Art Critique

AP Art students began the year with a charcoal still-life to help see, understand, and hone in on their skills of observation while putting into practice the aspects of drawing. Their goal is to crop in on the still-life to create a composition that directs the viewers eye around the drawing while leading them to a point of emphasis that the artist thinks is important. After every final is completed the students participate in a thorough critique. The critique allows for students to respond, interpret, and make critical judgments on their work as well as the work of their peers. This is an important part of the art making process, because it allows the students to see how their work is perceived by others as well as getting input from their peers on the issues that they may not have noticed other own.

#WeAreSaintJamesSchool #VisualArtsEd #BecauseOfArtsEd

At the Table

written by Anna Dickey, class of 2023

No day at Saint James School is ever really the same, but one variable still manages to remain constant: lunch. Each day at around 12:55 PM all the high school students flock to The Commons for a reprieve from classes and a chance to grab some food and talk with friends. This day-to-day assembly hundreds of hungry teenagers is where the beating heart of the high school can really be felt. There are dozens of tables positioned all around the Commons, and at each one there is a unique environment made up of all different types of people who participate in widely varying activities around the school. Personally, lunch is one of my favorite parts of each day for this exact reason. During lunch I get to see many friends who I don’t have any classes with, who I don’t see after school, and who I wouldn’t otherwise see if we didn’t meet for lunch each day. It can be hard to find time to meet with friends who participate in different activities and have different interests than I do, but lunch in the Commons always provides the perfect opportunity. The table I sit at everyday with five of my friends is a great example of this. We each take part in a wide range of varying hobbies and extracurriculars here at school. I myself participate in speech and debate, performing arts, choir, and youth in government. Like me, Lizzy Dickens participates in performing arts and choir, and Brooke Bender partakes in youth and government. But while some people at my table participate in the same activities as me, others do completely different ones. For example, Kaelyn Morgan is a sports superstar, playing on both the school’s soccer and basketball teams, while also representing the school in marching band. Then there are Selina Sun and Kelsey Shaffer, who, while both representing the school in math competitions and excelling in their academics, pursue the artistic ventures of music and visual arts, respectively. A day at our lunch table typically consists of hearing about Kaelyn’s grueling practice last week, cramming for tests with Kelsey’s help, Brooke hilariously rating the daily soup, Selina disagreeing with everything she says, and hearing Lizzy sing every type of song you can imagine under her breath. Some could describe our table as chaotic because of all the different things happening at once, but I like to think of it as a beautiful harmony. We may not all sing the same note or participate in all the same activities, but when we come together, we create a breathtaking melody. Due to COVID-19, last year that melody was stifled, but this year, with The Commons open to students again, the sound of people coming together can be heard all around campus. And during those precious forty-three minutes between 12:55 and 1:38 PM, there is no place I would rather be than at the table. 

Food for Thought

The High School Photography 2 class is studying the elements of art and how they relate to photography. Students practiced photographing food, candy, and objects with a light source adjusting the aperture, shutter speed, iso, and white balance to create the sense of form in an interesting composition. Mrs. Shoults brought donuts and fruit while two of our high school seniors brought a waffle iron and mix to add to the fun and photographing. It was a great day at STJ in high school photography.

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The STJ Commons: Lunch Reimagined

The sound of silverware clinking and excited chatter fills the over 14,000 square feet of the reopened STJ Commons. Due to the pandemic, we made the difficult decision to serve to-go only lunches during the entire 2020-21 academic year. We were thankful to have provided nutritious lunches to our students, but the dining experience was limited to eating in classrooms or outdoors. This year, with increased safety measures, we reopened the Commons for in-person dining. Students are able to socialize with friends and classmates while utilizing the dozens of options at lunch each day. Favorites like the salad bar, soup and sandwich station, and grab-and-go healthy snack station are now available to our students and employees. The dining choices have also expanded to include a daily international food station in addition to the existing brick oven selections (like hot sandwiches, pizza, calzones, and baked pastas) as well as the fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein offerings our STJ family knows and loves.

“We are teaching the kids to make good choices,” says Cristian Pintovidal, Director of Dining Services. “Students will have to make choices all of their lives. In college they will have even more choices to make, so empowering them with good decision making skills now will help them in the future.” Mr. Pintovidal is passionate about food, but what you will notice upon meeting him is his love for people. “Of course we make good food that tastes good and what people like to eat,” he says, “but the table is where we share about ourselves and make connections with others. That is what I see in this space every day.”

#WeAreSaintJamesSchool

We will continue to use the Commons as our dining facility, but the space also serves as the elementary school stage and performing arts area. It is also used as a gathering place for school assemblies, awards presentations, and faculty meetings. Later this fall, we are excited to collaborate with the STJ Community Garden to incorporate student-grown produce and herbs into our cuisine. The Commons is truly the heart of campus and we are thankful that it has helped bring our school family together.

“I enjoy creating new menus and food selections that make people excited to try new things. My goal for this year is to provide excellent customer service which creates great memories for all the students. ”

— Cristian Pintovidal, Director of Dining Services

Peer Leader/Freshman Retreat: New Beginnings in High School

By Emily Headley, STJ Senior and Peer Leader 

At the beginning of every school year, the new freshman class has the opportunity to have one final field trip with their whole grade; and along with the ninth graders, the high school Peer Leaders get to make the trip as well. The Peer Leaders are a group of seniors at Saint James who act as mentors to the freshmen for the first half of the year. The Peer Leaders meet with their assigned freshman advisories once a week to give them certain lessons on how to acclimate to high school in the fastest way possible. This field trip, known as the Freshman Retreat, takes place at Camp Butter and Egg in Troy, Alabama, and it gives the ninth graders and the Peer Leaders a chance to form a stronger bond with each other before the school year truly kicks off. I have the privilege of being a Peer Leader this year, and therefore I was able to go on this exciting trip with the ninth graders. While at the retreat, the Peer Leaders played team-building games with their freshman advisories, forming closer relationships with one another. Along with these games, we also took part in fun activities such as ziplining across the camp, traversing through high ropes courses, and doing many different water activities at the lake. We played gaga ball, human foosball, nine-square in the air (a very intense form of volleyball), and many other entertaining games. The Freshman Retreat allowed me to get to know the ninth graders that I would be mentoring before the school year truly got going, and because of it I am sure that we will have a great year together as I help them adjust to life in high school and in turn, I know they will help me grow as a leader, a mentor, and a person.

“ I am excited to see what this year holds and watch the freshman class learn, progress, and flourish as new high school students. ”

— Emily Headley, Peer Leader

#WeAreSaintJamesSchool

Opening Convocation: August 9, 2021

Kendall Hardawy, 2021-22 SGA President

Opening Convocation is a treasured tradition held to kick off a new school year. All levels: elementary, middle, and high school, come together to hear from Dr. McLemore and student leaders. This time is not only a celebratory gathering, but a time to focus on the year ahead. SGA president, Kendall Hardaway, challenged the STJ family to live in the moment as positive examples for those around us. “Don’t look back on yesterday,” she said, “and don’t wait for tomorrow with hesitancy.” The 2021-22 academic year will be one to remember. Read her entire speech below. #WeAreSaintJamesSchool

“While we are living in the present, we must celebrate life every day knowing that we are becoming history, with every work, every action, and every good deed.” To me ... this quote by Mattie Stepanek, who is a 13 year old motivational speaker, is about leading by taking action in the present. It prompts us to be a good example, implies doing good actions, and inspires others to do the same. In doing so, repeatedly, we begin to strengthen ourselves and leave a positive legacy. Let me introduce myself. Hello Everybody, My name is Kendall Hardaway and I serve as the SGA President. I want to quickly wrap up speaking on our school theme for this year which is “Let’s Put Good Into Action Today!”

So, how can we be a living example of good in action? There are always trend setters who help shape the direction and way things run in our world. The concept of influence is definitely powerful, so why not make it positive. As a Saint James Student, ask yourself “Where can I apply this in my life?” Saint James has taught me to get involved and put my voice out there. However, even if you don’t really want to step up and offer yourself as a big public example, you can still do the right thing and inspire the small handful of people you know. Look around you. You can help select what morals these people follow and how they, in turn, will go on to put good into their actions.

How can we show others how to put good into every action? We can start by giving more than what is expected of ourselves. As Trojans, we should go above and beyond in order to exceed expectations and strive for excellence. Wake up everyday with the goal to be the best version of yourself. Try your best to have a good attitude towards your teachers and friends. Smile More. A genuine smile is contagious. All these things boost your mood, take a moment of your time, and cost nothing. Another way to be influential, in a subtle manner, is to notice others doing good and give them praise for it. Don’t be afraid to learn from others. As humans, we tend to be quick to criticize somebody doing something out of the ordinary. Instead, Let’s reinforce the positive and cut the negative in our community.

The best thing we can possibly do is put good into action TODAY. Learn to become aware of what is happening around you in our community and what others are experiencing. This helps you to live more fully in the present. Let’s be progressive moving forward for a positive change starting right here in our school environment. In a world with no off switch, it is easy to get caught up in the vortex of a never ending to-do-list or be swallowed up by all the negative distractions on your phone and social media. By getting active and applying ourselves at school, we can create a current, fun, and refreshing atmosphere that shows the rest of the world how we truly put good into action everyday at Saint James.
It’s all the little things that count. Everyone has a role and you never know how much putting good into action can help and inspire others. Try it, you might be surprised by how effective it is, and how much better you feel about yourself. Do good, do it often, be an inspiration to others. The main point I’m trying to get across is to do all the good you can. Be that positive influence. Trojans are at the forefront. We lead the way and we are the first to take action. Don’t look back on yesterday with regret, and don’t wait for tomorrow with hesitancy. “Let’s Put Good Into Action Today!”

— Kendall Hardaway, SGA President

Faculty Inservice: Let's Put Good Into Action Today

Saint James School faculty, staff, and support personnel gathered together to learn, grow, reflect, and plan for the 2021-22 academic year at our two-day summer inservice meeting. Dr. Larry McLemore opened the meeting with a reflection of the historical 2020-21 year and the lessons we learned and triumphs we experienced, despite unthinkable challenges we and all schools in our country faced last year. The theme for the upcoming year is “Let’s Put Good Into Action.” Dr. McLemore challenged us to notice the good around us and to in turn, put that good into motion. The opening invocation was delivered by Rev. Courtney D. Meadows, 2011 STJ graduate. He prayed for guidance and wisdom for our faculty and administrators and encouraged us to all promote community and unity in the months ahead. The STJ Board of Trustees addressed our faculty and Col. Dex McCain, Ret.,Board Chairmen, shared school-wide initiatives and goals for 2021-22. Parent Association president, Ms. Mary Pool, Esq., provided updates and plans for Parent Association events and fundraisers for the coming year.

“Let’s Put Good Into Action”

— Dr. Larry McLemore, Head of School

New faculty were introduced and departmental and division-level updates were addressed. Mrs. Susan Atkins, Academic Dean, provided an overview of our school’s reaccreditation and action plans. We also heard from our maintenance and custodial staff and recognized the hard work of the teams who keeps our facilities and grounds running smoothly. It truly takes a campus to run a campus!

The Trojan Operational Plan (Top 2.0) and safety protocols were reviewed and additional health and wellness initiatives were discussed. During the summer months, the STJ leadership team painstakingly monitored and assessed our local and state-wide reports in relation to Covid-19. When making decisions about policies and safety standards, the health of our students was always, and will continue to be, our number one priority.

Finally, Dr. McLemore led our faculty and staff through thoughtful discussion of one of his favorite poems, “Sermons We See,” by Edgar Albert Guest. We reflected on ways that we can be “sermons” daily for our school family. The poem and its message beautifully illustrates the core values of Saint James: character, commitment, courage, and community. We are ready to welcome our students back to campus tomorrow for the first day of school! We are Trojans, 24/7!

#WeAreSaintJamesSchool

Parent Association President: Mary Pool, Invocation Speaker: Rev. Courtney D. Meadows c/0 2011, Head of School: Dr. Larry McLemore, Board Chairmen: Col. Dex McCain, Ret.

Three Days, and Counting!

We have been busy during these last few weeks of summer preparing for our favorite time of year- the first day of school! Our maintenance and custodial staff has been working tirelessly making our campus as beautiful, safe, and functional as possible. We’ve kept especially close attention to detail with deep cleaning and sanitation efforts in the classroom and common areas. The crews have also been sprucing up our landscaping and green spaces. Faculty members have been putting the finishing touches on their classrooms and laboratories. We are so excited to welcome our students back to campus this Friday, August 6th, for another fantastic year at Saint James School.

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Sliding Out of Summer

Splish splash, school is almost here! To celebrate a wonderful summer at CampSTJ, our campers and staff cooled down with waterslide fun. We love CampSTJ!

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This Year is Going to be Poppin'!

Pop on in!

Our PreK3 and PreK4 students enjoyed meeting each other and their new teachers last Sunday. We enjoyed colorful flavored popcorn with lots of yummy toppings. We are so excited for a wonderful year at STJ.

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