My Why

By Kandice Kimmel, History & Latin, 5th-8th Grade

My family and I have been a part of St. James Day School for eleven years. As the students get older I see enrollment decline in middle school as students leave to enter public school for many reasons; dance, band, basketball, drill team, football, baseball, trap, and socialization. My husband and I decided to keep our oldest children, Cooper and Olivia, at St. James Day School throughout middle school because it was the best and safest place for our adolescent twins to navigate so many different things all at once (hormones, executive functioning, relationships, learning differences) while being challenged academically.

 Were we worried about the social aspect? Absolutely! It was a small class and we had two of the students! We felt that our kids had enough socialization with the entire middle school student body and outside relationships (Boy Scouts, church, family, and friends) that it was more important for Cooper and Olivia to concentrate on their academics, continue to cultivate their love of learning, and the character development that is so intentional at SJDS. The twins graduated eighth grade from St. James Day School with five high school credits (Algebra I, Physical Science, Art I, Latin I &II). They actually skipped ninth grade because they were so ahead of the Arkansas public school system (it is a small school, we live in Prescott, AR and I know COVID played a part).

 When I had the chance to meet their high school teachers a few months ago they all had wonderful things to say about the twins and how impressed they were with their academic performance. The thing that made me proud and the biggest compliment I could receive as a parent was the fact that each teacher told me how kind and helpful my children were. Their teachers were blown away by the fact that my kids look them in the eye when talking to them, can speak effectively to a group, and even as the 'new' kids they have a leadership quality, manners, and problem solving skills. I am so happy we kept our oldest kids at SJDS and I plan for our youngest, Finn, to graduate from St. James because that is how much I believe in our school. The education, traditions, and culture that is unique to SJDS is invaluable. Our students go on to achieve success in the areas and fields that interest them the most, and I do not think that is coincidental. SJDS has found the formula to create successful, lifelong learners!