Saint James School will be offering a summer program this coming summer for currently enrolled students entering Kindergarten through 5^th grade for the 2017-2018 school year.  There will be limited availability, but the program will offer the same excellent quality that our school is known for.  Details and applications will be available by the end of this week!

To immerse their students in an important aspect of early American History, today the 5th Grade teachers transformed one of their classrooms into an emigrant ship for a day. This unique learning experience was designed to help students appreciate the hardships that our forefathers experienced as they set sail for the “new world.”

The morning began with students arriving for school in period clothes and hauling all the supplies they would need for their adventure. This included food, water, blankets, pillows, and period-appropriate entertainment. Since all items brought to the “ship” had to coincide with items available in the early 1600s through late 1800s, students, like emigrants before them, were forced to wait in a long line while bag checkers went through their belongings and cleared them for departure.

Upon boarding, students were asked to sign the ship’s manifest (the “Saint James School Compact”) and were given their passenger papers (classwork). Next, they settled their belongings in the tight sleeping quarters – one space being designated for boys and a separate space for girls.  After everyone was on board, the classroom door was shut and all the students settled in for their day “at sea”.  This year, the teachers added a “First Class” section for students who had accumulated enough “teacher bucks” that they could afford to pay the steep $10 fee. Students in first class enjoyed fresh air, private quarters, chocolate, and other treats delivered by the teachers/queens.

Although the fifth grade teachers did remain in the classroom, the students (led by their two designated captains) were solely responsible for completing their work, maintaining a peaceful ship, and working as a team to overcome challenges.  Two “ministers” on the ship ensured that hourly prayers were said. When rations started to dwindle, students took turns fishing out the window.

Students encountered storms and other challenges during their day at sea.  As the school day came to a close, “land” was sighted and preparations for debarking began.  Students will be writing about their experiences in their journal.  Below are some pictures from the morning (click to enlarge):

 

Congratulations to the Saint James School Boys JV Gold basketball team (6th grade), on winning their Deanery playoff games on both Friday and Saturday.   They will play in the Deanery championship game tonight vs. St. Gabriel’s, at Corpus Christi at 7:00PM.  This team is also moving on to the state playoffs (top 4 teams in the Deanery), game date TBA.

The Girls Varsity team also won their playoff games on Thursday and Saturday morning.  They will play in the Deanery Championship game Tuesday night at 6:30pm at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury.  They too, will move on to the state playoffs, game date TBA.

The Girls JV team finished 4th in the Deanery this past weekend and will be moving on to the state playoffs, game date TBA.

Congratulations and good luck!

 

Our Boys 4th & 5th grade intramural basketball league concluded their season on Sunday with the final games and a pizza party.  Congratulations to Team White for winning the championships! (click pictures to enlarge)

There is still room for more families at the Dance Party tomorrow night (2/24, 6:30-8pm in the school gym).  Please fill out the RSVP form (HERE) if you would like to attend.  Contact Alicia Poth at aliciapoth@gmail.com with any questions.