SHEEPSHEAD BAY — As the deputy superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Joan McMaster visits many schools in her line of work. However, an Oct. 27 visit to Saint Mark Catholic Academy, she said, was extra special.  

McMaster was excited to attend the unveiling of a new street sign designating the corner of East 19th Street and Avenue Z (outside of the school) as “Saint Mark Catholic Academy Way” — something she is especially thrilled about as a Saint Mark graduate. 

“I would consider myself a legacy family,” said McMaster, who is part of Saint Mark Class of 1975. “My father came here with his sister. My six brothers and sisters came here. My children came here, and my nieces and nephews came here. 

“It holds a very dear place in our hearts.”  

The street renaming was held to celebrate the academy’s 101st anniversary. The academy marked its 100th anniversary last year with a gala dinner and an alumni reunion.  

Originally named Saint Mark School, the academy opened on Sept. 24, 1924, as a parish school for Saint Mark Church, located across the street. The faculty was comprised of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Columbus, Ohio. The first graduating class, consisting of 13 students, took place in 1928. 

During the first 40 years of its existence, Saint Mark School was tuition-free, with all its expenses covered by Saint Mark Church. In 2015, the school was transformed into Saint Mark Catholic Academy, a move that meant it was no longer a parish school but an independent entity run by a board of directors. Its current enrollment is 330 students. 

Students, teachers, and parents gathered on the corner to witness the unveiling of the sign.  

“I told the students that last year was about our history, all that has come before us,” Principal Mark Wilson said. “Now, as we’re starting the next century, I told them that people in 100 years will be talking about the great things that they’re doing right now.  

“Last year was about history. This year is about the future.”  

Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools for the diocese, sounded a similar theme in his remarks to the students. “Every one of you has been given a task by the Lord to change the world. There are children yet to be born whose lives will be touched by all of you,” he said. 

The sign isn’t there just for decorative purposes, it came as the result of an official city action. The City Council passed a bill in July sponsored by Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Sheepshead Bay) to rename the street corner, signifying the city’s official recognition of Saint Mark Catholic Academy. 

“The name … will stand as a daily reminder of the school’s legacy,” Vernikov said. “A century of learning, faith, and community spirit that continues to strengthen Sheepshead Bay.”