About
About

Learn more about James River Day School, our mission, and our educational philosophy. Our school, our faculty and staff, our Board, and our community are dedicated to constantly and consistently building a school program where we cherish and challenge our students in an environment of academic excellence.
Admissions
Admissions

Learn more about the difference James River will make in your child's education. Visit these pages and make arrangements to visit the school; there's no better way to see for yourself the impact of a James River education.
Programs
Programs

The advantages of the K-8 model provide an incomparable foundation for learners and the entirety of our programming is built around a single question -- "What is best for the child?" Children flourish at James River because they are supported as students and as persons. They are given the tools for lifelong learning and the tools of good character to function well in society, leaving it better than they found it.
Giving
Giving

James River Day School has relied on the support of our community since its founding. Partnerships with parents, grandparents, trustees, faculty and staff, alumni families, alumni, friends, and corporations have made it possible to provide our students with an unparalleled educational experience. Gifts to the Cardinal Annual Fund provide valuable operating support for all our programs.
Community
Community

James River Day School is a vital community of lifelong learners of all ages. Parents, students, alumni, and alumni families can find lots of information in this section.
The Bird Bash
Summer Programs
- Summer Enrichments
- Summer Day Camp
Summer Programs

Join the summer fun at James River Day School! There are many opportunities for engaging enrichments (rising K through 8th grade), and James River offers our 8-week Summer Day Camp for kids in rising first grade through age 12.

October and a Look Ahead

What you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow.

–Norton Juster, author

Dear James River Families,

Welcome to October! We are approaching the end of the first trimester and halfway through the first semester. October is traditionally a busy month for everyone. Students (and parents and faculty) can sometimes feel worn thin with obligations and more tired than usual as the seasons change. Be sure to take care of yourselves and get plenty of rest this time of year.

Friday, October 6, families will receive information about Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, October 18. Conferences are a great time to get a pulse on your child’s strengths and growth areas and to learn how they are settling into the year. Feel free to contact your child’s homeroom teacher or advisor with questions about your appointment.

While we will formally announce our next Parent Book Club read in a couple of weeks, I wanted to share what I am currently reading with you: Your Brain on Art, How the Arts Transform Us, by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. If you enjoy reading about brain science, this book will fascinate you. I also found it to be a timely read as I have been watching the 7th-grade art class transform a plain fence into a JRDS-themed mural behind my office. I cannot wait to share the finished product with you.

Let’s fly!

Jenn