100 days of learning!

Today, we celebrate our 100th day of school! Our PreK3, PreK4, and Kindergarten classes have been participating in fun actives to commemorate the occasion. Students made self-portraits of their 100-year-old selves, counted to 100, decorated shirts with 100 objects, read stories about the number zero, and celebrated “Zero the Hero” on his big day. Our PreK4 classes dressed up as 100-year-olds! Our teachers even joined in on the fun.

We are thankful to be 100 days smarter!

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Faculty Spotlight: Mrs. Shelaine Taylor

I teach: Elementary science lab for grades PreK3 through 5th grade - I love seeing all the elementary students each week!

I've Taught for: 15 years total (5 years at Saint James)

Hometown: Columbus, MS

High school: New Hope High School in Columbus, MS - Go Trojans! (our colors were black and gold though).

College/Degree: Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, MS - BS in Elementary Education (K-8), University of Great Falls in Great Falls, MT - Master of Arts in Teaching, Auburn University - Educational Specialist in Administration of Elementary and Secondary Education, Auburn University - Currently a Ph.D. student pursuing a degree in Administration of Supervision and Curriculum

STJ Extracurricular: I lead the 5th grade Junior Master Gardener's after-school program and also serve on the Performing Arts Guild board.

Favorite Book: My current favorite is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

Favorite Movie: It's a Wonderful Life

Favorite Food: Mexican of any kind!

Married to: Todd Taylor for 23 years and counting

Children: Ella who is a tenth grader and Davis who is an eighth grader, both at Saint James.

Church: First Assembly of God

Fun Fact: I taught fifth grade at the International School of Islamabad in Pakistan when my husband was stationed at the US embassy there.

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Shark Tank: The Gilded Age

Juniors in Ms. Hughes’s U.S. History class are currently studying the Gilded Age. They recently participated in “Gilded Age Shark Tank” based on the ABC hit program. Students were assigned to groups and given a Gilded Age invention which included Coca-Cola, the lightbulb and the phonograph. Students researched their invention while they prepared their presentations for the “sharks.” They had three minutes to try and convince the sharks, Andrew Carnegie, John Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt, to invest in their product. The hardest part of the assignment was not using modern references. How do you describe a lightbulb? Students had to describe the actual bulb but then also describe how it was used and why it was better than candles or oil lamps. They realized how hard it was pitch a product and learned more about their individual inventions. Group projects like this allow students to use real-world application of what they learn in the classroom.

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“A noun is a person, place, or thing!”

The digital dice were rolling in Mrs. Greene’s class, as fifth grade students worked hard to get a noun Tic-Tac-Toe.  Plural nouns were the object of the game and for every roll, student’s got a chance to cross off a square on the board.  

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Incorporating play into learning is a wonderful way to promote creativity and imagination. Hands on works builds cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Tic-Tac-Toe...three in a row WINS!

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Cathy Pearson

Saint James School class of 1976.

Position: Dean of Admissions

I've Taught for: I have worked in the field of education for over 39 years. I was a math Teacher for 7 years, (3 at STJ), a Middle School Counselor for 20 years, a Middle School principal for 6 years, and currently serving at Dean of Admissions in my 6th year.

Hometown: Union Springs, AL but moved to Montgomery in High School

High school: STJ 1976-the third graduating class of the school! Go Trojans!

College/Degree: BS Degree in Education from the University of South Alabama in 1980 and a Masters of Science Degree in Counseling and Human Development from Troy State University in Montgomery in 1987

Favorite Book and Favorite Movie: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Favorite Food: Guacamole, Pizza and Hamburgers

Married to: Joel Pearson (STJ Alum '76). We were high school sweethearts.

Children: Nan (STJ '06-lives in Atlanta) and Hartley (STJ '08- lives in Colorado)

Church: First United Methodist Church

Fun Fact:  I'm currently planning my daughter's wedding which will be in Myrtle Beach this June. I also love Alabama Football. Roll Tide!

Junior Ambassador for a Day!

Two prospective families had a special treat during their recent visit to Saint James. Seventh grader Reilly Taylor and fourth grader Easton Selbee assisted the admissions office by serving as “junior ambassadors” for a day. Reilly and Easton spent some time in the office learning a bit about what goes on behind the scenes in admissions. Then, they helped Ms. Kate Bartlett, Associate Dean of Admissions, give a tour of campus. It was so fun for both families to hear the unique perspective of our current Trojans and for our students to share their experiences with our guests. After a wonderful tour, our junior ambassadors enjoyed a lunch with our staff and STJ Student Ambassadors. The STJ Student Ambassadors are high school juniors and seniors who serve as leaders at Saint James School. These students were selected after a competitive application and interview process- we can’t wait for both Reilly and Easton to apply when they become upperclassmen!

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Reilly Taylor, STJ 7th grader, with our Associate Dean of Admissions, Kate Bartlett

Easton Selbee, STJ 4th grader, with our Associate Dean of Admissions, Kate Bartlett

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We are so excited to host several admissions events coming up in the next few weeks. Come take a look at at Saint James School education!

January 26, 2019: STJ Pop-Up Shop-Grades 6-12 (3:00-5:00pm)

January 27, 2019: Pre K3/K4/Kindergarten Open House (1:30pm-3:30pm)

February 5, 2019: Grades 1-5 Lunch Tours (11am-1pm)

February 6, 2010: Grades 6-8 Lunch Tours (11am-1pm)

February 7th, 2019: Grades 9-12 Lunch Tours (11am-1pm)

Please visit our website, www.STJweb.org, or call (334) 273-3021 to register

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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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