Students receive blazers from their blazer ambassadors.
|
|
Year 9 Starts with Smiles, High-Fives, Good Vibes
|
|
Families, friends, neighbors and well-wishers filled St. James School’s front lawn on September 9th at 9:00 am when our 9th academic year began with a beloved tradition: the Opening Doors Ceremony. Our student body now numbers 86, with 22 new students joining our community, including 16 4th graders.
Head of School David Kasievich and co-founder The Rev. Sean Mullen began the ceremony with words of advice and a reflection on how our school has grown in 9 years. Father Mullen reminded the audience that St. James School is a place of promise where secret treasures are waiting to be discovered in each of our students.
After a prayer led by our chaplain The Rev. Andrew Kellner and upper school students, Principal Dave McDonough and Director of Student and Family Services Levi Lee introduced the new students and their blazer ambassadors. These special guests officially presented new students with their blazers. This year’s ambassadors included volunteers, neighborhood leaders, donors, high school and college partners, church partners from across the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and friends who support St. James School scholarships.
Laurice Simmons Kennel of OperaDelaware urged students to continue being a force for good in a world that needs them, then sang a beautiful arrangement of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez, of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, gave a moving closing benediction.
As students were dismissed to class, a long line of adults, including members of the St. James School Parent/Guardian Association, mobbed the entrance and lobby to wish each student a great year with smiles and high-fives.
The outpouring of support was a strong reminder that students, families and staff are surrounded by a nurturing community. Thank you to all the friends, volunteers and supporters who are cheering us on!
Pictured below:
New students share smiles and fist bumps with their blazer ambassadors at the 9th Opening Doors Ceremony.
|
|
Conquering Fears in a Week on the Chesapeake
|
|
For one week in late July, staff and rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders left North Philadelphia for a sleep-away camp on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. NorthBay Adventure Camp has been a St. James tradition for 4 years, eagerly awaited by all, despite the fact it is technology-free!
The final week of our summer camp program provides character-building experiences and outdoor fun, including water tubing, zip lining, completing a high ropes course, fishing, rock climbing, and – new this year – sailing. Among the environmental education activities were discerning waterfowl like ospreys, learning about invasive species, and identifying different bay grasses.
Every night there is NorthBay Live, an engaging show highlighting what was learned and shared that day. On the last night, students enjoy a bonfire, Mass on the beach, and a beautiful sunset over Chesapeake Bay.
Principal Dave McDonough said his favorite part was “seeing students encourage each other and conquer their fears.” As one example, he told about a 5th grader who was very reluctant to go on the zip line. “We told 8th graders at the end of the line that a 5th grader was struggling. Six of them immediately climbed the tower and gave her enough encouragement that she did it. Seeing children work together to support each other is a beautiful thing.”
For new staff member Levi Lee, Director of Student and Family Services, “NorthBay was beyond amazing. I've been in the mental health field for a long time, but I've never experienced anything like this. I had an opportunity to bond with students I’ll be working with. I even pulled a prank on my cabin and we all cracked up laughing. Little things like that build relationships.”
Hamirah, 8th grader, said, "I didn't know everyone in my cabin, but I've been having conversations and getting closer." Althea, a 6th grader who conquered her fear of zip lining, said, “The thing that I was scared of the most was the best thing!"
Thank you to all the donors who helped us reach our Summer Camp Challenge goal and made it this experience possible!
|
|
|
What's New at St. James School?
|
Levi Lee is Director of Student and Family Services, a new full-time position. Levi is providing trauma-informed behavioral therapy to students, graduates, and families. He's also working with staff to create a framework for behavioral change so students are self-directed, can achieve their desired outcomes, heal and recover. Levi worked with us last year through Joseph J. Peters Institute. We are excited to have him join the St. James team!
Huskies Hangout expanded to the room across the hall, creating more space for study hall and a private room for meetings. This year we'll be supporting 69 graduates, ranging from freshmen in high school to freshmen in college and students looking to start careers. Come visit one afternoon!
Room 102 became a "maker space"
thanks to a generous donor and our friends from St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Ivy, VA) and The Episcopal Church of the Ascension (Gaithersburg, MD). They helped us renovate the science classroom with new lab tables replacing individual desks, plus added storage and lockers. Now students are better able to collaborate and have more work surface for bigger projects. In addition, walls are now lined with shelves and stocked with supplies, making them more easily accessible. We can't wait for our first experiment!
|
|
Levi Lee, Director of Student and Family Services
|
|
Finished Science room with new lab tables, supplies, and lockers.
|
|
A Word With Diamond Gibbs (Class of 2015)
|
|
How did you first hear about St. James School?
I was a 4th grade student at John Greenleaf Whittier School (now closed) in 2010 and I heard about St. James from John, one of my friends. At the time St. James only had an after school program. John invited me to come with him. What John didn’t tell me was that he was the only student attending. I was the second and others followed.
Do you have a special memory?
I remember (laughing) the day the Principal called my mom to tell us that I was accepted to St. James. I was so excited I was running around the house! I wasn’t learning at my school. I knew St. James School would offer me something different. I also knew that the small class size would allow me to learn more.
Is there one St. James staff member who stands out to you?
Oh, that’s hard. There are a lot! I would say Mr. Todd went above and beyond. He taught me a lot about life in Skills Class, was there for me and my family, and helped me find my high school. Mr. Todd provided good advice, and strategy for studying and life things. Mr. Todd was even my chauffeur for my senior prom! (
See photo of Diamond on prom night with Mr. Todd and Ms. Carroll.)
Was there a field trip that you especially enjoyed?
We had a program called Urban Blazers. Mr. Dolaway was our teacher. He introduced us to things that I knew nothing about. We went hiking, kayaking, swimming, and skiing. We learned how to be a team, how to support each other, and how to push our own personal limits.
Your sisters, Syniah (5th grade) and Shanjae (Class of 2019), followed you at St. James School. What’s your role as their big sister?
I try to be a role model and a leader for them. I think they see me as patient, caring, easy to talk to and a big sister they can go to. I am proud of them and love them.
Tell us about your experience at Mercy Career and Technical High School.
Besides getting my high school diploma, I also earned a certificate in Health Occupations. Mercy was a good fit for me and led me to where I am today.
What are you doing now and what’s your hope for your future?
I am enrolled in the Allied Health program at Community College of Philadelphia. My hope is to become a OBGYN nurse or doctor. I want to get my bachelors and masters, have my own home, and eventually a family.
A word or two to describe your time at St. James School?
Life-changing and overjoyed with the feeling of love!
|
|
Growth Year Ahead for the Welcome Table
|
|
Our Welcome Table is starting its first full year and growing with the addition of two staff. Madeleine Harris, a Servant Year member, will be the Welcome Table Coordinator. Her focus is securing more food partners and working to address food insecurity. In her retirement from administrative work at St. James, Mary Chris Lindsay will provide families and neighbors with a listening ear and help to match them with services as needs arise.
Madeleine (pictured) also will continue to serve at Saint Mark’s Church, Locust Street as the Ministry Resident. This is her second year in the Servant Year Program. We caught up with her to ask a few questions.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I am excited to be more involved with the St. James community and engage in a meaningful way. I am also excited to use the skills and knowledge I learned at Saint Mark’s Food Cupboard to help grow the Welcome Table. Since it’s a new program, I am excited to help shape what it may become!
How do you see your roles connecting Saint Marks and St. James?
I will be the liaison between Saint Mark’s and St. James for Servant Year, so I am hoping to create cohesiveness and connect the program members more.
What were you like in middle school?
I was really into theater. I really wanted to move to New York and become a Broadway star. Also, I wore a lot of sweater vests, bows in my hair, and hardly ever had shoes on!
|
|
One Way You Can Help This Week: Open More Doors!
|
|
We’re entering our 9th school year, serving 86 students and 69 graduates! Will you help the current St. James students continue in their education? And open doors for the newest class of 4th graders? Your support allows us to provide the following:
|
|
$150
pays for a month of food for one student
|
|
$300
pays for 3 science labs
|
|
$750
pays for one new student uniform
|
|
Thank you for starting us off on a strong year!
|
|
St. James School is a faith-based Philadelphia middle school in the Episcopal tradition, committed to educating traditionally underresourced students in 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
