St. James High School student Gabriel Adams recently participated in the 63rd Annual Missouri Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Gabriel earned the opportunity through Intercounty Electric Cooperative's essay competition, joining students from across Missouri for the weeklong leadership and educational experience.
During the trip, delegates visited historic landmarks, museums, and memorials while learning more about government, leadership, and civic engagement.
“Every place we visited had a story to tell, a period of time immortalized through monuments and museums,” Gabriel said. “Whether it was Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, or the Smithsonian, you could feel the history all around you, which made the trip a great learning experience.”
The experience also included unique cultural opportunities throughout the nation's capital.
“My personal favorite place we visited was the Kennedy Center, where we saw a live performance of the musical Moulin Rouge!” Gabriel said.
Gabriel also shared his appreciation for the opportunity and the people who helped make the trip possible, including Intercounty Electric, the chaperones, bus drivers, and St. James English teachers who encouraged and supported him along the way.
Opportunities like this reflect the strength of community partnerships that open doors for students to learn, lead, and experience the world beyond the classroom.








LWJE summer school artists have been bringing their imaginations to life in art class! Tigers created original characters and familiar favorites from books, movies, cartoons, and video games.
From the first sketch to the final masterpiece, these young artists proved that creativity shines bright all summer long!
#SummerSchool #stjschools #academicexcellence










Community Performances: Disney's Finding Nemo KIDS! 🎭🐠
Join us for a fin-tastic showcase of talent at STJ Tiger Drama's Finding Nemo KIDS Summer Theater Camp performances! Students from all three buildings have spent the past month preparing for this special event.
📅 Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
📍 Location: St. James Performing Arts Center
Performance Schedule:
🐠 10:00 AM
🐠 1:00 PM
Admission is free, and doors will open 30 minutes before showtime. These 30-minute performances are the culmination of weeks of hard work learning lines, music, choreography, and stage movement. Don't miss this opportunity to support our talented student performers as they bring this beloved underwater adventure to life!

Today, we celebrate the dads and father figures who show up, lead with care, and make a difference in the lives of our students.
We appreciate the steady support you provide and the important role you play in helping our students find their path forward!

At the end of the school year, LWJE teachers were invited to an after-hours clay workshop to help test a batch of older clay before it is used with students. What started as a practical check turned into a relaxed, hands-on creative evening.
Teachers shaped and molded pieces of their own while ensuring the clay would fire correctly for upcoming student projects. It was a simple way to combine a little art, a little problem-solving, and a well-deserved creative break to wrap up the year. #ArtsInEducation #stjschools #tigerpride










Students in the Life Skills summer school program continue to benefit from hands-on learning opportunities through guest speakers. Representatives from Phelps County Bank, including Jack Mueller and Emily Johnson, visited with students to discuss the fundamentals of banking.
Students learned about banking services, managing money, and the important role banks play in everyday life. Thank you to Phelps County Bank for sharing your expertise and supporting our students through this valuable community partnership!
#SummerSchool #stjschools #communitypartnerships


Kindergarten students had a wild time learning about Missouri reptiles with Kendra Swee from Maramec Spring Park! Students met several native reptiles and even had the chance to touch them.
It was all smiles as students interacted with turtles and snakes while learning about Missouri wildlife up close. Thank you, Maramec Spring Park, for your continued partnership!
#SummerSchool #communitypartnerships #stjschools










The Tiger Trail Sidewalk project is starting to take shape! Made possible through the MoDOT TAP Grant, this project will improve safety, accessibility, and connectivity between the elementary campus and the Field Facility for students, staff, and visitors.
We're excited to see the progress being made and look forward to the lasting impact this improvement will have on our Tiger community. For project details, access changes, parking information, and a map of the project area, check out our previous update: https://www.stjschools.org/article/2958877
Thank you for your patience as construction continues this summer!






Students from all three schools are diving into the world of theater this summer as they learn what it takes to bring Finding Nemo Kids to life. From acting and singing to the many behind-the-scenes roles that make a production possible, campers are exploring every aspect of the stage while growing as performers and supporting one another along the way.
Just keep swimming, Tigers!
#SummerSchool #stjschools #ArtsInEducation










1st-grade summer school students took a walking field trip to St. James Park and had a blast climbing, swinging, sliding, and playing with friends! #SummerSchool #stjschools
Middle School Students Learn Lifesaving Skills! ❤️🐯🤍
Life Skills students had the opportunity to learn important first aid and CPR skills during summer school through a presentation from Jeff Ward with the St. James Ambulance District. Students gained valuable knowledge about safety, emergency response, and how to help others when it matters most.
A special thank you to the St. James Caring Center for donating 40 new first aid kits for our Life Skills students to take home! These kits will support students as they continue building independence and real-world skills.
We also appreciate Ms. Hilderbrand for making these opportunities possible for our students! #SummerSchool #communitypartnerships #stjschools








District educators spent time last week learning more about Competency-Based Education. The morning included a presentation from Dave Williams, principal at Hancock Place, who shared insights and experiences from his work with competency-based learning, and a collaborative work session focused on what this approach could look like in St. James.
#TeacherTuesday #AllRoadsLeadForward #stjschools






Tigers put their creativity to work in Forced Perspective Photography, using camera angles, distance, and imagination to create some fun and surprising photos. It's amazing what a different perspective can do! #SummerSchool #stjschools #tigerpride




Life Skills students welcomed Mr. Aaron Epstein from Intercounty Electric Cooperative Association for a presentation on electricity and electrical safety. Experiences like these help students connect learning to the world around them while building valuable knowledge for the future.
Thank you to Intercounty Electric for investing in our students! #SummerSchool #stjschools #tigerpride










Reports of excessive Speed Reading were coming in from all over LWJE during the final week of school! Students were caught blowing past their reading goals and earned official citations from the St. James Police Department. Fortunately, these were the good kind!
A big thank you to the St. James Police Department for helping us celebrate our students' incredible reading achievements. When schools and community partners work together, GREAT things happen for kids!
#communitypartnerships #stjschools #tigerpride

2nd grade wrapped up their ABC Countdown with “Z for Zip and Zoom” on the last day of school! Students enjoyed a special RC plane flying show thanks to local veteran friends who shared their planes, answered questions, and helped make the morning memorable.
A fun way to wrap up the year and zoom into summer! #academicexcellence #stjschools #tigerpride










Our Tigers are learning, growing, and making the most of every opportunity this summer. All Roads Lead Forward!










4th-grade students in Ms. Bowen and Ms. Frisbee’s classes kept the learning going right up to the last days of school with a Glow Party and a Floor is Lava review challenge! Students put their skills to the test while having fun reviewing what they learned throughout the year. Learning was still in full swing all the way to summer break! #academicexcellence #stjschools #tigerpride










Earlier this month, 5th-grade students headed to Maramec Spring Park for a hands-on Minecraft-themed adventure! Students explored the park while gathering materials for their “forges,” using teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills along the way.
From crafting ideas to exploring the outdoors, this field trip brought classroom learning to life in a fun and memorable way. Thank you to our community partners for helping make experiences like this possible for our students! #stjschools #tigerpride










