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Community

Partner School

The Munui School in Korea is located in the countryside about two hours by road from Seoul. The school has 180 students, ages 5 through 12. Ms. Wall Koong Jang is the Head of School and 25 teachers and staff members work there.

The partnership between St. James’ and Munui School was established in 2006 by the grandfather of two currently enrolled St. James’ students whose mother also attended our school. There have been several visits between Munui and St. James’. In the summer of 2008, a group from St. James’ visited the Munui School and studied Korean culture including a visit to Busan and several historic sites. In January 2022, ten students, a teacher and the Head of Munui School visited Los Angeles and were hosted by St. James’ families. 

The trip to the Munui School was one of great joy and partnership.

— E. Desmarais, Assistant Head of Systems and Matriculation

In January 2023, ten students, a teacher and the Head of School from Munui visited St. James’. The Munui students were 4th and 5th graders and were hosted in the homes of St. James’ students. It was a wonderful opportunity for students from our sister school to be immersed in American culture, attending school each morning and going on a cultural outing each afternoon. Our Munui guests were here for our Lunar New Year celebration and treated the St. James’ community to many Korean traditions including fan dances and K-Pop.

In June 2023, a return visit was made to Munui by St. James’ Head of School and Assistant Head of School as well as 3 teachers. This partnership with the Munui School is a wonderful opportunity for students and staff on both sides of the Pacific to understand each other’s culture and increase their knowledge of the world.

Remembering our visit to Munui

The trip to the Munui School was one of great joy and partnership. We had the opportunity to attend a special assembly where we were greeted warmly and treated to a performance that included a strings ensemble and Korean drummers. The assembly ended with all of us joining together to perform a traditional Korean dance.

We enjoyed meeting the students and witnessing their many academic achievements. A tour of the campus allowed us to observe engaged students in purposeful lessons in core academic disciplines. We took classes in bookmaking, observed a demonstration of how tofu is made, and we got to make our own pens.

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About St. James'

Admission

Our Values

Academics

Beyond School

Community

Giving

Laura petersen

Preschool Director

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
B.A. in Administration

Pasadena City College
Child Development 

Certificates/Recognition

Responsive Classroom, Child Care Center Application, Outdoor Classroom

Laura is an experienced educational leader with more than 20 years of experience in education. Throughout her career, Laura has worked with children and families across a variety of educational settings, with a particular passion for creating nurturing, engaging, and supportive environments where children can thrive. Prior to joining St. James’, Laura served as the Director of a private school in Pasadena serving children from infancy through sixth grade. She also spent 12 years at Saint Mark’s Episcopal School in Altadena, where she developed a deep understanding of the importance of strong relationships between educators, children, and families.

Laura holds a degree in Business Administration, but has always had a passion for early childhood education.  Laura believes children learn best when they feel safe, valued, encouraged, and genuinely known. Her approach to leadership centers on creating a warm and welcoming school community while supporting teachers in providing meaningful experiences for every child. Outside of her professional life, Laura is a proud mother of two children. She has also opened her home as a foster parent to multiple children, an experience that has strengthened her understanding of the individual needs, experiences, and strengths every child brings with them. Laura  is honored to serve as Preschool Director and looks forward to partnering with families to create a joyful, supportive, and enriching foundation for each child’s educational journey.