and the school’s responsibility is to keep abreast of the pace of change and teach children how to cope with it. Our key areas of concentration are:

• Development of critical thinking, reasoning and analytical skills
• Mathematical competence
• Successful command of oral and written language
• Global awareness of events, people and culture
St. Marks currently fulfills these goals through the use of its extensive computerized educational system. In the Computer Lab, students work on up-to-date computers under the guidance of a specially-trained computer teacher. All students take part in regularly-scheduled computer learning classes. Computers are also in each of the other classrooms.  The world our children will face as adults will be much different from the one we know today. We at SMCS believe a second language will not only be an asset, but a requirement for success in our more diverse society. Today, elementary and middle school students are given instruction in Spanish language and culture

 

Culture
SMCS enriches the academic curriculum in many ways. Throughout the school year, field trips, school projects and classroom visits add variety to the program. Students encounter dance, music, theater and the visual arts from many disciplines.  Music has a special place in our curriculum. It promotes creativity and expression, as well as an understanding of the history and fundamentals of music. Students share their talents through performances during the year.  Recognizing the importance of art in the curriculum, St. Marks has launched a program for kindergarten through eighth grade. Students get to express their artistic creativity in our art room. Each grade has instruction in art appreciation.

 

Testing (ITBS)

The following is a graph of the recent results of the IOWA Test of Basic Skills which is administered every October to students in grades 3 - 8 in Catholic schools throughout the state of Florida. The graph depicts the average in core subjects as compared to other students in the Archdiocese of Miami and other Dioceses in the state of Florida.