Khloe, Faith, and Imani sharing their enthusiasm during St. James School's 11th graduation ceremony | | St. James Celebrates Graduates from Middle School, High School, College | | We could not be prouder of our newest alumni - the class of 2025 - who graduated from St. James this June, as well as the St. James graduates who have recently completed high school or earned their college degrees. | | St. James Class of 2025 Graduation | | |
Salutatorian Ayden
Families and friends, teachers and school staff gathered on June 13 to celebrate the graduation of our 18 students in the Class of 2025, St. James' 11th graduating class
Highlights included remarks from class Valedictorian Laila and Salutatorian Ayden, awarding of the Co-Founders Cup to Lonnie and Dylan, and inspiring words from our keynote speaker, Neiman, St. James Class of 2021 and Church Farm School Class of 2025, who is headed to Widener University.
The Co-Founders Cup recognizes students who best exemplify the Upper School culture code of AGAPE — Adaptable, Grateful, Aware, Patient and Excellent. It is co-presented by President & Head of School David Kasievich and RAH President Rose Cooper.
| Co-Founders Cup Award honorees Lonnie and Dylan | | Graduation Speaker Nieman | |
Excerpts from Neiman’s speech:
“Class of 2025, you’ve reached a major milestone. You’ve learned, struggled, laughed, and grown. It’s not just about grades or awards — it’s about who you’re becoming.
“Now, as you move on to high school, know that it won’t always be easy — but nothing great ever is. The effort, focus, and discipline you bring into this next chapter has to be even greater. Success won’t just come to you — you have to go get it.
“Be open to new things. Be proud of who you are. And don’t be afraid to try and fail, because that’s how you grow.”
| | The St. James School Class of 2025, capped, gowned and ready to receive their diplomas | | |
Where our Class of 2025 will attend high school
- Church Farm School
- The City School
- The Crefeld School
- Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School
- Germantown Friends School
- Liguori Academy
- Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls
- Maritime Academy Charter School
- The Revolution School
- The U School
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Where our Class of 2021 will attend college
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Harcum College
- La Salle University
- Morgan State University
- Rosemont College
- Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
- University of Rochester
- Widener University
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We have two college graduates in 2025
At St. James, we recognize that every graduate’s path looks different. Some pursue four-year degrees, others choose two-year programs, trade school, or direct-to-career opportunities. We’re proud of the progress our alumni are making at every stage.
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Kevine (pictured), St. James class of 2017, graduated from Lincoln University in May with a BA in Psychology. He has accepted a full-time job as a program coordinator at Culinary Careers Program (C•CAP), a national workforce development non-profit dedicated to training and supporting the next generation of food & hospitality leaders.
- Tynira, also class of 2017, will graduate in August from Holy Family University with a BA in Criminal Justice.
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Ky’ale (‘26), Jayden (‘26), and Semad (‘27) suited up for the exhilarating zipline at NorthBay
The annual St. James summer trip to NorthBay Adventure Camp on the Chesapeake Bay never disappoints. The five days and four nights are packed with activities that delight and challenge everyone. This year, we included our just-graduated 8th graders as well as older alumni who served as counselors along with teachers and staff.
Outdoors, our students enjoyed low and high ropes courses, fishing, rock climbing, beach volleyball, zip-line, The Big Swing, and — new this year — learning how to sail. Indoor activities included basketball, soccer, gaga ball, PingPong and billiards.
As always, there were campfires, Mass on the beach at sunset, “NorthBay Live” participatory entertainment, and scavenger hunts, as well as ecology education and leadership training.
Reflecting on the value of NorthBay, Principal Dave McDonough says that ultimately it provides a space where “children can be children.”
| | Fr. Walter Thorne, School Chaplain, celebrating Mass on the beach with the St. James community | | James ('26) holding a turtle he found on a hike | | Gabby, Serenity, Malaysia, and Kahliya (all Class of 2026) enjoying camp activities on the beach | | Honor ('28) trying out the high ropes course for the first time | | PJ (‘27) following beat-the-heat advice to hydrate and rest | | Enjoying time to connect as friends beyond the classroom are Kash (‘27), Caleb (‘27), Rahmair (‘27), and Mark (‘26) | | You might think our 4th graders would feel left behind when the rest of our students went to NorthBay for sleepaway camp, but no! They reveled in ruling the St. James campus for a whole week! Here are some snapshots of the fun they had living large and in-charge. | Nala, Isha, Kaleb, and Jayson enjoy a tire swing on a field trip to Smith Playground in Fairmount Park | Carli makes slime and dyes it a blue-green color in a hands-on science activity about mixtures and phase changes | | Nala, Malaysia, and Isha clown for the camera | Marisa makes a ceramic pretzel and paints it with colorful glazes in a hands-on pottery making class led by ClayMobile | | Seeing and touching a tree that grew at the time of the American Revolution was among the highlights of a field trip to the Museum of the American Revolution. | | |
ONE WAY YOU CAN HELP
THIS MONTH
Support Summer Camp Experiences for Our Students!
Your donations help us provide our students with enriching summer camp experiences, including the annual NorthBay trip for all 5th-8th graders and, for some, weeks at far-away sleepover camps run by partner organizations.
Please make a gift toward our Summer Camp programs!
| | St. James is a faith-based educational community deeply rooted in transformative loving relationships. | | | | |
