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