SLS 24RS-4245 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 148
BY SENATOR FOIL
COMMENDATIONS. Commends St. James Episcopal Day School in Baton Rouge on the
occasion of its 75
th
anniversary.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend St. James Episcopal Day School in Baton Rouge on the occasion of its
3 seventy-fifth anniversary.
4 WHEREAS, St. James Episcopal Day School was originally founded as a
5 kindergarten school by Mrs. Doris deBessonet in 1948; and
6 WHEREAS, the Day School was given official status by the St. James Episcopal
7 Church Vestry in 1951 under the leadership of the Rector, Parson Phillip Werlein; and
8 WHEREAS, St. James offers a loving, personalized learning community for students
9 ages eighteen months through fifth grade designed to propel bright minds to explore their
10 curiosity and give them the academic and leadership preparation needed to succeed in
11 middle school and beyond; and
12 WHEREAS, over the years, St. James has nurtured many of Baton Rouge's future
13 leaders in a warm and loving Christian community; and
14 WHEREAS, the Day School has maintained a commitment to developing each
15 child's unique gifts by providing a strong foundation combining academic excellence and
16 spiritual formation; and
17 WHEREAS, under the primary leadership of heads of school Mona Terry, Michael
18 Glisson, Linda Chauviere, and Bridget Henderson, St. James has excelled academically; and
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 148
SLS 24RS-4245 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, St. James offers an integrated and accelerated curriculum designed to
2 exceed national and state standards; and
3 WHEREAS, in addition to their core curriculum, St. James offers enrichment
4 programs, including art, music, Spanish, and Christian education, cutting-edge technology
5 programs from coding and robotics to virtual reality mobile immersion labs, and public
6 speaking opportunities for students to hone their skills in the school's own in-house
7 broadcast studio; and
8 WHEREAS, the Day School has earned the prestigious United States Department of
9 Education National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award in 2009, 2015, and 2022; and
10 WHEREAS, St. James earned the Apple Distinguished School award on several
11 occasions; and
12 WHEREAS, given its downtown location, St. James students have immersed
13 themselves in Louisiana's history and culture by participating in Easter Egg Hunts at the Old
14 State Capitol, hosting student art exhibits at the River Center Branch Library, picnicking
15 along the Mississippi River, visiting many of Baton Rouge's downtown museums, and
16 touring the Louisiana State Capitol on a regular basis; and
17 WHEREAS, over the last seventy-five years, the St. James Episcopal Day School has
18 earned many accolades, but their greatest achievement is the development of generations of
19 well-rounded, hard-working, and curious students that grow up, become parents, and send
20 their children to their alma mater.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
22 does hereby commend the current and former students, administrators, and faculty of St.
23 James Episcopal Day School in Baton Rouge on the occasion of their seventy-fifth
24 anniversary.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
26 Reverend Chris Duncan, Rector, Ms. Bridget Henderson, Head of School, and Mr. Tyler
27 Gray, president of the Board of Trustees.
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 148
SLS 24RS-4245 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SR 148 Original 2024 Regular Session Foil
Commends St. James Episcopal Day School in Baton Rouge on the occasion of its 75th
anniversary.
Page 3 of 3