St. Mark Catholic

School Information

Principal: Mrs. M. Kelly

Vice-Principal: Mr. J. Ferrusi

Superintendent of Education: Mr. G. Pizzoferrato

Parish: St. Helen Roman Catholic Church

Pastor: Rev. Krzysztof Szczepanik

Website: stmark.niagaracatholic.ca

Location: 4114 Mountain Street, Beamsville, On, L3J OJ9

Phone: 905-563-9191

November is often recognized as the month of Remembrance, a time to honour and pay tribute to those who have made sacrifices for our freedom and peace. On November 1st, we observe All Saints Day, a day to remember and celebrate the lives of Saints. This is followed by All Souls Day on November 2nd, where we remember and pray for all the souls of the departed.

Additionally, November is a period of reflection and recognition for our Indigenous communities. Treaty Recognition Week, observed from November 1st to 7th, provides an opportunity to learn about and acknowledge the treaties and agreements that shape our nation. On November 7th, we celebrate International Inuit Day, honouring the rich culture, heritage, and contributions of the Inuit people. On November 8th, we mark Indigenous Veterans Day, showing our gratitude and respect for the Indigenous individuals who have served in the First and Second World Wars.

Finally, on November 11th we commemorate Remembrance Day, to acknowledge the courage and sacrifices of those who fought and continue to fight for peace.

Lest we forget.

Mrs. M. Kelly and Mr. J. Ferrusi

This year Remembrance Day falls on Wednesday, November 11th. We ask our families to observe a moment of silence to honour the courage, valour and sacrifice of the heroes who have served – and continue to serve – Canada during times of war and conflict.

To mark this day, students have the option of wearing a red top instead of white or blue. Navy bottoms are still required. Students who are involved in outside organizations such as Air Cadets, Guides, Beavers, etc., are welcome to wear their uniforms during the day.

The Royal Canadian Legion has generously donated poppies for all students to wear that day. A poppy will be given to each student that morning in class (stickers for grades K-3 and poppy pins for grades 4-8). Donations to the Legion can be made online through School Cash. We thank you, on their behalf, for your generosity.

Don't forget to turn you clocks back one hour before you got to bed on Saturday, October 31st! This is also a great time to change the batteries in smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors.

November 1st-7th: Indigenous Veterans and Treaties Recognition Week is a meaningful time dedicated to remembrance, education, and reflection. This observance honours the contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous veterans, deepens our understanding of the significance of treaties, and supports ongoing efforts toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

November 7th: National Inuit Day is an opportunity to celebrate the rich culture, language, and enduring contributions of Inuit peoples across Canada and around the world. It is a time to recognize and honour the unique heritage and resilience of Inuit communities, while fostering greater awareness and appreciation of their vital role in our shared history and future.

November 8th: Indigenous Veterans Day

November 16th: Louis Riel Day commemorates the life and enduring legacy of Louis Riel, a prominent Métis leader who played a pivotal role in the founding of Manitoba. Observed on the anniversary of his execution in 1885, this day serves as both a moment of remembrance and a celebration of Métis culture. It is an opportunity to recognize the significant contributions of Métis peoples to the history, development, and diversity of Canada.

Our Fall fundraiser has begun, catalogues and order forms were sent home in October. This fundraiser runs until November 13th. The funds raised will be used to update student technology.

Get ready, St. Mark families — the Scholastic Book Fair is coming!

From Tuesday, November 10th to Thursday, November 19th , our school will be buzzing with books, excitement, and a love of reading. The Book Fair gives students the chance to explore new stories, discover favorite authors, and build confidence in choosing books that spark their interests — all while supporting our school library and literacy programs.

Students will preview the fair and create wish lists with their classes on November 10th and 11th . Sales begin the morning of November 12th, and students will be able to shop during the school day (excluding recess and nutrition breaks).

To make it easier for families to shop together, we’re also hosting two evening shopping opportunities:

• Thursday, November 12th – open until 6:00 p.m.
• Thursday, November 19th – open until 7:00 p.m. (Coinciding with parent-teacher interview night)

We encourage families to review wish lists together before shopping. Please note that in accordance with Scholastic’s policy, no refunds will be available.

Every purchase helps support our school and puts more books into the hands of our students — a win for everyone! We can’t wait to see you there.

We wear plaid for the ones who need us most.

This November, we’re wearing plaid to power Pathstone Walk-In Clinics — where kids get the help they need, right when they need it. We encourage everyone to wear plaid on November 26th in support of mental health clinics in Niagara.

The middle of November will mark the distribution of the Provincial Progress Reports.

This report will focus on your child’s learning skills and work habits. Your child’s achievement in them builds the foundation for learning to take place. Please review the information on the Elementary Progress Report Card with your child.

Progress Reports will be available in the Parent Portal beginning November 16th.

Parent/teacher conferences will be taking place in person on Thursday, November 19, 2026. Scheduling an appointment will be done online. More information will be emailed to all families.

At St. Mark School we run a snack program that provides nutritious snacks to students in need or those that might wish to have an additional snack to eat. Funds are generously given to us through the Niagara Nutrition Program in St.Catharines. As part of the program, we have been asked to fundraise some money to supplement the program. Donations can be made through School Cash Online. Any donation you are able to provide is greatly appreciated by all staff and students of St. Mark School. Thank you in advance for your contribution.

Photo re-take day has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 4th 2026.

If you would like your child to have their picture taken again, please send a note to their classroom teacher indicating your wishes.

Our Intermediate Boys and Girls Soccer Teams had an outstanding day at the Blessed Trinity Family of Schools Soccer Tournament! Both teams played with tremendous skill, effort, and determination while demonstrating excellent sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Their teamwork, positive attitudes, and commitment to one another were evident both on and off the field. We are incredibly proud to celebrate both teams earning a 2nd place finish! Congratulations to all of our players on an amazing tournament. Mr. Costantini and Miss Sirianni are extremely proud of you!

Congratulations to the Jr. Boys soccer team for winning gold at the tournament! The boys went undefeated the whole tournament and showed great heart in their final game, winning in extra time! Special recognition to Mateo for scoring the tying goal with 2 minutes in regular time, Justin for scoring the winner goal with a brilliant individual effort, and Hudson for playing his very first soccer games as a goalie for the team. The boys should all be very proud of themselves.

Thank you all for your generous donations to our Thanksgiving food drive with Community Care of West Niagara. It was a great success and we know our local community directly benefits from your contributions.

A special shout out to Vincent who placed 2nd at the NCDSB Cross Country meet.

Way to go Vincent!

Thank you to Mrs. Melfi and Mrs. Ferrelli for coaching our students in Cross Country!

Thank you to all who purchased tickets for our parking spot raffle.

Congratulations to the Catalano family and the Rapava family who were the lucky winners!

Have you ever noticed that stars form pictures called constellations? A single star is beautiful, but together they tell a story. We are the same way—when we work together and help each other, we shine much brighter than we ever could alone.

In the month of November we celebrate the Communion of Saints, those who followed Jesus and now have eternal life with him in Heaven. They too are a part of our constellation. By praying for us on earth, they help us to grow closer to Jesus. Saint Mark... pray for us!

December 2nd- Girls Triple Ball @ St. John

December 3rd- Boys Triple Ball @ St. John

December 21st to January 1st - Christmas Break

Just a reminder that students are not to be using cell phones or other personal mobile devices during school hours. All classrooms have phones that dial out in case of an emergency. If you need to contact your child, please call the school at 905-563-9191. Students are also able to call home from the main office if needed.

In accordance with PPM 128 (The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct-PPM No. 128 Issued August 29, 2019-Effective November 4, 2019) the use of personal mobile devices during instructional time is permitted under the following circumstances:

· for educational purposes, as directed by the teacher

· for health and medical purposes

· to support special education needs

This document addresses common questions that parents and guardians may have about the restriction on the use of cellphones and other personal mobile devices during instructional time. www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/cellphone-mobile-devices.html

The kiss and ride area is for families to drive to a dedicated area in the parking lot and drop their child off who will be directed by school staff to the front of the school. The kiss and ride area allows for the driver to stay in the car, while a staff member assists their child. This is an efficient way for families to drop off their child(ren) at school. For families who prefer to park and walk their child(ren) to the front of the school, there will be a parking area dedicated for you to park. For this to run smoothly and efficiently, we ask parents to please park in the family parking zones only (white lines). All numbers parking spots have been allocated for staff parking.

Parking in no-parking zones creates congestion and increases the risk of a child being hurt.

A reminder that students are expected to adhere to Niagara Catholic’s Standardized Dress Code. An additional copy of the Dress Code is attached below. According to the Standardized Dress Code, the following items are not permitted:

• Black Pants

• T-shirts of any kind (spiritwear exempt)

• Faded or torn Jeans. (Jeans must be dark blue and in good condition)

• Shorts and Skirts must be knee length

Please note: if your child is not in dress code they will be addressed and parents will be notified to bring dress code to school or dress code items will be given to your child for the day.

Your cooperation is important and appreciated.

Regulations state that school personnel cannot administer any drugs, without written permission from the parent and a doctor. If there is a need for such medication, please contact the school to obtain the forms which must be filled out and signed by both the doctor and the parent.

Please note that all medical forms that were sent home are now due back to the school.

Please remember that St. Mark School is an Allergen Aware School. Please do not send products with nuts or nut traces with your child.

St. Mark is rooted in Catholic and Christian values. Our goal is to create a safe, kind and loving environment for all who work, learn, and assist with our school community. Aggressive or hostile behaviour or language toward, staff, students or our community helpers will not be tolerated. While we welcome feedback, concerns and opinions it is the expectation that all staff, students, parents, guardians and community helpers communicate their needs and concerns with one another in a respectful and peaceful manner whether through email, on the phone or face-to-face. Adherence to this expectation is vital in order to create a community which can solve problems and help one another achieve success.