A Peek Inside Saint James School
I teach: High School Biology
I've Taught for: This is my first year
Hometown: Houston, TX
High school: Pearland High School
College/Degree: B.S. in Biology and a Minor in Chemistry
STJ Extracurricular: Boy Scouts Troop Leader
Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird
Favorite Movie: The Pursuit of Happyness
Favorite Food: Sushi
Married to: Dr. Basil Burney
Children: Zain (2nd grade) and Zara (K4)
Fun Fact: I am bilingual in Urdu/Hindi and English
Today in 8th Grade Advisory, students constructed a pie chart illustrating how they spend their time each day. With homework, sports, chores, after-school clubs, and spending time with friends, there is little free time leftover. As our eighth graders prepare for the workload of high school, it is helpful to analyze how efficiently time is spent doing the things we need to do (and the things we want to do for fun). How much of the evening is spent watching TV or looking at the phone? Are we getting as much sleep as we need to be rested and ready for the day? Activities like “pie of life” charting helps students work on time management and better organize their daily schedules. Advisory time allows students to study their calendars, write down assignments and meetings, and prepare for the coming week.
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
I teach : K3-5th grade counseling
I've Taught for: This is my first year teaching at Saint James, but previously traveled to schools across 7 counties to teach guidance lessons as a guest in their schools
Hometown: Military dad, so moved a lot as a child until 5th grade when we moved to Wetumpka, AL
High school: Edgewood Academy
College/Degree: Auburn University for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Auburn University in Montgomery for Master's of Education in School Counseling. WAR EAGLE :)
Favorite Book: Can't remember the last time I read anything that wasn't for my counseling program, but before school I used to love anything by Jodi Picoult
Favorite Movie: Titanic, The Notebook, Armageddon (clearly anything that makes me cry ha!)
Favorite Food: Anything Mexican
Married to: Mark Gibson for 6 years
Children: Grayden is in K4 here with Mrs. Capiouto and Mrs. Martin, and Willa who just turned 7 months
Church: Centerpoint Church in Prattville
Fun Fact: I've lived in 7 different states and countries to include Alaska, Japan, and Panama!
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
It’s a great day to be a Trojan. On select Fridays, our students, faculty, and staff sport their favorite STJ spirit wear. Some students choose their favorite team t-shirt, jersey, or polo. Our elementary students cheer on the Trojans in STJ cheerleader uniforms and spirit jerseys. We are in a sea of blue and gold!
Fall is in the air (even if the weather doesn’t feel that way)! Students, grades PreK-3 through 12, can’t wait for football season. Seven days to go… but who’s counting? Join us next Friday as Saint James faces Bayside Academy at 7pm on Carlisle field on the STJ campus. Go Trojans!
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
Splash into kindergarten! We had such a fun time at our annual K5 welcome party, Kindergarten Splash! A little rain can’t keep us down! Students reunited with old friends and made new ones as we enjoyed Nancy’s Ice, played in the jump house, and danced the afternoon away. The class of 2032 is ready for a fantastic year!
STJ Class of 2032
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
Did you know Saint James was originally founded as a preschool? Our roots, dating back to the 1950s, are in early childhood education. We are honored to be the River Region’s experts on the emotional, social, and academic needs of this precious age. Our PreK-3 students met on the preschool playground to greet their new friends and get acclimated with STJ before school begins. Our little Trojans can’t wait to be part of the Saint James School family!
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
In the days and weeks leading up to the first day of school, current families have been hosting welcome parties to greet our new students and their parents. Starting a new school can be nerve-racking, but at STJ we ease those fears and welcome our new Trojans with open arms! Each class had a party to welcome them to Saint James. Students played, enjoyed sweet treats, and met new friends. It’s a great day at STJ!
5th grade welcome party
STJ students and siblings playing at the 5th grade welcome party at Tipping Point
Pre-K4 welcome party
3rd grade welcome party
6th grade welcome party
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
We are only 10 days away from the start of the 2019-2020 school year. Our maintenance staff has been hard at work preparing campus for the first day of school. All summer, we’ve been painting, waxing floors, making repairs, cleaning carpets, and replacing lightbulbs so our buildings will be in tip top shape.
Of course, we can’t wait for the big reveal of the STJ Commons, our new dining facility. The crew is finishing the last-minute details this week. It’s a great day at STJ!
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
This week, STJ Student Ambassadors, along with the MBA Conversational English School and volunteers, welcomed international school-aged children and their families to Montgomery. Camp America, held annually at First Baptist Church of Montgomery, is a day-long event with fun, games, and the “how-tos” of what to expect when they begin school in Montgomery.
The Conversational English Ministry teaches English to international adults. The program provides hospitality, preschool childcare & transportation. Conversational English is a ministry made available to The Air War College at Maxwell AFB and any international students in the River Region who wish to practice and improve their English.
Our STJ Student Ambassadors assisted with English language exercises and visited with children experiencing America for the first time. We are so excited to have so many new families in our community.
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
Yo ho ho! Last week, campers enjoyed pirate week at Camp STJ! Our little sailors participated in pirate fun with crafts, games, and STEM activities. Luckily, none had to walk the plank!
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
