2-2-22

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Yesterday our STJ first graders participated in a special activity to celebrate a unique date on the calendar, 2-2-22. The date doesn’t normally fall in a sequence like this, so this date was especially fun as the next sequence like this, 3-3-33, will fall during these students’ senior year of high school.

Mrs. Edwards’s class took some time to write letters to their future selves. They wrote what was happening in their lives and in school and what they were looking forward to learning as they anticipate 3-3-33. Each student sealed his or her letter in an envelope to keep safe until they open them in eleven years.

Building the Foundation For Our Youngest Learners

By: Andrea Harris, M.Ed

Elementary School Principal

The most important developmental stage of life occurs during a young child’s early years.  From birth to age 5, a child’s brain develops and grows more than at any other time in their life. In fact, 90% of brain growth occurs before Kindergarten.  Because we understand that these early years in a child’s life are so critical, our early childhood educators take their roles very seriously. 

We focus our curriculum on being very developmentally appropriate, ensuring that activities in the classroom center on building children’s confidence, creativity, and love for school and learning.  

#WeAreSaintJamesSchool

We are fortunate to have educators in our preschool who understand the growth and development of young children.  These educators are veterans and experts in their field who pour their hearts into our littlest learners.  Daily, we see our youngest Trojans involved in a variety of activities, including learning centers, literacy and numeracy instruction, character development, fine and gross motor development, and free play.  We help children discover a world of ideas, encouraging their natural curiosity to further their natural growth.  

The preschool program at Saint James begins the foundation for building a future here that is robust, challenging, and full of opportunities.  Along with the warm, nurturing, and expert care they receive every day, we are cultivating lifelong learners.  

I always tell people that if you need to have your day brightened, just come down to preschool!  The giggles and laughter are contagious and can put a smile on anyone’s face.

“We help children discover a world of ideas, encouraging their natural curiosity to further their natural growth.  ”

— Andrea Harris, elementary principal

Students Helping Students: STJ Peer Tutors

by: Foster Rasmussen, Peer Tutor

The Saint James Peer Tutor program has developed into an amazing asset for students at Saint James. Even though the writing center is still new, peer tutors have been able to assist many students and help with various assignments. Mrs. Ramsey, our awesome librarian, saw a need amongst students for an efficient and trustworthy tutoring center. Since last year, the program has expanded to both Senior and Junior tutors, who can connect with all different types of students. This year’s peer tutors are Foster Rasmussen, Selina Sun, Anna Dickey, Taylor Schofield, Jordan Wesley, Kelsey Shaffer, and Kiya Jupiter. Mrs. Ramsey selected this amazing team to help with essays and other writing assignments. The Writing Center team meets roughly once a month to discuss major upcoming assignments in any English classes, and to also break down certain scenarios they have encountered in order to improve as tutors. The tutors are skilled writers and are proficient in their English classes. Peer tutors also participated in training over the summer, and under the guidance of Mrs. Ramsey, prepared for situations they might encounter with students. 

Peer Tutor, Foster Rasmussen, with sophomore student Logan Hartson

Most of the students seeking assistance are looking for help with English essays, and tutors typically help with works cited pages, thesis development, and essay structure. Since last year, arranging an appointment has become even easier and students can now go directly to their desired tutor. Students can make an appointment with a tutor by signing up on a Google Doc or by simply emailing the tutor they wish to meet with. Appointments last for around thirty minutes and are typically held in the library before school, though students can arrange for a zoom meeting on most days. Peer tutors enjoy helping students who are eager to improve their writing skills, and we all share a common goal of making lasting writing habits that will carry on throughout the rest of their schooling. We look forward to helping students with all of their writing needs, and go Trojans!

Go Gold for Nolan and Childhood Cancer Coin Drive

by: Haley Brightwell, STJ Senior Class President

This year the senior class was excited to hold the first ever Saint James Go Gold for Nolan and Childhood Cancer Coin Drive. This was done in addition to the annual go gold dress up day during homecoming week. This day is to honor and remember Class of 2015 alumni Nolan Fields who passed away from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2016. This event was organized by the senior class officers. It was a joint effort that allowed for the day to be a success. However, this could not have happened without the help of other seniors. Many showed up very early the morning of and stood outside in the rain collecting money. The senior class held this event entirely on their own, and it went off without a hitch. This was possible because of the generous help of the seniors who participated. The turn out was fantastic and everyone really showed up and donated. Everyone had a little something to give, and it showed. The final total ended up being $1,431.60! All of this was collected in just one morning, showing how the Saint James family truly stepped up and did their part. The seniors could not have imagined anything better. All of this money will be donated directly to St. Jude’s Hospital. St. Jude’s is a research hospital that focuses on Childhood cancer research and treatment. At St. Jude, none of the families receive a medical bill, and they help countless families year after year. Every penny will go to this deserving cause and all in Nolan’s honor. We hope that our donation will help keep a family from feeling the loss that the Saint James community has felt. We hope this coin drive will become an annual tradition as a way to honor Nolan for many years to come. 

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Let Dreams Come True in 2022!

Saint James fifth graders created a New Years Resolution vision board in technology enrichment class. Students rang in the new year thinking about goals for 2022. What are some new things you want to try this year?

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The Process Continues: Understanding the Past and How It Lives With Us Today

By: Dr. Larry McLemore, Head of School

STJ fourth graders performing at the annual Alabama history play

Understanding the past is one of those foundations that informs us about who we are as Americans and how to be responsible citizens who make a positive difference in our communities.  For many years, fourth graders at Saint James School have studied Alabama history.  Children spend that school year learning about the people and events that have impacted our state in recent decades and extending back many centuries ago. Our fourth graders participate in the annual Alabama history play, and they visit sites that help us acknowledge and remember different peoples and cultures and different times.  Many of the sites students see and the things they learn about in fourth grade have national and international significance, whether it be connected to the Civil War, the World Wars, or advancements in civil rights and human rights that began right here in our state and our local area.  For several years, I have enjoyed the opportunity to guest-teach a class with our fourth grade students and provide them with a lesson about the role of Alabamians in advancing civil rights and human rights in America.  The fourth grade year, like all years, is an opportunity to establish foundations for our students' learning and growth.  

STJ 8th graders at The White House in Washington D.C.

Building those foundations continues year after year, and one memorable part of the building process for our students is the eighth grade year in which our students take a comprehensive course in United States history taught by Mrs. Venna Everett and get to again experience history first-hand through a trip to Washington, D.C.  In our nation’s capital, students visit federal government sites, monuments, and places of historical significance.  One of those places that leaves a lasting impression on so many of our students is the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  Students walk through history and see the development of a government-sponsored persecution and murder of several million Jewish people.  It is difficult and deeply emotional to comprehend the reality of this historical event.  That process of confronting realities of the past and grappling with the questions of how this could have happened and what we can do about it today is an essential part of an education that builds up our students with the character, courage, and knowledge to serve others and to act as responsible citizens.

This year, our tenth graders have continued building their foundations as they are engaged in reading the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Just Mercy, a memoir by Bryan Stevenson. As they read these works, our students learn more deeply about people in the history of Alabama and the United States who have acted with racism and hate toward other people.  Again, our students are confronting the questions of how this could have happened and what we can do today.  Like their visits to local historical sites in fourth grade and their trip to Washington, D.C. in eighth grade, our students had the opportunity to experience history with a visit to the new Legacy Museum in downtown Montgomery. The Legacy Museum, established by Bryan Stevenson and EJI, tells the story of slavery in the United States and the lasting effects it has had in history.  Central to the legacy of slavery is racism.  As students read and learn more about the effects of racism, they are learning both about the past and about how the past lives with us today.  In confronting the past, we know our students are today becoming ready to act with character, courage, and knowledge in the future.  

Saint James School students at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice: the nation’s first memorial dedicated to the legacy of enslaved Black people, people terrorized by lynching, African Americans humiliated by racial segregation and Jim Crow, and people of color burdened with contemporary presumptions of guilt and police violence.

Recently, I joined our tenth grade students on their visit to the Legacy Museum, coordinated by STJ English teacher Mrs. Joanna McCurdy.  There, we walked through the history related to slavery in America.  I witnessed students reflecting, discussing, and writing in their journals.  Since then, I have heard students talking about what they learned and saw and how it informs what they are learning.  The process continues.  As it continues, our students are exploring more deeply their understanding of the past and they are becoming prepared as citizens who can act with responsibility and integrity. At Saint James School, it is my mission and the mission of our entire faculty, to empower our students to critically examine our core values of commitment, courage, community, and character.

“If you have not had the opportunity to visit the museum and memorial, I implore you to make it a priority. It is a beautiful and informative experience that will shake and move you in ways you didn’t even realize you needed.”

— Mrs. Joanna McCurdy, Saint James School English teacher and EJI trip coordinator (Dec 2021)

Young Trojan Tech Fair

Saint James School was proud to host the second annual Young Trojans Tech Fair on January 13, 2022. Students in grades 3-5 were invited to design, create, and present projects to judges who scored their entries using a rubric. These projects required use of multiple applications and types of technology. The categories allowed for students with various interests an opportunity to use technology to express their ideas creatively.

“I love this fair because it gives the children an opportunity to explore their individual interests and combine them with technology. Students practice problem solving to see something from concept to completion.”

— Tina Waggoner, elementary technology enrichment specialist

Fifth grader Olivia Willis presenting her digital animation project.

Fifth grader Will Roark presenting his video production project.

The students competed in the categories of Animation, Robotics, Productivity Design, Video Production, Digital Game Design, and Multimedia Applications.

The Young Trojans Tech Fair is a qualifier for the Regional ACTE Fair (Alabama Consortium for Technology in Education), to be held this April. Saint James will send students from all three school divisions to compete in the regional competition. The regional fair has additional scoring guidelines and requires a portfolio. The Young Trojans Tech Fair is a wonderful opportunity for elementary students to not only hone their skills in technology, but in oral presentation and delivery.

Technology is one of the seven enrichments students in grades PreK-3 through 5th grade experience each week. Mrs. Tina Waggoner, elementary technology enrichment specialist, teaches students practical technology usage and skills like typing, but more importantly she reinforces digital citizenship and internet safety. All of these lessons weave into our elementary curriculum and are incorporated into our school mission. We are so proud of these young learners who pushed themselves to participate in this competition. Well done, students!

The 2022 Young Trojans Tech Fair Winners and Runners-up pictured with elementary technology enrichment teacher, Mrs. Waggoner

Junior Ambassador for the Day

Evelyn and Mrs. Bartlett in the elementary science lab

Evelyn assisting at Welcome Wednesday

Prospective families had a special treat during their recent visit to Saint James School. Second grader Evelyn Dum assisted the admissions office by serving as “junior ambassador” for the day. She assisted the STJ Ambassadors, the junior and senior hosts and hostesses of the school, during our Welcome Wednesday admissions event. Evelyn was a big part in making our preschool and Kindergarten guests feel welcome. She also assisted with the group craft for the children and helped the Ambassadors during the event. Evelyn also spent some time in the office learning a bit about what goes on behind the scenes in admissions. Then, she helped Mrs. Kate Bartlett, Associate Director of Marketing and Engagement, design a social media post for the school’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Our junior ambassador then enjoyed lunch with the admissions staff and STJ Student Ambassadors. The STJ Student Ambassadors are high school junior and seniors leaders who represent Saint James School at various admissions and official school events. These students were selected after a highly competitive application and interview process- we can’t wait for Evelyn to apply when she becomes an upperclassman!

Evelyn in the Marketing and Engagement office

“Junior Ambassador for the Day” is a special experience available for auction during our annual school fundraiser, Sunrise to Sunset. Saint James families and friends of the school have the opportunity to bid on hundreds of items, including jewelry, antiques, tickets to sporting events, and special school-specific experiences like this. Sunrise to Sunset benefits our school Annual Fund, which helps meet current operating expenses, enhance programs and services, and campus maintenance. These unrestricted gifts make a difference in the school experience. Thank you to Evelyn and her family for supporting Saint James and participating in the fun that makes our school special. #WeAreSaintJamesSchool

Delicious DNA

In 7th grade, students are studying how DNA holds the instructions to make a new organism develop, survive and reproduce. A molecule of DNA is composed of two backbones composed of phosphate and sugar and four types of nitrogen bases. When isolated from a cell and stretched out, DNA looks like a twisted ladder. This shape is called a double helix. Students constructed their own sweet models of DNA by using marshmallows and Twizzlers. Who knew DNA could be so delicious?

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Moo! It's Cold Outside!

By: Kelsey Shaffer, junior

The weather is getting cold (well, sometimes) and the sun is down by 5:00, which can only mean one thing: the holiday season is finally here! And to kickstart the season, a group of high school students headed down to the local EastChase Chick-fil-A to spread some holiday cheer. Over Thanksgiving break, Mrs. Shoults and some of her students from the Saint James Art Department volunteered their Sunday afternoon to paint winter and holiday scenes on the windows of the Chick-fil-A. The paintings, located along part of the drive-thru, are a great way to bide the time while waiting to place your order. Students painted eight windows, with pictures ranging from ornaments and reindeer to snowglobes and the Grinch. And no Chick-fil-A artwork is complete without the famous cow (wearing a Santa hat, of course)! Despite the cold, it was a great way for students to spend the last day of the break doing something they enjoy and spreading joy in the community. So next time you find yourself at the EastChase Chick-fil-A, order a seasonal peppermint milkshake and enjoy the holiday window paintings created by Saint James’ very own!

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