NEW NAME. SAME MISSION.

St. James School is now Community of St. James.

Makiyah, Class of 2018: (L) giving the keynote speech at this year’s Opening Doors ceremony; (R top) starting St. James School as a 5th grader;
and (R bottom) graduating as an 8th grader

St. James Today, St. James Forever: Opening Doors 15 Years Later

“Today is the beginning of a new chapter. Dream as big as you can, little ones. I'm proud of you already!” - Makiyah

With those inspiring words, Makiyah (Class of 2018) concluded her keynote speech at our Opening Doors ceremony welcoming returning students, new 4th graders, and transfer students to St. James School for the 2026-2027 school year.

The ceremony is a beloved annual tradition that brings our community together as the new academic year gets underway. This year's was especially meaningful because it marks the 15th anniversary of opening the doors to our first students in September 2011.

Those original 15 excited 5th graders are now 25-26 years old. They have seen how the founding idea of opening doors to opportunity became a central theme in our work leading up to the incredible growth our community has experienced over the last 15 years.

8th grade students showing the ties for our newest 4th graders during the

Opening Doors ceremony.

It was a special blessing to have a successful graduate like Makiyah speak to current students about the impact of a St. James education. A 2022 West Catholic Preparatory High School graduate and a 2026 Neumann University graduate, currently pursuing a master's degree in Sports Business, Makiyah said:

“As I grew up here at St. James, I started to realize that I was learning so much more than what was being taught in a classroom. I was learning about myself, learning from my teachers, how to challenge myself, how to grow, and how to become more confident. But most importantly, I was learning what it truly means to be part of a community.”

We invite you to journey with us this year as the Community of St. James continues opening doors to new opportunities while sharing reflections about the history that brought us here.

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram), and plan to visit the campus for an event like the Fall Festival or a guided tour and lunch! To request a tour, email advancement@stjamesphila.org.

A New Way to Connect:
The Welcome Table
Friendship Bench

The Friendship Bench taking shape, colorfully painted, and getting a test run

When is a bench more than a bench? When the colorfully painted resting spot invites people to lean on one another.

That is the role of our new Friendship Bench, recently installed on our campus on St. David's Field. The bench was conceived by The Welcome Table’s Community Conversations group and created to support mental health in our community.

The group decided last spring to address intergenerational issues of loneliness with community-based mental health support. Turns out a simple but powerful way to do that is by encouraging neighbors to sit and chat. One-on-one conversation makes both people feel supported, with positive impacts on their views of themselves and the world.

“The Friendship Bench is open to everyone so they can feel heard and seen,” says Hana Jemanah, Economic Impact Coordinator at The Welcome Table. “It’s not meant to solve all the world’s problems, but it’s a start.”

Making the bench idea a reality took some dedicated collaboration and community involvement. A team of students, graduates, seniors, and volunteers led by Keenan Hellams (Class of 2016), now a St. James employee on the Facilities staff, worked together to build, paint, and install the bench.

The Friendship Bench is one of many projects the Community Conversations group has undertaken, providing a tangible example of how a conversation can manifest into something that benefits all.

Orientation for New Staff Members

New staff members introducing themselves with the help of posters they made. At left, Servant Year members Margarita Bowers-Young and Shermyla Parham learning about Director of Scholarship Giving Kelsey Vint. At right, Director of Finance Nicole Viaud learning about Post Secondary Success Coordinator Kendal Vassar.

New Fourth Grade Teacher Alina Tucker introducing herself to Advancement Coordinator Kelly Lesko and Senior Director of Advancement Meredith Waldron.

First Mass for New Staff and Servant Years

The Rev. Walter Thorne greeting Dr. Eva Porter, Assistant Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction, and behind her, Norman Bayard, Head of School, as they leave the Church of St. James the Less following a first Mass for new members of the St. James staff.

Servant Year Program Director The Rev. Andrew Kellner celebrating a Mass at the Sunday Night Community Mass. Servant Year Members live communally at Audrey’s House while serving in various capacities across the Community of St. James.

Fruits of their Labor: Skilled Trades Program

More than 20 St. James graduates and community members participating in a weeklong Skilled Trades program this summer, constructing a picnic table and benches for use on our campus.