Practicing Handwriting
STJ first graders practiced writing their names using different colors, brush types, and brush sizes on iPads during technology enrichment. Elementary students attend enrichments daily, including technology lab.
Middle School Digital Journalism
The 2019-2020 STJ Middle School Digital Journalism Staff is pleased to offer Volume I of Trojan Strong 24/7. This publication is student designed, written, and developed. All issues this year will be accessible through onCampus, our school’s learning management system.
#WeAreSaint JamesSchool
Faculty Spotlight: Mr. David Beach
I teach: High School Science (Physics, Physical Science, Environmental Science)
I've Taught for: This is my third year
Hometown: Norcross, GA
High school: Norcross High School
College/Degree: BS in both Physics and Secondary Education from Berry College
STJ Extracurricular: Theatre
Favorite Book: The Supper of the Lamb by Robert Farrar Capon, you could call it a theological cookbook
Favorite Movie: O Brother Where Art Thou?
Favorite Food: If I HAD to pick, then it would be rice and beans
Church: Trinity Presbyterian Church
Fun Fact: I took a three week road trip out west this summer
Layers of the Earth
Middle School Earth Science is learning about how the various layers of the Earth have different densities which causes layering: crust, mantle, tectonic plates, outer core, and inner core. Students did this simple density column lab so we can see the way liquids of different densities will layer.
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
You used to call me on my (eukaryotic) cell phone
Last week in class, fifth grade students drew plant and animal cells using various apps on their iPads. Students labeled parts of each cell and used different colors and shapes to identify their creations. Later, in science lab, students enjoyed a sweet hands-on activity. Using a graham cracker for the plant cell , a sugar cookie for the animal cell, and lots of yummy toppings like Lifesavers and sprinkles, students created their own edible versions!
“This project was so fun. I used Lifesavers for the nucleus and Fruit Loops for the mitochondria. Everyone got to eat their cells at the end!”
Staff Spotlight: Ms. Kitha Jackson
Department: Assistant Director Wonder Works/ DHR Coordinator
I've been in this field: 24 years in childcare
Hometown: Montgomery, AL
High school: Jefferson Davis High School
College/Degree: TSUM
Favorite Book: The Giving Tree
Favorite Movie: Love & Basketball
Favorite Food: Salad
Church: Mercy Baptist Church on Bell Road
Children: One fur baby, Kiwi. She is 10 years old.
Fun Fact: I love shopping for clothes and shoes especially with discounts and coupons! :) I love children even though I don’t have any because they give the sweetest hugs and kisses. I love taking pictures!
"All About Me!"
Students in grades 1-5 used various applications to illustrate “all about me” pages. All elementary students attend formal technology enrichment classes weekly.
First Grade “All About Me”
“I try to make my activities tie into skills from the content areas whenever possible so that is why first grade worked with handwriting while also learning to use writing tools, backgrounds and recording features in the Seesaw app.
I did an “All About Me” activity with all grades 1st -5th grade. This gave me an opportunity to get to know my new students as well as a way to know more about returning students. There was enough creative freedom built into the activity that it also gave me insight into how each student thinks and organizes his/her information. The activity allowed students to practice design skills while navigating and utilizing tools in a virtual environment.”
First Grade “All About Me”
5th grade “All About Me”
4th grade “All About Me”
First Grade “All About Me”
“We worked with Digital Citizenship skills by talking about the purposes of commenting on other students’ posts and how to make valuable, constructive comments. This fits seamlessly into our Trojan 24/7.
Commenting should be used to build people up, be curious and respectful, and help us learn something new. ”
5th grade “All About Me”
2nd grade “All About Me”
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Catherine Winn
I teach (subject/grade) or your department: Honors English 1, English 4, AP Literature, and Yearbook
I've Taught for: Eleven years, I think? I taught my first classes at the University of Alabama when I was 21.
Hometown: I was a military brat. I was born in Abilene, Texas, but my family settled in Prattville when I was in third grade.
High school: Prattville High School
College/Degree: Bachelor's in English from AUM. Master's in Renaissance Studies and PhD in English from the University of Alabama. (Roll Tide.)
STJ Extracurricular (do you oversee a club/activity?): I will be the Interact Club sponsor this year, as well as the sponsor of Yearbook Club. I co-sponsor Young Democrats with Andy Clinton, and I help run FCA with the two awesome presidents, seniors Lucy Edwards and Katie Leigh Smith. Last year, I also ran Cooking Club and helped with the Speech and Debate team, but I am not doing those things this year!
Favorite Book: This is a dangerous question for a lit nerd! My favorite book of all time is The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley, but I grew up reading a variety of fantasy novels, ranging from Dragonlance books to J. R. R. Tolkien, from Mary Stewart's Arthuriana novels to Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time series, and I still adore these stories. My favorite Shakespeare plays are A Winter's Tale, All's Well that Ends Well, and Othello. These days, however, I love poetry the most--especially protest poetry. Warsan Shire is my current favorite. (Her poem about the refugee crisis, entitled "Home," is stunning in all of the ways.)
Favorite Movie: Amelie and A Very Long Engagement are my most favorites. They're both French, but they are gorgeous films.
Favorite Food: I love all food. I could eat Mexican food almost any night of the week, but I also like Ethiopian, Thai, Indian, Italian, and Greek. I also really, really love baking bread and coming up with different "signature" cakes for my friends' birthdays.
Married to: In the immortal words of Lizzo, I'm my own soulmate.
Children: Just one! Dresden is here at Saint James with me, in second grade. You will also see me with my niece (Ava Claire, 3rd Grade) and nephew (Cade, Kindergarten). They call me Aunt Duchess. It's the best.
Church: The Catalyst Community
Fun Fact: I was baptized as an adult (at 27 years old) in Trinity's cafeteria!
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
Happiness is the Journey, Not the Destination
This week, Mrs. Parquette’s fifth graders studied parts of a map. They learned about map keys, symbols, drawing to scale, and the compass rose. Finally, students drew their own map of Saint James School! Using rulers and guides, the buildings and streets were drawn to scale and labeled. Students recorded themselves giving directions to our elementary science lab using cardinal directions and distance on SeeSaw, our digital portfolio app.
Map skills promote spatial thinking, allowing students to comprehend and analyze phenomena related to the places and spaces around them. Spatial thinking is an important skills that students can develop as they learn geography, Earth, and environmental sciences. Young students also grow their language skills as they collaborate with peers, parents, and teachers and communicate about spatial relationships. Spatial thinking skills and activities like the STJ map project reinforce the skills that may allow our students to be at an advantage in our increasingly global and technological society. In a world with apps like Waze, Google Maps, and Roadtrippers, map reading has become a lost art (I know it has for me)! Mrs. Parquette and our fifth grade team works hard to prepare students for the next step and think critically.
Peer Leaders- Leading the Way
The Saint James School High School is proud to continue the tradition of the Peer Leader Program for all incoming STJ freshmen. Each new 9th grader is paired with a senior student who embodies compassion, school spirit, strong communication, and love for learning. These students are known as the Peer Leaders.
Peer Leaders oversee small-group advisory sessions during the first semester of the school year and help facilitate a smooth transition into high school.
Each summer, the selected seniors attend a retreat training to learn how to be Peer Leaders. Since the kick-off at the retreat, all of the Peer Leaders have been ready and willing to work hard and prepare for the 9th graders. June Garzon, high school counselor and Peer Leader advisor, is thrilled with this year's peer leader group and the work they have done to welcome our high school Trojans.
#WeAreSaintJamesSchool
“The peer leader retreat helped me to better understand what being a leader truly is. It taught me how to explore things beyond my comfort zone and allowed me experience new things in the process. ”
2019-2020 Peer Leaders: Trinity Goff, Joe Higgins, India Bond, Gracie Sullivan, Nayoon Kang, Katie Leigh Smith, Andrew Sadie
The Peer Leader Retreat was held at Butter & Egg Adventures in Troy, AL on Aug. 4 and 5. The students participated in various team building activities and learned how to be effective leaders.
On Friday, Aug. 16, the Peer Leaders guided the 9th graders through various exercises and assisted and encouraged the 9th graders throughout the day. Students practiced communication, positive decision making, collaboration and working together, and had a blast getting to know each other!
The Saint James School Peer Leader program is designed to enhance the freshman experience within a framework of organized activities, experiences, and discussions.
STJ Class of 2023
“The Peer Leader Retreat was so rewarding because I got to see the students in my advisory open up and try new things. The best part is they had fun while doing it! ”