Is there a story from your time at SJS that still makes you smile or laugh when you think about it?
Oh I have so many stories! I loved my time as a student at SJS and it was filled with many inside jokes, smiling, and laughter. I really loved PRIME TIME. This was an event for 4th and 5th graders. We would have an overnight lock-in in the Loretto Center basement (old art room) or in Rodney Thomas Room. We would arrive in the evening and would rotate between reading and playing board games. It always ended with donuts and milk/juice in the morning. It was such a fun night with friends.
What is your earliest or most meaningful memory of SJS, and what makes it stand out to you?
My earliest memory was naptime in kindergarten… I had been asked over and over again to stop talking, but was still trying to talk to my friend under the assistant’s desk. I remember getting in trouble and sent to the hallway. If you know me now, this story shouldn’t surprise you because I do talk a lot. I was also on the BOOK BEE team for 4 years. We would read specific books, memorize specific details, and then be quizzed on how much we knew. I was the co-captain and captain for two years, which meant you had to read all the books and know all the details. It’s still one of my highlights from SJS.
If you could go back to your time at SJS for one day, what would you want to relive?
I think I would go back to 5th grade. This was the year that all 5 of us (me and my siblings) were at Saint James at the same time. Daniel- 8th, Derek – 6th, me – 5th, Veronica – 2nd, Jacob – Kindergarten. I loved those days of seeing each other in the hallway and the moments when you would hear your siblings name on the intercom or see them win an award. All 5 of us had Ms. McKean for kindergarten and took a picture that year with her to commemorate. I think that also reveals something special about Saint James – the staff! I have so many teachers that impacted me during my time at Saint James as a student – Miss Mattingly, Ms. Hernandez (Abell), Ms. McGuffin, Mr. O’Brien, Ms. McKean… too many to count!
Is there something that stands out to you about your graduating class or a memory you could share?
During my 8th grade year, one of our classmates was diagnosed with cancer and needed some assistance with classwork and getting to and from classes. I remember thinking how special it was to be apart of a small class that cared so much about their classmate. A lot of people from my graduating class are still very close, with many of them living in the area now. It’s nice to always have that connection.
What was the biggest lesson that you learned during your time at SJS?
I have a few! I learned to view the world through the eyes of Faith & God. I learned reverence for all life, treating others with dignity, living as Jesus did, serving the less fortunate, and discipline. I learned to love Jesus, and because of that, love the Church. I am so thankful that my parents made a huge sacrifice to allow me and my siblings to go to a Catholic grade school. “Many hands make light work!” – Sister Michael Marie ; SMM impacted me in more ways than one. Along with my parents, she taught me hard work and that you aren’t finished until the job is done. At almost every event, my family stayed after to help make sure everything was cleaned up and put away. In the classroom, she always told us to do our best and she meant it! She believed in each of us and you never wanted to disappoint her. As a Kindergartner through 8th grader at Saint James, I always knew that I was loved. Although sometimes it was tough love for some (not me- my siblings 
), Sister Michael Marie always cared about her children. Sometimes it was shown in the form of blowing her whistle & asking for “two minutes of silence” in the cafeteria or making someone wash her car or making you sit at the side table. Sometimes it was shown through a candy bar or a stern talk or a smirk or a shaking of her head. Sometimes it was through her being at every single sporting event or helping someone when they were crying or reminding someone to wear a belt. As a 20 year old, Sister Michael Marie took a chance on me. She hired me as a full-time substitute during a fall semester home from college. As a 22 year old, she took yet another chance on me and hired me full time as a middle school teacher. She answered my questions, helped me with my teacher licensure, and just cared about me more than anything. She defended me in meetings, told me how to improve, and made my first year of teaching incredibly successful (including the help of some wonderful former teachers turned coworkers). I owe so much gratitude to God for her. Sister Michael Marie is the first thing I think about when Saint James comes to mind.