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Family, teammates, fellow students, coaches, and faculty joined senior Lucy Lee this past week as she signed to continue her academic and athletic career at Sewanee – The University of the South. Her signing makes the eighth athletic signing for the senior class and more than 200 in JA history.
One of the most impactful JA senior ceremonies is JA’s Senior Chapel, which was held today. Seniors don caps and gowns and process into the Performing Arts Center holding hands with their Alpha & Omega buddies.
Jackson Academy recently welcomed 25 middle school students and their families from Heritage Academy, Cathedral School, and Oak Hill Academy for the Spring 2024 JA Middle School Scholars’ Bowl Invitational. Scholars’ Bowl is an opportunity to test general knowledge in a competition setting. Coached by Brandon Richardson and Dawn Duncombe, the Middle School Scholars’ Bowl team has been preparing, practicing, and competing for the entire 2023-2024 school year.
Jackson Academy acknowledges and honors its Teachers of the Year every spring. The recognition is particularly noteworthy this year as it falls during National Teacher Appreciation Week. During the final chapel program on Tuesday, administrators called four teachers to the PAC stage where they formally expressed gratitude for the teachers’ dedicated service to the school. Faculty members vote for Teachers of the Year from among their peers by division.
One of the anticipated evenings each year at JA is Senior Awards Night, held this past Tuesday. At this event, JA announces members of the Hall of Fame, Most Beautiful, Most Handsome, Beauties and Beaus, Mr. and Miss JA, and Class Favorites, among other academic, service, and student life awards.
“Life is full of decisions. Often, they come fast, and you cannot hesitate or delay. The real power in life comes when you are confident in your decision making before you ever come to the fork in the road,” said John Scarbrough (1992) to the Class of 2024 last Tuesday evening during the Senior Night Banquet at the Country Club of Jackson.
JA fifth grade spent Friday morning at “STEM in the Gym!” With the help of parents and faculty members, six hands-on stations were set up in the Lower School gym for the energetic fifth graders to rotate through. The six stations were the Marble Run Design, Coding with Dash, Rocket Launch, Imagination Playground, Barefoot Frogger, and the Rigamajig. Each station included elements of science, technology, engineering, and math, which students learned about all year through the Lower School STEM program.
Today, students in K4 took the lead in reminding our Preschool and Lower School students and faculty about the significance of books. On World Book Day, these young Raiders selected a book to read and brought it to life through their creative costumes. They paraded their literary creations across the Lower School playground, captivating the attention of students and faculty from seven other grades.
Jackson Academy is proud and excited to announce that Brandt Walker was recently named athletic director. Currently in his seventh year at JA, he has served in a variety of coaching and administrative capacities, including overseeing the daily operations of JA’s athletic department. Walker came to JA with 14 years of coaching experience, including a decade of coaching football and track. His talents will provide the necessary leadership to ensure the Athletic Department’s success.
Lower School students participated in Field Day on Friday. Each year, Lower School students look forward to Field Day. This long-time JA tradition incorporates teamwork, competition, and hard work into exciting races that challenge strength, speed, balance, mind, and endurance. It is a fan-favorite event that students, teachers, and parents await each year.