Holiday Traditions Continue

On the morning of December 17, 2021, the entire St. Mark’s student body gathered in the W. W. Browning, Jr., Great Hall with faculty, staff, parents, and alumni for the annual All-School Christmas Party. Students applauded as the senior class entered, carrying their Lower School buddies on their shoulders (sometimes two at a time). This longstanding tradition, immortalized in the iconic Path to Manhood statue, returned to the Great Hall after being hosted outdoors in 2020.

 

After each buddy placed his ornament on the tree, Student Council President Alex Geng ’22 spoke to the audience. “As I've grown up, sitting in the same seats that all of you are sitting in now, I realized that we connect ourselves to every class before and after us through this tradition, following in the footsteps of those who came before and paving the way for future generations.” Alex also announced the successful completion of the Student Council and Community Service Board Gift Drive, which collected more than 2,500 gifts for local non-profits.

 

Major Todd Hawks, Salvation Army DFW Metroplex Commander, thanked the St. Mark’s community for their generosity. “You are continuing a tradition here but you’re also creating new traditions and new memories in homes and in families across Dallas. Because of you, hope marches on.”

Before dismissing School for the Christmas break, Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini left the boys with a few thoughts: “To every young man in this room, thank you for all that you do, to make this a great place to learn, to grow, and to be our individual and our collective best selves each and every day. Thank you for support and caring for others for demonstrating empathy and compassion and for doing everything possible to make a positive difference.”
 
Watch the Holiday Traditions video below and more photos and videos from this holiday season can be found here. Senior buddy photographs from the All-School Christmas Party will be available online soon.