St. Mark's Celebrates the Season

The 2025 holiday season at St. Mark’s culminated with one of the School’s most beloved traditions. With the community gathered in the W. W. Browning, Jr., Great Hall, and the band performing classic Christmas carols, each member of the Class of 2026 processed in, carrying their Lower School buddies on their shoulders. To the cheers of classmates, parents, teachers, and guests, the seniors walked their buddies through the crowd to hang handmade ornaments on the massive Christmas tree. 

 

After carrying his buddy into the All-School Christmas Party, Student Council President Adam Dalrymple ’26 spoke to the audience about what St. Mark’s holiday traditions mean to him. 
 
Dalrymple shared, "One of my favorite things about the holiday season at St. Mark’s is our focus on community. Not just the close-knit special community we have at the school, but the role we play as citizens of our wider communities. Our duty — as past, present, and future leaders — starts and ends with giving back. That is what we’re here to do today, and it is what this season is truly about: giving. "

 

Dalrymple also announced that the Student Council and Community Service Board Gift Drive had surpassed its goal of collecting more than 2,026 gifts for the local community.  

 

The All-School Christmas Party capped off an incredible holiday season full of joy and tradition. Throughout the season, boys shared their personal traditions at Diwali Chapel, Hanukkah Chapel, Advent Chapel, and Banner Chapel. Before the Thanksgiving break, the campus welcomed hundreds of special guests for Grandparents' Day and gathered in the Great Hall to celebrate Thanksgiving Convocation. 

As December began, St. Mark's graduates came together for the annual Alumni Holiday Luncheon, where Marksmen from multiple generations heard about life on campus from two current seniors. On the evening of Tuesday, December 16, the wider community gathered in the candle-lit St. Mark's Chapel for the School’s 74th Festival of Lessons & Carols.

Students also celebrated the season of giving through service events like sorting gifts at the Salvation Army, hosting McDonald’s Week in support of Austin Street Center, and the annual Gift Drive, which culminated with seniors dressed as Santa and his elves handing out gifts at David’s Place Head Start. Students, faculty, staff, and parents also volunteered at the Salvation Army Christmas warehouse and agencies throughout the Metroplex. 

 

During the All-School Christmas Party, Majors Robert and Carolynn Webb, North Texas Area Commanders, accepted the gifts on behalf of the Salvation Army and thanked the St. Mark’s community for their generosity. 

 

“Thank you for the generous gifts you provided this Christmas. Because of your support, we were able to serve more than 35,000 individuals, including children and seniors, across North Texas. Without your help, this would not have been possible. For the first time ever, every one of our angels was adopted, which is truly extraordinary,” said Major Carolynn Webb. “We are deeply grateful for all you do to support this wonderful program. The Salvation Army could not reach so many families and children without the generosity of this community.”

 

Before dismissing school for the Christmas break, Eugene McDermott Headmaster David Dini left the boys with a few thoughts: “As we approach the holidays, coming together as a community, as a family, is incredibly special. We are blessed to be part of a very large, loving, and supportive family, and as we head into this season, I hope you’ll remember that what matters most is not what we receive, but the care we offer and the difference we make in the lives of others.”

 

With that, Marksmen departed for Christmas Break, carrying with them the spirit of community, gratitude, and service that defines the season at St. Mark’s. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 6.