119th School Year Begins
This morning, 917 Marksmen arrived on campus to begin the 2024–2025 school year. Across campus, boys reconnected with classmates and shared summer stories, and teachers prepared their students for the year ahead.
As is tradition, the school year kicked off with the entire campus community gathered in the Great Hall for All-School Opening Convocation.
After a hymn from the Upper School band, Board of Trustees President Fraser Marcus ’72 greeted the boys and spoke about the reminders of St. Mark's missions that they walk past every day.
“Integrity, confidence, judgment, and spirituality,” Marcus said. "These words are carved into the base of the Path to Manhood statue in front of Centennial Hall. It's the physical representation of how we as brothers support each other, care for each other, and help each other from one generation to the next.”
Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini welcomed the boys new to St. Mark's, as well as the 13 faculty and staff members who recently joined the community. He then shared part of tennis legend Roger Federer’s commencement speech at Dartmouth College to inspire the boys to persevere no matter the circumstances.
“Become a master at overcoming hard moments and difficult things,” Dini said. “That's a sign of a champion, and know that you'll lose. You'll face hardship again and again and accept that, but move on. Be relentless, adapt and grow. Work harder and work smarter.”
Student Council President Matthew Hofmann ’25 challenged students to set goals for themselves.
“Set a goal no matter how big it is,” Hofmann said. “Set a goal to give back to this community. Set a goal to leave an amazing legacy and then act on it. Marksmen, this year, do not shy away from big goals or big opportunities. Lean into them. Take that first step because I promise, once you take that first step, everything else will fall into place.”
Katherine Steinbreuck, President of the Parents’ Association and the mother of three Marksmen, asked students to practice self-reflection.
As is tradition, the school year kicked off with the entire campus community gathered in the Great Hall for All-School Opening Convocation.
After a hymn from the Upper School band, Board of Trustees President Fraser Marcus ’72 greeted the boys and spoke about the reminders of St. Mark's missions that they walk past every day.
“Integrity, confidence, judgment, and spirituality,” Marcus said. "These words are carved into the base of the Path to Manhood statue in front of Centennial Hall. It's the physical representation of how we as brothers support each other, care for each other, and help each other from one generation to the next.”
Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini welcomed the boys new to St. Mark's, as well as the 13 faculty and staff members who recently joined the community. He then shared part of tennis legend Roger Federer’s commencement speech at Dartmouth College to inspire the boys to persevere no matter the circumstances.
“Become a master at overcoming hard moments and difficult things,” Dini said. “That's a sign of a champion, and know that you'll lose. You'll face hardship again and again and accept that, but move on. Be relentless, adapt and grow. Work harder and work smarter.”
Student Council President Matthew Hofmann ’25 challenged students to set goals for themselves.
“Set a goal no matter how big it is,” Hofmann said. “Set a goal to give back to this community. Set a goal to leave an amazing legacy and then act on it. Marksmen, this year, do not shy away from big goals or big opportunities. Lean into them. Take that first step because I promise, once you take that first step, everything else will fall into place.”
Katherine Steinbreuck, President of the Parents’ Association and the mother of three Marksmen, asked students to practice self-reflection.
“This year, consider who you're becoming. Be in charge of you. Believe that you can change. Who you are becoming starts today. We need the men that you will be. Those men, good men, are essential for the bright future of this world.”
St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
About Us
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
