St. James Nursery School was established in 1974 We are a licensed nursery school for two, three, four, and five-year olds and is licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education Office of Child Care. We are located at 1307 N. Main Street, Mt. Airy, Maryland.
St. James’ has a deep Christian identity which is foundational to our educational program and part of what makes our school special. Children participate in Chapel Time with our Rector monthly. St. James’ is a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools. This national organization offers resources for spiritual development, leadership mentoring, grants, and so much more.
Our Mission
To provide an educational environment which nurtures each child’s spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical and social development.
Vision
To be the best preschool program in the region dedicated to the preparation of children for success in school and life.
Core Values
- To affirm the value and worth of every child
- To enable each child to discover their personal interests, talents and skills
- To support an exceptional staff committed to providing caring, sensitive guidance with fair and consistent rules
- To present a comprehensive curriculum which is creative and innovative
- To create an environment that promotes social growth and behavior
- To remain rooted in Christianity but welcoming to children of all faiths
- To provide support for families
- To strengthen the mission of St. James’ Episcopal Church
Statement of Respect
St. James’ Nursery School is deeply committed to equity, honesty, kindness, and respect as part of the educational experience. To this end, we:
- strive to celebrate diversity both within our community and in our curriculum;
- are concerned for the well-being of all people;
- seek to build the self-esteem of all people;
- aspire to promote understanding among all people.
Recognizing the dignity and worth of all individuals and to protect their rights, we oppose bias,
prejudice, and discrimination. St. James’ Nursery School does not condone any behavior which is inconsistent with these tenets. We believe that spoken or written language or any behavior that is inconsistent with this philosophy and/or that demeans one’s ethnic, religious, racial, physical, personal and/or sexual characteristics is unacceptable. We expect individuals to take responsibility for their words and deeds and to respect all people.
Non-Discrimination Statement
St. James’ Nursery School does not discriminate based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, ethnic group identification, race, ancestry, national origin, religion, color, or mental or physical disability in determining which children are served.
It is the policy of the State of Maryland that all public and publicly funded schools and school programs operate in compliance with:
- Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, and
- Title 26, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article of the Maryland Code, which states that public and publicly funded schools land programs may not: (1) Discriminate against a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current of prospective student based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identify, or disability; (2) Refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability; or (3) Discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.