Jackie Huang ‘24
On the second Friday and Saturday of October, which were October 12th to October 13th, St. Mark's annual Family Weekend occurred. Family weekend is a chance not only for families from out of state or afar to visit, but also for them to better understand St. Marks’ academic curriculum and community life by attending classes, meeting teachers, and participating in many activities.
Families began arriving on Friday morning, October 13. An official welcome in PFAC kicked off another year, followed by numerous presentations hosted by the Library, The Burgess Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, and College Counseling.
At night, families had the opportunity to see the fruits of many student artists. The opening Reception of the Family Weekend art show featured student work from Studio I, Ceramics I, Sculpture I, Studio II, Ceramics II, Advanced Art, and Advanced Ceramics. The night closed with lovely music at the annual Family Weekend concert performed by the Choir, Jazz Band and Orchestra. Refreshments were also provided in Taft Hall during the showcases.
On Saturday, which many deem the best part of family weekend, parents (and siblings!) followed their children’s academic schedule. They were able to sit in the same classrooms, listen to the content students were learning in the class, and ask questions to the teacher. It was truly fun to see families in students’ seats. The family weekend then closed with athletic home games happening in the same afternoon.
The Family Weekend gave many students an opportunity to enjoy quality time with their families off-campus. Especially for boarding students and international students, many were overjoyed to see their families for the first time since beginning school two months ago. It was truly heartwarming to see the campus filled with laughter, reunions, children, pets and students proudly showcasing their learning, especially for new students this year. Even for the student without visiting family, the Family Long Weekend that followed provided a much-needed break for them.