November 5th- Election Day

November 11th- Veterans Day

November 25th-29th- Thanksgiving Break

December 23rd to January 3rd- Christmas Break

January 6th- School Re-Opens after Christmas Break

January 17th- Teacher In-Service

January 20th- Martin Luther King Jr. Day

February 13th and 14th- Parent Teacher Conferences

February 17th- Presidents' Day

April 18th to 25th- Easter Break

Here are the classroom ratios:

2-year-old classes are 10 children/2 teachers

3-year-old classes are 12 children/2 teachers

4-year-old classes are 12 children/2 teachers

Hello and Welcome to St. Mark's Pre-Kindergarten,

My name is Lynn Hudson and I have been the director for 11 years at the preschool. I started my teaching career with New Castle County Head Start, INC from 1999 to 2012. In May 2012, I made a career change and it has been the best decision of my life. I truly LOVE being the director of the preschool and it is the most rewarding job!!! I am very fortunate to have the best preschool teachers and staff, the most wonderful families, and the most amazing preschoolers. So, YES, I am beyond blessed.

I have been married to my husband, Larry, for over 25 years and we have 4 children and they are Jacob (22), Noah (18), Jonah (16), and Abby (14). We also have three dogs which are all labs, Diesel, Big Mack, and Barrett. We are a very busy family, but I would not want it any other way.

During the summer, I like to spend time at the pool, at the beach, on getaways with my husband, and most of all I love to go on vacation to Tennessee. Summer is actually my favorite season!!!

I have officially and finally completed my Master's Degree in Educational Studies in 2019. It was a long road, but I am glad I made it to the finish line.

Blessings,
Mrs. Hudson

“As a former St. Marks pre-k graduate, I knew I had to enroll my oldest daughter as soon as she turned two years old. The exceptional reputation of this school has carried for so many years and after two years of being a pre-school parent here, I can see why. The supportive, nurturing, and caring environment has helped my daughter learn and grow in so many ways. She’s built confidence, formed many friendships, and has really has enjoyed her time at preschool, learning new things each school day. The teachers and director have been easy to work with, understand each individual child’s needs, and are passionate about what they do. They truly make this school community feel like a family. I am delighted to have two children attending this fall, feeling comforted that they are always in good hands! I wholeheartedly recommend St. Mark’s pre-school and couldn’t imagine sending my children anywhere else.”

The Heaney Family

POV: Your 3-year-old is starting preschool during a pandemic while you juggle keeping your 2-year-old and 2-month-old home with you. Sounds fun right? I was nervous about my son starting preschool during a pandemic while I kept my girls home but St. Marks welcomed us right in and quickly made me feel so confident in my decision. So confident in fact that three months later my 2 year old began attending as well. The teachers go above and beyond to communicate with parents and ensure that you know your child is safe and happy. They find creative and fun ways to teach the kids and take special care making the best crafts to send home to us. The director goes out of her way to help you with anything and everything you could possibly need from paperwork to meeting you in the parking lot when you forget your kid's water bottle. You can truly tell that the staff members at St. Mark's Preschool care about each student who attends. I can genuinely say that I could not have asked for a better preschool to prepare my children for kindergarten and I can’t wait for my youngest to start.

--
Alice Lamborn
Criminal Justice
Women & Gender Studies
University of Delaware

The journey to find the perfect preschool while living out of state during covid times is complicated, but thanks to quite a few recommendations from a Facebook "Mom" group we found St. Mark's Pre-Kindergarten! From our very first email correspondence, the director, Mrs. Hudson was very responsive and welcoming. She addressed all our questions and concerns and left us excited to bring our 2-year-old and 4-year-old to St. Mark's after a cross-country move. We are now wrapping up our second year at this phenomenal preschool and have only the best things to say about it! The teachers are all high-quality, compassionate individuals who take the time to really get to know your child. The curriculum is age-appropriate, including both instruction and play, and perfectly prepared our oldest for kindergarten. Every day our children are excited to go to school and that makes us as parents feel like we made a great choice! It is comforting to know that our children are in a safe, secure learning environment with people who truly love and care for them as individuals. We have several similar preschool options much closer to our home, but we will continue to make the drive to St. Mark's for many more years! It's 100% worth the drive. If you are looking for the perfect preschool for your toddler, we highly recommend St. Mark's Pre-Kindergarten!

The Carreon Family

The Carreon Family

I was recently asked for a recommendation for a good quality preschool in the Wilmington/Newark area, and of course my first and only response was St. Mark's Pre-Kindergarten in Stanton!

I have a long history with St. Mark's. I have four children, ages 24-8, and all four of them attended St. Mark's for 3 years of preschool before entering their feeder pattern Kindergarten programs. They started in the 2-year-old program and ended in the 5 day 4-year-old program. They also attended summer camps offered during the summer months (for a very reasonable fee, I might add!).

Not only is the school affordable, but it is quality education with the right balance of instruction and play. I cannot say enough about how well my kids were prepared entering Kindergarten, on all the levels - intellectually, socially and emotionally. The program is one that eases the child into the full day program that they will have starting in Kindergarten, which I think is the best thing for them.

The staff was, and still is, amazing! They have a very low turnover of staff, which is a testament to the Director, Lynn Hudson. She is wonderful and very helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. I remember her first year as the director -- she was new to the school years ago, and within the first week of classes she knew every child's name, and would greet them all as they walked in - every single morning! It amazed me! The school is a good size, so for her to know everyone, and know them that early on, just proved her dedication to the school and to her position as the head of the school.

Another great thing about the school is that they are very committed to the safety of the students and the staff. They have security systems in place which deters strangers from entering the school. All visitors have to be buzzed in at all times. I have never feared for my children's safety in all the years they attended.

I just cannot say enough good things about St. Mark's! There is a reason they have endured as many years as they have in this area, and it's because they have a great reputation as one of the best preschools in New Castle County with a dedicated and skilled staff providing quality education to preschoolers for many, many years.

Aileen L.

My husband and I cannot say enough good things about St. Marks Preschool! From the minute we first toured the school, we knew it would be a perfect fit for our son, who started the program at 3 years old. It was our first time enrolling him in preschool and we immediately felt comfortable. We knew this would be a safe environment for our son to learn and grow, without ever having to worry. Our son is always excited to go to school! All of the staff are warm and friendly, his teachers have been incredible and are truly nurturing and caring, helping to make our experience an overwhelmingly positive one. We feel so lucky to have had such a wonderful experience with St. Marks.

Fischetti Family

We love St. Marks, after sending our eldest we knew that our other two younger children would definitely attend when they became of age! The way the teachers speak to and interact with our children show us they really care about them. Our family has recently begun a restrictive diet and we have had several communications from different teachers at St. Marks making sure the foods offered to our daughter during her school day comply with her dietary needs. It is easy for an administrator to be back in an office working on all the paperwork that I'm sure goes with the job. Mrs. Hudson, however, is a constant smiling presence at the beginning of the school day and at dismissal. She knows us ALL by name and outside of school makes an effort to come say Hi to the family at places like the baseball field or our children's school. We would highly recommend St. Marks - we're lifers!!!

Yeager Family

My children truly enjoy their experience in this preschool. Every teacher welcomes us with a big, warm smile every morning when we enter the school. The classroom setup is fun and keeps the children interested yet not so busy to make them confused. My children especially enjoy the different classes and special projects the school provides. I have seen my children grow so much through out the years they are in school and I appreciate the heart and love that were poured out to them.

Rita Lin

St. Mark's was recommended to us by no less than 10 people who had children that had gone there and had loved it. I traveled up from South Carolina on a cold January day in 2013 and took a tour of St. Mark's and a couple other schools for duo diligence. While all the schools were good, St.Mark's was the best fit for our family. I loved the size of the school and classes and that the building was secure. I loved that there were options for us to sign her up for either a 2 day or 3 day. I liked that the schedule was 9 a.m. till 11:45 a.m. and not full day. I decided to send her Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. She had some initial separation anxiety, but by the time the year was over she had come out of her shell. She loved making crafts, singing songs, and circle time. She had a fantastic year with Mrs. Frazer and Mrs. Plummer in 3 Day 3's.

We loved St. Mark's so much we signed her up for the 5 Day 4's this fall. I cannot tell you how much my little girl has learned and grown in these 8 months. She was not able to write the first letter of her name on the first day of school and today..... Well. let's just say that now she likes to practice writing her name on EVERYTHING. She knows her numbers and countless other things I could go on and on about. She came home happy and full of things to talk about wanting to share about her day. She walks around the house singing songs that her teachers have taught her and tries to teach them to her brother. She has made good friends and learned about how to get along with others. She has become a little girl, not a baby, full of confidence and ready to take on the world.

Tomorrow is my daughter's closing ceremony, it will be her last day at St. Mark's. She will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. We will miss this school. We will miss the friends that have become like family to us. We will miss the teachers that we will remember as my daughter grows.

Choose St. Mark's Preschool, become part of family- you won't regret it.

Andrea Orr

When sending our twin girls off to school for the very first time, we know now that we made the right choice by choosing St. Mark's Pre-School. When the time came to look for the best fit for our girls, we looked at several places, but always came back to St. Mark's. The Christian atmosphere and the warm and welcoming environment is what drew us in to this particular school. The staff is very welcoming and the hallway are adorned with the children's work and pictures of students involved in fun school activities, which made it just an all around fun place to be! After all, school should be fun!

Now with five weeks of school under our girls' belts at St. Mark's we feel even more affirmation with our decision. Both of the girls were very excited to begin school! Everyone started off on the right foot and things are going smoothly. In fact, things are going so much better than we could have ever hoped! We were so impressed that within the first few days of school they had established a routine at school and were able to tell us all about it! Each day they come home from school we ask about their day and while we don't get many details, we always hear things like, "It was fun!" "It was awesome" or "I had a great day!" And every so often we hear them singing a little song they learned or talking to one another about something they did that day at school. Sometimes we even try to sing the songs that we know are routine at school, but we are politely told that we can't sing them because that is for their school! They definitely take pride in what they are accomplishing each day at their school!

Not only are the girls excited to get up and get ready for school, but they are excited to be greeted every morning by the amazing Mrs. Hudson! Mrs. Hudson, the outstanding director at St. Mark's, was absolutely another reason for our choice in this school. She has this amazing ability to know everyone and greet them by name, even the baby sister! She greets the kids with a wave, a high five, or a hug. The safety and care of the children at St. Mark's is always the top priority for Mrs. Hudson, which helps me to feel at ease as I pull away from dropping the girls off each day. As the girls enter the building and make their way down the hallway to their classroom they are gearing up to greet their teachers with thumbs up and ready to give a "thumb kiss". It is something so special and simple that their teachers, Mrs. Zolandz and Mrs. Carisch, do with them that makes them feel at home in their classroom. I always hear how the girls are excited to see their teacher and friends at school. I also enjoy the interaction I have with the teachers when I sign my girls in and out each day. Mrs. Zolandz always makes time to tell me what a great day the girls have had!

Having taught before having children of my own I never really grasped what it was that the parents felt when sending there little ones off to school, I know that feeling now and I am thankful that the staff at St. Mark's is aware of that feeling as well. I appreciate the comfort they provide the mom sending her precious little ones to school for the very first time! Hands down, when looking for the best place to send our girls, we know for sure that we made the right choice!

Anne Delmonico
New Parent to St. Mark's Pre-Kindergarten