"Oh the places you'll go" ~ Dr. Seuss

Fifth grade at St. James always looks forward to the overnight field trip to the Arkansas Outdoor School…or better known as 4-H. Anticipation builds weeks before the actual trip with picking activities, going over the packing list, travel plans,and permission slips.

Then…the day of departure finally arrives. Fifth grade was able to experience team building, archery, canoeing, orienteering (using a map and compass), fishing, and rock climbing.

Field trips provide authentic, hands-on, experiential learning opportunities where students connect what they are learning in the classroom in a real-world context.

Erin Hobson
Pets are bundles of love wrapped in fur

The essence of life is to serve others and do good.

Each class at St. James is responsible for choosing and executing a community service project. Fifth grade has worked with the Texarkana Animal Care and Adoption Center for the past two years. This year our project included cat scratchers made from recycled cardboard, making dog treats, and a pet food drive (in early February).

Two shelter representatives visited our classroom along with Piglet (dog) and Boots (cat). Fifth grade learned about the pet adoption process, responsible pet ownership, and other pet care topics.

Community service allows the students a valuable opportunity to learn about different aspects of our community that may be less familiar to them but needs their attention and compassion.

Erin Hobson
An Expedition Across Campus

by Jennifer Jordan, History & Latin Teacher

Each year I love to close the 5th grade’s study of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis & Clark with a trail mapping activity on our school campus. Students divide into teams and receive instructions to chart a route that includes compass directions, number of feet, and landmarks. Students chart from the side entrance of the middle school, to the basketball court, around the flagpole, and then to the back corner of the middle school. To simulate Lewis & Clark’s expedition, students imagine that the route is new, unexplored territory and they take notes as such. Each student in each team has a specific role, whether it’s using the compass, measuring the distance, or charting the notes. A student types the notes so that the 4th grade class can test out each team’s notes and see if the notes accurately get them from Point A to Point B. This lesson not only involves collaborative learning and listening skills, but it also enables the 5th grade to show the 4th grade students some of their upcoming activities in middle school. It doesn’t hurt that the 4th grade can locate hidden treasure if they use a good set of notes!


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It's About Drive

by Nicole Ayers

The Spartan Science Olympiad team competed in the Texas A&M University - San Antonio Regional and placed first overall. We will travel to Texas A&M - College Station next month to compete in the State finals. We are a young team of 5th-8th grade students competing against 6th-9th graders, but we have DRIVE!

Individual awards were as follows:

1st Place

  • Codebusters: Katherine, Staten, & John

  • Crime Busters: Olivia K & Morgan

  • Experimental Design: Livi D, Henry, & Bailey

  • Food Science: Henry & John

  • Mission Possible: Bailey & Cage

  • Mousetrap Vehicle: Cooper & Daniel

  • Naked Egg Drop: Morgan & Staten

  • Ornithology: Addison & Morgan

  • Storm the Castle: John & Daniel

  • Write It, Do It: Livi D & Bailey

2nd Place

  • Dynamic Planet: Daniel & Taryn

  • Electric Wright Stuff: William & Cooper

  • Meteorology: Taryn & William

  • Ping Pong Parachute: Morgan & Staten

  • Road Scholar: Staten & William

  • We've Got Your Number: John & Daniel

3rd Place

  • Bridge: Henry & Cage

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