USJ Magazine Spring 2020

SPRING

2020

N EW

BEGINNINGS

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of JACKSON

232/240 McClellan Road Jackson, TN 38305 731.664.0812 • usjbruins.org

BOARD of TRUSTEES

USJ’s Mission

Sonia Boyapati

We instill a passion for academic, artistic, and athletic excellence, while committing to personal integrity, mutual respect, and lifelong learning.

Caroline Campbell Jennifer Craig Brian Dougan Matt Fite

Identity Statement

Anita Hamilton

USJ is a non-denominational, non-sectarian, college preparatory school dedicated to academic excellence and to our founding principles of faith, service, and scholarship. Based on a heritage grounded in Judeo-Christian values, we provide an educational environment where students of all ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds are valued and respected. The faculty, administration, and students are empowered to nurture and embrace the Judeo-Christian values and our operating principles. Through the fulfillment of our mission and adherence to these core principles and values, we prepare our graduates to be responsible and informed world citizens.

Darrell King James Kirkland Geoffrey Lindley Preston Miller Ryan Porter Michelle Prince James Robinson Ashby Scott Trey Teague Kathryn Tucker Jeff Watlington John Whybrew

SPR ING 2020 CONTENTS Community.....................

Academics.. .....................

Faculty.............................

Arts.. .................................

Athletics..........................

Alumni.. ............................

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ADMINISTRATION Stuart Hirstein Head of School David Suber Upper School Director Don Roe Middle School Director, Associate Head of School Louise Dunn Lower School Director Laura Moore Director of Admissions

A Message from Our Board Chairman Dear USJ Family, In the center of our school crest is an oak tree with an acorn inlaid within it. The acorn is symbolic of a student’s potential and starting place at USJ; the oak tree represents the end result of achieving our mission at USJ. Demonstrated in every single area on campus this spring, we are growing acorns into oak trees academically, artistically, and athletically. It’s a great legacy, and it’s awesome to see it in action all over campus this time of year.

Spring is always a busy time at USJ, and this spring of 2020 is no different.

Arts at the U is just around the corner. The stage at Blankenship Theater has been busy with productions of Grease and Frozen JR while the lower school has hosted performances of Circus, Circus and Destination Rock n’ Roll.

Spring sports have also begun. Baseball, softball, soccer, and track are in full motion as our parking lots are full most afternoons and evenings with parents, friends, and other fans coming to campus to cheer on our Bruins. In support, the new turf field is helping our teams practice and compete on weather days that, in the past, have been inaccessible for our teams and students.

Kindergarteners are ready to graduate to first grade. Fifth graders are preparing to make the jump to the “big school.”

Eighth graders are anticipating the next four years of High School. And our seniors are hearing back from colleges on a daily basis to see where the next stage of life leads them.

Our campus also continues to evolve physically as Phase I of our Campus Master Plan completes, and Phase II begins.

Crews are finalizing the upgrades to Carlock Stadium (football stadium) with brick and aluminum panels as the new Lady Bruins athletic facility continues to progress. Nearly 100 new trees were planted over the winter, including, of course, some oak trees, as USJ is launching an on-campus arboretum project. This summer will see the construction of new entrance canopies for our Upper School and Middle School drop-offs as well as an improved outdoor eating area for our cafeteria. In the late summer or early fall, we are expecting to break ground on new tennis courts.

To all who have given financially to make these improvements a reality, thank you! If you are interested in learning more about how to invest in USJ, please contact the school. There are many ways to give and to volunteer. We continue to push toward our fundraising goal of $5 million, and we are very close to achieving that goal!

Springtime is also the season of re-enrollment and enrollment of new students at USJ. Across campus, there is a great feeling of optimism about our future. If you know of any families looking for something more for their children, please point them to USJ. Your help in this effort is so important. Laura Moore in our admissions office will be happy to tell them all there is to know about the USJ family.

In the following pages, you will read about Mr. Don Roe, our incoming Head of School. In so many ways, Mr. Roe is uniquely qualified and prepared to lead our school at this time in our history. We are excited about the days ahead with Mr. Roe at the helm. Please help us in welcoming him to this new role.

At the same time, we are mindful of and thankful for the leadership that Mr. Stu Hirstein has provided for USJ over the last seven years. We wish Stu and Mimi all blessings and success in their new ventures in Florida.

Finally, we had a great time celebrating USJ at our 50th Anniversary Celebration. We shared a lot of memories and took some time to thank our founders, our teachers, our alumni, and our parents, for all they have contributed in so many ways over 50 years. As our USJ community continues to reflect on this great achievement, please know that USJ would not be what it is today without you.

Our world is constantly changing, and our local West Tennessee community continues to evolve. We must continue to plan for these changes, and our USJ family must continue to adapt. To that end, our campus continues to improve. Our faculty and staff continue to seek excellence in how we reach out to and love our students and in how and what we teach. Your board of trustees continues to assess the short and long-term strategic challenges and opportunities facing us now and into the future. As a USJ family, we continue to work together to care for and to promote the values that have sustained us for 50 years.

In doing so, may our acorns receive all they need to become strong oak trees, and may our oak trees continue to positively impact our community and our world.

Thank you for your support and Go Bruins!

James Kirkland

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Our Next Head of School The 2020-2021 school year will mark another important milestone in our school’s history. Our own Don Roe will begin his tenure in June as USJ’s ninth Head of School since the 1987 consolidation of Episcopal Day School and Old Hickory Academy. Don has worn many hats within our school community over the years, including that of esteemed educator, Department Chair, Director, and Associate Head of School. He is also the first Head to have risen through the ranks at USJ as an educator.

Don began his journey at our school in July of 2012 as Social Sciences Department Chair and Advanced Placement U.S. History instructor. Upon early visits to the school, he was impressed by the energy and enthusiasm for excellence shown by the faculty and administration. It was also one of the reasons why he accepted the job. Over the next few years, Don spread roots at USJ as he became the “Voice of the Bruins” for both football and basketball, starred in a school theater production, chaired a strategic planning committee, and led the school’s most recent accreditation process.

Many students and recent alumni will fondly remember their time in U.S. History, as well as his annual challenge to run 40 miles in 40 days between Thanksgiving and the new year. Encouraging students to be their personal best with humility and service has always been at the core of Don’s focus. He is dedicated to USJ’s mission and the development of our children, faculty, and staff.

When asked by members of the Board of Trustees during the search process about his educational philosophy, he said, “At every level of education, simply stated, the goal is to develop people. To grow children, they must be loved, engaged, and challenged consistently. Focused and energetic leadership requires modeling, inspiration, and direction.”

Upon the announcement of his selection as the next Head of School, Don shared these thoughts: “I am honored to be a part of USJ. It’s an exciting time to be a Bruin as we see the individual elements of our Master Plan come to life on our campus. This school plays such an important role in the West Tennessee community, and I am truly committed to the future of our school, and upholding the traditions and standards that USJ represents.”

Don received his Bachelor of Science degree from Lambuth University and later his master’s in History from the University of Memphis. Since 1994, he has taught at the middle school, high school, and university levels almost exclusively in Jackson, Tennessee. Don has also served outside USJ as an AP Reader and as a Southern Association of Independent Schools accreditation team member for other SAIS schools. In 2017, he was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam to the Tennessee Historical Commission, where he still serves.

His wife of 22 years Melinda is also a lifelong educator, and their son Max is a seventh-grader at USJ. Don is also a longstanding member of First Baptist Church of Medina, where he has taught Sunday School for 15 years.

Like you, we look forward to seeing what exciting things are in store for USJ under Don’s leadership. Please join us in welcoming Don Roe as our next Head of School at USJ.

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The Good Morning Challenge If you haven’t seen the video on our Facebook page, check it out at facebook.com/usjbruins to see what the kids have been talking about. Each morning in the first quarter, our future Head of School Don Roe walked the Middle School hallways to greet each class with an energetic “good morning” greeting. Mr. Roe loves to see happy and enthusiastic faces in the morning. He said, “I am a proponent of people greeting each other and making eye contact. You know, actually engaging! A smile and a positive word can go a long way.”

The challenge began because some of the students were giving him not-so-enthusiastic greetings as he passed by in the mornings. So, he issued a challenge to each homeroom in the Middle School to find fun ways to return the most positive and enthusiastic “good morning!” greeting possible. The teachers and students got creative, and the more the contest went on, the daily “good mornings” became full of life and a lot of good feelings!

Mr. Roe said this about the challenge; “I was completely blown away. The students and teachers have worked together, organized, and coordinated these, and I believe it has made a positive impact on our overall culture. I believe positive interactions (and negative ones) can be contagious. Treating each other well in the classroom spills into the hallways and onto the practice field. Students who collaborate on a project, work together in a dramatic production, and pray collectively in FCA are going to have fewer conflicts in the hours and days that follow. And how one addresses the first hour of the day directly impacts the second.”

The students kept it up, and the video was shot about halfway through the challenge. The winning class was to receive a special breakfast during break time in the cafeteria. So, you can imagine how creative the kids became as the weeks rolled on. In the end, it was too hard to select a clear winner.

As a result, all of the Middle School homerooms were rewarded for their positive efforts. Imagine 42 dozen donuts being delivered for the kids – what a fun place to be in the mornings!

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DEVELOPMENT NEWS USJ’s 50th Celebration On Saturday, February 8, our school community gathered at the Carl Perkins Civic Center to celebrate the 50th year of USJ and our two founding schools, Episcopal Day School and Old Hickory Academy. What an incredible night! Over 500 alumni, faculty, parents, and grandparents came together to remember the past and visit with old friends. The evening offered a program honoring the history of USJ, as well as cocktails, dinner, dancing, and music with The 12 South Band. The program for the night was arranged by our Fine Arts Department and included student performances by USJ’s Concert Choir, Jazz Band, and theatre students. After the event, alumni parent Ron Kirkland shared, “It was fabulous, especially the presentations by the students. Allison (Alderson DeMarcus ‘95) was a great emcee, and the rest of the speakers did an excellent job as well. Just a great event for USJ! It was wonderful to see so many people that I haven’t seen in a long time.” A special thank you to Assistant Development Director and Alumni Relations Director Cathy Garrett for organizing this incredible event. The Development staff would also like to thank our 50th Celebration Planning Committee and our many volunteers and students who helped to make this momentous occasion an extraordinary evening for all!

USJ Teleparty a Success!

More than 30 parents and grandparents gathered on Monday, November 11, to raise money for USJ’s Annual Fund Teleparty (formerly the phone-a-thon). As a non-profit, USJ depends on your donation to the Annual Fund to bridge the gap between the cost of our programs and the tuition received. Tuition costs for schools that are similar in size and programs are often 50 percent higher.

Giving to the Annual Fund each year, in addition to the specific programs you wish to support, helps keep tuition affordable and competitive for West Tennessee.

In a record night, callers raised over $61,000 and secured gifts from 161 parents – meaning over 20 percent of USJ parents gave to the Annual Fund! If you have not had the chance to give and didn’t get a phone call that night, it’s only because we ran out of time! However, we still need everyone to participate.

To donate online, go to: usjbruins.org/give.

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USJ’s New Look Over the last few months, you may have noticed that the new fencing and front gates have neared completion. As a part of Phase 1 of the Campus Master Plan, the new entrances and fencing will not only enhance the look of the campus but will improve security both during the school day and on nights and weekends.

During the majority of the day, all campus traffic will flow in through our main entrance (Entrance 2) in the center of campus. This protocol allows us to better monitor traffic flow and gives us one point of entry to close in the case of a campus-wide lock-down.

Entrance 2 will remain open in the evenings and on the weekends, but all four gates will close each night until morning practices begin. Automobiles can exit through any gate on campus by approaching the gates slowly as you leave school.

If you haven’t been on campus in a while, we hope that you will stop by and take a look at the many recent improvements. We are thankful for the generous support of our Imagine More capital campaign donors who have helped to make this project possible.

See the New Playgrounds!

The start of the school year began with our students watching the new Lower School playgrounds nearing completion. They anxiously waited for the day when the new play areas would open. Outdoor play is an integral part of life at USJ because our faculty and leaders know that it enhances the process of learning.

When the kids were finally able to experience what they had been waiting for, it was a happy day!

You may have seen the groundbreaking photos in the last magazine or heard about the new playgrounds from your children. However, seeing these new facilities full of children playing is the best part of this project! If you have not been on campus to see them in real life, check out the video of our kids in action on our Facebook page.

The new playgrounds were made possible by our Parents Club, the parent and faculty volunteers who served on the Playground Committee, as well as many generous donations to the ongoing Imagine More capital campaign. If you have not given to the capital campaign, there are still many projects in the Campus Master Plan that could benefit from your support. For more information, contact Chief Development Officer Russ Ellis at rellis@usjbruins.org.

Up Next on the Campus Master Plan After the completion of the Lady Bruins Facility, next on the Campus Master Plan is to enhance the entrances of the Middle and Upper Schools, as well as outdoor dining improvements just outside of the cafeteria. If you are interested in supporting these projects for our students or learning more about this stage of the Campus Master Plan, contact Chief Development Officer Russ Ellis at rellis@usjbruns.org.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

RIFA Collections Break New Record!

At the start of the fall semester, USJ teamed up again with Trinity Christian Academy to collect food for the local organization Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA). RIFA’s mission is to lead and engage the local community in the fight against hunger. In honor of USJ’s 50th anniversary, we set a lofty goal to collect 50,000 pounds of food for RIFA. Administration challenged the students to meet that goal, and if they did, the reward was a day off from school. And if you’re wondering – yes, they earned it!

Together with Trinity, 85,306 pounds of food was collected in a week, which is a new record! The generous donations of USJ families amounted to 55,000 pounds. As promised, school was closed the Monday after Thanksgiving. We are so thankful that RIFA had the supplies needed to serve the community over the holidays. Great job students, and thank you to all of our families who helped to support this worthy cause!

Holiday Mart 2019 USJ’s annual Holiday Mart was held the weekend before Thanksgiving at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. For many Jacksonians, Holiday Mart marks the beginning of the holiday season. This year’s theme was It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and the event drew larger crowds than usual.

The festive weekend always provides shoppers with the chance to discover special gifts and unique finds.

The Holiday Mart Preview Party was held on Thursday, November 21. This fabulous event allows those who attend to be one of the first to see the full selection of one-of-a-kind gifts before the Mart opens for the weekend. Guests enjoyed an unhurried shopping experience and an elegant dinner buffet during the three-hour ticketed event.

If you have someone on your Christmas list that is hard to buy for, make plans to attend the next Preview Party on Thursday, November 19.

Friday night at the Holiday Mart offers Jingle Belle Mingle, which is an adult “Ladies Night Out” event featuring plenty of shopping, desserts, and a cash bar. This ticketed event also provides an opportunity to shop while avoiding the main crowds.

A new children’s event, Jammies & Jingles, was held on Saturday morning of Holiday Mart weekend.

Families were able to kick off the Christmas season with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elves. Boys and girls came dressed in their favorite Christmas pajamas for brunch. Afterward, they sang Christmas carols, listened to Christmas stories, and enjoyed taking photos with Santa.

Grandparents Day On Friday, September 27, our Lower School grandparents and special family friends spent the morning with their grandchildren on campus. The day started with a morning assembly to welcome everyone to our school. The students then showed off their classrooms and examples of their latest work. The children also had time to share the new playgrounds, their projects in the STEAM lab and the art rooms, and then the library to enjoy the Scholastic Book Fair. Thank you to our teachers and parent volunteers for making it such a memorable and happy day for everyone! It was indeed a treat to have our grandparents on campus again.

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As a non-profit, USJ relies on funding from our annual Holiday Mart to continue to offer the best programs for our children. A special thank you to all of our volunteer parents, grandparents, and students, the Parents Club, and our dedicated Holiday Mart chairs Betsy Biggs, Amy Dougan, Molly Roy, and Sarah Shankle, for making this annual event a huge success. This year the Holiday Mart made over $160,000!

The 2020 Holiday Mart will be November 20-22.

Mark your calendar and make plans to attend one of these special events in addition to the Mart next fall. We look forward to seeing you there!

Fall Festival The Parents Club held its annual Lower School Fall Festival on Friday, October 18. The kids thoroughly enjoyed all of the booths organized by our parent volunteers featuring unique crafts, games, and a dunk tank, as well as time playing on the new playgrounds. In case you didn’t know, the money raised at our Fall Festival directly benefits the teachers and programs at the Lower School. The variety of activities and clear skies helped to create a delightful and fun evening for all. Thank you to everyone who volunteered or came out for this event – and especially our fearless dunk tank faculty volunteers!

Daddy-Daughter Dance USJ’s annual Daddy-Daughter Dance was held on Saturday, January 25, in the Upper School Cafeteria. This year’s theme was a Frozen Winter Wonderland, and the cafeteria was transformed using the colors of blue, silver, and white.

Traditionally held in late January or early February, this year’s event was an enchanting and memorable occasion.

Girls from age three through the fifth grade enjoyed the opportunity to dress up and spend time with their dads, granddads, uncles, or special family friends – and of course, their classmates!

Each ticket included a Daddy-Daughter portrait taken by the yearbook staff. The girls also received the opportunity to take pictures at the photo booth, and the chance to win the 2020 American Girl Doll of the Year Joss Kendrick.

USJ’s Class of 2022 was in charge of the dance this year, and all proceeds benefited their class for future events and projects. Well done, sophomores!

We’re Growing!

Homecoming 2019 This fall, Homecoming Week was held September 23-28, with a parade, pep rally, and varsity football game on Friday, and a Homecoming Dance on Saturday evening. Alumni and former faculty returned to judge the parade and pep rally efforts by the classes. The students also dressed up all week to celebrate the week’s theme of The Bruin Network.

Dress up days were inspired by Netflix, Spotify, Vine, and channels such as Animal Planet, ESPN, Hallmark Channel, and MTV. Thank you to the many parents, teachers, and faculty sponsors that helped make all of these events a week of fun for our students!

This fall, USJ added another section of Jr. Cubs to our Early Childhood Program, and we are so excited to have more of our youngest Bruins on campus! Ten two-year-olds were on a waiting list, which allowed us to create a new section beginning in October. Due to growth and space limitations, many grades have minimal open enrollment and fill up quickly with existing students. If you plan to enroll your children at USJ in the future – even a year in advance – please contact Admission Director Laura Moore at lmoore@usjbruins.org today about how to reserve a spot for your child.

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ACADEMIC NEWS

Students Recognized for Academic Achievement Join us in congratulating Elisa Kapunan (‘20) and Anika Mahajan (‘20) for being recognized as Semifinalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. Approximately 16,000 students in the nation received Semifinalist recognition in September out of over 1.5 million entrants. The Semifinalist pool represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Only two students from Jackson were recognized, and both are seniors at USJ! In addition to our two Semifinalists, we also had two other students who have earned special recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Kevin Cheng (‘20) and Felix Nnaji (‘20) were each recognized as Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program for their outstanding academic promise.

Alexia Celarie (‘20) was also named a National Hispanic Scholar through the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program. Achieving this recognition means that she scored in the top 2.5% among Hispanic and Latino PSAT/NMSQT test-takers in the 10-state South region. Congratulations to these five seniors on their academic achievement. We are so proud of you!

Taking the Honor Code Oath In 2008, Upper School students helped to create an Honor Council system at USJ. Since that time, the goal of the Honor Council has been simple: to hold students accountable for lying, cheating, or stealing while encouraging character development and an honest learning environment throughout the USJ campus.

On August 29, nine Upper School students were sworn in as class representatives of the Honor Council for this school year. The entire student body was in attendance for the ceremony. Afterward, all of the students took the Honor Code Oath, promising not to lie, cheat, or steal while being a member of USJ’s community. Although they do not campaign for the positions, the Council consists of a Speaker, who is always a senior, and two elected representatives per grade.

This year’s representatives are Seniors: Grace Hudson, Anika Mahajan (Speaker), and Mason Woods; Juniors: Andrew Smith and Julie Wagner; Sophomores: John Dougan and James Mitchell; Freshmen: Paul Jones and Abe Stonecipher.

Junior Rotarians Six of our Upper School students were selected by the faculty to represent USJ at Rotary International for the 2019-2020 school year. Grace Hudson, Anika Mahajan, Keaton Miller, Seth Spry, McKenna Smith, and Mary Grace Studtmann will represent our school to the community. Junior Rotarians from each school in the area take turns spending a month attending the Jackson Rotary Club meetings during the year. From there, applications are reviewed, and a panel selects one student from each school to receive the Jackson Rotary Club’s annual Rotary Scholar College Scholarship.

Congratulations to each of these young men and women. We are so proud to have you represent USJ!

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After School Robotics Class Our after school robotics program is off to a great start this year! Director of Technology Kyle Hopper started an after school enrichment class this fall to teach students in the Middle School about robotics. The course is designed for those who have little to no experience with coding or robotics. Each semester, students learn to build robots using our LEGO Mindstorms EV3 sets and how to problem-solve through coding. The after school program runs for five weeks each semester, meeting twice a week in the Middle School.

Taking care of the school’s many platforms, servers, and computers involve countless hours each day. We are so thankful that Mr. Hopper is willing to share his expertise with our budding programmers. Having faculty and staff who care about the development of our students is what sets USJ apart. If you have a rising 6th grader, look for this class next fall.

7th Grade Atlanta Trip Our seventh graders took a much-anticipated overnight trip to Atlanta just before fall break. This year’s class field trip was held Monday, September 30 through Wednesday, October 2. The group of students, faculty, and parents gathered early on that Monday morning in the Upper School gym foyer and left at 5:30 a.m. On the way, the group stopped in Chattanooga for lunch.

6th Grade Trip to Nashville On Wednesday, September 11, our sixth grade took their annual field trip to Nashville as part of their study of the state of Tennessee. Parents and various members of the faculty served as chaperones for the daylong journey.

The buses left school early around 6:15 a.m. and returned approximately 12 hours later. Middle School English teacher Emily Richards, who served as a chaperone for the day, provided us with details of the trip.

“Students began the day with a tour of the Capitol. Angie and Brad Box, parents of Jondavid Box, arranged for our students to have a meet and greet with Tennessee’s Deputy Governor, Lang Wiseman,” said Ms. Richards. Their next stop included a tour of the new Tennessee State Museum.

The new museum currently features five temporary exhibits that change periodically, and seven permanent exhibits including Tennessee natural history, indigenous peoples, and the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. “These sixth graders were the first USJ students to tour the new Tennessee State Museum. They participated in a scavenger hunt at the museum, which had them searching for specific artifacts and details of our state’s history,” said Ms. Richards.

The last half of the day found the group in the Hermitage neighborhood of Nashville. Ms. Richards shared further details of their expedition; “We spent the afternoon at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. This year, the sixth grade participated in an education class titled The Importance of Andrew Jackson. As always, our students impressed the guides at the Hermitage with their wealth of knowledge of our seventh president. Students also toured the mansion, museum, and grounds. The extreme heat didn’t slow the steps or spirits of our enthusiastic group!”

Upon arrival to the downtown area of Atlanta, the first stop on their tour was the College Football Hall of Fame. Next, the students, faculty, and parents spent several hours at the spectacular Georgia Aquarium, which is one of the world’s largest. The tour then moved north near Georgia Tech to eat dinner at the famous café The Varsity. Afterward, they explored Sky View Atlanta in the Centennial Olympic Park area and rode the 20-story Ferris wheel.

Tuesday morning began with a tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, including the visitor’s center, his birthplace, and Ebenezer Baptist Church. The students also toured The King Center, which includes the tomb of Dr. and Mrs. King as well as a reflecting pool and the eternal flame. During their visit to this historically significant park, the students learned about Dr. King’s life and the impact he made on the civil rights movement.

Afterward, a tour of the famous soft drink museum World of Coca Cola taught the class about the history of the brand and allowed them to taste Coke formulas from around the world. The Atlanta History Center in the Buckhead district was next on the itinerary, which holds 33 acres of antebellum exhibits and an 1845-era farm. Next, our students visited the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which features various permanent and temporary exhibitions, including the Dignity Museum and the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection.

On Wednesday morning, the class explored Stone Mountain, which is just east of Atlanta. The group hiked the challenging one-mile trail up the mountain and enjoyed spectacular views from the summit.

Luckily, they were able to rest and continue to enjoy the view on the Summit Skyride cable cars as they headed down the mountain.

The class returned to USJ that evening, tired and happy after three action-packed days of learning!

Field trip coordinator and Middle School math instructor Shay Young said after the trip, “Our class had a great field trip in Nashville! The weather was rather warm, but our students were troopers. We want to thank our parent chaperones that spent the day with us. We appreciate you so much!”

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A New Approach to Writing In August of 2017, USJ implemented the Writer’s Workshop approach into the Lower School’s curriculum, which was developed by Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. Now that we are in the third academic year of utilizing the Writer’s Workshop method, we are thrilled to see the impressive results of our students’ efforts!

USJ began using the ACT Aspire test in 2018 as an assessment tool for grades 3rd-9th to monitor student growth and progress toward college and career readiness. Based on this year’s test results, the Writer’s Workshop approach in the Lower School is working – and our students are thriving!

When the Writer’s Workshop approach was initially started, there was a lot of data from other schools on the positive effects it has on student learning. As the teachers and students became accustomed to the new approach, faculty and administration looked for a tool to measure progress, not only in the writing program but in all areas of the curriculum.

Lower School Counselor Shelby Bailey said, “When we tested our students with the ACT Aspire in the 2018-19 school year, it identified specific areas where students could use improvement in all academic subjects. That information was shared with our faculty, and they used the test results to focus on areas that needed reinforcement for each student in every subject.” This year’s test results were exciting because it shows the effect that the targeted work by our teachers has had on the academic

growth of our students using methods such as the Writer’s Workshop.

The writing portion of the Aspire consists of a single 40-minute summative writing task, similar to the daily writing exercises in the Lower School, where students write an essay in response to a writing prompt. The assessments are designed to indicate whether students have the writing skills they will need to succeed at the next level. The results categories on the Aspire report include: In Need of Support, Close, Meeting, and Exceeding. Students tested in grades 3rd-5th had zero students In Need of Support on any part of the writing assessment. The table above shows the percentages of USJ students who are Meeting or Exceeding grade level in each domain for writing.

Our teachers use curriculum methods like the Writer’s Workshop to engage their students while creating a meaningful learning environment. The test results prove that the teachers’ hard work is paying off, and the students are gaining so much. Giving our children the confidence to write by learning the mechanics behind an excellent writing piece will be invaluable to them in the future. We are thankful to USJ for continuing to look for the best curriculum for our students, and to our incredible teachers who strive for excellence in the classroom every day!

Fifth Grade Budding Journalists Our fifth grade focused on journalism during their October writing unit. Students learned the basics of journalism writing, specifically how to look for and report on the who, what, when, and where of a newsworthy story.

Longtime faculty member Tina Anderson shared, “It was a wonderful unit that showcased how our young writers could observe and write about events happening in the world around them.”

Students gathered their notes and organized their thoughts into a basic story that caught the reader’s attention. Sometimes the writers even interviewed witnesses and included these quotes in their news stories. To the left is a photo of Jordan Thorson proudly holding her story.

The budding journalists, as well as their teachers, were incredibly impressed with their work!

Fifth-grader Abby Varino wrote the article to the right. Her teacher Jamie Pledger explained how the inspiration for the story came to exist, “Abby was providing play-by-play detail of the recent state quarterfinal game to me and talked about her sister Lilly Kate who is the goalkeeper for the girls’ soccer team. As she continued to share all of the details, a light bulb went off with Abby. She said to me, I can write about this!”

Mrs. Pledger shared further, “What made Abby’s journalism piece so special to me wasn’t just that it checked off all the boxes on the rubric. It’s because the USJ Lady Bruins goalkeeper is Abby’s older sister, Lilly Kate! Her article made me think more about sibling relationships, the importance of role models, and remembering the often under-noticed people on a team or in any successful organization.”

These stories are a small example of what goes on in the classroom each day. Our teachers strive to prepare our students for the future by giving them a daily foundation for writing. We are grateful for our dedicated teachers who are committed to the success of their students!

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Field Trips Enhance Curriculum This fall was a busy time for our upper elementary students. Each class from grades 1st-5th conducted an off-campus study to complement one of their units of curriculum. Fifth grade led the way by visiting the Shiloh National Military Park on September 19, as part of their study on the Civil War. The following week, they concluded their research and wrote papers on this historic time in American history.

First Annual Lower School Turkey Trot This year, the Lower School organized a Turkey Trot race for their students just before Thanksgiving. Although a Turkey Trot is traditionally a time when communities come together to run, walk, or jog instead of winning the race in record time, it’s also about being outside together with family and friends. And sometimes, it’s about supporting a charity.

The Lower School faculty and staff devised the perfect event to honor those traditions, as well as take the opportunity to teach our youngest about thankfulness, mathematics and counting money, giving to others, and enjoying exercise outdoors before the holiday season officially began.

A penny drop game was also added to the event as a way to give back to the community. Students began bringing in collected pennies from home the week before the race.

On Tuesday, November 26, our students from Cubs to fifth grade ran, skipped, and jumped their way outside around the campus to complete the race. Music teacher Elizabeth Atkins added fun and upbeat music to the event. The kids absolutely loved skipping to the beat while listening to “Who Let the Dogs Out?” The students counted the pennies for each grade. Lessons in estimating money and how 100 pennies make up a dollar were learned over the week leading up to the race. A whopping $1,985.87 was collected in pennies from our students for RIFA’s soup kitchen needs over the holidays. We are so proud of their generosity and the lessons they learned while having a blast!

It was a great way to give back to the community and have a beautiful morning enjoying the outdoors. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year’s Lower School Turkey Trot.

Want to know more about the day to day activities at USJ? Find us on social media.

November was a busy month indeed for grades 2nd-4th. On November 5, the second grade visited the Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis as part of their unit of study on life cycles and habits of ecosystems. At the Lichterman Center, they were able to see how plants and animals move through the various life cycles of birth, growth, reproduction, and death.

Third grade enjoyed a visit to our local Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park on November 21, as part of their study of Indigenous People of North America.

The park is on the National Register of Historic Places and features both burial and ceremonial mounds, as well as a museum designed to replicate a prehistoric Native American mound. Teacher Lori McKinnie shared, “Our students enjoyed every part of this trip including climbing Sauls Mound, holding real animal pelts, petting a live snake, and watching a demonstration of an early hunting weapon. It was a great day full of learning and fun!”

Just before Thanksgiving, fourth grade visited the M.D. Anderson Planetarium at the University of Memphis Lambuth campus for a spectacular show. They visited the planetarium as part of their study into celestial objects and their movements through space titled Earth’s Place in the Universe. Fourth-grade teacher Kelly Breazeale said, “The students enjoyed the chance to see the movement of the sun, moon, and Earth for themselves. It deepened their understanding of how day, night, and the seasons occur. We are so grateful to have this resource here in our hometown!”

The week before school came to a close for the year, our first-grade scholars visited the Ward Grove Christmas Tree Farm in nearby Beech Bluff as part of their unit on Tennessee Traditions. The farm is owned by the family of Mrs. Sue Ward, who worked at USJ for many years, and is an annual Christmas destination for many families in the area. Students were able to see firsthand the various types of trees on-site as part of their science class study into Tennessee trees. First-grade teacher Kellie Byrd shared, “We enriched our unit on Tennessee Traditions by visiting the tree farm and learned what types of trees grow best in Tennessee. Watching them have real-world experiences with what they were learning is part of what is so rewarding about being a teacher!”

We are grateful for our many extraordinary teachers at USJ who strive to connect what’s learned in the classroom to tangible learning opportunities whenever possible. Our faculty and staff have long contributed to the tradition of excellence at our school, and we are so thankful to have them at USJ!

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FACULTY NEWS Recent Additions/Promotions Philip Dunn Director of Facilities Philip Dunn was appointed as USJ’s Director of Facilities in August.

With over 16 years of experience in facilities management, he comes to us from West Jackson Baptist Church, where he served as Facilities Manager for many years. During his tenure there, Philip worked diligently to maintain the grounds. His extensive experience allowed him to be prudent with church funds, which helped the church continue to thrive. Philip also served on staff for ten years with the Jackson Generals, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, where he helped to manage the field. Their facilities group won the 2011 Tennessee Turfgrass Association’s Professional Sports Field of the Year award.

Philip recently shared, “I had a great first semester. One of my favorite things about working at USJ is the people I get to work with each day. I also enjoy working with my hands and restoring things to their original working order. I love my job here at the school and look forward to great things here at USJ.” His passion for excellence and thoughtful stewardship should serve him well in the coming years while overseeing the care of our 130-acre campus.

Philip, a Jackson native, has been married to wife Chelsea for nine years. She is originally from Murray, Kentucky, and they have one daughter, Skylar.

Clayton Gant Head Baseball Coach USJ alumnus Clayton Gant (‘08) joined the faculty this January as the next Head Baseball Coach. A four-time All-State athlete during his time at USJ, Clayton made three state tournament appearances with the Bruins and tied a TSSAA record in 2005 with two home runs in a state tournament game.

Clayton went on to attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he played baseball for a year before having to sit out due to injury. In 2010, Gant transferred to the University of Memphis to pursue a degree in Psychology and to continue

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pitching under the direction of Fred Corral, playing collegiate baseball until graduation in 2013. He began his coaching career as an Assistant Pitching Coach for the Union University Bulldogs. Clayton was most recently the Associate Head Baseball Coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

Coach Gant says, “I am excited to be returning to USJ. I was a Bruin for five years, and I always enjoyed the sense of community and family with the school. I have been waiting for this position to become available, and I am eager to continue the winning tradition I experienced with the USJ Baseball program.” Clayton is married to Whitney Gant, who is originally from Parsons.

Deirdre Hatcher MS Girls Basketball Coach Deirdre Sallee Hatcher was selected as the Middle School Girls Basketball Coach in early September. Deirdre is a 1996 graduate and former Lady Bruin, who was selected as an All-State athlete while at USJ. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Appalachian State University while receiving a Division I basketball scholarship. Deirdre went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Memphis.

She worked for ten years as a counselor and coach with Jackson Madison County Schools, including coaching basketball at Tigrett Middle School and coaching both volleyball and softball at Jackson Central Merry High School.

Coach Hatcher said, “I am excited to join the coaching community at USJ. It is an amazing feeling to have the opportunity to coach where I developed a love for the game and to coach alongside my mentor Tony Shutes. I look forward to the opportunity to help the girls develop as a team.”

Deirdre is married to 1996 USJ alumnus Kevin Hatcher. Together they have six children: Braden, Tyler, Chloe, Ella, and twins Lucas and Olivia.

Joey Stoner Chief Financial Officer Joey Stoner joined USJ in mid-October as our new Chief Financial Officer after several successful years as a CFO in higher education. Mr. Stoner was a natural fit for the position, given his extensive experience as a senior-level finance executive and CFO within a school setting.

“His references were impeccable, and his background and knowledge of how schools run were impressive,” said Head of School Stuart Hirstein. We look forward to many years under his experienced leadership.

Joey and his wife Jane have been married for 35 years and live in nearby Collierville.

They have three grown sons and a nineyear-old granddaughter.

Steve Stroud Head Softball Coach Steve Stroud was named the next Head Softball Coach last fall. He comes to USJ with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Freed-Hardeman University. Steve has taught math, Algebra, and P.E. at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for 34 years. He has 15 years of experience coaching softball, including Head Softball Coach positions at Jackson Christian, Fayette-Ware High School, Adamsville High School, and Liberty Tech High School. Steve’s experience also includes various coaching positions in football, baseball, and tennis.

Athletic Director Michael Stroup says, “I am excited for the future of our softball program and look forward to the next season with Coach Stroud. He has extensive coaching experience that will help the Lady Bruins develop and succeed as a team.”

Originally from New Albany, Mississippi, Steve has been married for 36 years to Kaye Owens from Jackson. Steve and Kaye have two sons, Nathan and Jesse.

Lauren Yancey Assistant Director of Jones Academic Center Lauren Yancey was recently promoted to Assistant Director of the Camille and Ralph Jones Academic Center (JAC).

Lauren will assist the JAC Director, Christy Glenn, in the day-to-day operation of the center and with the instruction of qualifying USJ students.

“We are so pleased to have Lauren take on this new role. She has always been willing to go the extra mile to see each of our students succeed. While her background in psychology, along with her structured literacy training, qualifies her for this new role, it is her dedication to our students that makes her perfect for this position,” shared Glenn.

Lauren, who was a Junior Kindergarten Teacher Assistant, expressed interest in an instructor position and then went through over five months of training to become a structured literacy instructor. Upon completion of her extensive training in May, Lauren began teaching full-time during the 2019 JAC Summer Program. With the beginning of the fall semester, Lauren assumed the additional role of Coordinating Private Tutor.

“I am very excited to continue my career in the JAC, and humbled by the opportunity given by Christy and Mr. Hirstein,” says Lauren.

“While working in the JAC, we can see first hand the gains our students are making. Those gains translate to confidence and independence in the classroom, and I cannot think of anything more rewarding.”

Lauren graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She and her husband, Drew, live in Jackson with their children, Elle and Thomas, who are both students at USJ.

Jim Hardegree Named Associate Head of School

Jim Hardegree was recently appointed as Associate Head of School, effective July 1. Mr. Hardegree has served in numerous administrative roles at USJ over the years, including Director of Facilities, Division Director, Dean of Students, and Athletic Coordinator. Faculty and staff know Jim as someone who is always true to his word and who continually strives to make decisions based on what is best for both the student and the school. As the Associate Head, Jim will work closely with our new Head of School, Don Roe, to oversee the wellbeing of USJ and all aspects of day-to-day operations.

“Mr. Hardegree brings with him a tremendous amount of respect and trust, not only from me but from the entire USJ community, which has been earned through years of service to our families in many important administrative roles,” says Don Roe. “Jim currently serves as Dean of Students and will continue in this role along with football coaching duties. He has been a wise and steady force on our leadership team, and I am honored to work with him in what promises to be a bright future for USJ. I am excited to make this announcement, and I look forward to working with Jim as we grow into our new roles and continue to lead and serve our leadership team, faculty, students, and families.”

Originally from Atlanta, Jim earned his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of Tennessee at Martin, while playing football. After his time at UTM, he began his coaching career in Huntingdon. Jim then served as head coach at Lambuth University, where he directed them toward their first winning season and first Top 25 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national ranking. From 1993 until 2004, Jim worked in several head coaching roles for Jackson-Madison County Schools, taking a multitude of teams to the state playoffs.

Coach Hardegree began his path at USJ in 2004 as Dean of Students and Defensive Coordinator. Since that time, Jim has received numerous “Coach of the Year” awards from the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association and The Jackson Sun. In 2017, he was inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame.

Coaching abilities aside, Jim has proven himself repeatedly as a strong administrator. Each time that he was asked to serve in a leadership role for the school, Jim has always managed his department or division with humility and great accomplishment. The faculty and staff could not be more excited about Jim’s appointment. He has certainly earned this position, and our respect.

Jim and his wife Adair live in Jackson and have two sons, Bo and Bill. They have also been blessed with one grandchild, Harper Jane. Please join us in congratulating Jim on becoming our next Associate Head of School.

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Bryce King Leads the Fight Against Type 1 Diabetes USJ’s Middle School Math instructor and Assistant Football Coach Bryce King recently helped raise over $190,000 for JDRF. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that affects both children and adults, with 85% of those affected being over the age of 18. JDRF is the leading organization that funds research on type 1 diabetes. The life-threatening disorder causes one’s pancreas to stop producing insulin suddenly. There is currently no cure, and it cannot be prevented.

On January 4, Coach King and Trinity Christian Academy’s Head Football Coach Blake Butler battled it out at the 4th Annual Black Tie & Boxing Event in a sanctioned mixed martial arts-style match.

Together, they raised over $11,000 of the $190,000 collected that evening to support research for a cure of type 1 diabetes. The interesting aspect is that this year’s event allowed local volunteers to train, raise funds, and vie for a spot on the fight card. Bryce answered the call to donate his time and energy to this important fundraiser.

His goal was $5,000, and USJ Administration awarded our students a dress down day on the first day back to school this semester for helping him meet that goal.

We are in awe of Coach King and Coach Butler’s commitment to those affected by this disorder. When asked about the event, Bryce said, “None of this could have been accomplished without the help of others. My efforts were just an entertainment piece. It took action from the students and parents to make the event a success. I am so proud of everyone that was involved and contributed. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but worth every minute.” Thank you to everyone who helped Coach King make a difference in the fight against type 1 diabetes.

Cori Rose Selected as Educator of the Week The first week in December, one of USJ’s Jr. Kindergarten teachers, Cori Rose, was selected as the Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Week. She has worked at USJ for over 18 years and works extremely hard to help each child in her care learn while having fun.

Mrs. Rose shared recently, “I love working with the younger students as they build the foundations of their learning. I can’t imagine teaching any other grade. You know, they just make me so happy. I love coming to work every day. It is great to see them go on to be successful students and adults.” Cori and her husband Jason have two daughters at USJ, eighth-grader Ava, and fifth-grader Leda.

To nominate one of our outstanding faculty members for Educator of the Week, email WBBJ at educator@wbbjtv.com.

Faculty Service Milestones Our incredible faculty and staff have always been the reason behind the tradition of excellence at USJ. Those who reached service year milestones were recognized recently at the All-Faculty & Staff Christmas Luncheon, held at the Jackson Country Club on December 18.

35 Years

25 Years

5 Years: Laurie Butler, Ricky Butler, Billy Hight, Kyle Hopper, Shilpa Jinturkar, Bryce King, Kim Rainey, Shannon Scarbrough, Linda Walker, and Mary Anne Ward 10 Years: Zeina Adams, Enele Garcia, and James Harris 15 Years: Kathy Davis, Jim Hardegree, Sara Kazempour, Laura Moore, and San Pearson 20 years: Cindy Bell, Sherri Brauss, Christie Golden, Anna McPeake, Carol Ryan, and Darlene Tanner 25 years: Regina Sills 35 years: Sylvia Bell and Lisa Cates

20 Years 16

ARTS NEWS Disney’s Beauty and the Beast USJ’s school-wide production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was a fantastic treat for audience members young and old! Three performances were held November 2-4 in the Blankenship Theater.

A special Brunch with Belle event was held for children on Saturday morning, where the kids were able to meet Belle, Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth, the Beast, and other characters from the show. A special thank you goes to Dr. Tammy Grant for her many years of work with our children.

Developing the talents of our students from Middle School on up is part of what makes Dr. Grant such an integral component to our Performing Arts faculty. The costumes, the songs, and the accomplished cast made for an incredible show. This year’s Beauty and the Beast was one of our best!

CLUE: On Stage It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party.

Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. So whodunnit? Upper School students performed their spring play CLUE: On Stage over the January 10-12 weekend, earning rave reviews on opening night!

Both the Friday and Saturday evening shows featured an optional dinner beforehand where members of the audience could meet the iconic oddball cast known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, CLUE: On Stage was a madcap comedy. The students delivered fantastically hilarious performances, keeping you guessing until the end! Upper School Theatre Director Erica Davidson said, “This was, by far, one of the most difficult productions to put on. It was almost like choreographing a musical, but it was so worth it in the end. It will go down in history as one of the best theatrical productions at USJ.”

After Happily Ever After Three performances of the Upper School fall play were held on the weekend of September 19-22. After Happily Ever After told the story of a squire desperately wanting to become a knight. With all the fairy tale characters we know and love, this show had everyone rolling with laughter. Upper School Theatre Director Erica Davidson said, “What a great audience the cast had on opening night! We had such a strong group of seniors for this production. McKenna Smith and Evelyn Helms shined while visiting Thomas Media before the show began to promote the play. After Happily Ever After was truly a lot of fun for the entire family.” We are so thankful to have faculty such as Mrs. Davidson, who continually go the extra mile to teach and inspire our students. We hope you will make plans to see one of our next productions!

Tennessee All-State Choir Selections We are proud to announce that USJ had eight students selected to the Tennessee All-State Honor Choir in December.

Congratulations to Caleb Bell, Jake Booher, Lili Mahalati, Madison Maroney, Keaton Miller, Meg Miller, Lily Richardson, and Ethan Schlegel!

2019 All-Northwest Sr. and Jr. High Honor Choirs USJ had 51 talented students selected to perform at the All-Northwest Senior and Junior High Honor Choir Concert at West Jackson Baptist Church on November 16.

Auditions were held in September and October for this prestigious concert.

Congratulations to the following students: Senior High Honor Choir: George Allen, Caleb Bell, Jake Booher, Jenna Box, Olivia Cherry, Charley Cloud, Jesse Conquest, Gabrielle Evans, Sadie Hanna, Ashlynn Isbell, Cade Jett, Kelsa Lunsford, Lili Mahalati, Zack Mahalati, Madison Maroney, Keaton Miller, Meg Miller, Chidera Nwokolo, Mmesoma Nwokolo, Lily Richardson, Ethan Schlegel, Solomon Scott, Channing Sellers, Jackson Sills, Abe Stonecipher, Owen Stonecipher, Reed Sullivan, Gracyn VanWinkle, and Caroline Wilkerson.

Junior High Honor Choir: Bryant Barnes, Ava Beller, Carmen Biggs, Catherine Cheng, Eady Davenport, Wallace Driver, Anderson Fortune, Alec Garabedian, Haynes Haltom, Sawyer Hunley, Cade Jett, Lexi Krenis, Kate Larkins, Lidiah Mahalati, Ben Melton, Lizzie Montoya, Caitlyn Roemen, Harrison Shankle, Cooper Sikes, Noah Spencer, Mills Terry, and Jack Wilkerson.

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Tri-M Monthly Service Projects USJ Students Performed at Sydney Opera House This summer, two of our students received a once-in-alifetime opportunity as they performed in the Honors Performance Series at Sydney Opera House. Gabrielle Evans and Ethan Schlegel sang with 150 other students from around the world on August 4, in Sydney, Australia. “I will never forget having the privilege to be on the infamous stage of the Sydney Opera House,” said Ethan Schlegel. “Australia might have been the best experience of my life! It was really a dream come true. Sydney is an incredibly gorgeous place; it is very safe, and everyone there is so nice,” said Ethan.

The students were able to learn so much in such a short amount of time. They both were awestruck with the bonds that were formed so quickly, and how that affected their overall performance. “The music was a testament to our hard work. It was a celebration of everyone, and to be in that place and to leave with something wonderful was the greatest experience of my life,” said Gabrielle Evans. This was such an incredible opportunity for our students, and we could not be more proud of their success.

USJ’s Tri-M Music Honor Society students travel to area charities and nursing homes each month as part of their annual service projects. On the third Monday of the month, Tri-M students have taken turns serving dinner at RIFA’s soup kitchen. A typical evening involves serving food, delivering plates to seated guests, and cleaning. At Christmastime, the students also provided entertainment by singing favorite carols and hymns at the Brookdale Jackson Oaks Senior Living Center during their Christmas Open House.

Upper School Concert and Chamber Choirs Director Dian Eddleman shared, “We begin each Monday evening at RIFA with a devotional and singing before the food is served. The students have really enjoyed getting to know the people who regularly come each Monday to eat. RIFA staff members have been extremely complimentary and appreciative of the Tri-M students for their service.”

As a member of Tri-M, the students must complete multiple service projects over their years in high school, in addition to the 50 hours of service required by the school. Upon graduation, the Tri-M members receive an honor cord for completing all requirements of participation and service. We are so proud of these students for reaching out and serving the community each month. And thank you Mrs. Eddleman, for encouraging your students and showing them how to serve. USJ would be nothing without the care and leadership of our devoted educators.

Briarcrest Regional Art Contest & Exhibition Congratulations to junior art student Savannah Spencer who won an Honorable Mention in the Briarcrest Regional Art Contest & Exhibition! Almost 50 schools submitted over 300 pieces of exceptional artwork for consideration to BRACE 2019. This is her winning entry, Reflections. We are so proud of you, Savannah!

Mark Your Calendar MAY 1-3 18

Disney’s Frozen, JR. Middle School Spring Musical

APRIL 23

Arts @ The U

APRIL 27

POPS Concert

2020 Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards Winners

Lights!

Camera!

Christmas!

On December 9, third grade showed off their musical performance skills with a rendition of Lights! Camera!

Christmas! The fun Christmastime musical blended six songs with dozens of speaking parts and a storyline featuring a multitude of Hollywood filmmakers and directors. As usual, the students did a fantastic job, and the house was packed with family and friends. When a Lower School class participates together in a musical, it lays the groundwork for future stage confidence. It also paves the way for the many performing arts opportunities offered in Middle and Upper School. Thank you to Lower School music teacher Elizabeth Atkins for teaching our children how to develop confidence while having a blast!

Congratulations to senior Marimac Ellis, who received an Honorable Mention for her painting titled Underwater 1, and also to junior Jenna Leigh Sammons, who was awarded a gold key AND the Sculpture Award for her sculpture titled A Dress to Travel the World. The MidSouth Scholastic Art Awards is an annual juried student art exhibition presented by the Brooks Museum League and Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. These awards are an affiliate of the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers and honors exemplary art by students in 7th through 12th grades. We are so proud of these two young ladies!

Elfis and the Sleigh Riders

West Tennessee Juried Student Art Competition

Just before the Christmas break, our first-grade students performed on December 12 to a full house! Elfis and the Sleigh Riders is a rocking holiday musical for young voices with five songs mixed into the show. Lower School Director Dr. Louise Dunn said, “First grade wowed the audience with their performance! The songs were joyful, the jokes made everyone laugh, and the audience was left with smiles and great memories as they left for the evening.” Great job, first grade, and many thanks to Lower School Music Teacher Leslie Scott for inspiring some Christmas magic with the first-graders.

Congratulations to these Middle and Upper School art students for having artwork accepted into the Tennessee Art Education Association West Tennessee Juried Student Art Competition: Cassidy Bruno, Marimac Ellis, Elle Jerge, Sophie Overton, Taylor Sallee, Jenna Leigh Sammons, Savannah Spencer, and Olivia Welch. Also, senior Maddie Gastador had two entries accepted, senior Greta Trigony’s painting took 4th Place honors, and junior Emily Hailey’s drawing took 1st Place! Their artwork will be on display at the West Tennessee Regional Art Center from January 14 through February 27. We are so proud of their hard work!

2019 All-National Honor Choir Congratulations to Keaton Miller (’20), Meg Miller (’21), Lily Richardson (’20), and Ethan Schlegel (’20), who were among the nine students from Tennessee to be selected to the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2019 All-National Honor Choir! These students are all members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and are the only students from Jackson, Tennessee, to perform at All-Nationals this year. USJ Choral Director Dian Eddleman says, “USJ is very fortunate to have such a great pool of talented students. We are very honored to have four of our USJ Concert Choir students selected to this prestigious ensemble.” In addition to her role as Choral Director at USJ, Mrs. Eddleman serves as the Southern Division President of NAfME. The concert was held on November 9 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida. NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles represent the top-performing high school musicians in the country. We are so impressed with our talented All-National Honor Choir students!

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ATHLETIC NEWS

Bruins Head to Football State Championship This fall, the Bruins were not only playing on a brand new turf field, but they were headed toward a winning season. After a fantastic run, they ended their regular season at 7-3.

The Bruins then dominated in the postseason with three wins and 152 points scored, which took them to the state championship.

In the first game of the TSSAA playoffs, our boys commanded both sides of the ball during their 68-3 win over Chattanooga’s Grace Baptist Academy on November 8. This win earned them much deserved first round Team of the Week honors. In the quarterfinals, the Bruins took a 56-20 win over The King’s Academy on November 15. In the semifinals, the team crushed Nashville Christian School on November 22 with a 28-7 win, avenging their one-point loss to NCS during the regular season.

After their satisfying semifinals win, Bruin pride soared as the days

grew closer to the December 5 championship game. A send-off was held to cheer on the team as they headed to Cookeville. The support from our fans was tremendous. While heading into the last postseason game, our record was 10-3, with an average of 33 points per game.

The day finally arrived, and the Bruins played against Davidson Academy for the Division II-A State Championship in the Blue Cross Bowl at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium. School was canceled for the day so that all the faculty and students could attend to cheer on the team. The Bruin Nation was out in full force with more fans than the opposing team.

The boys played well during the game and were up until the 4th quarter.

Despite a tough 21-31 loss that day, the entire school community was incredibly proud of the work that the team put into the game that day, as well as their winning season.

Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Michael Stroup said, “I’m so proud of our team and coaches this season. We had great senior leadership all year that helped us get to Cookeville and compete for a state championship.

Being picked, I believe, sixth in our region and end up where we were was awesome. It hurts to make it that far and come up short. It hurts the players, the coaches, and it hurts me. However, I told the team in the locker room after the game that I loved them, and this game would not define us or take away from what we accomplished as a team.

We will work harder and smarter, and we will get back to work and get back to Cookeville.”

Middle School Girls Soccer Team Regional Champions Our Middle School Lady Bruins had an extraordinary regular season, ending with a record of 11-0. Nine of those wins were complete shutouts! The team went on to win another shutout game against Henderson County in the first round of the playoffs. They also won their semifinal game against Paris Inman, beating them 4 to 1. On September 21, USJ beat Chester County to become Middle School Regional Champions, which is as far as a team can compete at the Middle School level. Congratulations to these young Lady Bruins and to Coach Castro! We can’t wait to see you play next year!

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Lady Bruins Facility Groundbreaking On November 25, current and former Lady Bruins gathered as USJ broke ground on the much-anticipated Lady Bruins Facility. “This facility is something that we can all be proud of and will offer a place to foster a true team environment.

The girls are going to enjoy having their own space as a team,” says Head Soccer Coach Paul Conway.

boys’ facility. It is situated to support convenient access to the athletic fields and is coordinated with future Phase III athletic parking lot improvements. The energy-efficient, state-of-the-art facility constructed of long-serving brick, block, and steel, also includes a coaches/training lounge and two multi-use visitor locker rooms with separate outside access.

This project commencement comes after many months of planning. It is benefited from generous contributions to the Imagine More capital campaign and specifically generous gifts-in-kind from Southeastern Reinforcing, BT RediMix, Williams Steel Company, Garrett Plumbing and Heating, Southern Electric, and MG Construction.

The $1 million facility includes approximately 6,000 square feet. It is comprised of two varsity Lady Bruins locker rooms, three middle school locker rooms, a dedicated middle school restroom, and a dedicated varsity restroom fitted with showers and vanity tops. The varsity locker rooms, in particular, will feature custom wood lockers with individual electrical and USB charging ports in each locker.

Athletic Director Michael Stroup said, “We are excited about the construction of this long-awaited facility for our Lady Bruins. The addition of the separate multi-use locker rooms will allow many options for our sports teams and will serve as a much-needed separation between home and visiting teams. We are also thankful for the well-thoughtout design plan and to the Buildings and Grounds Committee for gathering input from all stakeholders during the design stage.”

Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairman Jeff Watlington says, “It is exciting to see the University School of Jackson continue to lead the way in providing opportunities and resources for young women. This newest facility will be just one of the many ways the USJ community provides our Lady Bruins opportunities for excellence in arts, academics, and athletics. We are grateful to the many donors who have chosen to make a positive impact on the young women of USJ for generations to come.”

Completion of the project is slated for the summer of 2020.

As a portion of Phase I of the Campus Master Plan improvements, the facility is located just north of the existing

Lady Bruins Soccer Team Heads to State Semifinals Our Lady Bruins Varsity Soccer team had an incredible season this fall!

They ended their regular season with 15 wins, two draws, and only one loss in the third round of the Smokey Mountain Cup. In Regional play, the team won the first three rounds and ended 3-1. They also won both the playoff game and quarterfinal game against Grace Christian Academy, which earned them a spot in the final four.

Going into the first round of the state championship, our Lady Bruins were at 19 wins, two losses, and three draws, and our school community was ecstatic! On November 4, USJ played their first-round game at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro against Christ Presbyterian Academy. Although that game marked the end of the season, Head Coach Paul Conway had much to say about his team, “I am very proud of the fight in these Lady Bruins. We had great senior leadership in Alaina Holt, Emily Jones, Grace Hudson, and Libby Basham. 19-3 says a lot about this exceptional team. Thank you to the Bruin family for all of your support!” We are so proud of all that they accomplished together this season and look forward to what is next for our Lady Bruins.

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Dezmon Wallace Signs with Mississippi College Congratulations to Dezmon Wallace (‘20) for signing his letter of intent to play collegiate NCAA Division II football for the Mississippi College Choctaws! On Wednesday, February 5, friends, family, and classmates gathered in Blankenship Theater to witness the occasion and to congratulate Dez on his future at MC. Best wishes to you, Dezmon. We know that your future is bright!

Jasmine Barrow Signs with The University of Connecticut Congratulations to Jasmine Barrow (‘20) for signing with the University of Connecticut to compete in NCAA Division I track and field for the UConn Huskies! Family and students gathered in the Mary Frances Campbell Library during break on November 15, to witness the memorable occasion, and to congratulate Jasmine on the result of her hard work. In 2018, Jasmine was named an All-American in Triple Jump, and she was the 2018 Class 1A Private Georgia State Record Holder in the Triple Jump. She qualified for the 2019 AAU National Junior Olympics and is the 2019 AAU Region 8 Triple Jump Champion. While attending the University of Connecticut, Jasmine plans to major in digital media and design. We are so proud of you, Jasmine!

Wofford College Signs Will Pucek Exciting things always happen in the spring for our senior athletes! Will Pucek (’20) recently signed his letter of intent to attend Wofford College and play NCAA Division I Southern Conference soccer for the Terriers. Students, friends, and families came together in Blankenship Theater during break on Thursday, February 6, to support Will and celebrate his college choice. Good things are headed your way, Will. We are so proud of your achievement!

Carlock Stadium If you’ve been on campus lately, you may have seen the recent improvements to our stadium and Kirkland Field.

Many generous donors have helped to make this stage of the Campus Master Plan a success, and some have offered funds for upgrades beyond our original plan. We are thankful for the improvements that were made possible through these generous contributions, including the turf football field and the enhancements to the grandstands. In recognition of significant financial contributions from the Clay Carlock family, the Board of Trustees moved to name the football stadium “Carlock Stadium.”

Clay Carlock and his family have always supported the Bruins with their time. However, their generous donation was 22

significant, and this was the perfect opportunity to recognize their support. Mr. Carlock says, “Our family has enjoyed many years at USJ, and giving back to the school felt like the right thing to do. We hope these improvements will support future generations of the Bruin family.” On Friday, October 18, during the home game against Fayette Academy, USJ honored Mr. Carlock and his family for their many contributions to our school. We are grateful and excited about these significant improvements to Kirkland Field and Carlock Stadium!

West Tennessee All-Star Football Game at USJ

On Friday, December 13, USJ hosted the annual West Tennessee All-Star Football game on Kirkland Field at Carlock Stadium. Top senior athletes from 32 area high schools were selected to play in this prestigious game that showcases next-generation talent. On Monday, December 9, Coach Josh Wolfe from West Carroll drew names for his North team, and Coach Matt Smith from Hardin County drew names for his South team.

USJ’s own Wesley Carlock, Carter Craig, Cade Taylor, and Dezmon Wallace were each selected to play on the North team. With only four days to prepare with their teams for the game, players for both the North and South teams spent the week quickly forming friendships and bonds with players and coaches that never would have been possible if not for the game.

Athletic Director Michael Stroup said, “We are honored to have these young men, their families, and these esteemed coaches on our campus. USJ is proud to have the opportunity to host this event and look forward to doing so in the future. This year we added a recruiting fair, where high school coaches were invited to come to our campus along with college coaches so that high school athletes would have better recruiting opportunities. We hope that night will continue to grow moving forward. I want to thank all the sponsors and donors that helped to make that week so great for the players and the coaches, who provided food, two-night hotel stays, transportation, the banquet, and apparel given to players and coaches. Anyone wanting to help sponsor or donate to next year’s event can contact Leigh Ann Gaines with Sports Plus Rehab Centers at Leigh.Ann.Gaines@wth.org.”

Middle School Cross Country Girls Compete at State!

2019 All-State Selections Congratulations to the following students who were recently selected to 2019 All-State Teams: BASEBALL: Taylor Howell and Cade Sammons

GIRLS SOCCER: Grace Hudson and Morgan English

BOYS SOCCER: Will Pucek

FOOTBALL: Wesley Carlock, Carter Craig, Ben Pledger, Raleigh Seals, Tyke Tabor, Cade Taylor, Blaine Verdung, and Dezmon Wallace

GO BRUINS!

Congratulations to our Middle School Girls Cross Country Team for placing 14th out of 60 teams at the state meet in Knoxville on October 19! Team members pictured are Cate Hayes, Millie Jones, Addie Bazemore, Adan Jett, Corinne Sullivan, Bradi Jett, Becca Basham, Emma Robinson, and Calli Cash.

We are so proud of our Lady Bruins!

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ALUMNI NEWS WEDDINGS: Becca Morris (’07) and Sam Carrington were married on Saturday, July 6, 2019, at Green Frog Farm in Alamo, Tennessee, with the reception following at the same location. They honeymooned in the Canadian Rockies and are making their home in Jackson. Becca works as a physical therapist at Patterson Physical Therapy, and Sam works as an Occupational Therapy Assistant at West Tennessee Rehab hospital while working on his master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.

Katie Hamilton (‘08) married Seth Jones at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 12.

The ceremony and reception were held outdoors at the farm of her parents, Anita and Steve Hamilton. The newly-married couple live in Franklin, Tennessee, with their dog Jack and cat Smokey.

Katie is the owner/photographer of her wedding photography business, Katelyn Nicole Photography. Seth is Associate Appraiser and Head of Banking Services Division at B.G. Jones & Company.

Katherine Bell (’09) married Nathaniel (Nate) Lowery on Saturday, July 27, 2019.

They exchanged vows in the May Chapel at Green Frog Farm in Alamo, Tennessee. Following the ceremony, a reception was held in celebration of their marriage at the Latham Barn, also located at Green Frog Farm.

The newlyweds currently reside in Jackson. Katherine works for Haltom Real Estate, and Nate is a high school business teacher and assistant football coach for Fayette County.

Lashlee Randolph (’12) and Mason Wooldridge were married on Saturday, November 9, 2019, in the May River Chapel at Palmetto Bluff in the Lowcountry region of Bluffton, South Carolina.

The newlyweds are currently living in Aiken, South Carolina. Mason is a Supply Chain Management Supervisor for E2 Consulting Engineers and Lashlee is the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Director of Site Services with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

Rachel Butler (’13) married Michael Wesley at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2019, at First Baptist Church in Starkville, Mississippi. The reception was held on campus at the Mill Conference Center. Rachel will graduate in May from University of Memphis with a Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology, and Michael has accepted a position with Bayer Crop Science as an Agronomic Research Specialist. The newlyweds plan to move to the St. Louis area this summer.

Caroline Stallings (’13) and Seth Rushing married on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., at The Church at Sugar Creek in Humboldt. A wedding reception followed at the Jackson Country Club. The couple resides in Birmingham, Alabama, where Seth is a relationship banker with Iberia Bank, and Caroline is a Speech-Language Pathologist.

To update your contact information, please visit usjbruins.org/alumni

BIRTHS: Congratulations to Brad Hayes (’94) and his wife Melissa Morrison Hayes (’06) who recently welcomed their first child, Hart Morrison Hayes, on October 18, 2019. Hart weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz., and was 20.5 inches long.

We were excited to hear that Josh Allen (’01) and his wife Celia had another baby in the last year, Lucille Parish Allen. Lucy was born on December 16, 2018. She weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz., and was 19.5 inches long.

Warmest congratulations to Zach Smith (‘06) and his wife Lauren, who welcomed their first child on August 11, 2019. Samuel Moore Smith was born at 10:23 a.m., weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz., and was 21 inches long.

Jessica Powell Zarshenas (’08) and her husband Jordan, also had fantastic baby news in the past year. Jordan Smith Zarshenas was born on December 5, 2018. Smith weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz., and was 21.5 inches long.

Congratulations to Mackenzie Cotner Rowan (’15) and her husband Zack, who recently welcomed a baby girl to their family. Sicily Faith Rowan was born on October 25, 2019, and weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz., and was 19 inches long.

Charles Campbell and Trey Smith in Gator Bowl Former Bruin football teammates Trey Smith (’17) and Charles Campbell (’18) recently met on the field again when the University of Tennessee Volunteers played the Indiana University Hoosiers in the Gator Bowl on January 2. Both of these young men have always exhibited exceptional leadership qualities, whether in the classroom or on the field. We are proud to see them continue to pursue excellence!

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IN MEMORIAM: Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Old Hickory Academy alumna Suzanne Duck Wilson (’83), age 54, who passed away after a sudden illness on October 21, at Jackson General Hospital. Suzanne was born on September 30, 1965, the daughter of Kay Wood Duck and the late Joe Murray Duck. She was a graduate of Union University and was a registered nurse with DaVita Dialysis Clinic, where she loved her patients and co-workers. Suzanne never seemed to be afraid to speak to or assist a stranger. She was an avid University of Tennessee Volunteer fan and enjoyed scrapbooking. She was passionate about her family, especially her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband of eight years, Mark Wilson of Jackson, TN; daughters, Rebekah Williams (Patton) of Jackson, TN, Lauren Smith (‘07) (Jocelyn Hull) of Rochester, MN; step-daughter, Sarah Paulk of Knoxville, TN and step-son, Steve Wilson of Hiram, GA; her mother, Kay Wood Duck of Jackson, TN; her brother, Jeff Duck (‘82) (Alicia) of Bells, TN; grandchildren, Braden Paulk, Benjamin Wilson, and John Patton Williams, and two nephews, Kyle Duck (‘04) (Lydia) and Russell Duck (‘06) (Laura).

The entire USJ community was deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and alumnus Casey Warren Tinker (’11), age 26, who passed away on September 17, 2019, in Memphis, Tennessee. Casey was born on February 16, 1993, in Jackson, Tennessee. He is survived by his parents, Scott (‘81) and Michelle Tinker of Jackson; one brother, Cameron Tinker (‘15); one Uncle Cory (‘86) and Anne Tinker; one Aunt, Angie Davis; two grandmothers, Mrs. Josephine Tinker, Jackson, Tennessee, and Mrs. Adeline Collins, Dunedin, Florida; and five cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Mr. Warren Ray Tinker, and maternal grandfather Mr. Charles Williams Basket. He was a 2011 graduate from University School of Jackson and a 2018 graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. He was currently living in Memphis, enjoying his work at Flight restaurant and exploring the city with his friends. Casey was often attending music festivals and sporting events. Casey was a devoted Tennessee Volunteer fan, loved the St. Louis Cardinals, and was competitive in his fantasy football league. When he was not playing or attending a sporting event, he could be found officiating games for the youth in the area. Casey was well-loved and enjoyed spending time with his friends, and especially loved his dog, Roby.

REUNIONS:

Class of 1979 40th Reunion November 15-16, 2019 Old Hickory Academy Class of ’79 met recently over the weekend of November 15 and 16 for their 40th Reunion. On Friday night, they met for a Dutch treat get-together at the Flat Iron Grille.

On Saturday, the class met at Rock ’n Dough Pizza & Brewery downtown for dinner.

Class of 1995 25th Reunion February 8, 2020 Members of the Class of 1995 recently had the chance to gather together to commemorate the 25th year since graduating from USJ. USJ’s 50th Anniversary Gala on February 8, at the Civic Center was the perfect opportunity to do so. We were delighted to see them together at the gala, celebrating their time at USJ!

Save the Date: Class of 1980 40th Reunion May 15-16, 2020 Friday, May 15, at Flat Iron Grille; and Saturday, May 16, at the home of Bob Bond. Old Hickory Academy Classes 78, 79, and 81 are also invited.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Donnell Smith at elizabethsmith@bellsouth.net or Bob Bond at bob.bond@simmonsbank.com.

Class of 1990 30th Reunion September 18-19, 2020 Friday, September 18, dinner at the Jackson Christian football game; and Saturday, September 19, hosted by Jason and Melissa Hutchison. For more information, contact Jermane Bond at mjermanebond@gmail.com or Anna Ames Finkenzeller at annafinkenzeller@yahoo.com.

Homecoming Tailgate September 18, 2020 Calling all alumni, senior students, and their families! You’re invited to the annual Homecoming tailgate just before the Jackson Christian game. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. Dinner starts at 5:45 p.m. For complimentary game and dinner tickets, email Director of Alumni Relations Cathy Garrett at alumni@usjbruins.org.

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Nashville Alumni Event In early October, our Alumni Office was on the road! Director of Alumni Relations Cathy Garrett organized a get-together for all Nashville-area alums from Old Hickory Academy, Episcopal Day School, and USJ. The reception happened on Thursday, October 3, in the private dining room at Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint in downtown Nashville. There was no program, but the event provided a time and place for everyone to enjoy time together as guests of the school. Head of School Stuart Hirstein was also in attendance, and more than 35 alumni turned out for the festive and casual event. If you were unaware of the reception, or the Memphis get-together last year, please send us your updated email and mailing information to alumni@ usjbruins.org. We will keep you in the loop and look forward to seeing you at our next alumni event.

Basketball Alumni Night Friday, January 3, was Alumni Night at USJ. Alumni, as well as current seniors and their families, were invited to attend. In addition to the annual Homecoming tailgate in the fall, our alumni look forward to one home basketball game each year where everyone can get together. Alumni Director Cathy Garrett offered free tickets to the Jackson Christian games, as well as a catered meal from Coyote Blues in the cafeteria foyer area. The cafeteria provides a quiet location for our alumni families to gather during halftimes away from the crowds. Coach Shutes and the Lady Bruins usually join the group after the girls’ game. We hope you will make plans to attend our next Alumni Night. It was a great evening!

Your All-State Portrait Were you an All-State athlete? Last fall’s magazine mentioned that there is a new digital display of our All-State athletes located in the Upper School Gym Foyer. Plans for the future also include a searchable kiosk for visitors.

For the last year, many of our athletes have returned and received their portrait that hung in the foyer, and we have been very thankful to have these alums back on campus. Most recently, we were able to send one portrait with the former guardian of exchange student Lucas Guerra. He earned a Tennis championship during his time at USJ. However, despite successfully returning a lot of portraits, more remain.

Letters have been mailed to the last known address of the athletes whose portraits are still in storage. If you are one of our AllState athletes and would like your picture returned, please contact Melissa Zerfoss at mzerfoss@usjbruins.org or 731-300-3686.

We hope to return each portrait to the athlete, a family member, or a designated friend. Thank you for helping us return these priceless pieces of history!

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Academic

ACT English Prep ACT Math Prep ACT Reading and Science Prep Algebra Boot Camp, rising 8th-12th Driver’s Ed, age 15 STEAM Lab Camp, rising 4th-6th Middle School Math Fundamentals, rising 6th-8th SCRATCH 1: Intro to Programming, rising 2nd-3rd SCRATCH 2: Intro to Programming, rising 4th-6th

Artistic

Art-Rageous Art Camp, rising 1st-8th Cooking Camp, rising 1st-5th Drama Camp, rising 6th-12th Little Bruins American Girl Doll Camp, age 3 to rising K Little Bruins Art Camp, age 3 to rising K Little Bruins I Can Cook Camp, age 3 to rising K Little Bruins Science and Sensory, age 3 to rising K Little Bruins Superhero Camp, age 3 to rising K Mad Scientist Camp, rising K-5th Musical Theater Camp, rising 1st-9th

More information about the specific camps above can be found at usjbruins.org/camps

Camp Bruins

June 1 – August 4 (closed July 3) 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monday – Friday Your children will love our organized summer-long daycare program full of learning experiences and fun activities, which are developmentally-appropriate for 2-year-olds through rising 6th graders.

Structured weekly themes include water play, arts and crafts, jumpers and inflatables, physical activities, and music.

Tuition: 5 days a week all summer: $1,800; 4 days: $1,370; 3 days: $1,170; 2 days: $880.

Lunch is included in the price. Optional cost by the week (for rising K-6th only): $195 per 5-day week; $156 per 4-day week. Registration is $50 per child/$100 per family maximum plus a $20 per child t-shirt fee.

Athletic

Baseball Camp, rising K-8th Best of the West Soccer Camp Week 1, age 5 to rising 6th grade Best of the West Soccer Camp Week 2, rising 7th-12th grade Football Camp, rising K-8th Girls Basketball Camp, rising 2nd-8th July Boys Basketball Camp, rising K-8th July Soccer Camp, rising K-8th Kickboxing and Wrestling Camp, rising 2nd-12th Little Bruins Beginner’s Gymnastics, age 3 to rising K Little Bruins Soccer, age 3 to rising K Little Bruins TOT Basketball, age 3 to rising K Softball Camp, rising 5th-8th Tennis Camps, rising K-12th Running Camp, rising 5th-8th Volleyball Camp, rising K-8th

Register online at usjbruins.org/camps Camp Bruins open enrollment: February 15-April 15, 2020 All other camps: February 15-May 15, 2020 Please note that several camps closed early last year due to demand. Register early to secure your child’s spot..

Summer Library

Kids Night Out!

The Lower School Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a special presentation each week at 10 a.m. Families with signed enrollment contracts may check out books. These presentations are free and open to the public. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Parents can enjoy a night out while the kids have their own adventures! Join our Camp Bruins staff for an evening of fun. We will offer two Friday night sessions over the summer. Activities include scavenger hunts, escape roomthemed puzzles, movies, and indoor gym activities including inflatables. Each child will enjoy a pizza dinner, drinks, and snacks. Ages 3 years to rising 6th grade. $35 per child.

Wednesdays: June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24, July 8, July 15, July 22, and July 29

Movie @ The U

1:30 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: June 9, June 23, July 7, and July 21 Escape the summer heat and enjoy a free, family-friendly movie shown on Blankenship Theater’s big screen. Open to all students and their families from any school. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

6 to 10 p.m. on the following Fridays: June 19 and July 10

Save the Date!

Parents of Alumni Luncheon Friday, April 24, at 11:30 a.m.

Mary Frances Campbell Library

Commencement 50th Graduating Class Saturday, May 16, at 11:00 a.m.

West Jackson Baptist Church with reception following.

Pies & Ale Parent Social Tuesday, August 4, at 5:30 p.m.

Hub City Brewing

Homecoming Friday, September 18 Alumni tailgate at 5:30 p.m.

USJ vs. Jackson Christian at 7 p.m.

Fall Break Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16

Parents of Alumni Luncheon Our annual Parents of Alumni Luncheon will be coming up soon! The luncheon is always a fun way to enjoy a seated lunch on campus with old friends and faculty members. Mark your calendar for Friday, April 24, at 11:30 a.m., and make plans to attend this relaxing event in the Mary Frances Campbell Library. RSVP to reserve your complimentary spot or a table of eight by calling Cathy Garrett at 731-300-3687 or send an email to alumni@usjbruins.org. Please include all names of attendees if you wish to reserve a table.

Pies & Ale Parent Social On Tuesday evening, August 4, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., USJ will host its annual parent social as a way to kick off the school year at Hub City Brewing in Jackson. Mark your calendar and save the date for this lighthearted event!

More information will be emailed out to parents this summer.

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UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of JACKSON

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Parents of Alumni: If your publication is addressed to your son/daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of his/her new mailing address by emailing alumni@usjbruins.org Please update your contact information at usjbruins.org/alumni or by email to alumni@usjbruins.org.

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