Issue 4 December 2017

J A C K S O N

T H E OL. XLVIII, XLIV, ISSUE VVOL. ISSUE 34

P R E P A R A T O R Y

S C H O O L

S E N T RY

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE Paid Jackson, MS Permit #93

DECCE MBERR 2017 2 013 DE E MBE

V I E WS & VOI C E S What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever given or received?

“An Easy Bake Oven” - Wesley White, 12th “BB Gun” - Ashton William Heath, 10th “A pony” - Abbie Mask, 9th “Money”- Holmes Maley, 10th “A Buzz Lightyear action figure”- Simms Abney, 11th “A purple barbie jeep”-Caroline Dreher, 10th “A Spy Kit” - Maddy Mazzaferro 12th “Xbox”-Will Mann, 11th “A Hamster” - Havens Smith, 8th “A trip to Disney World” - Mackenzie Shoemaker, 10th

What’s one of your New Year’s Resolutions for 2018?

“I want to lose 130 pounds”- Cass Rutledge, 9th “Make better grades”-Wilson Cotten, 7th “Do my homework”- Adam Norsworthy, 11th “Be nicer”- Wesley White, 12th “Be in Stranger Things season 3”- Mia Bruce, 9th “To quit eating sour Skittles”-Parker Williams, 11th “Eat less candy”-Sara Hederman, 10th “To put more effort into school”-Charlie Ott, 11th “Wake up on time”- Teddie Carroll, 7th

S ESentry Nstaffers...what’s T R Y your P Ifavorite C KS Christmas movie?

Die Hard Mr. Hughes Camp Carter

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Tynes Carroll Jane Gray Barbour Charles Stephenson Alex Gibbs

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Frosty The Snowman Madeleine Claire Hughes

It’s A Wonderful Life Katelyn Cox Mary Patton Murphy Steven Wyatt

A Christmas Story Hogan Privitt Maclain Kennedy Sarah Cory Mara Liston

Home Alone Tanner Gough Caroline McIntyre

Eloise at Christmastime Bonnie Burge Aubrey Scott Moak Allie Wise Sayley Crawford

Elf Preston Dubberly Carter Stockett Ainsley O’Quinn Emory Maxwell Ford Lange Avery Andress Bennett O’Quinn Tori Newsome Genevieve Hurst Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Kate Oliver Olivia Moore

The Polar Express Payne Bell Mary Virginia Baldwin Sarah Avery Huffman

The Sentry

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The Sentry Volume XLVIII Issue 4 December 2017

Table of Contents Views & Voices/Sentry Pics.....................2

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News and Features.................................1-9 Around Town......................................10-11

Editors-in-Chief Avery Andress • Tynes Carroll Managing Editor Stewart McCullough Business Manager Patrick Phillips Copy Editors Alex Gibbs • Mary Patton Murphy Entertainment Editors Tanner McCraney • Tori Newsome

Précis Pageant....................................12-13

Graphics Editor Jake Bell

Entertainment.....................................14-16

Online Editor Preston Dubberly

Sports....................................................17-20

Opinion Editors Maclain Kennedy • Caroline McIntyre

Opinion.................................................21-23

Photography Editors Sarah Avery Huffman Madeline Claire Hughes Genevieve Hurst Henley Johnson

Candid & Random...................................24

sentry@jacksonprep.net Cover photo courtesy of Ms. Anne Duncan

Affiliated with

MISSISSIPPI SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION www.mississippischolasticpress.com

The Sentry is a student publication updated throughout the year. As student writers, we try to reflect the thoughts of our most important readers-- the students of Jackson Prep. Because of this, we attempt to approach many issues, some more controversial than others. Nevertheless, the Sentry staff serves the school--her students, her faculty, her family, and her community. The staff hopes to inform, to educate, to entertain, and to question for the betterment of Prep and the lives of people in the Jackson community. The newspaper is produced by the Sentry staff, consisting of students both in and out of the senior high journalism classes.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Sentry accepts outside editorial pieces under the following guidelines: •Letters to the Editor are a great way to make your voice heard. We do not print unsigned letters.

•Longer concerns may be addressed via a Guest Editorial, with a minimum of 250 words. To be considered, such opinion pieces should not simply be rants, but should be about things that can be changed or alleviated, should suggest a solution to a problem. Pieces should not simply jab at things of which the writer does not approve. Humorous opinion pieces are subject to the judgement of the editorial staff.

•All opinion pieces are the views of the author, and the author only, with the exception of staff editorials, which are unsigned and and reflect the consensus view of the students in the Sentry class. Staff editorials are the only columns in the paper that express the unified view of the Sentry staff. This staff editorial process is comprised of two main steps.

First, the staff talks amongst themselves about a topic and organizes a position on the issue on which all class members can agree. The editorial is then written and run past the staff members for approval.

•Submit letters to the editor or guest editorials to sentry@jacksonprep.net.

•Questions or comments? Our mailing address is P.O. Box 4940, Jackson, MS 39296. We would love to hear your opinions.

December 2017

Sentry Staff

Records Managers Will Fletcher • Anna Stack Social Media Editor Emory Maxwell Sports Editors Bennett O’Quinn • Steven Wyatt In-Class Staff Mary Virginia Baldwin •Jane Gray Barbour Payne Bell • Bonnie Burge • Camp Carter Tripp Cory • Sarah Cory • Katelyn Cox Sayley Crawford • David Crews Elizabeth Downing • Tanner Gough Ford Lange • Mara Liston • Barron Liston Kennedy Marble •Aubrey Scott Moak Eloise Moore • Olivia Moore Ainsley O’Quinn • Kate Oliver John Parrish • Hogan Privitt Russell Roberts • Charles Stephenson Carter Stockett • James Threadgill Russ Upton • Nevin Wells • Allie Wise Advisor: Mr. Lain Hughes

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News & Features Prep Players advance at MS Drama Fest Tynes Carroll Jackson Prep Players presented the One Act “The Lottery” under the direction of Mr. Kenneth McDade on December 2nd at the Mississippi Theater Association North Drama Festival held at Mississippi State University.

They had presented it to the Prep community beforehand.

At the festival, Prep’s ensemble took several awards such as best ensemble, best spirit, and best overall production. Two of the group’s members, senior Mary by

Frances Dickie and sophomore Adam Malone, won All Star Cast awards.

“The Lottery” was written in 1948 by Shirley Jackson. The story describes a fictional small town that observes an annual ritual known as “the lottery.” The ritual is deemed to have no apparent rhyme or reason behind it, and it is a social commentary on why people continue to follow outdated traditions without any sense behind their actions.

Jackson Prep’s adaptation

of the short story was performed by freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Practices for their second performance at the Mississippi Theater Association Drama Festival in January picked back up in the second week of December. After the performance at Ole Miss, the One Act will be performed for students after Christmas break.

Congratulations, Prep Players, on your awards and advancement. Break a leg in January!

Matt Gross, Alex Reichle, and Adam Malone on stage. Photo courtesy of Kimberley Johnson Gross

Prep Alums and One Act vets smile with the 2017 cast. Photo courtesy of Lisa Parks Patti

by Tanner Gough With the flu season already in full swing, early signs have shown that this year might be particularly bad. According to a recent report by The New England Journal of Medicine, this year’s flu vaccine may only be 10% effective. Also, the CDC’s US Flu Activity Map, as of December 2, shows the flu is “widespread” in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Virginia.

When the flu first started at Jackson Prep about two months ago, it seemed as though it wasn’t very bad, being overshadowed by

upset stomachs and sinus infections. When asked about how the flu has presented itself, Ms. Brenda Whittington from the Junior High and Ms. Lelia Manning from the Senior High both said the number of flu cases has been low, with only a handful of kids becoming sick.

Even though the flu hasn’t hit Prep particularly hard yet, there have been other schools in the Jackson area that have not been so lucky.

One such school is Tri-County Academy in Flora. The headmaster of the school said that roughly 20% of the entire school was sick with

the flu at one time. This forced the school to shut down for an entire school week, giving students an extra week before Thanksgiving break.

Although the number of flu cases so far has been small, doctors still urge people to take proper precautions, such as washing your hands frequently and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. By following these steps and getting a flu shot, you should be in pretty good shape should the flu come back later this season with a vengeance.

FLU

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Seniors with director Mr. Kenneth McDade

Mississippi is among this year’s flu “hot spots.” Graphic courtesy CDC.gov

The Sentry

News & Features

“Youth Leg” participants argue, vote, and legislate tynes Carroll The 58th assembly of the Mississippi Youth Legislature took place Wednesday, November 8th through Saturday the 11th in downtown Jackson, MS. Nearly 500 students from across the state joined together at the Jackson Marriott for this assembly. Jackson Prep was responsible for bringing 46 students and 3 advisors.

The conference is a simulation of the Mississippi state legislature in which students draft bills and present them to their assigned committee and chamber. For example, a senate bill must pass or obtain a majority vote in a Senate committee. If the bill passes, there, it then goes into the Senate chamber.

If the bill survives through the debate that goes on here, it will then advance into the House of Representatives committee and by

continue the process.

If the bill survives the House of Representatives, the Youth Governor ultimately decides the fate of the bills that have passed to his or her desk.

The governor is allowed to veto or pass bills, but may not make amendments. Amendments are made in committees and chambers.

Many Prep students who attended the conference said that it was a fun way to public speak, debate, and possibly find out what career they are interested in. They were able to learn parliamentary procedure, partake in heated debates over bills, and meet new people from all over the state.

Students are assigned into either the House of Representatives or the Senate. Due to the amount of students attending the conference this year, there

were two parallel Houses and Senates running simultaneously, labeled “Jefferson” and “Hamilton.” Meetings were held in the Jackson Marriott, where the delegates also stayed, as well as in the state’s Capitol Building and the Old Capitol Museum.

Near the end of the conference, delegates were allowed to vote for Governor for the 2018 legislative session. Junior Prep student Jack Mullen was a candidate for the gubernatorial position. The positions were announced on Saturday during the closing ceremonies of the conference after awards.

Although Jack did not win the Governor position for the 2018 assembly, he was appointed as next year’s Chief of Staff.

Sophomore Alex Stradinger was named Speaker Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Youth Legislature this year was a great success, with many impressive bills and influential legislators. At the conclusion, three Prep delegates were named Outstanding Rep-

resentatives. Senior Mitchell Boulanger, junior Catherine Watson, and sophomore Alex Stradinger brought home this honor.

Sophmore Rimes Rutledge debating his bill during an opening session of 2017 Mississippi Youth Leg Assembly. Photo by Stewart McCullough.

Mississippi’s bicentennial comemorated with new museums Charles stephenson On the 9th of December, thousands of citizens from all over the nation witnessed the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History.

This one-of-a-kind institution is America’s first state funded civil rights museum. With an insight into the civil rights movement, this museum has over 20,000 artifacts from 1945 to 1976. Adjacent to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum is the Museum of Mississippi History. This complex holds many artifacts from 13,000 B.C. up until present times. With interactive exhibits and stories from historical Mississippians, this museum is a must see.

President Donald Trump made a brief appearance for a speech inside the museum during the day. He acknowledged several civil rights leaders such as Medgar Evers, by

James Meredith, and Martin Luther King Jr. President Trump took a private tour of the facility with current Governor Phil Bryant.

There was much controversy and many protests over President Trump’s visit. Mayor of Jackson Chokwe Lumumba, civil rights activist Amos C. Brown, U.S. Representative John Lewis, and U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson were some of the major leaders in boycotting President Trump’s visit. Protests such as anti KKK and anti Trump were very lively with several hundred demonstrators on High Street. Shortly after President Trump left, there was a large assembly outside in which Mrs Evers and many other speakers told stories and the importance of these two museums. With governors, senators, and representatives of Mississippi in attendance, this was a remark-

able day to celebrate Mississippi’s bicentennial, which fell on Sunday, December, 10, 2017.

Following the assembly, there was a ribbon cutting for the opening of the museums.

Special guests such as former governor William Winter, former Justice of Mississippi Supreme Court Reuben Anderson, current Governor Phil Bryant, civil rights activist Myrlie Evers, Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves, Congressman Gregg Harper, and Senator Roger Wicker, assisted with the ribbon cutting, which then made the two museums officially open. With tickets selling out in the first 15 minutes, they were nearly impossible to come by in order to get into the museum for opening day. With a swarm of people heading inside for their first look at history, this was an incredible day for Mississippi.

Many groups came from

all over Mississippi to take part in this special day. Boy Scout Troop 8 of First Baptist Church of Jackson had the honor to be honorary guards for this special day. This special museum costed nearly $90,000,000 which

The Mississippi History Museum and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum on opening day - Saturday, December 9th. Photo by Charles Stephenson.

See more about these museums and their openings: December 2017

was raised by many donors who gave their time and money to this great complex. These spectacular museums are now open to the public seven days a week for you to see our state’s history.

www.mmh.mdah.ms.gov

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News & Features Delayed by snow, Hour of Code comes to Prep Allie Wise And OliviA MOOre The Hour of Code is an event that takes place in schools all around the world during the Computer Science Education Week, but schools can choose to host an hour of code anytime throughout the year. Prep decided to host the Hour of Code on December 8, the Friday of Computer Science Week.

Unfortunately, snow caused school to be cancelled that day. Instead, it was held on Tuesday December 12, and it was a success.

The number of students who participated in the Hour of Code this year was significantly greater than in previous years.

With many different options for coding and Pepper the C Spire robot making an appearance, Hour of Code made an impact on students at Prep.

The Hour of Code was held from activity period through homeroom, and the schedule of the day was altered to give more time for coding. All Prep students received an email by

asking them if they wanted to sign up; if they expressed interest, they then had to give their preferences out of the options of the different coding activities. Some of the options were projects with names like Wonder Woman, Pac-Man Zero, and Code the News.

Ms. Marsha Hobbs was in charge of the Hour of Code at Prep, and many faculty members helped with the different groups of students. Almost half of the student body participated in various locations throughout Prep. The office even decided to turn off the homeroom bell because it might distract students. After the students signed up and chose their preferences, another email was sent that put them in a specific group and location.

By being involved with this activity, Ms. Hobbs hopes that “students will gain an appreciation for coding.” She said, “It is not as scary as it sounds with some of the new languages. More than anything, I would like for students to get interest-

ed in coding in the future.”

With the new flexible schedule that Prep is instilling next year, there are going to be computer and coding classes that have not been offered before. Although it’s still tentative, Prep wants to offer at least two senior high coding classes, a junior high computer science principles class, and even a Senior High Java course.

Campbell Perkins, a sophomore, said, “It was really fun and exciting.” After Caroline Dreher, also a sophomore, finished all the levels in the Wonder Woman tutorial she said, “It was a rewarding challenge when I beat the levels.” Russ Upton, after completing the activity “Tracy the Turtle,” declared that he made “a great house.” Most of the students were pleasantly surprised that coding was so interesting.

Even though the Hour of Code was a new and fun experience for the student body, its purpose was not just that. The Hour of Code is used to inspire students who had not had expe-

rience with coding or working with computers. The event is meant to show students that learning code is not intimidating or impossible. Gaining an appreciation of coding will be beneficial for students since the world is steadily becoming more dependent on the internet and technology. Being able to code will only be an asset in the future.

Learn more at code.org or hourofcode.com

Prep students talk to the C-Spire humanoid robot, Pepper.

Prep students enjoy the Hour of Code. Photo by Ryan Sherman.

Prep students participate in the Hour of Code. These students in the College Counseling Office are coding “Play that Tune.” Photo by Mr. Sherman.

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The Sentry

News & Features

Poetry Out Loud competition begins Jane Gray barbour Poetry Out Loud is an American organization that encourages students to engage in great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master their public speaking skills, build their self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that starts at the classroom level. Winners from each class advance to a school-wide competition, then to a regional and/ or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals.

The Poetry Out Loud contest here at Prep battled against each other to win first place. It occurred this year on Thursday, November 9 in the auditorium and the contestants had to recite two different poems for two rounds of competition. The seventeen contestants were, Olivia Clapp, Madeleine Conerly, Michelle Daschbach, Gabbi Ferreri, Dylan Freeman, Mary Noble Howard, Katie Hubacek, Mary Patton Murphy, by

Victoria Nowell, JC Polk, Luke Runnels, Isabella Scalia, Ainsley Sinclair, and Belle Grace Wilkinson. Out of these contestants, the winners were, in 1st place, Mary Patton Murphy, in 2nd place, Katie Hubacek, and in 3rd place, Belle Grace Wilkinson. All of the contestants performed well and the winners are excited to see how they can further advance.

Winners of the Poetry Out Loud Schoolwide Competition: Belle Grace Wilkinson: 3rd place, Mary Patton Murphy: 1st place, and Katie Hubacek: 2nd place. Mary Patton Murphy will compete in the Poetry Out Loud district competitoin.

The winners of the grade-level Poetry Out Loud competition competed against each other to see who would go to the district competition.

New Head of School search update by avery andress The search for the new head of school began this summer as the Board of Trustees appointed a search committee.

The search is being led

by Mr. Will Walker. He is on a committee that includes Ms. Ann Rogers, Mr. Dudley Wooley, Ms. Trisha Walters, Mr. Kelley Williams, Mr. Will Crosby, Mr. Jim Coggin, Ms. Mollie Vandevender, and Ms. Kimberly Reedy. The faculty advisory committee includes Dr. Luke Nealey, Ms. Trudy Powers, Ms. Gail Caedo, Mr. Gary Noble, Ms. Kimberly Van Uden, and Mr. Lee Ozier.

The committee meets about once a month in person,

December 2017

but much more than that by email and conference call.

Prep hired Carter Baldwin, a national executive search firm to assist with the process. This company helps high schools, colleges, and businesses identify viable candidates for different leadership positions.

Carter Baldwin conducts initial screening interviews and consults throughout the selection process. To begin the search, Carter Baldwin with the help of the search committee, came up with a position statement for the Head of School job at Jackson Prep. This was placed on their website and sent to educators all over the U.S. Anyone who responded was screened by

Carter Baldwin and forwarded to the search committee. The search committee then narrowed down the candidates to a manageable list. Carter Baldwin traveled to meet each candidate in person to learn more about them.

The committee met recently and narrowed down the

candidates to semi-final candidates. The committee will interview these candidates in person. After the interviews, the committee will narrow again to final candidates in mid-January with hopes of announcing the new Head of School in February. Those are target dates that might change. Chairman

The wall of Prep leaders. Photo by Avery Andress.

of the search committee Will Walker said, “I have been very encouraged by the whole search process, everyone has been very engaged. Carter Baldwin has been extremely professional to work with, and I think we have some very viable candidates.�

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News & Features

Students must find relief during stressful exam season

ElizabEth Downing Twice a year students spend a mass amount of time preparing for exams. Hours of studying for the dreaded tests push students to their highest stress level. Some students chose to completely ignore the matter, while others have various methods of relieving themselves of exam stress. Many students deal with their exam stress by altering their study methods, partaking in physical activities to clear their minds, and some like to just slow down and treat themselves for all the hard work they have put into their studying.

The main cause of stress during the exam season is feeling ill-prepared for the tests ahead. The best way to avoid this problem is to have an effec-

by

tively study strategy.

According to reachout.com there are effective and proper ways to study. First a student should realize that it is ineffective to attempt a lengthy nonstop study session. It is most effective if a person studies in twenty minute increments.

Second, information is better retained if one reads it aloud to themselves.

Third, it is best if while studying, students keeps their phone in another room, to keep one’s self for checking their social media every ten minutes.

It is proven that it can take a person up to twenty minutes to get back on task after being distracted by their phones.

Fourth, and finally, get plenty of sleep. It is proven that a person is more likely to retain

Vocabulary teaching at Prep goes online CartEr StoCkEtt This year, Prep English teachers have found a new system for the way that they teach vocabulary. Instead of learning their vocab from the traditional Vocabulary Workshop book, Prep students are now learning from a website: Vocabulary.com. This website is Prep’s new vocabulary learning program that forces students to learn each word precisely in order to complete the assignment.

Ms. Kimberly Reedy used the system last year, and this year it’s been adopted across the entire English department.

Vocabulary.com teaches students by systematically exposing them to a wide variety of question types and activities that will help them understand all the meanings and uses of every word they are learnby

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ing. If they answer a question incorrectly, it will ask them the question again later until they answer it correctly. This system helps the students’ learning process because they actually have to know the definition of the word, and in some cases, they have to be able to use the word correctly in a sentence to get the answer correct.

Another advantage of this new system is that students will not have to study vocabulary at home because they will not have vocab quizzes which at times can be challenging regardless of how much time you spend studying. Although Vocabulary.com can be rather time consuming in order to complete the assignment, students are able to bring their grades up because they can get whatever grade that they are willing to work for.

the information they have studied if they sleep on it, rather than staying up super late.

Many students lower their exam stress by playing their favorite sports or going on a run.

Partaking in physical activity is very beneficial to improving one’s focus and lowering stress levels. An article from adaa. org states that physical activity stabilize one’s mood, improve concentration, and improve sleep. All of which result in lower stress levels. So going on that walk for a study break can only help.

In addition to altering study habits, and exercising, many students will take some time to slow down, and reward themselves for the long hours of studying they have put in.

Tenth graders Kathryn Weir

and Blakely Amis say they enjoy going to the spa, and getting their nails done. Eleventh graders Eleanor Baker and Jer-

rion Ealy say they enjoy eating their favorite foods during their study breaks.

Prep students find themselves stressed, over worked and tired, but still find a way to escape the stress.

EXAM SCHEDULE Monday, December 18 12:30 PM Dismissal Tuesday, December 19 8:15 AM - Social Studies Exam 1:30 PM - Math Exam Wednesday, December 20 8:15 AM - English Exam 1:30 PM - Science Exam Thursday, December 21 8:15 AM - World Language Exam The Sentry

Junior High News

History teacher Kevin Robichaux is adored by many students Aubrey Scott MoAk SAyley crAwford For four years now, Prep has been home to the entertaining Mr. Kevin Robichaux.

Using projects and many other interactive teaching styles, Robichaux engages eighth graders in all different aspects of American history. He says, “I use this method of teaching in hopes that the students will enjoy history as much as I do.”

Mr. Robichaux explains that he chooses to teach eighth grade because this is the grade in which his favorite period of history is taught. His favorite lesson to explain is the Civil War, and the students would definitely agree. Every few months, Robichaux participates in Civil War battle reenactments. Upcoming is the reenactment of Bryson’s Crossroads Battle taking place in February near Tupelo.

In the last 10 years, Robichaux has taught at three different schools: Brandon High School, Northwest Rankin, and here at Jackson Prep. by

And

To give his room more of a “museum” feel rather than a classroom feel, Robichaux has ordered many items symbolizing his favorite aspects of American history to represent what he teaches. His most prized of these items is the Gadsden Flag, which displays a coiled snake saying “Don’t tread on me.”

Every year in the spring, Robichaux leads an eighth grade trip to Washington, DC to show his students around the nation’s capital. His favorite spot to take the students is the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution. This museum is home to the original Star

Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to compose our national anthem.

However, the students’ favorite spot on this trip is the Holocaust Museum which takes them through the tragedy that unfolded during World War II. Another enjoyable activity in D.C. is the Haunted Tour of Alexandria. Mr. Robichaux loves exposing his students to everything they have learned and making it all come to life with this trip.

Mr. Robichaux definitely brings excitement and interest to the eighth graders as they explore American History. After talking to the current ninth graders that Robichaux taught last year, they said he was definitely a student favorite. Each of them said that his way of teaching was very beneficial to their learning. According to freshman Camp Carter, “Mr. Kevin Robichaux is my favorite teacher and I wish he would move up to teaching us in 10th grade next year.”

Above: Mr. Robichaux leads a classwide Kahoot session.

Below: Mr. Robichaux helps a student.

7th graders chosen for Duke Talent Identification Program ruSS upton The Duke University Talent Identification Program, commonly called TIP, is a program hosted by Duke University since 1980 that encourages 7th grade students to take the ACT or SAT. This year, 55 Prep 7th grade students are participating in the program and will take the standardized tests in the spring semester of 2018.

Although it costs $75 to participate, it is a great opportunity for the 7th graders to experience taking the ACT or SAT before high school.

If any of these students do exceptionally well on the examination, they can receive state and even national recognition by

December 2017

for their scores. There are even summer and weekend camp opportunities for the students who do exceptionally well.

The seventh grade students should not feel pressured to do well on the tests, because taking them is really about finding out what their strengths are and how to improve them before taking the tests in high school rather than about competing in 7th grade.

Olivia Moore, a sophomore who took the ACT as a TIP partcipant,said, “Taking the ACT in the seventh grade was an experience that both informed and prepared me for future college entry testing.”

Follow more Junior High News online:

jpsentry.net 9

Around Town

Unknown and underrated local restaurants

By Sarah avery huffman Blue Rooster (Flora) Blue Rooster is small restaurant located in Flora. While the menu has a variety of items, their main attraction is their burgers. They have a selection of burgers to choose from, as well as being able to create custom burger from their variety of choices. Even though it is far out, it is worth the drive.

Lou’s Full Serv (Jackson) Lou’s Full Serv is located in downtown Jackson in the Belhaven area. “Lou’s Full-Serv is a southern inspired restaurant with a casual, vintage industrial atmosphere.” It serves a variety of foods, but most are southern based. They obtain many of the ingredients from Mississippi farmers and producers.

Lou’s Full Serv in Jackson.

Eslava’s Grille (Flowood) Eslava’s Grille is a restaurant that most Prep students pass everyday on their way to and from school. It is located on Lakeland Drive right before you get to Prep. They specialize in Latin American style food and seafood. The customer favorite is definitely the artichoke dip.

Bill’s Creole and Seafood (Flora) Bill’s is another restaurant located in Flora. It is very family friendly and has a laid back atmosphere. It the perfect place to go to after hunting, a day on the boat, or just about anything. They have plenty of items to choose from, such as a ribeyes, shrimp po boys, catfish, and a crawfish rolls. It is worth the drive to get a slice of their caramel chocolate chip pie.

Iron Horse Grill (Jackson) Although this restaurant has burned down mysteriously twice in the past, it has been built back up and is better than ever. It serves a variety of foods

with a Southern style, such as fried chicken, fajitas, burgers, ribs, and much more. It also has a brunch buffet. As well as having fantastic food, there is live jazz music everyday.

View of the stage at Iron Horse Grill from the balcony.

Trace Grill (Ridgeland) Trace Grill is a family owned restaurant located in Ridgeland. It is located right down the street from its original location. They serve a variety of classic Southern foods, such as fried green tomatoes, ribs, catfish, hamburger steak, and many more. They also have a selection of blue plates and “trace platters”, as well as many desserts.

Vasilio’s (Ridgeland) Vasilio’s is a family owned,

Greek-style restaurant located in Ridgeland. They serve a variety of gyros, seafood, and appetizers. A customer favorite is definitely the redfish.

Tay’s Barbecue (Madison) Tay’s Barbecue is a small restaurant located in Madison next to Pizza Inn. It serves classic barbecue and a variety of homestyle sides and starters, such as onion rings, mac and cheese, and deviled eggs.

You can get chicken, pork, ribs, or a combination of those. “Today, Tay’s BBQ features a truly unique flavor combination and is inspired by the recipes of two families who love great barbeque.”

Fat Tuesday’s (Ridgeland) Fat Tuesday’s is a New Orle

ans inspired restaurant located in Ridgeland. They serve red beans and rice, gumbo, catfish, shrimp po boys, and just about every other New Orleans style food. The restaurant is decorated in an assortment of beads, masks, and unique photographs. It has a great family atmosphere and is good for all ages.

Mayflower Cafe (Jackson) The Mayflower Cafe is a small, old school restaurant located in downtown Jackson. It opened in 1935 and has become the oldest operating restaurant in the Capital city. They serve Greek-inspired seafood and steaks. They are also known for their delicious comeback salad dressing.

Fat Tuesday’s elaborate decorations in the restaurant.

The battle between two swanky Mexican restaurants

Allie and Ainsley’s Appetite

by Allie Wise & Ainsley O’Quinn For this issue, we decided to compare two local upscale Mexican restaurants: Sombra Mexican Kitchen in the Town-

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ship in Madison and Cantina Laredo in the District at Eastover.

We went to Sombra first, and we were not impressed with the quality of their food.

The environment is inviting, but the food is, at times, a major letdown. The quesadilla burger and the salads are pretty good, but there always seems to be a problem with someone’s food.

We found a chunk of cheese in our queso that was not melted all the way through, and, in the past, we have found a strand of hair in a salad and undercooked chicken. The meals are very pricey, especially for their quality. For a semi-big party, an automatic 20% tip is added to your ticket. The service at Sombra is always average to bad as well. They have forgotten our tables multiple times

and always seem to take forever to bring anything to the table.

Our next stop was Cantina Laredo. The furniture and decor is very modern, creating

a neat atmosphere to dine in.

The service at this restaurant is significantly better than Sombra’s. The food is very good, and they have two salsas they bring to the table that

are very different than typical Mexican restaurants.

Cantina Laredo is a chain restaurant with 37 locations. I have been to the one in Sandestin, and I think the food is better there than at the one in Jackson. We ordered the cilantro salad and the tacos al carbon. The salad was okay but not great. The tacos were very good, and the meat in them was very flavorful.

Overall, our pick between these two is Cantina Laredo.

Although the prices are slightly higher, it is worth the extra bucks. If you want to have a nice Mexican dinner with friends or family, we would recommend Cantina Laredo for the best food and dining experience.

The Sentry

Around Town

New things are brewing in Brandon Winter Wonderland comes to Pearl Maclain Kennedy Brandon, Mississippi, might not sound like it has much to offer residents. However, in the heart of downtown, just up the road from the city jail and across the street from one of the several “bail bonds,” you will find a row of developing shops. Among those shops is East Brandon Coffee Factory, or EBCF for short.

EBCF, a relatively new coffee shop, has been open for less than a year. This family-owned business has been a great addition to the community. They offer a variety of coffee choices, from frappuccinos to herbal tea.

Being in the Christmas spirit, my sister, Sara Michael, and I bundled up and rode our bikes down the street to enjoy a cup of coffee. EBCF had a variety of holiday flavors, including brown sugar cinnamon, lavender vanilla, and peppermint. I chose to get the Peppermint Mocha Latte while Sara by

Michael decided on a classic, plain-brewed cup of coffee.

After getting our drinks, my sister and I took a window seat that had a great view of Downtown Brandon. The coffee shop also offers outdoor seating, giving customers that perfect small town feel. Although the shop is rather small, it is a great place to study.

I personally love all things

Sara Michael Kennedy poses with her coffee. Photo by Maclain Kennedy

peppermint, so I give their latte a thumbs up. It wasn’t too sweet or too minty, and it was a perfect creamy blend of the two.

Some coffee shops make their coffee at what feels like 200 degrees, but EBCF managed to get it at the perfect drinkable temperature.

If you’re more old school and like your coffee dark, Sara Michael described her cup of black coffee as having a very “strong and tangy” flavor.

EBCF also offers Nitrogen coffee, which has about four times the amount of caffeine as a regular cup of coffee. It can served plain, with skim milk, or over ice.

EBCF sells scones, muffins, and sandwiches that come straight from Sugar Magnolia.

Some say that a stand alone Sugar Magnolia will be opening in Brandon soon. Overall, I would definitely recommend making a trip to Brandon to get a cup of coffee.

caroline Mcintyre If you are looking for somewhere to get you in the Christmas mood, Winter Wonderland is definitely the place to go. Hot cocoa, smooth ice, and endless christmas music brings much joy to people who enter the Winter Wonderland in Pearl, Mississippi. It is quite chilly when you enter the rink so be prepared to layer up to go on the ice.

The Winter Wonderland cost $15 to ice skate and $17 to skate and ice slide. There are also bouncy houses with the ice slide that you can enjoy and an area with food and drinks to purchase after you skate. It also includes party rooms and a concert space to be used on certain occasions. This Christmas extravaganza opened November 12 and will be open for 55 days into the New Year. It has been a big success since opening day and everyone in Jackson loves the Christmas atmosphere. Lee Hardin quotes, “It was very nice and by

not very crowded. I like how it is inside and I really enjoyed the slide!”.

Overall, it was a great experience to be able to ice skate in the south considering the fact that it is usually to hot to be able to skate. You should definitely stop by Winter Wonderland before the holiday season is over!

Prep students skating along the ice.

Photo by Caroline McIntyre

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast hits New Stage Preston dubberly and HenJoHnson New Stage is showcasing Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical from December 5-21 at varying times.

This production is directed by Francine Thomas Reynolds and will be shown eleven times; seven of the shows are already sold out. Tickets for all musicals are $35 at most. If interested in purchasing tickets, call 601948-3531 or visit newstagetheatre.com by

ley

December 2017

Prep students, alumni join cast Beauty and the Beast is for all ages, ranging from infants to elders. Bursts of energy in every song were so evident because the cast looked like they were having the times of their lives on stage. All of the costumes were so colorful and almost identical to the costumes

in the movie. New Stage always puts on shows that seem like they should go on Broadway because their cast is so diverse. The cast ranges from elementary students to professional adults.

Prep has three students performing: seniors Sara Thomas Easley and Claire Porter and eighth grader Mary Robinson Coco. They all have multiple parts throughout the musical. Although there are eleven shows, they did not have to perform in all of them.

Claire has participated in multiple plays and musicals both at Prep and New Stage, so she is no stranger to the stage.

She said, “The difference really is about the people that I’m working with. At Prep, I’m surrounded by my peers so that makes it feel more like an extracurricular activity, while at

New Stage, the people in the show with me are professional actors, which changes the atmosphere. Both are great places to work, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to work at both.”

Pictured left: The townspeople praise Gaston in the local pub. Photo by Henley Johnson Pictured above: The beast attempts to ask Belle politely to have dinner with him with the help of his servants. Photo by Henley Johnson

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Précis Pageant highlights class of 2018 bonnie burge eloise Moore This year, the Precis Pageant was held on Monday, December 11th. It usually takes place in January, but this year it was moved to an earlier date because it fell on the night of the National Championship in past years. The pageant is hosted and made possible by the Precis Staff that meets every day during 3rd period. This year, the coordinator was Shelby Andress, and the co-coordinator was Mary Price Montagnet.

The Precis pageant is a time to recognize members of the senior class who were admired by their classmates and a time to showcase the talent Prep’s senior high students have.

In November, the senior students were given an online survey to fill out where they nominated people of their choice for many different categories such as class favorites, most versatile, most athletic, and beauty and beau. At the pageant, students that received the most votes were recognized on stage.

Throughout the night there were various performances of entertainment. Claire Porter sang “Il Mio Bel Foco” by Francesco Bartolomeo Conti, Lawson Yelverton danced to “Work Song” by Hozier, Polly

by

and

Watkins & Gregory Vance sang “I See the Light” from Tangled, Charlsey Rowan sang “Yours”

by Ella Henderson, Walker Jay Patterson & Meriwether Marchetti sang “Don’t You Wanna Stay” by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Smooth Blues for the Dead: Jennings Duncan, Gregory Vance, Thomas McBride, Matt Gross, Mitch Kincaid, & Wesley McCulley performed “Eagles’ Medley,” John Henry Andress sang “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake, Charlie Davis performed “Waldstein Sonata” by Ludwig van Beethoven, Beth Ann Young, Miriam Box, & Graham Roberson performed “Next to Me” by Emeli Sande, Sara Thomas Easley & Piper Shrock sang “Diamonds” by Rihanna, and The Pearl Divide: Kelly McBride, William Cotten, Mitchell Boulanger, and Parker Daily performed “All Along the Watchtower” by Bob Dylan.

The beauty and beau category is a big part of the pageant.

Eight boys and eight girls were voted on by their classmates and each boy was paired up with a girl to be her escort. Both the boys and girls participated in an interview with judges prior to the pageant, and the interview was a factor in deciding who would win most beautiful and most handsome.

Beauties and Beaux: Most Beautiful & Most Handsome

Sara Thomas Easley & Christopher Russell

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Jordyn Jefcoat & Duncan Jones

All photos by Hubert Worley Page layout by Avery Andress

Senior favorites: (top) Wesley White, Jack Turnage, Ben Burnett (bottom) Morgan Williams, Lindsey Howard, Neil Stewart, Mary Rogers Merrell, Emme Aldridge, Miriam Box, and Wilson Mink.

Dakota Jones & Ryan Myers

Hadley Thompson & Spivey Gault

Addison Galloway & Jake Maloney

Anne Clark Harvey & Tanner McCraney

Macey Abraham & Chance Lovertich

Katie Walker & Russell Roberts

The Sentry

PrÊcis Pageant: Who’s Who Winners Dynamic Duo

Most Intellectual

Most Versatile

Ben Burnett & Forrest Smith Most Talented

Mary Margaret Mitchell & Allen Yin Most School Spirited

Bailey Winscott & Graham Roberson Most Artistic

Kelly McBride & Beth Ann Young Most Athletic

Maddox Henry & Sarah Avery Huffman

December 2017

Frances Hill & Parker Daily

Jennings Duncan & Mary Frances Dickie

Most Likely to Succeed

Mary Patterson Hester & Gregory Vance Wittiest

Marley Parkman & Forrest Smith

Mr. & Miss Sophomore Class Mr. & Miss Junior Class Mr. & Miss Senior Class

Mary Noble Howard & Alex Stradinger

Reece Davis & Emison Geiger

Cooper Carroll & Maddy Mazzaferro

Friendliest

Jacob Beard & Jewels Tauzin Most Charming

Thomas McBride & Isabelle McLeod Mr. & Miss Jackson Prep

Reed Peets & Avery Andress

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Entertainment Murder on Orient Express kills it Movie Review: Campbell Carter Armed with intellect, Charles Dickens and a high maintenance mustache, Hercule Poirot attempts to solve a seemingly impossible murder case in the movie Murder on the Orient Express. The movie is based on the book with the same name by Agatha Christie.

As it is one of her most wellknown books, the Murder on the Orient Express movie was met with high expectations.

The movie opens by introducing the main character, Hercule Poirot, who is played by Kenneth Branagh. The viewer immediately understands the type of person this detective is and the role he will play in the plot. The movie opens up with a scene from another Agatha Christie book. Although the opening scene is not originally from the book, it is still a very good introduction to the story.

Murder on the Orient Express has more twists and

turns than a roller coaster. It keeps the audience guessing who the murderer is by constantly throwing new clues into the mix and revealing more about each character. It captures the viewer’s attention and keeps it throughout the entire movie. Tension is steadily built by discovering new clues and the interviewing of lying passengers until the atmosphere is

as sharp as a knife. Stars such as Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp, and many others play the roles of the suspicious passengers. Even though the movie is set in the past, it has a polished, modern feel.

In short, the Murder on the Orient Express is a spine-tingling murder mystery that makes one ponder the human notion of right and wrong and whether or not justice is truly served in the end.

Justice League recreates heroism

Movie Review: James Threadgill On November 17, DC Entertainment released Justice League, making $94 million on opening weekend. The movie was well-cast with Ben Affleck (Batman), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Ezra Miller (The Flash), Henry Cavill (Superman), and Ray Fisher (Cyborg).

Justice League is DC’s way of combining everyone’s favorite superheroes into a movie, which Marvel has done with The Avengers.

Most people take this opportunity to start an argument about which is better, DC or Marvel, but I like them both equally. One of the things I really disliked about the movie was DC’s choice of villain: Steppenwolf. He was a very plain villain that I think DC just kind of threw in there just to give everyone something to hit. With most villains, you would expect a big reveal of who it is. Steppenwolf, howev-

er, shows up with an army to Themyscira, home of the Amazons, and starts destroying the island. Hopefully in the next movie with the League we get a better villain, like Darkseid. One of the things I enjoyed about the movie, though, was the Flash and Aquaman. They were my favorite characters in the movie, and the actors fit perfectly into those roles. I highly recommend you to see the movie if you haven’t seen it yet.

Stephen Chbosky’s new movie leaves the audience in Wonder Movie Review: Tori Newsome and Preston Dubberly Wonder was released into theaters on November 17, 2017. This movie was based on a true story originally presented in a book written by R.J. Palacio.

The main character, August Pullman, better known as Auggie, suffers from a facial deformity and has been homeschooled his whole life. His parents decide it is time for him to enroll in school so that he can have experiences with peers his age in the classroom. At the beginning of the movie, Auggie is embarrassed of his outward appearance and always con-

14

ceals his face with an astronaut helmet because he loved outer space and excelled in science.

When we saw this movie over the Thanksgiving break, six out of the eight people within our group were in tears by the end of the movie. Yes, Auggie goes through hardships, but the movie portrays how the people in his life such as his family, friends, or classmates are affected by Auggie’s facial deformity as well. One of the saddest parts of the movie was when Auggie overhears his best friend Jack Will talking badly about Auggie’s face to impress

the school’s main bully, Julian.

Auggie ends up faking a stomachache so that he can go home.

We feel everyone should go see this movie because Auggie was able to overcome something that he was born with that was classified against the cultural norm. It also shows how his friends were able to look past his physical appearance and accept him for who he truly is. Young Life leader Elizabeth Nenon said, “I think Wonder helps open our eyes to consider how to see others from their viewpoint first rather than our own. The

movie helps us see the value of choosing to seek to know people for who they are internally rather than who they appear to be externally. External may be looks, actions, or attitudes, but all fall under the umbrella

of appearance.” Even the most emotionally unfazed will be brought to tears by this movie, as anyone who has a heart.

The Sentry

Entertainment

Taylor Swift redefines her reputation with new album Ainsley O’Quinn And Allie Wise On Friday, November 10, Taylor Swift released her highly anticipated 6th album, Reputation. This 15 track record pleasantly surprised fans and critics with its edgy sound and raw lyrics. With the release of “Look What You Made Me Do” on August 24, people expected this album to be different from the ones in her past, and the rest of the tracks lived up to their optimistic expectations.

Swift showcases her strong songwriting abilities with each unique song on the album. With tracks such as “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” and “Look What You Made Me Do,” she displays her range of musical ability and shows her new pop style.

These songs, along with the rest of the album, show a side of Swift that she has never shown through her songwriting before. People have been critical of this, but they like that she is truly being herself with her new music and not holding by

back.

In every track, Swift mentions her reputation, but she especially mentions it in the tracks “Look What You Made Me Do,” “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” and “Delicate.” She definitely throws shade at Kanye West and Kim Kardashian in these songs referring to their feud in 2016.

“New Year’s Day” is Swift’s slowest track on the album reminding critics of the ballads on her album Red. The only collaborated song on Reputation is “End Game” which features Ed Sheeran and Future.

Along with the new album, Swift released two different magazine volumes that included pictures, handwritten lyrics, and her own poetry. Starting last October, Swift teamed up with AT&T on a program called “Taylor Swift NOW” which posts videos on Youtube of her song making progress.

As always, Swift has been reaching out to fans through social media since the announcement of Reputation and is plan-

ning to release an app called “The Swift Life,” which will make it easier for her to connect with fans. She has always been known for her interaction and involvement with her fans, and she has not let them down after her hiatus. Swift put together

five “secret sessions” where she invited 100 fans to her houses to listen to the album before it was released. She has done this with some of her albums in the past as well. These sessions, along with her interaction via social media, have maintained

her reputation as being one of the most generous and involved celebrities when it comes to her fans.

Why do high schoolers not go to the movies as often?

Alex Gibbs Recently, I was having a conversation with my mother, and she asked me why people my age did not go to the movie as often people did when she was growing up. After she asked me this, I began to think of all the movies that I had gone to see in the theater this year, and I could only count four or five.

I found this to be an abnormally small number, so I asked some of my fellow classmates, and they all said similar numbers. Then I really began to think: why do we as high schoolers not go to the movies very much? I did some research and found several reasons that I believe to be the explanation. by

December 2017

The first, and quite obvious, reason is the easy availability of movies in home, often only a couple months after they are released in theater.

In years past, movie watchers would have to go to a store and buy or rent a DVD in order to watch a movie at their home.

Now, all one has to do is simply turn on the television and press play. Additionally, many illegal websites that offer free movies are frequently used by tech-savvy young people, offering movies that are even still in theaters, causing many in the movie business to be frustrated.

The second reason is how expensive going to the movies can be. According to the Nation-

al Association of Theater Owners, the average movie ticket in 1987 cost $3.91; in 2017, the average ticket costs $8.89. This goes without mentioning the absurd prices of snacks at the theater as well, where even a small popcorn can cost as much as eight dollars and a small drink as much as five. Teens who often don’t want to spend money in order to not get in trouble with their parents may choose otherwise when thinking about going to see a movie.

The third reason is, quite simply, the lacking in quality of many of the movies that are released today. This past summer, several films with budgets in excess of 100 million dollars turned out to be massive fail-

ures. They may have had special effects beyond one’s wildest imagination, but they lacked the characters and plot needed to drive a blockbuster. Many times, when I want to watch a movie, I often find myself choosing a movie from previous decades because they are quite frankly just better movies. Even now, the most popular movies at the theaters are often remakes or sequels. There just seem to be fewer and fewer good original movies nowadays.

Even though it does seem like teens do not go to the movies as often, they are still the age group who makes up the largest percentage of moviegoers, according to the MPAA. However, a smaller percentage of the

teenage population are regular moviegoers than thirty years ago.

If these trends continue, it is interesting to wonder if at some point, the movie theater industry will change dramatically. Maybe movies will start to be released straight to the Internet, and movie watching will be a strictly an in home experience.

I hope that you perhaps take these all to thought, even though it will seem like I have no idea what I am talking about when every teenager in America goes to see the new Star Wars movie. Oh, well, I was right in November at least.

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Entertainment The 2017 Sentry Christmas gift guide

Microsoft Xbox One X ($499)

Apple Watch Series 3 ($329749)

Apple iPhone X ($999) Makeup (prices vary)

instax mini 9 ($59.99)

Clothes (prices vary) Amazon Echo ($79.99)

Music Festival Tickets (from $270)

Sports jerseys ($20-120)

Apple Macbook Pro with touchbar ($1,699.99)

page layout By: Patrick Phillips

16

The Sentry

Sports

Football finishes historic season with another championship Steven Wyatt SteWart Mccullough The 2017 Jackson Prep football team put on a spectacular season. They ended 13-0, capped it off with winning the MAIS AAAA D-1 Championship crown and re-wrote a chapter of Mississippi high school football history. While their 2017 campaign ended with fame, the beginning was not Jackson Prep esque. East Rankin scored 14 points in the opening half of their first game, which was more than ERA had scored on Prep’s defense for the past 6 years combined. Many questions lingered about whether or not the defense could step-up, but boy did they ever. In the next 4 contests, Prep only allowed 12 points and as the season rolled on, the defense was Prep’s most consistent and volatile group on the field.

The defense became a serious threat down the stretch, but the offense was sure enough clicking on all cylinders. Jerrion Ealy, Chance Lovertich, Jake Maloney, Reed Peets and many more racked up over 500 points in the regular season by

and

and broke numerous school offensive records. All of this is impressive, but it would soon be forgotten if Prep did not stop the ever strengthening patriots out of Parklane and claim their sixth consecutive state title.

November 17, 2017, ended up being a day that the Jackson Prep Patriots will remember for a long time. Their 38-3 win over the Parklane Pioneers Friday, not only gave them another championship win, but it also gave the Patriots their sixth straight state title. Prep’s stretch also set a state of Mississippi record for the most championships in a row, passing South Panola’s championship stint that went from 20032007.

The game had a very slow start offensively. After the first, the Patriots led 7-0, and both teams had a hard time getting their offenses on track. However, the game did not stay this way for long. The Patriots were able to stretch their lead out to 25 points by halftime(28-3). The game didn’t get any closer from there. Prep added another 10 points to their lead in the sec-

ond half, and the rest was history. Prep was led once again by their star running back Jerrion Ealy who tallied 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Ealy, however, didn’t bring home this championship alone, he had help from seniors like (QB) Chance Lovertich and (WR) Jake Maloney who wanted to have their last game in a Patriot uniform be a memorable one. Lovertich went 5 – 11 for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and Maloney was

responsible for the majority of those stats, seeing as he had three receptions for 102 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Prep’s offense may have had an impressive outing Friday, but it was the team’s defense that was responsible for bringing home their sixthstraight championship. The Patriots defense was undoubtedly the game’s MVP. This was the fourth time all season that they had held an opposing team to three points or less

all game, and the eighth time that they held their opposition to less than 10 points through four quarters. This defense was led by upperclassmen Hayden Hill, Cooper Carroll, and Wilson Mink. All three of which had dominant performances at their respective positions in this game.

Most teams, even championship teams, go through adversity during games throughout the season, but Jackson Prep is not “most teams”. The Patriots finished the year 13-0, they outscored their opponents by a combined 582 – 126, and they didn’t have a game all year decided by less than two scores.

Though you may find dominant stats like these within other teams, you will not find many other special all-around groups like the one that coach Ricky Black had this 2017 season.

They’re definitely a squad that people will be talking about for years to come.

Prep football posing with six fingers up after making Mississippi high school football history. Photo by MC Hughes.

Football players awarded after incredible season henley JohnSon The annual football season ending football banquet took place on November 29th.

The night started off with all of the football players and cheerleaders walking in the Fortenberry Theatre to the fight song and an introduction from Prep’s athletic director Will Crosby.

Then, everyone listened to Dr. Nealey give his annual opening speech after the highlight film. All of the senior players then took the stage and began their own speeches.

Senior players gave speeches showing their apprection for everything these groups did over the season.

Those groups include: the footby

December 2017

ball mom and dads, the band and senior pacers and the athtletcic training staff.

This year’s team captains, Maddox Henry, Cooper Carroll, Chance Lovertich, and Reed Peets, then recognized the cheerleaders as well as their trainers and managers by welcoming them onto the stage and by giving the cheerleaders gifts for all that they did this season.

The football dads followed as they gave out awards to the MAIS All-Distrcit players.

The event continued with the announcement of the players that were selected for this year’s MAIS All-Star Team, which took place at Prep on December 1st. These outstanding

players were Forrest Smith, Cooper Carroll, and Chance Lovertich.

Then, the senior players gave heartwarming and comical tributes to each and every coach.

After a long reflection on this past season, Coach Black ended the banquet by presenting each senior with their red jersey and by giving an individual speech for each player. Although the event lasted a little over three hours, the time was well spent, especially for the senior football players.

To view the full article, visit www.jpsentry.net.

Football MVP Awards MVP OFFENSE

MVP DEFENSE

Reed Peets-Back Forest Smith-Lineman Jake Maloney- Receiver

Maddox Henry-Back Wilson Mink-Back William Cotton-Line Adam Norsworthy-Line Hayden Hill-Linebacker

OVERALL OFFENSE Chance Lovertich

OVERALL DEFENSE Cooper Carroll

Special Teams Russell Roberts

LaCoste Academic Christopher Russell

MVP Overall Jerrion Ealy

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Sports Sophomores take Powder Puff Championship Ford Lange On December 4, the high school girls competed in the annual powder puff football games. This year any girl in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes could sign up to play.

The sophomores had the clear advantage when it came to the amount of girls who came to play, and this proved to be a big factor for them later in the night. The football players that wanted to contribute took on the task of coaching the teams.

Each team was allowed one defensive coach and two offensive coaches on the field during the games.

In the first game, the sophomores played the juniors.

The sophomore team’s offense was a significant strength that they relied on, and it became apparent early. They scored on the first drive of the game after a long run by Price Loposer.

The juniors responded with a quick touchdown of their own.

This came from a short run by Mary Price Montagnet, by

Senior team members: Lucy Louis, Greer Underwood, Elly Lamb, Mary Margaret Mitchell, and Beth Ann Young pose for a picture. Photo by Avery Andress.

which at the time, tied the game at 8-8. Loposer continued to pick apart the junior’s defense with two more long runs, one of which was her second rushing touchdown of the first half. The following drive by the juniors was capped off by a very short run by Anna Minich. At the half, both teams were tied 16-16.

During the second half of the game, the juniors started with the ball and

drove all the way down the field. This drive was completed with a 2 yard run by Drea Morgan to put the juniors 22-16 early in the second half. This would be the last time they would score because the sophomore’s defense shut down the juniors for the rest of the game.

On offense, the sophomores only needed one play for Loposer to run around the field and find the endzone to tie it back up. This drive was followed by

arship. Owen’s personal best round of golf is a 75.

In basketball, Owen plays wing and forward, while he

plays shortstop and second base in baseball.

Owen is known to play with passion when he plays, as evidenced in a recent basketball game against Jackson Academy. While the Patriots may have been on the short end of the game, all who were there took notice of his competitive fire.

Over the next few years, it will be exciting to see how Owen progresses as an athlete.

an incredible goal line stand for the sophomores and yet another long run from Loposer. This set up a game winning catch at the buzzer by Sara Hederman to defeat the Juniors 28-22.

In the championship game, the sophomores played the seniors, who looked to continue their reign as the powder puff champions. Considering the previous game, the sophomores’ intentions were no different, and they came out continuing their offensive dominance. Like the juniors, the seniors could not withstand the speed of Loposer and the sophomore wide receivers.

With the seniors getting the ball first, they marched down the field and were able to score. It appeared that they were going to be able to score at will, but this was quickly proven otherwise with the defense of the sophomores. The sophomores didn’t miss a beat on offense, scoring 28 points in the first half alone. With scores coming from Loposer, Campbell Perkins, and Julia Zouboukos,

the sophomores had everything going for them early. Still, the seniors were not going away easy. After another touchdown from senior Dakota Jones just before the end of the half, the sophomores had the lead 28-16 at the half.

Once the sophomores got the ball to start the half, there was no looking back. With another rushing touchdown from Loposer and another two receiving touchdowns from Perkins, the sophomores had this one in control for the majority of the second half. The seniors were able to score a few more times as Macey Abraham, Bailey Winscott, and Katie Walker all found the endzone at some point, but their efforts were too little too late. The sophomore offense was too much for both the juniors and the seniors to handle as they defeated both teams to take home the powder puff trophy.

Young Athletes to Watch: Owen Abney and Elena Zouboukos aLex gibbs emory maxweLL Owen Abney: When you’re talking about multi-sport young athletes in the Jackson Prep community, one to be looking out for in the future is 8th grader Owen Abney.

Owen has participated in a variety of athletic events in his time at Prep. Owen is on the 8th grade basketball team and baseball team, as well as the junior varsity golf team.

While he did not run cross country this year, he was on the cross country team in previous years.

Abney has a strong tradition in his family of golf prowess, as his older brother, junior Simms Abney, is one of the leaders of the senior high golf team and is currently committed to Alabama on a golf scholby

and

18

Owen running in a cross country meet. Photo courtesy of Emory Maxwell

great basketball players, as her brother Pete is a starting forward for the varsity boys team, and her older sister Julia plays on the varsity girls team.

In addition to basketball, Elena also excels as a cheerleader for the junior high cheer squad, where her athletic talents are also showcased to the Jackson Prep community.

Below: Elena Zouboukos cheering on the Patriots. Photo courtesy of Emory Maxwell

Elena Zouboukos: Elena Zouboukos is another eighth grader whose athletic prowess is best shown on the basketball court. While she is only in eighth grade, she plays up with the JV team, where she receives significant playing time because of her skill with the ball and her speed. Elena actually comes from a family of

The Sentry

Sports

Boys’ soccer starts the journey for eighth straight title NeviN Wells The Jackson Prep varsity boys soccer team begins the 2017 season having won the past seven state championships. With that being said, the senior leaders will not accept anything less than another championship.

The team is led by seven returning seniors: Tanner McCraney, Russell Roberts, Reed Peets, Jake Maloney, Ryan Myers, Hayden Perkins and Cameron Mabry. In addition to these seniors, Juniors John Mark Rose and Mason Morgan look to make a huge impact on the season and have their share of work cut out for them.

The sophomore class also contains tremendous talent, led by young phenoms Jacob Perkins and Blake Painter.

When asked for his expectation of the season, senior captain Tanner McCraney said “The goal of the seniors this year is to finish with an 8th by

straight state championship,” something that has never been accomplished at Jackson Prep.

The team warmed up with a couple pre-season games versus Oxford High School and Clinton High School, Prep proved their worth by playing 6A public schools, as they defeated Clinton 4-0 and tied Oxford 2-2.

The team traveled down to Bay Saint Louis to take on Saint Stanislaus as their official season opener. The Patriots shutout the Rockachaws

3-0. The varsity boys have moved to 2-1-1 on the season with a loss to Madison Central on December 9th. The Patriots still have more than enough games left on the season to prove that they are the best in the state.

Playoffs will begin towards the end of January and the beginning of February. The boys ask for the support from the students, so come out and cheer on the boys in pursuit of 8 straight titles.

Varsity Boys Soccer. Photo by Caroline McIntyre

Junior Varsity Boys Soccer. Photo by Caroline McIntyre

JV Boys go for the goal. Photo by Caroline McIntyre

Varsity basketball swings into the new season

December 2017

December Fri. 15 Sat. 16 Thurs. 28-Fri. 29 January Fri. 5 Sat. 6 Tues. 9 Sat. 13 Tues. 16 Fri. 19 Sat. 20 Tues. 23 Fri. 26 Tues. 30 February Fri. 2 Tues. 6 Fri. 9 Tues. 13 Fri. 16 Tues.20,-Sat.24 Mon. 26-Sat. March 3

Oak Forest Academy * Leake Academy Pearl High School Invitational

Home Away

8:00 2:30

East Rankin Academy Brookhaven Academy Jackson Academy * Heritage Academy Presbyterian Christian School * Parklane Academy * Kirk Academy Madison Ridgeland Academy * Oak Forest Academy * Parklane Academy *

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Sports

Anticipation rises as the college football playoffs approach bennett O’Quinn The 2017 college football regular season has come to a close, therefore signaling the beginning of bowl games and the College Football Playoff.

This postseason will be an exciting one, as the four top teams in the country all have a chance to bring home a national title.

At the beginning of the conference championship week, many teams had a chance to crack the top four and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. The top four teams in the country at this time included Clemson at number one, Auburn at number two, Oklahoma at number three, and Wisconsin rounding out the fourth spot. All of these teams had one loss, the exception being Wisconsin, taking their 12-0 record into the Big 10 Championship game. Auburn headed into the SEC Championship game with momentum, taking down the undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide the previous week. A win for these top four teams would by

allow them to hold their position, but a loss for any four of these teams would also mean their College Football Playoff hopes would be over, which is exactly what happened.

In the SEC Championship game, Auburn could not compete with Georgia, who went on to win the game 287, therefore ending Auburn’s playoff hopes. The number one team Clemson easily handled seventh-ranked Miami 38-3 in the ACC Championship game, cementing their spot in the playoffs. Number three seeded Oklahoma pummeled TCU in the Big 12 Championship game 41-17 behind Heisman winner Baker Mayfield’s stellar performance, which guaranteed them a spot in the playoffs. Fourth ranked Wisconsin suffered their first loss against Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship game, ultimately denying them a chance at being selected to be in the playoffs. With both Wisconsin and Auburn losing their conference championship

games, the playoff selection committee had a tough choice to make on who the four teams would be to compete for a national championship.

With Oklahoma and Clemson winning their conference and their given records, both teams were a lock to be in the College Football Playoff. It was also assumed that Georgia would get in the third spot because of their SEC Championship win. What caused the most controversy is the fourth playoff spot, a selection between Alabama and Ohio State.

Someone could make a legitimate case as to why Alabama should be in over Ohio state or vice versa. Alabama finished the year 11-1, but they did not play for a conference championship as a result of their loss to Auburn. Ohio State won their conference championship, but they lost two games including a brutal 55-24 loss on the road to Iowa. Many people believed Ohio State would be selected because of their conference

championship win and their strength of schedule compared to Alabama’s.

After the last game on the conference championship weekend, the playoff selection committee got to work on the new rankings. On that Sunday, the final poll was released and the top four teams were

revealed. Clemson was at number one, Oklahoma was at number two, Georgia was at number three, and Alabama was at number four. The committee decided to put Alabama in over Ohio State. Many people were shocked at this decision, citing that the committee stated they valued conference championship wins, but that was not the case by selecting Alabama. This year marks the first time two teams from the same conference will be in the College Football Playoff.

Second ranked Oklahoma will play third ranked Georgia in the Rose Bowl, while number one Clemson will play fourth ranked Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Both games will take place on New Year’s Day. This year’s College Football Playoffs will be exciting, as all four teams are evenly matched and thoroughly equipped to win a national championship.

Heisman winner Baker Mayfield looks to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to a national championship.

Photo courtesy of News Oklahoma.

Sports opinion: the NCAA and the system that needs fixing Steven Wyatt The National Collegiate Athletic Association, or the NCAA, is a nonprofit organization that oversees the more than 460,000 college student-athletes and the many colleges and universities across the entire United States. The NCAA gives many athletes the opportunity to play their preferred sport(s) at the college level, while also allowing them to further their academic career. They also provide many of their students, from all economic backgrounds and races the chance to be on a scholarship while at their school.

The NCAA may be a blessing to many student-athletes and schools across the country, but the organization isn’t all just about providing opportunities of a lifetime.

This association also lives by a by

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strict, microscope like, system that makes the lives of many very difficult.

Over the last several years, the NCAA has ruled an extensive amount of Division’s I through III athletes ineligible for things that many would see to be outlandish. For example, the University of Houston’s star guard, Rob Gray was suspended for the schools home opener this season, due to the fact that he participated in a church recreational basketball league in the summer. Another example of the NCAA laying down the law, is one that has been a very popular storyline over the past year, and this is the case of former Central Florida kicker Donald De La Haye. Haye has a very prominent video channel on the media site, Youtube.

His page really started to skyrocket while he was at UCF,

and he reached millions of total viewers. When his page’s popularity began to pick up, and he started earning revenue off of it, the NCAA then ruled him ineligible. This forced Haye to decide between his football career and his Youtube career. In the end he made a decision that should have never been forced on him in the first place, and he chose to continue making his videos. These are just two of the many stories of student athletes getting caught up in a system that’s laws have been taken way too far. The players may have broken the bylaws written by the NCAA, but if we have gotten to the point where playing in a church league is against the rules, then there is a serious problem with the NCAA’s “system”.

Then there is also another problem here, and it lies within

the Haye case. This is an issue involving players earning money, and it is one of the most debated issues nationwide.

Players not only should be able to earn money from their other hobbies, but they should be being paid by the NCAA itself.

According to USA Today, the NCAA made an estimated $989 million in revenue in 2014, and around 81% of that revenue comes from their television and marketing. In simpler terms,

they make the majority of their money off unpaid athletes. This has been a big debate among those involved in athletics, and that being said, it should be. College athletes spend the majority of their time either in the classroom or playing their desired sport, and many athletes are forced to miss time off with their families due to their sport, yet they aren’t earning any revenue off of it. This is also just one of the many things that serve as negatives when it comes to the NCAA, and until the organization takes a stand and revises their bylaws, then they will be in some very hot water with a large number of people in the world of sports for a long while.

The Sentry

Opinion

Were early human right in saying the earth is actually flat?

Emory’s Conspiracy Corner

by Emory Maxwell

As the human race has come to understand the world and the sciences behind it, our views of certain phenomena have changed, and we have advanced technologically. Some of these realizations contradict what people once believed, and

some have only confirmed the thoughts of those who came before.

One scientific “discovery” that was supposed to change the beliefs of the world was the realization that the earth is not, indeed, flat; rather it is a sphere. The first man to declare that the earth is a sphere was Pythagoras in 500 B.C.; however, it was Aristotle in 350 B.C. who popularized the theory.

To many, considering the Earth as round is a fundamental belief that is backed by hundreds of years of scientific research. However, there is still a society of people who think otherwise: the “Flat Earth Society.” This society, which claims to be “a place for free thinkers

and the intellectual exchange of ideas,” is the most well-known group to spread the idea of the flat earth, but there are many other celebrities and famous athletes that spread the idea of the flat earth consistently.

These people in the “Flat Earth Society” believe that the earth is a big circle, which explains circumnavigation, but is bordered by an “ice wall” which explains the continent of Antarctica and the ice sheet.

What is beyond the ice wall is unknown, but the folks at the “Flat Earth Society” say that it is “a subject of great interest to us.”

A popular thing many people who believe the earth is round may say to try to prove

the flat earthers wrong is to ask them to explain the photos taken from space that depict the earth very clearly as a sphere type figure. What the flat earthers would say to this is that the photos could very easily be photoshopped into making it look curved.

Along with the “Flat Earth Society,” there are many other well-known groups and celebrities that believe in this theory.

A few of these are Kyrie Irving, a former scholar at Duke and a current Boston Celtic, rapper B.O.B, and even former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, who was quoted as saying, “I drive from Florida to California all the time, and it’s flat to me. I do not go up and down at a 360-degree

angle, and all that stuff about gravity.”

I am not going to give an official position on this theory, but I will say that there is an experiment to test the flat earth theory going on sometime soon from scientist Mike Hughes that will determine my official views on the validity of this theory.

This picture compares the earth in two ways: spherical and flat.

Corporate lobbys are coming to gobble up your free internet PC BROS

BY Tripp Cory and barron liston Net Neutrality is a principle that ensures that every American can access the internet freely and without restriction from their internet providers on the content being accessed and the speed at which their internet works. The driving purpose behind net neutrality, as listed on the official net neutrality documents on the FCC website is as follows: “The open Internet drives the American economy and serves, every day, as a critical tool for America’s citizens to conduct

December 2017

commerce, communicate, educate, entertain, and engage in the world around them”. The FCC instituted this policy under the Obama administration in 2015, and has since served to prevent companies that provide internet access from controlling what people are able to access based on the amount of money they pay for access to the internet.

Supporters of net neutrality argue that without government restrictions, big corporations like AT&T from controlling the internet and preventing small businesses from using the internet to grow. Many have argued that if net neutrality is gutted by the FCC, then the open market system will suffer because it will be nearly impossible for new businesses to use the internet to provide goods and services to consumers. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “defending civil liberties in the digital world”, states that big businesses will not act to ensure unfair data practices

against the consumer, contrary to the argument by those who are against these regulations that corporations will “exert pressure” to protect the open internet. Before Net Neutrality, American cable companies were able to freely slow down websites so they could extort extra cash from them - an example being in 2014 when Comcast slowed down Netflix’s streaming service until they could reach a “mutually beneficial” agreement. Without the regulation Net Neutrality provides, major internet providers are going to be able to take more from both websites and customers.

When it comes to the way the internet is payed for without net neutrality, many supporters of the principle point to Portugal as an example of what can happen without net neutrality. Internet access is paid for in the same way that cable TV is. Consumers first pay a base fee for data and speed, and then pay additional charges for packages of websites. Some packages contain streaming

services like Netflix, while others contain music like Spotify.

This means that unless you are willing to shell out extra cash, what you are able to access on the internet is greatly diminished. The ability of internet providers to prevent you from accessing what you want to access by either throttling the speed at which particular content loads, or outright blocking access to them is a serious concern.

The destruction of Net Neutrality has come about thanks to Trump’s FCC chairman appointee Ajit Pai. Pai’s excuse is that he wants to create a “free” internet by dismantling the regulations. However, it is likely that Pai’s real motivation is the corporate cash that internet companies can give him if he makes decisions that benefit them. All Pai is doing is handing over control of the internet from the government to corporations who would sign your soul over to Satan for 2 dollars.

The only arguments against Net Neutrality are coming from internet companies and the

lawmakers in their pockets.

The primary argument is that corporations want to get rid of regulations so they can serve the customer better. This is completely false. Ever since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution where companies would send children to work for pennies in factories and mineshafts under extremely hazardous conditions, companies could care less about how they treat anyone as long as they make a profit. The repeal of Net Neutrality is the perfect example of how corporate corruption is plaguing our nation.

Any lawmaker that is supporting the repeal of Net Neutrality is showing that they could care less about their people as long as there wallet is full. We can only hope that in the sea of corruption that is American politics that someone will take a stand for the people of our nation and prevent despicable acts such as this one from ever coming to fruition.

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Opinion

Are we losing our taste for free speech?

Opinion: Payne Bell

Freedom of speech has always been a sacred value of both the University and society in general. Since around the middle of 2017, I have noticed an increasing amount of censorship, occurring on multiple University campuses across North America.

Many conflicts have arisen at the University of California, Berkeley, for example. In February 2017, the University cancelled a planned speech from conservative journalist Milo Yiannopoulos among security concerns caused by violent farleft protesters. Since then, multiple instances of violent protest and subsequent censorship of non-radical left ideas have taken place on campus. Ben Shapiro, one of the most prominent conservative political commentators, spoke on Berkeley’s campus on September 14, 2017.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent by the University on security to keep violent radical leftist protesters from silencing Shapiro.

We should all be extremely embarrassed that such a large sum of money must be spent to protect a value so intrinsic to our society as freedom of speech. A free society like ours can only be maintained if the ability to rigorously debate on important issues is held in the highest esteem. The University is a place where one goes to destroy all their faulty presuppositions about the world in order to put them back together into something more beautiful and coherent. Our ability to do this is beginning to be excessively curbed much faster than many people realize.

In Canada, the process of censorship has been occurring at a much more rapid rate than

in the United States. The issue of Bill C-16 in the Canadian Senate is a complicated one, but I will explain the basics of the controversy. Bill C-16, passed by the Canadian Senate on October 18, 2016, prohibits discrimination based upon gender identity and gender expression. It also makes it a criminal act to discriminate based upon these factors. This means that, in Canada, if you refuse to refer to someone with the gendered pronoun of their choice, you may be charged with a crime.

While this may seem like an advancement in human rights, it is the first the Bill and its surrounding policies are the first of their kind to regulate what an individual SHOULD say, compared to something an individual CANNOT say. Those two cases lie in completely different realms of consideration.

It is an outright attack on the value of free speech to suggest that there is something an individual should say when referring to other people.

With the growth of censor-

ship and radical indoctrination occurring in Universities, these students will be released into the world on their own following their graduation. We should be be especially cautious about

making sure that people being given power and social status are not ones who have become ideological mouthpieces as a result of their wasted University education.

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Sentry I (Fifth Period)

Staff Editorials

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All opinion pieces are the views of the author(s), and the author(s) only, with the exception of staff editorials, which are unsigned and reflect the consensus view of the students in the Sentry classes. Staff editorials are the only columns in the paper that express the unified view of the Sentry staff. This staff editorial process is comprised of two main steps. First, the staff talks amongst themselves about a topic and organizes a position on the issue on which all class members can agree. The editorial is then written and run past the staff members for approval.

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