Preparing for Next Year
by Serena Lin ‘28
As the cherry blossoms rain themselves through the last stages of bloom, the footsteps of the next school year tread near. Students at St. Mark’s School are busy preparing for the start of the next school year. Despite the pending finals and AP pressure, students still have to prepare for a smooth transition into summer as well as the beginning of another year. This year, many changes were made compared to last year.
Housing Selection
Rising IV, V, and VI formers are required to participate in a housing selection process to assign themselves the dorm they want to live in. Before Spring Break, the application for dorm prefects (rising V and VI-formers) was closed. Applicants were able to choose for themselves whether they were willing to live in the freshmen dorms or get randomly assigned to other dorms. There were 4 selected for each girls dorm and 3 selected for each boys dorm through interviewing, dorm parent recommendations, and advisor comments.
The possible housing locations are the following:
VI & V Boys' Houses: Coe, Sawyer, Thieriot South, Patterson Maple
VI & V Girls' Houses: Gaccon, Thayer, Thieriot North, Sculley Elm
IV Boys' Houses: Coe, Sawyer, Thieriot South, Patterson Marr, Patterson Maple
IV Girls' Houses: Gaccon, Thayer, Thieriot North, Patterson Pine, Sculley Elm
In the housing selection process, each student was assigned a lottery number. The smaller the number is, the earlier the choice they get on housing. Though dorm prefects participate in the lottery, they are not included in the housing selection. There are also limited single rooms assigned to each grade level. If a student wished to live in a single room, they had to participate in the Single Room allocation on April 28th, 8 pm in the Lion’s Den. The same rule applies: the lower the number, the likelier they are to get a single. There were only a very limited number of single rooms, so not everyone who wanted a single room got one.
People who did not get a single room allocation entered a double room allocation, with VI form housing selection on May 14th and lower form housing selection on May 18th. Before the room allocation, students will have to fill in a roommate agreement form signed by both roommates and their advisors. If there is no preference for a specific roommate next year, the student would be assigned one with similar living habits.
Though not everyone gets to live in the dorm they wish: either a single, a loft, or the new dorm, St. Mark’s School promises a bed for every single one of our students.
Advisory Selection
Advisors play a large role in boarding school life. Rather than a teacher, an advisor takes a more parental role in student life. They are the adult on campus who knows the students well and hold responsibility over them. At the end of the year, students indicate their preferred advisories for the next school year.
This year, changes in Advisory happen a little differently from what was done last year. In the 25-26 school year, a form was sent out to all students, asking them to indicate whether or not they are willing to change their advisory, and ranking the top 5 preferences of them. But this year, in order to dive deeper into the preferences of students and to help them better, every student who wishes to change their advisory has to schedule a 10-minute meeting with Dr. Fish. During the 10-minute meeting with Dr. Fish, topics such as how the student does not suit the current advisor, as well as what would be a good fit for students next year, are brought up.
Though not all students get assigned to the specific advisory that they wish to join, there will always be a faculty member who is responsible for the student on campus. The advisors, working together with the school, try their hardest to ensure the academic and personal success of students.
Course Selection
The Course Selection also works differently this year. Last year, one-to-one advisory sessions were scheduled for each student, and the courses were decided within 30 minutes in front of a computer screen. This year, the course selection process was expanded over the span of two weeks, allowing students more time to reflect on their interests and make thoughtful decisions.
In the first week, students talk with their advisors about their course preferences, discussing not only academic requirements but also personal goals, workload balance, and plans. These conversations are more exploratory in nature, encouraging students to ask questions and consider options they may not have previously thought about. Additionally, to give a better idea of what each course is about, a course fair was held on April 27 and 28, where a basic introduction to each course was provided.
During the fair, teachers and student representatives shared insights into course content, expectations, and assessment styles. Students were able to move freely between booths, gather materials, and engage in informal conversations. This more flexible and interactive approach helps students feel better informed and more confident when finalizing their course selections in the following week.
By giving students guidance and opportunities to explore, the course selection process makes students more confident and well-prepared for the year ahead.
Overall, these changes show how the school is really trying to support students in a more thoughtful and personal way. Even if things do not always go exactly as planned, there is a clear effort to listen, guide, and make the process less stressful. With everyone—teachers, advisors, and students—working together, the school becomes a more welcoming and understanding place, helping students feel more comfortable, prepared, and ready for the year ahead.
