About St. James

History: St. James School has been a vital part of Crete’s history since the first classes were held in September 1887. Father Pold and two Ursuline Sisters began the school by teaching classes in a rented house. Two years later a school was built and was staffed by the Precious Blood Sisters of O’Fallon, MO. Starting in 1997 TheSchool Sisters of Christ the King and lay teachers staff the preschool through sixth grade school.

Enrollment: We currently have 90 Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade students. We are culturally diverse.

Faith Dimension: The Pre-K-6th grade students have the privilege of attending daily Mass and daily religion classes; the parish priest visits each classroom; the students are well prepared for receiving the sacraments; Catholic customs and traditions are emphasized throughout the liturgical year; and our Catholic faith is integrated in regular subjects.

Community Dimension: Our school is family orientated. Our parents are encouraged to be involved in their child’s education. We expect our students to live high standards of respect, responsibility and self-discipline.

Academic Excellence: We expect our students to do their best and beyond. The curriculum includes: Religion, Reading, Phonics, Math, Handwriting, Science, Social Studies, Health, Art, Vocal Music, P.E., Library, and Computer. Students receive letter grades in all subjects and participate in the Terra Nova standardized test in grades 3rd-6th. Homework is given to 1st-6th grades.

Importance of Catholic Education: “Catholic education is an expression of the mission entrusted by Jesus to the Church He founded. Through education the Church seeks to prepare its members to proclaim the Good News and to translate this proclamation into action. Since the Christian vocation is a call to transform oneself and society with God’s help, the educational efforts of the Church must encompass the twin purposes of personal sanctification and social reform in light of Christian values.”
To Teach as Jesus Did , #7

Role of Catholic Educators: “In the Catholic School, ‘prime responsibility for creating this unique Christian climate rests with the teachers, as individuals and as a community.’ Teaching has an extraordinary moral depth and is one of man’s most excellent and creative activities, for the teacher does not write on inanimate material, but on the very spirits of human beings. The personal relations between the teacher and the students, therefore, assume an enormous importance and are not limited simply to giving and taking. Moreover, we must remember that teachers and educators fulfill a specific Christian vocation and share an equally specific participation in the mission of the Church, to the extent that it depends chiefly on them where the Catholic school achieves its purpose.” The Catholic School on the Threshold of the third Millennium p. 20