◈ Homepage — http://www.markdayschool.org/Skip To Main Content INQUIRE (OPENS IN NEW WINDOW/TAB) COMMUNITY PORTAL (OPENS IN NEW WINDOW/TAB) Open Search About Admission Curriculum Student Life Giving Home   Optional Link Who We Are   Optional Link Our Curriculum   Optional Link Admission Process Meet Our Community We are a Bay Area independent school community founded on diversity, inclusivity, and lifelong learning. At Mark Day School, each student, faculty and staff member, and parent and guardian is known. There are many ways we celebrate individuality, honor differences, and come together, from twice-weekly all-school assemblies to Kindergarten and 8th grade buddies to parent/guardian gatherings. Learn more about our community from the people who know it best. I greet my 5th graders at the classroom door each morning with a handshake so they feel seen and welcome; their eagerness to learn fills me with energy for my day. Mark Day is a place that nourishes my intellectual curiosity, professional aspirations, and love of learning in community with others. Our sons have been able to explore their fullest potential in and out of the classroom at Mark Day School. From Kindergarten to the 8th grade, they have been supported in becoming confident thinkers and community members who are ready for the challenges of high school and beyond. Mark Day School provided a supportive, warm community focused on the joy of learning. I value my connections with teachers and peers at Mark Day and attribute much of who I am today to the school! We feel so lucky to have landed at Mark Day School when our children entered their middle school years. The educational experience is so thoughtful and purposeful - the school sets a high academic bar, but equips students with the full agency and constant support to meet it. Amphitheater & Quad Located in the heart of our campus, our amphitheater and quad are gathering places for our whole community, whether it's twice-weekly morning assembly, recess, or group collaboration.  Learning Commons Our two-story Learning Commons houses thousands of books for grades K-8. Its where students learn though storytelling, conduct research using databases, meet published authors, and gather for quiet activities like knitting and puzzles. Creativity Lab In the Creativity Lab, a "cognitive playground" which was inspired by the MIT Media Lab, students are encouraged to bring their imaginations to life. They learn how to safely use a variety of machinery and equipment, learn how to code and design, start over and persevere. Digital Media Lab In the Digital Media Lab, students learn how to use professional equipment and programming such as stage lighting, Adobe Illustrator, iMovie, and more to produce digital creations.  What’s Happening? Competency-Based Challenge at Mark Day School: Part Two Competency-Based Challenge at Mark Day School: Part One Our 2022 Strategic Plan intentionally leads with teaching and learning. We established two overarching goals: “Nurture habits and mindsets that students need to be agents of their own learning. Advance everyday use of assessment data to challenge every student and improve teaching practices.”  Building Confidence, Collaboration, and Global Awareness: Year Two of the World Scholar’s Cup at Mark Day—Plus a Trip to the Global Round in Slovenia Spring 2025 marked the second time Mark Day School participated in and hosted World Scholar’s Cup (WSC), a global academic competition for middle and high school students that brings together different disciplines and asks students to collaborate in a series of challenges. Follow us on Social Media mark.day.school @mark.day.school 12 May At today’s assembly, we welcomed our third delegation from our partner school in Taipei, Ren-Ai. The delegation will be here for two weeks staying with host families and spending time with their host as well as in the fifth grade classes. We are so excited to share this time with them! @mark.day.school @mark.day.school 07 May Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! The lovely Family Association hosted a delicious garden lunch for our faculty and staff today. Thank you! @mark.day.school @mark.day.school 06 May Last week, 8th graders were on outdoor ed whitewater river rafting in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. They camped, learned about the local environment, pushed themselves and each other beyond comfort zones, and worked as a team to navigate the river. @mark.day.school @mark.day.school 04 May We had a number of students participate in the Marin County Track & Field Championship Meet at College of Marin last Friday. @mark.day.school INQUIRE (OPENS IN NEW WINDOW/TAB) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 CALENDAR REQUEST MORE INFORMATION (OPENS IN NEW WINDOW/TAB) HOW TO APPLY SITE MAP EMPLOYMENT Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite English ◈ Interior Pages — 40 pages crawledCalendar - Mark Day School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About Calendar Calendar RSS Feeds Subscribe to Calendar Alerts May 2026 > Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday, April 26 Monday, April 27 Tuesday, April 28 Wednesday, April 29 Thursday, April 30 Friday, May 1 Saturday, May 2 Sunday, May 3 Monday, May 4 Tuesday, May 5 Wednesday, May 6 Thursday, May 7 Friday, May 8 Saturday, May 9 Sunday, May 10 Mother's Day All Day Monday, May 11 Tuesday, May 12 Wednesday, May 13 Thursday, May 14 Friday, May 15 Saturday, May 16 Sunday, May 17 Monday, May 18 Faculty/Staff Work Day - No School 8 : 30 AM - 3 : 15 PM Tuesday, May 19 Wednesday, May 20 Thursday, May 21 Friday, May 22 Saturday, May 23 Sunday, May 24 Monday, May 25 Memorial Day (School Closed) All Day Tuesday, May 26 Wednesday, May 27 Thursday, May 28 Friday, May 29 Saturday, May 30 Sunday, May 31 Monday, June 1 Tuesday, June 2 Wednesday, June 3 Thursday, June 4 Friday, June 5 Saturday, June 6 Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite About Mark Day School, a K-8 Independent School in Marin County Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About A K-8 Independent School in Marin County At Mark Day School, a K-8 Independent School in Marin County, students learn the habits of mind and personhood that shape their lives and their learning today and in the future.  Guided and challenged by their teachers, students learn these crucial habits by doing: pursuing their curiosity well below the surface, learning to collaborate and partner with peers across the table and around the globe, and developing the mindsets and toolkits that enable them to work on not just the intriguing problems of today, but the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. Our mission holds two more descriptors that we hold dear as a school: innovative and full of heart. We are always thinking about what students need now and what they will need in the near and distant future. We strive to build on these strengths, all in service of challenging and supporting young people to chart their own paths.   Your web browser does not support the <video> tag. At Mark Day, it’s the balance of both challenge and joyful learning that sets us apart.  Every student needs to encounter challenge along each step of the way—it’s how we grow and it’s how we really understand what we’re capable of. Our joyful, warm, and supportive school community forms the springboard for the challenging academic leaps Mark Day students take every day. 380 enrollment capacity 7:1 student-teacher ratio 36% students of color 22 avg. years teaching experience Meet the wonderful teachers that fill our classrooms with joy and challenge. Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Give Back to Mark Day School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give In This Section Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give Breadcrumb Home / Giving / Ways to Give Ways to Give What is inspirational about Mark Day School is the way in which our community members help whenever and however they can to make our school the best it can be. There are many ways to support the school. There are a variety of ways to give back to Mark Day. Annual Fund The Mark Day Fund helps fund costs for the current school year and reaches all corners of our program. Planned Giving Planned gifts through the Mark Day School Legacy Society provide us with the ability to think strategically about the school’s future. Generous and forward-thinking donors who leave planned gifts or a bequest intention through Mark Day School’s Legacy Society will support our long-term success and will be long remembered. Many of these options are a win-win for you and the school. We encourage you to consult with your financial advisor to discuss the tax benefits of these planned giving options. Bequests . One of the easiest ways to help involves simply naming Mark Day School as a beneficiary in your will and living trust. A bequest may be for a particular dollar amount or percentage of your estate. Estate tax savings may be significant. Sample language: "I hereby give, devise, and bequeath <dollar amount and No/100 dollars> ($DOLLARS) OR X% of my total estate to Mark Day School, a nonprofit organization located at 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903, Federal Tax ID #94-2598891, for Mark Day School's general use and purpose." Life insurance policy and retirement assets . Naming Mark Day School as a partial beneficiary of these assets can provide support for the school. Life income gifts . Life incoming gifts allow you to leave a gift in the care of Mark Day School, while earning income for yourself during your lifetime. The two most popular life income gifts are charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities. Those who leave planned gifts become a part of our Legacy Society. Members are a special part of the Mark Day School donor family. They are also honored with recognition on our website, listing in the annual report, and an invitation to the annual Eighth Pillar event. For more information, please contact Director of Development Wendy Levine . We invite you to join us as a member and thank the following Legacy Society members as of July 2025: Ann and Paul Brenner Bev and Rolly Boorman Jennifer and Jon Kelly Janet and Damon Kerby Denise and Bill Moore Lek Suvanasarn Hadley Mullin ‘88 and Dan Kalafatas Endowment Giving Endowment funds generate income through the school’s careful investment and support the school in perpetuity. The endowment principal remains intact each year as the school uses only a portion of the return generated to fund initiatives, with the spend rate ranging between 3% and 4% annually over the past several years. We are especially grateful to donors who chose to support the endowment as they are providing for the school’s future. In addition to the Unrestricted Endowment, the school has several named funds. Faculty Salaries : Faculty Salaries Fund (Restricted & Unrestricted) Faculty Professional Development : Behnke/Luria Family Endowment, Endowment for Professional Development, Indexed Tuition Indexed Tuition : Behnke/Luria Family Endowment, Damon Kerby Fund for Indexed Tuition, Making Waves, Margaret B. MacArthur Endowment Fund for Indexed Tuition, MV Williams, Endowment for Indexed Tuition (Restricted & Unrestricted) General Support : Eighth Grade Fund Learn how you can give today ! Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Blog Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About / School Blog Mark Day School's Blog Competency-Based Challenge at Mark Day School: Part Two Bonnie Nishihara, Assistant Head & Director of Educational Design and Innovation Apr 27 2026 Competency-Based Challenge at Mark Day School: Part One Joe Harvey, Head of School Feb 10 2026 Building Confidence, Collaboration, and Global Awareness: Year Two of the World Scholar’s Cup at Mark Day—Plus a Trip to the Global Round in Slovenia Sophie Shulman Sep 22 2025 Cultural Immersion Trips at Mark Day School Sophie Shulman Apr 14 2025 Advancing Mathematical Excellence: New Geometry Pilot Program Empowers 8th Graders Mark Day School Staff Mar 11 2025 Building Foundations: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in 6th Grade By Mark Day School Staff Dec 3 2024 Teaching, Learning, and AI in the K-8 Classroom Bonnie Nishihara Oct 31 2024 Learn Hard, Play Hard: Student Life for Middle School Kids at Mark Day Sophie Shulman Oct 28 2024 A New Opportunity for Academic Challenge: 6th and 7th Graders Tackle Our Inaugural Entry to the World Scholar's Cup Sophie Shulman May 28 2024 7th Grade Deep Dive Week Sophie Shulman May 13 2024 Enhancing Teaching & Learning in Math Through Research & Professional Development Sophie Shulman Apr 29 2024 Our New Partnership with Ren-Ai in Taipei Sophie Shulman Apr 1 2024 Connecting with History: Meeting Antoinette Sithole and Melba Beals Sophie Shulman Mar 18 2024 Making Climate Change Personal: 8th Graders Explore What One Person Can Do Sophie Shulman Mar 4 2024 7th Graders Study the Iranian Revolution Sophie Shulman Feb 12 2024 Kicking Off the 8th Grade Capstone Project, Year Two Sophie Shulman Feb 5 2024 8th Grade Student Leadership Skills at Mark Day School Joe Harvey, Head of School Jan 8 2024 Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? 8 Tips for Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten Sophie Shulman Sep 26 2023 A Moment of Reflection: 8th Grade Graduation Speeches Joe Harvey, Head of School May 30 2023 Studying the Holocaust in 7th Grade English Joe Harvey, Head of School May 16 2023 Creating Mathematical Marble Runs in 7th Grade Sophie Shulman Apr 4 2023 The Making of a Musical Sophie Shulman Mar 20 2023 7th Graders Visit SF’s Museum of the African Diaspora to Enhance Studies of Africa & Afrofuturism Sophie Shulman Mar 7 2023 The 20th Year of Media Literacy Week Sophie Shulman Feb 14 2023 Learning to Read at Mark Day School Sophie Shulman Feb 6 2023 Launching the First 8th Grade Capstone Project Sophie Shulman Jan 24 2023 Chess at Mark Day School Sophie Shulman Jan 2 2023 The Campus as a Classroom: 3rd Graders Study Local Monarchs Sophie Shulman Nov 28 2022 Mark Day School's Cross-Disciplinary Literacies: Where Are We Now? Sophie Shulman Nov 8 2022 A Professional Learning Lab: Teaching Future Educators Through Lesson Studies Sophie Shulman Oct 24 2022 Learning and Growing in the Great Outdoors Sophie Shulman Oct 10 2022 Philanthropy at Mark Day School Sophie Shulman Sep 27 2022 Global Partnerships at Mark Day School Sophie Shulman Sep 13 2022 Starting a New School Year: 5 Tips for Parents & Guardians Sophie Shulman Aug 29 2022 Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite mission-dei-education Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About / Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ Innovative and full of heart, Mark Day School nurtures each child to pursue their curiosity, think critically, embrace challenge with courage and joy, and work in partnership with others to build more caring and inclusive communities.  Our Philosophy At Mark Day School we: Offer a strong, dynamic academic curriculum, enriched by programs in the arts, physical education, service learning, and outdoor education, with an emphasis on social-emotional development. Honor and are guided by the Seven Pillars of Character: Caring, Courage, Citizenship, Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, and Fairness. Embrace diversity in preparing students for a global future. Combine thoughtful innovation with enduring best practices. Provide a hands-on program that encourages curiosity, develops independence, and addresses different learning styles. Strive to teach, learn, and live in a sustainable way. Integrate technology for learning at age-appropriate levels. Foster a partnership between our school and parents/guardians, which is vital to the success of each child. Understand that each member of our community blossoms in an atmosphere of safety, encouragement, support, and collaboration. Believe that school should be challenging, fun, engaging, and joyful. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Your web browser does not support the <video> tag. Why does DEI in education matter so much? In short, excellence demands it. At Mark Day, our collective work to become a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just community has been ongoing from our very first days as a school. This work, rooted in our school mission, touches all areas and people at Mark Day; it is evident in faculty professional development, school policies, student learning, and classroom practices.  At Mark Day School, we believe that joy, wisdom, and compassion spring from honoring the diversity of the human community. Learning about the families, cultures, traditions, and beliefs of others, as well as learning about ourselves, is not only enriching, it is essential for academic excellence and responsible world citizenship.  Our goal is to be a leader in the pursuit of inclusion, empathy, and equity. To that end, we partner with other schools and institutions, both locally and globally, that similarly believe that a diverse, inclusive, and socially responsible community is intrinsic to academic excellence, social justice, and global citizenship. These relationships are reciprocal in nature - we all have something to teach and something to learn. Principles for a Diverse, Inclusive, and Socially Responsible Community When choosing Mark Day School, families and employees become part of a socially responsible community striving to become conscious of, and teach about, all aspects of diversity and inclusiveness. The following principles are in keeping with the school’s Seven Pillars of Character and reflect its identity and mission: Everyone deserves respect, appreciation, and equal opportunity regardless of differences in ability, age, ethnicity, nationality, home language, family make-up, gender, physical attributes, race, religion, thoughts and beliefs, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. The composition of our school community should reflect the diversity and multicultural composition of the global and local communities in which we live. We condemn and reject prejudice and acts of intolerance while actively seeking to educate and raise awareness about how to reconcile and heal from such acts. We accept and advance the obligations that arise from education and citizenship in a democratic society, including the responsibility to serve one’s global and local communities and to contribute to the betterment of the human condition. DEIJ is not a separate program at Mark Day. It is part of everything that we do and every decision that we make, woven into our practices and curriculum intentionally and thoughtfully. We know based on research that DEIJ elevates the academic challenge and depth of critical thinking for students as a result of the infusion of complexity and multiple perspectives. Fernanda Pernambuco Director of Partnerships, Equity & Inclusion 7 Pillars of Character Development of good character has been at the heart of Mark Day School since its inception. In 1997, our community formally adopted these foundational values: Caring Courage Citizenship Respect Responsibility Honesty Fairness Today, the 7 Pillars are integrated into the life of the school and are part of all we do. They call us to abide by our highest standards.   How is Mark Day School planning for a long-term successful future? Read our latest Strategic Plan . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Apply - Mark Day School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation In This Section Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Breadcrumb Home / Admission / Apply Apply to Mark Day School All families are encouraged to visit Mark Day School prior to submitting an application. If you decide to apply to Mark Day School, please review the application checklist, which differs between Kindergarten and grades 1-7. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Kelso, Director of Admission at 415.472.8007 or [email protected] . STEP 1 Start your application Submit an application by January 16, 2026. Please complete your application here .   STEP 2 Indexed Tuition (if applicable) Apply to pay tuition below the top of the index by January 16, 2026. To learn more, click here .   STEP 3 Recommendation Forms Forms should be completed in the admission portal, or emailed or mailed directly from the teacher(s) to Mark Day School and are due no later than February 9. Kindergarten applicants : One recommendation form required from your child’s current teacher. Grade 1 applicants : One  recommendation form  required from your child’s current teacher. Grades 2-7 applicants : Two recommendation forms required from your child’s current homeroom teacher and a previous teacher. STEP 4 Transcript Release Form (grades 1-7 only) Complete and sign the Transcript Release Form and give it to the registrar at your child’s current school. The transcript is also due by February 9. STEP 5 Schedule a Visit All playdates and assessments can be scheduled in the admission portal. Shadow visits must be scheduled with the Admission office. Kindergarten and 1st grade applicants: Required playdate visit Grades 2-4 applicants: Required grade level group assessment morning Grade 5 applicants: Required full day shadow visit Grade 6 applicants: Required 6th grade visit day (a Sunday); optional shadow visit Grade 7 applicants: Required full day shadow visit STEP 6 Schedule Your Parent/Guardian Meeting Contact Dawn Aotani, Associate Director of Admission, at 415.472.8000 x1030 to schedule a parent/guardian meeting with Katie Kelso, Director of Admission. You may also schedule an appointment through the application checklist in the admission portal. Notification of admission decisions will be emailed on March 19, 2026 at noon. Signed enrollment contracts from families are due back March 26, 2026 at 10:00am. Read about our primary entry points . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Bay Area Summer Camp Program for Kids Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp In This Section Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Breadcrumb Home / Student Life / Summer Camp Mark Day School Summer Programs 2026 Summer Camp Offerings At a Glance Summer Tinkering Dates : 4 weeks: June 22 - July 17  Times : 9:00am - 3:00pm Lead Instructors : David St. Martin & Tatian Greenleaf Grades : Ages 7 - 13, varies by week Cost : $700/week (fee assistance available) Register here (beginning January 31, 2026 at 9:00am) Mountain Camp Marin Dates : 7 weeks: June 15 - July 31  Times : 9:00am - 3:00pm (K-1) / 9:00am-4:00pm (G2-G8) Camp Director : Mario Del Cueto Grades : Rising K - 8 Cost : $750/week (Multi-week and Mark Day School family discounts available) Register here now! Early Learners Dates : 4 weeks: June 15 - July 10  Times : 9:00am -  3:00pm Lead Instructor : Lisa Becker Grades : Incoming Mark Day School Kindergartners only Cost : $360/week Registration limited to incoming Mark Day School Kindergarten families only. Registration will be open April 15 . Register here SUMMER TINKERING Dates: 4 weeks: June 22 - July 17 Times: 9:00am - 3:00pm Lead Instructors: Tatian Greenleaf and David St. Martin Grades:  Ages 7 - 13, varies by week Cost: $700/week (fee assistance available) An immersive, five-day building experience that springs out of Mark Day School’s long-standing collaboration with the world-renowned Tinkering School in San Francisco, this program seeks to empower students by introducing them to real tools and challenging them with these four goals: Make mistakes and learn from them Build something bigger than themselves Collaborate and make new friends Try harder than usual Each week-long session of Summer Tinkering at Mark Day is a student-centered experience during which students design and build incredible large-scale creations out of wood under the watchful guidance of caring and experienced Mark Day faculty and staff. Each week begins with a surprise theme that provides the structure and story for the week. Past themes have included Harry Potter, where students designed and built the Hogwarts Express steam train; and Pirates, where students spent the week building a giant pirate ship and an island to hide their treasure on! MOUNTAIN CAMP MARIN Dates: 7 weeks: June 15 - July 31 Times: 9:00am - 3:00pm (K-1) or 9:00am - 4:00pm (G2-G8) Camp Director: Mario Del Cueto Grades: Rising K-8th Cost: $750/week (Multi-week and Mark Day School family discounts available) Mountain Camp Marin is a K-8 day camp that offers the closeness and community feel of an overnight camp at the beautiful Mark Day School campus. With a focus on outdoor fun, creativity, and personal growth, it’s the perfect way for kids to explore, learn, and make new friends. From Archery to LARPing, Arts & Crafts to Music and Swimming, there’s an adventure for every camper! Mountain Camp Marin is designed to promote social-emotional learning in a tech-free environment. The program helps campers build confidence and grow independence. Building on a three-year research study with the Stanford Graduate School of Education on the beneficial impacts of the camp experience on child development, Mountain Camp Marin proudly offers opportunities for campers to choose their own activities, giving them agency over their day. EARLY LEARNERS Dates: 4 weeks: June 15 - July 10 Times: 9:00am - 3:00pm Lead Instructor: Lisa Becker Grades: Incoming Mark Day School Kindergarteners only Cost: $360/week For more than 20 years, Mark Day School has offered a summer program specifically designed for our incoming Kindergarteners. Many families choose to participate in all weeks of camp, though there is much flexibility in scheduling to accommodate each family's needs. This developmentally-appropriate day camp assists our students in getting to know their new school and their future classmates. The program provides a wonderful opportunity for children to become familiar with the campus and school routine as they develop friendships, play indoors and out, do art projects, and sing and dance with teacher Lisa Becker along with other Mark Day teachers and interns. Each week of Early Learners is filled dynamic and stimulating activities in a comfortable and supportive environment. Early Learners ensures that the newest members of Mark Day School transition smoothly from preschool to kindergarten. Questions? Contact Savannah Guinn , Director of Extended Day and Summer Programs. Learn more about our after school programs . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Learning Support & School Counseling - Mark Day School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling In This Section Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Breadcrumb Home / Curriculum / Learning Support & School Counseling Learning Support & School Counseling In keeping with our mission to discover and nurture what is finest in each child in a vibrant, inclusive learning community, our dedicated and experienced faculty aims to provide proactive and responsive intervention to ensure every child is making progress and experiencing success.  As a community, we value diverse learning styles and strive to differentiate instruction throughout our program. We provide specific, targeted student support services when needed. Our goal is always to work in partnership with the family to ensure each child has the best possible experience. Services provided by learning specialists: May conduct an initial screening (in grades K-4) to determine if a child has a basic learning need. This screening may point to the need for a larger, more comprehensive evaluation, conducted by outside professionals (referrals provided). Support individual students with specific student learning disabilities up to twice a week until skill development or classroom assignments. Create, update, and share a Student Success Plan (SSP) for each student receiving learning services to ensure information, including goals and current interventions, is up to date and shared among teachers and parents/guardians. Consult with teachers to apply interventions as needed. Attend meetings with families regarding student progress. Services provided by school counselor: Meets with students individually and/or in groups as needed for brief counseling interventions. Provides crisis intervention. Consults and collaborates with teachers to support students’ social and emotional needs. Conducts conflict resolution, small group problem-solving, and other interventions. Provides parent/guardian consultation by appointment. Provides referrals to outside therapeutic resources as needed. Attends meetings regarding the progress of children with significant social or emotional needs and provides insight or counsel as needed. Provides classroom-based programs, in collaboration with faculty, and facilitates group meetings throughout the year at all grade levels covering a broad range of topics related to social-emotional health and well-being. How does it all work? Faculty and/or parents/guardians observe a child experiencing a significant learning challenge and contact each other to compare initial observations. This can happen ad-hoc or during regularly scheduled parent/guardian-teacher conferences in the fall or spring. The division head is made aware of student concerns in an ongoing fashion. As needed, a student may receive a screening or initial assessment from a learning specialist or school counselor. Some interventions may be planned as needed, including pull-out work with the school learning specialist or other interventions such as summer literacy support or occupational therapy. If needed, a Student Success Plan (SSP) is created to facilitate shared understanding and ongoing communication. If a student continues to struggle, or new struggles appear in older grades as things change and grow more complex, the school may recommend further evaluation conducted by outside professionals or the local district. Upon completion of a comprehensive educational, psycho-educational or neurological evaluation, a report containing the results and recommendations is shared with the family. The school requests a copy of this report to facilitate a full team meeting. The full team meeting is held with the family, current teacher or mentor, learning specialist and/or school counselor, and the relevant division head to analyze the results of the report, set goals, and design appropriate interventions. The outside evaluator is invited to attend the meeting. Interventions can include pull-out or push-in work with one of the learning specialists, outside work with educational therapists or counselors, the use of tutors, and more. Follow-up meetings are scheduled as needed. The learning specialist and division head will ensure that information is shared among all of the child’s teachers. Depending on the developmental age of the child, staff from the school will meet with the student to explain strengths and challenges, along with strategies that will help. As long as in-school services are an integral component of a child’s successful progress, meetings will be held with the family at the outset and conclusion of each academic year to set goals and interventions and review progress. In some situations, the interventions provided by the school and outside specialists over time are insufficient to help a child make adequate progress. In order to best support the child and steward the school’s resources, alternative placements may be recommended to the family. Read more about the academic program at Mark Day. School Counselor & SEL Coordinator Heather Rael School Counselor Danielle Javadi School Counselor Renee Surcouf Director of Learning Services (K-8) Cristin Yang Learning Specialist Eileen O'Hare Learning Specialist Dana Dacus-Hare Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite After School Programs for Kids Near You Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp In This Section Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Breadcrumb Home / Student Life / After School Programs After School Programs The Extended Day Program offers a variety of options that contribute to student enrichment and flexibility for family scheduling.  The After School Club (ASC) The After School Club (ASC) provides a safe, fun, inclusive after-school environment for Mark Day School students K-8 to create, play, relax, and engage as kind and conscientious members of our community. The ASC provides opportunities for both structured and self-directed after school activities across all grade levels. Students are encouraged to be creative and innovative, kind and curious as they engage in outdoor play and sports, arts, crafts, and various projects throughout the year. The ASC is a drop-in program and snacks are provided. Hours Morning Care: Monday-Friday, 7:30-8:10am Afternoon Care: Monday-Thursday, 2:30-6:00pm / Friday, 1:45-6:00pm *Note: Kindergarten students are welcomed in the ASC free of charge on Monday-Thursday from 2:30-3:15pm and on Friday from 1:45-2:30pm. *Note: The ASC is also open on early dismissal days. Pricing The After School Club costs $12 per hour. For families participating in the Indexed Tuition program, the hourly rate will be adjusted according to placement on the Index. Special Event Care Special Event Care is available on certain days when school is otherwise closed, like parent/guardian-teacher conferences, professional development days, and faculty work days. Advanced registration is required for these events, as space is limited, and lunch is provided. Families will be notified in advance to join the lottery for each event here . Our Indexed Tuition policy includes coverage for curricular and co-curricular events, including Special Event days. Adventures After School (AAS) Mark Day School offers a wide range of after school activities through enrichment courses to serve varying student interests through our Adventures After School (AAS) program in the fall, winter, and spring. All courses are held on campus and offer students opportunities to learn a new skill or hobby, challenge themselves, and build self-confidence in a fun, supportive, and safe environment. Courses are taught by experienced and talented Mark Day School teachers and by partners and friends in the wider community. Classes meet once per week for 8-12 weeks, for about one hour per class. The Adventures After School program is open to Mark Day School students as well as students from other schools. For course information or to register for a course, click here . Typical classes include: Rock Band Let’s Get Cooking Golf Chess Basketball Crafty Science Drawn to Draw Soccer Kung Fu Yoga Mark Day School Athletics Our athletics program offers several sports each season for students in grades 4-8, including volleyball, cross country, flag football, basketball, golf, and track & field. To learn more, visit our Athletics webpage.   Learn more about Mark Day School athletics . Director of Extended Day and Summer Programs Savannah Guinn Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Alumni Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About / Alumni Alumni Mark Day alumni make up a diverse and notable group - educators, business owners, engineers, artists, lawyers, graphic designers, archeologists, doctors, musicians, historians, and more. Whether they graduated in 1983 or 2023, our alumni are part of an extensive community with a central shared experience. Meet Our Alumni Jack Conte '98 From his earliest school days at Mark Day to founding Patreon - a revolutionary online platform for more than 250,000 musicians, writers, and other artists - Jack's path has been shaped by creativity and a dedication to music and the arts. "At Mark Day, music and drama were my favorites," he recalls. After the drama teacher told Jack's parents he was quite talented, a number of opportunities opened up, including landing an agent and doing commercial work and voiceover gigs. Jack's creative pursuits continued through high school at Brandon and into his university years at Stanford, experiences that would later inform his perspective on the relationship between creators and technology. Even while running Patreon, a company that now employs more than 450 people globally, Conte maintains his creative pursuits, including making music with Pomplamoose. Looking back at his time at Mark Day, he says, "I think about how I developed a love of curiosity and skepticism and asking questions. I learned how to learn at Mark Day, which was so valuable." Alex Sim '11 After graduating from Branson in 2015 and Duke University in 2019, Alex channeled his intellectual curiosity into law school at NYI, where he discovered that the same inquisitive spirit that drew him to the Mark Day School library would serve him well in navigating intricate legal challenges. Today, as a second-year associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Palo Alto, Alex applies that curiosity to commercial litigation and contractual disputes, while developing a particular interest in the emerging questions surrounding creative rights in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. In his spare time, Alex plays tennis and basketball, and he has a lifelong love for reading, a passion he attributes to the encouragement he received at Mark Day School. He says, "Some of my closest friends today are the ones I made at Mark Day School. It was a safe place to explore who I was going to become. Academically and socially, I learned how to interact with others, and I had the safety to let loose and truly be myself. That confidence in just being myself has been invaluable throughout my life." Alison Savage-Brooks '15 Following her time at Mark Day, Alison attended Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. Her journey then took on an adventurous turn as she embarked on a gap year, working at a Boston startup and hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. At UC Berkeley, Alison pursued applied mathematics with a focus on energy systems, driven by her dedication to address climate challenges. She also became the president of the Bay Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network and spent a semester abroad in Taiwan. Today, she works as an electricity consultant at The Brattle Group in New York City, where she focuses on grid resilience and wholesale market modeling. Alison believes that the foundation for her success was laid during her years at Mark Day School, particularly in mathematics and language studies.  Read more alumni profiles in The Marker Magazine . Common High Schools & Universities Where do Mark Day School students go after they graduate? The following high schools and universities comprise a partial list of where our alumni continue their education. High Schools Archie Williams High School Cate School Convent and Sacred Heart Marin Academy Marin Catholic Novato High School/MSA Phillips Academy Andover Redwood High School San Domenico School San Francisco University High School Sonoma Academy Tabor Academy Tamalpais High School Terra Linda High School/MSEL The Bay School of San Francisco The Branson School The Lawrenceville School The Nueva School The Thacher School The Urban School of San Francisco San Rafael High School San Marin High School/STEM Stevenson School Universities American University Bard College Barnard College Berklee College of Music Boston University Bowdoin College Brown University Bucknell University Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Colgate University Colorado College Columbia University Cornell University CU Boulder Dartmouth College Duke University Emory University Georgetown University Harvard University Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Lehigh University Loyola Marymount Macalaster College Middlebury College Northeastern University Northwestern University New York University Occidental College Pitzer College Princeton University Purdue University Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Scripps College Stanford University Swarthmore College Tufts University Tulane University University of Chicago University of Michigan University of Pennsylvania University of Washington UC Berkeley UC Davis UC Irvine UCLA UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Cruz University of Miami USC Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Washington University Wesleyan University Williams College Yale University Upcoming Alumni Events Trivia Night June 4, 2026 5:30-7:00pm Mark Day Gym Alumni Breakfast June 11, 2026 8:30-11:00am Mark Day Courtyard We want to hear from you! Contact Christine Maguire, Development Associate, at 415-472-8000 x1016 or email [email protected] to give us an update. Follow us on social media   Facebook (Alumni) Facebook (Mark Day School) Instagram Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in Mark Day School Garden & Outdoor Education Program Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp In This Section Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Breadcrumb Home / Student Life / Outdoor Learning Outdoor Learning The outdoor spaces that mark our campus are learning opportunities that expand the four walls of the classroom. Learning about the natural world through ecoliteracy curriculum happens in our organic garden, butterfly garden, and in areas purposefully designed to preserve and sustain the ecosystem that surrounds us. Our Gardens Mark Day School has two intentional garden spaces on campus where students can learn outside the classroom—an organic garden where students take care of our four chickens, grow and maintain plants and veggies, become stewards of the worm bin, and explore the natural world up close and a butterfly garden located between our lower and middle divisions with plants designed to attract local butterflies and special woodpiles to encourage propagation. These outdoor learning spaces have been created and cared for by school families and are integrated into the curriculum by our garden teacher. Outdoor Education Students in grades 3-8 explore the natural world during unique and rewarding overnight experiences. Outdoor Education trips are invaluable in strengthening students’ relationships, both with one another and with their teachers. Students develop self-reliance, independence, cooperation, and trust. They gain an appreciation of wilderness areas, insight into human interdependence with the environment, and awareness of the delicate ecological balance. Trained outdoor educators lead the students in fun and challenging activities. Where relevant, teachers integrate students’ outdoor experience with the science, history, and ecological literacy curricula.  Grade-Level Outdoor Ed Trips: 3rd grade: Walker Creek Ranch for 3 days and 2 nights of hiking, group bonding, and examining the animals, plants, and biodiversity of Marin County, with a focus on animal adaptation. 4th grade: Coloma Outdoor Discovery School for 3 days of living history, hiking, and learning about local plants and animals and indigenous cultures 5th grade: Big Sur for 3 days of kayaking, hiking, camping skills, and study of living systems 6th grade: Pinnacles National Park for 4 days of rock climbing, outdoor living skills, hiking, cave exploration, and study of geology and astronomy 7th grade: Yosemite National Park for 5 days of high sierra backpacking, backcountry camping, team building, outdoor living, leave no trace, and learning about geological history 8th grade: Colorado River for 5 days of canoeing, outdoor living, team building, and study of water systems Campus Sustainability Environmental sustainability and responsible world citizenship are core values at Mark Day School. They are put into practice every day by our whole community, from teaching environmental literacy to composting and recycling to designing our campus in order to reduce our energy usage, gas consumption, and overall waste. In 2019, our Learning Commons and Creativity Lab Project was awarded LEED Platinum status, the highest available, for its environmentally sustainable design. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. It is the first school project to achieve LEED Platinum in San Rafael and one of only three in all of Marin County. LEED certification provides independent verification of a building’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations, and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings. LEED certification means healthier, more productive places, reduced stress on the environment by encouraging energy and resource-efficient buildings, and savings from increased building value and decreased utility costs. The building was also awarded the Green California Outstanding Building Leadership Award for Zero Net Energy. The green elements of these new learning and community spaces include: Solar panels : Solar panels are installed on the roof of our gym, Lower School, and Arts and Science buildings. We generate enough electrical power to be carbon-neutral and run up to 100% of school activities, depending on the time of year, to contribute to the decrease in reliance on fossil fuels, live more greenly here on campus, and give students the ability to monitor our electricity production and energy use. Bioswales : Around our campus, five bioswales are interwoven throughout our landscape to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water to slow the speed of runoff during heavy storms to allow more water to percolate into the aquifer. Our campus is part of the Gallinas Creek Watershed, and we are part of a larger San Francisco Bay Area ecosystem that is impacted by our actions. Landscaped with native and drought tolerant plants, these bioswales also never require irrigation. Walls of glass : Based on research that reveals the positive impact of natural light on student outcomes, the Learning Commons and Creativity Lab spaces were designed to bring in the sunshine, including floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that open to our quad. Extensive shade studies throughout the design process maximize light without the glare of direct sun, and the windows mean stringent insulation value to keep the space cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Energy efficiency : Every building system was designed for maximum energy efficiency and occupant health, including the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems that circulate fresh air and allow us to bring heat or cool just to where it is needed. Learn more about our school clubs and affinity groups . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded Board of Trustees Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About / Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Mark Day School, like most independent schools, is governed by a Board of Trustees. The board consists of members nominated and elected by its membership. No member represents any particular constituency, but rather the institution as a whole. Board members are elected to serve based on their commitment to the school and the expertise they bring to the Board. The Board of Trustees is the guardian of the school’s mission. Its work is to think far into the future. It is the Board’s responsibility to ensure that the mission is relevant and vital to the community it serves and to monitor the success of the school in fulfilling its mission. The Mark Day School Board committees include Advisory, Finance, Development, Governance, Site, and Campaign Steering. Subcommittees within the Governance Committee include Trustees, Risk Management, DEIJ, and Audit; the Finance Committee includes an Investment Subcommittee to monitor the endowment and the Board’s investment policy. The Board forms other committees on an as-needed basis (e.g., Strategic Planning).   President, P '28 Sara Egide Vice President, P '23, '26, '27 Chris Abate Paul Austin Alum Trustee Benjamin Barad '05 Assistant Treasurer, P '26, '27 Mike Beck P '27, '30 Carolyn Bojanowski P '22, '25, '27 Ryan Brown P '28, '30 Jessica Clifton Faculty Trustee Dominic Cox P '22, '25 Prathap Dendi P '27, '29 Scott Faber P '31 Patrick Flemming P '24, '27 Rika Gopinath Head of School Joe Harvey P '27 Chelsea Ialeggio Trustee Emeritus, P '23 Andrew Kawahara P '27, '30 Andy Kelly Treasurer, P '26, '28 Megan Mariani P '26, '28, '29 Vanessa McKinley P '26, '28, '30 Alicia Rockefeller P '28, '30 Katie Shannon P '23 Quoc Tran P '32 April Underwood P '27, '29 Andrea Urda Rijo Family Association President, '29, '31 Tiffany Westwater Read about the Board's latest work in our Strategic Plan . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite How to Donate Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give In This Section Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give Breadcrumb Home / Giving / How to Give How to Give By Credit Card, Venmo, PayPal, or ApplePay Donate or pledge online. Click here to fill out the online donation form. Corporate matching gift Companies often sponsor matching-gift programs that can double as employee’s charitable contribution. Ask your company’s personnel office for more information on directing a matching gift to Mark Day School.  Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by By Check Mail a check to “Mark Day School,” to the attention of the Development Office. By Stock A gift of appreciated securities entitles you to a charitable deduction equal to the fair market value of the securities without paying tax on the securities’ appreciation. Contact Wendy Levine , Director of Development, for more information. By Cryptocurrency We now accept cryptocurrency donations, making it easier than ever to support our mission. Click here to give. Via a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) DAFs are an increasingly popular charitable vehicle, whereby individuals set aside money to be granted to charitable organizations. It also provides an operationally convenient and tax-efficient method for donors to manage their charitable giving.  Support Mark Day School by giving directly from your DAF.  Gifts in kind Independent schools welcome donations such as classroom supplies, office equipment, athletic equipment, books, and other items related to the educational program. The Development Office will be happy to help you determine the acceptability of gifts. The donor, through appraisal or record of purchase, will determine gift value. Mark Day School does not assign value to used items. Click here for the gifts in kind form. Participate in the Merchant Cash Back Program Every year, the Family Association receives thousands of dollars through cash back rewards programs. There are a number of ways to participate, including shopping with a scrip card at United, Good Earth, and Nugget Markets, registering with eScrip and choosing Mark Day School ((#136558922) as your charity of choice, shopping at any Sports Basement as a Basementeer and choosing Mark Day School as your charity of choice, or by shopping at Book Passage and mentioning Mark Day School upon checkout and by heading to Gott's for our Dine and Donate day this spring.  Click here for more information  on our merchant cash back programs. Learn more about our annual fund . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Tinkering & Creativity Lab for Kids Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling In This Section Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Breadcrumb Home / Curriculum / Creativity Lab Creativity Lab One of the first sights you see after crossing the threshold into the heart of campus is often students tinkering in Mark Day's maker space, which we call the Creativity Lab. While our media, technology, and innovation program is integrated into classrooms across the campus, it is most visible in the lab, where students construct prototypes out of cardboard and masking tape, build and test solar cars, program VEX robots, carve wooden spoons, and more. Students work both individually and collaboratively in the lab on class assignments and on projects they have dreamed up on their own. You never know what you might find when you walk through the Creativity Lab. The Creativity Lab space is purpose-built to be an agile learning environment that can adapt to different circumstances and learning needs. There are whiteboards, digital displays and durable work tables on wheels, plus giant sliding doors that instantly transform the lab into an indoor-outdoor space. Loud and messy work takes place in the workshop. Large-scale projects spill out into the maker’s court. It is not uncommon to find sketches lining the walls of the corner we call the “think tank.” The space is large enough and offers enough variety that many different activities can take place in the Creativity Lab at the same time. What is most extraordinary about the Creativity Lab is the program that occupies it. From K-8, students learn skills in building, design & tinkering, creative coding, and digital fabrication. Students practice the metacognitive skills of curiosity, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and a growth mindset. We want to send students out into the world with the skills and dispositions they need to solve novel problems, design something new, and make things! Watch the video below to see our Creativity Lab in action! Your web browser does not support the <video> tag. Peek inside our Learning Commons . Design, Tinkering & Technology Integrator Tatian Greenleaf Tinkerer & Garden Teacher David St. Martin Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Student Life on Campus Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp In This Section Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Breadcrumb Home / Student Life Student Life Student life at Mark Day School underscores our commitment to discovering and nurturing each child in a vibrant community that is full of heart. Children here are encouraged to work and play collaboratively, enabling them to build healthy relationships and interact in positive and productive ways. Our community gathers for assembly twice a week, and there are a wealth of lunchtime clubs, special activities, and co-curricular programs that provide every student with multiple avenues to self-discovery, opportunities for community contribution, and a sense of belonging.   Highlights of Student Life at Mark Day Mentor Program In our mentor program, 7th and 8th graders gather regularly in small groups, each led by a member of our faculty, that serve as a support network and provide a safe place to discuss all aspects of adolescent and student life. They also carry out community engagement projects, plan divisional assemblies and dances, and sometimes just hang out. K/8 Buddies When students reach 8th grade, they have the opportunity to become buddies to Kindergartners. We know that strong ties between students of different ages create an atmosphere of caring and support. Together, Kindergartners and 8th graders read, play games, do art projects, and develop a memorable bond that often extends beyond graduation. Watch video Clubs We encourage students to follow their interests and form communities around them, particularly through middle school clubs. These groups provide a forum for middle school kids to explore their passions, develop leadership skills, and make a difference in their school community and beyond. Currently, we offer the Chess Club, Just Imagine Club, and Mathletes. Learn more Hot Lunch & Recess Activities At lunch, students can choose from a wide variety of activities in school, including hanging out in the Learning Commons, playing chess, practicing acting skills in the drama room, tinkering in the Creativity Lab, enhancing language skills in Mandarin Club, creating art in the art room, exploring the garden as part of Green Thumbs, learning an instrument in the music room, and discovering classic films in Just Imagine Club. We offer a hot lunch program for students in K-8 throughout the school year from Marinwood Market Monday-Thursday and Stefano's Pizza on Fridays. Outdoor Ed & Organic Garden Outdoor learning provides students with hands-on experience interacting with the natural world, on campus and off. Outdoor learning includes outdoor ed, which is offered in grades 3-8, and utilizing the school’s organic garden to care for our chickens, nurture growing plants and veggies, and literally get their hands dirty. These activities tie directly into our ecoliteracy curriculum. Learn more Extended Day Program Our Extended Day Program, which provides after school activities for kids, is open to all K-8 students. Our Adventures After School program offers fun activities like Let’s Get Cooking, basketball, kung fu, golf, soccer, chess, and more; it’s available for both Mark Day and non-Mark Day students. Our middle school sports program offers a variety of sports teams for students in grades 4-8, including volleyball, cross country, flag football, basketball, golf, and track and field. And the After School Club provides before and after care for students across grade levels. Learn more Affinity & Alliance Groups Affinity and Alliance groups are safe spaces where students—and faculty/staff—can come together around a common identity to talk about their experiences and discuss issues that are specific to that identity. Most affinity and alliance groups are student-driven, and may change from year to year. Theatrical Productions We hold two theatrical productions per year for students in grades 4-8. The fall play and spring musical are typically held at the Marin Civic Center’s Showcase Theatre on a full theatrical stage. Among our recent productions are Annie, Jr., The Lion King, and Willy Wonka, Jr. K-8 Lunch Activities At Mark Day School, we offer a wide variety of clubs and activities for students in K-8 during lunch. Watch the video below to learn more Your web browser does not support the <video> tag. Check out more student life after school . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Clubs & Affinity Groups Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp In This Section Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Breadcrumb Home / Student Life / Clubs & Affinity Groups Clubs & Affinity Groups Clubs From getting their hands dirty in the garden to practicing chess moves to watching old sci-fi films, there are a multitude of opportunities for students to gather around common interests. Chess Club & Chess Team (K-8) Students play chess with their friends to hone their strategic thinking skills. Green Thumbs (K-8) Students eat lunch in the garden and explore its many plants and flowers. Just Imagine Club (G3-8) Students meet every Friday to watch classic science fiction films. Mandarin Club (G2-8) Students dive deeper into the language and culture, with Chinese writing, storytelling, and games; students don’t have to be taking Mandarin to join Mandarin Club. Mathletes (G6-8) Students work together to tackle challenging math problems and compete against teams from other schools. Skylion Seal Book Club (G4-8) Students gather weekly to connect with fellow book lovers, discover and share new books, and participate in fun activities. Open Tinkering (G2-8) Students work on personal passion projects in the Creativity Lab. Open Art (G2-8) The art studio is open for students to complete work from class or work on their own projects. Bee Here Now (G2-8) Students in this club focus on maintaining our school gardens. Open Drama (G4-8) The Drama Room welcomes students to practice their acting skills in an informal setting. Mindfulness Club (G5-8) Students take a moment to meditate and practice mindfulness. Music Lab (G4-8) The Music Room is open for bands and soloists to practice on a variety of instruments. Asian Culture Club (G6-8) A monthly club that honors and celebrates Asian Culture, with traditional food and presentations. D&D Club (G4-8) A space where students can discover worlds and fight monsters in a collaborative storytelling dice game.  World Scholar's Club (G6-8) A club dedicated to studying for an academic competition with other schools that occurs each fall. Affinity Groups Affinity groups are safe spaces where students—and faculty/staff—can come together with a common identity to talk about their experiences and concerns and discuss issues that are specific to that identity. Most affinity groups are student-driven, and may change from year to year, and all student groups are led by an adult. Learn more about the trips our students are taking on outdoor ed . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Learning Commons - Mark Day School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling In This Section Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Breadcrumb Home / Curriculum / Learning Commons Learning Commons Our two-story Learning Commons, which houses the school’s library collection, is a hub of reading, storytelling, research, and collaboration. It features two main spaces, with the first story specifically designed for younger students and the second for older students. Furniture is flexible to accommodate for varied activities and individual and group work.  The Learning Commons is also the heart of our media & information literacy program, which guides students to access, analyze, evaluate and create media in a variety of formats..  Our full-time Director of the Learning Commons and staff work with students in all grades on specific projects and upon teacher request. Lower Learning Commons In the Lower Learning Commons, students primarily in grades kindergarten through 5th meet for regularly scheduled classes with our Director of Learning Commons to further their reading and research skills. There are books for every student to read and enjoy and a dedicated storytelling corner. Bookcases and tables sit on wheels so the space can adapt to the needs of every class and foster collaboration. Upper Learning Commons In the Upper Learning Commons, students primarily in grades 4th through 8th utilize the space for reading and research. Vibrant circular couches sit on wheels for easy movement to adapt to every need and to create the most efficient learning environment. There are also two quiet study rooms for small group collaboration and one-on-one tutoring. Reading Programs At Mark Day School, we promote a love of independent reading beyond what students learn in the classroom.  Our Skylion Seal Book Club is a casual and fun way to share the reading experience through one common book. Students in grades 4-8 are welcome to join the weekly meeting in the Learning Commons. Starting in 3rd grade, students can choose to participate in the Bizjack Reading Program by completing a variety of extracurricular reading assignments and projects. Participants receive special recognition from Mr. Harvey at the “Mark Day Reads!”assembly at the end of the year. Students who participate consecutively through 8th grade receive special recognition. The annual Book Exchange is a beloved event organized by the Family Association volunteers. Books are collected within our community and for one evening, all are invited to come and fill bags with free, new-to-them literary treasures. All that and a delicious dinner make this an excellent community builder around books. Read about our Learning Support program and School Counseling. Director of the Learning Commons Anna Gonzalez Learning Commons Specialist Katrina Griffiths Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Tuition & Costs Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation In This Section Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Breadcrumb Home / Admission / Tuition Tuition For the 2025-2026 school year, Mark Day School tuition for Kindergarten through 8th grade ranges from $0-$45,871. Tuition does not include grade-specific fees, which are also indexed. Indexed Tuition Tuition at Mark Day School is indexed along a scale. All families pay tuition along the index, according to their ability to pay. Because the published tuition at the top of the index does not cover the total cost of educating a student at Mark Day School, every student’s tuition is indexed to some degree. The delta between tuition at the top of the index and the actual cost of a Mark Day School education is covered by philanthropy. As a community, we believe it is our shared responsibility to create and perpetuate an inclusive environment. We are committed to enrolling a socio-economically diverse community of families, and we work individually with families to help make our school an affordable option through Indexed Tuition.  Applying to Pay Below the Top of the Index Currently, tuition is set below the top of the tuition index for more than a quarter of our students. To apply to pay school tuition below the top of the index, we ask families to register with Clarity to complete the application. Clarity uses the information to evaluate a family’s ability to afford tuition. The application is mobile-friendly and can be completed on a phone or tablet. Additionally, your 1040 and W2 documents from the previous year will be automatically transferred from the IRS when you complete the verification step. Register with Clarity Notification of Indexed Tuition determinations are emailed and mailed in March along with admission decision letters. Although decisions are made along the same timeline, the two applications and processes are separate. Timeline January 16, 2026: Deadline to submit Clarity application March 19, 2026: Notification of tuition determinations emailed with acceptance letters Resources 2025-26 Family Application Guide ( English / Spanish ) Clarity Application Quick Reference Guide ( English / Spanish ) Family Support through Clarity is offered in both English and Spanish; contact Family Support through the “help” button in the lower left corner in the app, email at [email protected] , or call at 206.210.3752. Guidelines The school works with families individually and respectfully, maintaining confidential information carefully. Applications must be completed in full, including receipt of appropriate tax forms, before indexed tuition for the following year is final. The school considers all aspects of a family’s financial situation. In addition to income, our system takes into account debt, assets, family size, number of students in tuition-charging schools and other elements that would impact a family’s ability to afford tuition. Families apply each year and tuition may be adjusted (up or down) depending on a family’s demonstrated need.  The algorithm we use assumes all parents/guardians are employed when all children are of elementary school age. The school will impute a salary for any at-home parents/guardians once their youngest child is in Kindergarten. Applications are required from all custodial parents/guardians in divorced/separated/never married families. In addition to curricular and co-curricular programs, extended day care (before and after school club), and grade level fees are indexed. The indexed tuition budget includes funds from the annual operating budget, income from endowment, and support from outside organizations such as The Children's Education Initiative and the Basic Fund. Questions? Contact Indexed Tuition Coordinator Wendy Broderick at 415.713.6753 or [email protected] . We encourage all prospective families to join us on a campus tour . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Bay Area Private School Tour Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation In This Section Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Breadcrumb Home / Admission / Tours & Open Houses Campus Tours & Open Houses Thank you for spending time getting to know Mark Day School. Our admission team is eager to connect with you personally, help you navigate the process, and learn about your student and family. We offer on-campus experiences and limited virtual experiences from October to January, and we encourage all prospective families to join us. For families who do not reside in the area, you may check out our Virtual Tour . Campus Tours Adults are invited to sign up for in-person campus tours. Join our morning assembly followed by a conversation with Head of School Joe Harvey, Assistant Head and Director of Educational Design and Innovation Bonnie Nishihara, and Director of Partnerships, Equity and Inclusion Fernanda Pernambuco. This will be followed by a tour of our campus and an 8th grade and faculty panel to answer your questions. All campus tours are 8:30-10:45am. October 14 (FULL) October 24  (FULL) November 7 November 14 December 2 January 13 Sign up for a tour Open Houses Find out why our students and families love Mark Day School at one of our weekend Open Houses. Explore our campus, participate in lessons and activities, and experience our inclusive community firsthand. Open Houses are held on the below dates at 10:00am-12:00pm. This is your prospective student's opportunity to experience the school before the application deadline. November 15 January 11 Sign up to attend an Open House Alumni Panel (Zoom) Get to know Mark Day through our graduates. Join our Head of School Joe Harvey and Mark Day alumni for a Q&A about their Mark Day School experience. We highly recommend that you attend one of these events. December 10, 6:00-6:45pm January 24, 10:00-10:45am Sign up to attend an Alumni Panel Learn more about tuition and costs . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite School Curriculum Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling In This Section Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Breadcrumb Home / Curriculum Curriculum To thrive in the current century, students need to master a more complex set of skills than ever before. While the traditional skills and competencies of foundational literacies such as math and the humanities are critical, research and our experience tell us they are not enough. To that end, we integrate foundational literacies, cross-disciplinary literacies, and metacognitive skills into our school curriculum: Foundational Literacies Students build deep understanding in the foundational literacies and learn to combine them flexibly in order to analyze, problem solve, and create. Foundational literacies include English, science, math, world language, physical education, the arts, and social studies. Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Throughout our program, foundational skills and competencies in traditional disciplines are interwoven into school curriculum with four cross-disciplinary literacies: cross-cultural literacy, ecological literacy, social and emotional literacy, and media and information literacy. Learn more Metacognitive Skills What skills do our students need to succeed in today’s world? Our seven metacognitive skills are embedded across subjects and grade levels, and they guide each student’s educational journey: curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, community mindset, growth mindset, and self-understanding/self-direction. Though we are a K-8 community and there are many moments, including twice weekly assemblies, when we all come together, our school is also broken down into smaller communities: divisions. Lower Division (Kindergarten - 3rd grade) Foundational Years: The Lower Division, or early elementary school, years are a time during which students develop a growth mindset alongside foundational skills and attitudes about learning and community. Students are developing rapidly physically, emotionally, and academically, and they thrive here in a nurturing and safe environment. During their time in the Lower Division, students are asked to try many things with the goal of helping them to discover their passions and develop a deeper understanding of what makes each of us unique. Small class sizes and experienced support teachers foster meaningful relationships and differentiated instruction in the classroom. Our ultimate goal is to provide students with the school curriculum and skills they will need to succeed and the tenacity to try again when they make mistakes. The students remain with their homeroom teachers for core subjects, visiting specialists for world language and specialists classes throughout the week.  Middle Division (4th - 6th grade) Emergence of the Independent Learner: The essence of our program in the upper grades is to develop critical and creative thinkers in the core academic subjects who can also make links and connections across the four broad literacies woven throughout the curriculum. Upper elementary school 4th and 5th graders learn core subjects in a homeroom setting and middle school 6th graders are led by homeroom teachers who guide their metacognitive skill development as they learn with specialized teachers for each subject in a weekly block schedule. Students in 4th, 5th and 6th grades have daily PE, world language four days a week, and specialized weekly classes in art, drama, and music. Moving through these years, students develop greater independence, confidence, and curiosity, taking increasing ownership of their learning process while discovering new interests and passions.  Upper Division (7th - 8th grade) Leaders of the School: Our 7th and 8th graders follow a weekly block schedule with both short and long blocks of time for core subjects alongside daily world language and PE classes. Students choose arts and creativity electives, during which they select from a range of courses including  art, music, drama, video production, dance, coding, and more.. Our cross-disciplinary literacies are taught even more formally in the upper grades through weekly classes in media information literacy, cross-cultural literacy, social-emotional literacy, and ecological literacy. At the center of the upper division experience is our mentor program. Every student is a member of a small group of 7th and 8th grade students that meet twice a week to connect, discuss issues in their lives, and engage in leadership activities that benefit all the students in the upper grades.  Each mentor group is led by an upper division teacher, guiding students in their academic, personal, and community growth over two years. Students graduate very well prepared to take ownership of their learning and be active, involved community members in high school and beyond.  Click below to learn more about our school curriculum in each of our subjects and grade-levels. Filter By Grade Level All 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade Kindergarten Filter By Subject All English/Language Arts Mathematics Physical Education Science Social Studies The Arts World Language Search Clear Search K English/Language Arts Explore Read More about K English/Language Arts K Mathematics Explore Read More about K Mathematics K Science Explore Read More about K Science K Social Studies Explore Read More about K Social Studies K World Language Explore Read More about K World Language K Physical Education Explore Read More about K Physical Education K Arts Explore Read More about K Arts 1st Grade English/Language Arts Explore Read More about 1st Grade English/Language Arts 1st Grade Mathematics Explore Read More about 1st Grade Mathematics 1st Grade Science Explore Read More about 1st Grade Science 1st Grade Social Studies Explore Read More about 1st Grade Social Studies 1st Grade World Language Explore Read More about 1st Grade World Language 1st Grade Physical Education Explore Read More about 1st Grade Physical Education 1st Grade Arts Explore Read More about 1st Grade Arts 2nd Grade English/Language Arts Explore Read More about 2nd Grade English/Language Arts Mark Day School’s Strategic Plan Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About / Strategic Plan Strategic Plan The 2022 Strategic Plan defines the areas of inquiry and action for the next several years. The strategic planning process in education is an essential part of being a great school. Student voice, agency, and challenge lead the way, and we will take steps to advance these central elements in work with every constituency: students, teachers, and parents and guardians. Deepening and expanding our integration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice forms another pillar of our work, with a focus on cross-cultural collaboration and our local and global reciprocal partnerships. Shaping our structure and campus to meet the evolving landscape for independent education in the Bay Area will be a third area of concentration, with significant areas of inquiry to explore. Underpinning all of these elements will be the effort to continue to build and nurture the team of faculty, staff, and administrators who lead this work with students, now and long into the future. Read more about Mark Day School's mission and philosophy . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Parent & Guardian Community Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About / Family Association Family Association A Community for Parents & Guardians The Mark Day School Family Association (FA), through an army of parent/guardian volunteers, handles a wide variety of events and programs on behalf of the school each year. Through this service to the school, parents and guardians help to create and participate in a warm and inclusive community. Family Association Executive Board, 2025-2026 President: Tiffany Westwater Executive Vice President: Devin Alper Treasurer: Kirsten Peek VP of Communications: Matt Herrero VP of Events: Carin Gidney & Nicole Johnson VP of Fundraising: Nicole Martin & Samantha Dimmitt VP of Programs: Katherine Chan & Sarah Cason Volunteer Opportunities For All Kinds of Commitments Volunteering connects us in a unique way to other parents and guardians, to the faculty, even to Mark Day students. This sense of connection deeply enriches each family’s relationship with the school community. It tells our children that we value their education and allows us to express our appreciation for the wonderful experience our children have at school every day. Opportunities are open for every parent/guardian to be involved.  Events The Family Association arranges many events each year and assists with school-sponsored events on an as-needed basis. While a few events are held to raise funds, many are simply for celebrating and strengthening our community. Fall Winter Spring Fall Skylion Welcome : A celebration for the new students and families of all grades the day before school starts.  Family Fun Run : A fundraiser for the Girls’ Scholarship Program at our partner school in South Africa, eSibonisweni, during which students and families run a .5-mile, 1-mile, or 5k course, followed by a pancake breakfast. Trivia Night : A friendly trivia competition for students in grades 6-8, their families, and alumni to raise money for the ePop program at our partner school, eSibonisweni. Winter Book Exchange : A fun, free, community building night to choose new-to-you books and enjoy a pizza dinner.  WinterMade : A community event with opportunities for students to make holiday gifts, drink hot chocolate, and snack on holiday-related treats. Spring Spring Fundraiser & Community Party : Our largest fundraiser that directly supports the school’s overall operating budget. Highlights of the evening are the silent and live auctions, dinner, and dancing.  Art Show : The Art Show occurs in the spring in conjunction with Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day and is an opportunity for children’s artwork to be displayed for parents/guardians and visitors to see.  Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day : Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day is a chance for our students and teachers to share their campus and classrooms to showcase all that happens during the school year.  Track & Field Day : Students in grades 4-8 select track and field events to compete in during this special afternoon away from normal classes. Faculty/Staff Appreciation : Hosted by parents and guardians in May, this lunch is a fun way to express appreciation to our fantastic faculty/staff and administration. New Parent/Guardian Welcome : Parents and guardians of newly admitted students meet their buddy families, Head of School, administrators, some faculty, and the Board of Trustees. Programs Mark Day offers many programs that contribute to the overall education, social, and school community experiences of the student body. Buddy Family Coordination: Buddy families are current families who help welcome and support the transition of new families. Eco Paper Goods Emergency Preparedness Merchant Cash Back Programs H.O.S.T Fund Coordinator Family Sunshine Hot Lunch Lost & Found Calendar/Marquee Keeper On-Call Volunteers Garden Mark Day Fund Parent/Guardian Coffee Chats Room Parent/Guardian Coordinator School Store Eco Paper Goods In an effort to make our school more sustainable, the FA helps manage inventories of paper goods in the kitchen. Emergency Preparedness The school maintains an emergency plan and conducts many fire, earthquake, and shelter drills every year, including a level-3 earthquake drill with simulated injuries, triage, search-and-rescue, and student release procedures. Merchant Cash Back Programs Families can register with eScrip to earn money for Mark Day School while shopping at select grocery and retail stores. H.O.S.T Fund Coordinator The FA helps manage the school’s procedure for collecting, pooling, and distributing monetary gifts to faculty and staff at the holidays and end of the year. Family Sunshine The Family Sunshine Committee provides temporary, short-term support for families within the Mark Day School community during times of unusual need to live out the caring and inclusion that are at the heart of our community. Hot Lunch Volunteers set up and serve lunch  to both Lower and Middle/Upper Division students five days a week. Lost & Found The FA helps maintain the lost and found shed, schedules display days for the unlabeled items, notify maintenance staff of scheduled days, and reminds parents/guardians to label children’s things. Calendar/Marquee Keeper Important dates pertaining to the school year are displayed on a monthly basis on the message board at the front of the school. On-Call Volunteers On-call volunteers help with short-term, spontaneous projects that come up in the course of the year. Garden Communicates and coordinates with parents/guardians who are actively involved with the school’s garden. Mark Day Fund Help with outreach to Mark Day School families and secure commitments to our annual fundraising campaign. Parent/Guardian Coffee Chats More info coming soon! Room Parent/Guardian Co Employment - Mark Day School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About Employment Mark Day School is an independent, K-8, all-gender school. We consider all qualified candidates without regard to gender, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Click here for directions to our campus, located in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael. Click here for our school policies and code of conduct. Part-Time 8th Grade Math Teacher - Algebra & Geometry APRIL 22, 2026 Mark Day School seeks a collaborative, innovative educator with a passion for teaching math to middle school students. Learn more Director of Student Life APRIL 3, 2026 Mark Day School seeks an innovative, experienced teacher/administrator for the position of Director of Student Life for Grades 5-8 beginning July 2026. Learn more Substitute Teacher Openings ONGOING The Heads of the Lower and Upper School invite credentialed teachers to apply to be placed on the substitute list. Send a letter of interest and a resume to the appropriate head. Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Kids Sports Programs Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp In This Section Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Breadcrumb Home / Student Life / Athletics Athletics Our athletic program offers a variety of school sports teams for students in the Marin County Middle School League.  We encourage all our students to play a school sport and no previous experience is necessary to join a team. Practices take place twice a week directly after school. We make sure there is a place for every student to participate in whatever sport they desire. Above all, we value learning, effort, character development, and a commitment to fair play. Fall Sports G6-8 Girls+ Volleyball G4-8 All-gender Cross Country G6-8 All-gender Flag Football Winter Sports G6-8 Girls+ Basketball G6-8 Boys+ Basketball Spring Sports G7-8 All-gender Golf G4-8 All-gender Track & Field G7-8 Boys+ Volleyball Athletic Director Cody Fusco Athletics Philosophy We are teaching a developmental-based program. We want all athletes to develop personal character, a sense of teamwork, life lessons about commitment and perseverance, and specific athletic skills in an environment that is fun and inclusive. We subscribe to the Positive Coaching Alliance approach. Coaches are teachers and maintain a team culture that is positive, supportive, fun, inclusive, and skill-building. Positive, specific feedback to athletes should be frequent and delivered with respect and enthusiasm. Every athlete learns and grows. Coaches help athletes set individual growth goals and provide individualized guidance toward those goals.  Every athlete experiences quality playing time. Playing time allows athletes to apply developing skills in authentic moments and learn from mistakes. It is often best to leave a player in the game even after an error so they can recognize it and apply the learning right away. In 6th grade, coaches rotate all players according to a prearranged pattern, even if the game is close. In 7th grade, coaches might use prearranged rotations and then vary them for certain situations some of the time. In 8th grade, coaches can make playing time decisions with a more specific eye towards winning while ensuring that every player experiences quality playing time in each game.  Coaches are highly observant and praise controllable decisions from athletes. Coaches praise athletes in the moment and with specificity for things like passing, communicating, and hustling as well as success with individual skills they might be developing.  Coaches are Mark Day School teachers and parents/guardians. Coaches are expected to teach and lead teams consistent with the school mission, philosophy, and pillars of character (on the next page). Coaches need to model positive, professional and respectful interactions with officials.  Mark Day School teams are gender-inclusive. Students may join a team that matches their gender identity.  Parents/Guardians of players are expected to support the above philosophy, allow the coach to lead and teach the team, and help arrange/provide transportation for games and events. A team parent volunteer who leads coordinating transportation is incredibly helpful for each team. If parents/guardians are available to help with scoreboard or booking of stats during games, they should reach out to Cody Fusco, Athletic Director, who will coordinate volunteers for those roles. If parents/guardians have questions or concerns, they should also reach out to Cody Fusco. Sign up for Adventures After School (AAS) . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite About Mark Day School, a K-8 Independent School in Marin County Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About A K-8 Independent School in Marin County At Mark Day School, a K-8 Independent School in Marin County, students learn the habits of mind and personhood that shape their lives and their learning today and in the future.  Guided and challenged by their teachers, students learn these crucial habits by doing: pursuing their curiosity well below the surface, learning to collaborate and partner with peers across the table and around the globe, and developing the mindsets and toolkits that enable them to work on not just the intriguing problems of today, but the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. Our mission holds two more descriptors that we hold dear as a school: innovative and full of heart. We are always thinking about what students need now and what they will need in the near and distant future. We strive to build on these strengths, all in service of challenging and supporting young people to chart their own paths.   Your web browser does not support the <video> tag. At Mark Day, it’s the balance of both challenge and joyful learning that sets us apart.  Every student needs to encounter challenge along each step of the way—it’s how we grow and it’s how we really understand what we’re capable of. Our joyful, warm, and supportive school community forms the springboard for the challenging academic leaps Mark Day students take every day. 380 enrollment capacity 7:1 student-teacher ratio 36% students of color 22 avg. years teaching experience Meet the wonderful teachers that fill our classrooms with joy and challenge. Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Admission at Mark Day School - A Private K-8 School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation In This Section Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Breadcrumb Home / Admission Admission Welcome! As you search for a bay area school that will be the right match for your child and family, we invite you to learn more about our independent K-8 community. We encourage you to visit us in person, as well as peruse our website, watch our videos, and chat with our current parents and guardians. Our Admission team is on hand to answer any questions and help guide you through the admission process.  We look forward to getting to know your family! Inquire Tuition & Costs Apply Now Our mission holds two descriptors that we hold dear as a school: innovative and full of heart. We are always thinking about what students need now and what they will need in the near and distant future. In our kindergarten, elementary, and middle school programs, we build on these strengths to challenge and support young people to chart their own paths. Watch the video below to see our school in action. Meet the Team Director of Admission Katie Kelso Associate Director of Admission Dawn Aotani Indexed Tuition Coordinator Wendy Broderick 25% pay below the top of the tuition index 37% ride the bus to/from school 37% fac/staff of color 36% students of color         Check out our digital viewbook . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite School Bus Transportation Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation In This Section Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Breadcrumb Home / Admission / Bus Transportation Bus Transportation Most Mark Day School students come to school by carpool, bike, and bus. We are pleased to offer our current families multi-route bus transportation in the mornings and afternoons. The Mark Day bus stops in Mill Valley, Larkspur, Kentfield, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Lucas Valley, and Novato. The bus schedule can be found in the Community Portal and is available for current families only.   120 students ride the bus 3 different buses 7 different cities 11 stops in Marin Learn more about student life at Mark Day School. Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Philanthropy Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give In This Section Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give Breadcrumb Home / Giving Giving At Mark Day School, philanthropy is a valued part of our community. Each year, we rely on the generous support of our community to continue to bring the outstanding parts of our program that make Mark Day unique and special. It’s participation that matters, and we strive for 100% family participation each year. Every gift is important and appreciated. Because of our generous community, we can: Learn Faculty engage in professional development to bring the latest teaching techniques to their classes. Teach Students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy to succeed in today’s world. Build Our learning spaces are continually evolving to meet the current needs of our students. Create Every day, students are encouraged to tinker, question, investigate, design, and invent. Learn more about our annual fund . Why We Give: The Brenner Family When Ann and Paul Brenner reflect on Mark Day School, they remember it as "an absolutely marvelous school" for their son, James, class of 2004. Mark Day School was "academic and challenging, but friendly and warm at the same time." They cite the strength of the athletics program, too. Because James has been "interested in history since the day he was born," Mr. Fargo (the history teacher at the time) was a dream come true. James's love of history grew so much that he and a Mark Day School classmate participated in the Junior States of America, a 3-week civics and leadership education program at Georgetown University, culminating in students visiting Congress. Ann and Paul's desire to help others send their children to a great school prompted them to name Mark Day School in their estate plans. In so doing, they are members of the Mark Day School Legacy Society . By naming the school as a beneficiary, they are fulfilling a value that is important to them both--that everyone deserves the best education possible. By designating their donations to tuition assistance, they are helping to provide for children for generations to come. Reflects Ann, "The teachers and the students are most important at a school. It's what goes on in the minds of the people that really counts." Donate or Pledge Online Donate Cryptocurrency Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive San Rafael, CA 94903 Federal Tax-ID: 94-2598891 Director of Development Wendy Levine Associate Director of Development Christine Maguire Annual Report 2022-2023 Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Magazine Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About / The Marker Magazine The Marker Magazine The Marker 2025 (opens in new window/tab) The Marker 2024 The Marker 2023 (opens in new window/tab) The Marker 2022 (opens in new window/tab) The Marker 2021 (opens in new window/tab) The Marker 2020 (opens in new window/tab) The Marker 2019 (opens in new window/tab) The Marker 2018 (opens in new window/tab) The Marker 2017 (opens in new window/tab) The Marker 2016 (opens in new window/tab) Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Sitemap - Mark Day School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav In This Section Breadcrumb Sitemap Sitemap About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Teachers at Mark Day School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine In This Section About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership About the Head of School Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers Faculty & Staff Directory School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Breadcrumb Home / About / Meet Our Teachers Meet Mark Day School's Teachers Our faculty is composed of expert, dedicated professional teachers who combine not only inspired teaching and innovative curriculum development, but also love of and respect for children and consistent pursuit of professional growth.  Click here to view the faculty and staff directory. Lower Division (K-3) Faculty Kindergarten Teacher Jennifer Southern Kindergarten Teacher Hannah Reilly Kindergarten Support Teacher Jackie Bango 1st Grade Teacher Lisa Becker 1st Grade Teacher Tatiana Chestohin 1st Grade Support Teacher Diana Gill 1st Grade Support Teacher & ASC Izzy Fondnazio 2nd Grade Teacher Yolanda Ferguson 2nd Grade Teacher Caroline Cobb 2nd Grade Support Teacher & World Language Support Teacher Courtney Deam 2nd Grade Support Teacher & World Language Support Teacher Olivia Chignell 3rd Grade Teacher Courtney Coghlan 3rd Grade Teacher Alex Miller 3rd Grade Support Teacher Rita Hayes K-8 In-House Sub Noah Williams Middle Division (G4-6) & Upper Division (G7-8) Faculty 4th Grade Teacher Alex O'Neill 4th Grade Teacher Margot Enbom 5th Grade & Art Support Teacher Jordan Young 5th Grade Teacher Mike Sinclaire 5th Grade Teacher Dominic Cox 6th Grade Science Teacher Tim Evans 6th Grade English, 7th Grade History Teacher Deb Pannell 6th & 7th Grade History Teacher Beckie Mejia 6th & 7th Grade Math Teacher Beth Bonzell 7th & 8th Grade Math Teacher Kevin McMullen 7th Grade English Teacher Leila Sinclaire 7th & 8th Grade History Teacher Chelsea Nelson 7th Grade Science Teacher Dr. Christine Metzger Science Support Specialist McKenzie Fletcher 8th Grade English Teacher Dana Kirk 8th Grade Science Teacher Suzanne Alpert World Language Spanish Teacher Silvia Buckley Spanish Teacher Tracy Caton Spanish Teacher Gustavo Jimenez Spanish Teacher Cris Turienzo Spanish Support Teacher Maria Coronado Mandarin Teacher Joyce Chen Mandarin Teacher Shirley Li Mandarin Support Teacher Ecco Wang Physical Education Athletic Director & PE Teacher (4-8) Cody Fusco PE Teacher (G4-8) Quaree Sankey PE Teacher (K-3) Justin Bayer PE Support Teacher Hazel Gillmer The Arts Music Teacher Brian Wilkerson Music Teacher Emilie Rohrbach Art Teacher Karen Klier Theater Director & Drama Teacher Iliza Abbe Media, Technology & Innovation Director of the Learning Commons Anna Gonzalez Learning Commons Specialist Katrina Griffiths Design, Tinkering & Technology Integrator Tatian Greenleaf Tinkerer & Garden Teacher David St. Martin Educational Technology Teacher & Integrator Emmeline Hill Media Specialist Chad Forrester Read more about Mark Day School's curriculum . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School We're Sorry Your browser version is not supported due to security and compatibility concerns. To access this site, please upgrade to the latest version of one of these supported browsers: Google Chrome Microsoft Edge Safari for OS X Firefox Powered by&nbsp Finalsite &nbsp Privacy Policy &nbsp 2026 Finalsite - all rights reserved Private Kindergarten & Middle School Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation In This Section Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Breadcrumb Home / Admission / Entry Points Entry Points Though we welcome all applicants for grades K-7 (we do not admit students for the 8th grade), we have two major entry points: a primary entry point for Kindergarten, and a secondary entry point when we expand the class in 6th grade. Admission to grades 1-5 and 7 varies year to year and is based on attrition and available spots. We generally enroll students who would be in the top half of their public school classes. This range is wide enough to enroll a group of students with different strengths, interests, learning styles and perspectives, and narrow enough to allow faculty to provide academic differentiation for all students in the classroom. When you choose an independent school for your child, you are choosing a community of families and educators who are aligned in their approach to education. Apply for Kindergarten The minute you step on campus at Mark Day School, there is a sense of joy, purpose, and belonging. It is a place where students, families, and faculty feel at home and supported by each other. The academic program is designed as a K-8 arc, with curriculum building intentionally across subjects each year. When students are exposed to cross-disciplinary literacies and metacognitive skills alongside foundational literacies from a young age, they learn deeply-rooted practices that allow them to be confident lifelong learners. Starting a Mark Day education in Kindergarten provides early and consistent exposure to social-emotional learning, a deep love of learning, growth mindset, and resiliency when facing challenges, academically and otherwise. Starting in Kindergarten, students at Mark Day School learn that teachers are their allies and are there to help each student understand how they learn best and encourage them to lean on their own learning modality strengths when they are presented with challenges. The faculty at Mark Day work endlessly to discover and help bring out the light in each child through every phase of their development. In Kindergarten, families can expect: Small class sizes Low student-teacher ratio World language (Spanish and Mandarin) starting in Kindergarten Weekly classes for Music, Drama, and Art  Daily P.E. Apply for Kindergarten Apply for 6th Grade Our 6th grade program is designed to have small class sizes within a larger grade to improve opportunities for student voice, greater academic differentiation, and deeper relationships with teachers. Adding several students in 6th grade adds another layer of diversity in backgrounds and perspectives, which benefits all students. We know that adolescents need strong relationships with adults for healthy development and also that they thrive in a slightly expanded social peer network. Additionally, research has established the positive effects of hands-on, project-based learning, a pedagogical practice that we embrace, and smaller sections enable more depth in such practices. Diversity of all kinds has been proven to improve critical thinking, perspective taking, overall group decision making, and readiness for leadership in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. Sixth grade students at Mark Day School can expect: Smaller class sizes for core subjects and specialist classes A block schedule that prepares them for the more rigorous academic experience in 7th and 8th grades and high school An expanded social network that welcomes an array of interests, hobbies, personalities, and backgrounds A one-to-one laptop program and weekly MTI (Media, Technology and Innovation) classes that prepare students for success in the current century Sixth grade-special SEL blocks, study halls, and homeroom time with dedicated homeroom teachers The opportunity to practice and hone executive functioning skills prior to the Upper Division Apply to 6th grade We highly encourage all prospective families to attend a campus tour and open house . Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite Mark Day School Annual Fund Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give In This Section Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give Breadcrumb Home / Giving / Annual Fund Annual Fund Our Annual Fund: The Mark Day Fund By design and as at most independent schools, Mark Day School’s tuition does not fully fund the cost of a Mark Day School education and our annual fund, The Mark Day Fund, helps to make up this difference. The annual fund touches all corners of school life and is put to use that school year. It kicks off each year in the early fall and more than 500 parents and guardians, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, faculty/staff, and friends all play a part in supporting the school. All families are asked to contribute, and every gift makes a difference because it demonstrates a commitment to meeting the school’s needs. What does The Mark Day Fund support? The Mark Day Fund supports programs such as: Social and emotional learning, including Toolbox training for new teachers and two school counselors Global programs, including an artist-in-residence from our partner school, Kliptown Youth Program, and a full-time Director of Partnerships, Equity & Inclusion Professional development for all faculty, staff, and administration, including a summer institute and attendance at large conferences like NAIS’s National Conference The arts, including tools and supplies like paint and guitars Technology for differentiated learning, including iPad software that allows for differentiated activities in class Hands on, project-based learning, including teacher training and supplies for our Creativity Lab Learn about how you can give . Donate Online Donate Cryptocurrency Levels of Giving $50,000+ Heritage Circle $35,000-$49,999 Benefactors’ Circle $25,000-$34,999 Partners’ Circle $15,000-$24,999 Eighth Pillar $10,000-$14,999 Founders’ Circle $5,400-$9,999 Sponsors’ Circle $1,000-$5,399 Challenge Circle $500-$999 Trellis Circle Up to $499 Blue and Gold Circle *Levels in bold indicate the Skylion Circle Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Mark Day School 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael CA 94903 415.472.8000 Calendar Request More Information (opens in new window/tab) How to Apply Site Map Employment Instagram (opens in new window/tab) Facebook Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy: Mark Day School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Powered by Finalsite School Curriculum Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) search-container trigger-search Open Search site-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search nav-main About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give menu-trigger-container Open Menu landing-nav Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling In This Section Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Breadcrumb Home / Curriculum Curriculum To thrive in the current century, students need to master a more complex set of skills than ever before. While the traditional skills and competencies of foundational literacies such as math and the humanities are critical, research and our experience tell us they are not enough. To that end, we integrate foundational literacies, cross-disciplinary literacies, and metacognitive skills into our school curriculum: Foundational Literacies Students build deep understanding in the foundational literacies and learn to combine them flexibly in order to analyze, problem solve, and create. Foundational literacies include English, science, math, world language, physical education, the arts, and social studies. Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Throughout our program, foundational skills and competencies in traditional disciplines are interwoven into school curriculum with four cross-disciplinary literacies: cross-cultural literacy, ecological literacy, social and emotional literacy, and media and information literacy. Learn more Metacognitive Skills What skills do our students need to succeed in today’s world? Our seven metacognitive skills are embedded across subjects and grade levels, and they guide each student’s educational journey: curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, community mindset, growth mindset, and self-understanding/self-direction. Though we are a K-8 community and there are many moments, including twice weekly assemblies, when we all come together, our school is also broken down into smaller communities: divisions. Lower Division (Kindergarten - 3rd grade) Foundational Years: The Lower Division, or early elementary school, years are a time during which students develop a growth mindset alongside foundational skills and attitudes about learning and community. Students are developing rapidly physically, emotionally, and academically, and they thrive here in a nurturing and safe environment. During their time in the Lower Division, students are asked to try many things with the goal of helping them to discover their passions and develop a deeper understanding of what makes each of us unique. Small class sizes and experienced support teachers foster meaningful relationships and differentiated instruction in the classroom. Our ultimate goal is to provide students with the school curriculum and skills they will need to succeed and the tenacity to try again when they make mistakes. The students remain with their homeroom teachers for core subjects, visiting specialists for world language and specialists classes throughout the week.  Middle Division (4th - 6th grade) Emergence of the Independent Learner: The essence of our program in the upper grades is to develop critical and creative thinkers in the core academic subjects who can also make links and connections across the four broad literacies woven throughout the curriculum. Upper elementary school 4th and 5th graders learn core subjects in a homeroom setting and middle school 6th graders are led by homeroom teachers who guide their metacognitive skill development as they learn with specialized teachers for each subject in a weekly block schedule. Students in 4th, 5th and 6th grades have daily PE, world language four days a week, and specialized weekly classes in art, drama, and music. Moving through these years, students develop greater independence, confidence, and curiosity, taking increasing ownership of their learning process while discovering new interests and passions.  Upper Division (7th - 8th grade) Leaders of the School: Our 7th and 8th graders follow a weekly block schedule with both short and long blocks of time for core subjects alongside daily world language and PE classes. Students choose arts and creativity electives, during which they select from a range of courses including  art, music, drama, video production, dance, coding, and more.. Our cross-disciplinary literacies are taught even more formally in the upper grades through weekly classes in media information literacy, cross-cultural literacy, social-emotional literacy, and ecological literacy. At the center of the upper division experience is our mentor program. Every student is a member of a small group of 7th and 8th grade students that meet twice a week to connect, discuss issues in their lives, and engage in leadership activities that benefit all the students in the upper grades.  Each mentor group is led by an upper division teacher, guiding students in their academic, personal, and community growth over two years. Students graduate very well prepared to take ownership of their learning and be active, involved community members in high school and beyond.  Click below to learn more about our school curriculum in each of our subjects and grade-levels. Filter By Grade Level All 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade Kindergarten Filter By Subject All English/Language Arts Mathematics Physical Education Science Social Studies The Arts World Language Search Clear Search K English/Language Arts Explore Read More about K English/Language Arts K Mathematics Explore Read More about K Mathematics K Science Explore Read More about K Science K Social Studies Explore Read More about K Social Studies K World Language Explore Read More about K World Language K Physical Education Explore Read More about K Physical Education K Arts Explore Read More about K Arts 1st Grade English/Language Arts Explore Read More about 1st Grade English/Language Arts 1st Grade Mathematics Explore Read More about 1st Grade Mathematics 1st Grade Science Explore Read More about 1st Grade Science 1st Grade Social Studies Explore Read More about 1st Grade Social Studies 1st Grade World Language Explore Read More about 1st Grade World Language 1st Grade Physical Education Explore Read More about 1st Grade Physical Education 1st Grade Arts Explore Read More about 1st Grade Arts 2nd Grade English/Language Arts Explore Read More about 2nd Grade English/Language Arts School Leadership Skip To Main Content menu-trigger-container Close Menu mobile-search Search search-form#clearSearch'> Clear Search mobile-main-nav About About Mark Day Mission, Philosophy & DEIJ School Leadership Board of Trustees Meet Our Teachers School Blog Partnerships Strategic Plan Family Association Alumni The Marker Magazine Admission Welcome Tours & Open Houses Entry Points Apply Tuition Bus Transportation Curriculum Curriculum Cross-Disciplinary Literacies Learning Commons Creativity Lab Learning Support & School Counseling Student Life Student Life Athletics Outdoor Learning Clubs & Affinity Groups After School Programs Summer Camp Giving Giving Annual Fund Ways to Give How to Give cta-nav Inquire (opens in new window/tab) Community Portal (opens in new window/tab) header-container logo-image right-container