st. james' viewbook

st. james’ episcopal schoolE n g a g i n g h e a r t , m i n d , a n d s p i r i t .

Episcopal School, a ministry of

St. James’ Episcopal Church, serves students

of diverse economic, ethnic, racial, and social

backgrounds through an enriching program of

academic rigor within a supportive Christian

environment that emphasizes respect for all of

God’s creation and the value of service to others.

ST. JAMES’

an urban setting, we rejoice in the

gifts and challenges of our diversity.

IN

st. james’ at a glanceGrades

Average class size

Enrollment

Student to adult ratio

Boy to girl ratio

Students on Tuition

Assistance

Classes per grade

Preschool through Grade Six

22

340 students

11:1

1:1

24%

2

RE-INVENTING TRADITION

We continually evaluate the curriculum for relevance, quality of

intellectual content, and intrinsic interest. We take the best of

tradition and build on time-tested teaching techniques, using

recent scientific discoveries about how children learn best.

is an essential skill for children to learn. Through play, children

ages two-and-a-half through five years at St. James’ Preschool

Explore their world

Get along with others

Test their skills and muscles

Develop new ideas and ways to solve problems

Build confidence and endurance

EVERYDAY LIFE AT ST. JAMES’ PRESCHOOL INCLUDES

Art

Block Building

Cooking

Dramatic Play

Early Literacy

Math Awareness

Moral Education

Music

Science

Social Studies

Yoga

PLAY

preschool

The St. James’ Kindergarten program aims to ensure

that students

Enjoy every aspect of school

Develop a love of learning

Demonstrate initiative and self-confidence

Build a strong academic foundation

Understand that they are responsible

for their actions

Learn to interact well with others

Kindergarten classroom has

various areas that accommodate different

activities and learning experiences. There

is a separate Kindergarten play area used

during recess. At lunchtime, we encourage

interaction between students of all ages in

the main play area.

EACH

kindergarten

with our emphasis on strong

intellectual preparation, we help our

students become empathetic, actively

compassionate people who will use their

talents in service to others.

ALONG

language artsLanguage Arts study at St. James’ develops a child’s

reading comprehension and analytical skills, fosters

a love of literature, and encourages lifelong reading.

In the earl y grades, we teach the basic building

blocks of vocabulary, grammar, and spelling with a

phonetic approach. In subsequent grades, we use

a literature-based approach to ensure that each

student acquires strong reading, writing, and verbal

communication skills.

artThe art experience at St. James’ builds

confidence and creativity while introducing

students to a wide variety of concepts and

techniques. Students work with different

media: paint, pastel, pencil, crayon, ink, and

more.

Projects are influenced by cultures around the

world and inspired by master artists such as

Romare Bearden, Harriet Powers, Frida Kahlo,

Georgia O’Keeffe, and Wassily Kandinsky.

WE rejoice and marvel in the

magnificence of God’s creation.

mathematicsAt St. James’, the Everyday Math Program

provides a challenging and balanced curriculum

that emphasizes conceptual understanding while

building a mastery of basic skills and developing

higher-order thinking and critical problem-

solving skills.

Our students learn mathematics first through

informal exposure and then through more formal

and direct instruction. Each grade level builds

on and extends proficiency in numeration,

operations, patterns, fractions, algebra, geometry,

measurement and data collection, and analysis.

an Episcopal parish school, we

are committed to common worship, to

teaching the basics of Christianity and of

the Anglican tradition, to understanding

and respecting all faith traditions, and to

community service.

AS

family’s commitment to the mission

of the school plays a vital role in the education

of our children.

EACH

social studiesOur Social Studies curriculum leads students to

examine the world in an intelligent, critical, and

loving way and to become agents of positive change

when necessary.

We bring history to life by encouraging understanding

of cultural, economic, historical, and social trends.

We also teach topics in anthropology, geography,

sociology, and philosophy.

TEACHERS recognize each student’s

individual gifts and inspire children to do

their best.

scienceThe science program is experiential (hands-on) and

inquiry-based. The program builds on students’

natural curiosity and teaches them the skills they

need to become independent scientists. Students

learn to ask questions, design experiments, and

share their ideas. Our annual science fair is an

integral part of our science program; students

themselves generate all the experiments.

In 2009, we remodeled our science lab with updated

technology, including six ceiling-mounted, multi-

directional computers connected to the Internet, an

LCD projector, and a Sympodium. We also installed

six lab stations with built-in sinks. The lab features

environmentally-friendly materials throughout.

Art

Community Service

Health

Music

Physical Education

Religion

Science

Spanish

Technology

specialty programsEACH CHILD’S SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IS

ENRICHED BY REGULAR STUDY IN

our efforts aim to enhance each student’s confidence,

curiosity, creativity, intellectual integrity, competence, character,

and ability to think critically.

strive to develop an informed, hopeful view of

our roles in the world.

ALL

WE

student lifeThe After-School Enrichment Program runs

throughout the year and includes classes in

Acting

Arts and Crafts

Basketball

Ceramics

Chess

Computer Animation

Creative Writing

Dance

Flag Football

Hand Bell Choir

Karate

Korean Drumming

Rock-climbing

Soccer

String Orchestra

Video

Volleyball

Yoga

ST. JAMES’ provides before-school care beginning

at 7:30 a.m. and after-school care until 6 p.m. at no extra

cost to families.

EACH student participates in field trips throughout

the year. The cost of these field trips is included in

tuition. The trips range from visits to a local fire station

or aquarium for Kindergartners to overnight trips to

Astrocamp at Idyllwild, Catalina Island, and Sacramento

for older students.

matriculationOur Secondary School Admission process helps families to place their child in a school that best

meets his or her learning profile. We begin work on secondary school choice with families early in

each student’s tenure at St. James’. Throughout each school year, we facilitate workshops for families

in Fourth through Sixth Grade to provide them with the information they need to make an informed

secondary school choice. We meet with Sixth Grade parents every fall, both individually and as a

group, to review the details and timelines of application submission and to discuss school choice. We

also invite Admission Officers from local schools to make presentations to our Sixth Grade students.

Other programs have included an Alumni Forum, a lively event at which St. James’ alumni return to

share their secondary school and college experiences with current families; a Parent Chat at which

we invite Admissions Officials to speak with Fourth and Fifth Grade parents; and an introductory

secondary school admission workshop in the Spring.

ST. JAMES’ GRADUATES HAVE A STRONG RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT AT

SECONDARY SCHOOLS INCLUDING

The Archer School For Girls

Brentwood School

The Buckley School

Campbell Hall

Crossroads School

Flintridge Preparatory School

Harvard-Westlake School

Immaculate Heart High School & Middle School

Marlborough School

Oakwood School

Pilgrim School

Polytechnic School

Westridge School

Windward School

St. James’ Episcopal School625 S. St. Andrews Place, Los Angeles, CA 90005

(213) 382-2315 sjsla.org

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