L
ast year, St. Mark's was happy to welcome
two teaching fellows from the University
of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education
(ACE) program, Luke Janicki
and Maddie Basil. While they
spend two years teaching at St.
Mark's, Maddie and Luke are also
earning their master's degrees in
education from Notre Dame. Luke is the middle
school Spanish teacher at St. Mark's and
also teaches language arts. Maddie is
the fih-grade teacher.
e Alliance for Catholic Education
was founded at Notre Dame in 1993
to help strengthen and transform
Catholic schools. As part of this
mission, ACE recruits the best emerging
Catholic school teachers who are interested
in the three pillars of the program, teacher
formation, community, and spiritual growth, and
sends them to schools throughout the country.
Luke hails from Washington, where he attended
Gonzaga University. He is impressed by how St.
Mark's has such a diverse student body, yet still
feels like a family. "The students and families
all know each other. They consider each other's
point of view and know how to get along with
each other. The students are welcoming to
new students." When Luke isn't
working or studying, he likes
to run, read, and write. Hiking
and skiing are also a couple of
favorite activities.
Maddie is from the Twin Cities, Minnesota,
and went to Notre Dame as an
undergraduate, where she majored
in film and television. Last year, she
was gratified to see her class come
together as the year progressed. "e
students really help each other," she
said. e St. Mark's teachers and staff
are so supportive, said both Luke and
Maddie. "ey have been a great help to
us," said Maddie. In her free time, Maddie likes
photography, running, swimming, yoga, and
baking. Both she and Luke enjoy spending time
with their families on school breaks.
Maddie and Luke are wonderful additions to the
St. Mark's family and outstanding representatives
of Notre Dame's ACE program!
ST. MARK'S CATHOLIC GRADE SCHOOL
St. Mark's Church
1113 W. Bradley Ave.
Peoria, IL 61606
Address Service Requested
Once
Always
A MARKSMAN,
A MARKSMAN
Calendar of Events
December 11
Cookie Walk and Santa Breakfast
February 4
Taste of St. Mark's
April 1
St. Mark's School 18th Annual Auction:
Blue and Gold
April 28-29
School Musical, Guys and Dolls
June 10
Alumni/Anniversary Celebration
SMS Proud to Be Part of the University of Notre Dame's
Alliance for Catholic Education
WEBSITE
school.saint-mark.net
FACEBOOK
St. Mark School, Peoria, IL
St. Mark's School Alumni and Friends
Do you have photos or stories you would like to
share? Ideas for articles? Please let us know!
Contact Development Director Maria King
Carroll '75 at mcarroll@saint-mark.net.
CONNECT WITH ST. MARK'S
St. Mark's teachers and University of Notre Dame
graduate students Luke Janicki and Maddie Basil.
