We are excited to announce that St. James will offer two kindergarten classes for the 2013-2014 school year. We are delighted to have two wonderful teachers in Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Dohrman. While it is our desire to keep the class sizes small to offer the best learning environment, we do have space for a few more students. If you know of any families looking for an excellent, Christian kindergarten program, please contact Julie Grott at julieg@stjameslaf.org or 765-742-6464

Garage Sale to be held May 18. The St. James Auction committee will be holding a garage sale to help offset expenses for our annual auction. We are accepting items to be available for sale. No clothes please. If you have items to donate please take them to the church office (to be stored in our auction storeroom). Please look around your home and consider donating to the garage sale. If you want to attend, watch for the address to be published next week

Dr. Campbell recently received word that she has received a grant from Evonik’s Partners in Education Grants. The grant money will be issued for next school year. The grants is:

Mini-Engineering: The Science of Robotics - The teaching of robotics based on the LEGO building systems and programming software is an invaluable medium for the teaching of science and thinking skills from early years of primary school through mid and later years of secondary education to tertiary education. The building of LEGO models involves the whole spectrum of physics and associated scientific principles. The models replicate the reality of the underlying principles of science, and thus the compound issues faced by engineers to satisfy the needs of an ever increasingly complex human society. Robotics in education is truly mini-engineering.  Students in this grant will be teamed in Engineering Honors students at Purdue University to build and program mini-robots.

Dr. Campbell Wins Two More Grants!
Dr. Campbell recently received word that she has received two grants from Evonik’s Partners in Education Grants. The grant money will be issued for next school year.  The grants are:

Genetics – Genes, Chromosomes and Alleles, Oh My! - Students involved in this project will be engaged in exploring Mendelian genetics through monohybrid and dihybrid crosses of corn. Further, students will learn how to determine F1 and F2 generations while learning to use Punnett squares.  Students will apply their understanding of corn genetics in a more advanced exploration of human chromosome studies that involve chromosome abnormalities.

The World of Cells and Microbes - Utilizing laboratories in microbiology, middle school students will be able to better understand the microworld environments taught in middle school science.  Students will be engaged in a variety of hands-on activities that address the differences between animal and plant cells, as well as cell division.  Students will be engaged in microscope use and develop laboratory technique in developing their own slide sets.
 

Dr. Campbell recently applied for and was awarded a grant from the McDonald’s corporation.  A representative from McDonald’s was in chapel on Wednesday, Nov. 10 to present the award. With over 200 entries from central Indiana, Dr. Campbell feels very blessed to have been one of 48 chosen.  Her grant will focus on teaching ornithology (bird study) in the middle school group – while teaming with activities in the 4th/5th grade classes.

The Handbell Choir did a wonderful job of playing in the Jeff Christmas show.  The Crusader Handbell Choir, under the direction of Martha Trautmann, is comprised of auditioned students in the seventh and eighth grade.  They meet twice a week to hone their ringing skills on challenging Handbell music.  We are very thankful to Jeff High School for this opportunity to ring for the Lafayette community.  If you see one of the handbell choir members make sure you congratulate them on a job well done.