Sponsored by St. James Episcopal Day School

Few things are more rewarding than watching children learn and develop in the moment. St. James Episcopal Day School educators, Bridget Henderson and Jennifer Whittington told InRegister about what it’s like to witness students use what they learn on the school’s newly renovated playgrounds.

While supervising recess, Henderson and Whittington noticed a group of students creating a new game, establishing rules and figuring out how to make it work. Nearby, another group played soccer. The children adjusted their movements and respected one another’s activities, allowing both games to unfold in the same space, a simple example of playing separately while sharing the space successfully.

“It was a real-life example of the way we operate, inside the classroom and out,” describes Henderson, St. James Head of School. “We aim to build confidence in students so they have the autonomy to think beyond what they’re taught, and assimilate that into new situations.”

St. James gives children opportunities to explore, develop interests and practice meaningful skills through play, school-day enrichment and after-school Lagniappes.

“We completed an extensive renovation of our playgrounds over the past two summers, and upgraded our academic facilities as well, creating a state of the art enrichment center,” explains Whittington, Director of Marketing & Communications. “The playgrounds were thoughtfully designed to engage children and encourage them to use their imaginations, create their own games, and explore new ways to play,” says Whittington. “As students share ideas and make decisions together, they develop communication, cooperation and creative thinking skills. We saw all of that come together as we watched them play that day.”

The school’s playground design includes varied opportunities for movement, exploration and creativity. For example, the new turf and courts inspire inventing games, teamwork and sportsmanship, while the putting green and life-size chess, encourage patience, strategy and considering the next move. A stage and outdoor classroom give students space to practice storytelling, imaginative play, expression, exploration and creativity.

Elizabeth Landry, Physical Education coach, introduced a basic playground game to her students during a before-school enrichment activity. Each day, the students examined strategies, successes and improvements to the game then implemented changes for the next class.

“I challenged them to adapt their strategies and think of new solutions,” Landry explains. “It has been amazing to watch these discussions develop naturally, with students building on one another’s ideas.”

At St. James, learning on the playground connects with discovery in the classroom. Thoughtfully designed play spaces, engaging academic classes, and robust enrichment offerings – including Art, Music, Christian Education, Spanish, Guidance, Physical Education, Broadcast Studio, Drama, STEAM/SPARK and Library – work together to nurture the whole child. Project Work helps bring these experiences together, encouraging students to explore ideas, solve problems, and build confidence that carries into every part of their day.

“One of the things that we focus on at St. James is Project Work, hands-on discovery,” says Henderson. “I believe that the confidence we build is what leads to explorations like children developing their own rules to games at recess and implementing them successfully.”

St. James provides an environment centered on three principles: love, learn, lead. Because of this foundation, students on the playground have the collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills to play together cohesively.

“At St. James, children learn to care for others, pursue their questions, and take initiative,” says Henderson. “Our environment, including our new playgrounds, offer students independence, perseverance and a lifelong love of learning.”

Contact St. James Episcopal Day school to visit and experience what the school has to offer young children or visit stjameseds.org.