The first and second graders at St. James Elementary School have a longstanding holiday tradition of performing “The Nutcracker” each year for family, friends and classmates. Through their 12th annual performance had to be reimagined due to social distancing requirements, the students conducted the ballet featuring the sweet sugarplums and broadcast it virtually for all to enjoy.

Students and staff at St. James Elementary School celebrated the holiday season by hosting a Grinch Day. Dressed in their finest Grinch attire or just clad in the color green, the school honored the classic Dr. Seuss book. Some came to school looking like a character straight out of the book. Groups took pictures in front of a giant Grinch and all enjoyed “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” By the end of the day, all of the students and staff at St. James’ hearts grew three sizes.

As part of our “Day in the Life” video series, we explore some of the unsung heroes throughout our school district. This week’s video features the lunch monitors at St. James Elementary School.

In mid-October, a student from St. James Elementary School found an injured bird on the school grounds. The dark-eyed junco was found on the ground, unable to fly and may have flown into a window. The bird was taken to the clinic at Sweetbriar Nature Center by two St. James teachers and given to the experts who could help with its recovery. Just two weeks later, the junco had made a full recovery. Sweetbriar staff brought him back to St. James Elementary so the student and her classmates could watch his release. Dark-eyed juncos visit Long Island in the winter and are often called “snowbirds.” Juncos breed further north, most commonly in Canada.