The Official JACKSON ACADEMY Newsletter -|- JANUARY 26 ISSUE
4908 RIDGEWOOD ROAD .|. JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39211 .|. 601.362.9676 .|. JACKSONACADEMY.ORG
Sports Broadcasting Class Challenges and Connects Students
"I really like sports," Devlyn Williams said when describing why he chose to enroll in the Sports Broadcasting class at Jackson Academy. "I like commentating and watching people like Mike Breen or Jim Nantz commentate." During third period, the sports broadcasting class gathers in the Learning Commons media room to learn from Bryan Eubank and Josh Hinkle. The elective course covers the mechanics of running cameras, audio, and production for a broadcast. It also includes creating a commercial, meeting professionals in the sports broadcasting industry, and planning a broadcast trailer of their own. Devlyn found the elective course a good fit for his interests and class schedule, as did many of his classmates. 
JA Student Glake Hill Co-Authors
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Glake Hill has received two honors experienced by college undergraduate or graduate students more often than by high school seniors. During an internship in Jackson State University's chemistry department, Glake participated in research under Professor Paresh Ray. His work led to a scientific journal co-authorship and a conference presentation. 

McKinna Smith Signs with Rangers Women's Basketball Team
Congratulations to McKinna Smith, who signed with Northwest Community College's Rangers women's basketball team in a ceremony held last Wednesday morning in the Jackson Academy Learning Commons. McKinna has played varsity basketball since ninth grade, starting her career at Copiah Academy. She transferred to Jackson Academy the summer before her senior year. 
January 29
Winterfest

February 1
Priority
Re-Enrollment Deadline

February 5-6
JA Showchoir Invitational (JASI)
7-12th grades dismissed at noon that Friday
The 2020 summer issue of True Blue is out now. The digital version is available online here.
Show Choirs Launch Competition Season with Wins at Masters
Showtime won Best Visual and Overall First Place in the junior high division at the Jackson Preparatory Masters last weekend. Jack Rosamond earned second place in the male solo competition.
Encore danced into competition season last Friday, taking first place in the large division at Jackson Preparatory’s Show Choir Masters. Gibson Cheney won second place in the male solo competition; Gretchen Morris won first place in the female solo competition; Madison Lampley was named Best Performer for the entire day!
 
February 5 and 6, Jackson Academy’s show choirs will host the annual Show Choir Invitational. The schedule and activities will be modified to keep numbers and gatherings within COVID guidelines. Like each year, however, JA students in grades seven through twelve will be dismissed from JA at noon so facilities can be made available for visiting schools.
 
Ten schools are signed up with some schools bringing multiple show choirs, such as middle school, upper school, and all girls groups. Here’s what you can expect:
 
  • Groups will rotate on and off the stage with time in between for cleanings.
  • Groups have been given passes for 200 people from their school to watch performances. Guidelines call for 25 percent capacity of the auditorium. After each group performs, the audience will depart and the auditorium will be cleaned before the next performance.
  • A limited number of people will be allowed in the lobby.
  • Limited numbers will be allowed in the cafeteria, which will be selling only pick-up-and-go options.
  • The event will have no finals competition, and groups will leave campus after they perform.

Have you ever noticed how Gmail clips the Tuesday Raider and other email messages with this statement: “[Message clipped] View entire message”? For “the rest of the story,” be sure to click on the link to expand the Tuesday Raider so you don’t miss any important JA news!
Upper School Creators Earn Scholastic Art Awards
Congratulations to the 10 Upper School students recognized in the 2021 Scholastic Art Competition! The annual statewide competition is held to encourage excellence and innovation in the visual arts. JA students submitted pieces ranging from classic portraiture to 3D creations. View their competition pieces on the Jackson Academy Upper School Art Facebook page by clicking here.

  • Kaylee Ashford - Gold Key for "Hero"
  • Marie Lewis - Silver Key for "Nightmare"
  • Kaylee Ashford - Honorable Mention for "Photographer"
  • Mallory Brooks - Honorable Mention for "Seeing Double"
  • Dodie Funderburg - Honorable Mention for "Spiders!"
  • Alex Giddens - Honorable Mention for "Marbles and Comics"
  • Michael Hogue - Honorable Mention for "Cardboard Face"
  • Andrew Holmes - Honorable Mention for "Journey"
  • Grace Owens - Honorable Mention for "Blues"
  • Kate White - Honorable Mention for "Pyramid of Faces"
  • Kate White - Honorable Mention for "Abstraction Window"
  • Delaney Williams - Honorable Mention for "DragonFly"
Watch Winterfest Presentations on Raider Network Friday
The Winterfest Court presentation is this Friday, January 29. Informal presentation of the Court will be available by livestream at 9:45 a.m. on Raider Network. The formal presentation of the tenth through twelfth grade court will be held later that evening at 7:30 p.m. between the basketball and soccer games. We invite everyone to log on to Raider Network to see this livestream event and the crowning of our JA Winterfest king and queen.
Upper School Students: Sign Up for This Weekend's Outdoor Adventures
This Saturday, join your friends hiking one of Mississippi's top-rated trails at Percy Quinn State Park in McComb—a 6.8-mile trek! On Sunday, see how high you can go at the Climbing Wall at USM's Rec Center in Hattiesburg. 

Fee: $25 per trip covers entry, lunch, and transportation. You can participate in one or both trips. Dress for an active day of outdoor hiking and/or indoor climbing.

These excursions are among the 14 trips planned for JA Middle or Upper School students between January 30 and May 1. Each trip provides transportation (15 passenger van - MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED), entry fees, a lunch, or for off-campus overnights, breakfast and dinner in camp, and a water bottle. Some trips will provide boats, tents, or backpacks, depending on the activity.

To view more information about the SOAR Outdoor Program, visit the JA website under Student Life: Outdoor Learning Experiences or click here.

To read more about SOAR’s director, WT Taylor, who has 30 years of experience leading outdoor excursions—including trips to the Florida Everglades, North Carolina’s Smokies, Montana’s Glacier National Park, Arizona’s Grand Canyon, Minnesota’s Boundaries Water Canoe Area, Texas’ Rio Grande plus Mexico and Canada—click here.

Re-Enrollment Open for 2021-2022
Priority re-enrollment is now open, and ends February 1! JA’s priority re-enrollment deadline is Monday, February 1. Those who enroll by February 1 save $150 on the re-enrollment fee.

  • K3, K4, K5 - $300 before February 1, $450 after February 1
  • Grades 1-12 - $600 before February 1, $750 after February 1
Sixth Graders Study Rocks and Minerals
Katie Chustz’s students in sixth grade science studied fossils, fluorescent minerals and rocks, and the formation of crystals during their unit on rocks and minerals. The students used pipe cleaners to grow crystals from the cleaning compound Borax and enjoyed inspecting fluorescent stones and fossils.
Who Knows How to Make a Mutual Fund?
JA students do! This past week the financial management class played a game called "Let's Make a Mutual Fund!" The objective of this whole-class activity was to illustrate the power of diversification when it comes to stocks. Each student received a card representing one publicly traded company and its performance over the past year. Then, in various rounds, students compared their performance when paired with another company and then lumped into a small or large mutual fund. Students saw how diversification decreased their risk. 

Finally, the entire class lined up in order of highest to lowest performing stocks. Taking a step back and looking at the entire group and their stocks together, the class realized that they had created an index fund called the Dow Jones Industrial Average. This illustration furthered the idea of diversification and risk. Those students who had negative performing individual stocks were so glad to get into a mutual fund with someone with a high performing stock.

To add to students’ understanding of investing, Maury Breazeale ‘98, a financial advisor at Breazeale Wealth Management, spoke to the financial management class today.
This Week in Raider Sports
College Recruiters Visit Campus
Delta State University
Wednesday, January 27
12:00 p.m.
Counseling Office
Mississippi State University
Wednesday, February 3
12:00 p.m.
PAC
University of Alabama
Thursday, February 4
12:00 p.m.
PAC
Alumni Announcements
Submit Names by January 31 for Distinguished Alumni Award
Is there a JA graduate who consistently impresses you? As you think of all the alumni you know who are deserving of recognition, consider nominating one of them by January 31, 2021, for the Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is be presented annually to an alumna or alumnus who is leading a life of purpose and significance through professional achievement, service to the community, and/or loyalty to Jackson Academy.

Eligible nominees will have graduated from Jackson Academy and have been an alumna or alumnus for at least 10 years prior to being nominated for the Distinguished Alumni Award.

All Jackson Academy alumni are invited to submit nominations from now until January 31. The Alumni Council will vote on the top three nominees in February. The Distinguished Alumni will be the keynote speaker at the Senior Class Dinner in April.

The winner of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award was Phillip Bowman ‘86.

Take a moment and submit your nominee today!
Save the Date for Reunion Weekend
OUR MISSION
Within our nurturing and spiritual community, Jackson Academy inspires and equips each student to lead a life of purpose and significance.
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