The Sentry, February 2017

T H E

J A C K S O N

P R E P A R A T O R Y

S C H O O L

S E N T RY

V OL. XLVII, ISSUE 5

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

FEBRUARY 2017

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New York City

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If you could have any new class at Prep, what would it be and why?

How do you keep yourself awake when studying?

“I go downstairs to drink some coffee. Then, I go back and scream in my pillow.”

-Breelyn Davenport (10) “I just don’t.”

-Hope Kullman (10) “Coffee lots of coffee” - Hannah Hederman (12) “Hydration, hydration, hydration” - Christopher Russell (11) “I don’t study. I nap.”

-Olivia Thigpen (11) “I love studying so much that it is not even that difficult to stay awake” -William Purvis (12)

“Hebrew. The reason I’m taking Greek is so that I can read the Bible in a different language. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, so that’s why I would love to have that class” -Hannah O’Bryan, (11) “Starts a work release program so that students can work during school and get real life experience or have a nap time class.”

-Ann Bradley Maloney (12) “Music Theory” -Sam Smith (10) “Class about the real world” - Hayes Newcomb (12) “Sports management for people that want to be involved in the sports world that aren’t athletic.”

- Simms Abney (10)

S E N T RY P I C KS Favorite Fast Food Restaurant (Staff names under the logo)

Hays Dubberly Mary Dunbar Genevieve Hurst Chatham Kennedy Alex Gibbs Mary Patton Murphy Preston Dubberly Avery Andress Tori Newsome Duncan Jones Gracie McCraney Tanner McCraney Brittany Wilkinson Maclain Kennedy

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Paul Andress Blair Stockett

Nevin Wells Ann Clardy Byrd RJ Green Mr. Hughes

Ellis Abdo

Tynes Carroll Lake Wartes

Sarah Riley Jicka

Brendon McLeod

Bennet O’Quinn Caroline Mcintrye Sarah Huffman

Patrick Phillips Jacob Aron

Payne Bell Russell Roberts Henley Johnson

Steven Wyatt Madeline ClaireHughes

Emory Maxwell Stewart McCullough

James Threadgill

Jack Young Micheal Wilson

Will Fletcher

The Sentry

ONLINE AT: jpsentry.net

The Sentry Volume XLVII Issue 5 February 2017

TWITTER

Table of Contents

@jpsentry INSTAGRAM

News & Features...........................4-13 Around Town....................................14

jacksonprepsentry

Entertainment.............................15-21

FACEBOOK

Sports.............................................22-26 Sports Opinion..................................27

jacksonprepsentry

Sentry Staff Editors-in-Chief Chatham Kennedy • Paul Andress Associate Editor Hays Dubberly Around Town Editors Blair Stockett • Gracie McCraney Copy Editors Brendon McLeod Sarah Riley Jicka Assistant Copy Editor Mary Patton Murphy Entertainment Editors Michael Wilson • Jacob Aron

Opinion..........................................28-31

Opinion Editors Jack Young • Jacob Aron

Candid & Random............................32

Assistant Opinion Editors Maclain Kennedy • Alex Gibbs

SNAPCHAT

Photography Editors Brittany Wilkinson • Ann Clardy Byrd Assistant Photography Editor Tanner McCraney

thejpsentry

(we won’t follow you)

EMAIL

sentry@jacksonprep.net

Sports Editors Ellis Abdo • RJ Green • Brendon McLeod Assistant Sports Editor Russell Roberts Graphics Editor Holman Buchanan Online Editors Avery Andress • Stewart McCullough Business Manager Patrick Phillips

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

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

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

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

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

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

Affiliated with

MISSISSIPPI SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION www.mississippischolasticpress.com

February 2017

Staff John Henry Andress • Payne Bell Tynes Carroll • Preston Dubberly Mary Dunbar • William Fletcher Sarah Avery Huffman Madeline Claire Hughes Genevieve Hurst • Jane Hurst Henley Johnson • Duncan Jones Emory Maxwell • Caroline McIntyre Tori Newsome • Bennett O’Quinn James Threadgill • Lake Wartes Nevin Wells • Steven Wyatt Contributors John Nix Arledge • Keeton Landfair Lawson Marchetti Advisor: Mr. Lain Hughes

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News & Features

Prep welcomes prizewinning playwright with “Firecracker”

By Chatham Kennedy Lights up on a cotton candy truck, a scattered dressing room, and red upon red upon red for Beth Henley’s The Miss Firecracker Contest. Fortenberry Theatre shook with laughter on January 12th as students paraded across the stage in flamboyant costumes for the arrival of the Jackson native playwright.

For weeks, students have been working on a scene from The Miss Firecracker Contest under the guidance of sophomore English teacher, Jessica Wilkinson.

Wilkinson said she was thrilled to head up the project after being approached with the idea last spring. After endless preparation, the production date arrived. Wilkinson said, “I was so proud I got teary.”

After the show, the Jackson Prep student body was sent into an uproar of laughter as Henley lavished quick-witted banter while talking about her

life in Jackson and inspirations as a playwright.

Henley said, “Jackson and Mississippi have been a great inspiration for me…for my whole life. Jackson is in my blood.” Growing up, Henley attended St. Andrew’s Day School, the former Duling School, Bailey Jr. High, and Murrah High School. Her life in Mississippi had an immense impact on her writing,and she won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1981 for her Hazlehurst play Crimes of the Heart.

When asked about her writing process, Henley said, “I think part of writing for me is letting characters lead you to the outcome... I never know where the play is going. And I try to keep it that way to surprise myself. “ Henley encouraged young writers to not let words get in the way of everything and to not be afraid to be surprised.

“When I’m writing, I’m a lot more involved than when I am living.”

— Beth Henley

Above: Delmount (Lawson Marchetti) watches Carnelle (Catherine Watson) wave the flag after losing the Miss Firecracker Contest.

Right: The cast of the Miss Firecracker Contest bows after a successful show for Beth Henley the Jackson Prep student body. Photos

by Holman Buchanan

Prep Fest Sponsors: Merriment Sponsor George W. May, Jr., D.M.D., P.A. Southern Beverage Company Revelry Sponsors Jackson Anesthesia Associates: Keith Carter, M.D. and Charles Upton, M.D. Drs. Nicole and Kenneth Cleveland Trustmark National Bank Social Sponsors Continental Sewing Center Cindy and William Harris First Commercial Bank McCraney, Montagnet, Quin & Noble PLLC Kevin and April Nall, on behalf of Will Nall Karen and Jeffrey Taylor Kim and Will Walker Emily and Stuart Whitaker Ross & Yerger

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Mark your calendars for April 28th and 29th for Prep Fest! Time is running out to become a Prep Fest sponsor, which includes guaranteed seating at the fabulous Prep Fest Feast prepared by our celebrity chef, Elizabeth Heiskell, the Debutante Farmer. The deadline for guaranteed feast tickets with your sponsorship is February 14 (What a great Valentine’s gift for your sweetheart!) There are only 250 seats at the Feast, and the limited remaining Feast tickets will be available for sale to the general public after the February 14 deadline. Join our growing list of sponsors by visiting jacksonprep.org/prepfest or contacting our sponsor chair Adrienne Carter at adrienne_cox_carter@hotmail.com. Prep Fest is the one major fundraiser for the Jackson Prep PAT, with all proceeds going directly into the classroom by providing teacher bonuses and fulfilling items on our teachers’ classroom wish lists.

Fest Friends Holly and Brooks Buchanan Mobility Medical, c/o The Carroll Family Stacy and Lawrence Deas DSquared Mary Preston and John Dubberly Lou Ann and Spence Flatgard Fondren Renaissance Foundation Michelle and Gage Gibbs Cindy and William Harris Hederman Brothers Printing Holly and Alan Lange MMC Materials, Inc. Drs. Alan and Jane Ann Moore Wendy and Chuck Mullins Regan and Billy Painter Ashley and Crymes Pittman Leslea and Paige Purvis Amanda and Ben Roberson Anne and Steve Rogers

The Sentry

News & Features

Jackson Prep takes a bite out of the Big Apple

By Brittany Wilkinson

The financial management class, taught by Mrs. Noe, took their annual trip to New York. The trip is open to students who take the class, but if there were extra spots available, anyone could go on the trip. This year a total of 25 seniors went on the trip. Mrs. Noe, along with Mr. Devine, Mr. Ozier, and Mrs. Van Uden chaperoned. They left after school on January 25th and came back the 29th.

This year’s winter in New York was fairly mild compared to past years. Most days it was around 40 degrees. However, it felt a lot colder with the wind.

The group stayed at the Marriott Downtown, which was fairly close to everywhere they went.

The first morning they went to the New York Stock Exchange to watch the opening of the stock market. The morning they were there was the highest the stock market had ever been. Senior Paul Andress was able to sneak behind the camera and appeared multiple times on CNBC.

Later in the day, they went to the Bank of New York Mellon and got to hear from multiple speakers about their jobs and what all they do in a typical work day. The students

got to ask a lot of questions and see how it is to live and work in New York City. Mrs. Hobb’s son, David Hobbs, talked with the students as well about working at Tiger Eye Capital, a hedge fund company. That same day, the group went to NASDAQ to see the closing of the stock market. Later, Jocelyn Zhu, Mrs. Zhu’s daughter, met up with the group to talk about her time attending Juilliard. The first night ended with some ice skating at the Rockefeller Center.

The next day, the group toured the Federal Bank of New York. They also got to see all of the gold in the vault of the Federal Reserve. It contains nearly $200 billion dollars underground. After lunch, the group went to the office of Sandra Bloodworth, a fellow Mississippian. She is the director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts & Design.

The program brings artwork into the New York City transit system. It has created a positive effect on people who ride the transportation every day.

Later, Kate Carter, a graduate of Jackson Prep talked to everyone about her job in advertising. She has gotten to work with people such as Ser-

ena Williams, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. She also helped write a commercial that Draymond Green stars in. That night, the group got to go to a Knicks basketball game at Madison Square Garden. They ended the night with a tour of the Empire State Building.

Saturday morning, they toured the 9/11 Memorial and the One World Trade Center.

After lunch, the students got about three hours of free time to do whatever they wanted.

Most people shopped while a few boys went to Trump Tower.

They all met back up at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral to go eat.

After dinner, they went to the Broadway play Aladdin.

Their final morning started with a tour of the Yankee Above: Students enjoying a nice break on their way to Grand Central Stadium. They got to go into Station. Photo courtesy of Holly Welch the club level and sit in the press box. Babe Ruth’s jersey Below: The girls are standing inside Yankee Stadium. and baseball was on display along with many other famous players. After that, they ate at Hard Rock Cafe and returned to the hotel to head to the airport.

Unfortunately, Delta had some issues, so their flight home got delayed until 2:15 am. The students spent about eight hours in the Atlanta airport, but they made the most of it by eating, sleeping, massage trains, and Devine homework.

The trip was a great opportunity for the students to get to talk to people like them who went to Jackson Prep and are now living and working in New York. They also got to see what it is like to navigate the confusing subway system.

Senior Ally Walker said, “The trip was super fun and I learned a lot about the finance world. It was great to experience it with lots of my friends.”

Overall, the trip was a huge success and the students got to learn and see new things they had never experienced before.

Babe Ruth’s baseball was on display in the Yankee Stadium. Photo courtesy of Holly Welch

Mrs. Noe and Holly Welch enjoying ice skating at the Rockefeller Center.

Right: Ellis, Hays, and Holman at the Knicks game. Photo courtesy of Holman Buchanan

February 2017

News & Features

French Club goes to Canada

Mary Dunbar Genevieve HurSt Arriving at the Medgar Evers International airport at 4 AM on Wednesday, February 1, the French Club did not know exactly what they were getting into. February 1 through Monday, February 6 the French Club took a trip to Québec, Canada, where the students from the eighth grade to the twelfth by

anD

grade were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in French-Canadian culture. This was the third time the French Club went to Canada for the Winter Carnival with Prep.

The Carnaval du Quebec is the largest Winter Carnival in the world, with plenty of fun winter and carnival activities including taking pictures with Bonhomme, the famous

Prep 9th grader and French Club member Leigh Hardin poses in the snows of Canada.

9th grade takes NOLA

blair Stockett In early January, the ninth grade class went on a field trip to New Orleans to see the play Two Men of Verona. The ninth graders have been studying Shakespearean works and took this opportunity to see one of his plays live. The students arrived to Prep early one morning and rode in busses to the play, there was a little traffic along the way so the students made the ride go by faster by singing Christmas carols.

The play was amazing according to Matt Wilkinson who said, “the play was great, and the actors were phenomenal.”

Once the play was over, they went to the riverwalk and had free time to eat lunch and walk around. After a day of fun and learning they returned back to Prep late that afternoon.

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snowman who serves as the ambassador of the carnival, ice-sculpting contests, and curling, a common Canadian winter sport.

It was a great chance for these French students to practice their speaking, as many had been taking the language for years. The students participated in many exciting activities including a toboggan ride on Les Glissades de la Terrasse, ice skating in Valcartier Village, attending the Carnaval de Québec, and watching the Montreal Canadiens play the Edmonton Oilers in a hockey game, which the Oilers won.

Senior, Marion Sapen said, “I loved this trip. My favorite parts were playing in the snow and eating all the delicious food, including the sweet maple syrup.” The teachers who sponsored the trip were Coach Caton, the prima-

ry French teacher, and Mrs. Griffin. Coach Caton, a Canadian citizen, said, “My favorite part of these trips is watching the students see some of these experiences for the very first

time.” The weather was very cold with lows being around -7 degrees Fahrenheit. Overall, the trip was a snowball of fun filled with lots of French culture.

The French students hang out with their new friends, Holly the goat and Aldeau the donkey. Photo courtesy of Coach Caton.

Preparing for the Academy Awards

tanner Mccraney The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is a highly anticipated awards show for excellence in cinematics that averages about 37.3 million viewers per year. It often called the Oscars because that is the name of the small golden figures that are given to the award winners.

This year on February 22, tune into ABC at 6:00 CST to watch this year’s Oscars. The awards are held at the famous Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Each year a special celebrity host gets the honor of hosting this event. This year’s host is well renowned TV host, Jimmy Kimmel. Kimmel has some big shoes to fill following previous hosts such as Chris Rock and Neil Patrick Harris. With previous experience hosting the Emmys, there is no reason why he will not do a great job.

The front running movies coming into the awards include: La La Land, Manchester by

By The Sea, Moonlight, Jackie, and Hell or High Water. La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, comes into the awards with a record breaking 14 nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress, Best Soundtrack, and many more.

Manchester By The Sea, starring Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, also brought a hefty number of 9 nominations such as, Best Picture, Best actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Moonlight, Jackie, and Hell or High Water all three racked up a few nominations each as well.

There are many early predictions for the well known awards such as Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress and Actor. Many believe that Casey Affleck will win best Actor for his role in Manchester By The Sea and Emma Stone will get best actress for her role in La La Land. As for

Best picture, Moonlight and La La Land will be going head to head, and could go either way.

For Best Supporting Actress and Actor, Moonlight’s Mahershala Ali and Fence’s Viola Davis seem to be front runners. For best director, as shocking as it may be, Damien Chazelle of La La Land seems to be the shoo-in.

Many students around Prep have a prediction of their own on who might win what.

11th grader Emma Aldridge said, “There is no doubt that Ryan Gosling will win Best Actor.”

Sophomore Chandler Ursy said, “I predict The Jungle Book will upset Rogue One in the Best Visual Effects. It was one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen.”

The award show is coming up and looks to be exciting as ever. For anyone who is into movies, be sure to tune in and watch.

The Sentry

News & Features

New round of awards for both Prep literary magazines Madeline claire hugheS Earthwinds is the product of a creative writing class that consists of twelve people who write short fiction stories, poetry, judge pictures, and design an annual magazine. Each year, the magazine and individual class members also are considered for national awards.

In late 2016, Earthwinds was awarded a Gold Medal with All-Columbian Honors in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s annual celebration of student literary magazines.

More recently, Earthwinds staff members won five Gold Circle Awards from the CSPA for their 2016 edition.

Their work was judged by the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York. The Golden Circle awards students, writers, and journalists for their noteworthy work throughout the United States.

Above is the current cover of the highschool literary magazine, Earthwinds. Photo by Madeline Claire Hughes.

Stewart Mccullough tori newSoMe On Tuesday, January 31, around 400 students gathered in the gymnasium to watch students from different grades play the faculty in the annual student-faculty basketball showdown. In years past, there was only one game between the faculty and students, and only senior students were allowed to participate. The money raised from this game was used to fi-

nance the basketball programs’ annual mission trip to Guatemala.

This year, there were two fifteen minute games going on to determine which team would move on. The winners of the two separate half court games competed in a full court game.

The games that were played lasted ten minutes each. With the new format for the showdown, students were selected from grades 9-12 to participate.

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Senior Brianne Powers won second place in design portfolio, third place in typography, and a Certificate of Merit in cover design. Hannah Herrin (class

of 2016) and Brianne Powers received third place in Multi-page Presentation. The Earthwinds staff won second place in Multipage presentation.

At the end of April and first of May, Earthwinds’ latest volume, volume 46, will be released on Coffeehouse Day. On that day samples of the new Earth-

Students of the Earthwinds staff relaxing together.

winds edition will be read, and coffee and other snacks will be available. Students will be able to get a copy of their new edition on that day.

Mindprints is a junior-high run literary magazine. They recently received a rank of Recommended Highest Award in the

2016 National Council of Teachers of English Program to recognize excellence in student literary magazines. The editors are Jack Mullen and Anna Stack.

This is the first year Mindprints had entered four competitions and received a high ranking on all of their pieces.

faculty and students, the competitiveness between both groups was unlike ever before.

With one faculty team having ex-WNBA player Juanita Ward, the determination and grit the opposing student team

Teacher team #1 was full of football coaches who were ready to prove their worth on the basketball court. The students put up a tough fight, but they fell to the teachers 34-28.

At the end of the day,

Teachers beat their students, but only at basketball by

and

Ex-WMBA star coach Juanita Ward pulls up a jumper on coach John Haberman. Photo by Tori Newsome.

February 2017

The faculty chosen for the game were selected by the people in charge based on who they believed would please the crowd the most.

Unlike in years past where the benefits from this game were for missionary trips to Guatemala, this year the benefits are to fund a disabled artists gallery show. This art show is normally held by Goodwill, but Sara Michael Kennedy, Maclain Kennedy and Adam Malone decided to hold the art show at Prep for their Make A Difference project, or M.A.D. project.

Each ticket costed 2 dollars and was mandatory for entrance into the game. The raffle tickets for the prize of a Smoothie King gift card were $1. The money collected is to cover the cost of prizes that the artists have an opportunity to win. The winners of the gift cards were John Nix Arledge, McKenzie Davis and Lincoln Sheffield.

With the game between

9th grade teacher Amber Stack makes lightwork of a fade away three. Photo by Tori Newsome. had was admirable. After 15 minutes of play, the faculty pulled away and routed the opposing team in game two. The final score was 23-16.

whether your team lost or won, the proceeds of this game were beneficial for the school and enjoyable for all students.

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Student Profiles

Meet Jackson Prep’s Most Talented: Madeleine Porter Gracie Mccraney Whether it be in the classroom or on stage, senior Madeleine Porter is a familiar name.

She is extremely hard-working, talented, and will leave you wondering, “What can this girl not do?”

Madeleine is the oldest daughter of Trey and Kim Porter and older sister of Claire, a junior at Prep. She attended First Pres before entering Prep as a seventh grader. At Prep, Madeleine has enjoyed the variety offered academically as well as artistically. Her favorite teacher is Ms. Anna Griffin, who taught her english, also her favorite subject, as a junior. She credits Ms. Griffin for inspiring her to start thinking about education as her career.

At Prep, Madeleine has been involved in various clubs and activities. You have most likely heard about her in the theater department. Her acting career began at a theater camp at New Stage in 2010. That year, she played the old woman in Beauty and the Beast, Jr. on the main stage. Her first principal role was in Legally Blonde, Jr. at New Stage where she played Paulette, the hair-

dresser, and got to sing “Bend and Snap” in front of a crowd of people every night. To this day, Legally Blonde, Jr. reigns as one of her favorite plays.

Acting has had a huge impact on Madeleine’s life. She credits her success in acting to her confidence in her abilities and social skills. Her favorite part about acting is slipping into a character and telling their story. She says, “Acting is how I grew up and how I came out of my shell.” Madeleine describes herself as introverted so the hardest part about acting is pushing herself to step outside her comfort zone in order to get better. She explains, “As actors, people have to push themselves to entertain and you can’t do that if you restrain your full potential. If you’re not having fun while you’re acting, you’re doing something wrong.”

Her favorite comedy role is either Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn from The Music Man or Lina Lamont from Singin’ in the Rain because both roles are so different from her personality. She says, “Both are so different from me personally. It was really fun to be a bit out there for a while. And both created a

lot of laughs which meant I was doing my job right.” Her favorite drama role is Mary Jo from A Piece of My Heart. It was this role that won Madeleine All Star Cast Member at two one act competitions last year.

But while playing Mary Jo, she learned how important acting was by telling the story of women affected in Vietnam during the war.

If she could be in any play, it would be The Crucible because she loves the story.

If she could be in any musical it would be In the Heights because she loves to listen to it and even warms herself up before she sings or announces.

When she is not acting, you can find Madeleine working hard as the manager of the Pacers. She announces the Pacers before every performance, makes sure the music gets to the press box at every game, takes responsibility of thirty-six phones and keys, travels to every football game, and so much more. She began announcing the Pacers at each pep rally as a freshmen. She loves being the Pacer manager because she gets to interact with a group of girls outside of her friend group

and gets to meet people from all over Mississippi when introducing herself each game to the people in the press boxes. She says, “I’ve loved every second of being Pacer manager. It’s been a wild ride.”

Madeleine plans to major in Secondary English Education and to attend the University of Mississippi. After college she mainly wants to focus on her writing. However, she would love to teach English, especially somewhere in Mississippi or to teach a drama class.

Her dream job would be to do something with voice acting or produce her own podcast.

Outside of school, she enjoys acting, writing, and singing. Her favorite TV shows are Voltron: Legendary Defender and Black Mirror. She is also very interested in filmmaking and in her rare free time she writes screenplays for short films she wants to make in the future. She wants to finish and shoot one before she goes to college. As if she was not already busy enough, she is currently learning French, Spanish, Norwegian, Romanian, and Chinese.

Madeline has definitely

left her mark at Jackson Prep and has a bright future ahead of her.

Mary Patton MurPhy Ever met a star tennis player, a successful honors student, and a Jackson Prep Pacer all wrapped up into one?

Fifteen-year-old sophomore, Mackenzie Nichols, is these things and more, showing her determination and spirit in all that she does while setting an example of hard work for her peers.

Mackenzie is the daughter of Drs. Michael and Kim Nichols, and the sister to eighth grader, Mason Nichols. Although her parents did not grow up in Jackson, Mackenzie has lived here all of her life. In kindergarten, she attended Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School in Jackson before switching to First Presbyterian Day School in Jackson for the remainder of

elementary school. Mackenzie has been at Prep since seventh grade and has been involved in a variety of activities since then such as swim team, art, Service Club, tennis, track, and cross country.

Of all of these activities, tennis has definitely been her favorite. Mackenzie plays

tennis year round, competing against players across the state of Mississippi and competing against members of the MAIS (Mississippi Association of Independent Schools) for Prep during the spring. Because practice usually involves twelve hours of hard work each week, saying that Mackenzie is devoted to the sport would be an understatement.

The work that she puts into improving her game is often tiresome, but Mackenzie, her coaches, and her parents see it pay off. In a recent competition in Meridian, Mississippi on January 28th, Mackenzie played well in the eighteen year old age bracket, reaffirming her position as first in the state for the sixteen year old division.

She is looking forward to play-

ing for her fourth year for Prep in March.

A typical week for Mackenzie includes tennis and voice lessons on Monday, tennis and piano lessons on Tuesday, tennis and church on Wednesday, and tennis on Thursdays and Fridays, so one wouldn’t be far off to ask, How does she manage it all? The answer is actually quite simple. She’s organized. Strategic and prompt, Mackenzie takes care of every second of the day. She stated, “I definitely have to manage my time, but I think it’s good to be doing stuff a lot because it’s relieving not to just do school all day.”

In twenty years, Mackenzie hopes to be out of medical school and practicing medicine, similar to her parents. Al-

though there are many places that she would be interested in touring, she doesn’t know where she wants to complete undergraduate school. “It will probably take a while for me to decide,” she said. Mackenzie hopes to return to Jackson for medical school, and after she has received her doctorate, she hopes to start a family.

Mackenzie is a friend to many, and she has multiple nicknames across campus, including Chinz, Machinzie, and Mack. AnnAdair Blackledge, a sophomore and friend of Mackenzie, spoke about her good character. “Mackenzie is upbeat, and she loves to laugh,” she said. Amidst all of her activities, Mackenzie stays positive, and often causes her friends to laugh along with her.

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Above: Madeleine starring in The Sound of Music at Jackson Prep.

Below: Madeleine takes her final salute as Pacer Manager. Photos courtesy of Madeleine Porter

Mackenzie Nichols is a Jackson Prep student prodigy

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The Sentry

News & Features

The ins and outs of Speech and Debate Payne Bell The Jackson Prep Speech and Debate team has been very busy competing in tournaments throughout the past months. For those who are unfamiliar, speech and debate tournaments, attended by our team of a number of senior high students, consists of many different types of events so each competitor has a chance to find what suits their talents best.

Debate-focused events will give competitors a certain span of time to research, form opinions, and form arguments on an assigned topic. At the tournament, they go up against other debaters and present their arguments on a topic, and present counter-arguments to their opponents. Tournaments also feature a speech aspect, which includes events such as poetry recitation, prose recitation, duo performances, dramatic interpretation, among others.

Prep offers a speech and debate class, which is open

to all senior high students, and the members of this class are required to attend a certain amount of tournaments throughout the school year, however, anybody can sign up to attend tournaments with the team.

Senior high students Jack Mullen, Mitchell Boulanger, Edwin Griffis, and the author attended the USM Invitational on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on November 18-19, 2016.

On the 18th, Jack Mullen, Edwin Griffis, and the author competed in the Congress event, which is a simulation of the Mississippi Legislature, with a total of four sessions spread across two chambers of competitors. From the group of three, Jack and Edwin advanced to the second round, called Super Congress, where they were joined by both people from their own chamber who advanced, and the people cho-

sen to advance from the second chamber.

On the second day of the tournament, everyone took part in poetry and prose interpretation, and some took part in an event called Impromptu. Here, competitors sit in a room with one judge, and they are handed a list of items that could range from famous quotes, fast food franchises, famous books, or famous authors.

Not knowing what the list consists of before entering the room, they are to choose one item off of the list, and they have a limited amount of time to gather thoughts on the chosen topic and give an impromptu speech on their chosen topic.

The team has also recently attended events in Comeaux, Louisiana and Pascagoula, Mississippi. In Pascagoula, junior Mitchell Boulanger was chosen for the Mississippi Super Senate, and senior Nosyatina Turcal was chosen for the Super House.

by Maclain Kennedy “Jackson Prep, are you ready?” This year’s One Act, The Dining Room, was a success for Jackson Prep. One Act is a theatre competition that takes place every year in different locations. Each group that participates has to put together their set, which must fit inside a ten by ten box, perform, and take down their set all in forty-five minutes.

Prior to the first competition, the cast of The Dining Room performed at Jackson Academy.

This was their first performance for an audience, and JA also performed their play. This allowed the cast to get a feel for working together on the stage before competing.

The first competition took place in Starkville. Mr. McDade did an excellent job in directing this show and received the “Best Director” award in Starkville. “I was honored to receive an award where so many talented people across the state were in the running”, said Mcdade.

Several other awards were received.

Chatham Kennedy, Keeton Landfair,

and Lawson Marchetti received “All Star Cast”, and Gregor Patti received “Best Supporting Actor”.

Prep, along with three other schools, was selected to move on to the next round at the Mississippi Theatre Association (MTA). This competition was in Hattiesburg. The trip took place January 12th-15th, and Prep competed on Friday, January 13th.

On Saturday, January 14th, students were given the opportunity to compete in Individual Events.

There were categories such as singing, acting, and playwriting. Sophomore English teacher Mrs. Wilkinson won in the adult monologue and solo competition.

Jackson Prep had an excellent performance. The Dining Room cast didn’t qualify to go to SETC, which is the competition with schools from across America, but they were glad to get to attend MTA. Lawson Marchetti is a senior at Prep who has participated in One Act the past 3 years. He says, “ One Act is the most important thing I’ve done at

Prep. It has been the thing that pushes me most as an actor and has led me to begin to understand just what it means to become another person with another story. It has taught me empathy and the human spirit and

By

On February 24-25, 2017, Jackson Prep will be hosting the Jackson Catholic Forensic League All-Event Qualifiers, which will serve as a qualifier for Central and North Mississippi students to attend the JCFL Championships, which will take place on May 26-28, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Around 150 students from roughly fifteen schools, including competitors from the Prep speech and debate team, will be on Prep campus on February 24-25 competing in all types of speech and debate events trying to qualify for the Championship in Louisville.

If you are interested in joining the Speech and Debate team, you may contact Mr. Younce at his e-mail, ryounce@ jacksonprep.net, or visit him in Room 126 in the Senior High building for information on how to participate.

The Dining Room dines in Hattiesburg

February 2017

storytelling.”

Right: Lawson Marchettti draws the dining room plan for Mary Francis Dickie.

Obituary: Frito-Bill Jr. gone but not forgotten

By Chatham Kennedy Frito-Bill Jr. made his final lap around the Jackson Prep fish bowl on Monday, January 9, 2017. Hearts of adminstration and frequent office visitors broke when they heard that the school’s mascot had unexpectedly passed away.

Frito-Bill’s most loyal administrator, Ms. Manning, says, “It’s been very quiet because his little tank bubbled.

We miss him.”

Frito-Bill was well looked after over the holiday season by Ms. Manning. While the cause of his death remains unknown, there have been many suspicions that he was overwhelmed with the new school semester.

Dr. Nealey, who is still in mourning over the loss of his best swim team member, says his favorite thing about Frito-Bill was “just how happy he was by his air rather. He was a happy fish.”

Questions have been raised as to whether a Frito-Bill III will make his way into the lives of Jackson Prep students. While the school knows that Frito-Bill Jr. could never be replaced, they understand that one must move on through these trying times. To state your opinion, please vote online at www.jpsentry.net

Below: The cast raises glasses at the end of the show.

Drawing by Brittany Wilkinson

9

Alumni Profiles

“Senior superlative” alumni: Where are they now?

HARMON Sara riley Jicka, Mary Dunbar, anD Mary Patton MurPhy Receiving a “senior superlative” is not the defining moment of a student’s high school career, but rather a means of recognition for a particular dedication, passion, or talent.

At Prep, they are generally awarded at the annual Précis Pageant (see pp. 16-17).

The Sentry staff began to wonder: Where are these individuals now? Out of the many Prep alumni that received these superlatives, a few were contacted by the staff, and they provided insight into their lives after leaving Patriot Avenue.

A recent Prep graduate, Kelsey Harmon, was named Most Versatile in 2016. While at Prep, Harmon was a part of the Community Service club, Film club, National Honor Society, Cum Laude Society, and Mu Alpha Theta math honor society.

She also played tennis, helping the team to several state championships, and volleyball where she was a powerful outside hitter and captain.

Harmon also sang in Prep’s rendition of The Sound of Music, was awarded the Gold Key from the Scholastic Art Awards, and was a National Merit Commended Scholar.

Now attending Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, Harmon is exhibiting her versatility both in and out of the classroom. She is planning to major in media production with the hopes of working in the film industry. She enjoys going to Surf Chapel, a morning devotional followed by hitting the waves, every Wednesday. by

10

DUNBAR Working on the set of a campus live TV show called Malibu Tonight, Harmon is able to gain real-world experience for her major. She is “having a great time at Pepperdine” and enjoys hiking and going into Los Angeles in her free time.

Five years ago, Thomas Dunbar was awarded the honor of being Class of 2012’s Mr. Jackson Prep. While at Prep, Dunbar was a member of the basketball team. There he led the team to win the 2012 MAIS Overall State Championship, with a record season of 38-1.

Dunbar was also a member of the National Honor Society, Junior Classical League, and Varsity Track team, where he ran the 400 meters. Dunbar said the people who helped shape him to become Mr. Jackson Prep were all the coaches he encountered during his high school years. “I appreciated the time and energy the coaches put into us as athletes,” says Dunbar.

Last year, Dunbar graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. This year, Dunbar is receiving his Masters in Accounting at the University of Texas in Austin. Dunbar is reminded of his Prep award to this day. “At parties, sometimes people will jokingly introduce me as ‘Mr. Jackson Prep’.

It’s nice because it lightens the mood,” says Dunbar. One thing Dunbar wishes Prep had taught him is how to be more prepared to combat the cultural marxism that I encountered in college and in the real world.

As a 2013 graduate, Sarah Santucci was awarded Most Intelligent. Proving her intelli-

SANTUCCI gence during her Prep career, Santucci was Captain of the Quiz Bowl, involved in Mu Alpha Theta, National Honors Society, Spanish Club, Spanish Honor Society, and the Cum Laude Society.

Santucci will graduate from Princeton University in May of 2017. While at Princeton, Santucci studied molecular biology. After Princeton, Santucci hopes to attend medical school. She really likes the reproductive field of medicine.

She has thoroughly enjoyed how strong Princeton is in all areas, especially in academics.

For example, she recently took a sculpture class with an acclaimed sculptor. Santucci said it was one of her favorite courses that she has taken at Princeton. “It was so challenging, but because I spent many summers working with Ms. Barlow in Prep art camps, I felt I was prepared for it.”

Santucci says that Prep also prepared her well in other courses for the challenging courses at Princeton. “Prep is especially strong in English.

Although that is not my major, it has helped me in every aspect of my career at Princeton.”

Santucci’s best advice for Prep students is to use their resources; as in Prep teachers. “I think Prep’s teachers are very invested and are so willing to help all Prep students.”

Another Prep alumnus and senior superlative recipient is Ms. Mary Elizabeth Upton. She is the mother of four boys, Carl, Joseph, Russ, and Will Upton and the wife of Dr. Charlie Upton.

At Prep, Ms. Upton devoted her time to Student Council,

UPTON sports, and academics. She was actively involved in leadership positions at school, serving as the junior class vice president and the senior class president of the Student Council. However, other activities such as varsity basketball, track, Mu Alpha Theta, and National Honor Society also occupied her time.

Because of a basketball injury she received in high school, Ms. Upton gained an interest in physical therapy, the field she studied at the University of Mississippi and works in today. During her senior year in 1989, Ms. Upton was pleased to receive the superlative of Miss Jackson Prep. “I was humbled.

It was a very big honor,” she said.

As the mother of two current Prep students and a previous Prep graduate, Ms. Upton has remained involved in the Prep community by attending the various activities of her children, such as Prep football and soccer games. She also serves as the President of the Parent and Teachers’ Association. “Every once in awhile I get this déjá vu from my time at Prep,” Ms. Upton said between laughs. “Even the gym still smells the same.”

Mr. Gregory Mazzaferro, father of Maddy and Eliza Mazzaferro and husband to Ms. Betsy Mazzaferro, received the superlative Mr. Jackson Prep during his senior year in 1991.

An All Star Football player, receiving the honors of Best Defensive Back and Best Offensive Back, a member of the Prep soccer and track teams, and a sophomore class favorite, there’s no doubt Mr. Mazzaferro was a fun, hard working stu-

MAZZAFERRO

dent to be around.

Although he dedicated many of his high school days to improving in his field events at a track meet or in the football and soccer games throughout their seasons, Mr. Mazzaferro also spent countless hours serving as a leader of the Prep student body. During his junior year, Mr. Mazzaferro served as the junior class president, and during his senior year, he served as the student body president.

It is evident that the leadership positions Mr. Mazzaferro held in high school greatly influenced him later in life. In college, he served as a leader of his fraternity, and he now serves as a specialty manager at Sanofi-Aventis, a multinational pharmaceutical company.

His daughter, Maddy, was also influenced by Mr. Mazzaferro’s leadership. Encouraging his daughters to do what they love, he was pleased to hear that Maddy was eager to serve in the student council as the junior class president like he did when he went to Prep.

Of all of the aspects at Prep, Mr. Mazzaferro loved spending time with his friends more than anything else. He stated, “The friends I made at Prep were in my wedding, and many are still my friends now.”

One of his fellow classmates, Stanton Toler, had several good things to say about Mr. Mazzaferro. “I think back so fondly to our times at track. We had some great times down there in the pit. I can still see Mazz flying off the pole vault and landing flat on his face. He had no fear...still doesn’t today.”

The Sentry

Junior High News

National Geographic Bee won by seventh grader Ewing Milam

by

Preston Dubberly

On Wednesday, January 18th, the seventh and eighth graders went to watch their fellow classmates participate in the 27th annual National Geographic Bee. The National Geographic Bee is a competition for the students of public schools, private schools, and homeschooled children. To be able to qualify for the National Geographic Bee, all seventh and eighth graders took a test to narrow down the contestants. In the competition, the first round is the school-level competition. The next round

is the State Bee which will be held on March 31st.

The seventh grade students who participated were Owen Abney, Worth Hewitt, Annie Jicka, and Ewing Milam. The eighth graders were Andrew Banks, Tanner Gough, Owen Lundberg, Alex Roberson, and Preston Speed.

Ewing Milam, a seventh grader, won the competition, and eighth grader Tanner Gough was runner up. Ewing now has the opportunity to win a $50,000 college scholarship, lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society, $500 in cash, and a trip to the Gala-

pagos Islands. Since Ewing advanced, he has to take a written test. The top 100 scores in the state will be eligible to compete in the State Bee. Contrary to popular belief, Ewing did not really study for the competition. In fact he said, “I winged it, but I knew some from traveling or movies.”

Luckily, his favorite subjects are geography and history.

When Ewing had realized the competition was his, he said, “I was at first nervous, but then it was just fun. When I knew I was going to win, I became very excited and surprised.”

7th Grade Girls’ Basketball JAne hurst The seventh grade girls’ basketball season is wrapping up for this year. Many of the students have enjoyed playing with their teammates. They have learned many drills from the coaches Coach McAnally, Coach Stack, and Coach Ward.

The two teams that the students can choose to play on are the intramural team and the scholastic team.

The intramural teams consist of four separate teams which play against each other. These teams are red, blue, grey and white. The boys’ intramurals also have separate by

teams. On the scholastic team, the players play against others schools.

I interviewed Elena Zouboukos, Olivia Smith, Abby Huff, and Avery Overby. They all have learned how to be better teammates this season.

They really enjoy playing on both the intramural and scholastic teams.

In the recent championship, the grey and red teams played each other. The score was 34 to 13, and the grey team won. Basketball has been a great way for the players to learn teamwork. They have enjoyed it very much.

7th Grader Caroline Walton shoots a free throw. Photo courtesy of Jane

Prep took second in the recent Mississippi Science Bowl

February 2017

JH Book Club

by John henry AnDress Ms. Allison Smith leads the Junior High Book Club.

The book club was originally started by another English teacher, but now she gets to lead the club. Currently, the book club is reading A Dog’s Purpose!, by W. Bruce Cameron. The book club members vote on the books during their meetings, and they meet once a month in Ms. Smith’s room.

She guides the book club meetings, but she loves to hear about what the students thought and their input. The club currently includes eight seventh grade girls, and Ms.

Smith wants to encourage anyone in seventh or eighth grade who is interested in the book club to join. They communicate by using Google Classroom.

She also said that it teaches kids to learn to love reading, which is very important in this modern world. Also, she said, “The book club is a safe place for students to share how they are connected with the characters.”

Ms. Smith told me that her favorite book was A Crooked Kind of Perfect because she loves how the narrator talks through a kid’s perspective on life.

7th grade girls Anna Voynik and Havens Smith are excited for book club.

Photo by John Henry Andress

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12

The Sentry

News & Features Family feels blessed, even after house fire

By Henley JoHnson On January 12th, 2016 at around 5:25 in the Wendover neighborhood in Ridgeland, MS, a fire started in home of Prep students Dylan and Adam Malone.

This fire started because their refrigerator, that was located in the garage, was plugged into a surge protector, which overheated and caught some material on fire.

This spread to the vehicles and wooden cabinets that were also located in the garage.

The fire department, thankfully, came soon enough to keep from the entire house burning down. They were able to recover a great deal of fur-

niture in the house and a few silverware as well as some miscellaneous items. Everything else, including the rest of the house, is unrecoverable from the smoke and plastic chemicals exposure. The attic, located above the garage, had around sixty plastic containers filled with childhood keepsakes from his parents, which is where the chemicals came from.

The family is now staying in a rental in the back of their neighborhood and plan to live there for about eight months while their house is being rebuilt.

Help from the school community was quick to follow.

Head of School, Dr. Jason Wal-

ton, sent out an email to the entire Prep family about an account set up by First Baptist Church of Jackson under the care of Mr. Bobby Ray. This account is providing financial support to the Malone family.

Junior Dylan Malone, said, “I feel so blessed that people have decided to take time and resources away from themselves in order to care for mine.”

The family has said that prayer is the main thing that can help them now as they deal with the insurance companies and try to recover their belongings.

Sucess at Showchoir Masters

Tynes Carroll Jackson Prep hosted the fourth annual Showchoir Masters competition on January 20 and 21, 2017.

Over 35 choirs from Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee competed in the Fortenberry Theatre on the Jackson Prep campus. Over a thousand attendees gathered Saturday night, with visitor attendance growing so large that some had to spill over into Lindsay Hall to watch the shows compete from a live feed. Judges came all the way from New York City and Iowa. Due to bad weather, two schools were not able to attend.

Senior High Grand Champion was awarded to The Network, a visiting group from Homewood High School in Homewood Alabama, while Junior High first place was awarded to Petal Spark, from Petal Junior High school.

On Friday night, Prep’s junior high showchoir, Fusion, performed. Due to inclement weather, the high school competition was forced to close early, with no finals performance.

Prep’s own Reveillon did not perform because of the curtailed schedule.

Despite weather issues, JP By

February 2017

Showchoir Masters 2017 boasted record number of attending choirs and visitors. Head of Prep’s showchoir, Ms. Dianne Holbert, said, “This weekend was awesome. The level of competition was incredible.”

Prep was delighted to host so many wonderful groups, and is excited to continue the Invitational next year and in years to come.

Below: Mitchell McGinnis, director of Junior High showchoir Fusion, and Dianne Holbert, director of Senior High showchoir Revellion, smile after a long week of preparation for Jackson Prep’s Showchoir Masters.

The Malone house after the fire. Photo courtesy of Adam Malone

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13

Around Town

FOCUS ON: Church retreats

Breakthru

Caroline MCintyre Breakthru is a Christian retreat based in Pulaski, Mississippi at a camp called Timbercreek. Breakthru includes a variety of different churches in the area that join together to learn more about God. The most recent session was January 13-16. When students arrive at the camp, they are welcomed with tons of smiles from the staff as they show them where their cabins are located. The area is filled with tons of activities such as human foosball, octoball, capture the flag football, and so much more. One of the best parts about Breakthru is participating in fun activities, but at the same time learn more about Jesus.

Everyday at Breakthru students go into the chapel and worship with an amazing band.

It is one of the most uplifting experiences because everyone is in the presence of Jesus. With their hands lifted high and not just singing but understanding what the words are saying, it’s evident that God is working through everyone.

The theme this year was “Outside the Box”, and the guest speaker, Tom First, who is a adult pastor, spoke about by

not putting God in a box, meaning that we don’t need to put God in a box and only open it up when we need Him. Rather, students should shatter that box and spread His love to everyone around them.

One event that takes place at Breakthru is Indoor and Outdoor Rec. The red, blue, green, and yellow teams compete against each other in a series of games to see who can win the session. This year, the red team took home the crown in a victorious win. The red team also found “the golden box.” This is an actual golden box that is hidden somewhere on the camp grounds, and students get clues as to where to find it. If a team finds the box, it gets a significant amount of points.

A personal favorite is the annual Breakthru theme night. This year the theme was 80s, and it was one of the most decked out themes they have ever had.

This theme night included, “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” where two people are chosen to get on stage and have to sing the lyrics to certain parts of a song. Another event that takes place is “Family Feud”, where you get in your small

Epic Weekend

tynes Carroll From Friday night January 13th to Sunday morning the January 15th, students in grades 7 -12 gathered together at First Baptist Church Jackson to experience worship, fun activities, fellowship, small groups, and delicious food.

Over the course of forty hours, special guest speaker Kacy Benson from Austin, Texas, ministered to students with funny jokes, insane stunts, y

14

and powerful messages that brought over fourty students to Christ!

On Saturday morning, students invited many of their friends to go with them Saturday night for a night of amazing food, a life-changing message, and of course, a rap concert. Saturday afternoon, students were split into groups by grade, and helped throughout the Jackson metro area by painting, serving at a nursing

group and choose which word you think goes best with the question. 80s night was definitely one of the most memorable because it was awesome seeing the variety of different costumes people wore.

This year the high school students had a new surprise that went along with the theme for the weekend. They partnered with “Stop Hunger Now”, and boxed up 10,000 meals for people who are not able to provide food for themselves. It was an incredible experience to be able to feed that

many people in only 45 minutes. It showed us that when people “open up the box” it can change their lives forever.

On the last night of the session, over 60 people accepted Christ into their lives. In one night, that many more people will now be living their life in a different way.

There is a Breakthru tradition that whenever someone accepts Christ into their life they go outside of the chapel and ring the bell that can be heard all over camp. At that moment, everyone stops what

home, or picking up trash at Callaway High School.

On Saturday night, after an exhilarating time of worship, Christian rapper Tedashii performed for the students.

After night worship, students travelled by bus to their host homes, divided by gender and grade, to talk with their small group and reflect on what they had learned or done that day.

In prior years, the weekend had been called “Downtown Forty,” referring to how students would essentially be spending forty hours on this retreat and

shortened to the better known name, “DT40.”

The name change this year, to Epic Weekend 17 left a lot to live up to from last year.

The name, “Epic Weekend 17” spoke for itself, and was most certainly epic!

Many students revealed that the weekend had been one of the best experiences of their year, and even their life which included getting closer to God, building friendships, and serving their community.

they are doing and cheers as loud as they can. It is such a special moment to realize that the person ringing that bell with now live their life filled with Christ.

Breakthru is a life changing experience, and I definitely recommend going if you have the chance. Everyone at the camp is surrounded with the love of Jesus, and it is so easy to see. You can tell that everyone leaves the camp learning something different about their faith, and that is something to cherish forever.

The Sentry

Entertainment Rogue One passes expectations at light speed

Split dominates the charts for weeks Movie Review: Russell Roberts

Movie Review: James Threadgill After J. J. Abrams presented fans with The Force Awakens, Gareth Edwards decided to take a swing at making a Star Wars film. Released on December 16, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story made 155 million dollars on opening night, more than any other movie in 2016.

Rogue One is set between the third and fourth episodes, explaining how the Rebels took the plans for the Death Star. The heroine Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, is a 21 year old who is running from the Empire, while also avoiding the Rebels. However, Jyn has a run-in with the Rebels, and meets a pilot named Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, and K-2SO, a reprogrammed Imperial robot voiced by Alan Tudyk.

Together, they go on a mission to rescue Jyn’s father,

February 2017

who is an Imperial officer and played a main part in the construction of the Death Star, but also gave the Death Star a weakness. In an attempt to get the plans for the machine her father built, Jyn will go on one of the hardest missions ever.

I saw this movie a few weeks ago with my friends and really enjoyed it. I thought the acting was great, and the visual effects were great except for one flaw that I kept noticing: the star destroyers looked like they were built out of legos.

Really the only thing I didn’t like was how little Saw Gerrera and Jyn’s mom were shown, because I felt that they would’ve had bigger roles based on the trailer. But, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 85%, I highly recommend this movie if you haven’t already seen it.

Split is a very currently popular movie out in theaters.

Split is a thriller/horror film that was released January 20th, 2017. The producer of this film was a Manoj “M. Night” Shyamalan. Shyamalan is very well known for his thrilling horrors such as “The Visit”, “Unbreakable”, and the “Sixth Sense”. Split casts Kevin, a man who has split personalities of 23 different people who is portrayed by James McAvoy.

Casey Cooke is the main character who is kidnapped by Kevin who is portrayed by Anya-Taylor Joy. Betty Buckley takes the role as Kevin’s psychiatrist. The movie is based around 3 girls who Kevin kidnaps and how they try and stay hidden from Kevin’s 24th emerging identity known as “The Beast”. James McAvoy really nails his role in the movie.

From obsessive-compulsive maintenance man Dennis to playful, 9-year-old Hedwig to

prim, British Patricia to flamboyant, New York fashionista Barry, McAvoy brings all these characters to life in undeniably frightening yet entertaining ways. There’s a lot of scenery chewing going on here, but it’s a performance that also showcases McAvoy’s great agility and precision. He has to make changes both big and small, sometimes in the same breath, and it’s a hugely engaging spectacle to behold. His portrayal of this troubled soul is darkly fun-

ny but also unexpectedly sad.

Kevin is menacing no matter which personality in control, but the underlying childhood trauma that caused him to create these alter egos as a means

of defense clearly still haunts him as a grown man. Flashes of vulnerability and fragility reveal themselves in the film’s third act, providing an entirely different kind of disturbing tone. The main attraction for me is putting together the pieces of this puzzle which is actually a few different puzzles at once. There’s the question of what Kevin wants with these girls. There’s the question of how they’ll escape. But the fundamentally frightening element of this whole scenario is how the various personalities interact with each other and how they manipulate and intimidate each other and whether there’s an even more fearsome force gaining strength. All in all, “Split” is a very entertaining yet frightening film. Go see it while it’s still in theatres.

One portrayal of Kevin’s many personalities

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Précis Pageant highlights class of 2017 Stewart Mccullough and PreSton dubberly On Monday, January 9th, yearbook held the annual Précis Pageant. This pageant recognizes the senior superlatives in addition to Mr. and Miss Sophomore and Mr. and Miss Junior class. In between giving the awards, students performed to showcase their talents. The students had to try out to be able to perform. The masters of ceremonies were Sarah Tillery, Gregor Patti, and Keeton Landfair.

The talent in the Precis pageant included: Prep’s acapella group Capital who sang “In the Air Tonight,” Graham Roberson who played majestic tones on the piano, Beth Ann Young played the piano while singing “Santeria,” Sara Thomas Easley, Laurel Evan and Piper Schrock sang “Imagine.” Madeline Porter sang “She Used to be Mine.” Kelly McBride, JP Gathings, Jennings Duncan, Gregory Vance, and Polly Watkins are known as the Dreamcatchers. They performed “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Gregory Vance and Charlsey Rowan sang “All I Ask” together. Hannah Plunkett and Abigail Martin sang a piece from the Broadway Production, “Little Women”. Fiby

nally, the Something and the Someone’s made up of Jordan Davis, Jack Reynolds Holiman, Lawson Marchetti, Holman Buchanan, Anna Kate Williams, Isaac Clapp, Joshua Michael, and Gracie McCraney collaborated to perform “Lover to Lover.”

Before any awards were given out, the beauties and beaux were presented to a panel of judges. The class of 2017 had eight beauties and eight beaux. The beauties were Ann Clardy Byrd, Jordan Davis, Addison Hughes, Ann Leighton Malouf, Bailey Mangum, London Miskelly, Ally Walker, and Anna Kate Williams. The beaux were Holman Buchanan, Jacob Crawley, Jared Dodd, Sam Mills, Hunter Patterson, JoJo Pound, Noah Sasser, and Joseph Upton. Jackson Prep’s Most Beautiful/Handsome are Ann Leighton Malouf and Holman Buchanan.

Along with the beauties and beaux, the 2017 class favorites were (pictured right) Ellis Abdo, Jacob Aron, Isabelle Box, Eliza Brantley, Kendall Causey, Elkin Crews, Hays Dubberly, Sam Fulton, RJ Green, Emily Heidelberg, Charlie Miller, Hannah Plunkett, Jay Adams Rucker, and Sarah Helen Skelton.

2017 Beauties and Beaux: Most Beautiful & Most Handsome

Ann Leighton Malouf & Holman Buchanan

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Bailey Mangum & Jared Dodd

Précis Pageant: Who’s Who Winners Dynamic Duo

Most Intellectual

Most Versatile

Most Likely to Succeed

Friendliest

Gregor Patti & Keeton Landfair

Gracie McCraney & Jack Young

McKenzie Davis & Robert Wasson

Most Talented

Kacie Van Pelt & Wesley Roberson Most School Spirited

Most Artistic

Wittiest

Chatham Kennedy & Balie Crim Most Charming

Madeleine Porter & Lawson Marchetti

Reese Friday & Hudson Little

Emily Michael & Gregor Patti

Caroline Pringle & Jack Davis

Emily Claire Herring & J.P. Gathings

Most Athletic

Mr. & Miss Sophmore Class

All photos by Hubert Worley Page layout by Paul Andress

Senior favorites: (top) Jacob Aron, Elkin Crews, Charlie Miller, Ellis Abdo, Hays Dubberly, Sam Fulton, RJ Green (bottom) Isabelle Box, Hannah Plunkett, Eliza Brantley, Emily Heidelberg, Kendall Causey, Sarah Helen Skelton, and Jay Adams.

Anna Kate Williams & Noah Sasser

Ally Walker & Jacob Crawley

Ann Clardy Byrd & Sam Mills

London Miskelly & Hunter Patterson

Jordan Davis & Joseph Upton

Addison Hughes & JoJo Pound

The Sentry

Shelby Wilson & Tate Fowler

February 2017

Emison Geiger & Reece Davis

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

Maddy Mazzaferro & Ben Burnett

Rosemary Ferguson & John Nix Arledge

Mr. & Miss Jackson Prep

Anne Rivers Mounger & Paul Andress

17

Entertainment

Red, white, and Wahlberg: Patriots Day hits the big screen Movie Review: Stewart McCullough Recently, an increasing amount of movies have been released that depicts heroic people, some whose actions lift them high above the crowd. Patriots Day is such a film, which highlights everyday heroes of Boston: the police, families and communities who joined forces after the horrific bombing at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon.

It opens with a scene

showing fictional character Sgt. Tommy Saunders, played by Mark Wahlberg, doing a routine drug bust. The point of this scene is to show that Saunders was suspended earlier in the year and is given the humiliating task of guarding the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Only hours later, he is in the middle of the bombing where he rises to the occasion and helps track down the two

brothers who are responsible for the terrible actions. Director Peter Berg highlights the journey each brother took to plant the two bombs, using characters, who to some, are exact look-alikes.

This movie is not shot using cinematic stabilization gear, but it was shot from a walking camera man. This style of movie shooting is related to a documentary style movie and is

intended to make the audience feel like they are walking along with every scene.

Produced by CBS Film Studios, this movie was shot in the Boston area and features some scenes that are exactly where the bombing took place. As mentioned earlier, Mark Wahlberg plays the main role as Sgt. Tommy Saunders who is a Boston Police Officer, Kevin Bacon stars as Richard DesLauriers who is a Special Agent in the FBI’s Boston field office, and John Goodman stars as Boston’s Chief Police Officer Ed Davis.

Peter Berg has delivered an account of the Boston Mar-

athon bombing that touches on emotion and patriotism.

Patriots Day is absolutely riveting and often devastating, but ultimately, it is a film that highlights heroism and the importance of a community coming together. The two brothers who orchestrated the attack planned for months and were able to bring a city and nation to its knees. After months of planning on their part, it only took two days to unite a town more than they ever have been.

Because of the strength and resolution the people of boston showed, they forever became “Boston Strong.”

Athletic Chic: dress cute and comfortable Tebow Scores again in new book

By Sarah avery huffman In the last few years, fashion has changed drastically. It has taken on a more relaxed style known as athletic fashion. This style can be dressed up for a night out with friends or dressed down for just running errands.

One of the biggest things in athletic fashion

in athletic pants is track pants and sweat pants. These aren’t necessarily the most fashionable choice, but they are easy to throw on. Recently, celebrities have begun to dress up these two types of pants by wearing them with a fashionable shirt and heels. This isn’t practical for most people, but it shows how styles have changed.

is leggings. Leggings come in a variety of styles, from casual and comfy to bold and stylish.

You can dress these pants up with a fun sweater and boots or wear them casually with a t-shirt. Women love these because not only are they comfortable and easy, they’re affordable and can be paired with anything. Another trend

Shirts have also taken on a new style. Women have begun to wear fashionable t-shirts.

These range in style from plain t-shirts to ones with quotes and pictures. These can be paired with leggings, jeans, shorts, or skirts. Another new trend is jerseys. Many women have started wearing these to sporting events and dressing them up

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with fun bottoms and jewelry.

Sweatshirts have also taken on a more fashionable style. There a variety of styles and colors that can be thrown on over any outfit. Letterman jackets have also made their debut in fashion. These new styles are fun and simple, but can be dressed up.

The biggest thing in athletic fashion is tennis shoes.

This new style of sneakers is not for working out. These are for wearing. You can go with a casual style like Nike or Adidas, or a more dressy style like suede or leather. The most popular style is hightops. Some of these sneakers even have heels.

These can be paired with dressy or casual outfits.

This style of fashion is unlike any other in the sense

that it is not only casual and easy, but it is stylish and fun.

Book Review: Caroline McIntyre Tim Tebow’s new book Shaken is about discovering yourself through life’s toughest situations. In this book, Tebow speaks about his own life stories of how he made it through the hardest times with God right by his side. He encourages readers to live a life filled with Jesus and to know you are never alone.

One of the biggest topics in this book is that we all have a purpose for our lives.

He speaks about the plan God has for our lives, and discovering what that is and how to live our lives not in what we think is our plan, but what God says our plan is. One of the best life stories he uses is a story about his church’s mission trip in the Philippines.

He was 15 at the time and was speaking to the people of a village. While he was speaking, he noticed three boys leave the building. He was curious as to why they left, and after he was done speaking, he saw one of the boys outside of a small hut.

The young boy came over to him, grabbed his hand and led

him into the hut. When he entered, Tim saw one of the young boys lying on a cot with his legs on backwards. He asked the three boys why they left, and Sherwin, (the boy with the disability) told him that his principal said they wanted to impress the Americans and that he was not impressive. Tim spoke to the three boys for a while until he was called to leave.

Tim said to Sherwin, “I can’t wait to see you in Heaven.”

Sherwin’s response changed Tim’s life forever. Sherwin said, “I can’t wait to run with you in Heaven.” After hearing this, it inspired Tim to start his foundation, the Tim Tebow Foundation, that helps people who need faith during the toughest times. He also noticed how Sherwin’s friends never left his side. Even though they wanted to hear the foreign American speak, they stuck by Sherwin through everything and that is why we need friends that we can count on no matter what. (see rest of story on jpsentry. net)

The Sentry

you We work for ____.

MAX RANGE LTE You never stop.

Neither should your phone.

That’s why we installed Max Range LTE to reach you in the places you need it most.

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February 2017

19

Entertainment

By: Holman Buchanan and Ann Clardy Byrd

Love is in the air Where to shop for your Valentine:

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:_ TO

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M:_ FRO

by John Nix Arledge

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• Chocolates- Nandy’s Candies (If you’re giving candy as a gift, you might as well get the good stuff) • Flowers- Daisy a Day (It’s in Highland Village so you’re sure to not go wrong) • Balloons- Party City (who doesn’t love balloons) • Jewelry- Carter Jewelers (sure to find a good deal)

Can you find Cupid on other pages of The Sentry?

Don’t forget to buy your carnations!

Valentines Day Facts

• 14% of women send themselves flowers on Valentines day.

• Most popular gift is candy, followed by flowers, cards, jewelery, and dining.

• 53% of women end their relationship over not receiving anything on Valentines Day. • Average person spends $116.21.

• Annual spending is over $13 billion dollars.

• 73% of flowers purchased are by men.

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The Sentry

Entertainment

La La Land: The movie that resurrected a genre Movie Review: Lawson Marchetti Even number, considered lucky. Also, meticulously coveted, extremely rare number in cinema: it is the most Academy Award nominations received by any one film. All About Eve and Titanic were joined on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, with La La Land, the 3rd movie in history to do so. 3: Now, there’s another lucky number.

Here’s yet another lucky number: 7. Also the most Golden Globes won by a single film, a record set on January 8, by none other than La La Land, breaking 40 untouched years held by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. With its full set of lucky numbers, this movie surpasses critical phenomenality, and bleeds into cultural: it peaked at #22 on IMDb’s Top 200, it’s been the subject of an SNL skit, Jimmy Fallon opened the Globes with a parody of its opening musical number, it’s #1 on the trending movies chart, and its soundtrack album peaked at #1 on iTunes.

So, we are beholding, this year, in our very midst, a cinematic masterpiece. A titan of films. The movie of the decade.

A sizable, living, breathing, thriving piece of artistic history. But what is it?

La La Land is a romantic musical comedy-drama six years in the making. In brief, it focuses on two aspiring artists, Mia, an actress, and Sebastian, a jazz pianist, as they fall in love and chase their dreams in Los Angeles.

It is the brain-child of thirty one year old director Damien Chazelle, and his Harvard roommate, composer Justin Hurwitz. Chazelle and Hurwitz were in a jazz band together when they had the idea, and Chazelle wrote the script in 2010.

When they moved to Los Angeles, their project was met

February 2017

with considerable reproach. No one thought an original jazz musical (an extinct genre) from a Hollywood newcomer would pan out.

So, Chazelle pocketed the project. That is, until after the success of Chazelle’s Whiplash, a cheap and feasible film that earned 5 Oscar nominations.

From there, 5 years after La La Land’s conception, Summit Entertainment and Black Label Media picked up the project, and the rest is history.

On a $30 million budget, with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in the leads, after four months of scrupulous rehearsal (Gosling learning piano, both learning song and dance), Friday evening screenings of classic movie musicals for the cast and crew, 40 days of painstaking production (which included such things as blocking off an entire LA freeway for two days, and taking two days to film a scene only within the thirty minute “magic hours,” for Gosling and Stone’s tap-dancing), and an additional year of editing, the final product is a love letter to art, modern homage to classics; musical numbers were shot in single, choreographed takes. Stone and Gosling have

on-screen chemistry that hasn’t been seen since Fred and Ginger.

However, this film exceeds its inspirations; it is more than a gorgeous, nostalgic love story. What it truly is lies in its title: La La Land. Dreamers (in LA) are what our leads first and foremost are, artists pulled to each other by their drive to achieve those dreams. Every frame not only emulates the inherent beauty of this endeavor; they tell it with honesty.

They tell of the true pain accompanying this pursuit in every moment, the pain that grounds a dreamer in real life.

This honesty is found in the film’s very first words: a woman gets out of her car and begins lyrically lamenting the fact that she gave up her life and romance to be here, stuck in LA traffic, barely getting by, in the movie’s upbeat opener, “Another Day of Sun.” But that’s just it! At the end of the day, the hundreds of struggling artists singing and dancing atop their parked cars believe that despite the sad minor undertone, these trade-offs and dismal circumstances, pursuing the dusty mic and neon glow are all they need; that, one day, to inspire people as they were so inspired will have been worth it; that, however sad, this is an ecstatic, undeniable calling; that they’ll get up off the ground, morning rolls around, and it’s another day of

sun. This is the nuanced and blatant message of the film, seen in every frame, heard in every orchestration.

I say blatant because, if viewing bare plot, Mia and Sebastian’s relationship is a trade-off of the dream pursuit; and it’s one of the truest, most beautiful romances ever seen, a dream in of itself. Some complain Gosling isn’t the best singer or Stone isn’t the best dancer, but technical precision is far from necessary; it’s all about the passion and its consequential, active beauty.

The same people leave the theater smiling with more heartfelt joy than they’ve ever experienced. Because every time Mia and Sebastian break into song or dance, the audience believe this actress and this pianist are so in love with each other, so passionate about their dreams that there can’t be another way for the film to continue unless they burst into song, tap-dance in the street, or ball-room dance across the night sky, lifted off the ground.

The film’s very genre is validated by its leads’ union: his passion is music, hers storytelling, bam, musical storytelling.

And this makes their relationship, the ultimate trade-off, indescribably poignant. In the epilogue, Mia and Sebastian share a vision of what their lives would have been together, fives years after the main narration, in what is possibly the most beautiful, masterfully-crafted, heart-wrenching scene (with an equally moving

score) in cinema. But there’s a reason your chest tightens, you struggle to breathe, your whole body shivers and you grin from ear to ear, yet no tears come.

After the “dream sequence,” you understand; they smile at each other In this moment and the preceding scene, an expression of unfathomable love and gratitude is shared, slips between them, thanking each other for enabling one another to achieve their dreams, as he plays in his own jazz club, as her performances play on screens worldwide; thanking each other for their relationship, for themselves, for dreaming.

And now, as they part, they, the artists and dreamers they are, have something more beautiful, true and eternal than anything they could share presently. They have themselves engraved in an immortal, adamantine memory. An undying song. An inextinguishable dance. Bright, enduring sensation, love and gratitude burning, like stars in a night sky, a city of them, tucked away where they’ll never be tainted.

This is what they have of each other: their dreams. And there is nothing more pure, everlasting, more sad, true or more beautiful. And it is all this that breathes new life into a dead genre, that earns 14 Oscar nominations, puts music in your heart, makes your feet want to dance with the soundtrack on repeat. It is this that makes you see it again.

And again. And again.

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Sports

Boys’ soccer looks to defend state title Paul andress The Jackson Prep soccer team is yet again having another successful season. This year’s team under the leadership of Head Coach Jon Marcus Duncan and Assistnat Coach Jay Liles is going for the program’s seventh consecutive state championship.

The team has faced tough public school competition against teams such as Madison Central, Ocean Springs, Clinton, Pearl, Florence, Ridgeland, and West Monroe. They defeated Madison Central at Madison Central by a score of 2-0.

Two of the team’s three losses came to Ocean Springs and Clinton. Ocean Springs ended up making it to the 6A state championship where they lost to Northwest Rankin. The loss to Clinton was the first game of the season. The team was missing key contributors who were finishing up football season.

This year’s team is led by seniors Tate Fowler, Brent Hall, Hunter Patterson, Jacob Crawley, John Nix Arledge, Jo-

seph Upton, and Leland Meadows.

Fowler has been a scoring threat all season long and is fully recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the team’s only MAIS loss at Jackson Academy.

Hall will continue his

by RJ Green

key contributors for the team.

The Junior class is expected to make a huge impact on the team led by Knox Loposer, Reed Peets, Chance Lovertich, and Maddox Henry.

Two young players who have a bright future in the program are Sophomore Jerrion Ealy and Freshman Reed Kellum. Both started last season and gained crucial experience.

The team begins its season on February 13th against Columbia Academy at Smith Wills Stadium.

by

soccer career after graduation at Mississippi College. He has been a top contributor and performed a hat trick (3 goals in one game) against West Monroe.

Patterson has also played a major role through controlling

Tanner McCraney looks to pass it up the field to an open teammate. Photo

by Stewart McCullough.

the backline of the salty Prep defense. The defense has been a strong point of the team as they have shut out 13 opponents.

Reed Peets is having a great season as goalie. He has only allowed 7 goals in 17 games.

Other major contributors to this year’s team include juniors Tanner McCraney, Jake Maloney, and Russell Roberts.

McCraney is a top scorer for the Prep offense.

The team has dominated conference play throughout the season. They shut out Madison Ridgeland Academy 2-0 at Prep and 4-0 at MRA. Jackson Academy handed them their only conference loss. It was a close game which ended with the score of 2-1. As of press time the team still had not played JA in the rematch which will have occurred at Prep on February 9.

Tate Fowler is confident about the team’s chances come playoff time. “We had a tough loss early this season against JA, but we have really bounced back and are looking stronger

than ever.”

The team is looking to finish the season strong as they head into the playoffs to defend the state title for the seventh consecutive year.

The playoffs start on February 20. Prep looks to host a first round matchup against a team that is to be determined.

Jake Maloney looks back to locate the soccer ball. Photo by Stewart McCullough.

Baseball ready to take the field February 13 This season brings on a new era for Prep baseball as new head coach, Brent Heavener begins his first season.

However, Heavener is not new to Prep since he was an assistant coach a few years ago.

After struggling with a young and inexperienced team a year ago, the expectations for this season are much higher.

This team is expected to compete for a state title.

Talent is not an issue on this season’s team with four college commits with more to come most likely.

Ace Pitcher and senior Will Warren is recovering from a shoulder injury, and he hopes to return to old form as a starter. Seniors Matthew Myers and Gregory Oden also look to be

22

Varsity baseball schedule for February and March.

The Sentry

Sports Boys’ basketball approaches tournament time will Fletcher The boys’ varsity basketball team looks to finish out their season strong. With only a few games left to play before the D1 AAAA Conference, State, and Overall tournaments, the boys team hopes to get a few more wins to have a better record going in.

Going into their 27th game of the season, the boys have a 12-14 record.

Though the record is not exactly what the team wants going into the tournaments, the boys have played many powerhouses in the state like Oxford and Olive Branch, including other big name public schools around the state. They also dropped a game to MAIS AAA leader Hartfield Academy.

It has been a tough run in conference play as the team by

has dropped seven of their ten games against MAIS AAAA Division 1 opponents such as MRA, JA, Parklane, Copiah, and PCS. Despite this, the team is excited and ready to enter the tournaments to finish out the season on a high note and compete for a championship.

Head Coach Chris Moore describes the season and how they would like to finish: “It’s been an up and down season, we’ve shown flashes of great basketball and being competitive with top teams in our league, and then we’ve had some inconsistent nights.

Headed into the playoffs we’re remaining positive, we’re looking to come in strong and finish the season on a really high note, compete for championships, and put ourselves in sit-

uations to compete for championships. We’re also looking to play complete games. If we play complete games then we are going to like where we end up.”

Coach Moore looks to use this positivity to their advantage to gain an edge over the teams they will face at the end of the season in the tournaments.

With a big road game win over Copiah recently, the team has confidence going into their last two regular season games at home. They also look to carry this confidence and positivity into the D1 AAAA tournament at Prep February 13-18, followed by the AAAA State Tournament at JA February 20-25, and finishing with the overall tournament February 27 through March 3rd at Mississippi College.

Pete Zouboukos knocks down a free throw in a conference win over Parklane Academy. Photo by Hays Dubberly.

Girls’ basketball looks to rebound after a rough start by

Preston Dubberly anD tori

newsome The girls’ basketball team’s season opener was November 1st against Adams County Christian School. November 14th was the first home game for the Lady Patriots when they played Starkville Academy. As of press day, they have played 27 games. They have a record of 6-21.

This is Coach McAnally’s third year to be the head coach at Jackson Prep. He said, “I’ve just enjoyed being home. I am a proud Prep alum. It’s a great privilege to serve as the head girls’ basketball coach at Jackson Prep.” He was previously a coach at East Rankin for eight years. The assistant coach is Juanita Ward who has been at Jackson Prep for three years.

This year started off a little rockier than expected. The girls have had to learn how to work well together despite the age gap, ranging from eighth grade to twelfth grade and have had to make changes to

February 2017

the playbook from last year.

This year has been very different from last year considering that five starters graduated.

Even though they have not won as many games as they had hoped, Coach McAnally said, “Perspective is everything and we are playing in the toughest league in our association with one senior and our leading scorer out for the season with an injury.” Kiarri Little, a junior, tore her ACL on November 8 when they defeated Central Hinds. Even though the girls work extra hard, they go against some very difficult opponents.

The girls get to look forward to the Division I AAAA Tournament which is coming up on Monday, February 13th. It ends Saturday, February 18th.

As for Prep, the girls will most likely play in an elimination game at Prep on February 14th.

A win would allow the girls to advance to the state tournament the following week at JA.

Left: Olivia Sasser shoots a three pointer. Photo Courtesy of Grayson Fulton.

23

Sports Golf season preview Young Athletes to Watch emory maxwell Spring time is almost upon us, and that means one thing: Golf Season. The Jackson Prep golf team is preparing to win its third state title in four years, as have already begun for the 2017 team. The team is in great position to repeat as state champions, they only lost one player to graduation last year. The new players on the team include Patton Kincaid, Owen Abney, Stewart McCullough, and Will Burnham.

This offseason, many members of the team signed their letters of intent to play golf at various Division one colleges. Seniors Cecil Wegener and Charlie Miller both signed to play golf at Ole Miss, and Blair Stockett signed to play golf at Mississippi State. Also, sophomore Simms Abney committed to play golf at the University of Alabama.

Another thing this team did in the offseason was hire a new coach after the deBy

parture of Paul Fryant. The new coach is Matt Collins, a former golfer at Delta State.

Sophomore Simms Abney had this to say about the new coach, “Coach Collins has a background with golf. He played at Delta State and he can really help the team win on and off the course, and as a person.”

The team is scheduled to play in around twenty tournaments, and kicks off the season with the Gator Invitational at the Country Club of Jackson on February 27th and 23rd.

Cecil Wegener wins first place

alex GiBBs emory maxwell While in the previous issues we have primarily mentioned competitors in the main team sports on campus such as football, basketball, soccer, etc., this issue we are featuring a competitor in a different type of sport: horse-riding.

The equestrian team is in its third year of competing, and the team has grown in size every year. One of the new additions to the 2016-2017 team is seventh-grader Kathleen Bronzi.

Kathleen has won several over-fence classes, and was an excellent competitor in her first year on the Jackson Prep equestrian team.

Senior captain of the equestrian team Sarah Riley Jicka says, “I am super proud of Kathleen and how much she has improved. She came out every day during the summer, I believe she has the grit and heart to go far in this sport.”

With hard work, Kathleen looks to improve throughout By

and

the next few years and lead the equestrian team to championships.

Joshua Powe With several talented players, including previous Young Athletes to Watch Cam Brent and Luke Williams, the seventh grade boys look to have a promising future in basketball. This issue, we have another talented young basketball player in this grade to feature: Joshua Powe.

Joshua is the youngest of the Prep basketball players in his family, as his sister, sophomore Olivia Powe, and his brother, senior David Powe, are both members of the varsity basketball teams.

This season in seventh grade, each player was on an intramural team whose games were played during sixth period. Additionally, any player who wanted to participate on the interscholastic team that practiced on certain nights throughout the week and played against other schools

could do so. Joshua was in the starting lineup on both his intramural team and the interscholastic team and a leader on both.

One of Joshua’s best skills on the basketball court is his three point shooting. During one game on the interscholastic team against Hillcrest this season, he made four three pointers in a row, a feat that is considered very tough for a junior high or high school player, much less a seventh grader. This left the other players on the team and the parents watching amazed.

As a shooting guard/small forward, he was able to use his shooting ability and ability to drive to the basket to be a scoring weapon this season.

Over the next few years, it will be exciting to see how Joshua’s game continues to develop and how he and the other talented basketball players in his grade can contribute to leading Jackson Prep basketball teams to success.

Prep Equestrian Team hosts latest show

By Genevieve Hurst After months of preparing fur this, the Jackson Prep Equestrian team recently hosted one of their mane events, the show just before regionals.

On January 21 through 22, the Equestrian Team hosted the Winter Equitation Festival at Providence Hill. Around ten other equestrian teams came from all around the South, including Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Every morning of this two-day competition, horses were assigned to riders by drawing out of a hat. This ensured that it was random and no rider could give themselves an advantage, as you had to be comfortable on any horse in order to do well.

The Jackson Prep Equestrian Team has been

24

pretty stable all year, consistently getting good scores and doing well in their shows. The team is quite large this year, with around fifteen members from all grades at Jackson Prep. They are the first Interscholastic Equestrian Team (IEA) and Middle and High School Equestrian Program in Mississippi. They often travel to other states for their shows, as there are only two other of these Equestrian teams in Mississippi, Prep’s neigh-boring teams from Jackson Academy, which is only middle school equestrian team, and Central Mississippi, centered at Winterview Farm in Madison.

Overall, the competition was a huge success. On the second day, Prep won reserve champion, or second place.

Many Prep riders did very well in their competitions, including Sarah Riley Jicka, who won the Varsity Intermediate on the flat, which means that she was based purely on how she looked on a horse as she did not have to jump. Jicka, a Prep senior and the captain of the team, said of the show, “I’m really excited for regionals, which are also being held at Providence Hills on February 18, so we can work hard and maybe even go to Zones this year. The future is bright for the Equestrian Team.” This show was very important to do well in, as it was the last show before regionals.

If Prep gets first or second place at Regionals, they will be able to go to Zones, and from there, they may even be able to go to Nationals. We can all be proud

of the Equestrian Teams great success at this show and be hopeful that the team’s hard

work will pay off in these last few competitions.

Sarah Riley Jicka. captain of the Equestrian Team, rides at the Winter Equitation Festival. Photo courtsey of Yvonne Jicka.

The Sentry

Sports

The Super Bowl saved this year’s NFL playoffs Ellis Abdo On February 5th the Super Bowl took place in Houston, Texas. The game was between Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. The Patriots were considered by most to be the favorite due to the high level of play from Tom Brady. by

Julio Jones makes an incredible catch.

The Falcons got off to a dream start when DeVonta Freeman scampered into the endzone to provide an early 7-0 lead. After a quick defensive stop, Matt Ryan hit Austin

Hooper for a 19 yard touchdown to extend the lead to 14-0. With 3 minutes left in the first half and the Patriots driving to cut into the lead Tom Brady made his first mistake of the game as Robert Alford jumped a route and returned the interception 82 yards to give the Falcons a 21-0 lead. The Patriots however would rebound a get a field goal to make the halftime score 21-3 Falcons.

After Lady Gaga performed in the halftime show the two teams headed back onto the field for the second half.

The Falcons continued their momentum when Matt Ryan found Tevin Coleman for a six yard touchdown. At this point most fans thought there was no chance the Patriots could overcome the 25 point deficit. Tom Brady, however, is not most fans as he led one of the great-

est comebacks of all time which included 19 points in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime for the first time in Super Bowl history.

The comeback included what will go down as one of the greatest catches in NFL history as Julian Edelman caught a tipped pass off a Falcons’ player’s leg. The Patriots won the toss and immediately marched down the field and scored on a James White rushing touchdown to win the Super Bowl.

Tom Brady was named the game’s MVP for his incredible performance to cement his status as the greatest quarterback of all time. This year’s Super Bowl was one of the greatest games in NFL history and helped make up for this year’s awful postseason.

Above: James White celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown.

Below: Tom Brady holds up the Lombardi trophy after winning the Super Bowl.

Above: Robert Alford eluding Tom Brady for a pick six to give the Falcons a 21-0 lead.

Southeastern Conference basketball is on the rise stEvEn WyAtt It is no secret that the Southeastern Conference is not the most dominant conference in college basketball. The SEC has consistently put teams in the NCAA tournament, but the conference struggles to compete year in and year out with other conferences such as the ACC or Big Ten. The ACC, Big Ten and even the Big 12 have consistently put five, six and even seven teams in the tournament each year.

The SEC may not have the best overall resume in history, but the conference most definitely does not have the worst among power five conferences(ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac 12).

The conference has put up 21 final four appearances, 6 national championships, and 3 national title runner-ups since the expansion of the NCAA tournament to 64 teams, and by

24

all of these accolades account for the fourth best resume out of all Division 1 conferences and the third best among power five conferences.

Although the conference isn’t always the most consistent in the country, one team in it is. The Kentucky Wildcats are the one team in the SEC

that is almost always a lock for the big dance.

Since the tournament expansion in 1985, the Wildcats have won three national championships, two of which came in the mid 1990’s, and have been to the final four eight times.

The Florida Gators also have had a solid tournament

Mississippi State freshman star Lamar Peters attempts a layup.

history having won two national championships(2006 and 2007) and have made five trips to the final four.

The only other SEC team in history with a national title is Arkansas, who provided a title for the conference in 1994.

Though the SEC has many accolades for basketball, the league has yet to get back to its former glory of the 90s and early 2000s where national titles were coming in bunches.

The conference though has made strides under commissioner Greg Sankey, having had 11 NCAA tournament bids in his first three years.

The conference also tied the Big 12 this year in the SEC/Big 12 challenge, which is almost always won easily by the Big 12. Not to mention, Ole Miss almost upset the top five ranked Baylor Bears in the conference challenge.

Kentucky freshman Malik Monk attacks the rim with authority.

The Sentry

Sports

A look back at the college football season that was bennett o’Quinn This past season of college football was filled with exciting and intriguing moments. Many broken records, close games, and the nation’s top players competing at a high level are just a few reasons why this season has been so special.

This year will be one to remember because of the thrilling finish to the season.

One of the most outstanding players during this season was Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. As a QB, He led the Louisville Cardinals to a 9-4 record and a bowl berth behind his extraordinary 51 touchdowns and 5,114 total yards. He is the first player in FBS history to tally 3,300 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards in a single season.

USC beat Penn State 52-49 in the Rose Bowl on a last-second field goal. The Trojans were led by QB Sam Darnold who threw for 450 yards and 5 touchdowns. USC intercepted Penn State QB Trace McSorley with 33 seconds left to put the Trojans into field goal range. Look for both of by

these teams to return stronger next year as they are getting key starters back.

Oklahoma routed Auburn 35-19 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Florida State knocked off Michigan 33-32 in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Florida State scored with less than 40 seconds to take the lead, but Michigan blocked the extra point and returned it to bring the score within one point. The Noles sealed the close game with a late interception.

Mississippi state beat Miami OH in the St. Petersburg bowl 17-16 in an exciting ending. State kicked a field goal late in fourth quarter making the score 17-16, thanks to a 2nd quarter blocked field goal.

Miami marched down the field late in the fourth and attempted a game-winning field goal with five seconds left. The kick was blocked for a second time in the game, and Mississippi State came out victorious.

Ole Miss did not qualify for a bowl game finishing the season 5-7. Injuries to Chad Kelly, John Youngblood, and Ken Webster played a big role

in the late-season struggles for the rebels. Upcoming sophomore QB Shea Patterson and other young talent are the foundation of an exciting future for Ole Miss Football.

Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Washington were the four teams selected by the national committee to be in the College Football Playoff. These selections brought controversy as many people thought Penn State should have gotten in because they beat Ohio State and won the Big Ten conference. Alabama vs. Washington and Clemson vs. Ohio State were two huge games that decided who would play for a national championship.

Both Alabama and Clemson blew out their opponents on the way to an easy win and the national championship game. The national championship brought immense hype of the matchup between Deshaun Watson and Alabama’s defense.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said all year that they had the best player in the country in Deshaun Watson, even though

he finished second in Heisman voting.

Alabama’s defense was one of the strongest defenses in the country this past year. The defense scored 11 touchdowns last year, more than some SEC teams could score on offense.

This defense was tabbed by many as the best defense that has ever been coached under Nick Saban. They would have the ultimate test of stopping Deshaun Watson and Clemson’s electrifying offense.

Alabama’s defense played very well early in the game as Clemson could not get anything going on offense. Alabama jumped out to an early lead which they kept for much of the game. Inexperience showed as Jalen Hurts struggled throughout the game. Alabama led at halftime 14-7 and went up 24-14 in the third quarter. Both defenses were worn down late in the game and the injury of Bo Scarbrough was a key moment in the third quarter.

Clemson took the lead in the fourth quarter 28 to 24.

Alabama responded with a long

trick play followed by Jalen Hurts touchdown run to regain the lead 31-28. This gave Deshaun Watson two minutes to march down the field for a touchdown or a field goal.

Watson took over the game at this point and led Clemson to inside the five yard line. Almost everyone expected Clemson to kick a field goal and send the game into overtime, but they went for the touchdown. Watson hit Hunter Renfrow with the game-winning pass with one second remaining on the clock. He finished the game with 420 passing yards and 4 total touchdowns. This game and performance cemented Deshaun Watson’s legacy as one of the greats in college football history.

This was a very exciting year of football, and football fans should be hoping for another great year as Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, and Jake Browning are among many stars who will be returning next year. Next season will be a good one, but I don’t know if it can live up to the ending we’ve had this past year.

College football programs build future on signing day Duncan Jones It’s the most hopeful time of the year… for college football fans. National Signing Day is known as the premier time when high-school football stars commit to their school of choice, and this year there are plenty of electric players on the board.

Not coming as a surprise, Alabama has successfully comprised the number one national ranking for the seventh year in a row. A few notable signees from the class of 2017 include Najee Harris, a running back from Antioch, California, and offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood from Pensacola, Florida.

Mississippi State signed several four star recruits and by

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finished with the 24th best class in the nation, and Ole Miss followed not far behind at 30th. MSU landed four-star dual threat quarterback Keytaon Thompson along with East Mississippi Community College defensive end Chauncey Rivers, a four star recruit as well.

Ole Miss continued its streak of signing talented receivers for the class of 2017.

D.D. Bowie, a four star out of Morton, highlighted the class and is accompanied by three stars Braylon Sanders and Javonta Peyton. Although Ole Miss’ class was not exceptional this year, Freeze’s line up had the most freshman reps in the

entire SEC last year, so fans have plenty to be excited about for Rebel football.

Jackson Prep’s own Barrett Bufkin, a senior, signed with Mississippi College on signing day. Barrett is the only Prep football player in the class

of 2017 that has signed with a collegiate team. At Prep, he played defensive tackle and offensive guard and started on varsity during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Mississippi’s most noteworthy signees are Cam Akers,

Ole Miss signee D.D. Bowie is a bright spot in Ole Miss’s not up to standards class.

a running back from Clinton High School who received a five-star rating and, according to 247Sports, is the number two recruit in the entire country, and Willie Gay, an outside linebacker from Starkville. Akers committed to Florida State and is expected to compete for a starting job at FSU his freshman year. Willie Gay stayed close to home and signed with Mississippi State. Both players had high interest from other schools including LSU, Alabama, and Ole Miss, to name a few.

The Sentry

Sports Opinion

NFL over time rule desperately needs to change Sports Opinion: RJ Green Super Bowl 51 was an intense game that came down to the very end. For the very first time in NFL history, the Super Bowl went into Overtime. It was a game full of momentum with Tom Brady and the Patriots taking over the second half to come back from a 28-3 deficit.

Both offenses had great games, and it seemed that whoever would get the ball first would win the game.

The Patriots did just that, and they won the game on their first drive from a James

White rushing touchdown. The game seemingly came down to a coin toss, and it is a shame to see such a great game decided by a coin toss. This same scenario impacted a playoff game last season when the Cardinals beat the Packers in overtime while Aaron Rodgers sat on the sidelines without a chance to respond. The NFL should change the rules to allow both teams to get the ball in overtime. If both teams score touchdowns on their opening drives of overtime, the game would

then be in a sudden-death situation and the team that had the ball first would be going for the win on their second possession.

This or even the college football system seems to be much more fair to both teams while also being much more entertaining than the current NFL system. If the NFL adopted this same system, it would give both teams an equal opportunity to win the game. Fans also would much rather prefer seeing both teams get a shot. For example, seeing Matt Ryan and the Falcons get an opportunity to respond to the Patriots first score would have made the game much more entertaining. The Falcons were the better team for most of the game, and they deserved to get a chance in overtime.

The NFL seems to always make things much more complicated than they need to be. The NFL needs to do what is best for the players and the fans, and this change would make it better for both. The

rule has cost many teams a fair shot to win a game, and it is time to put an end to that.

The NCAA should rethink the targeting rule in college Sports Opinion: Nevin Wells As many of you know, concussions are a serious topic in all leagues of football. As a result of the serious head injuries, the NFL and NCAA came to an agreement of creating a penalty, called targeting. Targeting is a penalty designed to protect the safety and health of the athletes. Targeting is referred to as aiming or leading with the crown of his own helmet against the helmet of an opposing player. Targeting can also be seen as the contact towards the head or neck area of a defenseless opposing player.

In the NFL, the targeting penalty results in a 15 yard penalty and a fine to the player ranging from how severe the hit is. This differs from the NCAA greatly. If a targeting penalty is called in a college football

February 2017

game, the play will be reviewed and if confirmed, there will be a 15 yard penalty and the ejection of the player for four whole quarters. That being said, if a player is to get ejected due to targeting in the middle of one game, the penalty will also be in action during the next game until the player misses four quarters.

Targeting has caused a huge question in college football players and fans today, whether it is fair or not. The rule seems to be a bit unfair.

For example, plays during a football game happen in just few seconds. The average time between when a ball is thrown or handed off to first contact is less than 5 seconds. To make a big play on a ball, you can not think about how to hit, you

simply just react. The rule of targeting seems to take away the quick reaction from many players because they are simply scared to get ejected. Also in contact sports, playing scared usually results in more injuries.

I agree with the 15 yard penalty, but ejected the player from the game seems a little absurd. A key player for the defense can be ejected from the game by just playing full speed and flying to the football, which most players are coached to do.

Although there are some points to which the ejection rule of targeting seems legit and fair.

These points lay under the category of the “defenseless player�.

When a player is defenseless and is struck in the head and neck area, the ejection of the player is necessary. Targeting in college football has caused a dispute, the rule should be altered and not as harsh towards the players. Athletes are not out there playing the game to physically hit someone in the

head to injure their opponent, it simply just happens, it’s football. If you are an athlete playing the game of football you should be aware of the injuries that can happen before you step on to the field.

The new rule of targeting

geting resulting in 15 yards and a warning, and the second time for the same player resulting in 15 yards again and an ejection. The players deserve more than one chance before getting ejected, simply because they are just playing as hard as

seems to take away the physical and tough game of football.

Many players in the NFL and NCAA have come out publicly to announce their disagreement with the rule. I believe if the rule was altered in the NCAA to: the first foul for tar-

they can to help their team win.

The rule seems to almost take the sport football out of football and needs to be altered.

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Opinion

Remains of Sylvandell bring history to life Jicka on Jackson

by Sarah Riley Jicka Growing up, I always knew my area of Belhaven was a little different, that my house sat near the mysterious ruins of something great. When playing with my dogs in the backyard, I would frequently trip over blocks of concrete that were half submerged in the ground, hidden by thick wisteria vines and leaves.

These hard chunks were all that was left of Sylvandell, a 1920’s development centered around connecting the residential community with the ravine-filled woodlands behind Laurel Street.

The brainchild of Belhaven resident L.L. Mayes, who called it a “beauty spot where one would

expect to hear Pan playing on his reed pipes and to see fairies and wood nymphs dancing in the dells to his irresistible music,” Sylvandell featured entrances with statues of Pan and female nymphs sculpted by Joseph Barras.

At some point in the latter 20th century these statues were dismantled and thrown into the woods to clear the way for newer developments. I constantly searched for the statue of Pan as a child, running around my backyard with friends and shovels. My sister did the same.

Although we never found Pan, another statue, a nymph named Eve by neighbors, resided in the yard of

my elderly neighbor for many years, fueling our curiosity to find more statues. When the neighbor died, many of his possessions were sold. Eve was threatened to be lost again when a man claiming he had been given Eve by the old man arrived to take her away in the back of his pickup truck.

The neighbors were disgruntled by this man’s entitlement to a historical piece of the neighborhood and asked for written evidence to this claim.

While he failed to show any evidence, it was really Eve

who made the decision to stay for him. The statue, weighing in at more than 1000 pounds of pure concrete, proved to be quite cumbersome. The man tried to use a forklift to lift her into the back of his truck, but only succeeded in toppling her over. The neighbors, now quite unhappy with how the man was treating the statue, convinced him, with the help of the historic preservation society, to leave it be.

She stayed on her side for over a year before being righted again when a young

family moved into the house.

With the aid of an excavator and a series of ropes and pulleys, Eve’s dignity was restored.

While I have not heard of any sightings of Pan or other mystical beings recently, I am hopeful that passionate people will carry on the legend of Sylvandell and its wondrous inhabitants.

Below: a former entrance to Sylvandell

How to follow through on your resolution When Donuts Don’t Work Out

by Maclain Kennedy It’s easy to make a New Year’s Resolution. It’s hard to keep a New Year’s Resolution. It’s easy to say that you want to eat healthier and exercise more this year. It’s hard to eat healthier and exercise more this year.

Let’s face it: resolutions aren’t fun. You feel obliged to make them in hopes that 2017 will somehow be different from 2016. However, it can be totally different.

Making a plan is the obvious first step in keeping up with your resolutions. If you want to eat

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healthier this year, do something about it. Go to the store with a list of what you need and get healthy snacks and foods for post workouts and late night cravings.

If you go out to eat, be mindful of what you order or choose someplace that has a healthy menu. Try not to stop at your favorite fast food restaurant so much; Instead, go home and eat something there.

When you’re in the school cafeteria, gas station, or wherever you may be, put down the Payday and pick up the protein bar (you’ll thank yourself later). There’s tons of

healthy snacks out there. You could have either two cups of watermelon, half an avocado, one cup of blueberries, two cups of air popped popcorn, or two kiwis for one hundred calories of less each. Would you rather have nine peanut m&m’s or two cups of raspberries? They both have 100 calories, but you’ll feel better and healthier after eating the fruit, and you’ll actually be full.

Research from UCLA shows that eating unhealthy foods causes you to feel more tired. Also, you are more likely to eat unhealthy foods when you’re tired because your body finds it rewarding. Next time you’re up late studying and you reach for the cookies, remember, it’s your brain craving the unhealthy food.

If you’re in any way related to Jackson Prep, whether you attend, teach, or drive your child back

and forth three times a day, it’s possible that you’ll feel tired at some point throughout the day. With all the sports, homework, and other after school activities, it’s easy to feel stressed out. If you are a victim of tiredness, there’s several things you can do to wake up.

Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. It’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day. When you wake up, drink a glass of water to get a good start on your day.

Getting sunlight is another important factor. Open the blinds in your room when you get up in the morning. When your body is in the sun it gets notified to wake up. If you can go outside during activity, lunch, or homeroom, your body would really appreciate it (and maybe you’d catch a tan).

Exercising is an important part of staying healthy. Getting

out and running, biking, swimming, or whatever it is that you enjoy is a good way to be active. Even when you feel tired, going for a walk can be good to get your blood flowing.

Exercising gives you energizing brain chemicals, and you’ll feel great.

It can be hard to keep up with your goals for 2017, but don’t give up. It’s not too late to try again with your resolutions. If you know you need to eat healthier and exercise more, just remember, spring break is right around the corner.

The Sentry

Opinion

Is Prep too demanding on students?

Opinion: Hays Dubberly All Jackson Prep students are pushed to the extreme in academics and extracurricular activities. There is so much pressure to succeed in and out of the classroom. For the most, it is great for students to have this high school experience socially and academically, but it feels sometimes students are pushed too far.

Throughout my Prep career, I have always felt that the school strongly encourages students to participate in multiple activities. This helps you become friends with people that one would have never had the opportunity to meet. I have

made some lifelong friends from football, tennis, and other activities through our mutual interest.

However, I have found teachers who are not very understanding about athletics and arts since it does not “help you in the future.” Whenever I hear a teacher say something along these lines, I laughed to myself knowing how ridiculous that sounded. Students should be able to enjoy these activities since many will have the chance to participate in them again.

When I was in the junior high, I heard a teacher tell a

student, “Just quit some of your sports and focus solely on school.” If a student only does school work, then this person will miss out on many fun activities and great friendships from high school. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose that Prep wants every student to have?

Despite all things that Prep has allowed me to be a part of, I feel as if I have missed some things that I have always wanted to do. For instance, there are many books that I have never been able to read.

I have also had to miss some basketball and baseball games because of schoolwork.

I definitely do not regret the sports and activities that I have participated in, but I have always wanted to see what a play or musical atmosphere is

like even though I am not talented in any aspect of art. It would have been a great way for me to meet even more people. Sadly, I missed out on this high school experience because I had too many other things to balance.

With the demand from Prep, school spirit has declined tremendously. I vividly remember Josh Williams soaring through the air slamming a basketball while I was in the seventh and eighth grade.

Now, it is a rarity to see a student section with more than forty people. Recently, I went to a basketball game with a couple friends, and we were the only students in attendance.

Most students were probably at home working on their hours worth of homework.

As a senior in my second semester, I am still wondering why I have hours of homework every night. Sadly, all this excess work has decreased my passion to learn, so it is difficult for me to have the will to sit down and actually do my homework. However, my grades do not matter because I have already turned all my applications for college. It is honestly pointless to overwork yourself senior year.

So, when will Prep learn that overworking students is not the recipe for success? Prep needs to be less demanding on its students, so students can have more opportunities to enjoy their high school experience.

For a complete version of the Opinion section, check out a physical copy Reward seniors with an early leave of The Sentry could skip activity and home

Guest Opinion: Keeton Landfair

Four years. It’s been four long years since the senior class nervously nudged their way into the halls of the senior high. We’ve worked hard at our academics, while at the same time juggling multiple extracurricular activities. We conquered the fears of freshman year, the awkwardness of sophomore year, the stress of junior year, and we are nearing the end of the fabled senior year.

Senior year has granted us new found privileges, senior lunch, and skip days, just to name a few. Don’t get me wrong, as a senior myself

February 2017

I will tell you that the senior class loves these privileges, and we are thankful for them.

However, I can’t help but notice that we still get out at three o’clock everyday.

I’m only bringing this up because it seems every other senior across the state of Mississippi gets out at least two hours earlier.

I know that our current scheduling makes this idea seem impossible. In theory, it seems it would require a senior to miss half of fifth and sixth period. However, with a little rearranging I believe it could work. Perhaps seniors

Would it be too much to ask to allow seniors to get out at 1:30?

room and go straight to fourth, running a 1:30 bell dismissal.

Let’s be honest, why do we even have that homeroom time slot? We use it once a week on Monday and we don’t think about it again until a week later. That could instead be class time. Personally, I would rather miss going to the cafeteria or library during activity and homeroom if that meant I got out at 1:30 everyday.

Now some of you are going to complain and say “Well when am I going to go get my chips”, or “But I always do my homework activity!”. These are easy fixes, bring a snack and do your homework at home. It’s not as crazy as it sounds. Once the senior complete their required amount of electives, they could technically have a study hall at the end of the day, which

means they could leave early Prep is going to a new bell schedule within the next couple of years, so my encouragement would be to incorporate early senior dismissals in there somehow. Also not to mention, it would cause senior morale to sky rocket and eradicate a lot of the hardcore cases of senioritis, because we would have something to look forward to daily!

This plan isn’t flawless, I’m not saying there’s one specific way to do it either. However, I do feel it is very possible to do and should be incorporated. It would be the icing on the cake for all of the hard work seniors have done the last few years, it’s well deserved.

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Opinion My wish for a new schedule: longer classes Recently, Jackson Prep hired a consulting firm to assist the school in determining if there need to be changes to our class schedule.

Our school currently runs what is known as an “old-fashioned” type schedule, where students have each of the classes they take everyday for a fifty minute period of time.

However, other schools do things differently, such as a block schedule where students only go to two or three classes in a day for an hour and a half to two hours at a time and then go to the other classes they take the next day. Basically, it is an “A-day” and a “B-day” system.

There are several pros and cons to a block schedule. One pro is that teachers would be able to discuss concepts more in depth due to longer amounts of time. Perhaps with more time some of the concepts that are confusing at first glance could be made clearer initially and allow for better overall understanding.

A block schedule also could be especially helpful in science classes because it would allow more time to finish labs as well

as in English or history classes where students are writing in-

Opinion: Alex Gibbs

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class papers, as extended periods of time would allow for better writing if students are not feeling crunched for time. This would also allow an extra day for homework assignments to be completed for each class.

Additionally, a block schedule would help simulate a college schedule, where you only go to certain classes two or three times a week. Considering we are a school that prides itself on being a college preparatory school, this could be particularly beneficial.

One of the cons to a block schedule is that teenagers’ attention spans can often be fleeting, and a time period in excess to ninety minutes of one subject may cause students to zone out and not be able to learn the material well.

Furthermore, students might not remember material as well for tests with a gap day in between when they go to those classes.

Another con is that elective classes such as Fusion and

Reveillon show choirs, junior high baseball and basketball, and the Sentry, Earthwinds, and Precis staffs, that would normally meet everyday in the current schedule, would not be able to meet everyday. Because many of these groups have practices every day during school, they would have to practice after school instead under a new schedule. This, however, would not be feasible because there simply is not enough space on campus to fit all of these groups after school in addition to the high school ones that already practice after school.

Perhaps a solution would be to have a shorter period of time designated for elective classes that would meet everyday. However, there would still not be enough classrooms and facilities to provide a sufficient space for all of those electives to meet.

Because of the logistics that would have to be worked out with a block schedule, I believe another alternative to be best for Jackson Prep. I think a very simple adjustment to our schedule could end up very favorable for our students: changing the amount of class periods from six to seven.

If necessary, with the addition of a seventh period, we could start the day at 8:00 and end at 3:15 since there would need to be more time in the day because otherwise the classes would potentially be too short in length.

A significant upgrade put in place with the implementation of a seventh class period would be that students could either take another elective they would like to take but couldn’t with six class periods or students who are already taking the electives of their preference could take a study hall, allowing more time to complete homework.

With seven class periods, there is one thing that I would like to see be added to the schedule.

Students at Jackson Prep, especially those that participate in extracurricular activities that meet after school, have a very busy schedule that allows little room for down time and often requires late hours to complete homework. One thing that I believe would allow more time to be available is having practices that would start in the new hypothetical 7th period and continue on past

For a complete version of the Opinion section, check out a physical copy of The Sentry

when school ends. With this adjustment, practices could end closer to 4:15 or 4:30 instead of 5:30 or 5:45, which would allow for students that drive to get out of the 5:00 work traffic and give students more time to do anything that they would need to do after they leave to go home from school. I believe this change could improve these students’ morale, performance in the classroom, and energy throughout the school week.

Overall, I think it is not absolutely necessary to change our current six period schedule.

Furthermore, if a change to a block style schedule was made, I would not be completely opposed to it as it would provide a different feel to school.

Even so, I believe the best schedule for our school involves an old school type approach but with the simple addition of a seventh class period.

The Sentry

Staff Editorials

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

Dining Commons: Chaotic meal time

The Dining Commons is a frequent topic of discussion in the Sentry classroom. Although we greatly appreciate the hard work of all the cafeteria workers and some of the improvements to the food, there are many things that we find wrong with the cafeteria that we feel very strongly for.

Things like a “tax” charged on kids who are responsible enough to bring their card and pay for their food is absurd. Now, we do understand that the cafeteria is more under the control of Valley Foods and not Jackson Prep but things need to change. Coming back from the break, students would not think that anything could change in the dining commons. Man, we were wrong with that one.

We as students are not informed at all of upcharges and other hidden fees. The funnier part about it is the fact that with all the extra

money they are sneakily taking from us, they will not even enlarge the area in which we get our food or supply us with enough food to get through the day.

These are hidden fees like a credit card company would do, but there was never a sign and agreement for the students.

During the lunch rush, there are times where there are open cash registers when there are one or two readily available. It is comical to watch the outrageous line of students backed up into the salad bar. We feel that there is a need to be three registers open at all times during lunch hour.

The introduction of scanning all items with a barcode is a nightmare. As if the lines were not long enough to deter entrance into the dining commons, scanning items only clog up the dining commons even more.

For instance, the premade club sandwiches are

excellent, but the dining commons seems to run out of them by 12:45. And once those bad boys are gone, the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are gone by 12:50. It is such a shame when this happens because the sandwich line is too long to even bother with, or when you get to the front of the line you find that they are out of bread. These are things that could be easily changed.

This is not something that has only happened a few times, but rather every day. It seems rather insane that they can not figure out that they have a large demand and no supply.

Additionally, the new “Meatless Monday” is not a good attraction for students. If you want a vegetable plate just bypass ordering meat and fill your plate with salads and healthy foods. No one is forcing you to eat the meat, but many students are suffering from basically having a whole

section of the cafeteria taken away from them.

Before the upcharges, candy used to be the main attraction. It seemed that the wait to get a cookie would be unending, but ever since they charge you $1.25 for any candy instead of a dollar, the line is almost empty. $2 used to buy you 2 candy bars but now that it is $1.25 you get one candy bar and a few quarters that you will definitely lose. A student could just as easily go to the Chevron and buy candy for 89 cents, or even 69 cents.

We think that the dining commons would help itself, as well as students, by paying attention to these issues.

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Lunch lines backed up during the lunch rush. Photo by Jack Young

Monday morning homeroom needs to come to an end Monday mornings are * This is the opinion of the filled with dread for Jack5th period Sentry I class son Prep senior high stuand notStudents the entireare Sentry dents. trying staff as back a whole. to get into the swing

of the week and going to homeroom on Mondays can be hard.

We, as a staff, feel that if there is no homeroom Tuesday through Friday, why do we need to have it Monday? It is said that homeroom is necessary for teachers to make announcements and students to check

February 2017

their emails, but we feel more than capable of checking emails on our own. Announcements are also sent by email and aany other urgent announcements can be told to us over the intercom.

Our staff feels this way because on the days we go to homeroom, the announcements are said the first thirty seconds of being in there, and the rest of the time we sit there in silence. Most students just sit and either play games or look at the In-

ternet on their computers.

Having homeroom also makes it much more difficult for students to seek help from their teachers or make up an assignment that they missed. We then feel as though we don’t have as much time to get help because we have homeroom, and many of us just decide not to get help at all.

Also, as we mentioned earlier, Mondays can be long, and students really need the normal allotment

If we don’t have it for the last four days of the week, we don’t need it for the first

of time for a break during the middle of the day.

Overall, we just feel that not much is accomplished during thehomeroom period.

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Candid & Random