By Kandice Kimmel, Latin & History, 5th-8th Grade
We kicked off Latin classes with a riveting game of Latin charades! This physical game not only gets students up and moving, but keeps them engaged and laughing while they are learning. It also encourages students to memorize the words, so they are required to guess their comprehension. Plus, it is a great way for students to practice pronouncing Latin terms.
By Kandice Kimmel, Latin & History, 5-8th Grade
The eighth graders hosted the first grade class this morning in honor of Finn's birthday! They had an eighth grade buddy and played a Trivia Blooket, enjoyed a delicious treat, and participated in an ABC scavenger hunt. I don't know who had more fun, the eighth graders or first graders! As a teacher and mom, I felt like this was an amazing learning opportunity for BOTH classes! I was impressed with how the eighth graders put forth their best effort to make sure these first graders had a wonderful experience. Every student was learning or cultivating a new skill.
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By Kandice Kimmel, Latin & History, 5th-8th Grade
It is a rite of passage to go on the traditional sixth grade field trip to Mo Ranch in Hunt, Texas. Mo Ranch is an adventure-based, hands-on expereince where individuals come together to learn more about themselves, their classmates, and how to work together as a team to overcome challenges. Carefully constructed, the course is a collection of poles, cables, and ropes strung together into elements, individual activities that challenge individuals and groups in distinctive ways. The low elements course emphasizes teamwork as participants tackle a series of obstacles and situations that require the use of 21st century skills-problem solving, communication, leadership development, adaptability, initiative, social skills, and more.
Mrs. Denise and I took the sixth grade class to Mo Ranch recently and I was absolutely blown away by my students! They challenged themselves, encouraged their classmates, and had so much fun doing it. They staff was impressed with how effectively and kindly this group of students could communicate with one another. Most adults could not do what I saw these eleven and twelve year old children accomplish. We hiked in the mountains, zip lined, canoed, participated in high elements, team building exercises and made memories to last a lifetime!
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!
