Students Explore West Texas
In June 2017, four members of the St. Mark’s Science Department led ten Upper Schoolers on a scientific expedition through West Texas where they explored the world both above and below. Students traveled deep underground into Carlsbad Caverns, hiked through various desert terrains and ecosystems in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, explored ancient rock formations at highway road cuts, observed wildlife at the Chihuahuan Desert Institute, interacted with research astronomers at McDonald Observatory, and stared deep into space with some of the world’s largest telescopes.
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"The two-day experience at the McDonald Observatory was absolutely spectacular. Staying in the Astronomer's Lodge made me feel truly included in the work being done at the observatory,” said Jack Parolisi ’18. “The private viewing session with the 107-inch telescope was an experience I never thought I'd be able to have, and it was awesome viewing the star clusters, galaxies, and planets, especially Jupiter's moons.”
Other highlights included watching hundreds of thousands of bats stream out of their cave for the nightly feeding, swimming in a natural desert spring, exploring the history of Ft. Davis, a preserved pioneer fort, and attending a Star Party at McDonald Observatory. Ten upperclassmen were joined by faculty chaperones John Mead, Dan Northcut ’81, Steve Balog, and Fletcher Carron.
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.
