An “INK-redible” day in the Science Lab!

A fishy smell filled the science lab as Ms. Taylor, elementary science lab teacher, prepared squid for dissection.  Fourth graders were eager to “dive in” and learn more about the squid’s anatomy as well as document their study in an app called Book Creator.    

Students took pictures of each step and drew on paper with the squid’s ink.  Ben Hooks, STJ 4th grader, said, “It was really interesting to see what was inside the squid and feel how squishy it was.” The science lab gives students hands-on experiences that enhance their classroom learning.  

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Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Kate Bartlett

Position: Associate Dean of Admissions

At STJ for: 2.5 years. Worked in higher education for 6 years previously

Hometown: I am an Army brat (born in Kansas and lived in Louisiana, Florida, Germany, Kentucky, and three cities in Georgia), but I claim Newnan, GA as my hometown

High school: Northgate High School

College/Degree: B.A. in Public Relations from Auburn University, Master of Liberal Arts in English from AUM

STJ Extracurricular: STJ Ambassadors sponsor and contributor to this blog

Favorite Book: Anything by Pat Conroy (but I studied literature so basically everything)

Favorite Movie: The Devil Wears Prada

Favorite Food: Thai food!  We traveled to Ko Samui, Thailand for our honeymoon.

Married to: Jack for 7 years. We met my junior year at Auburn. He is a Montgomery boy, so we moved here after we married in 2011. He is a pharmaceutical rep and loves to paddle board and crossfit.

Children: One daughter, Frances. She is 2.5 and will be at STJ for Pre-K in 2019. We are also expecting our second daughter February 2019.

Church: First United Methodist Church of Montgomery

Fun Fact: I was a flight attendant right after college. I can pour a diet coke at 40,000 feet exactly to the top without fizz going over the side. Very specialized skills!

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Get the blood pumping!

Last week, fifth grade performed a lab where they witnessed the circulatory system in action. Students placed live goldfish in Petri dishes and looked at their tails under the microscope. They were able to see blood circulating through the fish’s tail in real time. After the lab, the goldfish were released to the pond in our outdoor laboratory space. All elementary students, Pre-K3 through 5th grade, visit the science lab weekly for hands-on application of what is being taught in the classroom. Disclaimer: no fish are harmed during this experiment.

5th graders use a microscope to view the circulatory system of a goldfish. Students are exposed to traditional laboratory tools and perform hands-on experiments weekly in the elementary science lab.

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Frittatas, and Salsa, and Treats, Oh My!

“I love cooking club! It is fun to expand my palette”

— Virginia Braswell, sophomore

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STJ Cooking Club, lead by English and journalism teacher, Dr. Catherine Winn, meets during high school advisory period bi-weekly. Dr. Winn focuses on using real, fresh ingredients. Students create tasty meals, appetizers, and desserts.

“I want to empower my students to feed themselves and others. Food is universal.”

— Dr. Catherine Winn, Cooking Club advisor

Quick Broccoli and Egg Frittata

• cooking spray

• 2 eggs

• 2 tbsp cottage cheese

• 2 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese 

• 1/3 cup finely diced broccoli

• 2 tbs cooked breakfast sausage

• a pinch each of salt, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg 

Lightly spray the inside of a coffee mug with cooking spray and crack the eggs into the mug. Scramble. Add the other ingredients and stir until combined. Microwave on high for 30 seconds then stir. Microwave for 30 seconds more and stir again or until eggs are fully set. Enjoy! ( 200-300 calories depending on variation, with 19- 21 grams of protein per mug)

“I joined cooking club because I thought it would be fun... and so when I go to college I won’t live off Ramen!”

— Alexander McHorne, junior

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Laura Hassell

Position: Admissions Counselor

At STJ for: Almost 3 years

Hometown: Montgomery, AL

High school: Saint James School, class of 1998! Go Trojans!

College/Degree: University of Alabama/Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, Minor in Art History

Extracurricular: House flipping, gardening, painting

Favorite Movie: The Wizard of Oz

Favorite Food: Mexican, Tiramisu

Married to: Lee Hassell

Children: Michael is in the 4th grade and loves baseball and basketball. Hunter is in the 1st grade and loves soccer and art.

Fun Fact: My husband, Lee, and I both graduated in the same class at STJ. We started dating junior year of college and have been together ever since!

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Girls in Stride!

The girls are on the run! GOTR is a physical activity-based development program that inspires 3rd-5th grade girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident. The program uses a fun and experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running with serving the community. The Saint James School GOTR team meets twice a week for 10 weeks. Our runners complete a Community Impact Project and run a Celebratory 5K at the end of the season.

“I can’t say enough positive things about GOTR. I just finished coaching my 5th season and I am looking forward to the 6th! I love building relationships with the girls; more than anything, I love being able to see them realize what they are capable of - and do it with grace. As a coach, it is my role to lead and guide them, but they make a tremendous impact on me. I am so thankful to be able to be part of GOTR! ”

— Ann Aman, GOTR sponsor and STJ Alumni and Development Director

“I absolutely loved Girls on the Run. Each week, we would get a lesson on how to deal with different issues. The coaches were so awesome and made everyone feel included. We got to meet other girls from different grades and meet new people. We ran each week and got better and better. I was proud to run the 5k- GOTR was one of my favorite things about Saint James.”

— Meg Stough, GOTR participant and new STJ 5th grader

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Faculty Spotlight: Mrs. Sabrina Hubbard

Teaches: First Grade

Taught for: I am in my 13th year

Hometown: Grove Hill, Alabama

High school: Grove Hill Academy

College/Degree: University of Montevallo/B.S. with a major in Early Childhood Education and Masters in Early Childhood Education

Favorite Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Favorite Movie: Breakfast Club and ALL Harry Potter movies

Favorite Food: Italian Food

Married to: Bryan  Hubbard, played on Troy’s last two national championship teams, met when he was in law school in Birmingham and I was teaching kindergarten, he proposed to me in front of my kindergarten students 💗

Children: Atchison Hubbard, Saint James alum,  sophomore at Birmingham Southern College.  Claudia Hubbard, Saint James alum, freshman at Auburn University in the honors program.

Church: Frazer United Methodist

Fun Fact: I danced at the Aloha Bowl when I was in college

Giving Joy and Hope as “BMT Angels”

For many years, Saint James students have helped make the Christmas party for the UAB Bone Marrow Transplant Unit patients and their families a huge success.

This year, the entire school will band together to provide Christmas presents to patients in the unit, whose families are often so physically and financially strained during their treatment that Christmas gifting becomes difficult.

It was an honor to have Kaitlyn Johnson and Sharon Jones, both RN’s with the unit, visit us and host assemblies for our elementary, middle, and high school students to discuss the program as well as how we can serve as “BMT Angels!"

Sophie Shoults and Jesse Johnson, both 5th graders, are excited to buy for a little girl.  Sophie said “I want to get her a stuffed animal that sings ABC’s and 123’s.” Jesse said “I would love to get her a barbie with many outfit changes!”

Our Learning Specialist, Joann Reifenberg, and her husband, Ed, have ensured for years that Saint James students are involved with this project.  Ed, who was treated in the UAB unit, is in his 20th year of remission!

This project, one of our many community service projects our students participate in each year, is such a special way for our students to have the opportunity to give back to someone in need and learn the wonderful lesson of compassion.

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Walk Like an Egyptian

Every year, STJ sixth graders celebrate the culmination of their Ancient Egypt unit by dressing up and participating in projects and activities. The students created a "Book of the Dead," sarcophagus, cartouche, and wrote their own Egyptian inspired poetry.

Each subject area studied various aspects of Egyptian culture and history. This multidisciplinary approach allowed each subject area teacher to focus on a specific theme and assign projects and classwork related to each subject.

Art, music, technology, and the four core subjects all worked together to provide a broader scope of learning for the students.

Each student created his or her own Egyptian ornamental collar, inspired by the ancient pharaohs and priests of the time. Students chose symbols, called hieroglyphics, to represent different objects, actions, sounds and ideas.

“For my collar, I chose the Almighty Seeing Eye, gems, and a pyramid for my collar.”

— Donald Evans, 6th grade student

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Faculty Spotlight: Mrs. Erin Edwards

Teaches: 2nd Grade

I’ve Taught for: 5 years at STJ

Hometown: Montgomery, AL

High school: Saint James. Go Trojans!

College/Degree: B.A. Hospitality Management from The University of Alabama. Masters in Childhood Education from AUM

Favorite Book: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

Favorite Movie: High Society

Favorite Food: Lobster

Married to: Charlie Edwards. We were long time friends and we graduated from Saint James together.

Children: Sam - Junior at The University of Alabama studying finance, graduated STJ. Mason - Sophomore at Sewanee, graduated STJ. Lucy-  current Junior at Saint James.

Church: Saint Peter’s Catholic Church

Fun Fact:  My dad was in the military, so we moved a lot! I went to 4 different elementary schools. At the time, it was hard, but now I am glad I did!

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