St. James sports center hosts learning pods for K-12 students

The St. James offers lots of sports options for all ages. [The St. James]

The St. James sports complex in Springfield is launching a virtual learning program for K-12 students.

The program will provide adult supervision for students participating in distance learning while schools remain closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students will have their own desks and will be clustered in learning pods of 10 to 12 according to age.  

The program will be available two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and will start this week. 

The St. James opened in an industrial area of Mason District in September 2018.

Each learning pod will have a proctor to help students stay on task, troubleshoot any connectivity issues, and answer basic learning questions. 

After the instructional day, students will participate in physical activities, such as basketball, volleyball, relay races, and virtual reality games. The St. James has a broad array of indoor sports facilities, including a climbing wall, football/soccer fields, swimming pool, ice rinks, and much more. 

Related story: Huge St. James sports and wellness center opens in Mason District

To guard against the spread of COVID, all students will be required to complete a health declaration and will have their temperature taken as they enter the facility every day. No one will be allowed to stay if they have a temperature of 100.4 or higher. Masks will be required, except when students are having lunch and snacks and participating in some physical activities. 

The learning program could eventually accommodate up to 300 students, Bauer says, but will start off smaller and will evolve to meet students’ and parents’ needs. 

The program is $415 a month for St. James members and $520 for nonmembers. Families can register online.