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The Future Takes Shape The community celebrates the placement of the final beam on the new Winn Science Center
Helping Hands Students respond to natural disasters
Winter 2018 Volume 23, Issue 1 St. Mark’s School of Texas Alumni Magazine
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St. Mark’s School of Texas
Keeping Marksmen Safe and Healthy St. Mark’s commitment to transforming boys into men of character extends well beyond the academic setting. As boys spend some of their most formative years on campus, the School takes a central role in helping them grow into responsible young adults. Learning proper grammar, an appreciation of art, and how to “solve for x” are all components of a St. Mark’s education. The School’s mission addresses the holistic needs of a young man’s growth in body, as well as in mind and spirit. In its latest strategic plan, Goals for St. Mark’s IV, the School outlines this commitment to supporting the safety and health of its students. Now and in the coming years, St. Mark’s will strive to “regularly assess and update campus security,” “foster an environment that promotes the healthy development of boys,” and “provide daily lunches that are healthy, nutritious, and widely appealing.” As with many of the themes outlined in Goals IV, efforts are underway to address these priorities and make St. Mark’s the best school it can be.
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“The quality of food served to students has been a daily delight. Every meal seems to be created with care.” —The ReMarker September 2017 Issue
A New Lunch (left to right) Food Services team members Edelmira Webb and Dora Turcios prepare fresh salad bar items Parent volunteers serve chicken fajitas Marksmen give their reviews of the new lunch
Throughout the School’s history, nutrition
floors installed in the Great Hall, lunchtime has
has been a critical component of the student
received a complete makeover.
experience. The Food Services staff has included past and present campus legends who have
Meals are prepared in reasonable quantities
dedicated more than 40 years to St. Mark’s,
using fresh ingredients and locally sourced foods
including Maxine Cantley, Lucy Sheppard,
to ensure consistency throughout multiple lunch
Thelma Levells, Steve “Hollywood” Walker, and
periods, drastically reducing waste. The daily
Howard Stewart. Every school day, the Food
menu also accommodates a range of special
Services staff works tirelessly with dedicated
dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan,
parent volunteers to shepherd more than a
gluten-free, dairy-free, and peanut-free.
thousand boys and teachers through the lunch
Lunch meat is prepared in-house and sliced
line, providing both nutrition and examples of
fresh, ready for assembly at the new sandwich bar.
servant leadership and care.
Diners now can choose between several flavors of infused water. Additionally, the Food Services
In the summer of 2017, the School took a fresh
department has begun offering an expanded
look at the St. Mark’s dining experience. Through
catering menu, providing meals for meetings and
thoughtful planning, the School partnered
receptions, as well as snacks for students
with SAGE Dining Services. With a complete
and teachers.
renovation of the servery and new hardwood
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As part of the transition, several SAGE team
Many of the familiar entrees now feature a
members joined the St. Mark’s family. For months
healthier adjustment, such as whole wheat pasta
leading up to the new cafeteria launch, they
and an expanded salad bar, while classics like
spent countless hours learning about the School
soft-serve ice cream remain.
community and integrating with the existing Food Services staff.
The program continues to evolve. The Food Services staff has listened to feedback and
“Our team is focusing on a culture of fresh,
is constantly refining its system to give the
flavorful food to offer to the boys,” said Marshall
community the best possible lunch experience.
Garrett, Director of Food Services at St. Mark’s.
This commitment was recently noted by
“We’ve paid close attention to the community feedback in this first year. Already, we adjusted
The ReMarker student newspaper, which printed: “We appreciate the willingness of the Food
the layout of the servery, added afternoon snacks,
Services team to listen to our concerns about the
and improved the catering offerings during the
length of the lunch lines and quantity of food
day and at the athletic concession stands. As we
given to students.” The boys have noticed the
continue to learn more, we hope to elevate food
quality of the food as well. “Although cooked for
service operations across the board.”
more than 1,000 people daily, every meal seems to be created with care.”
In particular, the boys were excited about the addition of panini grills, infused water, delicious soups, and a variety of new spices and fixings.
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St. Mark’s School of Texas
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Campus Security With more than a thousand faculty, staff, parents,
“We want a community where kids can walk from
and students on campus every day, St. Mark’s is a
class to class without parents having to worry
vibrant and bustling place. The parking lot begins
about their safety,” Dale said in an interview
to fill up just after dawn and rarely empties before
with The ReMarker. “Our main goal as a team
sunset. Athletics, fine arts, and other activities
is to observe, to be diligent, and to make sure
keep the campus alive on weekends and even over
everything is running smoothly around here.”
holiday breaks. With so much activity, security and the well-being of the community is always a
Over the past few years, St. Mark’s has made
top priority.
changes to increase daily security. Several entry points around campus are now locked during the
Security at St. Mark’s is a careful balance between
school day, funneling traffic through designated
safety and freedom. A dedicated team of seven
entrances. Parents, faculty, and staff are required
full-time security personnel work in shifts to keep
to wear ID badges while on campus. Other visitors
the campus covered 24/7, backed up by off-duty
must check in and have their driver’s license run
Dallas Police officers. Leading this team is Dale
through an identification system that cross-
Hackbarth, a 28-year veteran of the Dallas Police
references local and statewide criminal databases.
Department and Dallas SWAT. For nearly three
As Dale says, “If visitors have any negative history,
decades, he has been a welcoming presence
we’re alerted and escort them off campus.”
(opposite) St. Mark’s Security Guard Kent Witt pitches a game of kickball (above left) A campus visitor’s license is scanned into the Raptor system (above right) Dale Hackbarth briefs his team on assignments for a busy Friday night of athletic games
on campus, greeting visitors, managing traffic flow, and coordinating extra DPD officers during school events. In 2013, he retired from DPD to become St. Mark’s Head of Security.
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While St. Mark’s strives to keep the campus safe,
“EMS can take up to ten minutes before arrival. It’s
Dale is also working proactively to empower
pretty much a fact that civilians are always the
others to take charge in a crisis. In the fall of 2017,
first ones on a scene,” Dale said. “In emergency
Dale organized a first-responder training around
situations, severe bleeding is a common cause
the Department of Homeland Security’s Stop the
of death. A little training on how to apply direct
Bleed initiative. Several dozen health and security
pressure, pack a wound, or apply a tourniquet to
professionals from across DFW, including several
stop the bleeding might save a life.”
St. Mark’s faculty and staff members, gathered on campus for the training led by renowned trauma
St. Mark’s security personnel are a constant
surgeon Dr. Alex Eastman. Attendees learned
presence on campus. But the individuals keeping
proper techniques in applying direct pressure
the School safe are much more than silent
and using a tourniquet. In case of an emergency,
protectors operating behind the scenes. They are
these skills may mean the difference in helping
important members of the everyday community.
save lives. Since then, Dale has led trainings
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for parents and teachers, ensuring people are
Dale encourages his team to get involved, which
informed and prepared for any number
furthers their primary mission: protecting
of situations.
the boys. While patrolling Lower School,
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“I believe St. Mark’s should set the standard in school security, and we can’t be complacent.” —Dale Hackbarth
security guard Kent Witt helps pitch games
emergency communications protocols are being
of kickball. Martin Hoffer volunteers his time
fine-tuned. The visitor management system is an
and mountaineering skills on Middle School
effective tool, and the School is looking to expand
campouts. And DPD Officer Beverly Ma, who is
its use to accomodate evening and weekend
fluent in Chinese, regularly talks to students in
events. And, the security team has begun hosting
foreign-language classes.
more trainings for parents and students, from Stop the Bleed to crisis and lockdown drills.
Goals for St. Mark’s IV challenges the School to never stop moving its mission forward. Programs
“I believe, as do many experts, that it still comes
and procedures are reviewed, examined, and
down to the people—the teachers, security
improved where needed. As Dale says, “I believe
officers, parents, and students—who can
St. Mark’s should set the standard in school
identify potential problems and help resolve
security, and we can’t be complacent.”
issues before there is danger to anyone on
(left to right) Dr. Alex Eastman leads a Stop the Bleed training At a parent training, Dale Hackbarth and Martin Hoffer demonstrate how to apply pressure to a leg wound Dallas Police Officer Beverly Ma speaks with students in class Martin Hoffer (far right) helps lead a group on the sixth-grade campout
campus,” Dale says. “Safety is the responsibility New technologies and trainings are already
of everyone on campus.”
being reviewed and considered. More video surveillance tools are being added, and the
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St. Mark’s School of Texas
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Concussion Prevention Just as St. Mark’s aims to balance freedom and security, the School also seeks to provide a fun and rewarding athletic program while keeping athletes safe and healthy. As in all things, Marksmen athletes give their all on the playing fields, tracks, courts, and in the pool. Additionally, coaches train them to play smart and to protect themselves, their teammates, and their opponents. In recent years, concussions and injuries have become a serious topic in youth sports. As with all issues related to health, St. Mark’s addresses these concerns with careful thought, expert input, and collaboration across all divisions. In the course of a day, a single Marksman athlete may interact with a dozen different teachers, coaches, trainers, and staff members. It is crucial that everyone be on the same page when it comes to health
of injury during their practices and games,” said
and wellness.
Mark Sullivan, St. Mark’s Athletic Director.
Concussion and injury prevention begins long
While the tactics of contact sports like football
before students take the field. During summer
and lacrosse have changed over the years with
workouts, Marksmen both strengthen and
safety in mind, injuries will always be a risk of
condition their bodies with the help of Coach
playing sports. At games, the coaches, trainers,
Kevin Dilworth. The rates of concussions and
and referees are constantly on the lookout for
injuries have dropped across all sports.
potential injuries.
(opposite) Head Athletic Trainer Matt Hjertstedt administers a King-Devick Concussion Screening Test, evaluating eye movement and attention (above) Coach Kevin Dilworth on the sidelines of a varsity football game
Leading into the fall season, St. Mark’s football practices are “restricted contact,” with full contact allowed only during the one preseason scrimmage. Additionally, the coaching staff teaches proper blocking and tackling methods
“Every hit is different, and it doesn’t have to be a big hit for someone to be concussed,” said Bart Epperson, Head Varsity Football Coach. “Throughout the course of a practice or game, I’m
that limit injury and lower the risk of concussions.
always evaluating every hit because the player’s
Practice sessions are filmed so the coaches
safety is our number-one concern.”
can review and, if necessary, correct each player’s technique.
When a player takes a hit or shows behavioral symptoms, specially trained personnel, like
“The coaches spend a great deal of time teaching
Head Athletic Trainer Matt Hjertstedt, spring into
proper technique within their individual sport
action. If an athlete is evaluated to have a possible
in an effort not only to train more effective and
concussion, they are treated and put through
efficient athletes, but also to minimize the risk
rigorous testing before being certified for play.
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(below left to right) An eighth-grader leads his teammates in stretching exercises before soccer practice Coach Hjertstedt helps a concussed athlete recover using a dual-task balance exercise Coach Dilworth leads an athlete through strength and conditioning training Coach Leneau warms up his Middle School wrestling class
The importance of this protocol extends far
with a concussion must take a period of cognitive
beyond athletics. As Coach Hjertstedt often
rest. This means giving the brain a complete
shares, most concussions happen off the field,
break: schoolwork, video games, television, even
when boys are running around or playing with
reading are not allowed.
friends. At the beginning of each school year, all students in grades 7–12, not just athletes,
The Office of Counseling and Academic Support
are given a baseline ImPACT test (Immediate
steps in to help students manage any missed
Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive
schoolwork. Mrs. Pechersky works closely with
Test), which evaluates basic brain function and
Coach Hjertstedt and Nurse Julie to keep track
responsiveness. Having a student retake the test
of each boy who’s been concussed or injured
after a hit or accident and comparing the results
and facilitates meetings between the boys and
with his baseline can help determine if he has
their teachers to organize and prioritize their
indeed received a concussion.
makeup work.
Once a concussion is identified, Coach Hjertstedt
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“This ability to have the proper cognitive rest
works closely with School nurse Julie Doerge
has a direct impact on student growth and
and Coordinator of Academic Support Julie
performance. Healthy students are productive
Pechersky to ensure that the student is able to
and thriving students,” said Patrick Andrén, Head
rest and recover without falling behind in school.
of Upper School. “We address each case with as
According to protocol, any student diagnosed
much flexibility as possible. Our responses may
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range from simply cataloging assignments and
a special tourniquet to optimize workouts for
creating timetables for completion after healing
athletes recovering from an injury. In the spring,
to modifying the academic program of a student.”
Coach Hjertstedt will work with physicians and
St. Mark’s concussion and injury prevention
screenings that can help predict injuries and
protocol is effective, and the numbers prove that.
evaluate recovery from older injuries. This
Since the Athletic Department began focusing
information can be used to craft personalized
on strength training and technique changes,
workout programs, so that when athletes return to
athletic concussions have been cut in half.
the weight room, Coach Dilworth can work with
In the 2016–2017 school year, only one-third of
each one individually based on his needs.
physical therapists to host functional orthopedic
all student concussions were related to athletics. “The safety and well-being of our athletes is at the The results have been impressive, but the athletic department is constantly looking for ways to
forefront of everything we do,” said Mark Sullivan. “We do our best to provide as safe an environment
make Marksmen stronger and safer.
as possible in each of our sports, and we have
Coach Hjerstedt has begun speaking with
a faculty dedicated to staying on top of all the
Middle School athletes about concussions and
latest training and technology to ensure this goal
teaching them preventive exercises. This year,
is met.”
he also introduced personalized blood flow restriction rehabilitation training, which uses
While the process of drafting Goals for St. Mark’s IV concluded in 2017, the effects of its implementation are ongoing. Across campus, in all divisions and departments, efforts are being made to strengthen and enhance every aspect of the Marksman experience. Learn more about Goals IV and the School’s efforts at goals.smtexas.org.
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