St. James School kicks off school year with annual Fall Fest

WASHINGTON — Despite the gloom of the overcast weather, families of students and parishioners came out in droves to support St. James School's annual Fall Fest on Sunday, Sept. 8. The school is hoping to have raised $70,000 through the event, which will go directly to support curriculum programs and keep tuition costs low for the Pre-K through 5th grade Catholic school. The event is a long-standing tradition that has been held annually for close to 40 years.

The Fall Fest kicked off with an all-school mass at 10 a.m., which was followed by a dinner meal served at the campus's KC Hall and an auction of donated items that began at 12:30 p.m. The Fall Fest also featured a country store that sold produce and decor as well as books and pottery.

Several hundred community members, both old and new, came for the dinner meal and to participate in the auction. According to St. James School principal Beth McBride, the annual event not only attracts church members and current students, but also brings back alumni of the school, including many who are now parents.

'Fall Fest is a really joyous event and it's just wonderful seeing alumni and all sorts of generations of families come together and show their support for the school,' McBride said, explaining why the fundraiser is special.

Katie Mitchell, the president of the school board and a parent to two St. James students, described the event as a group effort.

'My favorite part is watching everything come together. Each role is really important … we need everyone to do their part for it to work ... Everyone working here today is a volunteer,' Mitchell said. The mother and school board president has helped to oversee and organize the event for the past two years.

As Mitchell described, the community often makes various contributions to Fall Fest. From donated items for the country store to school projects created by each class for the auction, the event involves everyone in the St. James community. Father Bernie Weir participated by auctioning off the opportunity to cut off pieces of his hair, which he grew out to donate to Locks of Love, a foundation that makes wigs for children going through cancer. Weir, who has been with the parish for five years and has been growing out his hair for three, noted that community members were initially hesitant to get on board with his unconventional look, but soon were supportive after understanding the cause it would benefit. Weir began growing out and donating his hair in 1993 but the 2019 Fall Fest is the first time he has auctioned off the cutting.

'I'm a huge supporter of Catholic education … and half the kids at St. James are on scholarships. We really try to make it so that anyone who wants to come here, can,' Weir said, explaining why the school rallies around the fundraiser.

'We have some of the lowest tuition prices in the diocese,' McBride added.

While the event involved a lot of hard work from everyone at St. James, most people, including volunteers, enjoy the event. Jolene Colthurst, who has volunteered for the event for over a decade, said the best part of the event is 'seeing the people and the fellowship. It's great that the community comes together like this for the school.'

Students and other children seemed to have the most fun as they enjoyed food and games in the yard area outside of the dining hall. For fifth-graders Sarah Berdo, Elyse Nichols, Emma Horak and Ellie Farmer, their favorite part of the event is 'definitely the food and the auction.' Many students attend the Fall Fest every single year, playing with friends in the jump house or getting their faces painted.

'It's just a lot of fun,' Ellie said through a giggle.