November Newsletter

Dear Tiger Community,

As we head into the heart of winter, I want to share how we handle school decisions during bad weather. Keeping our students and staff safe is always our top priority, especially when snow or ice may make traveling dangerous. Deciding to cancel school because of weather is never easy. We look at several things before making the call, including:

• How safe the roads are, from highways to back roads
• Conditions at bus stops
• Whether buses might be delayed or face issues on their routes
• The risk of accidents in tricky spots like bus turnarounds
• Temperatures, wind chills, and how long it might stay icy or snowy
• Whether school parking lots and sidewalks are safe for drop-off and pick-up

We don’t make these decisions alone. We work with:

• Copeland Bus Service
• Our Buildings and Grounds team
• Local, county, and state road crews
• Weather experts at the National Weather Service

Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date in Infinite Campus so you can get weather updates quickly. You can also check out our Inclement Weather page for more details on how we handle weather-related closures. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate the winter months.

Best wishes,

Tim Webster

Superintendent

St. James R-I School District

The 4th Annual Tiger Trot brought out over 100 participants who braved the cold for a great cause—our Gifts for Kids Project! Thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors, racers, and volunteers, we’ve had another successful fundraising year. We’re thrilled to share that EVERY student in our district will receive a gift this holiday season.

Another special shoutout to our Platinum Sponsors:

🏆 Ben Bahr Construction

🏆 GRP Wegman

🏆 Stubblefield Properties and Construction

Thank you, St. James community, for showing up, showing out, and making a difference. Together, we’re proving what it means to be Tiger Strong!

Every day in class is a step toward success! Attending regularly is key to helping students grow, learn, and thrive. Let’s keep building great habits together, Tigers!

For more details about our Attendance Awareness Campaign and helpful resources, please visit: https://www.stjschools.org/page/attendance

Our Tiger Cubs are making a difference in the community! They designed beautiful Thanksgiving placemats for the St. James Senior Center. This service-learning project reflects our mission to empower students through caring relationships and community partnerships. By giving back, these students are not just learning about kindness—they’re living it!

Congratulations to our November Leading the Tiger Way winners! ❤️🐯🤍

Lucy Wortham James Elementary: Liz Engelbrecht and Deborah Soper

St. James Middle School: Kim Hoak and Mindy Blanc

St. James R-1 High School: Josh Adams and Rita Vandiver

The "Leading the Tiger Way" teacher and staff of the month program is designed to spotlight one teacher and one classified staff from each building every month. We want to recognize our most dedicated and talented employees. This program allows each staff member an opportunity to nominate a peer who exemplifies the character and professional traits we strive for as a District.

High school students teamed up with middle schoolers to lead lessons on substance use prevention, including topics like vaping, THC, alcohol, and wellness. This peer-to-peer program builds public speaking skills, boosts teamwork, and helps younger students engage and retain vital info. Way to go, student leaders!

Our Middle School honored the brave men and women who have served our country during their Veterans Day Assembly. Organized by Citizenship Class students, the program featured performances by the choir and band, inspiring speeches from students, and a keynote address from a local veteran who shared their experiences and lessons learned through service. Events like these teach our students the importance of service, respect, and gratitude, values we hold close at St. James R-1 School District.

To all our veterans, thank you for your service!

Lucy Wortham James Elementary held an exciting mock election, giving students a real-world Election Day experience! The candidates? Buddy the Therapy Dog from the Canine Party and Dewey the Library Cat (robot) representing the Feline Party.

Students heard campaign speeches and discussed each candidate's stance on the big issue: recess! While both Buddy and Dewey agree that two recesses are essential, they have different ideas. Buddy advocates for an outdoor second recess, while Dewey suggests an indoor option filled with Legos, art projects, reading, and games.

After thoughtful discussions, students headed to the polls, equipped with their voter ID cards, to cast their ballots. Thank you to our special volunteer election judges: Barb Smith, Mitch Weatherly, Carol Weatherly, and Mary Dunkus!

We're so proud of our young Tigers for learning the value of civic participation in such a fun way. Congratulations to Buddy on his victory!

Students brought Radium Girls to life during three great performances. This play told the story of courageous young women in the 1920s who fought for justice and safety after developing serious health issues from painting watch dials with radium. Congratulations to our talented students for an outstanding performance!

Winter sports are officially underway at St. James R-1 School District, and our student-athletes are ready to make this season one to remember! From the energy on the basketball court to the precision on the wrestling mats, our Tigers are bringing their best to every game and match. Be sure to check out schedules, scores, and updates on our Athletics page. Let’s pack the stands and show our Tiger pride this winter!

This fall, we’re continuing our three-part series celebrating our veteran teachers and the lasting impact they’ve made in our district.

🌟 Episode 2: Meet Shea Meurer, a proud 2002 graduate of St. James and a dedicated 3rd-grade teacher making a difference every day at Lucy Wortham James Elementary! Watch the video HERE! 🌟

Discover how her journey as a Tiger alum shapes her passion for teaching and love for the St. James community.

St. James R-1 School District uses Peachjar to digitally send home school and community flyers. All parents with an email address on file will automatically be registered to receive digital flyers from their school.

Download our district app for easy access to important updates, events, and resources. Get it here: Apple or Android

You can access the academic calendar anytime on our website to stay updated on important dates and events. Simply visit www.stjschools.org, click on the MENU tab, and then select DISTRICT to find the calendar. Here's the direct link for quick access: Academic Calendar.

Check out the graphics below to find out the different ways you can follow all things St. James R-1!