The Great Marshmallow Challenge

Elementary 5th grade students put their their teamwork skills to the test in Mrs. Simon’s classroom while participating in The Great Marshmallow Challenge.

Given only 20 dry spaghetti noodles, one yard of tape, and one yard of string, the students were challenged to build the tallest tower.  Their creations would be tested to stand up, unattended, when a single marshmallow was placed on top. The timer started and groups worked quickly to devise a plan and put it into action.  

Groups that used triangles and unique wide bases were successful, some with heights as tall as 21 inches!  Even though a few towers fell, groups didn’t give up hope. By working together and regrouping, many pulled through and their spaghetti towers stood.

“I enjoyed this challenge because it gave us a chance to interact with each other and experience what it’s like to engineer and design a structure.”- Benjamin Green, 5th grade

This Ted Talk video was shown, which explains the challenge and dives deeper into teamwork. Mrs. Simon explained, “in Middle School there are even more team projects, so this gives elementary students some experience, all while enforcing strategy and teamwork.”

These students surely could be our future architects and engineers!  Ms. Simon engages all elementary students, Pre-K3 through fifth grade, in character building lessons and core value teachings of Saint James.

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Perfectly Prepared with “The Pillowcase Project”

Emergencies and natural disasters can hit any time, and in some cases without warning. Having a disaster preparedness home kit is essential for any family. As we commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, upper elementary students welcomed HandsOn River Region to experience an interactive assembly about disaster preparedness.  Experts spoke to the students about safety skills and how to be better prepared in the event of an emergency. Students decorated and assembled disaster kits out of pillowcases brought from home.

 The Pillowcase Project is a preparedness education program that teaches children about personal and family emergency preparedness. Students become better equipped to handle hazardous situations and ready to build their own personal emergency supplies kit.  This initiative grew from stories of Loyola University students who packed their emergency belongings into a pillowcase during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 

Firefighters from the Bell Road fire station also attended the assembly and received a giant round of applause when introduced.  It was a wonderful chance to give thanks to our area’s first responders all while keeping up the initiative to build communities of character at STJ!

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See learning firsthand with Seesaw

Have you ever thought “I would love to be a fly on the wall” when thinking about your child and their classroom?  It would be amazing to see what they are doing each day! It is now possible, with the Seesaw app!

Since STJ introduced Seesaw four years ago, elementary students have been given an avenue to document their learning creatively through technology.  Students share their amazing photos, videos, drawings and notes with parents via the app. Some of the best parts of the day are getting notifications from Seesaw!

“Seesaw is an amazing tool allowing students to share all types of learning experiences with teachers and parents.  It provides an authentic purpose for learning, creativity, expression, and reflection.”  - Tina Waggoner, elementary technology teacher

Seesaw is just another tool Saint James School uses to educate the whole child and share with families the amazing work our students do in the classroom each day!

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Good Manners and a Smile are Always in Style

The lovely ladies and dapper gentlemen of Kindergarten put their manners unit to the test this week at the annual K5 tea party. Dressed in their formal party attire, the students processed into their classrooms two by two. As the ladies were escorted to their seats, our young men tucked their chairs in and joined their companions at a beautifully decorated table fully equipped with imaginary place settings. The honorable guests enjoyed fancy bites and practiced their table etiquette by passing items, sharing, and using their nicest manners. Hudson Selbee, a student in Ms. Ali King’s class, explains to “always say please and thank you.”

Our three Kindergarten classes learned all about using polite manners and will continue to practice their skills throughout the year. As Saint James builds communities of character focusing on the education of the whole child, we start these practices early. A strong foundation of integrity, courtesy, and generosity begin with our littlest learners.

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Blinded by the light!

What do you get when science meets arts? Beautiful sun prints! On a bright Alabama summer day, freshman physical science students witnessed endothermic reactions first-hand. With light-sensitive paper and everyday items from the classroom, Mr. David Beach’s class created their own art prints with nothing more than UV rays from the sun and a tray of water. The experiment was a two-for-one, as physical and chemical reactions both occurred.

”Doing the experiment is more fun than just reading about the lesson. You learn a lot more.” Patrick Hobbs, freshman

Experiments like this bridge the gap between science and art. As a school that specializes in DBAE, discipline based arts education, Saint James provides hands-on experiments to each level, grades PreK3 through twelve.

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Saluting our Nation

This morning, grades Kindergarten through twelve gathered on the Quad to celebrate our freedoms and commemorate our National Anthem. Throughout the week, students learned facts about the history of “The Star Spangled Banner,” written 204 years ago by Francis Scott Key. Together, we observed the Colors presented by Civil Air Patrol junior cadets and recited the Pledge of Allegiance as a campus. Finally, our elementary choir, high school band, and elementary music director, Mr. Will Reese, led the singing of the National Anthem. We are thankful for our country’s rich history and the opportunities we have been provided to learn, play, and work together.

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A Look into Our Future!

What do you want to be when you grow up? For over twenty-five years, our 8th graders have been exploring a variety of occupations by shadowing professionals during our uniquely designed 8th Grade Career Week. The support from our parents and the community has been a huge factor in the success of this program.   In fact, Saint James Middle School was recognized by the National Middle School Association for implementing effective middle level concepts such as our 8th Grade Career Week!

Saint James School continues to lead the way for quality middle level education today. On Friday, August 24th, our 8th graders kicked off the year with the first of many Career Week assemblies.  During this first assembly, 8th graders discussed the shadowing requirements for our 2018-2019 Career Week. During this week, our 8th graders will shadow FIVE Professionals while receiving three days away from school to complete this task—Oh, the places they will go!

Our middle school counselor, Mrs. Cherie Meadows, said  “Our students are encouraged to consider a wide range of careers in order to expose them to multiple options for their future. I can't wait to see what all they've been able to find for their shadowing experiences this year!”

As Atticus Finch once said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.”  With our Career Week program and the support of many, our 8th grade students will be doing just that—walking around in the shoes of various professionals while considering their future!

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Finding the perfect “match”

It was a gorgeous day on The Quad as excited Kindergarteners lined up to meet a person that will become a special part of their life for years to come, their Senior Buddy.  Each Kindergartener received a shoe and walked around a circle of Seniors to find their “shoe match” adorning their buddy’s foot.

Trinity Hunter, STJ senior, said “other than just being a fun time, the K5/Senior buddy program truly does give a unique perspective. Not only do we get to see our years of growth through the eyes of our K5 buddies, but also see firsthand the beginning of their journeys through Saint James. It's pretty cool to be standing at point B while looking at point A!”

The Kindergarten/Senior Buddy tradition started almost 20 years ago, in 1999.  The special bond between these students grows strong throughout the year, as they participate in a field trip to the zoo, pumpkin painting, a scavenger hunt around campus and kite day.  Senior Walk, a special event when the buddies walk hand in hand and are recognized on The Quad, is a sweet way to cap off their year together. This special tradition lives on at STJ!

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Saint James Eighth Graders Soaring High

Have you ever dreamed of flying?  On Friday, September 7th, our eighth graders attended Dannelly Field’s STEM Day where they learned all about the 187th Fighter Wing and the Red Tails.  STJ’s eighth grade math teacher, Sarah Moncrief, said “the event featured an air show with the 187th Fighter Wing, a demonstration on weapon loading, opportunities to view and walk through different aircrafts, a military working dog demonstration, a fighter pilot meet and greet, and other exciting stem opportunities. It was a fun filled day full of experiential learning!”

Several military officials also remarked on the excitement of the day. Maj. Shawn Daley, STEM Day Director, said “I would hope that every Airman’s passion and every person’s passion that is wearing the uniform would be passionate to extend the opportunities that we have here at the Alabama Air National Guard. I think making a difference today with these kids is the reason why we’re out here.” Colonel Ed Casey, the 187th Fighter Wing Vice Commander, said “We have a fifth generation airplane and we need fifth generation airmen. So we need those folks that are going to have that STEM background and are going to be able to work with the technology.”

Not only do our middle school students have the very best teachers, they also are provided with the very best learning experiences—both inside and outside the classroom.  Jake Streeton, one of our eighth graders, said that "My favorite part was learning about the missiles and bombs. It was a really fun day!" Parker Gallion, another eighth grader,  really enjoyed this field trip and commented, "I enjoyed watching the K-9 demonstration. It was neat to see how they trained the dogs and how well they reacted to their trainers."

Through all of their experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, we are confident that our students will soar into the future!

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It’s a great day at STJ!

The first week of school is always buzzing with excitement. Uniforms are crisp and new, pencils are sharpened and color sorted in spanking new pouches, and back-to-school haircuts reveal smiling faces.  However, jumping back into the school routine can be a little intimidating, especially for new students starting their first year at Saint James School. Even our returning students who know the buildings inside and out have a little butterfly in their stomachs as mom’s car door opens that first day of carpool.  

This year, STJ is focusing on our theme of “building communities of character.” What better way to kick off a new year than with a smiling face and warm greeting as students walk into the school?  STJ’s Great Day Greeters are groups of upper level students, representing different teams and organizations, who serve as the welcome committee for the elementary school. A high-five, hug, or friendly “hey!” is all it takes to make those butterflies disappear.  Look for our Great Day Greeters every Friday. They’ll be the ones holding doors and building our community, one high-five at a time. It’s a great day at STJ!

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