Principal Dave McDonough preparing pancakes in the kitchen tent |
|
After 22 Months, Honor Roll Breakfast Returns! |
|
One of the St. James community’s favorite events returned on Saturday, December 4th, with great joy and fanfare! Families, students, and staff gathered to celebrate honor roll students in person for the first time in 22 months.
Honor Roll Breakfast, started by Principal Dave McDonough in 2017, is a beloved tradition commending students who have earned straight A’s (High Honors), no grade lower than a B (Honors), or perfect attendance (no absences or late arrivals) for an entire semester. Principal McDonough said, “It is one of my favorite things to do. It is a chance to celebrate children’s hard work, growth, and achievement.”
|
|
4th grade teacher Steph Padilla lending a hand as 4th grade honoree James shows off his Certificate of Achievement |
|
Prior to the pandemic, Honor Roll Breakfast was held four times a year at the end of every marking period, before the start of a school day. This was the first time that the event was held on a Saturday morning. Staff, parents, and guardians honored 34 students! As Principal McDonough reflected, “The pandemic stopped many things, but it did not stop students from coming to school, learning, and achieving.” |
|
Students and families enjoying the breakfast |
|
As is tradition, Principal McDonough prepared and served homemade pancakes, along with plenty of butter, syrup, and whipped cream. The students were absolutely elated. “I felt good about my accomplishment on Saturday. I also wanted to know how the pancakes tasted!” shared 5th grader Jai’Hare. Charley, a 6th grader, exclaimed, “I was excited about the pancake breakfast because my family and friends were there to have fun.”
As Principal McDonough always says, the success of St. James School is due to the partnership of teachers, students, and families. Honor Roll Breakfast is a time to celebrate that collaboration. “I was proud of my son and his accomplishment and we had a great breakfast as a family,” said Markala Newton, mother of 4th grader Mark.
Honor Roll Breakfast will be held again on a Saturday after the next marking period. The weekend morning time had many advantages: more staff could attend, many families walked over to The Welcome Table’s Farmers Market afterward, and 10 of the 15 7th graders present went to the Saturday Academic clinic following the breakfast. Congratulations to all of our student honorees!
|
|
Fresh produce on display at the weekly Farmers Market |
|
The Welcome Table Digs Deeper Roots
in the Neighborhood
|
|
Over the last two years, our school and neighborhood have grown even closer as the pandemic forced us to slow down, think local, and lift our community together. We have learned how to support one another and how to meet the needs of our neighbors.
Key to that growing closeness has been The Welcome Table, which has been operating at full tilt in November and early December. Nearly 50 volunteers — including our frequent neighborhood volunteers, church partners, and other groups — helped with our special Thanksgiving-themed farmers market. Donations from churches, businesses, and individuals ensured families could enjoy full Thanksgiving meals. Volunteers distributed over 400 bags of traditional sides and dessert, along with just as many hams, chickens, and turkeys.
|
|
Bags of Thanksgiving sides |
|
Neighbors volunteering with Kwymaje (Class of 2015)
|
|
Servant Year member Shelby Rowe with volunteer Dave Spina
|
|
Part of the gift selection at Santa's Workshop in the church |
|
"Providing families with a little extra for the holidays is important work. By providing this shopping experience, we are able to connect individually with parents and guardians. Inviting them to campus in a fun, festive way also opens up opportunities to connect pastorally — another way to build relationships."
Paul Barrett, Director of The Welcome Table
|
|
"I really enjoy connecting with parents and guardians outside of the normal drop-off and pick-up times. The shopping experience allows the school and families to connect on a deeper level."
Shelby Rowe, Servant Year Member
|
|
A Word with... Aldontae Guess |
|
Meet Aldontae Guess, who joined St. James this fall in a new role where he wears many hats. He serves as Graduate Support Associate, RAH Association Coordinator, and Servant Year Recruitment Coordinator. Dontae lives on campus in Audrey’s House, along with Servant Year members Shelby Rowe, Tyler Regnier, Allie Sinatra, and Emily Jones.
Where are you from, and what were you doing before?
I am originally from the west side of Chicago. Prior to this, I was a member of the Lasallian Volunteers Program in Brooklyn and served as the Volunteer for Student Life and Campus Ministry at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School.
|
|
|
Tell us about the three parts of your job.
I oversee daily operations at the Graduate Support Office, which includes after-school study hall. I assist students with homework and connect them to job and volunteer opportunities. With RAH, I do administrative work, like maintaining our email and social media pages. I also connect with RAH President Rose Cooper to make sure we are getting the word out about neighborhood initiatives. With Servant Year, I help with recruiting, which includes attending events to talk about the Episcopal Service Corps and introduce people to the program, both at St. James School and at Saint Mark’s Church.
What is your favorite part about working at St. James?
Definitely interacting with our graduates and being able to connect with them on a daily basis! I have never seen a graduate support program that provides the level of support that we do here, throughout high school and college. We really are here for our graduates’ whole journey.
What are you most looking forward to this school year?
Seeing our graduates’ progress. I’m especially excited to see where our high school seniors who are applying to college now end up going.
What is it like to live where you work?
It’s good to be in community again! This is different from my previous community living experience as a Lasallian Volunteer, where I lived with people of many different ages, including Christian Brothers in their 70s. Now I’m with people around my age, which is a lot of fun.
What was your favorite subject in middle and high school?
Reading was always my favorite subject. I love to read! I wish I had more time to read right now.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to explore. I like visiting Center City; I am definitely a city guy. I love going to the movies. Some favorite movies I’ve seen recently are “The Eternals” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
What’s a fun fact about you?
This is not a surprise to those who know me, but I’m a huge nerd! You definitely want me on your team if it is Star Trek trivia night.
|
|
One Way You Can Help: Make a Year End Gift! |
|
As a tuition-free school providing scholarships to every student, we rely on support from individuals, churches, foundations, and businesses every year. Donor gifts also enable us to support students and families through every chapter of their lives, from middle school to adulthood, creating a positive ripple effect in the community.
Will you join us in making a year end gift to further our mission in Allegheny West and meet our operational goals?
|
|
Thank you for your support and being a part of the
St. James community!
|
|
- Gifts of securities/stock
- IRA charitable rollover contributions
- Donor-advised funds
- Employer matching gifts
- Charitable bequests through estate planning or wills
|
|
Darlene (Class of 2018) admiring Cabrini's campus |
|
Good News: College Visits are Back! |
|
With masks at the ready and an eagerness to learn about higher education, St. James graduates are going on college and university tours again. Graduate Support Associate Megan Young accompanies our alumni to schools including Cabrini University, LaSalle University, and Ursinus College. She also helps them plan out the application process. |
|
Jayla and Ayniah (both Class of 2018) touring Ursinus College with Graduate Support Associate
Megan Young
|
|
Adrianne (Class of 2020) and
Nyyira (Class of 2019)
visiting Ursinus College
|
|
St. James School is a faith-based Philadelphia middle school in the Episcopal tradition, committed to educating students from an under-resourced neighborhood within a nurturing environment. The school is a community that provides a challenging academic program and encourages the development of the moral, spiritual, intellectual, physical and creative gifts in its students. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
