A Peek Inside Saint James School
Second graders in Coach Straughn’s elementary P.E. class worked together to build turkeys out of exercise equipment. Each team raced from one end of the gym to the other with hula hoops, jump ropes, balls, and other items to build their birds. Gobble gobble! #WeAreSaintJamesSchool
We have Thanksgiving on the brain in elementary school at STJ! Students in lower elementary, grades PreK3-2nd grade, have been working on crafts and art projects for the Thanksgiving season. Students built turkeys out of construction paper, which reinforces fine motor skills, following multi-step directions, and identifying colors, numbers, and shapes. We have so much to be Thankful for and this holiday reminds us of the blessings in our lives.
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Seniors went on a Thanksgiving letter scavenger hunt with their Kindergarten buddies last week. They followed clues to lead them to letters placed all around campus. Working together and problem solving, he teams eventually were able to spell “give thanks.”
We certainly are thankful for the special friendships our Kindergartners and seniors have!
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Cristian Pintovidal, STJ Commons Dining Coordinator, harvesting herbs from the community garden with our Kindergarten students.
Fresh, fragrant herbs can really elevate a meal. It is a special privilege to have on-campus grown produce at Saint James School. For the first time this year, students were able to see (and taste!) their hard work!
Earlier this fall, Kindergarten students planted 50 herbs, including basil, cilantro, thyme, oregano, and rosemary in a special “Kinder-garden” bed within our school garden. Each kindergarten class took part in digging holes in the soil and planting all of the herbs.
Cristian Pintovidal and Travis Humphrey from the STJ Commons taught our Kindergarten students about harvesting fresh herbs.
After about seven weeks since the initial planting, the Kindergarten classes joined the school’s FLIK dining coordinators in the garden to harvest their herbs. The FLIK team was able to make a special connection between planting, growing, and harvesting plants. The FLIK team then prepared a delicious fresh basil and tomato salad with herbs harvested by our students as part of that day’s lunch selection. This project has truly been a joy! Memories have been made along with deep, hands-on learning connections that we can enjoy! #WeAreSaintJamesSchool
by: Jeremy Turner, Community Garden Co-Coordinator
The Paideia School in Atlanta, GA
This fall, Saint James garden co-coordinator Carissa Gibbons, middle school principal Dr. Shelaine Taylor, and I traveled to Atlanta to visit the Paideia School. The purpose of our trip was to tour their farm and see how they were able to use their farming and gardening areas to enhance the curriculum taught at their school. This trip also helped us see what ideas and methods we as STJ faculty could incorporate into our own garden at school.
Our farm tour guide was Tania Herbert, a 20 year teaching veteran. She was able to make the farm a place where both students and the community could work together. She explained how sustainable farming was the key to the continuation of a community as well as offering skills to others that could be implemented into their own daily living.
gardening tools at Paideia’s on-campus garden
One thing that we saw at the school was how the farm not only helped others, but also worked with the community to bring in foods and items that were shared across the board with those outside of the school. They kept track of what they grew, how much was harvested, and how much was donated to others within their shared garden storage. They had on-site refrigerators to store any crops that were harvested and planned to be given out to the community.
We also learned how the school utilized the farm in their curriculums. For example, Paideia’s AP Biology students raise a chicken and as part of their final exam, students process the chicken utilizing the information they learned while going through the course.
Ms. Gibbons and Mr. Turner, Saint James Community Garden Coordinators, with Paideia’s goats on their school farm
One thing that was heavily stressed was the link with the community on the farm. Mrs. Herbert discussed how they worked with food-insecure communities as well as local prisons to assist in distributing healthy foods. She discussed how many in their region may not have good access to nutritional, healthy food so she wanted to find a way to help them learn their own growing skills but also turn around and donate the food to others who might also be in need.
They also invited children from nearby local schools to plant and engage in the process of growing food. Everything about their farm and garden was about working together to ensure that whenever things were left to the next generation, they would have items in place to continue this wonderful endeavor.
We are excited to evaluate the wealth of knowledge shared with us and work to implement new initiates with our own community garden. We are in the early stages of our garden journey, but we know Saint James School has the potential to “grow” our program to be just as impactful.
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by: Megan Deal, STJ class of 2009 and Kindergarten teacher
We are growing gardeners in Kindergarten at Saint James School! With a wonderful donation from Bonnie plants, plus a lot of help and planning from Principal Harris and science lab teacher Mrs. Gibbons, our students planted 50 herbs including basil, cilantro, thyme, oregano, and rosemary in a special “Kinder-garden” bed within our school garden. Each kindergarten class took part in digging holes in the soil and planting all of the herbs!
Each week, our three Kindergarten classes visit the garden to inspect and maintain each garden bed. With each garden visit, students help pull weeds and even spray natural remedies for certain worms and insects. The students have learned so much about protecting the plants and the sunlight, water, soil, and air needed to grow healthy plants. They have loved watching the progress of the herbs over many weeks and excitedly anticipate harvest day!
Saint James School’s community garden provides a vibrant, outdoor space for learning, enhances opportunities for community-building and recreation, strengthens lessons on environmental stewardship, and gives students ownership in growing healthy produce.
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by: AJ Kavlick, class of 2023
AJ with his parents at age 4
Veterans Day is about honoring the sacrifices of those who have served in the United States military. Being part of a military family requires sacrifices as well, such as moving around often and acclimating to new environments. Both of my parents served as colonels in the United States Air Force, as well as my grandfather, and my great grandfather, who served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Saint James not only has a significant military community, but much of our student body is made up of military “brats.”
living in Greece, age 9
These are students who have had to jump from school-to-school, state-to-state, and even between countries after their parents’ reassignments. Many students at Saint James have had the privilege of staying in one city and going to one school kindergarten through graduation. Military children don’t have this type of stability. I, for one, can speak from experience. I first came to Saint James in the 3rd grade, having previously lived in Washington D.C. Before I could establish myself in this school, I moved abroad to Greece. In Greece, my dad served as the Air Attaché in the Embassy, representing the U.S. Air Force overseas. Living in a foreign country came as a shock for me, and it was not long before I missed my life in the U.S. However, I learned some valuable lessons while in Greece.
living in Azerbaijan, age 12
visiting Dubai, age 12
First and foremost, I learned how to adapt to new environments, even though I knew that my time there was limited. But more importantly, I gained a newfound appreciation of my country, which many of us might take for granted. I was glad to have returned to Saint James, which offered me some sense of stability after an exciting, but turbulent year. Even though I had begun to develop roots in Montgomery, I took up the offer to live another year overseas, this time in Azerbaijan. I could have stayed in Alabama,
“Being part of a military family was no longer a mere inconvenience, but a source of pride and honor.”
where I would not have to risk starting from scratch again. Even to this day, I ask myself whether I should have stayed behind. Yet, I was honored to be an “ambassador” for America in a country that most Americans cannot find on a map. This time, my father was representing the entire military as the Defense Attaché. This gave me a sense of responsibility, since my classmates’ impression of me would inevitably be their impression of the United States. From that moment on, I sought to better understand the United States’ relations in the world. Through my experience with Azerbaijani culture, I learned how to refine my own. By the time I arrived back home, I was changed for good. Being part of a military family was no longer a mere inconvenience, but a source of pride and honor. The next time you thank members of our military, also take the time to thank a military “brat” for the sacrifices they’ve had to make. You could even learn a thing or two about their unique experience. After all, it takes a team for the military to protect the freedoms we know and love.
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AJ serves as a student ambassador, runs on the Trojans cross country team and track team, is a member of Latin club, is a member of the National Honor Society as well as Mu Alpha Theta. AJ also takes numerous AP, honors, and advanced classes at Saint James School. After graduation, he plans to plan to attend college out of state, major in aerospace engineering and possibly follow in his parents’ footsteps and pursue a military career. No matter where his adventures take him, he will always be an excellent representation of Saint James School.
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Third graders in Mrs. Rodgers and Ms. Broughton’s classes classes performed the musical “Let’s Hear it for America,” which celebrates our country's history and diversity. Students recited monologues, performed choreography, and sang musical numbers before an audience.
“This is America! A land of courage, faith and honor. A land of true equality; a land of hope and pride, a land of unity, a land of liberty.”
“I love my country, I love my freedom, I love my flag and Independence Day, I am a citizen. I have equality. I love my country, the U.S.A.”
Lt. Col. Dex McCain
by: Lt. Col. (retired) Dex McCain, Saint James School Board Chair
As we reflect on the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, I encourage you to pause and honor the service of the men and women who’ve dedicated their lives to serving our country.
These men and women swore oaths to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” They pledged “To bear true faith and allegiance to the same,” while taking “This obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion.”
The McCain family in 2010 (daughters Hope and Hannah in PreK4)
Inherent in this oath is an agreement between the uniformed members and their families stating: I am willing to serve, willing to uproot my family every three or four years, willing to deploy to hostile environments, willing to miss significant events in the lives of my family all to support our country.
As you can imagine, the life of a military family, and children in particular, can be challenging. From multiple moves and finding new schools to making new friends, all of this can be stressful. When a military family finds a welcoming school community that understands the uniqueness of military families and willingly supports the family on their educational journey, it’s an amazing partnership!
My family is incredibly blessed to have been part of Saint James School since my 10th graders were in Pre-K4. Time and time again, the Saint James community has supported my family through multiple deployments and temporary duty assignments. My family is proof positive that Saint James is the epitome of a welcoming school community.
The Saint James School Core Values of “Character, Commitment, Courage, and Community,” coupled with its mission statement to help students to “Realize their full potential and prepare them for lives of “responsibility, service, and achievement” aren’t accidental nor anecdotal words, rather they are enduring and purposeful. These words are ideals that draw on the principles of servant leadership, a leadership framework that many military professionals embody.
Lt. Gen. Raymond B. Furlong
Dr. Raymond B. Furlong, one of Saint James School’s longest serving heads of school, was an outstanding servant leader who was uniquely qualified in understanding the importance of a great education and fostering relationship with the military community. Prior to joining Saint James, Dr. Furlong was Lieutenant General Furlong, the commander of Air University, where he was charged with providing professional military education, graduate level courses for continuing education for Air Force personnel, and preparing men and women for service in the Air Force. Clearly, he brought his military experience and vision to Saint James and helped STJ grow into the preeminent school that it is today by creating a diverse and inclusive school culture and community.
Lt. Col. McCain with his daughters, Hope and Hannah, and Dr. Larry McLemore at the 2019 Saint James School Veterans Day Assembly
Saint James School’s rich military history is seen throughout our Saint James family. We’ve had the honor and privilege to educate, coach, and mentor military children for decades, including many international families. I’m so proud that Saint James School recognizes the unique challenges that face military families. Whether it’s a zoom call from 7,000 miles away to allow a deployed parent to watch a play and see their children’s class presentation or honoring the service of their parents throughout the year, Saint James holds a special place among the military community.
I remain ever grateful for all that Saint James pours into our children, recognizing the uniqueness of each child and championing values such as character, courage, commitment and community while inspiring and preparing our students for lives of service, responsibility and achievement.
2021-22 STJ Board Chair, Lt. Col. Dex McCain
Lt Col Dex McCain (retired) served for 27 years in the United States Air Force before retiring in November of 2019. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Ethics at the eSchool of Graduate Professional Military Education at Maxwell AFB. He also serves as the Board Chair for Saint James School Board of Trustees. Lt Col McCain and his wife, Yolanda, have two daughters, Hannah and Hope, who are in the 10th grade at Saint James School.
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It is finally feeling like fall in Montgomery. Did you feel the crispness in the air this morning? Fall is all around us and we are embracing the season in elementary school.
Students in Kindergarten went on a “leaf hunt” to find different colored fall leaves on the ground and created a graph to chart their findings.
Students also wrote sentences about a fall story they read in class. This writing exercise reinforced handwriting, spelling, and sentence structure. Autumn is the perfect time for hands-on learning and exploring the world around us.
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