There are so many activities and organizations children are involved in at St. Mark School. They provide a great example of service to all of us everyday. This past week, our Student Council held a kick-off rally for leukemia. “Pennies for Patients with Leukemia” is a three-week service project that they had voted on to sponsor for the entire school. At the assembly, Mrs. Steinmetz, one of our parents, spoke to the children about where their donations would go. Mr. Sheehan, one of our Student Council moderators, then explained how the program would work and some of the incentives.
Everyday since the assembly, children have voluntarily been bringing in spare change from home and donating it to their homeroom’s containers, which are then collected and counted. Every morning on WSMS, our in-house broadcasting network, a new patient suffering with leukemia is introduced to our students. We have been keeping all of these children as well as all who suffer from illness in our daily prayers.
One week into the program, I am so humbled and proud to let you know that our children have brought in $3,026.19. Their generosity has gone beyond anyone’s imagination. This is just one example of the truly Catholic climate that prevails throughout our school.
Their actions have reminded me about a poem entitled “A Creed to Live By” (author unknown). The lines read, “Don’t give up when you still have something to give. It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other. Don’t dismiss your dreams; to be without dreams is to be without HOPE. To be without HOPE is to be without purpose.” Every day, I am reminded in some way of the HOPE we have for a bright future. Our children are constantly providing me with life lessons on never taking for granted the important things in life. Our faith truly binds each of us together in a unique way, and we are always leaving our footprints behind on those whose lives we have touched. As a school and as a community, we are so richly blessed.
 
Have a great week!
Mrs. Cocita