Mr. Gurol teaching a virtual science class from his actual classroom. |
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A Day in the Life of 6th Grade |
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One by one, nine 6th graders file into their science classroom on a Thursday afternoon. Instead of hurrying through a door, their smiling faces pop up on Zoom. Some sit behind desks, which were borrowed from the school’s campus and personally delivered by Annie Lerew, Director of Operations and math teacher.
To allow for greater individual attention during the period of virtual learning, students have been split into two groups. This group comprises “Roster B” of the 6th grade. The unexpected thing about Roster B today? Many are sporting colorful hair. “It’s Wig Wednesday!” Brynn announces, showing off her pink wig. This is just one example of the many ways teachers and students are making virtual learning more engaging.
In science class, 6th graders are learning what living things are made of. Today they are examining images of living cells (animal, plant, bacteria) and of non-living things like grains of sand. Science teacher Nick Gurol finds this group has sharp eyes and drawing talent.
Students share their observations. Mulani declares that the bacteria on the slideshow “look like little pickles!” “That kind of looks like a pumpkin,” Lakira remarks about a closeup of a grain of sand. Next students turn to their digital tools on Google Classroom and begin drawing cells. When it's time to share the drawings, Mr. Gurol can easily click between students’ pages on Google Classroom and display each student's drawing to the class. "Mr. Gurol, can you look at mine?" David eagerly asks. "Yours looks exactly like a cell!" Mr. Gurol says. He compliments Jeremiah on his 3D drawing and Brynn on her use of the gradient tool.
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English Language Arts class reviewing take-home reading on the Dust Bowl. |
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In English Language Arts, teacher and Director of School Culture Sarah Carroll is teaching about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. She recaps the article the students read for homework, asking questions to determine their reading comprehension. Students correctly recall the nickname for these destructive dust storms: “black blizzards.”
Ms. Carroll opens a Google Classroom discussion so students can answer questions, such as hardships people encountered during the Dust Bowl. Jamill replies, “Farmers had to change their farming methods.” Kendall and Elijah agree that people couldn't "breathe or walk or be safe in the dust.” After a week of preparation, Roster B will start reading the book Out of the Dust over the weekend.
While students are making the most of Zoom classes, they are eager to return to campus when it's safe to learn alongside their classmates.
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Lisa (right) and Helena Best, parent and grandparent of Justin (Class of 2016) and Skylar (5th grade), helped families pick out pies, along with Alan Good from St. Martin-in-the-Field. |
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Thanksgiving Feast … To-Go |
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“Thanksgiving is about community. St. James extends that. Even if you can't reach them, they reach out to you.”
— Helena Best, grandparent
Turkeys showed up at the corner of Lippincott and 33rd Streets at 6 am on Saturday, November 21st — 250 of them! That corner is the weekly site of The Welcome Table food distribution. At 7 am, two vans pulled up, filling the fall day with the very sweet smell of 340 pies loaded in the back. Meanwhile, volunteers had been setting up tables overflowing with side dishes: bags of potatoes for mashing, corn bread, stuffing, and more. Staff and volunteers helped families collect their pre-ordered turkey, ham or chicken and load To-Go Thanksgiving meals into a car or cart.
It was not possible this year to continue St. James' annual tradition of gathering the entire school community into the School House for a feast on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We shifted gears so that we could come together and give thanks in a different way, still celebrating as a community, still sharing an abundance of food and fellowship. In all, the Welcome Table provided over 350 families with a Thanksgiving meal to enjoy safely at home.
Lisa Best (parent of Justin, Class of 2016, and Skyler, 5th grade) and her mom Helena were among the volunteers. She said she wanted to help out because, "St. James has been a tremendous support. My son Justin had great help for his college scholarship at Ursinus College. I've had some ups and downs, and I wouldn't have made it without the school when things were tight for me and my family."
Thank you to all our church partners who helped make the day possible, especially St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Chestnut Hill), St. Alban’s Church (Newtown Square), and St. Alban’s (Roxborough), as well as many others who collected food, gift cards, and much more!
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Staff and volunteers gather for prayer and instructions before the Thanksgiving Welcome Table distribution. |
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Martha Heuser, Associate Director of Advancement, assists a neighbor with her turkey and Thanksgiving meal pickup. |
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A Word with … Paul Barrett, New Coordinator of
The Welcome Table
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St. James School welcomes Paul Barrett as our first Coordinator of The Welcome Table, our community resource and outreach center. Brought up in South Jersey, Paul has spent the last seven years living in the Bronx, NY.
What inspired you to move from the Bronx to Philadelphia?
My wife Sarah and I now have two children: Trey, 3 years old, and 10-month-old Josiah. We wanted to move closer to my family in South Jersey as our children grow.
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What attracted you to St. James School?
I am driven by a desire to seek and do justice. A lot of schools say they serve the whole child, but they don’t. St. James School really does! I was attracted by the opportunity to join in that, and add to it by thinking of new ways to serve the community here.
What are your responsibilities as Welcome Table Coordinator?
I will be formalizing existing programs like community lending, home repairs, and the Saturday legal aid clinic. I also will create new initiatives in response to community needs. My first undertaking will be an adult education program. I’ll be working with a consultant to design a needs assessment to determine which type of program would be best and what topics community members most want. The key to this process is going to be listening and learning from our neighbors.
What experience do you have in nonprofit management?
I was a project manager for Safe Horizon, a social services organization in New York City, where my focus was to enhance services for Black and Latino boys and young men. I then worked at The Fund for Public Health, a partner to New York City’s Department of Health, where I managed a portfolio of public health-based initiatives. Prior to my work in nonprofits, I taught high school history in the Bronx.
How is the Barrett family adjusting to the move?
We now live in the RAH/St. James neighborhood, which has been great. Trey, who has recently developed a fascination with church bells, has already rung the bells at the Church of St. James the Less.
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Graduates Kareem and Max (Class of 2020) |
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Graduates Are “Popping Up” |
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Graduates Kareem and Max (Class of 2020) represented the Alumni Woodshop at a weekend pop-up sale at Vault + Vine, where they helped sell over $500 worth of handcrafted items made by our alumni! Support the work of our graduates by visiting their Etsy shop: St. James Woodshop.
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One Way You Can Help: Rise With Us! |
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Despite a most challenging year, our students are RISING to even greater heights! Take for example DeSean (5th grade), whose teacher says he not only pushes himself academically, he also encourages his classmates by clapping, cheering and snapping. “I have stepped up this year during COVID," DeSean says. "I have been a leader helping my classmates in a COVID safe way.”
Make a year end gift to provide critical support so we can continue to celebrate our students’ strength and resilience.
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Save the Date: March 16, 2021 |
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This joyous virtual event will celebrate our fantastic church partners who have helped St. James School grow over the last decade.
The event will feature a secret, special guest! Can you guess who it is?
Last issue’s hint: He last served at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Baltimore, MD and has written five books. Congratulations Tom Devlin — the only reader who correctly guessed last month!
New hint: You may have seen him on the “Today” Show or perhaps at a special event at Windsor Castle.
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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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