by Susie Rogers, Middle School ELA teacher

“Chapel is the heart and soul of our school community”

St. James is known as a small Christian school with strong academics. As a child, I was fortunate to attend St. James, and then as a parent, I sent my girls here. I now have come full circle as I am presently an English Language Arts teacher at this beloved school. I do not take this privilege lightly. 

One facet I have loved throughout all my years with St. James is the Christian family atmosphere. As a student, I always felt safe and secure and was able to grow in my relationship with God. As a mom, I was comforted that my children would be surrounded by love and religion. As a teacher, I know my job is beyond teaching my students the 3 R’s of education: “reading, writing, and arithmetic;” every other aspect must grow from the foundation of the fourth R, religion. I must show them the way to become independent thinkers, to be kind and compassionate citizens, and to grow in their faith.

No one is as honest as children, so I asked my 7th graders their perspectives about attending a small Christian school. Their responses confirmed my belief that St. James Day School is much more than a school; it is truly God’s home.

At St. James praying is one of the many advantages that my classmates and I have. We pray to ourselves, as a class, as a grade, and every Tuesday, as a school. Talking to teachers and other students about God is encouraged.  Annabelle

I am glad that I go to a Christian school because I can discuss and ask questions about God.  James

One of the things I like about St. James is having daily devotional ... Another thing I appreciate is how we are fortunate to discuss God and read the scripture every day. Kennley

It feels really good to have prayer requests in school because everyone gets to share their requests. Bramlett

I like discussing the scriptures that we read because we can see the different perspectives of everyone's point of view. I feel very fortunate to have a daily devotional and to be able to discuss God with my classmates. Elle

I believe chapel services are a good way to come together as a group and worship God. It gives me a sense of security.  Carolina

The Christian background that St. James sets for its students can change a kid’s whole life for the good.  Abbie

Talking to God every day is a way of dealing with things that we are going through in our lives. Jon

I think it is good that everybody has a good connection with God. When we have Daily devotional, we read scriptures that lead up to things like Lent and Advent. Emma

One of the things that I love most about St. James is devotional. I like devotional because we get to read and learn about God. We also get to tell what is on our minds and on our hearts. Lastly, we have prayer requests and we say the lord's prayer. I like having prayer requests because you can pray for people and your classmates.  Molly

by Nicole Ayers, Math & Science

Actually, there was a strange chemical preservative odor that filled the air as seventh-grade students performed a dissection of four fetal* pigs. The students, along with two additional members of the Anatomy & Physiology team, have spent extensive time researching human body systems. The dissection helped make this research come to life, bringing their learning to a new level.

Many students had to overcome personal fears and apprehensions to participate in this lab, but everyone pushed their limits to fully engage. This experience would not have been nearly as insightful without the assistance of four adult experts who volunteered their time. Dr. DuBois and Dr. Yost led the process, as they did with last year’s class. Angela O’Rorke shared her knowledge of zoology, and Caty Burks brought experience from the nursing field. Altogether, it was a learning experience these students won’t soon forget!

*Preserved pigs were not raised for the purpose of dissection; they are a byproduct of the pork industry. Most of the pigs were stillborn and would be discarded were they not reutilized for educational purposes.

by Nicole Ayers, Math & Science

Seventh grade brought an assortment of pies to measure radius, diameter, circumference, and area. We learned that pi, an irrational number commonly approximated as 3.14, is the constant of proportionality between the diameter and circumference of a circle. It is also used to find the area of a circle when multiplied by the square of its radius. What a tasty way to apply our math skills!

by Nicole Ayers, Math & Science

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon, we started the year with a study of human space exploration. The seventh-grade students researched characteristics of the solar system capable of sustaining life, along with adaptations necessary for humans to travel, work, and live in space. As part of the investigation, they made a simulation of NASA’s upcoming Lunar Gateway, in anticipation of humankind’s next steps on the moon. Fellow students got to imagine and experience how microgravity affects basic necessities such as eating, drinking, and sleeping. They learned about the value of growing plants in space, as well as the importance of keeping a sound mind in tight quarters. Students even got to suit up for a moonwalk and communicate with one another via headset and webcam. The Life in Space Experience was…out of this world!

7th Grade History

By Jennifer Jordan 

Seventh grade’s first history unit is the Renaissance, that lovely period of European history in which art, beauty, and classical thinking flourished. What an exciting time to study, as students can engage their senses artistically and aesthetically. We began with learning about why the Renaissance started in Italy, which brought us back to the classical works of Ancient Rome and Greece, topics studied last year. It’s great for the students to make these connections. Students have studied the three most prominent city-states--Florence, Rome, and Venice--and learned their contributions to the Renaissance. As a bonus, we had the opportunity to play with 3-D models of Florentine buildings as they were in the 14th century, through Florence As It Was, a digital art project led by George Bent, Art History professor at my husband’s and my alma mater, Washington and Lee University. We also learned about the construction of il Duomo, Bruneschelli’s amazing accomplishment, the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, as well as the Pantheon in Rome. The magnitude of these works is astounding. 

Last week, students  took a gallery walk of landscapes and portraits by the most famous Venetian artist, Titian. They viewed the printouts and analyzed the use of color and emotion. We also took a 360 degree online tour of several Venetian buildings constructed during the Renaissance. This week, we delve into the Renaissance’s most famous individuals-- artists, scientists, and inventors-- and learn how they were inspired. Soon, we will begin work on an evaluative project-- the Renaissance Academy Awards. Stay tuned! 

Visit Florence As it Was at http://florenceasitwas.wlu.edu/. There are maps, 3-D models, and art collections in Sketch Fab. It is worth your time!