St. Mark's Saturday Programs
The St. Mark’s Saturday Program invites students to explore interests beyond traditional academics through hands-on learning, meaningful discussion, and community engagement.
For the 2025–2026 school year, the program includes three core components: Gray Colloquium, Form Core, and Service Saturdays. Each required element is designed to enrich the student experience and support personal growth outside the typical classroom setting. These programs are required for all students. If you have specific questions concerning the content of Saturday Programs please reach out to Mike Marinella ‘08, Coordinator of Lion Term and Saturday Programs.
Read on to learn more about each component and discover important details.
Gray Colloquium
The C. Boyden Gray Colloquium is designed to engage St. Mark’s students in an exploration of one complex global issue annually. Students hear from outside speakers with varying viewpoints, participate in small group discussions, write about and debate the issue, and take part in all-community events. The late C. Boyden Gray ’60, former Board president and trustee, committed 1ドル.5 million to fund this annual yearlong learning exercise. Our theme for the 2025-2026 school year is Cooperation and Collaboration. The three dates listed below are required for all students.
Dates:
Saturday, September 6, 2025
January 10, 2026
April 11, 2026
Time: 9:00-11:15 a.m.
Where: Advisory Location
Leadership and Service Saturdays
These sessions will provide an opportunity for St. Mark’s students to develop leadership skills and service those around them. Each form will have specific dates and learning goals in order to better prepare them for being a good citizen on campus and life beyond St. Mark’s.
III Form Dates:
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Saturday, May 2, 2026
IV Form Dates:
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Saturday, May 16, 2026
V Form Dates:
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026
VI Form Dates:
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 9:00-11:15 a.m.
Form Core
All students will participate in obligatory Form Core programming. This will be spread across five dates within the school calendar. Below you can find the themes for each form and the dates when students are required to attend.
III Form Core: Learning and Leadership
The III Form Saturday Program will engage students in a variety of experiences to foster collaboration, teamwork, and to continue the orientation process. III Formers will participate in peer discussion groups with student leaders, test themselves on our Challenge Course, and work with faculty to explore and develop their understanding and implementation of leadership skills.
Dates:
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 9:00-11:15 a.m.
V Form Core: Preparing for the Future
Preparing for your Future will introduce V Form students to all elements of a thorough, thoughtful, and self-reflective college search process. Individual workshops will cover topics ranging from research and list-building to utilizing quality resources to make informed decisions, and previewing the application and admission processes.
Dates:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 9:00-11:30 a.m.
IV Form Core: Self in Context
Grounded in six core dimensions of wellbeing, Self in Context invites IV Form students to explore how identity, relationships, and society shape their lived experience. Through guest speakers, small-group discussions, and interactive activities, students explore topics such as mindfulness, healthy relationships, and media literacy. The course encourages students to reflect on who they are, how they relate to others, and how they can actively integrate wellbeing into their daily lives—at school and beyond.
Dates:
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 9:00-11:15 a.m.
VI Form Core: College Readiness
College Readiness is a gift of time for VI Formers, preparing students to "apply well." Working with the college counseling team and experienced faculty, students will focus on essential elements of the application process—organization, applications, personal writing, and interviews—in a structured and highly supportive environment.
Dates:
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 9:00-11:30 a.m.