Greetings from the Dean's Office!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The school year began with a busy and tightly scheduled welcome week. Between orientation sessions, sports practices, and introductory classes, our students were very busy. Boarders were able to meet their fellow dorm residents, and day students spent extended days on campus. During our first full weekend together, many students spent time Saturday morning volunteering together with several local organizations.
We are grateful for the effort all our students, and especially the new ones, gave to get to know our campus and culture. We are approaching the end of our first week of regular classes. Everyone is working together to develop a routine of classes, meals, practices, and study halls. It is particularly nice to start this week as a community with chapel time and seated meals. Both allow everyone on campus to share an experience and get to know one another as well as the values of the school.
This week, every student and faculty member on campus signed our honor code during Wednesday chapel (see photo above). Senior Prefect, Danseh Yanou, offered his thoughts on honor and the culture of trust at Saint James. Today, our new students and faculty joined the maroon and white teams by drawing their color during our extended lunch. Some students were able to join the same team as an older sibling by claiming their legacy while others left their team to chance. Our new maroon and white members were cheered and celebrated by their teams. We look forward to our first maroon and white competitions in the coming weeks. We also celebrate that varsity and JV teams are starting their athletic competitions, private music lessons are beginning, and students are auditioning for the fall play.
Academically, there are already assessments and opportunities for learning and growth. While welcome week is certainly a full speed ahead experience, it helps us hit the ground running and allows us to grow together in so many ways.
While we are just starting the year, it is never too early to plan and prepare for our breaks from school. At each break, the campus will be closed. Students must leave at the appointed time and return within the return window. Please refer to this table for departure and return times for all of our breaks.
As we start the year, I want to remind families of a few key procedures for safety on campus. First, for families dropping a student off on campus, please drop the students at the upper parking lot outside of Alumni Hall. We ask that you do not drive into the lower parking lot behind Alumni Hall as there are often students walking in that area during the darker times of the morning and evening.
Second, attendance must be communicated with Mrs. Martirano and/or Nurse Lum by emailing SJSattendance@stjames.edu. If your child is ill and will not be in school, please notify us prior to morning Chapel (8:00 a.m.) If you are picking up your child for an appointment, please let us know as far in advance as possible, noting the times for pick up and return. All students should be picked up in the parking lot of Alumni Hall after they have signed out in the Academic Office. Students should sign in when they return.
Additionally, the Saint James campus is tobacco and vape free. While on campus, we ask that all visitors refrain from tobacco use of any kind. If you have any questions, please contact:
We look forward to an exciting year together filled with learning and growth. Please reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
David Hutchings
Dean of Students