Preparing for the Next Step
The leap from fourth grade to fifth is a big transition for students. To help prepare soon-to-be middle schoolers for the coming change, fourth grade humanities teacher Cindee McMahon takes her students on ‘mini field trips’ across campus.
“Since fourth graders only get to see the middle and upper schoolers and other parts of the campus during lunch, when we have Telos visits and during their PE times, we want them to have a feel for where they will be heading next year,” McMahon said. “This also increases their curiosities and enthusiasm for starting a new journey.”
The field trips take students to the buildings and grounds department, publications suite, wood and metal shop, security department and many others. Marksmen meet with faculty, staff and older Marksmen, share stories and stregthen connections with their community.
“The coolest place was security because we got to see the cameras,” Hunter Redlich ’32 said. “We got to know how they worked, what model they are and that a new model is coming out when the athletic complex is built.”
The young Marksmen were also fascinated by the stories they heard.
“The story he [Dale Hackbarth, director of Security] told us when he got shot in the leg as a police officer, I thought was kind of interesting,” Cyrus Kuang ’32 said. “It was kind of funny when his wife kept calling Mr. Hackbarth [after being shot], and the doctor just took away his phone and told her he was going to be fine, then hung up.”
Some students were excited about Middle School classes they could take soon, including 3D design.
“I just think it’s cool that you could design it on the computer, and then the machine cuts it perfectly,” George Gottschall ’32, said. “I’d like to make a replica of a monument, like a tiny Statue of Liberty.”
The fourth graders appreciate the opportunity to explore and learn about the campus beyond Lower School.
“I think the field trips make us more prepared for fifth grade,” Redlich said. “We’re not alone. We’ve got friends by our side, and we’ve got teachers that know us from our fourth grade field trips.”
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“Since fourth graders only get to see the middle and upper schoolers and other parts of the campus during lunch, when we have Telos visits and during their PE times, we want them to have a feel for where they will be heading next year,” McMahon said. “This also increases their curiosities and enthusiasm for starting a new journey.”
The field trips take students to the buildings and grounds department, publications suite, wood and metal shop, security department and many others. Marksmen meet with faculty, staff and older Marksmen, share stories and stregthen connections with their community.
“The coolest place was security because we got to see the cameras,” Hunter Redlich ’32 said. “We got to know how they worked, what model they are and that a new model is coming out when the athletic complex is built.”
The young Marksmen were also fascinated by the stories they heard.
“The story he [Dale Hackbarth, director of Security] told us when he got shot in the leg as a police officer, I thought was kind of interesting,” Cyrus Kuang ’32 said. “It was kind of funny when his wife kept calling Mr. Hackbarth [after being shot], and the doctor just took away his phone and told her he was going to be fine, then hung up.”
Some students were excited about Middle School classes they could take soon, including 3D design.
“I just think it’s cool that you could design it on the computer, and then the machine cuts it perfectly,” George Gottschall ’32, said. “I’d like to make a replica of a monument, like a tiny Statue of Liberty.”
The fourth graders appreciate the opportunity to explore and learn about the campus beyond Lower School.
“I think the field trips make us more prepared for fifth grade,” Redlich said. “We’re not alone. We’ve got friends by our side, and we’ve got teachers that know us from our fourth grade field trips.”
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Dale Hackbarth answers questions from Cindee McMahon’s fourth-grade class.
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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.
