Dear Saint James Families, 

Get ready to “Run for the Roses!” The Saint James Gala and Auction is upon us, and I am so excited to celebrate our wonderful school and the dedicated families and staff that make this place so special. Our students are blessed to be part of a community that provides a caring, engaging, and faith filled place to learn and grow on their journey towards heaven. 

Saint Paul speaks so eloquently about our journey as Christians. In his first letter to the Corinthians he says, “All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it. Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.” (1 Corinthians 9:23-25)

I want to especially thank the Gala co-chairs, Mrs. Taylor Draim, Mrs. Gina Steber, Mrs. Alex Guest, and the many volunteers who took the reins to get this “horse” to the finish line.  

Let’s get ready for the “mane” event. So hold onto your horses and get ready to Run for the Roses! Let’s run this race together so that our students can claim that imperishable crown! 

Today, we kicked off our Gala weekend with the student Bucket Drop. Congratulations to the students who won!

Peace and Blessings,

Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM 

Principal

Dear Saint James Families, 

Christ is risen, Alleluia, He has truly risen, Alleluia!

Happy Easter to everyone! During this Easter season the students will pray the Regina Coeli in place of the Angelus. While the Angelus calls us to ponder the Annunciation, the Regina Coeli invites us to rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection. By conquering death,  he opened the gates of Heaven where we will share Eternal Life with Jesus, his Mother, the saints, and our loved ones!

On Monday, everyone at Saint James Catholic School witnessed a historical moment as we observed another heavenly wonder, the solar eclipse. Teachers and students spent the afternoon taking in the amazing view of the moon moving in front of the sun. The students and teachers were in complete awe at this rare event. You can see photos of our students watching the eclipse on our Facebook page! 

The moon perfectly covered the Sun which speaks to the beauty of God’s design. The moon is precisely 400 times smaller than the moon, and it is 400 times closer to the Earth. It is only with these precise measurements that a solar eclipse is even possible. This is no coincidence. God thought of us at the dawn of the universe and made sure to give us signs and wonders that point us to His great love. 

I leave you with the Regina Coeli - take a moment to pray this prayer and offer a moment of gratitude for all that God has done for us. 

Regina Coeli (English)

V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia.

R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Peace and Blessings,
Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM

Dear Saint James Families, 

Wishing you a blessed Holy Week and a Happy Easter! Today our 7th grade students so beautifully led the school in the Living Stations of the Cross. Their prayer prepared our hearts for Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection that we remember in the coming days. 

At the end of the Stations of the Cross, the choir sang “Above All “ by Michael W. Smith. I share the lyrics with you below to ponder this evening and tomorrow. I hope you never forget the love of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. 

Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began
Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth
Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Know of my daily prayers for you and your families. Please pray for me too! 

Peace and Easter Blessings, 

Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM

Dear Saint James Families, 

We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. 

You are probably familiar with this prayer because it is the opening prayer for each Station of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross are a beloved Catholic tradition that is most frequently prayed during the season of Lent. As you pray the stations, you journey with Jesus on his path to Calvary. Each station is an intimate moment from Christ’s suffering in which we are invited to draw close to Him. 

Being this close to Christ’s suffering is uncomfortable and can fill you with sadness and grief. You might ask, “Why do you need to contemplate this suffering? Didn’t Jesus rise? Shouldn’t you celebrate? Of course you should celebrate! Life is full of moments to celebrate, but life is also full of hardships and suffering. No matter what trial you are facing, Jesus has been through it too. In the stations of the cross, Jesus suffers physical pain from his lashings, the crown of thorns, his grueling carrying of the cross, and his crucifixion. He also suffered emotional pain from false accusations, rejection, embarrassment, betrayal, fear, and heartbreak. 

In these final moments of His life, Jesus experienced every human suffering. Whatever you are going through Jesus has already been through. He understands. Turn to Him in your suffering and draw close, so that He can comfort you, heal you, and strengthen you. 

If you haven’t already, pray the Stations of the Cross this Lent. When Lent is over, remember this devotion and turn to it in difficult times. 

Peace and Blessings, 

Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM 

Dear Saint James Families, 

Spring is just around the corner! The first day of Spring is on March 19th, and with it comes warmer weather. I know we are all enjoying the beautiful sunshine and breezy days. I’m sure you’ve noticed the construction of the outdoor classroom. I am excited for its completion so that students can take their learning outdoors. See the photos below of its progress!

Please note the following dismissal reminder and uniform adjustment. 

Dismissal Reminder

With warmer weather, more families are walking students home or biking with them at dismissal. 
All walkers/bikers must wait until the parking lot is clear before they leave. 
This policy ensures the safety of all students and their families. Please cooperate with our efforts to keep all pedestrians safe. 
If you are walking, you can come a few minutes later to pick up your students (3:20pm) and the parking lot will be cleared. 

Spring Uniform 

With this unseasonably warm weather, I have decided to begin Spring Uniform a little early. 
Spring uniform will begin on Tuesday, March 19th!
Students may wear shorts and no longer need to bring their sweaters/fleeces to school. If there is a colder day, please send in appropriate outerwear. 

I wish you all a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day and leave you with an excerpt from the Saint Patrick Breastplate Prayer: 

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
Amen. 

Peace and Blessings, 

Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM 

Dear Saint James Families, 

Today, we supported the Bishop O’Connell SuperDance, a dance marathon that raises money for Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment. The theme for this year’s dance is Super Mario, so we joined in the spirit! Students and faculty alike dressed up as their favorite characters from Super Mario. We had Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, and so many more.  For those not in costume, there was plenty of Saint James Spirit to go around. As always, we received overwhelming generosity in free will donations and raised over $1,600!  Thank you! 

In the midst of our fun, we practiced the Lenten pillar of almsgiving. In the act of giving, we recognize that everything is a gift from God, who loves us beyond measure. As we receive, we give in return so that the gifts and the love can be multiplied. 

The more we give, the easier it becomes to part with our earthly treasures. We begin to see that the material things of this world don’t last and someday all of it will fade away. The lasting things are those that we’ve shared with others: the gifts of our time, talent, and treasure. These gifts bring life to others so that they can thrive and give glory to God. 

Let us continue to pray with and for one another during this Lenten journey. I pray that God showers each of you with his love and abundant gifts!

If you’d like to learn more about the SuperDance, click below: 

https://www.bishopoconnell.org/student-life/student-events/superdance

Peace and Blessings, 
Sister Kathryn 

Dear Saint James Families, 

During Lent, we make a sacrifice like giving up sweets, spending less time on technology, or buying less stuff. The question is, “Why do we do it?”. It is so easy to make Lenten sacrifices for their own sake or because that’s what we’ve always done. However, in order for the sacrifice to really mean something, we must be intentional about it. Intentionality allows us to bear the fruits of our sacrifices. Each time we struggle with temptation, it is an opportunity to offer that struggle up for someone we love.

As anyone knows, fasting is a difficult practice, and most of us always have enough to eat. At the twinge of hunger, we look for food. For me fasting has always been trying, especially since there is always an abundance of food at my disposal. So, I decided to make my fasting intentional. I think about all the people in the world who don’t have enough to eat. They live with the constant pangs of hunger. Can’t I endure with a small amount of food? My suffering becomes a sacrifice, an offering for those who suffer. This kind of prayer is powerful!

I know this is a small act and will by no means solve the problem of hunger in our world. However, it brings me closer to those people. I’ve united my suffering with theirs as a prayer for them. Being intentional brings me to a fuller awareness of my own life and the lives of others. When we make sacrifices for others it brings us closer to one another and closer to Christ.

There are so many people in our world to pray for – how do we ever begin? Being intentional is one way to start. Think about your day and all the things you have to do, especially the more difficult ones. Imagine if you placed an intention on these things. You would end up praying for so many people and your day would be one of prayer.

I hope this was helpful because I know this simple, but powerful idea, has changed my life. Let us pray for God’s grace as we pray, fast, and give alms during these 40 days of Lent.

Peace and Blessings,
Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM

Dear Saint James Families, 

This month we practice the virtue of Kindness: doing nice things for others without expecting anything in return. Kindness seems so simple, but its impact is lasting and life changing! It creates a positive community where everyone feels valued. At Saint James Catholic School, we strive to be a place where everyone feels like they belong and have an important role to play. 

Kindness doesn’t mean we have to be best friends with everyone, but it does mean that we show courtesy and care for every person we meet. It doesn’t mean we have to do grand gestures of kindness everyday, but it means we do ordinary acts out of love for our neighbor. Helping someone carry something, saying good morning when you pass someone in the hallway, holding the door, inviting someone to play, and other small acts can make someone’s day. As Kid President says, “Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.”

See our Kindness poster below for ways to practice kindness. And if you don’t know who Kid President is, you can “meet” him here: Kid President.

Peace and Blessings, 

Sister Kathryn 

Posted February 16, 2024

Dear Saint James Families,

Love, love, love! Love was all around this week! Of course, we celebrated Valentine’s day with a colorful dress down, parties, and treats. We also ran a service project called Sending Sisters Love, a toiletries collection for the IHM retirement home, Camilla Hall. The students brought in over 1,400 items! The sisters are always so grateful for the donations. Thank you for your generosity.

Most importantly, we began the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday Mass. At first, you might not associate Ash Wednesday with love. Yet, if you take a closer look, love is at the center of the Lenten season. Lent prepares our hearts for Holy Week when Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. In doing so, he defeated sin and death so that we can have eternal life with Him. Why did he do this? Because He loves us so much! He loves us more than we can even fathom. Every time you look at a crucifix, think of Jesus’ great love for us. When you face your own suffering, unite it to Jesus’ sacrifice and offer it up for your loved ones. Let this be your meditation this Lent. 

Lastly, I have included another painting from art class. This one shows a big penguin giving a heart to a little penguin. This has so much meaning for us during this season. It calls us to give our hearts to others generously. And it calls us to graciously receive what others give us. If we give and receive abundantly, that love will truly transform our homes and communities.  

Peace and Blessings,

Sister Kathryn Clemmer, IHM

Posted February 9, 2024

Dear Saint James Families, 

Today is the 100th day of school! I can’t believe that more than half of the school year has already flown by. This morning the kindergarteners paraded through school wearing their 100 Day hats. They were so excited to show off their big accomplishment! 

To mark the day, they took a picture by the school marquee on Broad Street. As they were taking the picture, a big truck honked their horn in celebration. It was a touching moment and I thought to myself, “People are so good!” 

In a world that is full of bad news and sadness, here are our young students shining a light in the darkness. Their innocence and joy brings the best out in people. What a gift our young students are to your families, to our school, and to the world!

Thank you for sharing them with us. As we approach the season of Lent, may we kindle the light within our own hearts. By shining our light, we can make the world a better and brighter place.

Peace and Blessings,
Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM 

Dear Saint James Families, 

Catholic Schools Week was a huge success! The most poignant moment happened in the gym when the entire school gathered for our very first Religion Bee. In the weeks leading up to Catholic Schools Week each homeroom held a Religion Bee. Then the homeroom winners competed in the school-wide Bee where students of all ages worked in teams to answer questions about our Catholic faith. Our 8th grade Religion Bee winners took on a leadership role as they emceed the event. 

As the event began, it was a close competition. For the few rounds of questions, the teams got everything right. It was only when the questions got trickier when teams were eliminated. I was so proud of our students as they answered each question confidently and proudly. 

This event was a beautiful witness to who we are as a Catholic School. The students were excited about their faith, they were supportive of one another, and they were not afraid to let their lights shine. It was a reminder to me that this is who we are and what we are all about. Students can learn reading and math at any school, but they can only grow in virtue and holiness here at Saint James Catholic School. 

Thank you for entrusting us with your children each day. My prayer is that each one of them becomes a saint someday! With your love, care, and support they will. 

Peace and Blessings, 

Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM

Dear Saint James Families, 

Catholic Schools Week begins on Sunday, January 28, and we celebrate Catholic education as a multifaceted jewel to be treasured.  Pope Francis says that, “Education is an act of love,” and our teachers and staff share the love of Jesus with our students each day. Our faith goes beyond religion class because prayer and Christian witness are woven throughout our day. 

In gym class, students pray for the intercession of Saint Sebastian as they strengthen their bodies and sportsmanship. In art class, students offer their talents and creativity to the Lord with beautiful masterpieces. In math class, students pray the Serenity prayer and persevere through math problems small and large. In science class, students discover the genius of God’s creation and learn to be good stewards of His gifts. These are just a few of the ways that we celebrate and practice our Catholic faith at Saint James School!

Our students thrive because Jesus is the heartbeat of our school and our lives. Thank you for choosing Catholic education for your children. We are blessed to have you as part of our Saint James community. 

Peace and Blessings,

Sister Kathryn Teresa Clemmer, IHM