A Message From Charlotte S. Riggs, Head of School
Dear St. James Academy Community,
It is an honor to announce the continuation of Unleash Potential: A Campaign for SJA, ushering in the next phase of excellence at St. James Academy. For generations, St. James families, faculty, and community members have created a legacy of outstanding academic achievement and enrichment. Together, we’ve built a foundation that fosters growth and excellence, and now, it is our turn to shape the future of this great Academy.
In the first phase of this campaign, your generosity helped us raise $2,500,000, and we are proud to say that these contributions have already made a significant impact. Today, we are excited to unveil the next phase of this transformative initiative—an ambitious two-story addition that will feature a cutting-edge Innovation Lab and an inspiring Art Studio, as well as a dynamic Middle School Commons. These spaces will empower our students to engage in hands-on learning, nurture their creativity, and explore their potential in new and exciting ways.
The success of this campaign rests on your continued support. Our fundraising goal for these enhanced initiatives is $5,000,000, and with your partnership, we are confident that we can achieve this and more. This expansion will not only meet the evolving educational needs of our students but also create an environment where their creativity, curiosity, and innovation can truly flourish.
In 2021, a dedicated team of faculty members, parents, and Board representatives began a comprehensive Campus Master Plan study to ensure that our physical spaces would reflect our vision for the future. The team’s work has guided us toward these crucial capital projects, each designed to meet the growing demands of our 21st-century curriculum.
We invite you to join us as we continue to build a space where academic and creative excellence thrive. Together, we will ensure that St. James Academy remains a place where our children can grow, learn, and reach their highest potential.
A heartfelt thank you to Tom Moore, SJA class of 1979, Alum parent, emeritus Board Member, and current parents Dan and Meghan Whitehurst for their leadership in co-chairing this initiative. Your continued support will make an immeasurable difference in the future of St. James Academy.
Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished together and are even more excited about what lies ahead.
With immense gratitude,
Charlotte S. Riggs
Head of School
Creating More Ways for Our Students to Soar.
Together, we will raise $5,000,000 to embark on these projects that reimagine our campus and empower our exceptional students and faculty. It is our turn to shape the future of the Academy, and we need your support to ensure the success of this campaign.
UP Campaign Priorities
The Ben Brandenburg Middle School Wing
We will create a differentiated space that brings 6th-8th grades together in a dedicated Middle School wing. This wing will be reflective of our Middle School students’ age and developmental stage, providing refined classrooms, a state-of-the-art Innovation Lab, an inspiring Art Studio, and a welcoming Middle School Commons that fosters both growing independence and collaborative spirit. The renovation of the newly named Ben Brandenburg Middle School Wing will elevate our middle school experience to further prepare our school leaders for success in high school and beyond. The Ben Brandenburg Middle School Wing will be located in what is currently the 6th grade hallway and what is currently the Intermediate hallway. Our Intermediate classrooms will move to the current 7th and 8th grade wing, providing more cohesion for our Lower School.
The Ben Brandenburg Middle School Wing Lobby
Middle School Commons
Innovation Lab
About Ben
Ben graduated from St. James in 2021. His spirit and friendship left an indelible mark on all who were fortunate enough to know him. Ben’s passion for video games and his razor-sharp wit enriched our lives. His newfound love and talent for capturing the beauty of the outdoors through photography was a testament to his vibrant soul. In the face of cancer, Ben demonstrated remarkable courage and grace. In March of 2022, we lost Ben to Ewing Sarcoma. Ben’s friends and family have chosen to honor his legacy through the naming of our newly dedicated space, The Ben Brandenburg Middle School Wing. As a community, we are profoundly grateful for this tribute, which serves as a daily reminder to honor Ben’s memory in all that we undertake.
The Young Foxhounds Program
We have relocated our Young Foxhounds Program to the “Down Under” by renovating this space to create two classrooms to accommodate our 2s and 3s classes. Our Campus Master Plan Committee has worked closely with our preschool teachers and the Office of Child Care to ensure that these classrooms are supportive of developmentally appropriate learning, and that they exceed the standards for high quality early education. This space will allow us to increase enrollment in the Young Foxhounds to nearly double what it is today. The next phase of this renovation will be to enhance the driveway from the “Irish Road” entrance to give our Young Foxhound parents a more streamlined, secure, and convenient drop-off to the preschool.
Give Now to support The Young Foxhounds Program!
Young Foxhounds Twos Classroom
Young Foxhounds Threes Classroom
New Community Gathering Space
We will renovate existing classrooms above the gym to create a cohesive gathering space for our Lower School students, faculty, and after school/auxiliary programs. This will help affirm the difference between Middle and Lower school, providing a unique space for students in grades 1st-5th to gather and eat separately from Middle School students. Students in these divisions are vastly different in their developmental journeys, and we aim to provide differentiated spaces for each group to gather and socialize with their peers in settings that reflect this journey. Furthermore, this space will provide an additional option for larger gatherings that are currently limited to Macdonald Hall, including events such as grade level activities/events, faculty meetings, and auxiliary program use.
Give Now to support The New Gathering Space!
Expanded Lower School Gathering Hall
Expanded Lower School Gathering Hall View 2
Supporting The Annual Fund for Limitless Possibilities
In addition to these visionary projects, your contribution to our campaign will help sustain our Annual Fund for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years. By bolstering our operating budget, we ensure St. James Academy remains agile and responsive, delivering innovative curricular experiences that align with the rapidly evolving 21st century learning environment. Together, we can provide our students and faculty with the resources they need to excel.
Give Now to support The Annual Fund!
Impact Every St. James Academy Student and Faculty Member:
Support for the Unleash Potential campaign will directly impact the lives of every St. James Academy student and faculty member– now and for future generations. Your contributions will empower our students to embrace their full potential, fostering a community of academic excellence, character development, and lifelong success. Together, we will ensure a legacy of success for St. James Academy students, faculty, and alumni.
To learn more about how you can support Unleash Potential, A Campaign for SJA, please contact our Director of Advancement, Analeigh Smith: asmith@saintjamesacademy.org, or at 410-568-7576.
Tom Moore
My family and I have been devoted supporters of SJA for a long time. It provides us with great pride and satisfaction knowing they have the resources to continue to grow and achieve such academic excellence. Knowing that each student has the resources to succeed and flourish is one of the greatest gift of past, present and future supporters of campaigns such as this.
Dan and Meghan Whitehurst
We are honored to co-chair Unleash Potential, A Campaign for SJA. We know that this is our opportunity to give back to the school which has given our family so much. The projects included in this campaign will ensure that our faculty and staff continue to have spaces that are conducive to their innovative teaching in our evolving 21st century environment.
It’s a pleasure to help lead this initiative, and we hope to talk to you about it soon.