Upper School News

Making the Day Merry

JA brightens up the season each year with a “Merry JA Christmas Carpool,” this year held Thursday, December 10. Special friends such as Elsa, Ana, and the Grinch, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, delighted students during their morning arrival.

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Alumni Panel Answers Questions About College

College is different from high school, no doubt. Last week members of the class of 2018, 2019, and 2020 joined the current senior class in the Learning Commons to talk about the college experience. The first panel was held on Wednesday and attended by senior girls, who heard from Reese Anderson ‘20, Kennedy Nations ‘20, Azaria McDowell ‘20, Kayla Shepherd ‘20, Lizzy Childress ‘20, Avery Hederman ’19, Olivia Stringer ‘18, Skylar Alexander ‘19, and Erin Hederman, ‘19. The senior boys heard from Brent Butler ‘20, David Robertson ‘18, Miles Johnson ‘20, and Joseph Adams ‘20 the next day during their lunch break.

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Dr. of Adventure to Lead Jackson Academy SOAR Program

When you meet Dr. Thomas Wayne Taylor, he’ll promptly ask you to refer to him by his nickname, “WT.” The simplicity of his moniker belies the depth of expertise and insight he brings to engaging the wonders of the outdoors. Taylor grew up on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama. “I just went running wild,” he […]

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Juniors Work Out Gray Matter at ACT Bootcamp

Last week, Jen Henson led an intense, five-day ACT prep bootcamp for Jackson Academy’s junior class. Monday through Friday, Henson taught proven strategies and tips to improve performance in five pillars of the ACT; English, science, reading, math, and punctuation. With 22 years of experience as a high school English teacher and nearly ten years owning her ACT coaching company Goal Digger, Henson’s work equipped students with a detailed map to increasing their scores and potentially locking in more competitive scholarships.

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Two JA Athletes Sign to Play College Baseball

Jackson Academy hosted a signing Monday at 10 a.m. for two seniors who are continuing their athletic careers in college baseball next year. Parker Ryan signed with Pearl River Community College and Branson Tadlock signed with Jones County Junior College. Parker and Branson were joined at the event by members of their families, coaches, members of the baseball team, and classmates.

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Students Learn About Leadership and Community Through Service

Ten Jackson Academy students have been selected to represent their school and hometown while learning more about leading and serving. Each year, area chambers of commerce and nonprofit organizations contact JA’s counselors with invitations for students to apply to their leadership programs. Specific programs have unique emphases, but all aim to cultivate men and women of character prepared to lead the next generation with wisdom and humility.

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Impressionist Exhibit Inspires JA Students

Viewing an exhibit of masters of Impressionism just a few moments from your school is an opportunity too exceptional to miss. Thanks to the Mississippi Museum of Art, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, and the Feild Cooperative Association Incorporated, Jackson Academy art and French students received free admission to Van Gogh, Monet, Degas & Their Times, an exhibit of 74 pieces curated from the posthumously donated, personal collection of Paul and Bunny Mellon. The exhibit, which is the 17th collection of the Annie Laurie Swaim Hearin Memorial Exhibition Series, features some of the most prominent artists and works of the 19th and 20th centuries.

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Blood Drive Honors Cancer Patients Through Community Service

Last week as Breast Cancer Awareness month came to a close, the Jackson Academy community had a fantastic opportunity to honor those who have survived or are currently fighting cancer. Cancer patients often require blood or blood products, such as plasma or platelets, and so on Wednesday, Mississippi Blood Services pulled into the JA parking lot. The organization parked two vans at the school and turned the PAC lobby into a Halloween-themed blood donation site.

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Middle School Combines Halloween and Giving

Just prior to Halloween, seventh and eighth grade students divided into groups by their birthday months and visited outdoor areas on campus designated for trick or treating. Ninth and tenth grade students raised money for Student Council Christmas projects by braving entry into a Haunted House Thursday evening.

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