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Book Buddies Ask and Answer

An abundance of learning took place at the Brickyard last Tuesday. It was the second meeting of JA Book Buddies, a pairing of sixth graders and first graders. Book Buddies is one of JA’s many intentional occasions for students across grades to learn from one another.

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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.

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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.

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McKinna Smith Signs with Rangers for Women’s Basketball

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 at the beginning of her senior year. 

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Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy Honored Across Campus

In preparation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students in each of Jackson Academy’s divisions learned from the remarkable Civil Rights leader’s life last Friday, which fell on King’s actual birth date. King’s passion to achieve equality through nonviolent protest significantly furthered the cause of justice for minorities, spearheading much of the work to desegregate American life and culture in the 50s and 60s. Through age-appropriate activities, JA teachers encouraged their students to use the long weekend to contemplate the foundation that King laid and how they will contribute to a world of justice and equality for everyone. In this article, we feature a single project from each academic division.

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Dual Enrollment Courses Give Students Confidence Boost for College

When current JA seniors head off to college next fall, many of them will do so with several hours of college credit already complete. In 2019, Jackson Academy signed a dual enrollment agreement with Belhaven University, allowing JA students who meet Belhaven’s admission requirements to take classes that earn college and high school credit simultaneously. The credits earned through Belhaven transfer to other accredited colleges and universities. 

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JA Families Enjoy Rare Mississippi Snow Day

Monday morning, Jackson Academy families awoke to snow on the ground and enjoyed the day off from school to play in the snow. The school’s administration announced Sunday that school would be closed Monday as a winter storm blanketed parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and, most importantly, Mississippi, in snow.

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Nine JA Musicians Combine Talents with Others at MAIS Band Clinic

The Mississippi Association of Independent Schools held the annual concert band clinic Thursday and Friday in an abbreviated fashion. Jackson Academy musicians were among those who auditioned via recordings to perform with musicians from other independent schools. MAIS limited the clinic to 50 students this year. Students from eight schools earned spots. In a socially distanced setting at Hinds Community College, nine students represented JA, most holding first or second chair positions.

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Third and Fourth Grade Gratitude Project Warms Hearts Throughout Campus

On Thankful Thursday, third and fourth graders reflect on the people and things they feel grateful for. They write their thoughts in gratitude journals, and on some Thursdays, they write their thoughts in letters to the people they are thankful for. “Ms. Love has started doing Thankful Thursday each week during her morning message to the Lower School,” Fourth Grade Teacher Abbie Cox explained. “In conjunction with this, many teachers have discussed being thankful more in depth on Thursdays in their morning meeting. Now more than ever, it is so important to recognize the many blessings we have been given.”

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