Kamajiah (7th grade) stands next to André while they film JJ (6th grade) and Gabby (5th grade) slating. |
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Ready, set, action!
Here come the "St. James Producers"
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Nine students created videos in a one-week film enrichment program led by our 2023 Scholarship Benefit honoree, André Robert Lee, filmmaker, teacher, and activist.The students were selected from 22 who applied by writing an essay stating why they wanted to participate.
Many St. James graduates who attend boarding schools are familiar with André for his documentary, The Prep School Negro. The enrichment was a chance for current students to meet André and vice versa. During the January program, participants learned to share through film "What St. James means to me" or "What's special about St. James." The nine students were granted special permission to use their phones throughout the school day to record videos. The youngest student to participate, 5th grader Gabby, was excited to capture a moment in choir class:"We were all singing one line and I filmed it!"
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André Robert Lee with film enrichment students in front of The Welcome Table |
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At the start, students learned how to hold the phone while recording. You hold it horizontally, not vertically, noted Ayden (6th grade). The reason, said Kamajiah (7th grade), is that "landscape can show a lot more."
Mia (8th grade) found special value in "getting to know the environment, other people, and their perspectives of the school." As a result, she said, "I learned St. James is a very special and safe place to get an education and be with my family." Favorite among the videos she shot were the Welcome Table, basketball court, and new building.
André said he was pleased with “how creative the students were. They had great ideas, took in the ideas I shared, and made them their own. Our time together was special and honestly sacred.”
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At the end of the week, when the students walked around the new building with André, they self identified as the "St. James Producers." It was clear that for Kamajiah (7th grade), film is a passion and this enrichment is just the beginning. She shared, "My grandmother gave me my first camera and I've been interested in film since I was 7. I love the word 'action!' I was inspired by Mr. Lee’s class, and it was powerful to see our small school have so much talent."
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MLK Day: Service and Reflection
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Members of our school community packaging food |
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Our students, staff, volunteers, and families came to campus for our Annual MLK Day of Service. The day started with a prayer service and keynote address, followed by a service project and time for reflection on the words of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Douglas Faxon (pictured at left), social studies teacher and therapist, delivered the keynote. He spoke directly to our students while telling the story of his education journey in middle school and how perseverance helped him earn a doctoral degree.
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Douglas said, “Education is the key to how we free our minds and lift ourselves up out of our current condition. To accomplish this, you must have a dream, too.” He ended with this message on setting and accomplishing goals: “Here are five things you can do right now to continue working to fulfill Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s mission: |
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- Identify some goals that you want to set for your life and the steps it will take to obtain those goals.
- Write down those goals and steps on a piece of paper or in a journal, then put it somewhere for safe keeping.
- Review them often and commit yourself to achieving your goals.
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Always remember that we come from greatness: Kings and queens of the African continent who journeyed to the shores of America over 400 years ago. Always remember that we stand on the shoulders of giants like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, W.E.B. Du Bois, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman and so many others. Therefore, always remember that you can do anything that you dream to do.
- In the words of poet Edgar Albert Guest, "Don’t Quit.”
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Working together on food packaging |
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Our husky mascot with Mary Hopkins, volunteer |
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Living out what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had to say about service — ‘What are you doing for others?', our school community packaged 10,000+ meals with The Outreach Program. The meals were donated to The Welcome Table and partner organizations that also address food insecurity in Philadelphia. Students made a game out of the work — creating a song to make the tasks more engaging and passing the packages down the table line to the next student. For every box filled with 150 meals, students rang a bell and Levi Lee, Director of Student and Family Services, announced over the mic how close we were to our goal of 10,000!
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Three New Staff Members Join St. James |
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Rachel Winner Advancement Associate
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Soozung Rankin
Individual Giving Specialist
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The Rev. John Campbell, Chaplain Religious Studies Teacher
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Tyrone (6th grade) participated in a Garden Enrichment activity, arranging a mandala with flowers. He said he was excited to share his creation with his grandmother. |
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Shayla (6th grade) and Aryanna (5th grade) are the top two library visitors. They check out 4 to 10 books every Tuesday when they visit the library!
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Our Grand Opening Celebration is March 21st!
We have rescheduled the Grand Opening Celebration for Tuesday, March 21st, 5:30pm – 7:30pm. Join us for the blessing of the building and a tour of our accessible new space, including a new lobby (see below), Graduate Support Center/Huskies Hangout, and three spacious classrooms! Trust us, it was worth the wait!
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St. James School is a faith-based Philadelphia middle school in the Episcopal tradition, committed to educating students from an under-resourced neighborhood within a nurturing environment. The school is a community that provides a challenging academic program and encourages the development of the moral, spiritual, intellectual, physical and creative gifts in its students. |
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