Third Formers on Saturday Classes: What The Survey Results Showed

Third formers began the first Saturday Class of their choice. As a huge part of St. Mark’s, the courses provide students with another great eye-opening experience for the students taking the course. Although 3rd formers have been at St. Mark’s for a fairly long time already, they have finally had their first experience of a unique part of St. Mark’s. Since it is their first time experiencing a Saturday Class of their choice, we wanted to share some information and opinions regarding the classes. We were able to receive ratings and feedbacks for the courses through a survey we conducted. More specifically, we collected their ideas on the portions of the class that they benefit most from and areas for improvement.

All of the students that participated in our survey agreed that their Saturday Classes are  especially enjoyable. Every participant rated their course a score of at least 6 out of 10. In fact, most 3rd formers who took the survey rated their class an 8 out of 10. On the other hand, the ratings of how challenging their classes were much more diverse. While some students suggested that their courses are not arduous at all, others believed that they were extremely laborious. However, most people concurred on a 7 out of 10 when asked how challenging their course was.

3rd formers who took the survey also believed that there is an aspect of their class that they enjoy. For example, a few of the participants concluded that they love spending time with little kids. One student noted that “playing with the kids and seeing them happy” was the most gratifying reward from this class. Other students expressed that the most enjoyable aspect of their class is watching videos and movies that were related to the class. Responses also voice that they were able to play some project-related games during the course, one student suggested that playing “games that are incredibly engaging” is the most pleasant element of the class. Many responses also states that they love being able to be in the same class as their best friends. 

Nonetheless, some students concluded that there could be improvements made to their class. Some students wanted their course to be longer since they feel they do not have enough time to complete their tasks, and the period of class feels short when time is spent on the driving. As opposed to another anonymous student who wants their course to be shorter in length because “Saturday Classes seem too long and difficult for focus near the second half of it”. There are also students who expect to have specific directions for their classes instead of completing things without an itinerary. According to an anonymous 3rd former, she was expecting “more guidance” for the projects. However, most 3rd formers felt that their class was extremely beneficial, and they had nothing to change about their course.

Overall, 3rd formers express through their surveys that their Saturday Classes are quite likable. Most students who participated in the survey are satisfied with their choice of class. Although there could be perfections made to better their class and experience in the course, most students convey that they enjoy their classes. While Saturday Classes do take up a portion of our precious weekend free time, it is a great opportunity provided for the St. Mark’s students to learn more about the world around us and pursue our own interests!

News from the Ball Pit

—Suha Choi ‘22

Welcome to the first in a new series of interviews we will be conducting this year called “News From the Ball Pit.” You may be wondering  “what is a ball pit?”

The idea for the ball pit started during a summer Global Citizenship Institute. A group of St. Markers attending the institute was looking for a way to create more dialogue and understanding between different groups within the school. Two years later it became the project of a group of fifth-formers who built it with Ms. Belt for their Lion Term Project. Inspired by other ball pits that were installed and filmed in  New York, London, and Washington, D.C., the SM ball pit was created as a means to build community and to find opportunities to have difficult conversations in a playful setting. 

We hope to have News From the Ball Pit in every issue of the St. Marker going forward and to include videos as well. If you are interested in being featured, please contact Suha Choi or anyone from the St. Marker staff!

In honor of Family Weekend, our first “News From the Ball Pit” is a conversation between Ms. Belt (our Ball Pit engineer) and her daughter Nashua Poreda’22. 

What is the hardest thing about having to go to the same school as your mom or your daughter?

Nashua: “Every time I walk past by a teacher, I start wondering if the teacher would have talked about me with my Mom. Especially when they are teachers that I take classes from, I would hope that my mom would not have revealed anything about me,” 

Ms. Belt: “I actually think my major concern would be similar, it is always hard for the teachers and me not to mention Nashua, since she has been on campus for her entire life. If any faculty has taught at St. Mark’s for at least fifteen years, the chances are that they have seen Nashua since she was a baby and feel like they are her big aunts or uncle. It would be hard not to ever mention Nashua.  I really want to make sure I give Nashua space to be who she wishes to be at the community, instead of limiting herself as ‘Ms. Belt’s daughter’. We’re very close, and I always get so excited and want to be so nosy every time I see her, but again, I want to give her some space to feel comfortable.”

Since Halloween is coming up, maybe give us a spooky story that happened at St. Mark’s, if you have any? 

Ms. Belt: “There used to be rumors going around, and I wonder if there still are, that ghosts are living upstairs on the very top floor of the history wing. People would say that they always heard footsteps, clink- clink sounds, and some kind of banging in the wall as if someone was messing up things on purpose. And since I used to live here back then, although I wasn’t too scared, I would wake up to the loud sounds of serious banging at two in the morning almost every night. I know it may sound a little silly to say that ghosts exist up in  the history wing, but who knows, maybe I am the ghost...” 

Now, considering that you have been here each for thirty years, and Nashua for fifteen,  please give us one of the most hilarious or notable stories you have had at St. Mark’s!

Ms. Belt: “The community threw me a baby shower and Ms. McBride...this was right around when Nashua was a tiny baby- Ms. McBride rolled hundreds and hundreds of diapers, and yes, I mean the white baby diapers. Then, she stacked them all up to create this gigantic, four-tiered wedding cake– solely made out of baby diapers. Then, she gave them to me, (and I think it was meant to be funny.)  It surely was one of the craziest and most pleasing gifts I have ever received, thanks to Ms. McBride.” 

What is the most awkward moment you’ve experienced?


Nashua: “Especially since my Mom isn’t around main campus so often, a number of people around campus don’t know that we are related. There was a group of 3rd form boys this year who were telling me about what a great teacher my Mom was and they didn’t know I was her daughter. It was pretty funny. 

Ms. Belt: “I’m so glad it was that and they weren’t saying anything negative!”