Last week, high school English teacher Arielle Sutton welcomed students into the world of storytelling during a special author visit!
As a published fantasy romance author, Ms. Sutton shared her personal writing journey with English classes, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, the realities of the publishing world, and the persistence it takes to bring a story to life. She also encouraged students to explore their own creativity and consider how their ideas and experiences can turn into powerful stories.
Opportunities like this bring learning to life and show students that the people guiding them each day are creators too! #AllRoadsLeadForward #stjschools #tigerpride
Mission Monday: Community Makes the Magic! ❤️🐯🤍
Kindergarten McTeacher Night was a wonderful example of what can happen when families, businesses, and schools work together!
Thank you to McDonald's for hosting this fun fundraiser and welcoming our kindergarten families for an evening of connection and celebration. Events like this help strengthen the relationship between our school and the community we serve. A special thank you as well to Country Mart for donating the Dr. Seuss birthday cake that helped make the night even more memorable for our youngest Tigers.
Partnerships like these remind us that when the Tiger Community comes together, our students can shine! #MissionMakers #stjschools #tigerpride
This past Wednesday evening, St. James R-1 High School opened its doors to current 8th-grade students and their families for Freshman Preview Night! It was a chance to step inside the building, explore the halls, and begin picturing what the next chapter of their school journey will look like.
Families heard a welcome from staff, toured the building, and learned more about the academic programs, enrichment opportunities, and extracurricular activities available to high school students. From classrooms and clubs to athletics and career pathways, the evening offered a closer look at the many directions students can take as they begin high school.
Thank you to the high school staff and student leaders who helped host the evening and share what it means to be a Tiger. #MissionMakers #stjschools #tigerpride
Several middle school Tigers have completed every topic in the ALEKS program with 100 percent mastery!
ALEKS adapts to each student’s learning needs and creates a personalized path as they demonstrate what they know. Reaching full mastery takes persistence, focus, and strong problem-solving skills!
These Tigers showed exactly that, putting our Portrait of a Graduate focus on Critical Thinking into action!
Congratulations to our ALEKS All Stars! #CrtiticalThinking #stjschools #tigerpride
Tiger Tots Crawl Into a Classic Story for Read Across America! 🕷️📚🐯
Tiger Tots welcomed special guests from St. James Kiwanis as part of Read Across America! Kiwanis members shared the classic The Itsy Bitsy Spider, helping our youngest Tigers follow the spider’s journey up the water spout. After the story, students jumped right into making their own spider craft, bringing the familiar rhyme off the page and into their hands.
Thank you to the St. James Kiwanis members for spending part of their day reading and creating with our Tiger Tots! #communitypartnerships #stjschools #tigerpride
We are proud to announce that four St. James FFA students have earned their State FFA Degree and will be recognized this April by the Missouri FFA Association. This prestigious honor is awarded to members who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their chapter and Supervised Agricultural Experiences, truly living out the mission and values of FFA.
Please join us in congratulating our students:
🏅Belle Bolte
🏅Abby Fuhring
🏅JV Meurer
🏅Kate Strackeljahn
We are incredibly proud of your achievements, Tigers! #FFAProud #stjschools #tigerpride
High School ROX Group Explores Careers at The Muny! 🩷🐯🎭
The St. James High School ROX Group took learning beyond the classroom with a career exploration visit to The Muny in Forest Park!
They heard from Cory Smallwood, a 1996 STJ Alum, who now serves as Director of Development at The Muny. She shared her journey from college to a career built on relationships, leadership, and purpose. Tracy Utzmyers, Director of Production, also spoke with the girls about her own path from college dreams to a dynamic role behind the scenes of one of the nation’s largest outdoor theatres.
Their conversation tied directly into familiar ROX topics like assertiveness, healthy boundaries, self-awareness, and clear communication. It also connects directly to our Portrait of a Graduate value to grow Future Focused learners. Through a real-world experience, our Tigers saw what it looks like to grow into a career built on passion and strong relationships.
Thank you to our counselors, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Fulton, for creating this meaningful opportunity for our students! #FutureFocused #stjschools #tigerpride
Families joined us for Tiger Cubs Parent Night and jumped right into hands-on building fun. Using a variety of materials, students and their families worked side by side to strengthen fine and gross motor skills, explore early math concepts, practice problem solving, and build relationships along the way.
It was a great reminder that some of the best learning happens when we roll up our sleeves and create together! #academicexcellence #stjschools #tigerpride
LWJE library became a Renaissance workshop as 5th graders dove into history! They unleashed ideas in a word brainstorm, competed in a trivia challenge full of quick thinking, and then tried their own Michelangelo-style art. Students taped paper under the table and lay on their backs to draw, just like he did on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
By experimenting, imagining, and creating, these young artists are sharpening their Creative Thinking, just like the innovators of the Renaissance! #academicexcellence #stjschools #tigerpride
St. James Middle School and St. James R-1 High School cast members preparing for Beetlejuice this April had an unforgettable experience when they welcomed Thayne Jasperson to St. James!
Thayne is best known for his role as Samuel Seabury in Hamilton, where he has been part of the Broadway production since 2015. As one of the original ensemble members, he has spent more than a decade performing in one of the most recognized musicals in the world.
For one full day, our young thespians worked side by side with him on choreography, stage presence, and character development. He also took time to give meaningful feedback as they continue preparing for their April production. It was focused, energetic, and incredibly inspiring!
This opportunity began last summer when Mrs. Stites and Mrs. Prawitz attended the Understudy Workshop professional development in New York City and made the connection. That learning experience opened a door that directly benefited our students.
Moments like this remind us how powerful the arts can be when professionals invest in the next generation. We cannot wait to see our Tigers shine on stage this spring! #FutureFocused #ArtInEducation #stjschools
LWJE is proud to recognize our February Students of the Month. This month’s focus was Courage.
Throughout February, students across all grade levels took on classroom challenges that encouraged them to be courageous. It showed up in their learning, their choices, and the way they supported others each day. At the end of the month, teachers selected one student from each classroom who truly modeled this important trait.
👏 Join us in celebrating our LWJE Students of the Month for February. We are proud of you! 👏
We are proud to recognize the St. James R-1 Board of Education for the leadership and care they bring to our district. Serving on a school board takes time, thoughtful decision-making, and a strong belief in public education. Our board members keep students at the heart of their work and help guide the future of our schools.
🐯 Jon Rapp, President
🐯 Tim Wilson, Vice President
🐯 Ben Bahr, Member
🐯 Melanie Davis, Member
🐯 Wes Gahr, Member
🐯 Justin Lorts, Member
🐯 Tina Spurgeon, Member
Thank you for the service you provide to our students, staff, and community!
#BOE #stjschools #tigerpride
4th-Grade Family Night: Sparks of Learning! ⚡🔌💡
Last week, families came together for a night full of energy as students showcased their knowledge of electricity and circuits. From hands-on stations to interactive experiments, the excitement was electric! All Roads Lead Forward! #academicexcellence #stjschools #tigerpride
LWJE Art Club and Student Council teamed up to design coffee sleeves that share a little extra encouragement with our community.
If you stop by Exit 11 Coffee or JB Coffee House this week, your morning cup might come with a special surprise. Quantities are limited, so grab one while you can.
Every kind word shared, every sleeve handed out, every smile sparked reminds us that All Roads Lead Forward! #MissionMakers #StripesOfKindness #stjschools #tigerpride
