Our new Chaplain, The Rev. Walter Thorne, playing pickup basketball with students during recess on the first day of school. | |
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A New Beginning as School Year Starts
The first day of school at St. James was full of excitement. As Head of School Dave Kasievich reminded the school community during our annual Opening Doors Ceremony, the start of the academic year offers “a new beginning for all of us.”
During the ceremony, new students receive the blazer they wear as part of their school uniform. "When an 8th grader places a blazer on a new student, it's like they're placing all their wisdom and belongingness on that new student," said Assistant Principal Sarah Carroll.
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8th grader Jai'hare placing a school blazer on the shoulders of his 4th grade brother, Jayden. | |
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This fall at St. James, we welcome 29 new students, including a new class of 4th graders. Of the 18 4th graders, 14 are siblings of returning students or graduates.
In addition to new students, St. James has 13 new staff members. Among them is The Rev. Walter Thorne, Director of Chaplaincy. Fr. Thorne set a tone of learning together for the new school year in his Sunday sermon the day before the first full day of school. He reminded us that there may be things we can't do yet.
“We may not be ready, but that’s okay. God sees us as we really are — right now — and says over and over again, 'I can work with that.' Our world needs us too much to wait for us to get our collective and individual ducks in a row. I don’t know how God will use us to bring God’s light and love into a world that is in desperate need of both, but I believe in a God that knows what it’s like to be a messy, exhausted, and worn-out person, and who still believes that we are the right people for the job.”
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College move-in day is a big deal for students, including 2020 St. James graduates Riley and Shakim, who are now freshman roommates at Neumann University. | |
College Move-In Day Brings New and Returning Students to Campus | |
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Over the last few weeks, St. James graduates have been moving into their college digs for the upcoming school year — and we couldn’t be more proud! Our Graduate Support team members were walking beside our grads, as they are every day, providing transportation, helping move their stuff, or just cheering them on.
Three graduates are at Neumann University. Riley and Shakim (Class of 2020) are freshman year roommates. Makiyah (Class of 2018) is a junior.
Makiyah is making waves — airwaves, that is. A radio personality on Neumann Media, she’s fresh off of a summer internship with local G-town radio where she co-hosted “It’s All Love Uptown, The Lonnie Young Summer League Show” with Darnell “Speedy” Artis. This fall at Neumann, Makiyah will again co-host “Yappathon,” a weekly show during which she engages listeners about music, social media, video games and more.
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Makiyah co-hosts a radio show at Neumann University. | |
As part of St. James’ lifelong commitment to every child we serve, our 159 graduates can always turn to Graduate Support for help with all of life’s challenges after middle school. Six full-time Graduate Support team members assist with: | |
- High school placement
- Post-secondary placement
- Non-traditional graduate pathways
- Workforce development
- Summer camps
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St. James' newest staff members are (L to R): Meredith Quirin Waldron, Jamese Newsome-Williams, Dr. Darryl Roland, the Rev Walter Thorne, John Boccanfuso, Leah Young, Beverly Thomas, Tiffany Drees, Trevor Weaver, Toluwa Aduloju, Xenya Currie, Renée Clark, and Cadie McNaboe. | |
New Staff Well Prepared to Contribute | |
Starting in mid-August, St. James School welcomed 13 new staff members to the team with a robust orientation experience. Everyone benefitted from having this dedicated time to share resources and best practices, and to build connections.
Almost every part of the growing St. James community was represented, from instructional staff to the Wellness Center to The Welcome Table, ensuring a foundation of knowledge and relationships that will strengthen the pursuit of our mission each and every day.
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Students boarding a plane bound for sleepaway camp in New England. | |
Summer Flew By for All Our Campers | |
Summer always seems to go quickly, and that was true for St. James students, all of whom were busy exploring their interests in a variety of camp settings.
On campus, we offered 13 options for day camp in July, ranging from a Missoula Children's Theater production to soccer camp with the local non-profit, Starfinder Soccer in Manayunk.
Partnerships with several private day camps in the area, including those run by Germantown Friends School and La Salle College High School, enabled some of our students to experience different environments. “We do this to ensure our students have an opportunity to be in that space and know they belong in that space,” says Assistant Principal Sarah Carroll.
We also sent more students than ever before to summer sleepaway camps. For many this meant a first airplane flight, first swim test, first night camping out in the woods, and many more opportunities to grow. Returning campers enjoyed deepening the friendships they had made the previous summer.
St. James celebrated a first when our graduate Randy returned to Camp Agawam as a counselor!
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Josiah, in center of photo, poses with new friends at Camp Agawam. | |
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Join Us for the 2024 Huskies Hustle 5K
Saturday, November 2nd:
Runners, Walkers, Sponsors, Spectators, Volunteers Welcome!
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This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to come together, get active, and support a great cause. We’re raising funds to provide scholarships for St. James students, and our goal is to have 250 people participate.
Whether you’re an experienced runner or just want to walk and enjoy the day, we’d love to have you join us!
Register or learn more about how you can participate, volunteer, or support the race!
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St. James is a faith-based educational community deeply rooted in transformative loving relationships. | | | | |
