Each of us continues at home and at work to endure the challenges associated with the current economy. SJA families are working and saving more diligently than ever-before to make the investment in an SJA education possible. This commitment is appreciated and truly inspires the work of the SJA faculty and administration to provide the value added of an Episcopal parish day school education:
• Rigorous and stimulating academic program
• Sense of Community
• Individualized Education
• Variety of Enriching Opportunities
• Values-based philosophy
It is important for you to know about the faithful stewardship of resource in which leadership engages to make these values a reality at SJA.
Building Management
The Facilities team (Junior Warden, Sextons, Head and Assistant Head) engage in ongoing capital analysis to assure a clean, sustainable (energy efficient), safe, and secure environment for your children. Costs are projected and factored into a five-year budget review process.
Financial Management
SJA finances are carefully analyzed and balanced, (Head, Business Manager, Treasurer, Teacher Compensation Committee, Finance Committee, and Investment Committee), frugally collected and expended (Head and Business Manager), and regularly and faithfully reviewed (Board of Trustees). “Modest” tuitions to assure excellence and “generous” financial assistance awards to assure as open access as possible are primary goals.
Development, Marketing, Public Relations
Development (SJA’s Annual Giving Fund & Guide to Giving publication) is supported by the Development Director with the assistance of multiple SJA parent volunteers. Marketing and Public Relations responsibilities have been redistributed (in the absence of a Communications Director) to the Admission Office and Head of School. Web support is managed internally by the Head’s Administrative Assistant.
Governance
Twenty-one individuals serve on the Board of Trustees and numerous board committees to assure that prudent fiduciary expectations and strategic planning ideals are orderly and focused in their implementation.
Program Management
The Head of School with the assistance of the Admin Team (Assistant Head, Administrative Assistant, Business Manager, Development Director, School Counselor, Admission Director and Assistant, Academic Dean, Athletic Director, Technology Coordinator, Facilities Manager) and the Board Academic Advisory and Athletic Committees:
• Support Technology Advancements and Faculty Training
• Continue to Implement Differentiated Instruction across all grade levels
• Integrate Global Awareness into middle school curriculum for 21st Century citizenship and in preparation for
International Baccalaureate authorization visit on February 22nd and 23rd
• Continue to explore green and sustainable procedure
• Engage in H1N1 and Emergency Preparedness
• Offer expanded Faith in Action community service opportunities for future leaders and world citizenship
School, Community, Parent Relations
The SJA Admin Team strives to be responsive, intensive, and personal in offering an empowering education and the formation of relationships both within and outside our immediate community. An analysis of the effectiveness of current internal communications is underway.
Student Management
A series of Parents in Partnership breakfasts are being provided by SJA’s School Counselor to assist parents and teachers in supporting our children. All are invited to attend!
Teacher/Staff Management
The SJA faculty is the heart of our school and are the primary models for life long learning. They attend a variety of professional development opportunities and graduate level courses in an effort to best serve!
SJA is a professional learning organization that consistently challenges assumptions while preserving traditions that serve our mission. Your participation, cooperation, innovation, and assistance to continually seek better ways of operation are a major key to “The St. James Way”. Once again, the SJA community is evidence of counter cultural success!
St. James Academy offers, in a Christian environment, a program meeting the intellectual,
social, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of its student body preparing each individual student,
not only for the demands of higher education, but for living a creative, humane, and compassionate life worthy of a child of God and a contributing member of society.