St. James 2026 School Year Theme: Trust

This year, our school community is reflecting on the theme of trust: trust in God, trust in one another, and trust that when we work together with a shared purpose, we can continue building a strong future for our children. 

Trust can be hard. As parents, teachers, and students, we often want to know what comes next and how everything will work out. Education doesn't always follow a straight line. Children learn and grow at different rates, face challenges, discover new strengths, and sometimes take paths we didn't expect.

That is where our faith comes in. We may not always understand what God is doing, but we can trust that He is with us and that He is guiding our path.

• “It is hard sometimes to trust. How many times has someone told you to "trust the process"? In education, no one learns linearly and we don't like that! But there is one thing that we can trust in and that is God our Father! This year we will strive to lean into trusting Him more. Trusting in the talents that God has given each of us to do HIS work here on earth. We hope that all of our families will embrace our school theme this year!”

- Sheri Meyer, Principal, St. James Lutheran School

This year, we want to encourage our students to lean into that, trusting God in the good moments and the difficult ones, trusting the gifts and talents He has given them, and to use those gifts to serve others.

We also want to grow in trusting one another as a school community. When parents, teachers, and students work together, we create a place where children can grow in faith, knowledge, confidence, and character.

• “Trust is the center of our lives. Even when we believe we have complete control over something, trust still lies at the center of our confidence. We may not always recognize that trust, but it is there nonetheless. For us to even make plans for the future implies a trust that life will go on. Without that trust, we would be paralyzed by fear of the unknown. And as Christians we have an even greater trust than simply hoping the world keeps moving forward, and that is our trust in the Lord. Our trust is that God is in control, and the greatest things we could ever fear – sin, death, and the devil – have already been defeated by Christ’s death and resurrection. We trust God’s promise that, through Christ, we have forgiveness of sins, salvation, and life everlasting. No other worry can undo what God has already accomplished for us. This is the trust we hope to instill in our students. A trust that allows them to move forward with confidence, rather than being paralyzed by fear, because they know that everything does not depend on them. Instead, they can trust that all things truly are in God’s hands.”

- Pastor Boester, St. James Lutheran Church

The Story Behind Our Logo

Within our school year theme logo, we see two powerful demonstrations of trust, both drawn from the Bible.

The first, and perhaps the most recognizable, is the image of a foot stepping out onto the water. We remember Jesus walking on water, but the story also tells us about Peter, who trusted Jesus enough to step out of the boat and onto the waves. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and became overwhelmed by the wind and waves, he began to sink. Jesus immediately reached out His hand and pulled him to safety. Peter’s story reminds us that trusting Jesus doesn’t mean we will never be afraid or never stumble. It means we can trust that He will be there to reach for us when we do.

The second image comes from another moment in Jesus’ ministry. A large crowd surrounded Jesus as He taught and traveled, but among the many people pressing in around Him was a woman who had been suffering for years. She trusted that even touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak would be enough to heal her. When she reached out and touched His cloak, she was healed and Jesus knew immediately. He turned to her and said, “Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Together, these images remind us what it means to trust Jesus: to step forward even when we cannot see what lies ahead, and to reach for Him knowing that He is faithful to meet us where we are.

Our theme verse, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5), reminds us that trust is not about having all the answers. It is about knowing the One who does.

This section will explain the Bible stories represented in the logo, including the image of walking on water and the woman reaching out to touch Jesus' garment.

A Community of Trust

For families considering St. James, we hope you will see a school where faith is part of everyday life. We pray together, learn together, serve together, and encourage one another along the way.

We may not always know exactly what the future holds, but we can trust the One who does. This year, we are choosing to TRUST, and we hope you'll join us!