From amazing service projects to participating in some fun, yet challenging sports, we have so many ways your child can get involved here at St. James the Less! Take a look at our opportunities below!
THE SJL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The students at St. James have busy schedules, but they always find time to wear their team colors, whether it’s basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, track & field, softball or baseball season.
The Parish Athletic Association provides the opportunity for students in grades 4 - 8 who attend St. James the Less Catholic School or the Parish Religion Program to learn the basic fundamentals of sports through the Diocesan Recreation sports program.
Part of the philosophy of St. James the Less Catholic School is to strive for academic excellence. We also feel that a good sports program is a vital asset in the total development of each student. We believe that a student should play sports if they wish regardless of their academic ability as long as the student works to their potential (effort) and behavior (conduct) of the student is that which is expected of a student attending Catholic school.
If your child has expressed interest in our athletics program, please contact John Cropper.
Service Learning
“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”
— St. Catherine of Siena
Several years ago, we decided that we wanted our children to truly act as global citizens, and we began to revamp the way we approached service projects in our school. Several of our teachers had intensive training with Partnerships Make A Difference. This organization trains and guides teachers to design service learning projects that are imbedded in the curriculum, standards based and encourage initiative, problem solving and leadership. Our teachers designed a program that would be led by our middle school children. Students would look at service projects and people who made a difference in their local community and globally, then they would narrow the focus and research a problem. The final phase would be spent fundraising and interacting with the chosen people and project.
Through authentic service learning, our students have been involved in raising funds over the years to help the following areas:
Helping a fishing village in southeast Asia by helping to build a boat after the tsunami hit.
Furnishing a dormitory for orphans in Nairobi, Kenya.
Supplying 15,000 meals for senior citizens in Chile.
Providing kitchen supplies and an industrial stove to help purify water in a village in Peru.
Building houses in El Salvador.
Working with A Kid Again in Columbus to help terminally ill children.
Helping with Run the Race program in Columbus, OH.
Student reflections showed their understanding of the issues surrounding the crisis and how they could make a difference.