We are pleased to partner with PRYDE and the Boys and Girls Club of Durham to provide before and after school care and recreational programming at St. James Catholic School. Call PRYDE at 905-424-5575 and the Boys and Girls Club of Durham at 289-927-0360 to learn more about their services.
About Our School
At St. James Catholic School, it is our mission to be an inclusive Catholic learning community that inspires every student to achieve their full potential through faith and education. We recognize our call to love and serve from our Master teacher Jesus Christ, and we are committed to creating a Catholic learning community under the protection of Mother Mary.
The Catholic Graduate Expectations are our foundation as we strive for academic excellence and the acknowledgement of those who achieve it. We recognize God as the source of all life and actively work to focus on social issues within our local and global communities.
We celebrate the diversity within our community with a collaborative approach to learning, in cooperation with parents, the Catholic faith community, and other organizations that recognize the value of our mission. Within the context of Catholic teaching and Sacramental living, our school community strives to demonstrate respect and reverence for all life, thus nurturing a safe, Christian environment for the entire school community.
Our patron saint is St. James the Less, the author of the first Catholic Epistle, who was the son of Alphaeus of Cleophas. His mother Mary was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin, and for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord. The Apostle held a distinguished position in the early Christian community of Jerusalem. St. Paul tells us he was a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; he is also a "pillar" of the Church, whom St. Paul consulted about the Gospel.
According to tradition, he was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and was at the Council of Jerusalem about the year 50. The historians Eusebius and Hegesippus relayed that St. James was martyred for the Faith by the Jews in the Spring of the year 62, although they greatly esteemed his person and had given him the surname of "James the Just."
Tradition has always recognized him as the author of the Epistle that bears his name. Internal evidence based on the language, style, and teaching of the Epistle reveals its author as a Jew familiar with the Old Testament, and a Christian thoroughly grounded in the teachings of the Gospel. External evidence from the early Fathers and Councils of the Church confirmed its authenticity and canonicity.
As Catholic educators, we live according to our Father's code and to lead our students, by example, to live the basic truths of the gospel message. This is an awesome, yet inspiring challenge which we share with the parents of our young men and women.
Children learn what they live. Each day we have the opportunity to teach our students:
- to love by the way we love;
- to be generous by our generosity;
- to be passionate by our compassion; and
- to be forgiving by the way we forgive.
However, a person cannot give what he or she does not have. Unless we are living the Gospel message, we cannot lead our students to do so.
There are many hallmarks of a Catholic educator, including:
- Prayer - The challenges of our vocation, and indeed life in general, are great. To meet them we need to follow Christ's advice that we "ask the father in My name". Each Catholic educator has a duty to expose students to his or her particular style of prayer in order to assist students to recognize the value of prayer in daily life.
- Eucharist - Parish, school, and staff liturgies provide opportunities to celebrate our faith. Our example can testify to the Eucharist as a joyful source of strength and community building.
- Social Justice - This is the heart of the Christian message, that we "love one another as I have loved you". As our brother's and sister's keepers, we must be concerned about the aged, the poor, the oppressed, and any other marginalized group - both at home and abroad.
St. James Catholic School opened in 1986 and has been a welcoming and faith-centred part of the Ajax community ever since. Named after St. James the Less, an Apostle and early leader of the Christian Church, the school draws inspiration from his example of faith, service, and commitment to sharing God's message. Since its official opening in November 1986, St. James has fostered a strong sense of community where students are encouraged to build meaningful relationships, live out Gospel values, and grow as compassionate learners. Guided by its faith and partnership with families and parish, St. James Catholic School continues to nurture students in an environment rooted in kindness, respect, and academic excellence.
St. James Feast Day is May 3.
Our school hours are as follows:
8:35 a.m. - School begins
10:10 - 10:25 a.m. - Morning recess
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Lunch
1:55 - 2:10 p.m. - Afternoon recess
3:05 p.m. - Dismissal
St. James,
help our school to be a more loving Community
To show friendship as Jesus did.
Help us to live the way of the Lord;
To understand the power of God;
To be kind to others in a peaceful way;
And help us to be better Christians in our world.
Pray that those who are challenged
Receive courage and strength;
And others the insight to recognize that challenge.
St. James,
We ask also for your prayers for our parish,
Our family, our friends, our homes,
Our school and our staff.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. James, pray for us.
Our board's School Year calendar is now available. We encourage parents and guardians to stay informed of upcoming events, we ask that you visit our school calendar webpage to learn more about activities happening at school.
We welcome your questions, comments and concerns.
10 Clover Ridge Dr.,
Ajax, ON
Phone: 905-427-3327
Fax: 905-427-0723