Saint James School & Parish Student Activities

American Heritage Girls
American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered scouting program dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country. Saint James Troop 1843 engages girls from all grade levels in bi-monthly meetings to grow in faith, build friendships, and have fun. Our merit badge program provides opportunities for girls to enhance life skills. Our emphasis on service helps girls to contribute in a positive way to our community and our world. Social events and outdoor adventures provide occasions to foster friendships and make memories to last a lifetime.

Art Awareness   
Art Awareness if a school based art appreciation curriculum.  Volunteers present a lesson prepared by the Cincinnati Art Museum in the art room with Miss Wiesman.  The lesson consists of teaching about an artist, showing prints of their work, and then doing an activity with your child and classmates.

Band: Beginning and Advanced
Saint James School offers several opportunities for children to learn a musical instrument. Beginning band is open to any 4th, 5th, or 6th grade students and begins the first week in September. The class meets once a week for 50 minutes on Tuesdays after school. The Advanced band is open to any 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grade student who has at least one year of experience on his or her instrument. This group also meets once a week for 50 minutes on Wednesdays after school starting the first week in September. Both bands are directed by Charles Lauderbach and perform two annual concerts.

Beginning Guitar Classes
Beginning and advanced acoustic guitar classes for any student in the 5th through 8th grades. Each group meets once a week after school, and is directed by Larry Arsman.

Bell Choir
The Youth Handbell Choir is open to students of 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Rehearsals are held from 6:00 to 7:15 P.M. on Thursdays from October through May in the church. The group plays at one Saturday 4:30 Mass each month. In addition, they perform at the Christmas Midnight Mass and at the annual Parish Music Concert. For further information, please contact Mr. Zoltan Marczi, Music Director at 741-5303 or at zmarczi@stjameswhiteoak.com.

Bible Bowl
Bible Bowl is a ministry for youth in 6th grade, which combines Bible study with Christian competition and fellowship. The purpose is to give youth a firm foundation for their faith through the systematic study, memorization, and application of Scripture. Each year, a designated portion of Scripture is chosen as the study text. Practices consist of learning and applying the designated text, devotions, quizzing, plus lots of fun. Teams of three to six players compete against teams from other Catholic Schools in the tri-state. Saint James students begin preparing at the beginning of the students’ 6th grade year and compete in January at a nearby school.

Choir
The Saint James Children's Choir is open to boys and girls in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Rehearsals are held on Mondays after school from 3:05 until 4:00 P.M. The purpose of this group is to offer students who enjoy singing, more opportunities to perform, to develop their singing voices, and to learn a wide repertoire of music. The choir sings once a month for the Saturday 4:30 Mass at Saint James Church. In December we perform a special Christmas concert at Northgate Mall and at McAuley Convent for the retired sisters. In February the choir sings for the Naturalization Ceremony at Saint James. Additional performance opportunities include: singing at a local nursing home, for the May Crowning, and at the Parish Music Concert.

Crossing Guards
Seventh and eighth grade students are given the opportunity to act as crossing guards for our 1st graders. Each day, a junior high student monitors the 1st grade students so they can safely cross the street to go to recess. Student crossing guards patrol on a weekly basis throughout the school year.

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
D.A.R.E. is a Police Officer led program that teaches children valuable skills which will help them avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. D.A.R.E. also teaches students how to resist peer pressure and live productive, drug and violence-free lives. D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles, California. D.A.R.E.’s success rate and positive recommendations have led to its implementation in approximately 75% of our nation’s school districts and in more than 43 countries around the world. At Saint James D.A.R.E. is implemented in 5th grade and consists of eight lessons presented during science class. The D.A.R.E. Graduation ceremony is always a special memory for Saint James 5th graders!

Eighth Grade Play
During the spring, students of the 8th grade are given the opportunity to take part in the production of a musical play. Students not only serve as performers, but also manage all of the technological aspects of the play. Set construction and art work are completed by students on the weekends prior to the presentation. Some of the more recent productions include Seussical!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Honk!, Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, and The Music Man.

Enrichment Program
Saint James Education Commission offers after school Enrichment Classes. The classes, offered to students in grades 1-8, allow them to explore different hobbies. The classes are six weeks long and are between the months of January and March. Photography, Babysitting, Karate, Cooking, and Drawing are just a few examples of these exciting enrichment opportunities!

First Grade Christmas Pageant
The First Grade Christmas Pageant is an annual event featuring every 1st grade student. The children reenact the birth of Baby Jesus along with singing more than 20 Christmas songs. It is, in most cases, the highlight of the students’ 1st grade year at Saint James School.

Geology Club
Geology Club is an after-school program that is designed to : (1) develop or foster excitement for science/geology, (2) further explore a topic covered in the 3rd grade science curriculum, and (3) share interests with other students and parents. All 3rd grade students are invited to join the club for the entire school year. The Geology Club meets for one hour on a monthly basis. The club is in its fourth year and over 170 students have already participated. As part of participating in the club, students will create their own rock and mineral collection, use a test kit to identify rocks and minerals and learn about their everyday uses, model fossil formation as well as excavation, and create a fossil collection. All materials are included in the modest club fee.

Girls in Science Club
This club meets monthly after school in the Saint James science lab, and it is open to all girls in the 6th grade at no charge. Girls do not sign up for this club but rather are provided information two weeks prior to each meeting about the topic for that month and may attend any number of meetings throughout the school year as their schedules allow. During these one hour monthly meetings a woman “scientist” from the Cincinnati area provides the girls with hands-on activities related to her career, discusses her career and its usefulness to society, and discusses what science and math courses are necessary for careers in her field. Mothers are invited to attend all meetings with their daughters.

The goals of the program are for girls to gain:
• Confidence in abilities
• Pride about interests
• Renewed interest in science and math
• Awareness of range of careers in science, math, & technology
• Appreciation for need to make a plan to take science and math courses in high school and/or college
• Better educated parents on science and math career options and the need for related coursework in high school and college

Girls On the Run
The Girls on the Run Program is a high energy, self-esteem fitness program for elementary aged young ladies. This program will help participants discover the benefits of consistent physical exercise and good nutrition. Girls learn the advantages of positive peer support and how to stand up for themselves in a healthy manner. Participants also learn to improve body image and strengthen their sense of identity. The program lasts for twelve weeks and comes to a close with participation in completion of a 5K run/walk event.

It’s Academic Team
Each 7th and 8th grade student takes a qualifying test to be on the Academic Team. Top scorers in each grade form two teams that practice academic curriculum and trivia for six to eight weeks. The two Saint James teams then compete with other local Catholic schools at LaSalle High School's Academic Bowl.

Junior Achievement
JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Volunteers from the business community come into 5th grade social studies classes five times a year to present this valuable program.

Junior High Retreats
Saint James School recognizes the importance of setting aside prayer time for our Junior High students to contemplate the important decisions which they have to make.

As a result, all 7th Grade students participate in a Confirmation Retreat and our 8th Grade students have their own retreat, as well. The Confirmation Retreat for our 7th Graders occurs on-site and is an opportunity for the 7th Graders to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, to think about the gifts which they have been given by God, and to reflect on the great love which God has for each person.

The 8th Grade Retreat takes place off-site and is a time for the students to think about their years at Saint James, but more importantly, it is a time for the 8th Graders to think about what their legacy at Saint James is going to be. The 8th Graders are challenged to use the lessons that they have learned from their past years at Saint James to become strong leaders for Saint James School and then to carry their gift of leadership on to high school. They spend time in prayer thanking God for the many gifts they have received and asking God to help them be compassionate and strong leaders for the younger students of Saint James.

Leadership Council
Each year, 26 incoming eighth grade students are selected to be a part of the 8th Grade Leadership Team. The year begins with a weekend overnight at school. The students participate in team building games and activities that promote leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. From there, the purpose of the Saint James Leadership Council is to develop the leadership skills of those involved and to further promote the school's mission through work in the community outreach, fundraising, and the promotion of school spirit.

Mass Ministries
All 8th Grade students at Saint James School are asked to choose a way to serve the other students at Saint James through some form of ministry. Some of the categories include opportunities to lead at Mass and Prayer Services. This includes: Coordinators who help to care for the sacred vessels used at Mass, Ushers who help with the Communion Procession and help with other needs for the congregation, Greeters who hold doors and assist with seating and other needs, Helpers who assist the DRE and nurse, cantors and choir members who sing and lead the congregation, Lectors who proclaim the readings at Mass and Prayer Services, and Play People who help with skits for Prayer Services. In addition we have a large number of 7th and 8th grade students who donate their talent and time to be Servers at Mass for the parish.

Math-letes - Competitive Math Team
Math-letes is the Saint James Competitive Math Team made up of 7th and 8th grade students. Students work to develop their logic and problem solving skills and learn how to apply these skills to real life situations. Team members compete in late winter in both individual and team categories.

National Geography Bee
Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. At Saint James, all 4th and 5th grade students participate in the Geography Bee in their Social Studies classes. Each student has an opportunity to compete at the school, state, and national levels.

Panther Press - Student Newspaper
Seventh and eighth grade students have the opportunity to join the Panther Press school newspaper staff. Students develop and write articles relating to Saint James, the surrounding community, and their interests. The professionally published newspaper is printed monthly for all students of the school.

Power of the Pen
Power of the Pen is a creative writing competition where students hone their writing skills to become better communicators. The Ohio program is designed for 7th and 8th graders to write interscholastically with a variety of prompts. Team members have the opportunity to compete at district, regional, and state levels.

Prayer Leaders
Eighth grade students serve as Prayer Leaders for the school. Each Prayer Leader selects a homeroom in which to lead prayer at various special times during the school year, especially during Advent and Lent. In addition to the opportunities for prayer and spiritual leadership, the Prayer Leader program encourages connections between the 8th graders and the younger students and provides a mentor resource for the younger students, if needed, in social situations.

Science Club
The goal of the 4th Grade Science Club is to help the students gain an appreciation of the world around them as they explore a wide range of environmental issues. We meet once a month for about an hour, in a location to be announced. During each meeting members either work on an environmental activity, experiment, or have a speaker. All activities are hands-on, which makes them fun!

Scouts: Brownie, Boy, Cub, Girl
Saint James Parish has an active scouting program which offers service and leadership opportunities to children in grades K-8. For additional information, please visit their website found under Links on the Saint James Parish homepage.

Speech Team
Students in grades six through eight have the opportunity to compete in speech. The categories of competition are humorous and serious dialogue, humorous and serious monologue as well as storytelling. The team meets periodically from November until the competition date and the competition is held in the spring.

Spelling Bee
WCPO brings students in grades six, seven, and eight the opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Eligible students must win at their grade levels in order to participate in the school-wide competition. The winner of this competition represents Saint James School at the Regional Spelling Bee at the Duke Energy Center. The champion of this event wins an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Saint James Athletic Association
Saint James Parish has a dynamic Athletic Association which offers instructional and competitive sports opportunities to children in grades K-8. For additional information, please visit their website listed under “Other Important Links.”

Saint Jude’s Math-a-Thon
Each year, Saint James School participates in a Math-a-thon sponsored by the Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This extremely beneficial activity provides students with the opportunity to put into practice the Christian charity discussed in their classes. Over the past twelve years, more than $100,000 has been sent to Saint Jude's to aid in the fight against childhood cancer. What a fantastic tribute to the students of Saint James and all of the donors who support them. Every year, more and more children survive because of the efforts of those who support Saint Jude's work.

Student Banking Program
Saint James students may participate in the Pawket Savers Program sponsored by the Saint James Credit Union. Banking days are in the morning before class. Students may also volunteer to be tellers assisted by an adult. For more information, call Pawket Saver Line: 513-385-5921.