Our middle school English Language Arts students have had a busy and exciting start to the year! We’ve been building our writing skills through our “Dear Me” Letters, where students wrote thoughtful letters to their future selves. We’ve also been strengthening our understanding of sentence structure and working hard to become more confident spellers.

One of our biggest focuses has been spelling! Students have been learning strategies to tackle challenging words, recognize patterns, and become more careful and confident writers.

And now, the exciting part—we have officially started our first novels! Students are diving into new stories, meeting new characters, and making predictions.

It’s been a wonderful beginning to the year, and I can’t wait to see how much our students grow as readers, writers, and communicators!

By Susie Rogers, 5th-8th, ELA

As the school year winds down, the campus of St. James have been filled with more than just lessons and assignments; they have been filled with moments that remind us what makes our school so special.

We had the incredible opportunity to hear from Lee Sanders, author of Under the Light of Fireflies, where students were inspired by the writing process and his vision.

My homeroom class and I enjoyed lunch off-campus, where the conversations were filled with laughter, stories, and middle-school energy. Of course, we had to end it with a sweet Dairy Queen treat.

Adding to the excitement, my sweet and beloved eighth-grade girls decided to “flock” and toilet paper my yard in a late-night surprise attack— proof that some of the best memories come wrapped in a little harmless mischief!

This month also brought meaningful traditions such as the final eighth-grade chapel (and mine, as well,) which was a heartfelt time of reflection, gratitude, and tears.

And finally, we had the honor of recognizing this year’s National Junior Honor society inductees, celebrating students who exemplify scholarship, leadership, character, and service.

If this month proved anything, it is that St. James is not simply a place where students come to learn facts and take tests. It is a place were lifelong memories are made, friendships are strengthened, traditions are cherished, and students are shaped into remarkable young people. At St. James, education goes beyond academics; it is an experience, and what a remarkable one it has been.

By Susie Rogers, ELA, 5th-8th

After finishing Fever 1793, 6th grade students brought their understanding to life through a creative and meaningful project: the one-pager. This assignment challenged them to go beyond basic comprehension and truly think about the deeper meaning of the story. Each student carefully selected symbols that represented key ideas—resilience, fear, loss, and hope—and explained how those symbols connected to Matilda’s journey.

They also chose powerful quotations from the novel, highlighting moments that revealed character growth and the harsh realities of the yellow fever outbreak. To deepen their understanding students included the historical background of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, connecting real events to the fictional narrative. A concise summary tied everything together, showing their grasp of both plot and theme.

The final products were colorful, organized, and thoughtfully designed which truly reflected their effort and creativity. Presenting their one-pagers to the class gave students the opportunity to share insights, build confidence, and appreciate the different perspectives of their peers. This project was not only artistic expression but also a powerful way to bring history and literature together in a meaningful,memorable way.

By Susie Rogers, ELA, 5th-8th

There is something powerful about students creating something together — especially when it represents the place they call home. Recently, my homeroom class of 7th grade students collaborated on an original painting for the gala auction, and the result was nothing short of extraordinary.

They began with a simple but meaningful idea: to paint the administration building, affectionately known as “The White House,” as the heart of St. James. From there, their creativity grew. They designed strong roots leading up to the building to symbolize the foundation the school provides — faith, friendship, learning, and character. Along each root, they carefully included the many activities that shape student life from K3 through eighth grade: athletics, chapel, art, academics, service projects, and the everyday moments that make St. James special.

Every student had a hand in drawing, painting, and shading this masterpiece. What started as a blank canvas became a beautiful reflection of shared memories and school pride. The final piece tells a story — not just of a building, but of the growth, experiences, and roots that will carry these children far beyond these grounds.

At the gala, this one-of-a-kind artwork will be auctioned to the highest bidder — a family who will hang it in their home as a lasting reminder of the place where childhood was nurtured, friendships were formed, and foundations were built. It is more than a painting; it is a tribute to the years spent growing and learning at St. James.

By Susie Rogers, ELA, 5th-8th

As my fifth graders dive into The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, they are strengthening more than just their reading comprehension — they are building powerful vocabulary skills that will serve them across all subjects. Before reading each chapter, students complete vocabulary work using a physical dictionary, reinforcing alphabetical order, guide words, and the understanding that many words carry multiple meanings. They practice identifying root words and removing prefixes and suffixes to determine the most accurate definitions. While it can be tempting to rely on quick Chromebook searches, we emphasize the importance of these foundational skills and the deeper thinking they require. Through words like trifle, threshold, reign, stratagem, jollification, spiteful, sulky, and inquisitive, students are learning to slow down, analyze language, and appreciate the richness of words — skills that bring both their reading and writing to life.