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2009-2010 Calendar
7/31/2009
Click here to download the 2009-2010 Calendar.

Welcome

Academic Program

Curriculum

The hallmark of Saint James School’s academic program is our core curriculum, which is designed to provide a sound foundation in all disciplines and to prepare our students for further study at a four-year college. Both rigorous and supportive, the academic program stimulates and challenges students to develop their strengths and to cultivate and improve skills in other disciplines. All students are grounded in the basic skills and content of traditional liberal arts and sciences. Advanced Placement courses are offered for able and interested students who wish to pursue subjects in greater depth. Electives are offered to upper-form students for enrichment and the exploration of new interests.

To foster the self-discipline of effective time management and study habits, students work in their dorm rooms, the library, or the study hall room. A dedicated faculty inspires, teaches, and encourages our students to meet a particular challenge or strive for an ambitious goal. They are available to students either by appointment or informally, and students are urged to seek out a teacher whenever they need extra help. Small classes, typically 10 to 12 students, ensure that each student is engaged and actively involved in class.

Faculty Profile

Ted Camp

History Department Chair

Ted Camp came to Saint James School in 1995. He has seen growth and change over the years. In an interview, Mr. Camp talks about his journey, the school and his role.

Put the last 14 years into perspective as a member of the Saint James School community.
TC: Exactly the same, only different. The core and the mission of the school have not changed. Over the years the expansion of the campus and the number of new buildings have increased in an effort to accommodate our community.

With 14 years experience at Saint James, has your role changed?
TC: I do a lot more mentoring with the new faculty. For some this is their first teaching job out of college, and it's a period of adjustment. I was in their shoes a bunch of years ago.

What are your specific responsibilities?
TC: I teach Modern Europe and Developing Nations, along with AP World History. I've become more involved with Chapel life (as lay Eucharistic minister), I serve on the Disciplinary Council as a faculty advisor, I serve as a Weekend Duty Captain and I am the school's Archivist. I also coach two sports - head coach for the girls' varsity soccer team and as assistant coach for the boys' varsity basketball team.

Do you set goals for yourself in the classroom?
TC: I want to give the students a sense of history in an effort to prepare them for college. We don't focus on one particular event or time, but we do cover a lot of material. I want them to have an overall sense of historical events and what those events have meant over time. I want the students to be able to read critically, write clearly and efficiently, and be able to engage in conversation about the significance of historical events.

Being from the New England area would you share your journey to Saint James?
TC: I had been teaching in Massachusetts at a boarding school, my first job out of college. I knew I wasn't going to stay there forever. One day a group of guys from my residence hall were playing stickball. I heard some loud pops and I thought they had firecrackers. It turned out one of the guys had been shot by someone from town. It sort of got me to thinking about expediting my job search. I did what I called back then a 'half-baked' job search, but it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. A part of the job search included a job fair - it was one of those events that I expected very little to come from it. I came across an opening at Saint James School. I had never heard of the school. Ms. Pollock was at the job fair and interviewed me. I knew about 15 minutes into the conversation with her that Saint James must be really special. Then I interviewed with Father Dunnan, who invited me to campus. After almost missing the flight, Marty Collin picked me up at the airport. We had a great conversation. I know this will sound funny, but when I arrived on the Saint James campus, I was impressed with the Fine Arts Center front doors - the details to the front doors. Throughout the weekend visit, I was impressed with a lot of things - chapel service, the students, the conversation I had with Marty and Chick Meehan about teaching. To top it all off, Father Dunnan offered me the job. I had been a New England person all my life, but I knew this was a great opportunity for me at age 31. Saint James is a wonderful place. I've settled in, made friends and have no regrets.