The Legacy of a Teacher: Honoring our STJ family

Dr. Wayne Flynt, historian and author, with historian and STJ Head of School Dr. Larry McLemore

This afternoon, Saint James School welcomed several members of the Saint James family to campus to honor one of our own. Mrs. Sharon Andress, who served as a member of the STJ history faculty for 17 years, passed away last month. Current and former faculty members, along with school administration, held an intimate ceremony in the library to honor Mrs. Andress and the impact she had on our school. Mrs. Nancy Anderson, local instructor of Southern literature and expert on author Harper Lee, and Dr. Wayne Flynt, renowned author and historian, presented two publications to be housed in the library’s permanent collection. Both Mrs. Anderson and Dr. Flynt were close friends and colleagues of Mrs. Andress who taught To Kill a Mockingbird to Saint James students for many years. Saint James high school English students still study the classic novel each year.

Today was especially meaningful to our Head of School, Dr. Larry McLemore, who was a student of Mrs. Andress and has fond memories of her courses. She taught AP United States History, Southern Cultures, and served as the junior class sponsor for many years. She was a member of the STJ faculty from 1990-2007.

Dr. Flynt, signing a copy of his book for Dr. McLemore.

Mrs. Nancy Anderson is a distinguished fellow at Auburn University at Montgomery, where she has taught Southern and American literature for over 40 years. She is a leading expert on Alabama author Harper Lee. She is a recipient of the AUM Faculty Service Award and Chancellor’s Warhawk Spirit Award.

Dr. Wayne Flynt, Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Auburn University, has won numerous teaching awards and been a Distinguished University Professor for many years. Dr. Flynt is a Pulitzer Prize nominee and author of over a dozen books. Saint James Head of School, Dr. Larry McLemore, calls him “the most important historian of the state of Alabama.” What an honor to have both Mrs. Anderson and Dr. Flynt join us on campus today to honor Mrs. Sharon Andress.

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Members of the Saint James School family in the high school library, where two signed books will be housed in the school’s permanent collection, to honor past STJ faculty members Mrs. Sharon Andress.

The Kinder-Garden

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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