In celebration of Catholic Schools Week, Saint Mark's hosted a "Family Fun Night" for the Spartan community on Tuesday, January 31. More than 150 parents, faculty members, students and siblings participated in a cake decorating competition, pizza making contest, and athletic events such as a ping pong tournament and volleyball match.

On Wednesday, February 1, two Saint Mark's athletes officially accepted offers from two different universities. Next year, T.J. Yeninas '12, a running back and linebacker for the Spartans' varsity football team, will play for Towson University. Jeff Ziemba '12, a quarterback, will play for Shepherd University.

Four students at Saint Mark's High School are recipients of Delaware Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Silver Key winners are seniors Spencer Shannon (mixed media) and Kara Barbes (painting). Honorable mentions were awarded to seniors Rob Bennington (drawing) and Megan Lee (painting).

Beginning in the fall of 2012, Saint Mark's students will have the opportunity to participate in an exchange program with Madre de Dios, a school located in Bilbao--a city of more than 300,000 in the north of Spain--that enrolls more than 700 students in primary grades through high school. In September, two teachers and twenty students from Madre de Dios will partner with Saint Mark's students and their families, spending approximately two weeks attending classes and visiting culturally significant locations.

Bishop Malooly has appointed Father Timothy M. Nolan, a 1984 graduate of Saint Mark's High School, vicar for priests of the Diocese of Wilmington.

At the Delaware Law Related Education Center's Annual Mock Trial Award Ceremony on Thursday, January 26, 2012, former Saint Mark's teacher Eileen Wilkinson will receive the Pete Jones Award in recognition of her contributions to both the Saint Mark's High School Mock Trial Team and the annual Delaware Mock Trial Program overall.

On Wednesday, December 21, members of Key Club spread Christmas cheer at Christiana Care Hospital, caroling for patients, staff and visitors.

On Wednesday, December 21, three Saint Mark's graduates spoke to Chemistry Club members about advanced chemistry coursework at the college level. Gene Alessandrini '11, a freshman studying mechanical engineering at the Villanova University; David Allshouse '11, a plebe at the Naval Academy studying aerospace engineering; and Brittany Drazich '09, a third-year nursing student at the University of Delaware, answered questions from current Saint Mark's students on a range of topics such as study habits, interacting with professors, and engaging new material.

On Saturday November 26, the Saint Mark's varsity girls' basketball team hosted a "Play Day" for five Catholic Youth Ministry girls' basketball teams--Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saint John the Beloved, Saint Catherine of Sienna, Holy Angels, and Saint Anthony of Padua--to benefit the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington.

Ten students from St. Mark's High School have been selected as members of the 2011-2012 Delaware All-State Chorus. More than 300 students from public, private, charter and Catholic high schools throughout the state competed for positions in this prestigious group. Trials included singing solo and in quartet, as well as sight reading.

Throughout the month of November, members of St. Mark's Z-Club have made it their mission to give Delaware families a happy holiday season. During the week of October 31, students collected close to 450 jars of peanut butter and cans of yams for the Basket Brigade of Delaware, a volunteer organization that delivers food for the Thanksgiving holiday to families most in need. This year, the organization hopes to assemble baskets for more than 2,000 families.

We are pleased to announce that 47 students have earned first honors and 151 students have earned second honors for the first quarter of the 2011-2012 academic year.

On Sunday night, Saint Mark's defeated top-seeded Archmere Academy in the DIAA Girls' Volleyball State Championship, earning back-to-back state titles and the program's tenth overall.

On Wednesday, November 9, three Saint Mark's athletes officially accepted offers from three different universities

More than forty Z-Club members participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Wilmington on October 23. Through fundraising and a two-day bake sale, the all girls service club raised more than $2,500 for the fight against breast cancer.

On Monday, October 17, Rachel Eliza Griffiths '96 returned to Saint Mark's to give a reading from her recently published poetry collection, Mule & Pear, and to engage students in a discussion of the art form. A professor of creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College, Griffiths is also a writer, photographer, and painter. A Cave Canem Fellow, she received a master's in English literature from the University of Delaware and a M.F.A. in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College.

Hannah Falchuk '14 earned second place in the Societa da Vinci's 2011 essay contest. This year's topic asked students, "What Does It Mean to Be Italian American in 2011?' and "Why Is Your Italian Heritage and Culture Important?"

A total of 59 Saint Mark's students were inducted into the Optimi Chapter of the National Honor Society at a ceremony held in the school theatre on October 3. Chapter President Megan Lee, a member of the class of 2012 who was inducted during her junior year, opened the evening with the official call to order.

On Saturday, October 15 at 7 p.m., the Saint Mark's varsity football squad will play their first-ever night game against historic rival Newark High School.

Freshman Kyle Plummer advanced to the semifinal round in the Premier National Junior Show, a division of the 2011 All-American Dairy Show. Held during the weekend of Sept. 17 in Harrisburg, Pa., the Premier National Junior Show is the nation's only four-day event for youth wishing to exhibit dairy animals.

Saint Mark's seniors Valerie Carter, Nathaniel Cope and Brendan McDermott have been named semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among an elite group of approximately 16,000 semifinalists who were selected from the more than 1.5 million juniors who took the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

On Tuesday, May 24, Natasha Carlucci '11—along with more than 20 students from public, independent and diocesan high schools throughout New Castle County—was honored for her participation in the Youth Philanthropy Board for New Castle County at the University and Whist Club in Wilmington. A board member since 2008, Carlucci has had the opportunity to study youth issues in her neighborhood and school and learn about community service and grantmaking. This year, the Youth Philanthropy Board for New Castle County awarded $15,000 in grants to qualified schools and nonprofit organizations in the county.

St. Mark's is pleased to announce that effective on July 1, 2011, Matt Smith will lead the Spartan athletic program, managing the school's more than 40 team and club sports. A graduate of Ursinus College, Smith first came to St. Mark's in 1992 as a physical education and health instructor. During his tenure at the school, Smith has coached football, basketball and baseball. His leadership helped the Spartans win the 2010 state football championship title?the school's first in 32 years—and the 1995 varsity boys' basketball state title. In addition, throughout his 14 years as head coach of the varsity baseball team, Smith captured an impressive seven state titles for the 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010 seasons. He will take on the role of Athletic Director as a result of Tom Rosa's retirement at the end of the school year after 41 years of service.

On May 19, Saint Mark's held its 39th Annual Sports Banquet honoring senior athletes. At the ceremony, T.J. DeMatteis and Emily Frydrych won the Bishop Michael Hyle Outstanding Athlete Award; David Allshouse and Erin Gouge won the Mrs. Dorothy Valencia Sportsmanship Award; Mark Burgess, Emily Frydrych and Kathryn Hanling won the Rev. James T. Delaney Scholar Athlete Award; T.J. DeMatteis won the Kim Vavala Christian Athlete Award; Amber Petruccelli won the Bishop Michael Salterelli Spirit Award; and Ryan Nowakowski and Stephanie Zampini won the Dave Reynolds Passion for Sport Award. 

Stephanie Zampini '11 was named a High School All-American by PrepVolleyball.com. She was one of 150 athletes from throughout the country to earn this distinction. To be considered a High School All-American, players must have been ranked in the top five in their state, and contributed a sizeable impact to the success of their team. Input from coaches, area journalists, and All-State standings were also consulted to compile the rankings.

On April 27, junior Emily Betley received the Girl Scout Gold Award--the highest honor that Girl Scouts ages 14-18 may earn--at the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council's annual meeting in Dover. A national award, it represents a girl's time, leadership, creativity and effort contributed toward improving her community.

All five Saint Mark's students who auditioned for the visual and performing arts branch of The Delaware Governor's School for Excellence were accepted into the week-long, intensive program. Marcie Hinte and Carrie Hinte were selected for the visual arts program; Laurella Lutz was selected for the woodwinds program; Patrick Boland was selected for the choral music program; and Kristina Biddle was selected for the theatre program. Two sophomores--Juliya Pattammady and Ben Keeper—were also accepted into the Governor's School under the academic program.

Junior Danielle Wegryzn—whose group won a gold medal at the 2011 Delaware History Day Competition for their work "Don't Ask Don't Tell: A Documentary"—was invited to attend the annual Delaware Historical Society Dinner. This year's dinner honored legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, and Wegryzn had the opportunity to meet and speak with the award-winning director and producer.

In celebration of the Lenten Season and the upcoming Easter holiday, students in sophomore theology classes prepared baskets for the Outreach Program at Holy Spirit Parish. In support of the outreach's mission, students assembled more than fifty Easter baskets, each containing candy, toys, coloring books, markers and crayons, and a new toothbrush and toothpaste.

This February, Prepvolleyball.com, a national organization, recognized Abbie Mirabella '14 in their 2010 Frosh 59 List, naming her one of the best varsity-playing freshmen in the country. In the 2010 season, Mirabella led the varsity girls' volleyball team in assists (344) and hit at a .300 clip in helping St. Mark’s go 17-2 and win a Delaware state championship. She also finished second on the team in aces and was third in total blocks. Mirabella was an all-Catholic league second-team selection.

Mary White '13 has been nominated as the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Ambassador for Saint Mark's High School. Ambassadors will participate in intensive learning programs focused on fostering leadership, creativity and volunteerism. To be selected, a student must complete an essay outlining their commitment to HOBY's values as well as receive a nomination from a faculty member.

 

"Mary is a well-rounded student and a genuinely good person," said Kari Widdoes, the sophomore student council moderator. "Any teacher I spoke with had nothing but nice things to say about her," she continued.

 

White volunteers with the Blue/Gold buddy program and Z-Club; plays JV volleyball; and is a member of both student council and chemistry club.

 

On Saturday January 15, T.J. DeMatteis '11 was honored as a Scholar All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) at their annual convention in Baltimore. To be selected, a player must earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher, demonstrate excellence in soccer at the high school level, and perform service in his or her community. DeMatteis was one of 38 athletes--and one of only six goalkeepers--in the country to be selected for this honor.

On Saturday, December 4, the Saint Mark's varsity team defeated Middletown High School to capture the school's first state championship football title in 32 years. The capstone to an undefeated season--which included two wins against historic rival Salesianum--this championship win is Saint Mark's fourth Division I title and comes after last year's state finals loss.

Led by Head Coach Daniel Swasey, the St. Mark's girls varsity soccer team collected more than 6,000 individual items to benefit soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Such gifts as candy, food, books, toiletries and beanie babies for children were stuffed into handmade stockings and shipped overseas.

With this year's annual fall blood drive, the community of St. Mark's students, faculty and staff headed into its 26th season of saving lives. Nearly 100 units of blood were donated during the event, which was held on November 11 in the school's gymnasium.