St. James R-1 School District

STATE BOUND: Cross Country Qualifies for State! ❤️🐯🤍 Congratulations to our cross country runners on a great performance at today's district meet! The boys team brought home 4th place, earning their spot at next week's state meet! We're also celebrating five individual state qualifiers who finished in the top 30 at districts: - Ashton Moreland (3rd place) - Kylar Hodge (14th place) - Tristin Barton (15th place) - Kate Strackeljahn (25th place) - Tara Murphy (27th place) The state meet will take place next Friday at Gans Creek in Columbia, MO. Help us cheer on our Tigers as they head to state and represent St. James!

Halloween in the Halls! 🎃👻🕷

Check out our Tiger Weekly Highlights! ❤️🐯🤍

For more information on Tiger Events: https://www.stjschools.org/page/athletics-and-activities

FALL BACK! Don’t forget to set your clocks BACK one hour this weekend. Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Pumpkin Food Chains! 🎃🐯❤️

High School students in Mrs. Mueller’s Applied Science class put a Halloween twist on learning by creating food chains out of pumpkins! This hands-on project encouraged critical thinking as students explored how living things are connected.

Community Helpers Day with Kindergarten! ❤️🐯🤍

Our Tigers spent the morning learning from local heroes! Thank you to the St. James Police Department, St. James Ambulance District, St. James Fire Protection District, City of St. James, Missouri Utilities and Sanitation Departments, and Copeland Bus for giving students a closer look at the people and services that keep our community running.

From exploring emergency vehicles to learning how local workers help others, our Tigers are discovering what it means to be engaged citizens and how caring relationships and community partnerships make St. James a better place for everyone!

It’s back! Our Heart of a Tiger series returns this fall with stories that remind us what makes St. James special.

🌟 Episode 1: Meet Erin McCurdy! A St. James graduate and now our middle school librarian, Mrs. McCurdy helps students discover new interests, explore new ideas, and find a love of reading. 🌟

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: https://canva.link/heartofatiger-mccurdy

Through her work connecting students with books and creating a welcoming space for learning, she makes a difference in the lives of our Tigers every day. That’s the Heart of a Tiger. ❤️🐯🤍

Creative Writing Club Releases First Literary Magazine! ✍️🐯❤️

St. James R-1 High School's Creative Writing Club has been hard at work creating the school’s first literary magazine, Plot Twist! The Halloween anthology "Once Upon a Midnight Dreary" was shared with students and staff!

From short stories to art and photography, every piece was created by our students. Through Critical Thinking and creative expression, these students are sharing a little piece of themselves with the world.

We can’t wait to see what the next edition of Plot Twist brings!

Spooky Doors at LWJE! 🕸️🕷️🎃👻

The halls of Lucy Wortham James Elementary got a Halloween makeover with a door-decorating contest! Student Council members helped judge the entries, giving students a chance to take an active role in their school community and practice Engaged Citizenship.

Congratulations to the Art Department for taking home Best Overall!

REMINDER: Important Upcoming Dates!

➡️ Thursday, October 29, 2026 – Early Dismissal
➡️ Friday, October 30, 2026 – No School

Early Dismissal Schedule: LWJE and HS release at 12:30 PM, and
MS releases at 12:50 PM. You can view the full 2026-27 Academic Calendar anytime on our district website: https://www.stjschools.org/page/academic-calendar

Every day is a GREAT day to be a Tiger! ❤️🐯🤍

Mission Monday: Having a Bone-afide Blast with Science! 🦴🐯🔍

Science got a little spooky in Ms. Perkin’s first-grade classroom! As part of their Body Systems Unit, students used Cheetos Bag of Bones to build their own skeletons and put their skills to the test with a game of Operation.

Hands-on science made learning about the human body a real treat!

Pumpkin Day at Tiger Cubs! 🎃🍂🐾

Thanks to sponsors Pop's Pumpkin Patch, St. James PTO, and Phelps County Bank, Tiger Cubs got to pick their own pumpkins, play games, and learn through play, with their families invited to join the fun. A ton of Fall fun right here at school!

Celebrating Lucy Wortham James Elementary Students of the Month! 🐾📚🌟

LWJE is excited to recognize our October Students of the Month! This month, students focused on RESPECT and what it looks like in their daily lives at school.

From being kind to classmates and listening to others to making good choices and following classroom expectations, students found ways to show respect throughout the month. Teachers selected one student from each classroom who consistently demonstrated this important character trait.

Help us congratulate our October Students of the Month! We are proud of the way our students treat others and contribute to a welcoming school community.

Teens Teach Prevention at the Middle School! ❤️🐯🤍

High school students visited the middle school to share important information about the dangers of vaping and smoking through the Teens Teach Prevention program.

By helping younger students understand the risks and make informed choices, these student presenters demonstrated Social Integrity. Their willingness to share what they've learned helps build a school community where students look out for one another!

First Grade Career Day! ❤️🐯🤍

Our first graders went on a walking field trip to visit the St. James Police Department, James Memorial Public Library, City Hall, and St. James Park to learn about the people and services that support our community.

Thank you to our guest speakers: Dr. Tim Wilson and Abbey Auxier from Dr. Tim’s Pharmacy, Assistant Superintendent Dr. April Williams, Matt Keyes from Walmart DC, and Ranger Burton and Corporal Wright from Missouri State Parks.

These experiences help students understand Engaged Citizenship and the many ways people contribute to their community!

Missouri Day: Celebrating Our State Through Hands-On Learning! 🍇🎻🐝

Today, our 3rd graders celebrated Missouri Day with a hands-on look at the history, traditions, and skills that make our state unique! Students learned from local experts and experienced Missouri history in a fun, memorable way.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped make today special!

⭐ Kendra Swee: James Foundation/Maramec Spring Park
⭐ Jerry Rosa: Bluegrass & Historic Artifacts
⭐ Spencer Manor: Missouri Grapes
⭐ Caroline Copeland: Beekeeping
⭐ Lynn Wilson: Missouri Games
⭐ Steve and Brenda Stack: Rusty's Kettlekorn
⭐ St. James Sports Club: Funnel Cakes
⭐ Ozark Spirit Cloggers

We’re grateful to our presenters for sharing their knowledge and talents with our students, and to our amazing 3rd-grade team for putting together such a great learning experience!

Social Integrity at St. James R-1 High School! ❤️🐯🤍

Every school day, Lily Davis and Lily Bahr help keep St. James High School students informed by reading the daily announcements. From sharing important reminders to keeping everyone up to date on what’s happening around the building, they help students stay connected to their school community.

Thank you both for helping keep our Tigers in the know!

Inspiring the Next Act! ❤️🐯🤍

High school Theatre students welcomed St. James graduate Gina Wisdom, who shared her experience as a stage manager and her involvement with East Central College’s theatre program. Students asked questions about collegiate theatre and learned more about the opportunities available as they consider their own paths after graduation.

Thank you for helping our students see how their passions can open doors to future opportunities!

Mizzou Spirit Day with STJ Cheerleaders! ❤️🐯🤍

Our STJ Cheerleaders took their skills to Faurot Field for a day of dancing, college football, and team bonding! Experiences like these help our students dream bigger, explore new possibilities, and see where their hard work and passion can take them.

A big thank you to our coaches, Gahr Truck & Equipment, Ben Bahr Construction, and Almost Home for helping make this opportunity possible for our students!