DECEMBER 1 ISSUE
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 4
*Finale Performance
*Christmas in the PAC

December 8
*Christmas Choral Concert

December 10

*Band Christmas Concert at
St. Andrews Cathedral from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

December 11
*Little House Program
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL EDUCATION GUIDES NEW PROGRAM

David Streight, executive director of the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education, visited JA November 18-19 to continue to guide and direct the school's development of a more formal character education program. He met with the strategic plan ethics committee, members of the Soar team, the Board of Trustees, the president's council, JA students, deans, and the advancement team. The programs being developed are part of the 2015-2020 strategic plan. To read more about the strategic plan and these initiatives, visit the strategic plan website at jacksonacademy.org/strategicplan and click on Take a Stand. While at JA, Streight also spoke to the Jackson Area Association of Independent School Heads (JAAIS) who visited JA for a separate meeting.

FOURTH GRADE STEM IS IN MOTION!


The video above shows an amazing project developed during Mr. Power's Lower School STEM lab. While in STEM Lab Mrs. Gnemi's fourth graders made "Powersland" during their Amusement Park Design mission using LEGO and K'NEX products. Each team made a working attraction such as a concession, game, ticket booth, or bathroom. This project encouraged creativity, fine motor skill use, and engineering savvy. Mrs. Shaw's fourth grade class will be working on "Powersland" next by building a carousel, swing ride, double Ferris wheel, drop tower, swinging pirate ship, and launch-style coaster. Amusement Park Design is one of five new rotating fourth grade missions that each class will experience throughout the year. The other four rotations are rocketry, skyscrapers, advanced EV3 robotics, and stop-motion animation.

CHRISTMAS IN THE PAC FRIDAY



Mark your calendar for Friday, December 4!  Spread the word to your friends and family! Our fifth annual Christmas in the PAC will be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center. We have some great new vendors and goodies to be offered.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL-STATE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS


Conley Chinn

Hannah Wootton

Two JA volleyball team members were selected by Best of MS Preps for All-State first team volleyball recognition, announced November 29. Six players were named to the first team in Mississippi. Junior Conley Chinn, a middle hitter, led Mississippi with 263 blocks along with 283 kills and 65 aces. Senior Hannah Wootton, a setter, had 1,014 assists and averaged 8.9 assists per set. She had 912 kills. The Lady Raiders won the MAIS Championship and completed the season with a 35-3 record.

ORDER CORKY'S BAR-B-QUE FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS BY DECEMBER 8



Corky's Real Southern Style Memphis Bar-b-que will be available for this year's Christmas season. Support the JA Band and make holiday cooking easier by placing your order for the holidays today! Companies or offices that place several orders can arrange for delivery.

Order and pick up dates have shifted slightly. Christmas orders and money for Corky's are due to Lisa Thomas on Tuesday, December 8. Pick up in Band Hall is scheduled for Monday, December 14.

Lisa can be reached at 601-613-3533 cell; 601-856-9567 fax; [email protected] email.

For additional information, see the band's blog at jaband.blogspot.com.
SIMULATION SATURDAYS ---- MYSTERY FESTIVAL



First through sixth grade students with gifted aptitudes have the opportunity to delve into the world of creation and explore new ways of thinking, maximizing the application of knowledge during the Gifted Explorations Simulation Saturdays program at Jackson Academy. The next available Simulation Saturday is December 5 and is titled Mystery Festival.

Mystery Festival
We all have them, and yet, they distinguish us from one another. Fingerprints label each one of us unique. Even with sophisticated DNA testing and other identification techniques, fingerprinting remains an intriguing and reliable method to solve crimes.

Come join us for "fingers-on" activities, where students explore the similarities and variations of fingerprints. Students take their own fingerprints, devise classification categories, and apply their classification skills to solve a crime. The mystery scenario, "Who Robbed the Safe?", includes plot and character sketches. Sign up today, and join us for a day of research and discovery. Police detectives will join us to give "hands-on" insight into how the world of science is used in their daily work.

To register for the next Gifted Explorations Simulation Saturday, contact Beth Murray-Wilson at [email protected].

Place: Jackson Academy Cafeteria
Time: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Cost: $75

View upcoming Gifted Explorations Simulation Saturdays here.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PARTICIPATES IN OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD



Middle School students were part of a community service project led by the Interact Club to benefit Operation Christmas Child. This annual event is organized by Samaritan's Purse, a relief and Christian evangelism organization led by Franklin Graham. The purpose is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world. Families donated shoe boxes filled with necessities and treats for children, and the boxes were delivered to a local collection center.
VARSITY FOOTBALL AWARDS



Permanent Team Captains
Ford Adams, Ford Gordon
Most Valuable Offensive Lineman
Jackson Golden
Most Valuable Defensive Lineman
Kameron Palmer
Most Valuable Offensive Back
Davis Simmons
Most Valuable Defensive Back
Cash Heath
Sportsmanship
Ford Gordon
Scout Team Award
Will Young
Most Improved Offensive Player
Davis Magee
Most Improved Defensive Player
Hays Rogers
Most Valuable Offensive Player
Langston Anderson
Most Valuable Defensive Player
Ford Adams
Most Valuable Player
Langston Anderson
MAIS N AAAA All Conference
1st Team
Langston Anderson, Wide Receiver
Ford Gordon, Tight End
Langston Anderson, Return Specialist
Parker Kennedy, Punter
Ford Gordon, Defensive End
Ford Adams, Linebacker
Cash Heath, Defensive Back

2nd Team
Parker Kennedy, Kicker
Kameron Palmer, Defensive Line

Honorable Mention
Jackson Golden, Offensive Line
Shaun Chunn, Offensive Line
Harper Pickering, Defensive Back

MAIS All Star
Ford Gordon




All-Star Football Game at JP
The game begins at 2:00 p.m. (Gates open at 12:30 p.m. and admission is $8)

GOING UP, UP, UP!



Kindergartners enjoy climbing the climbing wall during physical education. The climbing wall was part of their PE program all this week.