J A C K S O N
THE V OL. 49, ISSUE 6
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
J A N UA RY 2 019
Seniors bite into the Big Apple By Maclain Kennedy OpiniOn EditOr
& alex GiBBs COpy EditOr From January 16-20, 31 Jackson Prep seniors that either have taken or are taking the Financial Management class embarked on a trip to New York City. Accompanying the students as chaperones were Ms. Waynett Noe, who teaches the class, alongwith Ms. Kimberly Van Uden, Mr. Lee Ozier, and Mr. Donald Regan. You have to go to New York with a theme of a trip in mind since the city is so big. Sometimes, you go to shop. Other times, you go to sightsee. For this trip, the purpose was financial management, so the students really got to experience the business side of New York, although that doesn’t mean they completely neglected the main sights of the city. Throughout their three days in the city, they met with Prep graduates living and working in the city and got to see New York through the perspective of what it is like to actually live and work there. On Wednesday the 16th, the group drove on a Cline Tours bus to New Orleans to fly on a direct flight to Newark, New Jersey, arriving at the hotel after midnight. After checking into the hotel, the students were left with little time for rest, as they had to be dressed in business attire at 6:30 the next morning. On Thursday, they began the day by meeting with Prep graduate Becky Lazzeri, who teaches math at Marymount
School of New York, an all-girls Catholic school. After that, some students went to the Federal Reserve, and others met with Sandra Bloodworth, who is in charge of the artwork located in the subways. The group then had a break for lunch before going to meet another Prep alum, Kate Carter, at her office Anomaly, a group that does advertisements for some of the largest corporations in the world. Following the meeting with Kate, they went to NASDAQ and met with Tim Seymour, who is one of the commentators on CNBC’s Fast Money, and got to watch the live filming of the show. Thursday night was finished off with a New York Rangers hockey game. Students enjoyed buckets of fried chicken and pizza while watching hockey, which was a fun experience since most students on the trip had never been to a hockey game. The first day was exhausting, as the students left the hotel at 6:30 and didn’t get back until after 11, but they had quite the time. Friday morning, the group did not have to be down in the lobby until 9:00. The first item on the agenda that morning was a meeting with David Hobbs, son of Prep teacher Ms. Marsha Hobbs, who helps run a hedge fund. His office, on the 36th floor of a building on 57th Street overlooking Central Park, was incredible. After that, students had free time to explore 5th Avenue, Trump Tower, shop, and eat lunch. They then went back to NASDAQ for the closing bell cer-
emony before eating a buffet-style dinner at John’s Pizza off of Times Square and seeing the spectacular Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera. On Saturday, the group began the day at 9:00 with a trip to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. This experience is truly moving and is a beautiful commemoration of the brave men and women who lost their lives as first responders. They then went to the top of the new One World Trade Center building, which at 104 floors is now the tallest building in New York. After eating lunch, the students met with another Prep
graduate, Alexandra Franklin. Franklin is currently a literary agent for people who are interested in publishing their work. That night, the students ate dinner in Grand Central Station and got to go ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza before riding up to Top of the Rock, which gives you a full view of the city, although the view was obstructed by an onslaught of snow. They ended the day by enjoying dessert at Ellen’s Stardust, a diner where Broadway hopefuls perform while you eat. The next day, they flew out at 2:30 back in to New Orleans, stopping at Middendorf ’s for cat-
fish for their final meal together, before arriving back home shortly after 9:00. This trip, although very fast-paced, tiring, and filled with crammed subway rides, was a unique experience for all of the students involved. Not only did they get to see many of the famous sights of New York, but they also got to see what it actually is like to live and work in the greatest city in the world. Additionally, they got to experience this city with some of their closest friends, creating memories that will last for a lifetime.
Prep seniors watch Nasdaq’s closing bell at Nasdaq’s headquarters on Times Square. Photo courtesy of Nasdaq
Opinion
Sports
Conspiracies - pg. 13
Boys’ Basketball - pg. 11
Around Town
Entertainment
Cultivation - pg. 9
What is ASMR? - pg. 8
Showchoirs battle for spotlight lily noBle Staff WritEr
When show choir students return from Christmas break, the air is full of anticipation for Jackson Prep’s Show Choir Masters. The 2019 Show Choir Masters is the sixth year Prep has hosted this competition. Every January, schools from across the South converge on Flowood for a chance to win the biggest trophy and the bragging rights that go with it.
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Reveillon performs at their host tournament while judges deliberate preliminary round scores. Photo courtesy of Niki O’Quinn
News/Features - 3 eNtertaiNmeNt - 7
arouNd towN - 9
sports - 11
opiNioN - 14
IF YOU Could sum up valentine’s day in one sentence, what would it be? Get done with basketball practice, go to the store, buy some flowers, and give them to my Xbox, then have a date for six hours playing Fortnite. -Andrew Purvis, 11th A day full of love and giggles. - Andrea McCaa,11th Valentine’s Day is a meaningless holiday because love isn’t a weird thing. -Hunter Yelverton, 10th Weird. Um. Pink. -Luke Ferguson, 10th Usually a total let down. - Paxton Thompson, 8th It’s a day that celebrates chocolate as much as love. -Abigail Metcalf, 11th The day where you show love and compassion to the people you care about. -Dylan Harrigill, 10th A waste of money. - Gavin Mullins, 9th
V I E W S & V O I C E S
WHAT FOOD/DRINK DO YOU WISH THE DINING COMMONS WOULD START SELLING?
Volume 49 • Issue 6 • January 2019 Editor-in-Chief Stewart McCullough
Coca-Cola products -Julia Zouboukos, 11th -Sarah Gregg, 11th
Print Managing Editor Olivia Moore Online Managing Editors Ainsley O’Quinn Russ Upton
Spark -Caroline Dreher, 11th Sloppy Joes -Devin Brown, 11th
Copy Editors Alex Gibbs Mary Patton Murphy
Red Bull -William Meck, 10th
Graphics Editor Payne Bell
Sushi
Photo Editors Henley Johnson Kennedy Marble Genevieve Hurst
-Isabelle Dyess, 1oth -Grayson Dausman, 8th Acai bowls -Sydney Ray, 10th Hot Cheetos -Dylan Harrigill, 10th Icee machine -Ridgely McIntyre, 10th Lemonade -Paxton Thompson, 8th Goldfish -Charlie Barbour, 7th
Sentry PICKS
if your life depended on it, What song could you sing all the way through ? Victoria Chough - God is Bigger Than the Boogie Man from Veggie Tales Cass Rutledge - Take Away Four by Soundcheck and Odd Squad Walker Poole - Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano Joseph Watts - The Alphabet Song Embry Hollowell-Stone Cold Steven Wyatt - The Psych theme song Maclain Kennedy - Party in the U.S.A - Miley Cyrus Tripp Cory - German National Anthem Bennett Carter- Gary Come Home (Spongebob) Lily Flowers - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Ainsley O’Quinn- Fifteen by Taylor Swift Charles Stephenson- Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen Emory Maxwell - Hips Don’t Lie - Shakira Stewart McCullough - Halo - Beyonce Ford Lange- Black Hole- hoodwinn Rosy Ruffin- ABCs Alex Gibbs- Knee Deep - Zac Brown Band Jane Gray Barbour - the story of us - Taylor Swift Camp Carter - A Night at the Spleen - Closure in Moscow John Tyson- Roar- Katy Perry
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Liddy Hurst- Introducing Me - Camp Rock 2 Emma Dye - the ABC’s Aubrey Scott Moak - Party in the USA- Miley Cyrus Olivia Moore- Friends theme song Eliza Mazzaferro- What Makes You Beautiful -One Direction Tanner Gough - The ABC’s Avery Overby- Wannabe by the Spice Girls Mara Liston - Whatcha Say- Jason Derulo Sayley Crawford - You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift Anna Stack- Paper Planes by M.I.A. Genevieve Hurst - Baby One More Time by Britney Spears Abbey Mangum- Don’t Blame Me - Taylor Swift Anna Leigh Allen- Gnarly - Kodak Black Victoria Nowell- No Hands - Waka Flocka Kate Kellum- Gucci Gang - Lil Pump Ramay Jeffreys- Cells - Poot Gang Preston Dubberly - How Far I’ll Go from Moana
Around Town Editors Jane Gray Barbour Aubrey Scott Moak Entertainment Editors Preston Dubberly Tori Newsome Asst. Entertainment Editor Camp Carter Fun & Games Editor Sayley Crawford News Editor Tanner Gough
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Assistant Opinion Editors Lilly Noble Cass Rutledge Sports Editors Will Fletcher Steven Wyatt Assistant Sports Editors Sarah Cory Charles Stephenson Records Manager Anna Stack Social Media Editors Ford Lange Emory Maxwell Video Editor Mara Liston
In-Class Staff Anna Leigh Allen • Ann Parker Baldwin • Bennett Carter Hannah Carter • Victoria Chough • Tripp Cory Kennady Dausman• Lily Flowers • Francie Heidelberg Sarah Herring • Ramsay Jeffreys• Kate Kellum Barron Liston • Abbey Mangum • Eliza Mazzaferro Mason Nichols • Victoria Nowell • Walker Poole Rosy Ruffin • Lauren Anne Smith • John Tyson Contributing Staff Hannah Grace Biggs • Allie Wise Advisor: Mr. Lain Hughes
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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.
Opinion Editors Caroline McIntyre Eloise Moore Maclain Kennedy
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
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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.
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News & Features
The Sentry
Rotating schedule to expand campus-wide by John henry Adnress
Staff Writer “How can we help better prepare the junior high students for high school and college?” This was the question that Prep’s Head of School Mr. Lawrence Coco asked himself, which led to the new schedule changes for the upcoming school year. About a month after this school year started, Mr. Coco decided that he wanted to explore moving the junior high onto the rotating schedule. The reason that the schedule wasn’t implemented in the junior high this year was because the administration wanted to evaluate how the schedule worked in the senior high before moving it to the junior high. The success of this year’s transition in schedule helped make the choice to transition the junior high to the new schedule much easier. Mr. Coco set up a task force in order to complete the task of fixing the current schedule. The task force was made up of teachers, coaches, and administration, and their goal was to decide whether or not to transition the junior high to a rotating schedule, and, if so, how the transition would occur. Mr. Coco also asked the students in his Head of School Advisory group to provide input into the decision. The task force ultimately decided that moving the junior high to the rotating schedule was in the students’ and the school’s best interests. “I am very proud of the collaboration engaged in by the faculty, students, and administration, which allowed us to put together what
I think is a better schedule than our current one,” said Mr. Coco. The junior high will have a rotating schedule next year that is similar to the current schedule the senior high has now. The current schedule is getting a few tweaks, with Advisory and activity period being split into two separate periods throughout the day. The advantage to moving the junior high to the rotating schedule will be the additional opportunities for the students to take additional classes in subjects that they are interested, such as art, band, choir, foreign language, drama, to name a few. Within this new schedule is vocabulary that is important to understanding how the schedule works. The term “bin” is used to designate a specific piece of time in the school day. A bin occurs at the same time everyday of the normal day. There are 5 bins in a school day, but we will usually only speak of 4 because the 5th bin, at the end of the day, contains the same class (carrier) and will usually be referred to as the “fixed” carrier. The bins do not rotate, the time between 8:10 and 9:20 AM is always the first bin and so on through the day. Also, the term “carrier” means the classes that occur and are designated in either rotating carrier or the fixed carriers. The “rotating carriers” rotate in the bins, so a given carrier will occur in different bins in the three day cycle. The different days of the cycle are labeled A, B, and C. As you look at the schedule, you will see that the different carriers fill the bins on the different days. The “fixed carrier” is the last class of the day that does not rotate but remains fixed. Finally, the word “period” is no longer used in con-
Staff Writer
nection with the schedule at Prep. Another addition to the junior high schedule is the addition of new technology education courses. The plan is to add a course in the seventh grade so that the students can learn the technology basics, with these classes continuing into subsequent grades, increasing the level of instruction in each subsequent year. This will give the students a large foundation of basic knowledge so that they are prepared for life after Prep. This will definitely be beneficial, seeing as the world is moving more and more towards new advances in technology. Another change is the ability to let the advisory program have more more flexibility and meet more than just one time per week in the senior high. “The research shows that advisory has a larger impact on students if it meets more than once a week,” said Mr. Coco. Currently, the junior high meets one time every day for about 10 minutes, and the senior High meets once a week for about 25 minutes. Now, the advisory group for the junior high and senior high can meet twice a
week for about 20 minutes each time. Students will eat during the 3rd bin with the junior high typically eating at the top portion and the senior high typically eating at the bottom portion. This helps on days when there isn’t advisory because this makes a large time slot for clubs to meet, especially clubs that have junior high and senior high members. This is the new plan for next year’s schedule, and much preparation was required to put it together.
For more on the new schedule, aim your phone’s camera at the QR code below to watch a short video featuring Mr. Coco.
(continued from page 1) Staff Writer
Reveillon, Prep’s SH group, Fusion, the JH group, and their director, Mitchell McGinnis, his assistant Temperance Jones, and the Applause! Board all pitch in to make this fantastic tournament happen. Proceeds from this event support the performing and visual arts at Prep. This year, three junior high show choirs and fifteen high school show choirs attended the competition. Fusion performed their exhibition, “The Adventures of Paul Bunyan,” Friday night before Jackson Academy’s Showtime swept the middle school competition winning grand champion, all of the caption awards, and the male and female solo competition. Reveillon performed their show, “California Dreamin,” midway through the competition on Saturday night. Afterward, McGinnis announced each finalist: Jackson Academy’s “Encore,” Madison Central’s “Reveille,” Briarwood Christian School’s “Radica,” Northwest Rankin’s “Rhapsody,” and Grenada High School’s “Visions.” At the end of the night, Grenada came on top winning grand champion,
best visuals, best vocals, and best show design. A great thing about the competition is that the whole student body can be involved. Those who are on the teams host the other show choirs and guide them around the Prep campus. Other students can use this weekend as a great opportunity to get in-school service hours. Parents are the biggest asset to the competition by helping Fusion, Reveillon and other show choirs check in and prepare to compete. Mr. Mack Mitchell and Mr. Terry Hight have been an enormous help to the Prep show choirs already and assisted all show choirs at the competition. Ms. Kathleen Mitchell, the mother of two show choir members, shared that, “As a parent, this is a great event to support because you can meet parents and students from all over. At Prep we are so fortunate to have the beautiful Fortenberry theater to share, and this is a great time to showcase our wonderful Prep hospitality!” Fusion and Reveillon will be competing in both Mississippi and Alabama soon. Reveillon will also travel to Chicago for their national competition. Both show choirs will wrap their seasons
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Coding class commences by elizA MAzzAferro
Showchoirs battle for the spotlight by lily noble
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up with performances at Jackson Prep for the entire student body. Right: El Knotts and Aiden Mai Hinton sing during the ballad Below: Reveillon perform their show Photos courtesy of Nikki O’Quinn
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Coding is a new class at Prep that is offered to students who are looking for a fun (as well as informative) elective. Thanks to the flexibility of the new schedule this year, students are given more opportunities to explore subjects that interest them. It has also given them an opportunity to choose an elective that focuses on a specific possible career choice. Among these is the coding class taught by Ms. Chere Guilbeau, a 9th grade math teacher. This is her first time teaching the class and things are going well according to students, who praise her for making it such a fun and enjoyable experience. Junior Barrett Newburger says the only reason he stayed in the class is because of Ms. Guilbeau. Coding, by definition, is the process of assigning a specific code for the purpose of classification or identification. The process begins with listing out the steps then going in the computer and programming it. Students taking the class this semester have handouts that help them get through the process, because it can get difficult. Students benefit from this class, because it teaches them to think about what they are doing and why. A lot of people these days want to do things themselves, and that is where coding comes into play. It also gives students an edge up in technology, especially for jobs such as engineering. Alex Stradinger said, “A lot of jobs done by humans in factories today will soon be replaced by robots controlled by code.” Senior Reece Davis is looking into the possibility of becoming an engineer one day and he says that everything done by electronics is now done through coding. The overall experience seems fun and informative. Students looking at electives for next year should definitely check out coding.
Pictured above is a popular app that most coding students use for their classwork at Jackson Prep. Photo by Mara Liston
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News & Features
January 2019
“Get your shots!” say doctors as flu hits area schools hard by lily FlOwers
Staff Writer It’s flu season. It’s that time of the year again and people are in close quarters coughing and sneezing on each other. This year, the expected peak flu season began in December and could last as long as May. According to the Centers of Disease and Prevention, every flu season, researchers try to determine how well flu vaccines work as a public health intervention. Affecting how well the flu vaccine works are the design, the population, what season the flu vaccine was studied, and the outcome measured. It is projected that manufacturers in 2018-2019 season will provide between 163 million and 168 million doses of injectable vaccines for the US, many of which will go unused. Even with a great amount of research in developing the vaccine every year, many people still don’t believe that getting the flu shot is helpful. Some people claim that when they get the flu shot, they get the flu. But when they stopped getting the flu shot, they didn’t get the flu.
Feedback from a person in the medical field, someone on the “front lines,” is beneficial to better understand the scope of the flu. Dr. Tim Flowers, an Emergency Medicine physician, said that people are definitely less likely to get the flu if they get the flu vaccine. In December, his Emergency Department had approximately 100 cases of the flu, but the numbers have risen in January to about 300. It has mainly been the influenza A strain. Numbers rise in colder and wetter weather because people tend to stay inside around other people, often other sick people. Some might still be wondering how you can get the flu even though you got the flu shot. While the flu shot prevents many common strains of influenza, it is still possible to get sick. The flu shot can’t protect you from every illness and flu strain. Other reasons why you still might get sick after getting the flu shot is there might have not been enough time for your body to develop immunity, you were already exposed to the flu, the vaccine didn’t cover that specific strain of the flu, or, simply, your body did not respond fully to the vaccine. Influenza vaccines are
Managing editor On January 17th, the Prep cast of “Around the World in Eighty Days” traveled to Meridian to perform at the Riley Center after advancing to the next round of the North Mississippi Theater competition. At the last competition this year, Catherine Watson, who played Amanda, won an All Star Cast award for her performance. Amanda Roberts, who played Agnes, also won an All Star Cast Award from their last performance. Prep alumni Lawson Marchetti and Claire Porter made an appearance and won awards at the competition, winning first in the Musical Duet for Adult individuals. Before leaving for
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Weapons in Prep’s anti-flu arsenal. Photo by Cass Rutledge
the flu shot said, “I believe the flu shot works because every time I have gotten it, I have not gotten the flu.” 10th grader Kimberly Blount said, “My mom makes us get one every year, but honestly I don’t know if it actually works be-
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the Riley Center, the cast performed for the school during activity period on January 15th. John Lewis Black played Phileas Fogg, Scott Shive played Passepartout, Catherine Watson played Amanda. Inspector Fix is played by Katie Simmons, and Bobbins is played by Bradley Stafford. The Mississippi Theater Association competition only allows the shows forty-five minutes to set up, run, and be taken down, and the cast of “Around the World in Eighty Days” ran the show in a heart stopping forty-five minutes, just making the time limit. The cast had a lot of fun while in Meridian, watching other theater kids sing karaoke, eating pizzas, and nearly walking through the drive through of Lee’s Donuts.
Prep’s One Act group, “Around the World in Eighty Days” at their performance in Meridian, MS on January 17th.
cause it’s one of those things that is hit or miss.” As we move into February, people are starting to feel the effects of the flu. A whopping 11.4 million people have been affected nationally with 136,000 of those people being hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Locally, almost 10% of students in the Clinton school district have been out of school because of the flu. Clinton is currently taking precautions like spraying the school door knobs and has even hired a cleaning service for the weekends. Many
at Prep are asking “should we be taking these precautions too?” During the week before and after the recent Show Choir Masters Competition held at Prep, the flu seemed to be hitting Prep hard. The administration has been preparing classrooms by giving out Lysol and Clorox Wipes to teachers to use at their discretion. So far no teachers have reported personally having the flu, only students. Ms. Katie Luckey, a Spanish teacher, advises students to “wash your hands, stop eating and drinking after each other, and visit your doctor if you have flu-like symptoms.” The flu has also affected Jackson Prep sports teams. At press time, several of the boys’ and girls’ basketball players have been out because of the flu. If you are still on the fence on whether to get the flu shot, the Centers of Disease and Prevention recommends that everyone that is 6 months and older gets a yearly flu vaccine. If you happen to get the flu, go home so you can prevent spreading it to other people. Remember, you should always wash your hands and stay away from anyone that is sick.
Bands sought to battle at Prep Fest
One Act troupe competes in MTA by Olivia MOOre
made from a dead virus, and supposedly contracting the flu from the flu vaccine is impossible. An informal survey of students at Prep found that of twenty two people contacted, the majority of them did not get the flu shot this year. Madeleine Conerly, who is in the 10th grade and did get
bennett Carter Staff Writer
Student, faculty, and alumni bands, get ready to battle this April! This year’s annual PAT fundraising weekend, Prep Fest, will include an event familiar to some Prep faculty and graduates but new to current Prep students – the Battle of the Bands. Started in the mid-1980’s as a fundraiser, the Battle of the Bands showcased Prep student musicians and bands including Paul Case, High Voltage, the Trade, Crosstown Traffic, James Dean, and Illusion. Over the years, bands performed in the “old gym,” now the McRae Center, and on a flatbed trailer in the Prep parking lot. The 2019 Battle of the Bands will take place Saturday, April 13 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. during the Prep Fest Revolutionary Fair. Revolutionary Fair chairperson Ms. Holly McMullan is hoping to have a variety of bands participate in the event. Student, faculty and staff, alumni, and parent bands are all encouraged to register. Ms. McMullan said, “We would love to have student participation! As alums, we have great memories of Revolutionary Fair and the Battle of the Bands. We would love to have current students have fun with it, too!” One parent and alumni band is already registered for the event. Illusion, a band made up of Prep parent, Mart McMul-
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lan (the husband of Ms. McMullan), Clay Schultz (Prep class of 1990), and Jonathan Barrett will perform at this year’s Battle. Filling in for original Illusion band member Trey McGriff will be Alex Guidry (Prep class of 1990). Guidry is a former member of the band Crosstown Traffic which played in the 1988 Battle of the Bands. Illusion performed at the 1987 Battle of the Bands. Mart McMullan, the lead singer of Illusion, says the band plans to get together at the first of the year to “jam” in preparation for their performance. When asked how his children feel about his participation in the Battle of the Bands, he said, “They’re really excited! They’ve heard me talk forever about my days of singing in a band, so they can’t wait to hear us play!” Other alumni bands Ms. McMullan would like to see participate include the Trade,
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Southgate, and Square Root of Now. Ms. McMullan says that the length of each band’s performance will depend of the number of bands that enter. Each band should prepare 4 to 5 songs with the understanding that their set might be longer. Interested bands can enter the event by completing the registration form found at jacksonprep.org/prepfest. There is a $25 registration fee. Tickets to attend the Revolutionary Fair and Battle of the Bands cost $5 per person and will be available in March. For more information on the event, contact Holly McMullan at hollydmcmullan@yahoo.com. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the PAT’s Prep Fest weekend go to fulfill teacher wish lists, make classroom enhancements, and fund Prep’s teacher endowment.
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News & Features
The Sentry
The junior class garage sale set for March 2nd by preston DubberLy entertainment editor
Every year, the junior class annually puts on a garage sale in order to finance their graduation night and senior prom. The class of 2020 has already begun this process. If you look in front of the senior high or in the foyer, you will find a wide variety of items from recent New Year’s clean out resolutions or fun little trinkets that are not in use anymore. The garage sale is an especially exciting time because this allows the class to come together to accomplish a common goal before they all graduate. Elizabeth Downing and Ben Johnson are in charge of the garage sale, but they also have the support of their committee. Elizabeth Downing said, “In order for the garage sale to be the most successful it can be, every garage sale leader and member of the junior class needs to continue effectively doing their jobs. Everyone has done a great job so far, and I am confident that this will be a very successful garage sale.”
There are a record 24 Juniors that have stepped forward to lead as chairmen this year. Being on this committee requires a great deal of work and time commitment, but it has its advantages. For instance, the garage sale counts as a Make A Difference (MAD) Project. This allows each student on the committee to receive a medal for striving for Jackson Prep Excellence that he or she can showcase on graduation day. Colonel William Merrell, head of the Global Leadership Institute, said, “I can honestly say the Class of 2020 has been the most enthusiastic I have observed since the Garage Sale has become student-led.” He hopes that this project will propel the junior class into a senior year full of unity. The garage sale will take place in the Manning Center on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at 5am11am. If interested in donating, bring your items off in the front of the senior high and place them by the sign that says junior garage sale.
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If you would like to donate items to the junior class garage sale, please feel free to drop off your items in front of the SH building.
Photos: Items donated to the junior class garage sale Photos by: Ainsley O’Quinn
License plate controversy Students lead worship at the Pursuit by Joseph Watts
Staff Writer If you’ve been on the road anytime after New Years, then you’ve probably seen the new Mississippi state license plates. Although it took awhile for the tag to come out due to lack of funding from the legislative budget in 2017, it is finally here, but not without negative feedback. For those who haven’t seen it, the tag features a bronze colored background with the new state seal, along with the ability to have eight numerals. Like the previous tag, Mississippi is written at the top center. Both the color and the seal of the new tag have caused controversy, especially the seal. Many say that because the color is bronze, the tag always looks dirty, whereas others, such as sophomore Victoria Chough say, “The tag is ugly.” Besides the col-
or, many have a problem with the new state seal, which features “In God We Trust.” The new state seal was signed into legislation by Governor Bryant in 2014. While some people think that this phrase promotes a belief in God and deem this action “unconstitutional,” others believe that it is not unconstitutional to place “In God We Trust” on the new car tag, as its purpose is to show the seal of Mississippi.
Photo of the old (above) and new (below) license plates Photo by Genevieve Hurst
by tori neWsoMe
entertainment editor
& henLey Johnson Photo editor The Pursuit is a student-led week of worship, where upperclassmen are advisors to the underclassman. This year, different seniors shared their testimonies to their peers by sharing videos on the projector. This was beneficial to the underclassman because it showed them how God has worked in their life throughout their junior high and high school years. The Pursuit took place on January 9-11. Each day, the students met during activity period and homeroom for worship and to listen to a message given by Cyril Chavis. On the first day, student leaders chose a spot for their group to sit and held up a sign so they could find them. Some of the signs were minions, selfies, a
planet, and a red flag. On the first day, seniors Sara Michael Kennedy, Maclain Kennedy, and Taylor McClure led worship. Throughout the rest of the week, worship leader Adam Landon from Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson led the students. On Thursday night, the students came together from 6:00 to 8:30 for a night of fun and worship. The night started off with games. The students played a game where everyone walked in a circle and, when the music stopped, they had to find people to jump on their backs. If the students could not find partners when the music stopped, they were out of the game. After the games, the students sat with their small groups to eat Chick-Fil-A. Once everyone was done eating, they headed to the theater for worship to listen to Cyril speak and to talk in small groups. This year, the senior
leaders were Mary Parker Plunkett, Mary Patton Murphy, Reece Davis, and Stewart McCullough. These seniors were assisted by juniors Mackenzie Shoemaker, Alex Stradinger, Cassidy ZumMallen, and Miriam Cochran. These students had their work cut out for them. They were responsible for making small groups, finding a speaker, finding worship leaders, and creating a schedule. They did an amazing job. Overall, this event was a huge success, and students are looking forward to next year.
Sara Michael Kennedy
A behind-the-scenes look into cheer tryout week by Mara Liston
Video editor With cheer tryouts coming up, junior and senior high cheerleaders are preparing and practicing for the big week. Tryouts for the junior high will be held from February 26th-28th, while senior high tryouts will be the following week from March the 5th to the 7th. These will be held after school, varying in time. Tryouts will last three days, consisting of a day of clinic, a day for a mock tryout, and the actual tryouts. On clinic day, the girls will learn the dance and cheer that they will be practicing in the following days and per-
forming for the judges. Mock tryouts are meant to mimic what the actual tryout day will be like. The girls will do everything they plan on doing the next day, but instead of judges watching, cheerleaders from the previous year will be watching. These veterans will give the girls advice along with encouragement. On actual tryout day, the girls will perform the dance and cheer along with a run out, which is an individual sort-of routine showcasing their individual skills. Each person trying out will go one by one, getting a number at the beginning of the week, but they will perform the dance they learned with a partner or in a trio.
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Junior and senior high tryouts consist mostly of the same things, except the dance and cheer is a little more complicated for senior high. Along with that, senior high cheerleaders have to do a little more in their tryout than the junior high girls do. You must maintain a higher grade point average in order to be a senior high cheerleader. When it comes to cheer season, being a senior high cheerleader is more time consuming than being a junior high cheerleader because the senior high cheerleaders have to practice more since they have more pep rallies and performances than the junior high cheerleaders do. Cheer tryout week is a very
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busy and stressful week for all the girls trying out. With learning a brand new dance and cheer, the girls have to perfect it in a few short days. Along with that, the girls also have to practice their individual skills for the tryout. From the minute the week starts, you can expect these girls to not stop practicing. On top of this, the girls still have to keep up with their school work, making sure they get their assignments done on time and studying. In my opinion, non-cheerleaders can underestimate just how hard this week can be. Despite the stress, it’s a very fun experience because you get to grow closer to other cheerleaders while putting in a lot of hard work.
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News & Features
6
January 2019
NEW YEAR, NEW CLUBS Stock Market Club on the rise Prep takes flight by embry Hollowell
Staff Writer Who wants to be a teenage millionaire? If you do, then the Stock Market Club may be the perfect place to start. The club launched this year when Spencer Byrd, a Prep junior, had the idea to create a Stock Market club. Byrd had played The Stock Market Game during elementary school and enjoyed it, sparking his desire to create a club for high schoolers to learn more about the stock market and our economy. The club, comprised of 17 eager students and sponsored by Ms. Waynette Noe, meets weekly to learn more about the Stock Market and how it impacts our world. Students gather each Thursday, usually at 7:30, in the morning or during activity period. “The Stock Market Club is a club where students who have an interest in investing are exposed to the fluctuations of the Stock Market and can experience firsthand how it works,” Ms. Noe said. But what exactly is the stock market? According to the “Five Basics You Should Definitely Know About the Stock Market” on Forbes.com, the stock market is a complex system where shares
of publicly-traded companies are issued, bought, and sold. When the market is doing exceptionally well, it is called the “bull” market; however, when the market loses 20% or more, it is called a “bear” market. Every year, thousands of Americans make lots of money by investing in and trading stocks. Prep’s Stock Market Club does not use real money to purchase stocks. Instead, the club uses “The Stock Market Game,” a game which mimics the stock market by using virtual money instead of real money. The club plays the game for fourteen weeks during the first semester, and then starts over again in Jauary to begin the second semester. The first fourteen weeks are designed for students to use as a learning experience, with the second semester designed for students to take seriously. When asked if she believes the club has benefited club members, Ms. Noe said, “Yes, what the students have been able to see this semester is that the Stock Market is meant to be a long-term investment. You have to take the ups and downs and have a lifetime strategy for investing.” Ms. Noe hopes to continue this club in future years and said that she “particularly loves
Prep students seek eSports league by JosepH watts
Staff Writer With Prep updating many features of campus to advance towards the future, an essential step is the future of sports. Some say the future of sports is eSports. eSports is basically competitive video gaming. Professional eSports leagues consist of people forming teams and facing off against each other. A professional eSports league is very similar to the NFL or the NBA. For those who enjoy
watching eSports or playing video games, you’re in luck. Due to sophomore Nick Randall’s persistent requests, an eSports club may soon join the number of clubs that students can join at Prep. According to Nick, “Fortnite and Paladins will probably be implemented first,” and hopefully more video games will be added to the club later. The club would be similar to the sports teams, with practices and competitions. As of right now, the club is in the beginning stages of formation.
getting to know students that she wouldn’t have otherwise gotten to know.” Providing opportunities for students to learn basic investing in a safe environment, the Stock Market Club opens doors for students to be more successful in the real world of finance.
for the team is that they will use the skills they acquire from this team to get their licenses for college in the future and use them for their degree. Along with the drone club, several other clubs have been started this year, such as the Archaeology Club, the Biomedical Club, and the Stock Market Club. Students such as Isabella Graves and Jimmy Underwood produced the ideas for these clubs and devoted their time and effort into making them happen. The Biomedical Club had 30 people come to their first meeting. The opportunity to be a part of clubs like these is what makes Jackson Prep so unique. Anyone interested in flying drones or being apart of something new, there is still time to join!
by Jane Gray barbour
Staff Writer The drone racing team is one of the many new clubs that Prep has started this year. The team met for the first time on January 15th to begin their first of two six week clinics. So far, the team consists of six students, who are being led by their coach, Wayne Vaughn. Vaughn trains drone fliers and helps them to prepare for getting their licenses, which he also certifies other drone fliers for. The team is currently having their six week clinic in the multi-purpose room every Tuesday. The fliers not only learn how to race drones, but they also can use the drones to take pictures of the campus from the drone’s bird’s eye view. Vaughn’s desire
Biomedical Club: America’s future doctors? by HannaH
Grace biGGs Staff Writer
The newest club at Jackson Prep is the Biomedical Club, started by junior Jimmy Underwood. The purpose of the club is to introduce students to new fields of medicine and science. The club is open to anyone who might be interested in a career in the the medical field or careers involving biology and other related sciences or is simply curious about what such a career entails. Jimmy said that he formed the club because he realized that, while Prep has a wide variety of clubs, there were none that pertained to science, specifically biology or medicine. Many people are interested in biology and the medical field, and Jimmy thought that starting the Biomedical Club would provide a unique opportunity for the students of Jackson Prep. Jimmy also wants to educate students on the day to day tasks of various scientific and medical careers. He plans to bring in speakers who work in different fields to discuss what their jobs entail on
a daily basis, what levels of study their jobs required, and other aspects of their career and area of study. Ms. Suzanne Eskrigge is the sponsor for the club and meetings are slated to take place
monthly in the G1 classroom. Any students who are passionate about science or are simply interested in careers that could stem from biology or the medical field should seriously consider joining the Biomedical Club.
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Entertainment
The Sentry
7
BFV: Two steps forward, one step back
tripp Cory stAff WritEr
by
On November 9, the latest edition to the Battlefield franchise was released. Battlefield V has brought the franchise back to its roots with a World War Two setting, but is it really as good as fans of the franchise had hoped it would be? My answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no and requires a deeper discussion of the game and its unique place in
the Battlefield series, as well as the nearly polarizing impact it has had on the Battlefield community. The launch of the game was rocky at best. The game’s developer, DICE, did little to nothing to help sell the game with fans. They publicly criticized the many members of the community who disapproved of the developers’ choice to focus more on being politically correct than focusing on historical accuracy. I myself found this to be off-putting, but as I have played Battlefield games since the first game was released in 2002, I trusted that the game would shape up to be a good addition to the franchise. Once I finally got my hands on the game, I realized I was both right and wrong at the same time. On the one hand, I enjoy the game’s return to more tactical gameplay, and I enjoy Battlefield’s
You won’t regret entering into the “Spider-Verse”
by Cass rutledge
stAff WritEr The new animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a good movie for the entire family. Adults and teenagers will not get bored with the surprising plot, and little kids will love the action and seeing their friendly neighborhood Spider-Man come to life in different forms. The story is set in Manhattan, where Miles Morales, a new kid at a private school and the son of a strict, but loving, police officer, becomes the second spider-man after he is bitten by a radioactive spider. Miles immediately gets into trouble with his new-found powers and is pulled into the middle of a secret plot, where he is forced to fight evil forces led by Kingpin. Thankfully, five other unorthodox spiderlings from different dimensions come to help. With their guidance, Miles slowly learns to swing with his webs
and discovers special abilities to turn invisible and electrocute enemies. Accompanying the storyline, the soundtrack, including songs by well-known artists Post Malone, Jaden Smith, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne, and graphics, puts a creative spin on Spider-Man. The music in the movie is used in the background and as a part of the plot. Miles, like most teenagers, loves music and listens to relax and eventually to help control his new abilities. The comic book-like graphics are used effectively to show spider-sense, which is the ability that spider-people have to warn of incoming danger or anything unexpected. This movie was surprisingly impressive. It won a Golden Globe for “Best Animated Feature” and is nominated for the “Best Animated Film” Oscar. Critics and audiences agree that this movie is high-quality and worth watching. Though not part of the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, this movie still has the same excitement and thrills that are in superhero movies. Its unique view of Spider-Man combined with the idea that anyone can be a spider-person, makes this movie enjoyable for anyone.
signature game modes like Conquest and Operations. On the other hand, the game is riddled with bugs, and it doesn’t feel complete. DICE has put a lot of work into updates for the game since its October launch. They have worked to resolve many of the game’s bugs, and have brought in a number of new weapons, cosmetic items, and even a new map, with plans for many more to come in subse quent updates. Although many bugs still remain, DICE’s commitment to regular updates to resolve issues is promising for the future development and maintenance of the game. Battlefield has switched to a new game model with this iteration, and the game has made a number of significant gameplay changes that set it apart from its predecessors. - Find a longer version at jpsentry.net -
To read Kennedy Marble’s review of the latest from Backstreet Boys, aim your phone’s camera at the code below.
What is it? Episode 4: ASMR
by Camp Carter AssitAnt EntErtAinmEnt Editor
Over the last couple of years, online influencers have been creating audio/visual content aimed to achieve a feeling know as ASMR. ASMR is the term used to describe a feeling known as Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, and is characterized by a subjective experience of a mild euphoria and skin tingling, similar to Frisson or “being in the zone”. A wide variety of stimuli can trigger ASMR, with creators basing content among commonly
known triggers such as whispering, eating/chewing, or slime videos, but some weirder and more niche stimuli are being discovered and produced. “It’s weirdly personal,” said sophomore Victoria Chough, as she described the tingling experience from the videos. One type of Weird ASMR inducing content is Night Driving, where dashcam footage of roads and traffic combined with a droning sound produce a calming effect. One Youtube channel called Driving Movie has several hours worth of night driving content, with videos either two or three hours in length. This type of ASMR is my favorite since I find the sound of droning very relaxing. Similar to chewing ASMR, several videos produced include one incredibly crunchy food, pickles. Several types of pickles, including European, Sour, Dill, and Sweet are used. Shredding/Crushing ASMR is a more destructive form of relaxing contact, with industrial shredders and cars being used to destroy or smash things. Shredding or
crushing glass and plastic objects produce a satisfying crackling sound. Softer objects such as foam or liquids make a squishing or squirting sound. One shredding channel named Gozer has 1.9 million subscribers on Youtube. Doctor Roleplay ASMR incorporates a POV experience of someone getting a checkup. Actors look directly into the camera in order to create a one-on-one feeling with the audience and give them the feeling of getting all the attention. Various medical procedures such as yearly examinations, cranial nerve exams, and hearing/vision tests are included. Pimple/Cyst popping ASMR is a disgusting, yet satisfying (to some people) way to relieve stress and pressure. Dr. Pimple Popper is an example of a famous popping channel with millions of followers, and Dr. Sandra Lee has recently been granted a show from TLC. ASMR is strange but effective way to relieve stress, and I belive that high school students can benefit from watching it.
A prime example of nails against a microphone for ASMR.
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Entertainment
8
January 2019
From book to screen, The Hate U Give shines by LiLLy NobLe
Staff Writer The Hate U Give is a young adult novel written by Belhaven graduate and Jackson native Angie Thomas. It follows the life of a teenage girl, Starr Carter, and how she changes after witnessing her friend, Khalil, being shot by a police officer. It discusses how Khalil’s death pushes Starr to find her voice in society and activism in her hometown. The book went to auction in February 2016 and a month later Fox 2000 bought it for a film adaptation. The book was published on February 28, 2017, with the movie having a limited release on October 5, 2018, and a wide release on October 19. Overall, the film adaptation of The Hate U Give is very similar to the novel; however, there are still many differences between the two. The opening scene of the movie is a deep conversation between the Carter family in which they discuss what to do when the
police officer stops, and in the book, it comes much later. There are also differences in Khalil’s funeral. In the book, King, the leader of the King Lords, tries to place a bandana in the open casket to verify his work with the drug gang, but this does not happen at the funeral in the movie. Due to the standards of the Motion Picture Association of America film rating system, language was monitored in order to keep the movie at a PG-13 rating. It is common in film adaptations to delete minor characters because movies cannot contain every detail that the book contains, and this happens with many characters that live in Starr’s hometown. One of the two biggest differences was the absence of the character DeVante in the movie. Producers advised Angie Thomas to consider taking this main character out in order to let the movie fully focus on Starr. The second main difference is when Sekani, Starr’s young brother,
points the gun at King, enforcing Tupac’s THUG LIFE explanation. I thought this movie was a great adaptation of the novel, and I would go see it again if I had the chance. I think that The Hate U Give is a beautifully written novel. Angie Thomas uses an extensive vocabulary that is still easily readable for teens. She uses great detail in certain parts of the book in order for readers to feel as if they are actually a part of the scenery within it. The movie is equally incredible. The only flaw I have observed is the missing details the book contains not being displayed in the movie, but this is expected in most film adaptations. Liddy Hurst commented on the movie by saying, “I loved The Hate U Give. It was a great movie and I am so glad I saw it.” Other people who read the book and viewed the movie have described the movie as a tear-jerker.
MyPhoto.com makes framing photos as easy as 1,2,3
Phone game crazes over the years by HaNNaH Carter
Staff Writer Do you remember your most played game on your phone from the past five years? Each year there are a few new games released for cell phones that everyone gets hooked to. People love to play games on their phones at home, between classes, lunchtime, and whenever they just have a free time. There is always a new game being downloaded on cell phones but not all games get people addicted to them as other games do. Sophomore Isabella Scalia says, “My favorite phone games from 2013-2018 were subway surfers, angry birds, flappy bird, flappy golf, and fortnite for this year.” In 2013 the game craze was Temple Run 2. Even though Temple Run 2 is a follow-up of the original, Temple Run 2 ended up being more popular and getting more downloads than the orig-
A look at Temple Run in action.
inal. In Temple Run 2 the player has to get their character to go around more obstacles. However, for the original, the player keeps the character running endlessly from multiple monkeys. Seniors, Ethan Lingle and Angelo Levon, both said their favorite game of
by JoHN HeNry
aNdress Staff Writer
2013 was Temple Run. For 2014 many people enjoyed Angry Birds. Angry Birds is a game that can be downloaded on any device from computers to phones. In this game animated birds are catapulted into the air as the player tries to destroy pigs and their forts. During 2015 cell phone games began to advance drastically. Alto’s Adventure is an example of this technological advance for 2015. Alto’s Adventure is an animated side-scrolling snowboard game for cell phones. Alto’s Adventure was so popular that the creators created a follow up of the game called Alto’s Odyssey. The year 2016 was when phone games began to get very interactive between the player and the actual game. Such as the most popular cell phone game in 2016, Pokemon Go. Pokemon Go was very popular and trending in 2016. Pokemon Go uses your cell phones actual built in GPS to direct the player to catch Pokemon characters anywhere. Many people played the game wherever the had to chance, everyone wanted to challenge each other to see who could collect the most pokemon. People can go anywhere to catch their pokemons. An example of some locations is the local gym, the park, the mall, and even your own house. Similar to 2016, 2017 was also a very interactive year for cell
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phone games. The most popular game of 2017 for phones was HQ Trivia. HQ Trivia is a live trivia game played on cell phones that is hosted by Scott Rogowsky. People played daily trivia games to win cash at a certain time every day. HQ Trivia was so popular in app stores it was announced as a Blockbuster hit and the creators of the game even won an award for their creation of the game. While each year has had very trendy games, 2018 was one of the best years for cell phones games. This was because the very popular console and computer game, Fortnite, was released onto cell phones. Sophomore, Haley Carter, even went as far to say Fornite is “the most important mobile game.” Kimsey Cooper, who is also a sophomore, also said her favorite game of 2018 was Fortnite. Fortnite is a virtual game in which you are given a character and players have to win the Battle Royale by eliminating other players and getting to first place. Overall, cell phone games are the most popular platform to play on because they are so easy to access and usually easier than a console or computer. Mobile games will continue to grow and are expected to stay very popular. People can definitely count on a new game being released in the year 2019 and are eager to know what the next hit game will be.
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MyPhoto is an easy to use, online service that allows anyone to get a photo off of his phone and into a frame with ease. It allows you to get any amazing picture that you took on your phone into an amazing frame that you can display in your home. There are many different styles that you can choose on the website. There are many different formats to choose from, such as coasters and Christmas ornaments. Founder of MyPhoto Warren Struhl said, “I founded MyPhoto with a single mission: To create the easiest and fastest way possible to get photos off of your phone and into your home.” MyPhoto offers free shipping, and you can email or text them the picture that you want to have, and they send it to you in the form of your choice, such as an “Atrium Acrylic Block” or Moderna Metal.” They offer so many modern and fun ways to frame your photos that it is a great service to use. The prices are also a little high, but their frames are very beautiful and interesting, so it depends on whether the cost-benefit is worth it for the consumer. They provide a quick, convenient service with some very cool frames that are difficult to come by at a store, so it just depends on whether or not you want to spend the money for the cool frames. At CVS Pharmacy, you can print off one hundred or more 4x6 photos that cost ten cents each. Howev-
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er, some interesting frames and styles are available on the MyPhoto website. They even sell a glass mouse pad. Also, they sell an Atrium Acrylic Tray and a Bamboo Acrylic Keepsake Box with a picture on the lid. This company is great at integrating pictures in unique ways in everyday life. They even sell t-shirts, crystal glass paperweights, and frames for pictures of your pets. Another competitor in this market is Sam’s Club. They provide similar canvases and unique picture frames, such pictures monogrammed on blankets, rustic wood prints, acrylic prints, and more. They also have competitive pricing compared to MyPhoto, and an example of this is their wood frames. MyPhoto has a $45 tudor wood frame, but Sam’s rustic wood print is $32.86. However, this price difference may not matter to consumers considering that MyPhoto has a higher quality photo than Sam’s, but that is up to the consumer’s discretion. The importance of price points and quality differs for everyone, so what people decide to buy is up to their own personal standards. Shutterfly is also another service that photo service. One of their price points is a metallic frame that costs $44.69 on sale, compared to the normal $74.98. I don’t believe that their product is as good as MyPhoto’s because it seems to be of higher quality and a lower price of $29, but Shutterfly’s comes in a frame. One again, it depends on the consumer’s opinions and values. MyPhoto also have great reviews on their website, with 3598 of their 3884 reviews being five-star reviews. On an independent website, known as www.bbb.org, only one negative review was on it, and it was from January of this year, so they have a good overall review rating. This service is a great idea, and MyPhoto does a great job of providing people with great pictures in a convenient way.
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Around Town
The Sentry
9
Cultivation Food Hall opens in The District by
ainsley o’Quinn Staff Writer
Food halls have become extremely popular throughout the United States in recent years, but most people still don’t know what a food hall is. A food hall is basically an upscale, fancy food court. They include nicer, local restaurants as opposed to chains. Big cities like Seattle, New York, and San Francisco have made the trend of food halls extremely popular. The idea of the food hall was brought about in 2006 when the Westfield Group began to incorporate non traditional vendors to a food court and realized the potential of a food hall. Cultivation Food Hall at the District at Eastover in Jackson opened on January 13. Its vendors include Whisk (a Crêperie by La
Brioche), Poké Stop, Local Honey, Fete au Fete StrEATery, il Lupo Coffee, Fauna Foodworks, Gold Coast Bar, Ariella’s NY Delicatessen, and Bocca Pizzeria. Whisk is owned by the popular bakery in Fondren, La Brioche. They serve crepes, gelato, and some desserts including their popular macarons. Local Honey offers some healthier options including avocado toast and acai bowls. Poké Stop serves poke bowls which consist of raw fish with rice and other toppings. Fete au Fete StrEATery serves New Orleans inspired dishes. Ariella’s NY Delicatessen is the only New York style deli in the state, serving traditional deli sandwiches and more. Boca Pizzeria serves traditional Italian pizzas including their staple Neapolitan pizza. The design of Cultivation Food Hall is very modern and casual. It was modeled after St. Roch
Market in New Orleans. The eight vendors are set up along two walls with seating in the middle of the building. Gold Coast Bar is in the back with additional seating. Cultivation is the first food hall in Mississippi. Chef Alivia from Ariella’s NY Delicatessen said, “I’m most excited about the new options we are collectively bringing to the city. There’s truly something new for everyone, from the cuisines, to the atmosphere, to the environment. It’s something Jackson has never seen. We are making history.” It is a very unique addition to Mississippi’s food scene considering food halls are primarily in bigger cities. It has a wide range of cuisines and something to offer everyone.
M Theory Yoga by
saRah heRRing Staff Writer
Hot yoga is gradually becoming the next big exercise to burn fast calories. M Theory Yoga, located in Ridgeland next to Amy Head and Kincaid’s, is a popular place to be. It offers a wide range of difficulty based off of the instructor you choose. This business is co-owned by Lea Pickerd and Alexa Morrison. There are around 10 different teachers along with many subs. After visiting the studio myself, it is my new favorite place to work out. It offers a wide variety of stretches, cardio, and toning. First timer? If you have never tried it before you can sign up for their ongoing special which is unlimited classes for 10 consecutive days for just ten dollars. After that, they offer a special student rate. All of the instructors have gone through a 200 hour training and are Yoga Alliance certified. M Theory provides forms of Vinyasa flow yoga, which essentially means that your movement is synchronized with breath. Co-owner, Lea Pickerd says, “One thing I would love for people to know is that the idea behind a Vinyasa studio is to allow teachers to teach creative and unique classes, but also to create a space where students can do anything they want and feel free to make each class their own.” M Theory creates both a safe
and fun environment for students. Susan Herring, a yoga instructor at M Theory says she first began yoga in 2015 and started teacher training only a year later. She became an instructor in May of 2017 and has been teaching there ever sense. She teaches once a week and subs for other instructors quite a bit. Susan says, “I love the inclusive environment and the acceptance of every student no matter what their experience of yoga.” Where does the name, “M Theory,” come from? The business got its name after learning the Physics theory created by Edward Witten. He found a commonality in all concepts of the universe that exist. He was able to prove that everything is made of energy, that vibrates off of itself. In other words, he unified all the concepts of the universe through the M theory. After moving to Ridgeland, MS in 2010, Alexa Morrison became yoga alliance certified in 2012, and opened her own studio, M Theory, just three years later. Her vision for her studio was “to be a game changer in the Yoga community in Mississippi.” But also “to offer a safe and fun environment to each student.” When creating the M Theory experience, she wanted to encompass all the things needed to make your Yoga practice fun, relaxing, and mentally positive. Alexa says, “We encourage each student to explore the many ways yoga can be of service.
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Cultivation Food Hall, pictured above, has recently opened up in The District at Eastover. Photos courtesy of Ainsley O’Quinn.
What to do in February Rosy Ruffin Staff Writer
by
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10
January 2019 Around Town Sushi: Little Tokyo vs. Wasabi Review: Kale Me Crazy by
Allie & Ainsley’s
Appetite by Allie Wise
Staff Writer
& Ainsley O’Quinn Staff Writer Welcome back! For this issue we are going to be reviewing two sushi restaurants: Little Tokyo and Wasabi. Little Tokyo in Ridgeland is a sushi and hibachi restaurant. This time we ordered edamame, steamed pork gyozas, a California roll, a Mod roll, and chicken teriyaki. Everything we got was really great. Their edamame always tastes so fresh. The steamed pork gyozas, Ainsley’s favorite, were great as usual. A lot of restaurants make the dumplings too soft, but these are always the perfect consistency. The sauce that comes with them is a little spicy, but it pairs with the gyozas perfectly. We have had their California roll many times, and it was good as always. We tried the Mod roll for the first time, and it was really great. We aren’t even sure what exactly was in it, but we know the flavors worked perfectly together. Their sushi always tastes
Little Tokyo offers eloquent rolls, such as the California Roll above. Photo by Allie Wise.
fresh. You can tell it is high quality. Their chicken teriyaki is one of our favorite items on the menu. Their teriyaki sauce has just the right amount of sweetness, and their chicken is always fresh. The food is a little expensive, but almost all sushi restaurants are. Their service is okay. It could be better; it could be worse. Overall, we loved Little Tokyo. The food, which is the most important part, is always exceptional. Wasabi, in the Township in Ridgeland, is our next stop. It is pretty new; it opened in 2018. They are specifically a sushi restaurant. They do not serve hibachi like Little Tokyo. We ordered a California roll, a shrimp tempura roll, steamed pork gyozas, and chicken yaki soba (noodles with chicken and vegetables). The California roll was not the best; it was pretty bland. The shrimp tempu-
ra roll was very tasty. It is a bigger roll and they drizzle it with some kind of sweet sauce that is really tasty. Their gyozas were pretty good, but not as good as Little Tokyo’s. The chicken yaki soba was really greasy. While it tasted good, we couldn’t eat too much of it. We have tried the chicken teriyaki at Wasabi before which is where we have to fault them. It was extremely bland and the teriyaki tasted store bought. The prices are a little high but pretty much the same as Little Tokyo. The service is not great, but one plus for them is that they deliver. Little Tokyo is the winner of this competition. While Wasabi’s food isn’t bad, Little Tokyo’s is just of higher quality. It is consistently delicious and the ambiance and customer service outranks Wasabi.
elizA MAzzAferrO Staff Writer
Kale Me Crazy is a new and popular healthy food restaurant whose mission is to provide quick and nutritious options to people who are searching for a healthier lifestyle. They provide a wide selection of smoothies, juices, salads, and wraps, as well as, a modern day favorite: avocado toast. The look of the restaurant is along the lines of an upscale cafe. Mississippi has one location located in Ridgeland. I have recently visited the restaurant to see what the craze was all about. The atmosphere gives off a nice clean and modern feel which is very pleasing to begin with. The waiting time for your food or smoothie is not too long and the service is very nice. The place was not too busy and made chatting with friends a very enjoyable experience. One complaint is the expensive prices. Ordering just one meal there can be very pricey and a teenager paying for my own food, I could not afford a meal here very often. Another issue is the lack of seating availability and space. The restaurant is confined in a very small space, which is fine for now, but concerning for future business and growing popularity. When I visited the first time, I ordered the Kale-icious smoothie and the chicken pesto wrap. Both food items were very tasty and enjoyable. The
quality of the food I ordered was clean and fresh tasting and left me feeling great after. The proportion sizes were perfect for me. There was not any left over. For someone with a bigger appetite, I would suggest the poke bowl, which is packed with protein and nutrients. The meals, overall, are more for anyone who is in the mood for a lighter lunch or breakfast. Kale Me Crazy also provides 1-3 day juice cleansing packages and power/energy shots. Another popular treat they serve are acai bowls which are basically fruit smoothies in a bowl with really helpful benefits. I ordered their acai bowl and was a little overwhelmed with the portion size, and was not able to finish. Other than that I found it a tasty and delightful treat. Overall Kale Me Crazy is a really fun and different experience and I would strongly suggest giving it a try. Chances are you won’t be disappointed. I am amazed at their ability to serve yummy and delicious food with really healthy benefits.
Green Ghost Tacos: Quenching your Mexican cravings by
bennett CArter Staff Writer
Craving Mexican? With multiple locations in the Jackson area, Green Ghost is worth a visit. Green Ghost Tacos is a traditional Mexican restaurant with two locations: one on County Line Road in Ridgeland and one in Fondren. Founded by Jacksonian Cesar Torres, Green Ghost started out in 2015 in the Ridgeland location as a small room with a few tables and a bar. A larger version of the restaurant opened in Fondren in 2016 in the old Que Sera and has since relocated to the former Lenny’s building on North State Street. Green Ghost serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and a variety of lesser-known traditional Mexican dishes filled with your choice of a wide variety of meats and vegetables. Many of the dishes are prepared by Torres’ mother, a native of Mexico. Though many people don’t realize this, “Green Ghost” is actually a play on words. Since it is a Mexican restaurant, “Green Ghost” can refer to a pepper
like a jalapeño, but phonetically it sounds like “gringos,” the Spanish word for a foreign, English-speaking person. While I have eaten multiple times at both the Ridgeland and Fondren locations, I visited the County Line Road location for the purpose of this review. Though it is not good for a large crowd, I personally find the food to be much better at the Ridgeland location than at the Fondren restaurant. The atmosphere at the County Line Green Ghost can vary depending on the day: sometimes there are large families waiting for and eagerly eating their food, and sometimes there are single people who spend their time on their phones. Luckily, the televisions are almost always showing a funny epic fail channel or a sports channel. The waiters and waitresses are all very friendly, talkative, and knowledgeable about the food offerings. If you have a question about something on the menu, they can easily guide you in your meal choices. When you walk into the Ridgeland location, you are greeted on your right by two giant coolers: one filled with Cokes, Sprites,
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Fantas, and other Mexican sodas, and another filled with Mexican beers and other alcoholic beverages. Alternatively, you can pick one of their homemade flavored waters, including horchata, jamaica, and tamarido. I decided on horchata, the most basic of the three, which is a sweet rice milk that can occasionally contain cinnamon. I found the horchata to be delicious but possibly better suited as a dessert drink. For appetizers, I ordered guacamole and queso. The guacamole was fresh and smooth, and it didn’t have many avocado chunks in it. The queso, while thin and runny, was steaming hot and bursting with flavor. Their homemade tortilla chips could be a little larger and are somewhat chewy. For my main course I enjoyed a variety of dishes including a chicken quesadilla, two chicken tacos, and a chicken empanada. All of these were hot and greasy but tasted delicious. The empanada was covered in a tangy green sauce that really added to its flavor. While I prefer flour tortillas for quesadillas and tacos, Green Ghost’s homemade corn
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tortillas are also a great choice. My favorite of the three dishes was definitely the quesadilla because of its large size and the generous amount of cheese and chicken inside. For a fun, authentic Mexican dessert, ask for a churro. It is not listed on the menu, but it’s worth asking for. If you are hungry for fresh, authentic Mexican food and not dining with a big group, I definitely recommend Green Ghost Tacos on County Line Road.
While small, Green Ghost is an amazing, traditional restaurant to satisfy your cravings for all things Mexican.
A taco featured on Green Ghost Taco’s menu. Photos by Bennet Carter
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Sports
The Sentry
11
The Grind: Varsity boys’ basketball
by alex gibbS
Copy Editor
& Ford lange soCiAl MEdiA Editor Thus far, this season has been a successful one for the varsity boys’ basketball team. As of writing this, the team has a record of 16-8, including big wins over JA and MRA. In this issue of “The Grind,” we’re taking a closer look at what has allowed them to be successful.
Even though basketball games do not start until November, the team starts preparation for their upcoming season in the late springtime with afternoon workouts. They then practice and play a lot of games in the early summer before taking the latter part of the summer off. The members of the football team who play basketball--Thomas Thornton, Mason Nichols, and Drew Laird-then partake in football season, while the other team members begin to practice not too far after the beginning of school in August. The football players rejoin the rest of the team the day after the football championship game. leaving no room for a break between seasons. The team practices every day after school, and they have even had some practices before school. Most practices during the season focus less on conditioning and more on scouting the upcoming opponent, reviewing their of-
Girls’ basketball heats up by Sarah Cory Asst. sports Editor
Girls’ basketball season is in full swing and is looking promising. Led by head coach Michael McAnally and assistant coach Mariclaire Nix, they are looking to finish the season strong with plenty of time to keep getting better.
“Our goal when we be-
gan the season was to make it to the overall tournament. The part of that we can control is focussing on playing our best and getting better every week.” - SR Lynn Redding This year’s team is led by four seniors, Hannah Arnold, Anna Minich, Tori Newsome, and Lynn Redding. A young freshman, Andie Flatgard, has stepped up and contributed to the team’s success. The team most recently defeated MRA on January 15th at home. Lynn Redding had an impressive game. Redding has high hopes for the remainder of the
season, saying, “Our goal when we began the season was to make it to the overall tournament. The part of that we can control is focussing on playing our best and getting better every week. I feel like we have done that, and our goal remains obtainable as long as we keep working hard in practice.” They lost to rivals JA, but they will get another shot at them on the 29th. The five starters are sophomore Olivia Sasser, juniors Anna Grace Morgan and Campbell Perkins, and seniors Hannah Arnold and Lynn Redding. Sasser leads the team in points with 9.8 per game, with Redding coming in second, averaging 7.5 a game. In the remaining games of the season, the goal is to play their best and improve each time out. Coach McAnally has seen growth, saying, “ I feel that we have really been focused defensively lately. We have had better attention to detail. The last two nights out we have held our opponent to under 20% shooting. I’m pleased if we hold teams to under 30%, so to hold teams under 20% speaks volumes to our defensive effort. We need defensive consistency as we start back the second half of conference play.” The team still has several challenging opponents ahead, having opportunities to win some
Sophomore Olivia Sasser goes up for a rebound against Hillcrest. Photo courtesy of Beverly Oden.
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fense, defense, and personnel. One cool thing that the basketball team does during their practices is a free throw competition. The winner each day then gets a prize, sometimes just a small reward but other times a cool Millsaps basketball t-shirt. A crucial part of this team’s success has been their close-knit nature and togetherness. The guys are good friends off of the court and bond over their shared love of Hellman’s mayonnaise. It helps them to play together as a team and work well together. Leading this group are three seniors, Steven Wyatt, Reece Davis, and Thomas Thornton. They have played a crucial role in leading this team in the big games. With the playoffs approaching, the team will be leaning on these seniors a lot. With only one conference loss so far in the regular season, the team is currently in a strong position for the playoffs.
With big wins over JA and MRA, the team is feeling confident about the last part of the season. The team’s success so far in the season has gotten the students excited to come to the games. With the help of the Wise Guys, the students have been loud and proud at most of the home games. With the regular season ending and the playoffs ap-
proaching, the team looks to build as much momentum as possible. With one more round of conference games left to play, the boys look to get as many wins as they can for seeding purposes. The playoffs begin February 19th at MRA for the Division 1 schools, which will be followed by the overall tournament starting February 25th at Mississippi College.
Sophomore Cam Brent pulls up in a game against Simpson Academy. Photo courtesy of Beverly Oden.
Boys’ soccer heads West by
Stewart MCCullough Editor-in-ChiEf
The soccer program here at Jackson Prep has dominated the M.A.I.S. for almost a decade. Over the past ten years, head coach Jon Marcus Duncan and his squad have racked up 8 straight championships, a Mississippi high school record. Coach Duncan has expanded his program’s competition over the past few years, scheduling games against high school powerhouses Madison Central, Gulfport, Ocean Springs, Tupelo, and many other 6A public schools. He believes that playing good teams exposes things his team needs to work on, and because of that, Duncan tries to schedule the most difficult competition around. In the spring of 2018, Coach Duncan received a phone call from Sheldon Shealer, a writer for TopDrawerSoccer.com. Shealer congratulated Prep’s program for their success over the past couple of years and their rise in the national rankings, and mentioned a national showcase in Dallas that might be in Prep’s interest. During the summer of 2018, the North Texas Elite Showcase tournament director invited the Jackson Prep soccer team to participate in this national showcase, which is the first national tournament a Jackson Prep team has participated in since its founding. Prep’s first opponent was the host, Marcus High School. Marcus High was ranked #3 in the country at the time, and their play truly backed up that ranking. With five minutes left in the first half, Prep was looking solid all around, holding the score to 0-0. The defense held firm, the midfield transitioned the ball well, and the attackers applied
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some serious pressure up top. Going into halftime 0-0 was a steal for the Patriots, but that quickly turned. Prep scored an own goal off of a Marcus corner kick, which was a dagger for the Patriots. Seconds later, a Marcus attacker broke free on a lousy Prep clear and capitalized on that mistake. What was a 0-0 halftime score quickly turned into a devastating 2-0 lead for Marcus High. Duncan held a team meeting with his players the following morning. “This game we play is incredible because we do not have to dwell on a loss for long. Today, you have the opportunity to rewrite all the negativities from yesterday. You get to prove that this team and Jackson Prep can run with the big dogs,” said Duncan. Next, the Patriots took on Naaman Forest High School from San Antonio, Texas. Naaman Forest was ranked in the top-25, and Jackson Prep, once again, had their hands full. Prep took a commanding lead early in the contest. J.C. Polk, a junior defender, connected with a corner kick from sophomore Dylan Harrigill to put the Patriots up early 1-0. Minutes later, senior Cam Carroll controlled a poor clear from a Naaman defender and blew past the goalkeeper for Prep’s
second goal of the contest. Naaman Forest struck back quickly with a goal of their own. It seemed as if they were clawing back into the game, but another Cam Carroll goal pushed the momentum in favor of the Patriots. Jackson Prep held off Naaman Forest, winning 3-1, and evening their record in Dallas at 1-1. On the third and final day, Prep faced Sam Houston High School out of Arlington, Texas. Jackson Prep senior midfielder Mason Morgan knew the third, and final, matchup would arguably be the toughest defensive matchup Prep has faced all year. “We knew that their striker was the leading goal scorer in the tournament with 8 goals in two games. We also knew that he was heavily recruited across the nation. Our main goal was to stop him from scoring.” The Sam Houston striker averaged 4 goals a game during the Dallas Showcase, but the Prep offense was able to hold him to a single goal. Sam Houston edged out Prep 2-1. Even though Prep went 1-2 in Dallas, Duncan was still pleased with his squad’s performance. Duncan concluded by saying “Hopefully we will be back next year, and if that time comes, we will be ready.”
Senior John-Mark Rose scores a goal against Naaman Forest High School. Photo courtesy of Beverly Oden
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12
Sports
January 2019
Young Athletes To Watch Andie Flatgard & Ivey Yelverton by russ upton Online Managing editOr
Andie Flatgard:
Andie Flatgard is a ninth grader at Prep this year who is most well known for her basketball prowess, although she has also participated in varsity track since eighth grade. Andie started playing basketball for Prep as an eighth grader on the JV team, but the following year, she became a part of the varsity team as well when the coaches saw her talent. She thought that playing in the varsity team as a ninth grader was “intimidating at first, but fun.” Andie consistently shoots 60 per-
Ivey Yelverton:
cent of her three-point shots on the varsity team. This year she starts on the junior varsity team at the 1 position and is the backup point guard for the varsity team. Not only is she a great player, but she loves the team aspect of basketball too: “I love playing basketball because of the friendships I have made. All of my teammates on both the JV and varsity have made me feel so included.” Andie has already proven herself to be a fantastic basketball player, and I know Prep is eager to see her performances in the future.
Andie driving the ball up the court in a matchup versus Simpson Academy. Photo courtesy of Beverly Oden
Staff Writer For some guys, the ending of football season means a break from sports. However, for a few others, there is no time for rest since they must start preparing for baseball season soon after football ends. One way that the football players who move into baseball season are able to get ready for the season is by attending mini camps around Christmas time to practice their hitting. The Jackson Prep Patriots varsity football team ended the 2018 season 12-1, while the Patriot baseball team ended their previous season 28-9. Both teams completed their season by winning the MAIS state champi-
onship. Even though both sports are intense and hard working, there are many differences in their training. Sophomore Riley Maddox said, “Football focuses more on weights than baseball; baseball practice is much more relaxed.” For the boys who play both football and baseball, there is a practice almost every day of the school year. After football ends, they have to get ready for baseball, and after the baseball season ends, they are soon preparing for the football season. Junior Reed Kellum said the reason he chooses to play both is because he simply enjoys both of them and grew up playing both. However, Reed said, “If I had to choose one sport, it would be football because I like the intensity of it.”
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sent Mississippi in the Southern Junior Cup Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was selected and played for the Southern Zonal team in 2017 in Sumter, South Carolina. Ivey has been ranked number 1 in Mississippi in the 10’s and 12’s age divisions and reached a top 22 ranking in the South in the 12’s age division. He is currently ranked eighty-first in the South in the 14’s age division.
Ivey has also done incredibly well as a player on the Prep tennis team. He was undefeated in conference play as Prep’s number 2 singles player last year. He also won the MVP award for all Junior High tennis players. Ivey has already done astonishingly well as a tennis player, and I know Prep will see exceptional performances from him in the future.
Ivey returning an opponents serve during a match. Photo courtesy of Kecia Yelverton.
Football to baseball: no time for rest by HannaH Carter
Ivey Yelverton is an eighth grader at Prep who has been on the varsity tennis team since he was a seventh grader. Like Lytle Moore in the last issue’s Young Athletes to Watch, Ivey’s tennis career did not begin at Jackson Prep. He won the Mississippi Qualifying Tournament in singles and doubles in 2017; he was selected two times to repre-
Clay, Trap, and Skeet team has title in its sights by Mason niCHols
Staff Writer A new name has been added to Prep’s rapidly expanding list of outdoor programs. The Clay, Trap, and Skeet shooting team is one of four outdoor programs offered at Prep, joining the Equestrian, Sailing, and Bass Fishing teams. Although the new title may sound unfamiliar, the program was created after the Gun and Bow team dropped its emphasis on archery. Now boasting fifteen members, the competitive shooting team has become a popular option for students who wish to showcase their talents against tough competition. Last year, Prep’s team competed at Mississippi’s regional and state competitions and is preparing for success again this season. The Clay, Trap, and Skeet shooting team is led by instructors Gary Davis and Terry Hawkins. They practice every Tuesday at Turcotte Shooting Range in Madison during their two seasons. From August to December, the team participates in qualifying competitions across Mississippi in hopes to be selected for the state competition. During the events, competitors are separated into teams of three. The team that shoots the highest percentage of
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targets wins the competition and likely moves on to the state tournament. Prep takes its two most successful teams of three to the state competition in May and selects one team to compete against shooters from across the south in a regional competition. The Clay, Trap, and Skeet team competes in the Mississippi Scholastic Shooting Program, which uses shotgun sports to emphasize the importance of discipline, safety, and teamwork in its high school participants. Prep’s squad welcomes students from the sixth to the twelfth grade who know how to properly handle a shotgun and have earned a State Hunting Safety Certifi-
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cate. Jonathan Booker, a senior who started competing in eighth grade, expresses his reasons for participating by saying, “I get to meet new people from other schools and grades while improving my shooting skills against good competition.” Although the goal is to win each tournament, the team has a great opportunity to form bonds with people from inside and outside of their school. The Clay, Trap, and Skeet shooting team is a unique opportunity for all Prep students to consider. If you want to improve your marksmanship while meeting new people, the answer lies right before your eyes.
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13
Sports
The Sentry
Track season off to a sprinting start by Lauren anne SMith
Staff Writer With spring just around the corner, athletes are ready to hit the ground running for track season. The coaches are just as excited for the season to begin as the students. Coach Rusty Burke and Coach Marcus Thompson both agreed that they are anticipating a state championship caliber season. The coaches also predicted that Prep is going to dominate in the running events, which consist of sprints, a variety of relays, and distance. For the girls who run distance, Coach Meredith Lang said they were “just a bunch of girls, who like to work hard and improve on their own personal goals, and it makes a fun season.” On the other hand, Coach Thompson jokingly said, “The spirit of the team
is that they hate practice but love to compete.” There are a variety of people who show up to practice and Coach Burke commented, “Everyone should try track, either to come out and compete or even to just get in shape because it’s the greatest sport in the world!” Everyone is hard at work, as they officially started practice January 28th. With all the hard work the athletes and coaches are putting in for the 2019 track season, the Patriots seem likely to have a successful season. Some of the athletes were able to answer questions about the upcoming season and give their insight of what it will hold.
Quick Questions Avery Lee
Alex Stradinger
Q: What motivates you to participate in track? A:“I like running.”
JC Polk
Eliza Burnham Q: What is something you look forward to every track season? A: “I look forward to getting close to my coaches and teammates the most.”
Q: What do you like most about pole vault? A: “Kind of the fact that no one does it, it’s my one thing that I can excel at.”
Elizabeth Speed
Q: What is the biggest misconception about running track and field at Prep? A: “No comment.”
Q: Do you like cross country or track better? Why? A: “Cross country because I like the team family dynamic.”
Jerrion Ealy Q: How do you prepare to train for track compared to the other sports you play? A: “Is that a trick question? The reason I run track is to train for my other sports.”
Shae Lumpkin Q: What advice has carried you through track? A: “Keep running. Just keep running.”
Who are these “Wise Guys?” by Ford Lange Social Media editor
Come to any home basketball game and behind the Prep bench you will find the Wise Guys. The Wise Guys are the leaders of the student section and often the loudest people in the gym. Named after the boys head coach Tim Wise, the Wise Guys can often be seen wearing red shirts with Coach Wise’s face on them. No matter who the basketball teams are playing, the Wise Guys will be in attendance. It all started early in the season with a group of six or seven Prep seniors coming to all the home games. Coach Wise approached this group and suggested the idea, as long as they promised to keep coming to all the home games. The students then decided to take it one step further and get shirts made to show who the real Wise Guys are. Whether it is encouraging our Prep players or attempting to distract the opposing teams players, the Wise Guys can mostly be found in the first couple rows of the student section. The main goal is to make as much noise as possible to cheer Prep on. Another perk to being a Wise Guy is the ability to help choose the themes
for the big games such as JA, MRA, and other big conference opponents. Given that basketball is not always supported by the students as much as football or baseball, the Wise Guys are trying to make that change. By bringing a loud and fun atmosphere to the games, they hope to impact the game with a noise factor. Senior Reece Davis said that he loves the Wise Guys and feels that they really rejuvenate
the crowd. Clearly the Wise Guys are making a hostile environment for opposing teams in the Prep gym for home games, making it as hard as possible for the other team to focus and communicate. So the next time you’re at a Prep home game, be sure to look into the student section and spot the Wise Guys.
Price Loposer
Callie McKinney Q: “Why do you like sprint more versus distance? “First of all, it’s shorter and it’s much easier to train for, but you still have to do a lot. The times are completely different, and you don’t have to pace yourself, you just go out and run.”
Haley Carter
Mary Price Montagnet Q: Do you have any pre-race rituals? A: “We really value our baton. I know it sounds really weird, but before each race we take our shoes with the spike on it and then we scratch a little mark in the baton.”
Jackson Prep’s track patiently waiting for the rush of track season to come. Photo by John Henry Andress
Q: How do you prepare mentally for a race? A: “I just don’t think about it until right before.”
Q: What’s one thing you can’t live without during track season? A: “My spikes.”
Olivia Sasser Q: What’s your favorite memory of track season? A: “When I won state championship for JV and Varsity.”
Saban, Swinney visit Prep by Stewart MccuLLough
editor-in-chief On January 24th, Coach Nick Saban, head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, made his way to Flowood to visit with Prep standout Jerrion Ealy. He toured Prep’s facilities, and watched a few minutes of batting practice where he chatted with Ealy and other coaches. On Tuesday, January 29th, Coach Dabo Swinney, head coach of the 2019 National Champion Clemson Tigers, visited with Jerrion Ealy after school for quite a while. Ealy, who earned his 5th-star rating from 247sports earlier this month, has had a tremendous amount of attention following his recent decomittment from Ole Miss. National Signing Day is February 6th. Until then, it would not be surprising to see many more high-caliber coaches appear at Jackson Prep. Will Ealy stick with the Rebels? Will he flip to Bama, Clemson, or State? Will he go pro? Only time will tell.
Nick Saban
Coach Tim Wise featured front and center on the “Wise Guys” gameday shirt. Photo by Ford Lange
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Photo by Stewart McCullough
Dabo Swinney
Photo by Walker Poole
Opinion
14
January 2019
Are library changes necessary? Five minutes too early
by GEnEviEvE Hurst
Photo editor The library has undergone many changes in the last few years, such as the introduction of the XR Lab and the installation of more couches. All of these changes, however, have one thing in common: they tooks out significant amounts of books and other resources. It’s not even that any of the changes are bad. I’m all for the XR Lab, for example, just maybe not in the library. I mean, that doesn’t even really fit with what the library is supposed to be doing. However, we now have more XR computers than we have rows of books. Honestly, how often are all 24 of these computers going to be in use? I don’t think I’ve ever even had a class that big. I’m also glad that there is a lot of space for people to hang out and study. But, there are now only a few rows of books left, the rest moved to some remote back room. Really, what is the library even for? I know that much of the argument for the removal of these books is that we are able to access resources like these on the internet. However, the seventh graders
don’t have computers, and I know that I have had many papers for which my teacher required me to have a physical source. It does make sense to move more towards online research, but sometimes, this is just not an option. Another notable change is the removal of many of the old study desks. Apparently they are called carrels, and they’re the ones with three walls around the perimeter so that you could focus really well when you needed to study. As one of the main functions of the library is to allow people a place to study and focus without distraction, the replacement of these desks with even more couches seems counterintuitive, however comfortable. Again, I don’t think that any of these changes are necessarily bad. However, when placed in the library, replacing many of the books that were previously there, you have to question whether we truly need them.
For complete access to the Opinion section, make sure to pick up a paper copy of The Sentry! by barron Liston
Staff Writer
&
Emory maxwELL Social Media editor
5 minutes. To some people this is not a long amount of time. To us, however, it is life or death. This year, the school began starting five minutes earlier, and, for people like us who always show
A few notable changes around the library, such as zero-gravity chairs and collaboration spaces. Photos by Mason Nichols
Are study halls worth it?
by russ upton
Staff Writer
Many students at Prep are taking study halls this year, but those of you who aren’t may be wondering whether taking a study hall is worth it. For years Prep has offered study halls to senior high students to help with the academic stress that is daily placed on students attending a school as academically oriented as Jackson Prep. Most students find themselves with several hours of homework each night after going to school for seven hours during the day. Combine that with athletics and other extracurriculars, and students can be overwhelmed. I have taken a study hall this entire school year and loved it. Being able to save one assign-
ment or study for a test in a subject has enabled me to go to bed hours earlier because I am more productive during school than I am at home. The study hall that I am in is a full carrier so once I am finished with my homework due that day, I can usually get started on my homework for the next day. One of the downsides is that one out of every three days I do not have a study hall at all, but the two out of every three days I do have study halls, they are 70 minutes. Although study halls do not give students credits for graduation, high school is strenuous academically, especially junior year, and study halls are worth the downsides to help bring up overall averages. I am not the only one that thinks study halls are great. Junior Leigh Hardin said, “I love
having a study hall in my schedule because I can study for a test that I have later that afternoon or do homework that is due that day, so I can go to sleep before midnight every night. I also like getting coffee from Jan [the coffee bar worker] when study hall is in the cafeteria.” Another junior, Turner Isonhood, said that “study hall provides a nice place to relax from the stresses of the day, and I can get ahead on some of the work for that night.” So whether you use the study hall for assignments due that day or for the next, they are helpful and popular nonetheless. Study halls are extremely helpful and can improve grades if used sensibly. I would highly recommend them for high school, especially junior year.
GET AN ACTUAL PHOTO OF A PREP STUDY HALL
Students working hard in study hall. Photo by Emory Maxwell
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up late, this is problematic. When we get to school at 8:11, a perfectly legal time in the glorious past, we gotta go on some Tom Cruise Mission Impossible stuff to sneak to our classes while avoiding Ms. Scruggs. This isn’t the ideal way to begin the morning. Some of you may be asking, is five minutes really that big of a deal? Yes. I can honestly say if I was pulling into the Prep parking lot at 8:09 and a pedestrian happened to be crossing at the same time, I would close my eyes and bravely charge forward, hoping for the best. Just as our patriotic founding fathers resisted the unfair taxes levied by King George, we Jackson Prep Patriots must resist this blatant act of tyranny trying to force us to arrive five minutes earlier than necessary.
Mrs. Headley seen giving late students referrals. Photo by Maclain Kennedy
Valentine’s Day activities needed
by ann parkEr baLdwin
Staff Writer Valentine’s Day is coming up fast this year. This year, it is on a Thursday. This means we have school. Many teachers do not like to have fun holiday activities for anything, including Christmas. Although we are in high school and could be considered too mature to do this, I still think we should. Every Valentine’s Day from 5-12 years old, I can remember coming to school to a fun-filled day of celebrating with our friends. We would each have paper bags and bring a different candy to put into each of our friend’s bag. One year, we even gave notes to each other about what we liked the most about that specific one of our classmates. I think it is silly to bring candy and do worksheets based around the holiday. I do think,
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however, having things such as encouraging notes to each other could be really beneficial. These kinds of things can really help someone if they are feeling down or are just discouraged in general. We have many forums each year. Each of these are supposed to be “inspiring” and show us role models and examples of how we should live our lives. Most people really have a difficult time listening to the speakers speak as many as stressed over projects, tests, etc. Something as small as this can be just as impactful as a speaker speaking about their struggles. Taking a break and doing small, encouraging activities in even just one or two of our classes for one day can make a person’s day. We have longer classes and plenty of time to do our work. I personally think we could all use some time this February 14th to celebrate our friends and each other.
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15 Opinion Sentry II Staff Editorials Sentry I Dealing with the Prep stereotype Time to end repetitive social media! The Sentry
Prep students are extremely familiar with people asking where they go to school and then having to reluctantly give an answer because it will change the way people perceive them. The Prep stereotype is known throughout the Jackson Metro Area and is unnecessarily negative. Many people believe that all Prep students are conceited, showy, and pretentious. Although this might be true for some students, it is highly inaccurate for others. The tuition for Prep is expensive, especially compared to free public schools, but that does not necessarily make each student rich. Many students attend Prep in hopes of being accepted into good college and creating a strong foundation for their lives, not because they think they are better than others. One example of this stereotype assumed by other schools is when Jackson Academy used the theme “preppy” as their dress up for the rivalry basketball game. This theme consisted of the opposing students wearing tennis skirts and sweaters. This was a way of making assumptions about Prep students and making fun of them, despite the fact that they share many of the same traits. Students from other schools have mocked us and joked about Mercedes, when a small portion of the school have them. Prep students have also come across as snobby or privileged compared to other schools. We, the Sentry I staff, realize that some of the students at Prep act that way,
but they should not represent the student body as a whole. Not all of us are a bunch of kids who think better of ourselves. In reality, we are actually more friendly, have more diverse interests, and are more relatable than we are perceived to be. Students at Prep are not all the same, (for example, some kids play sports while others participate in math competitions and alternative activities), and it is unfair to put all of us in one small category.
In today’s society, social media has taken over many aspects of everyday life. Most teenagers spends hours on their phones every day on apps like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. It is always nice to see a cute picture of something “Insta-worthy,” but those posts can get quite repetitive. As a staff, we agree that we are tired of seeing the same social media post over and over again in the same day. For example, posts about nutrition places, food bowls, smoothies, etc. can get repetitive on several social media users’ feeds. After posting about your new favorite drink once, it’s likely that you’ll continue to go back to that eating establishment. There’s no need to post each time you buy a loaded tea from Fierce Nutrition because your followers already know you go there. Also, political rants on Facebook are consistent pop ups on many people’s timelines, and a majority of people don’t care to see that. It’s likely that users will scroll right past your rant on what you think Donald Trump should do about the wall. One common issue we’ve noticed is parents on Facebook posting about teenagers being disrespectful or driving too fast. We think that if a parent has a problem with a child, then he or she should go to the person directly and talk to them about it instead of publicly shaming them on Facebook. Posting these rude comments will result in the parents being remembered for their outlandish actions instead of the child being remembered for running a red light. Social media is something that is seen by many people, so it should be used for positive reasons rather than telling someone what they did wrong in front of everyone. Another social media issue we
discussed was people posting stories of other people’s stories, which essentially floods your phone with the same picture. Jackson Prep announcements are already sent to the parents directly, so there is no need to re-post them on your Instagram or Snapchat story. As for other news that is posted by various pages, if an individual wanted to see it, then they would follow that page themselves. Although we all fall victim to this social media action, we as a staff wanted to point it out, make others aware of what they are posting, and remind everyone to think before you post.
For complete access to the Opinion section, make sure to pick up a paper copy of The Sentry! Above is a guide to dress like a Preppie. If you were to walk downt he Jackson Prep hallways, it is evident that we do not dress like this. Yet, we dress like normal teenage children.
Don’t share your DNA Emory’s
Trump’s transgender military ban is dangerous
by barron
liston Staff Writer
On January 22, The Supreme C ourt allowed Trump’s transgender military ban to go into effect, despite it still being debated in lower courts. The ban, initially announced by Trump in a 2017 tweet, bars transgender Americans from joining the military unless they choose to serve as their assigned birth gender and refuse to transition. Trump’s tweet claims that transgender soldiers should be barred from entering the military because they burden it with “tremendous medical costs and disruption,” but these claims are quite weak when one looks at the facts. In a study requested by the
Department of Defense, the Rand Corporation concluded that the price of covering gender transition related medical costs is quite low, only about a .04% to .13% increase jump in active component healthcare expenses. They also concluded that less than .1% of the total military force would seek gender transition related treatment, which would cause them to be unable to be deployed. The claims about “disruption” also fall short, as the administration’s “evidence” relies on fears and myths about transgender people, which the American Psychological Association has dismissed as alarming and unscientific. Trump’s transgender military ban is part of the administration’s attack on not only America’s transgender citizens but the LGBTQ community as a whole. While there are many transgender Americans who proudly serve in the military, most of the trans community doesn’t plan to enlist. However, this ban still harms them. Barring transgender Americans from serving sets
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a dangerous precedent for the United States. Trump’s transgender military ban raises a horrifying question: what other rights can be stripped from transgender Americans? What other rights can be taken from the LGBTQ community as a whole? This may seem like a slippery slope, but policies such as this one are slowly dehumanizing American citizens. Transgender Americans are already facing hatred and discrimination on a daily basis, and this is only going to make their situations worse. As Americans, we have the right to serve our military. We also have the right to express ourselves however we choose. These two rights shouldn’t conflict with each other. At its heart, Trump’s transgender military ban is a baseless attack on transgender Americans with potentially dangerous consequences for all LGBTQ Americans. Discrimination shouldn’t be tolerated in 2019, and we must fight to overcome it in order to create a brighter future for all people.
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Conspiracy Corner by Emory maxwEll Social Media editor
One of the hottest gifts for the last Christmas season was the DNA test kit 23andMe. 23andMe is a great product that tells you things about your body, ancestry, and genes that you otherwise would not know. The way this product works is that you spit in a vial and send it into a facility, where it is examined and results are compiled in a report that is sent back to you in approximately 2-3 weeks. This product has been used by more than 5 million customers, and the volume of information gathered by this company makes some of the more woke people in the world pretty sketched out. Many people think that this company
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has a storehouse of all of the people’s DNA that have been sent to them, and that the have genetic reports on all of them in a database. When considering what this company could do with the DNA it has stored, the possibilities are frightening. First of all, they could take the best genetics from people and create a superhuman race that will take over the world. Second of all, they could sell our information to our government, or, in the absolute worst possible scenario, they could sell our information to, get this, the Russian government. Having our information put out there to intelligence agencies all over the world is a huge cause for concern, as they could use this in the future to track you down and eventually kill you.
All of these possibilities are quite threatening, and I am heavily advising everyone that reads this article to not, under any circumstances, ever, and I mean ever, send your genetics to a random company to be tested.
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CANDID AND RANDOM
& n Fu
s e m Ga
The Sentry Presents.... ANTI-JOKES What is green and has wheels? Grass, I lied about the wheels.
What did the man say when he lost his truck? Where’s my truck? Why is 6 afraid of 7? It’s not. Numbers aren’t sentient and are therefore incapable of feeling fear. Why cant T-Rex clap their hands?
Because they are extinct. Knock Knock Come in. Why did lil Susie drop her ice cream? She got hit by a bus.
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