St. James cheerleaders kept participants motivated |
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Huskies Hustle 5K a Runaway Success! |
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Hosted by our YoPros (Young Professionals Committee), the annual Huskies Hustle 5K event has become a community favorite — growing each year and bringing together our students, staff, family members, neighbors, faith community partners, sponsors, volunteers, and friends in a morning celebrating all things St. James. |
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The neighborhood was filled with an exciting energy on November 12th, as those gearing up for the 5k mingled with patrons at our weekly Welcome Table Farmer’s Market. St. James cheerleaders were a wonderful addition to the 5K this year. You could hear them from blocks away cheering, “Keep the pace, win the race!” They did not stop until the last walker finished the course at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
“That course was hard but finishing with the excitement from the cheerleaders made it worth it!” said one runner at the after party hosted by the YoPros. The after party featured three vendors, all from our school community, including the Alumni Woodshop Program, led by volunteer Len Haley. Selling their handmade products were Max and Zyree (both Class of 2020) and Mercedez (Class of 2021).
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Max (Class of 2020) with the Alumni Woodshop display |
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Zyree (Class of 2020) helps shoppers at the after party |
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Awards were given to our top finishers 1: Greg Stewart, 2: Nikhil Fernandes, 3: Kellie Hamrick. The largest teams were: Tailored Training, St. Asaph’s Welsh Rarebits, Team Carroll — Todd, and Trinity Church Gulph Mills. A few other faith communities participated, too: St. Mary’s Ardmore, St. George’s, St. Martin’s, Radnor, and Christ Church, Ithan.
We hope to see you all again next year for the 2023 Huskies Hustles!
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Thank you to our sponsors for their support of this annual event and for sending many enthusiastic participants! |
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- 4th Street Cookies
- Dobson Mills Apartments
- East Falls Family Dentistry
- EduTech Academic Services
- Glenmede
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
- Mars Inc.
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- Precision Flooring Enterprises
- ShopRite of Fox Street
- Silver Lining Embroidery and Screen Printing
- Tailored Training, Narberth
- Univest Financial
- Wolfe Scott
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A new first for St. James! Students from the 6th grade were able to experience the wonder of Crystal Cave, a natural rock formation in the Kutztown area that dates back half a million years. Qih'team shows his enthusiasm in front of a row of stalagmites.
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The holidays are a busy time for our Welcome Table! Volunteers and staff distributed meal bags and gift cards to over 200 families and neighbors at our special Thanksgiving Saturday Farmers Market on November 19th. The gift cards were new this year, designed to help families purchase a turkey or main protein, due in part to the limited supply of turkeys and storage capacity. Thank you to our volunteers and church partners for helping our students, families, and neighbors enjoy their Thanksgiving at home!
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They’re here, they’re here! The long-awaited electrical panels have arrived! Supply, demand, and shipping challenges resulted in a 2.5 month delay in finishing our new building. With this critical part now in place, lighting, HVAC, and flooring are being installed, and we are working to wrap up construction. Stay tuned for a rescheduled Grand Opening in the New Year! |
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Welcome to Our New Staff in House Industria |
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Susan Lapacinski
5th Grade Teacher
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Sam Ajewole
Welcome Table Associate
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Where are you from? What were you doing before St. James, and what brought you here?
Sam: I am from Floral Park, NY. After graduating college in 2021, I was working with a local Episcopal church trying to recover food waste from a nearby university and distribute it to the community in Hempstead, NY. I was interested in exploring more community engagement work. That led me to the Episcopal Service Corps, which is how I found the Servant Year Program at St. James and the Welcome Table position.
Bri: I am from Ardmore, PA. I taught elementary school in Camden, NJ before coming to St.James. I wanted to join a school that feels like a family and that truly sees and cultivates the value in each student. I also have grown to love math over the years and want to see more students of color pursuing careers and hobbies in STEM.
Susan: Philadelphia is my hometown. I grew up in the Summerdale neighborhood. I still live in Philadelphia with my family, in Fox Chase. Before St. James I worked for a charter school. I used to work with Mr. McDonough and Mrs. Padilla. Mrs. Padilla and I would talk often, and she always spoke so highly of St. James. I spoke with Mr. McDonough, visited campus, and fell in love with it.
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What's your job at St. James? What does a typical day look like for you?
Sam: I am a Welcome Table Associate. On my busiest days, I am preparing for our Saturday Farmers Market. Right now, I am helping to coordinate the different holiday supports for our families and neighbors, including our coat drive and Santa’s Workshop.
Bri: I am a math teacher for grades 6-8. On a typical day, you can find me teaching topics like geometry, graphing, and solving equations, grading classwork and homework, providing feedback to students in real time, and collaborating with other teachers to make my own teaching even stronger.
Susan: I am the 5th grade teacher. Every day is filled with reading, math, growth, and hard work.
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What are you most looking forward to this school year?
Sam: Getting to know everyone in the community. Especially after social distancing during COVID, it is so nice to engage with people again.
Bri: Celebrating our 8th graders as they get accepted into high schools and live out their dreams.
Susan: Seeing the 5th graders grow and building relationships with all the members of the St. James community.
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When you're not on campus, what do you like doing?
Sam: I love movies and TV, and I love talking about them. I like to play Ultimate Frisbee. I also love to try new foods. I am new to Philadelphia and always up for recommendations of things I should check out.
Bri: I like to cook, read, do yoga, hike, and do nails and makeup.
Susan: I enjoy spending time with my family. I like taking my girls to musicals, and going to the playground with my son. My children are also involved in many activities and I love to go and support them.
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What's a fun fact about yourself?
Sam: I placed 4th in my county for high school wrestling.
Bri: I taught myself how to do nails and lash extensions at home during the pandemic and now it's one of my favorite hobbies!
Susan: I am the youngest of five, I have four older brothers.
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When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Sam: An archeologist or a chef.
Bri: A journalist.
Susan: A marine biologist.
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What's the best part of being in House Industria?
Sam: I love the students’ house spirit. They are always so excited and eager to cheer on their classmates!
Bri: Definitely the students. Not only are they some of the most hard-working at St. James, but Industria students also know how to have a good time and put a smile on your face!
Susan: I love that Industria stands for hard work. I have always prided myself on being diligent. I like to do and show my best to all.
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Three Ways to Help St. James! |
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Caring for The Church of St. James the Less!
Individuals, families, and faith communities are urgently needed to provide care for our historic church building. Cleaning, altar guild work, archives organizing, and more can be done at a time that's convenient for you. Faith communities are encouraged to sign up for a specific task for an entire year!
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Community and Family Service Day
Select Saturdays from 10:00am – 12:00pm.
Join St. James School families, community members, and faith community partners for a hands-on volunteer experience. Cleaning, organizing, helping teachers, etc. Individuals, families, and faith communities all welcome!
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Saturday Academic Clinic – Karl Schoettle and Tina, a 7th grader |
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Saturday Academic Clinic
Select Saturdays from 10:00am – 1:00pm.
Your academic tutoring is needed! Use your time to help individual students or a small group with homework or a project. A lead teacher is always present to assist you and provide you with information.
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Have you mailed a check but not heard from us within the last 30 days?
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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. |
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