White House - St Marks Cathedral School

Home » Academics » White House

The emphasis of our program is to nurture the whole child in eight different ways. These areas are cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, spiritual and physical. We also stress independence and the responsibilities of stewardship towards others and the earth.

We realize the tremendous growth, especially in social and cognitive processes, at this stage in life and strive to provide developmentally appropriate learning opportunities in fun and meaningful ways.

The Preschool at St. Mark’s is situated adjacent to the main school building in the aptly named “White House.” Our program offers classes for students ranging from two to five years of age. The “YK-3″ or Young K-3 class is a three or five day offering for those children who will turn three by late winter and who are toilet trained.

The “K-3″ classes offer three and five day options for students turning four during the school year or following summer.

Our “K-4″ program is a five-day class and serves students who will turn five during the school year or following summer. The three-day programs are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Class sizes range from ten to twelve students, and each room functions with a Lead Teacher and Teaching Assistant. For your convenience, we offer several different pick-up times throughout the day.

We use a variety of programs to create a curriculum that suits every type of learner. The systems we use emphasize a multi-modal approach to instruction, exploration and learning.

Zoo-phonics utilizes the “hierarchy of learning” which follows this progression: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The program uses fun animals and kinesthetic movements in reinforcing letter sounds.

At the YK-3 and K-3 levels, we focus on phonemic awareness, or the sounds associated with letters. In K-4, we continue to use Zoo-phonics in conjunction with the K-4 Language Arts program, Happily Every After. This program is designed to accompany the Superkids reading and language arts curriculum our students use in K5 through second grade.

Similarly, the preschool students experience Handwriting without Tears (HWT), the handwriting system used at St. Mark’s through the third grade. HWT was designed by an Occupational Therapist and incorporates contemporary research on developing fine motor skills and coordinates with the Happily Ever After/Superkids program.

Handwriting without Tears Math uses manipulatives and children’s literature to reinforce pre-math and early math concepts.

Chapel & Christian Education

Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! – Psalm 96:9

St. Mark’s White House students are taught Christian Education and attend Chapel Service each week. Our preschool students are introduced to the Bible stories through music, prayer, puppet play and drama. The values of caring, sharing and loving are taught at the White House in a Christ-like environment. Our goal is to help our children develop a Christian character and see themselves as unique and special creations of God. Chapel is held every Thursday morning in the White House and families are welcome and encouraged to attend. Service times are 8:40 for our K-4 students and 9:00 for the YK-3 and K-3 students.

Godly Play

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

This program invites preschoolers to discover God, themselves, and one another through our sacred stories. Based on Jerome Berryman’s work in the Montessori tradition, Godly Play uses a careful telling of scripture stories, engaging story figures, and activities to encourage children to seek and find answers to their faith questions. Godly Play respects the innate spirituality of children and encourages curiosity and imagination in experiencing the mystery and joy of God.

Masterpiece of the Month

The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature. Genesis 9:16

Through art, music, and movement, students will experience the work of great artists in a whole new way! In addition to learning basic art concepts, design elements and skills, students will try their hand at creating art in the style of the featured artists.

Music and Creative Movement

Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. Psalm 149:3

The curriculum for Music and Creative Movement exposes students to all types of music from religious hymns to seasonal songs and nursery rhymes. This high-energy class combines fine and gross motor coordination with the joy of aerobic play. Basic musical concepts are presented and the children enjoy experimenting with items such as musical instruments, scarves and the parachute…to name a few! The program works to promote positive social interaction and communication skills while building self-esteem.

Spanish

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4

St. Mark’s White House students will begin to have an awareness of the Spanish language through traditional Spanish songs, rhymes and games. They will learn colors, counting, animal names, names for parts of the body, and simple Spanish phrases. Our preschool students will be immersed in “dialogue-rich” learning activities that will compliment their Spanish instruction as they progress through St. Mark’s Cathedral School.

Mrs. Jessica Russo

Preschool Director

B.A. History; M.A. Teaching

“I’ve learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.” –Martha Washington (the original American military wife) Mrs. Russo, aka Miss Jessica, is our preschool director. She has eleven years of teaching experience and has spent the last seven years at St. Mark’s. Heller Keller is her hero. Mrs. Russo enjoys watching her children play sports. She is also an avid reader and likes going to the movies. Mrs. Russo has two children – both who graduated from St. Mark’s. Mrs. Russo’s passion is implementing developmentally appropriate programs for pre-school children and ensuring that every child’s first school experience is rich and exciting for the children and for their parents. Under Miss Jessica’s nurturing leadership, children in the White House have a wonderful time developing all the skills necessary for success in the elementary grades.

Mrs. Robin Carter

YK3 Teaching Assistant/White House ASM Director

B.A. Political Science; B.A. Sociology

“The more we love the better we are, and the greater our friendships are the dearer we are to God.” – Jeremy Taylor Our beloved Miss Robin has been a fixture at the White House for the past sixteen years. The children adore her, and she is an infinite source of patience and joy. Her hero is her father-in-law because he is a wonderful and caring man. When she’s not entertaining preschoolers, she enjoys reading and working in her flowerbeds. Mrs. Carter has five children who graduated from St. Mark’s.

Mrs. Kayla Cason

K4 Teaching Assistant

B.S. Nursing

“Let us always meet each with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Teresa Mrs. Cason has spent the past six years at St. Mark’s as a K4 teaching assistant. Her hero is her mother, who is very sweet and genuinely kind. When not working in the White House, Mrs. Cason enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family. Mrs. Cason has two children currently enrolled at St. Mark’s.

Mrs. Rebecca Cox

K4 Teaching Assistant

B.A.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Ghandi Mrs. Cox has seven years’ experience, and this is her third year working with our preschool children in the White House. Her heroes are all those who overcome adversity and thrive, and all those who step outside themselves to make a difference in the lives of others. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, hiking, enjoying her friends, and writing. Mrs. Cox has one child who graduated from St. Mark’s.

Dr. Dan Gibbs

Music

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference" Dr. Gibbs motto is "What you are to be, you are now becoming." Dr. Gibbs has taught music in churches or school for over 35 years. He enjoys movies, Met Opera Live, HD broadcasts, and reading in his free time. His hero is Ronald Reagan, for his legacy, integrity and love of country.

Mrs. Carroll Joffrion

B.S. Early Childhood Education

“Enjoy every day!” Mrs. Joffrion (aka Miss Carroll) has been leading her bunnies in the White House for the past twenty-one years. Her parents are her heroes. When not tending to her beloved K3 class, Mrs. Joffrion enjoys gardening.

Dr. Judy Kane

School Chaplain, Preschool Godly Play, 4th - 8th Grade Christian Education

B.S.; M.T.S.; D. Min.

“For with God all things are possible.” – Mark 10:27 Dr. Kane, affectionately known as “Chappy” by her students, has twenty-six years of teaching experience and has served St. Mark’s for the past five years. She is a leader in our newly-adopted PeaceBuilders program and functions as the school liaison to our sister school in Haiti. It is not surprising that Dr. Kane lists Mother Teresa as her hero. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, studying the Word, traveling, becoming tech savvy, and spending time with her family and friends.

Mrs. Jann Logan

B.A. Psychology with Alternative Teacher Certification in Early Childhood and Kindergarten

“Are you showing God’s love?” Mrs. Logan (aka Miss Jann) has fifteen years of experience and has been teaching K4 at the White House for the past eleven years. Her heroes are everyone who overcomes anything in the face of adversity. When she’s not in her doodlebug classroom, Mrs. Logan enjoyes being with her family and friends, offshore fishing with her family, anything on the water, traveling, reading, shopping, watching her kids’ sporting events, and Alabama football. Mrs. Logan has two children who graduated from St. Mark’s.

Mrs. Carrie Macias

B.S. Psychology, Masters Counseling, Teaching Certificate Grades 1-5, M.A. Teaching

"If you don’t start out the day with a smile, it’s not too late to start practicing for tomorrow." – Anonymous Having six years experience, Mrs. Macias has been at St. Mark’s for the past four years. Her father is her hero because of his strength, wisdom, faith, support, and love. In her spare time, Mrs. Macias enjoys doing things with her husband like going out to eat, cooking, working in the yard, watching movies, and completing home improvement projects. Most of all, she enjoys spending "mommy" time with her one year old!

Mrs. Michelle McMahen

B.S. Elementary/Special Education; M. Ed.

"Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss Mrs. McMahen (aka Miss Michelle) comes to St. Mark's with six years experience. This is her second year in the White House. Her grandmother, Mimi, is her hero because she always puts others first. In her spare time, Mrs. McMahon enjoys cooking, exercising, and attending her children's sporting events.

Mrs. Roslyn Mee

B.S. Education

“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Carol Buchner Mrs. Mee has spent twenty-two of her thirty-two years of teaching here at St. Mark’s. A beloved K5 teacher for eighteen years, she has spent the last four years teaching K4 in the White House. Because a mother’s love is like no other, Mrs. Mee counts her mother as her hero, stating that while she was growing up, her mother always made her feel like she could do anything. Mrs. Mee’s mother still has that same faith in her today, making her a very special person not only to her mother but to us all. When not in the White House, Mrs. Mee loves spending time with her family, especially her grandsons. She also enjoys cooking and traveling with her husband.

Mrs. Terri Sittig

White House & K5-3rd Grade Christian Eduction, White House Spanish

B.S. Elementary Education; Special Education certification; Greco Institute Christian Education

“Let us always meet each other with smiles, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Teresa Mrs. Sitting has seventeen years of teaching experience, with the past seven years being at St. Mark’s. Her hero is Mother Teresa, who lived a life of selfless giving to others – caring for the sick and homeless, and loving all people without any judgment. In her spare time, Mrs. Sittig enjoys reading, cooking, knitting, photography, spending time at her family’s lake house on Lake Bisteneau, and being with her three adult children.

Mrs. Kaye Swearingin

B.A. Education

“The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one has to do.” – Barrie Miss Kaye's K3 Duckling class has been a long-time fixture at the White House, as Mrs. Swearingin has spent the past thirty-four years teaching, and twenty-five of those years have been here at St. Mark’s. Mrs. Swearingin’s mother, who was a very special lady, is her hero. In her spare time, she enjoys needlework, gardening, reading, walking, and cooking. She also loves to spend time with her three grandchildren in Georgia and her granddog in New Orleans.

Mrs. Elizabeth Tamplin

Young K3

B.S. Early Childhood Education

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine Mrs. Tamplin has been nurturing and guiding our White House children since 1993. Her hero is her grandmother for her never-give-up attitude. In her spare time, Mrs. Tamplin enjoys running and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Polly Williams

K3 Teaching Assistant, Yearbook Sponsor

B.S. Interior Design

” A teacher's purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image.” Mrs. Williams has been with St. Mark’s for five years, serving as a teaching assistant in K3. She also has the huge responsibility of compiling and creating our yearbook, and she is amazing! She can always be seen around the school snapping pictures! Mrs. Williams’ hero is her father because of his personal and professional success. In her spare time, Mrs. Williams enjoys watching her children play sports, and she is a fixture at Lion basketball games. Mrs. Williams has two children who graduated from St. Mark's. Mrs. Williams enjoys that St. Mark's is a warm, loving school that our own children have attended since 1998. She is now thrilled to be able to work here and take care of the precious ones in the preschool, plus she has a creative outlet in editing the school yearbook.

Mrs. Kathy Williamson

K3 Teaching Assistant

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop Mrs. Williamson has seventeen years of experience with preschool children and is in her eleventh year at St. Mark’s. Her hero, her mother, turned eighty-five this year. Mrs. Williamson describes her mother as the most optimistic, outgoing, kind, and thoughtful person she knows. When not taking care of our precious three-year-olds, Mrs. Williamson enjoys being with her adult and college-age children, participating in jazzercise classes, and reading.

Mrs. Christine Zimmer

K3 Teaching Assistant

“Remember that very little is needed to make a happy life.” – Marcus Aurelius Mrs. Zimmer has worked with our K3 children for the past five years. Her heroes are all of the military men and women serving our country. When she’s not at the White House, she enjoys reading, watching kids’ sporting events, and spending time with her family. Mrs. Zimmer has one child currently enrolled at St. Mark’s.

Afterschool at St. Mark’s (ASM)

Mrs. Robin Carter is the Preschool ASM Director. The fun continues with ASM at the White House! After 11:30, students are offered both planned activities and free play options. Your child will experience cooking, science, math concepts, music and art. Each month will feature a different children’s author as well. At 1:30, the students rest for approximately one hour. Those students staying after 3:00 will create a cumulative cookbook as well!

Preschool ASM children have the option of bringing a lunch from home or ordering catered lunches through the St. Mark’s lunch program. Water and milk may also be ordered through the school. We offer daily dismissal times of 1:30, 3:00, 4:30 and 5:30. For information, contact Robin Carter at rcarter@stmarksschool.com.