Eighth Grade Visits Our Nation's Capital

by: Charlotte Stanton, class of 2028

8th graders stopped by the White House during their recent trip to Washington D.C.

The 8th grade students had been so excited for our class trip to Washington DC. We prepared for DC weeks before we departed, but most of us have been thinking about this since we were little. Some of the topics we were preparing for were hard, such as the Holocaust museum. However, we knew we would have a great and educational trip!
On day one, we had to be up early at 4:15 in the morning! We departed on two separate buses at 4:45 a.m. It was supposed to be around a two and half hour drive, but due to a serious accident that shut down the interstate, the drive took way longer than expected. We ended up missing our flight, but it was okay because we booked another flight that was scheduled to depart around 9 p.m. That left us with quite a while until we had to be at the airport. 
We made a pit stop at Buc-ee’s, and all joined onto one bus to make our way to Atlanta. In Atlanta we did many interesting activities. We got to walk around Olympic park, explore the World of Coca-Cola museum, and eat at a small cafe. After some time, we had to leave to head to the airport. We had to wait for many hours after countless delays. Finally, we boarded the plane at 10:10 p.m. It was a bumpy ride, but we landed in Washington DC safely at 11:50 p.m. We got to ride on a double-decker bus, but everyone was very tired and ready to get to the hotel. 

Students at the Lincoln Memorial

Since we missed the entire day before, we had to make some schedule rearrangements. We got to see the Arlington National Cemetery first. The eternal flame was a beautiful symbol. We spent some time in the Spy Museum. That was one of my personal favorites. They had real artifacts from spies! The African American History Museum was very educational and immersive; they did a good job of conveying a lot of emotions. We quickly went through the American History Museum just to see the original star-spangled banner. Then, we got to look around the Natural History Museum. I love how big that museum was, and I wish we could have stayed there for hours! I probably spent the most time in the gem and mineral exhibit looking for the Hope Diamond. For dinner we ate at Carmine’s. Later at night, we got a tour of many different monuments around the city. The Abraham Lincoln Memorial was so ornate and gave a beautiful view of the Washington Monument. 

Students participating in a Revolutionary Era reenactment at Mt. Vernon.

The next day, Ford’s Theater was first on our itinerary. A man gave us a lecture about the assassination. I really enjoyed the museum part of the tour. Then, we took the annual class picture with all of the students and chaperones. After that we got a tour of the capitol building! The architecture was gorgeous inside and out. The painting and statues were so detailed, and I loved hearing about their deeper meanings. We all took a quick picture with the White House then went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum. We all took our time to look around and learn about this tragedy. It was a well constructed museum that showed the raw truth. We then went to see the National Archives. The documents in there were very old! For dinner that night we got to go on a dinner river cruise! We all got dressed nice and got to dance on the dancefloor. The view on the cruise of the water and city was breathtaking!

Charlotte (second from right) with classmates at the International Spy Museum

However, all good things must come to an end. On the last day we had the opportunity to see Mount Vernon. The land was so peaceful and well taken care of. Andrew Sellers laid a wreath near President George Washington’s tomb. Due to traffic we couldn’t go inside the house, but in history class we got to do a virtual tour of the house, so we didn’t miss out completely! We flew back home and arrived at STJ around 7:30 p.m. Overall it was a very educational trip that we were lucky to have had the opportunity to experience! 

Candygrams for a Cause!

by: Ella Reid Rodgers, senior

The STJ high school SGA

by: Ella Reid Rodgers, senior

At Saint James, our Student Government Association is extremely involved in creating exciting fundraisers that benefit our school. This year the SGA is led by Mrs. Kathryn Hughes, President Gracie Sommer, and Vice President, Logan Hartson, and includes many other members from grades 9-12. For 3 years now, the high school SGA created candy grams for Valentine’s Day. These candy grams were $1 each, and could be sent to any high school

Ella Reid passing out treats to STJ PreK students

student, as well as all faculty and staff. Each candy gram could be anonymous or include a name, and had the option to write a note to the person receiving the candy. When buying the candy gram, you were to select between hershey kisses, starbursts, and fun dip. The SGA gave all of high school 2 weeks to purchase these candy grams. During these 2 weeks, members of the SGA worked hard on purchasing the candy, writing the given notes, and wrapping up the bags of candy to distribute to students and staff. On Valentine’s Day, all of SGA handed out the candy grams to those who received one at lunch. A big number of students purchased candy grams for several of their friends, and some teachers purchased them for their students. Not only this, but seniors were able to give their kindergarten buddies candy as well. This year, the SGA raised a total of $610, which was a new record! Mrs. Hughes said, ““The SGA worked extremely hard this year creating over 600 candy grams that were distributed to the high school on Valentine’s day!” The proceeds from this fundraiser go towards the Trojan Scholarship that is given to one 9-11th grader. The Trojan Scholarship is a $1000 scholarship that is rewarded to a student and goes towards their tuition for the following year. This SGA fundraiser proved to be successful once again!

Ella Reid has been a Trojan since PreK4. She is a member of the National Honor Society, SGA, yearbook staff, Trojan Cheerleading, and serves as a Student Ambassador. #wearesaintjameschool

Stop (Motion) in the Name of Cell Division

Michelle Taliaferro’s AP Biology students created stop motion movies to visually demonstrate mitosis and meiosis. Cell division and reproduction is a highly tested concept on the AP Biology exam, which students will take this spring. To help master of these concepts, students wanted to make a tangible, visual model of how cells behave in the phases of mitosis and meiosis. Over the span of several days, two student teams filmed their colored play-doh “cells” frame by frame to create a stop motion video.

AP Biology students filming their stop motion videos.

Meiosis is a special type of cell division of germ cells and apicomplexans in sexually-reproducing organisms that produces the gametes, the sperm or egg cells. It involves two rounds of division that ultimately result in four cells, each with only one copy of each chromosome. Mitosis is a part of the cell cycle in which replicated chromosomes are separated into two new nuclei. Cell division by mitosis is an equational division which gives rise to genetically identical cells in which the total number of chromosomes is maintained.

AP Biology is one of 30 honors and AP classes offered at the high school level. Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level classes that challenge students to master concepts and push themselves. As a college preparatory institution, Saint James School has a robust AP and honors curriculum and provides professional development and support for the faculty who teach these courses. #wearesaintjamesschool

Kindergarten/Senior Buddy LOVE

by: Reilly Taylor, senior

Reilly’s buddy, June

What a sweet valentine’s day my senior class had with our k5 buddies! We all met up in the Commons and patiently waited for our little buddies to walk in! We exchanged gifts, decorated paper bags with valentine’s day themed stickers, colors, and more! We then filled each bag with water, play-do, and a fun valentine’s day card we got to color with our buddy! The bags we decorated and put together are going to be sent to Child Protect, a non-profit organization that focuses on minimizing both the physical and mental trauma some children have experienced. This was a very special valentine’s day as we got to spend precious time with our buddies, involved them in making someone else’s day special, and shared the love we each have in our hearts!

Reilly has been a Trojan since preK. She is a cheerleading All-American, member of the tennis team, and loves to volunteer. Reilly also is a second year Student Ambassador, serving as an official hostess of Saint James School.

Staff Spotlight: Cpl. Josh Huffaker

My Title/ Department : Assistant Director of School Safety

I've been in this role for: This is my first week. I recently retired from the Montgomery Police Department after 20 years of service. I spent 10 years in Patrol Division and 10 years as an Accident Investigator/Traffic Homicide Investigator ending my career as the Hit and Run Investigator for the City of Montgomery. Also while in the traffic division I was a part of several college football team escorts, VIP escorts including Presidential Motorcades.

Hometown: Wetumpka, AL 

High School: Robert E. Lee High School

College/Degree/Training: Montgomery Police Academy - APOST Certification

Alabama Trooper Academy -  Accident Investigation/Traffic Homicide Investigation Certification

Favorite Book: The Bible

Favorite Movie: Smokey and the Bandit and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

Favorite Food:  Steak

Spouse: Stephanie Huffaker (high school sweetheart) we have been married for 24 years. 

Children/ ages : Jackson (21) works full time / Brody (18) Senior at Wetumpka High School

Favorite thing about working a STJ: The positivity of everyone, faculty and parents, that is surrounded by this school and how much STJ is a family orientented atmosphere.

Fun Fact:  I love to joke around and an occasional prank. My wife and I are part of the “Wetumpka Griswolds” during Christmas. We dress as the characters -I am Art and my wife is Francis. We are the parents of Ellen Griswold from the movie.

#wearesaintjamesschool

Wetumpka Griswolds

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Barry Prim

STJ CFO, Barry Prim.

My role: I am the new CFO

I have been at STJ for: 5 months

Hometown: Montgomery

High School: Jeff Davis

College/Education: Auburn - Economics, UAB  - MBA

Favorite Book: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Mr. Prim with his wife and daughters.

Favorite Movie: Mary Poppins

Favorite Food: Anything Italian

I am married to: Jeana is my wife and we have been married for 33 years! 

Children: Emily (29) and Dodge (19). Both are STJ grads

Favorite thing about STJ: I love this school and this faculty and staff. It's such a great, big family!

Fun Fact: I LOVE music. Especially Steely Dan or stuff from the 70's and 80's. Big jazz and R&B fan, too.

Thirteen Schools that Led Me to STJ

by: Cora Wojak, class of 2024

Age 3, saying goodbye before my dad deployed to Afghanistan

Being a military child is what defines me; it is all I have ever known. My dad was sent off to Air Force Dive School five weeks after I was born and still actively serves to this day. I have lived in ten different military bases in the United States, Japan, and Europe. My education has been spread out over thirteen different schools, so change is all I experience. Every two years, my family has to pack up our lives and move to either a different state, country, or continent with only a few months' notice. At every duty station at the end of a family’s tour, it’s calculated how long the veteran in the family was away. For my dad, whether he was deployed to Djibouti, the Philippines, or Afghanistan for the third time, he was gone 60% of the time that we lived somewhere. However, these changes that have defined me have given me a unique perspective on life and taught me lessons I will forever work to remember. 

Edinburgh, Scotland- Age 10

Okinawa, Japan- Age 9

A trait that military children are practically born with is adaptability. I have been to thirteen different schools in my twelve years of education, but I have never had a problem of being able to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. Walking into a new school over and over again was nerve-wracking because I never knew who I was going to meet. From first grade to freshman year, I went to military schools, so all the kids were in the same boat as me. We knew to never get too close because the goodbyes that were sure to come would break us. So, we kept to ourselves and refrained from opening up. 

Berchtesgaden, Germany- Age 11

But then came sophomore year when we got stationed in Montgomery, Alabama. Being a military family means you live in a small world, and coincidentally the Wright family, who we knew in England, lived here. We reached out to them and immediately began talking about school and they had only amazing things to say about Saint James. My parents toured STJ and sent me an application within minutes. Next thing I knew, I was taking my entrance exam, getting accepted, and choosing my class schedule. The second I moved here, I began cheer practices and met some of the sweetest girls in my entire life.

They welcomed me with open arms and helped me through my transition to Saint James. The staff understood my situation and helped me through any difficulties I had while starting out. Saint James is the school that almost every military family chooses and it is easy to see why. 

First day of senior year at STJ.

Now I am in the first semester of my senior year, I am beyond excited for what is to come, but I will forever miss this school and the opportunities it gave me. I’ve accomplished so many things academically that I never thought I would, like becoming an AP Scholar and receiving my biliteracy certification in Spanish. I am so proud to say that I get to graduate from Saint James and I will always cherish the experiences and lessons I was taught while being a Trojan. #wearesaintjamesschool

“These changes that have defined me have given me a unique perspective on life and taught me lessons I will forever work to remember. ”

— Cora Wojak

High School Career Panel: Called to Serve

Lt. Col. Dex McCain, Seaman Jessica Davis, MST1 Katherine Posey, and Col. Keo Bailey

Throughout the school year, our high school counselors host several "Careers and Professions" discussion panels centered around various lines of work. The most recent panel featured careers in the military. Saint James has families proudly representing all branches of the United States Armed Forces as well as many parents and grandparents who are veterans. We also have many international families with a parent attending Air War College who have a wide range of military experience in their home countries.

High school students had the opportunity to ask questions after the panel.

This panel featured three Saint James parents: Lt. Col Dex McCain (ret.), USAF officer and dad of seniors Hope and Hannah; Col. Keo Bailey, USAF officer and dad of sophomore Karly; and Colonel Ali Albalushi of the Air Force of Oman, dad of STJ senior Faris and sophomore Rawdha, sixth grader Mai, and first grader Maha. We also welcomed MST1 Katherine Josey and Seaman Jessica Davis of the United States Coast Guard.

Our panelists discussed their careers in the military as well as educational benefits and pathways to service after high school. Students asked questions and had great conversations about life in the military. Thank you to our panel of STJ parents and our guests from the US Coast Guard who made this experience so fruitful. The high school counseling office will host additional career panels featuring other professions and fields later this school year. #wearesaintjamesschool

Trojans of Character

As Trojans, we believe that responsibility calls for strong character.  We also believe that achievement is the result of consistent commitment and courage. Recently, several Saint James students and employees were recognized at our values assembly. These individuals have exhibited genuine marks of a positive mindset, kindness, respect, gratitude, humility, and honesty. We are proud of honor these Trojans who demonstrate our values daily. The recipients were nominated and chosen by their peers. Congratulations to the Saint James School Trojans of Character!

Elementary School recipients: 2nd grade: Ben Rabon; 3rd grade: Brielle Maxwell; 4th grade: Evie Dum; 5th grade: Hunter Gamble

STJ elementary school Trojans of Character recipients signed their names on the Core Values banner displayed in the school hallway.

Middle school recipients:

6th grade: Qaice Hijaz. This sixth grader was nominated for his excellent character.  People stated he helps others, is a really good friend, and makes everyone laugh and smile.  It was also mentioned how respectful he is to his teachers and fellow students.

7th grade: Jiyu Shin. This seventh grader has shown to be a helper in several ways including holding doors for others and picking items up off the floor.  It was mentioned how kind and joyful she is and how she always focuses and tries her hardest in everything she does

8th grade: Jacob Taylor. This eighth grader was called out for being nice and caring to others.  He is also helpful and always respectful to adults and friends alike.

STJ middle school Trojans of Character recipients were recognized at the recent middle school/high school assembly.

High School Recipients:

9th grade: Dev Greene; 10th grade: Jesse Johnson; 11th grade: Jaxon Mason; 12th grade: Cole Williams

STJ high school Trojans of Character recipients were recognized at the recent middle school/high school assembly.

Two faculty members were also recognized. High School principal’s assistant, Mrs. Bethany Shalayda works tirelessly to keep the high school running smoothly each day. She is selfless, dedicated, and always does what is best for the students. Mr. Will Reese, elementary music teacher, was also awarded the faculty Trojan of Character. He bring enthusiasm, care, and passion to his classroom. He is a role model to our tiniest Trojans and demonstrates our core values each day.

#wearesaintjamesschool

Principal Poplin pictured with upper school Trojan of Character recipient, Mrs. Shalayda. Principal Harris pictured with elementary school Trojan of Character recipient, Mr. Will Reese.

Freshman Retreat: Trojans Building Up Trojans

by: Sam Hipp, 9th grade

Sam (right) and his classmate, Benton, at the Freshman Retreat.

Camp Butter and Egg was one of the best experiences I’ve had at Saint James School. The class of 2027, along with our peer leaders, went to Camp Butter and Egg in Troy, Alabama. We had so much fun with all of the activities including fishing, canoeing, team-building activities, and ziplining. We all had a great time from the bus ride there to the bus ride back. We left at 8:00, wondering what they had planned for us at Camp. When we arrived, we were immediately split into our advisory groups. First, we played a game where we matched different papers with letters on them into categories. For example, a town we had visited or a food we liked. We also played a game where we tried to make a tennis ball touch everyone's hand in the shortest possible time.

Students participated in team-building activities like the zip line.

After a short break, our advisory split into 3 groups and we played more games versus each other. One of my favorites was a memory game where we had to remember how different random objects were set up. One or two people per group would go up to a curtain, which would be lifted to reveal about 10 items in a random place. We tried to describe it to our groups and whoever got it right the fastest would win. We played lots of other games, which were very fun! For lunch, we had a burger, beans, chips, applesauce, and a very good brownie.

Students enjoying the paddle boats at Camp Butter & Egg.

After lunch, we all went to the zipline and the tree trek course. My group did the tree trek course first. We had to walk across a bridge, hang on to ropes to get across a line, and at the end we went on a zipline to get down from the course. It was very fun, but I preferred the zipline course.

There were three ziplines. The first one was not very long, but a good first zipline to prepare for the rest of the course. The second one was through the forest and was pretty fun. My favorite one was next, which was the one that went over the lake. It was exhilarating, to say the least, and I really enjoyed it. After that, I went back to get all of my gear off and went down to the lake. Since all the canoes were taken, one of my friends and I went up to the lodge for a little bit. After some time, we went to play volleyball, which was very fun. Sadly, this was the last thing we did and we got on the buses to go back to STJ. This trip was one of the best I have ever been on.

Everything from the team bonding games, zip lines, tree trek course, and volleyball was amazing. I would love to go back someday. I will never forget the memories I made and the things I learned.

#wearesaintjamesschool