Australian Exchange Students

Joanna Cheng ‘29

On September 13th, St. Mark’s welcomed seven students (Sophie Cripps, Kate Caccetta, Thomas Piacentini, Jack Feltham, Lachie Murphy, Molly Phillips, Sophie Wood)  from our partner schools in Australia: St. Hilda’s Anglican School and Christ Church Grammar School.

Kicking off their memorable travels amid an unexpected tornado warning, they quickly settled into the close-knit St. Mark’s community. They were welcomed with contagious enthusiasm, leaving a milestone on their one-month long journey. 

For most of the students, the differences between their school and St. Mark’s immediately struck them. So, what made them so surprised? They noted the smaller class sizes and a more interaction, discussion based learning environment; a stark contrast to their 30-student classes back home. “The dress code has so much freedom!” one argued after my complaints on the dress requirements, “we came from single sex schools with stricter uniforms.” They further emphasized how they appreciate the boarding lifestyle which not only brought more independence and flexibility, but also challenged their time management, organization, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Beyond the classroom, the cultural differences surprise them. Another student, Thomas, shared with me how “In Australia, we call an eraser ‘a rubber’. So I asked my math teacher: ‘Hey. Can I have a rubber?’”

Despite the initial cultural shocks, they didn’t hesitate to dive right into dorm life. Together with St. Mark’s students, they experienced a true taste of life at St.Mark’s and New England. Their first week’s excitement peaked on the Saturday night’s Neon Dance; their energy helped light up the room under the glow sticks, blacklights, facepaint, and DJ! A trip to Target was also high on the list, the Australians were surprised to find our version was, in their words, "huge!" and with the very American convenience of a Starbucks right inside that they fully appreciate. The cultural tours were followed by a trip to Boston, where they explored Boston’s Chinatown, jumped on a swan boat in Frog Pond, headed to Newbury Street shopping and Assembly Row.

The Australians also found their passions in academics. When asked about their favorite classes, they expressed their love for Latin in Mr. Davey’s class or their passions for US history. Others found their experiences in American football and field hockey (shoutout to Sophie)

This experience is not only limited to their one-month journey, but is also something memorable that they will take home. This far exceeds the simple souvenirs, but the value of the new friendships formed by St.Mark’s student’s warm welcomes and the simple experience of a different lifestyle.

As a St. Mark’s community, we also reflected on our takeaways: our global citizenships, hospitality, perspectives, and the importance of in-person connections. It offered both our visitors and us a chance to learn through different cultures. Through these shared experiences– whether under the neon lights of the school dance, the historic streets of Boston, or the round table discussions in a class— the students from St. Hilda’s and Christ Church Grammar didn't just observe life at St. Mark’s…… they became a part of it.

G’day, mates, and safe travels. All the love from St.Mark’s.

First Gray Colloquium Examines Journalism in a Fraught World

Abby Stone ‘26 & Catherine Zhang ‘26

Alex Ward ‘08 stepped foot on St. Mark’s campus much earlier than the typical freshman in ‘90s as a faculty kid. Now, over three decades later, he arrived as part of a two-person panel for the first Gray Colloquium of the 2025-2026 school year.

On September 6th, two members from the Gray Colloquium committee hosted Wall Street Journal White House Correspondent Ward and Politico journalist Nahal Toosi for the first Gray Colloquium of the year. The theme of the panel was: “Journalism in a Fraught World.” 

Although both journalists specialize in foreign policy, Ward and Toosi arrived at journalism through different paths. 

While Ward did not write for the St. Marker nor his college’s newspaper, he picked up the journalistic reins quickly at Vox Media.

“My second day as a reporter, Trump, during the first Trump administration, fired then FBI director, Jim Comey. And immediately, my editors were like, ‘We have no time to teach you how to be a reporter. Just start doing it,’’’ he recalled. “Vox ended up being my journalism school effectively.”

Toosi, on the other hand, joined the newspaper at her alma mater, the University of North Carolina. “Seeing my first byline in print was like lightning striking, and I knew I had to keep doing it,” she said. 

For both Ward and Toosi, 9/11 was an influential event that drove their interest in covering foreign policy. In fact, Toosi was one of the first foreign correspondents to arrive in Pakistan to cover the killing of Osama Bin Laden.

She detailed, “When Bin Laden was killed, I was in Pakistan and quickly went to Abbottabad to report. Spending several days outside the house, talking to people, and covering such an intense and important moment really certified my passion for journalism.” 

A central question of the panel was how to balance reporting critical facts about presidential administrations without losing access to these top officials. 

“The key is fairness,” Ward advised. Present their main talking points and perspectives faithfully before offering criticism.”

In light of the media’s current limited access to the Trump administration, Toosi explained, “The best information comes not from the country itself but from capitals like Washington, where intelligence officials and academic institutions have access to better data.”  Further, she said, “You have to cast a wide net and sometimes wait for the truth to emerge over time.”

A.I. is especially relevant in journalism because it can assist writers and quickly provide information, but there is concern about relying on it too much. During the panel, both speakers touched on A.I., saying that it can be a wonderful tool when used appropriately, but should not replace intellectual thinking. Ward commented that summarizing sources is a decent place to start, but one’s understanding of material should never end with a ChatGPT summary. 

Toosi made an analogy to A.I., saying, “You want to have the best running shoes, but you don’t want to take steroids, and you don’t want someone to run for you.” 

Rather than simply relying on artificial intelligence, the speakers encouraged the audience to put on their own reporter caps and go to the original source when possible.

Ultimately, the first Gray Colloquium emphasized the importance of engaging with unbiased journalism in a world with increased polarization and a torrent of misinformation. 

Ward concluded, “Journalism is an honor and a responsibility to be the eyes and ears of the public. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a worthy and noble job for those interested in telling the truth and informing society.”

Silenced Voices: The Hidden Reality of Sexual Abuse in North Korea

Lily Oh ‘27

When thinking of North Korea, what comes to your mind first? The ongoing missile tests, military parades, and closed borders? But beneath the surface of this totalitarian dictatorial regime lies an even more horrifying reality–one that is often hidden, rarely reported, and tragically endured in silence: the widespread sexual abuse of women.

While the world focuses on nuclear threats and geopolitical tensions with North Korea, many North Korean women live in constant fear, subjected to sexual violence in every corner of their lives–from the military to the marketplace, inside state prisons, and even in schools. These are not isolated cases but stem from a powerful dictatorship and deep-seated patriarchal traditions.

Jennifer Kim, a former soldier who escaped from North Korea, shared with the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea that an estimated 70 percent of female soldiers experience sexual harassment or assault.

Also, a 2018 report from Human Rights Watch shares the story of Oh Jung Hee, a North Korean woman who sold clothes at a market stall. She described being regularly harassed by guards and police officers who demanded sexual favors in exchange for protection.

But how is sexual harassment so commonly accepted and widely spread in North Korea?

To understand why, we have to look back at history. North Korea’s gender norms are heavily rooted in Confucian values introduced centuries ago by China, emphasizing obedience, sexual purity, and male authority. After the Korean War, these traditional roles were further reinforced under the regime’s strict control. The result? A culture where women are often viewed as property–expected to remain quiet, submissive, and invisible.

Diving deeper, perhaps one of the most shocking examples of this sexual abuse is the existence of the “Joy Division,” or kippumjo, meaning pleasure group. These are groups of girls–some as young as twelve–who are selected by government officials in schools to serve the elite and Kim Jong Un. Kippumjo’s purpose is known to provide a range of entertainment and pleasure, including sexual activities for members of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and their families, as well as their guests. Even though their existence today is unconfirmed, still a wide range of reports and interviews from North Korean females who escaped from North Korea document their experiences related to the joy division group.

These days, the call for equality is getting stronger and stronger, but why hasn’t the world done more to stop this widespread sexual abuse in North Korea?

The answer is complicated. North Korea’s aggressive development of nuclear weapons makes outside intervention incredibly risky. Any military action could lead to devastating consequences, which discourages foreign governments from stepping in. On top of that, North Korea’s close alliance with China adds another layer of protection for the regime.

But that doesn’t mean we should look away.

  While the international community struggles with how to respond, organizations like Human Rights Watch and the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea continue to document stories, raise awareness, and fight for change. And though it may feel like our voices are small, even learning about these women’s lives—and sharing their stories—helps break the silence.

In a world where so many North Korean women are silenced by fear, power, and pain, listening becomes an act of resistance. We can’t fix what we don’t acknowledge. But by facing the truth, refusing to look away, and spreading awareness, we take the first step toward justice.

A Puritan Pandemic? The Rise of Catholic Aesthetics in Gen Z Culture

 Feifei Cao ‘27

For over two thousand years, one of the world’s oldest institutions, the Catholic Church, has been much more than a building. It has been a cornerstone for empires, a spark for revolutions, and a powerful global cultural force in art, philosophy, and literature. While church attendance and formal religious affiliation are in decline in the West, Catholic imagery and aesthetics are experiencing a surprising resurgence, particularly among Gen Z.

Catholic aesthetics are being reborn, not in basilicas or seminaries, but on Pinterest boards and short-form videos. Rosaries, sacred hearts, and Marian imagery are now fashion accessories. Lace, hymnals, stained-glass filters, and liturgical Latin are aesthetic tools of personal branding. While this resurgence is largely detached from theology or doctrine, it offers a glimpse into a generation’s spiritual imagination and desire to reclaim structure and meaning in a disjointed digital age. The renewed interest in Catholic visuals reveals an evolving relationship with faith and beauty in a secular age.

From its early days, the Church understood the importance of sensory experience. Originating with Jesus of Nazareth during the Roman occupation of Judea, his followers expanded the movement into a universal (from Greek “katholikos”) church, with the bishop of Rome assuming primacy. The legalization of Christianity in 313 CE and its adoption as the state religion in 380 CE solidified the Church’s increasing role. As the Western Empire collapsed, the Church became a cultural and intellectual anchor in Europe, spreading Christianity through monasticism.

To accommodate its growing public influence, the Church built structures distinct from small pagan temples, oriented around external rituals. Christian worship required large interior spaces for congregational gatherings. Churches adopted the basilica as their architectural model, a Roman assembly hall, later evolving to an ornate Gothic style (12th–13th century), reflecting grandeur. Architecture became a vessel for spiritual transformation and devotion. As Pope Benedict XVI observed in the Second Vatican Council Address, “Beauty...is one of the principal protagonists of advancing the universal call to holiness.”

This tradition was challenged in 1517 when German priest Martin Luther published the Ninety-five Theses, inciting the Protestant Reformation. Reformers condemned the promotion of idolatry through art, conflicting with ideals of humility. The Catholic Church responded with the Counter-Reformation, reaffirming biblical precedent as justification for imagery, such as God’s instructions to richly adorn His house. NYU professor of religious studies, Elayne Oliphant, explains, “The Protestant Reformation critiqued the excess of wealth and opulence in churches and art…the Catholic Church replied by further emphasizing the richness and beauty of art.” This theological pushback culminated in the rise of Baroque (17th century) art, appealing to emotional intensity and theatricality. Artists like Caravaggio and Reni were commissioned to reaffirm Catholic salvation through beauty. The Catholic aesthetic extended past altars to include ceremonial garments and jeweled regalia. Today, the Catholic Church’s enduring emphasis on aesthetics gives it a distinctive visual legacy.

The Catholic aesthetic has long held influence in high fashion due to its symbolism and luxurious vestments. Andrew Bolton of the Met’s Costume Institute regards “the finest costumes in history [as] always either imperial or ecclesiastical, sometimes both.” The 2018 Heavenly Bodies exhibition at the Met showcased this with garments loaned from the Vatican, including Pope Benedict XV’s golden cape and Pius IX’s jeweled tiara. Many designers from Catholic countries like France and Italy, such as Coco Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana, have drawn on Catholic imagery. Chanel’s iconic little black dress was influenced by clothing worn by nuns at a local abbey, while Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall 2013 show featured crosses, incense-burner handbags, and baroque religious references.

A new religious landscape study revealed in March sees a decline in religious affiliation: Pew Research reports a drop in Christian identity from 78% in 2007 to 63% in 2024. However, Gen Z is embracing Catholic aesthetics online. An increasing number of young people are drawn to its visual language: rosaries, icons, and saints appear across platforms like TikTok and Pinterest. Often connected to the “coquette” subculture, this aesthetic, popularized on social media platforms, embraces ultra-femininity through pastels and vintage fashion, evoking a hyper-romanticized and nostalgic vision of girlhood.

For many, the Catholic aesthete offers emotional comfort and structure during digital overconsumption, AI anxiety, and societal fragmentation. As technology reshapes daily life, blurring lines between human and machine, Catholicism’s sensory ritual and long association with institutional power is a nostalgic language for spiritual exploration and identity formation. Media like The Virgin Suicides (2003), an elegiac film adaptation regarding the tragic suicides of five sisters, and musical artists like Fiona Apple and Lana Del Rey have further glamorized the Catholic mystique, combining themes of martyrdom and purity. Writer Biz Sherbert observes that for youth, the Catholic aesthetic provides “a pursuit of Otherness” that feels meaningful without culturally appropriating others.

This resurgence of Catholicism raises a question: Does the rise of Catholic imagery among Gen Z signal a return to faith or simply a repurposing of religion for artistic and emotional expression? While most Gen Z aesthetic Catholics are not returning to weekly mass or traditional doctrine, their engagement with Catholicism’s symbols keeps its cultural presence alive in new, secular forms. The rise of aesthetics does not reverse the decline in formal religiosity, but reframes a new form of relevance. For Gen Z, Catholicism is not necessarily a belief system to follow, but a visual and emotional archive to reinterpret, a way to access the sacred amid digital overstimulation and cultural disillusionment. As the Church navigates an increasingly polarized world, its beauty remains a parallel between past and present, ritual and rebellion, faith and feeling.

STEM Fellowship 2024-2025

Alice Wang ‘26

In a world where innovation drives progress, the next generation of STEM leaders is already making great advancements. At St. Mark’s, the Taft STEM Fellowship empowers students to tackle real-world challenges and present groundbreaking research, proving that the future of science, technology, engineering, and math is in capable hands.

The Taft STEM Fellowship is a signature program of St. Mark’s that allows students to actively participate in authentic research and real-world exposure to the application of STEM topics through experimentation and programming. In this program, students work beyond the Advanced level in their chosen field and are involved in more than acquiring information from textbooks. Furthermore, the STEM Fellowship requires STEM fellows to conduct interdisciplinary research and effectively communicate and collaborate with their peers and mentors. The culmination of research will be a public presentation to peers, faculty, and experts in the field in the form of the Science Fair.

The 2024-2025 STEM Fellows showcased their exceptional research at prestigious competitions, earning top honors at the Worcester Regional Science Fair (WRSEF) and the Massachusetts Science Fair (MSEF). Their achievements included multiple second and third-place wins, honorable mentions, and special recognitions such as the U.S. Air Force Certificate of Achievement and the AMD Engineering Excellence Award, demonstrating the program’s commitment to excellence and real-world impact.

The following is a list of project descriptions from the STEM fellows of 2024-2025:

Cooper Wang ‘25

Black ice poses significant challenges to driving, specifically autonomous driving, due to the difficulty in detecting it and its impact on vehicle safety. Present methods for detecting black ice, although accurate, are still vulnerable to external environmental influences and cannot function in certain environments. Therefore, the research looks into novel methods of all-environment black ice detection, using inertial measurement data collected with a scale model of vehicles to train neural networks for binary classification of road conditions. The resulting method from two separate neural network structures is 98.8% and 99.5% accurate.

Vladyslav Mishyn ‘25

Ukrainian rescuers face significant challenges in rubble conditions, including restricted movement, entrapment risks, and the growing threat of secondary rocket strikes targeting first responders. To address these dangers, a universal search system was proposed to detect, locate, and transmit the location of victims, enabling rapid rescues without manual searching. The system integrates an onboard computer and a microphone array, keeping costs under $1000—three times cheaper than thermal imaging drones. The current goal is to develop a prototype capable of pinpointing a screaming victim's location within a three-meter radius.

Carey Huang ‘25

Environmental noise pollution is linked to cognitive impairment, yet its sensory mechanisms are not fully understood. This study used Drosophila melanogaster to explore the effects of loud noise during feeding on cognitive performance, using food choice behavior as a proxy for decision-making. The results revealed that wild-type flies exposed to noise showed a significant shift in food choice distribution compared to silent conditions, suggesting impaired cognitive performance. In contrast, deafened flies did not display significant changes between conditions, underscoring the role of auditory input in mediating these effects.

Adelaide (Addie) Mims ‘25

Migraine is a common neurological disorder that creates symptoms like intense head pressure and nausea, disrupting normal neurotransmission. Current treatments are hard to navigate and can be ineffective and expensive, highlighting the necessity for innovative approaches. It has recently been discovered that the gut-brain axis, which connects gut health and brain function, may play a role in migraines. This study explored the link between the gut and migraines using C. elegans as a model. Results showed that C. elegans fed the probiotic diets of Lactobacillus casei or Bifidobacterium lactis had fewer migraine-like episodes than those on a normal diet, suggesting a possible link between probiotics and migraines.

Divi Bhaireddy ‘25

Dental caries, primarily caused by Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), is a major public health

concern. 3.5 billion people worldwide are affected by oral disease, and approximately 2 billion people struggle with dental caries. Traditional antimicrobial agents have limitations, prompting interest in natural alternatives. This study investigates the effect of bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) treatment on S. mutans biofilm formation using a crystal violet assay. Results indicate a positive

correlation between bay leaf concentration and biofilm density when treatments are highly

concentrated with bay leaf, but a negative correlation with lower concentrations, leading to increased transmittance. These findings suggest that bay leaf extract may have potential as a natural antimicrobial.

Hannah Cha ‘25

The prevalence of sleep disorders and chronic sleep deprivation in modern society has become a significant public health concern, as the consequences of inadequate sleep extend beyond mere fatigue, impacting various aspects of human health and function. This study investigates the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the recovery rate of locomotive behavior in sleep-deprived Drosophila melanogaster, utilizing the open field assay to observe their movements. Results revealed that the substitution of GABA in wild-type flies results in an increased rate of activity, whereas flies fed a traditional diet showed a continuous decrease in locomotor activity.

Mia Solomon ‘25

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting approximately 10 million people worldwide. With no known cure, current treatments focus on symptom

management. However, they are often expensive and come with side effects requiring additional medication. This study investigates the potential of prebiotics in modulating the severity of PD symptoms using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Prebiotics were administered from embryos to assess their impact on PD symptom progression. It was hypothesized that prebiotics would improve locomotive performance in PD-affected D. melanogaster compared to untreated counterparts. While the results showed a trend toward enhanced locomotion in treated flies, they did not reach statistical significance, indicating that further research a definitive correlation.

Leo Lim ‘25

Concussion, also known as mild Traumatic Brain Injury, is prevalent among athletes, with short and long-term consequences impacting neurological health and athletic performance. Current diagnostic methods rely on subjective measurements, leading to high rates of undiagnosed concussions. This study aims to develop a multivariate logistic regression model to enhance early detection and risk assessment of adolescent concussions. Using data from federal repositories, risk factors were identified using a logistic regression model coded in the R programming language. A logistic regression model is then trained and tested with the identified factors. The model was then implemented into a ShinyApp-based website, allowing athletes to input data and receive concussion probability estimates.

Grants at St. Mark’s: Creatively Exploring Passions

Janina Manaloto ‘26

Grants at St. Mark’s: Creatively Exploring Passions

Grants are an opportunity for students to explore their interests through the granted school money for a project they want to pursue. Projects may involve travel, research, or a course. There are six different grants, each of which has a different purpose: Class of ‘68 V Form Fellowship, Experiential Project, A.A. Jones Family International Studies, Matthews Fund, Thomas H Kean ‘63 Fellowship, and Warren Scholars. As each of them are for different purposes, it is important to carefully decide what grant to apply for that matches the best with the passion project.

For more details about Grants, you can visit the below Doc. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S5lH8uxqKR7ZX2VUyaILlrV-_5QTu_NvaiUGO8f8rko/edit?tab=t.0

There were exceptionally many passion-driven students who were selected to receive the grants this year and let’s dive into some of their passion projects.

Vivi Tran ‘26 is planning to do a music project with Joanna Ng ‘26 and Ryan Kim ‘26 for the Class of ‘68 V Form Fellowship. She has always been interested in songwriting and producing music, and this grant is the perfect opportunity for her to pursue this passion. She says that “Music has always been a major part of my life. I’ve spent years playing guitar and singing covers of my favorite songs, but I’ve never had the opportunity to explore the creative and technical side of music production. The entire process—writing new lyrics, composing melodies, laying down tracks, and ultimately producing a finished song—always seemed out of reach. This grant gives me the chance to finally be in that world.” Throughout this project, she will explore the technical side of music production and gain deeper insight into what it means to be an artist. Her objective is to take away the skills and experiences from this project and apply them to her music career beyond St. Mark’s.

Isabelle Lee ‘27 is planning to explore sustainable fashion and textiles in Antwerp, Belgium as part of the A.A. Jones grant. This specific grant allows her to have the opportunity to combine her passion for sustainability and fashion on an international scale. In this project, she says that she will “tour Antwerp to explore sustainable textiles and how they are being used in Antwerp’s fashion scene and conduct interviews with storekeepers, designers, and just overall experts in fashion.” Her goal is to host a workshop during family weekend to talk about what she has learned from this experience and explain the significance of sustainable textiles. Her next steps after this project are to host a workshop to raise awareness about this project and to create her own brand where she designs clothes out of sustainable textiles.

Community Engagement at St. Mark’s

Ian Cho ‘26

Community engagement at St. Mark’s reflects the school’s core mission to develop students who prioritize collaboration, empathy, and leadership. Through hands-on service experiences, students connect with communities beyond the boroughs and grow into thoughtful changemakers. Opportunities to engage are woven into many parts of school life, including afternoon activities, Saturday classes, student-run clubs, engagement day, and grant-supported independent projects. This year, students can now choose community engagement as an afternoon activity in place of athletics, working with Dr. Kopp to partner with organizations throughout Southborough. Saturday courses like Special Olympics and the African Community Education (ACE) Center give students direct opportunities to serve, while clubs such as Paws for Cause and the Haiti Partnership raise awareness and support for nonprofits. No matter the format, community engagement empowers St. Mark’s students to build meaningful relationships and make a lasting difference.

Many students have found St. Mark’s community engagement opportunities deeply meaningful. Catherine Zhang ’26, who leads discussions for children at the ACE Center in Worcester, shared that she enjoys “talk[ing] to the kids, learn[ing] about their cultures, and explor[ing] interesting topics, such as migration.” Bella Summer ’28 also reflected on ACE, saying she’s “created bonds with so many kids that [she] will never forget.”

Ellie Cohen ’26 recalled a memorable Saturday class trip to a local farm where students cleared rocks so the land could be used to grow produce for local shelters and farm stands. “It was tedious and fun,” she said. “We did it for a great cause.” Students also volunteer beyond school hours. Alexander Hodi ’26 works with the Southborough Food Pantry and the New England Center for Children.

On May 19, 2025, the school hosted Engagement Day. Students picked up trash on campus and volunteered with local organizations, including Pine Hill Meadow Garden, Veterans Inc., ACE, the Southborough Public Library, and more. Diana Wainrib of Pine Hill Meadow Garden said, “They were such good workers and got so much done.” ACE leaders shared gratitude for the students’ consistent involvement. “We are honored by the service you provide,” wrote Abil Dhee. At the Southborough Open Land Foundation, Debbie Costine called the students “a great group.” Marianna Sorensen at the public library added, “Thank you for helping us develop and offer the [Reading Buddies] program. I look forward to offering it in the future.”

Whether through one-day events or long-term partnerships, St. Mark’s students are making a real impact and leading lives of consequence beyond the classroom.

Spreading Love Through Service

Rachel Ding ‘26

As love was in the air at our school here in Southborough, smoke had just filled the air at our partner school in Los Angeles. From January 7th to February 3rd, 480 fires in LA destroyed 16,251 structures, including the Saint Mark's School in Altadena. The elementary school lost its "beautiful campus and church in the Eaton Fire" and has established an "Emergency Rebuild Saint Mark's Fund" to fund both the short-term relocation of its programs and the longer-term reconstruction of its campus.  

In light of Valentine's Day, the Paws for a Cause club wanted to spread some love to those especially in need of it. Members gathered the night before to prepare an assortment of sweet treats—cookies, cupcakes, and muffins—to sell beside the Kisses and Carnations table. The money raised was sent to our partner school to support their rebuilding efforts and hopefully uplift their community spirit. 

Paws for a Cause reminds us that love is not a feeling but a choice we can make through our daily actions. One of the most meaningful ways to enact love is through service—it takes barely anything out of your cup but can overfill someone else's. As a school, we had a taste of its sweetness during the Service Day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 

The third-form packed hygiene kits for those experiencing shelter stays and "Welcome Home" kits for those transitioning from temporary housing and wrote "Messages of Hope" cards to be included in the kits, with the organization Heading Home. Meanwhile, fourth-formers packed Valentine's Day treat bags and wrote message cards for families served by the charitable service organization Project Just Because. Fifth-formers worked with a representative from Provisions Ministry to package hygiene kits for those who were homeless or in shelters. As the upperclassmen, sixth-formers came up with unique ways they want to serve the St. Mark's community during their remaining time here—from writing letters to incoming students and cleaning up the dining hall after today's lunch to brainstorming on projects related to Special Olympics and creating cards of hope, as well as how they want to leave their mark here. 

If you are interested in helping beyond our community, be on the lookout for Dr. Kopp's emails! Not only did she oversee this bake sale, but has been bringing students to join her in other local service activities, which have included making bouquets for nursing home residents, packing duffel bags for foster kids, and volunteering at the Southborough Food Pantry.

Lunar New Year Evening Chapel and Gala

Alice Wang ‘26

Lunar New Year, one of the most widely celebrated festivals across East and Southeast Asia, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar on January 29. During the week, ASEA (Association of South-East and East Asians) coordinated several events, bringing the community together and making international students feel at home by celebrating the significant cultural occasion.

During the Evening Chapel, decorated with red lanterns that signify good fortune and prosperity, on January 28, students gathered to celebrate the theme of the Lunar New Year. Throughout the service, a few members from ASEA shared poems and readings in their native languages, honoring their heritage and fostering a sense of cultural appreciation within the community. Others shared their personal experiences and cultural traditions during this special time of the year. Later, Dr. Hills delivered an inspiring speech, emphasizing the importance of making continuous improvements, where getting one percent better each day for one year will allow one to become thirty-seven times better by the end as the improvements compound over time. The service concluded with a singing performance from Hannah Cha ’25 and Alice Wang’s ’26 singing performance of the song “Eyes, Nose, Lips” in both Korean and Chinese, serving as a preview of the Lunar New Year Gala on Friday in the same week.

The Gala, organized by ASEA, on January 31 showcased ten student performances that included a diverse range of acts such as singing, dancing, magic tricks, and instrumental playing, all brought to life by a talented group of 22 performers. Highlights of the performance include: a song presented by the band featuring Khoi Nguyen ’25, Vivi Tran ’26, Ian Cho ’26, and Ryan Kim ’26, a dance by the duet Hannah Cha ’25 and Si Ah Jang ’27, and a magic card trick by Daniel Song ’25. 

In between the performances, raffle tickets were drawn for a chance to win gift cards. Video clips of St. Mark’s parents’ blessings for their children were also displayed.