Jones Academy -

Spring Warrior Run 5K will be April 13,2024. All proceeds will go towards the senior class trip. Registration will begin at 7am at the gym, and the race will begin from the gym at 8am.  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jones-academy-spring-warrior-run-5k-tickets-855543693217

Jones Academy will be testing its warning system today at noon.

Jones Academy high school students toured the College of the Muscogee Nation campus on February 22nd. The students were honored to have Principal Chief David Hill and Jeff Fife, Chief of Staff, along with Councilman Galen Cloud come by to visit and welcome them. 

At Jones Academy, we're dedicated to preparing students for success in all areas of life! From certified teachers providing academic coaching to one-on-one technology support, our Student Success Center ensures every student stays on track to achieve their goals. Plus, we offer ACT Prep, college visits, and STEAM opportunities to broaden horizons. With scholarship assistance and career readiness activities, we're committed to empowering our students for bright futures. #JonesAcademy #AcademicSuccess #EmpoweringStudents

Zachary Sterling is a proud member of the Muscogee Creek Nation tribe. He enjoys playing games, working out, watching movies, and hanging out with his friends and family. Zach plans to finish high school, join the army, and see the world. Kaya Zimiga is a proud member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe. In her free time, she enjoys listening and dancing to music, playing volleyball, working out, hanging with friends and family, especially her younger brother clayton. Kaya is a senior who will graduate in May, where she plans to further her education at a four-year university majoring in anthropology and philosophy. She someday hopes to be an archaeologist. Promise Burris is a 3rd grade student in Mrs. Wells' class. Promise is a member of the Ponca Tribe. Her favorite color is yellow, and she loves to play basketball & stickball, read, and hang out with friends. Promise wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Jorje Hernandez is a 4th grade student in Mrs. Guthrie's class. Jorje is a Seminole Nation of Oklahoma tribal member. His favorite colors are black, white, and red. He enjoys playing basketball, dodgeball, and video games. When Jorje grows up, he wants to be a Guest Service Manager for a big hotel.

6-12th grade students participated in a STEAM Valentines box contest. Students also shared Valentines and enjoyed sweet treats during the STEAM event. Winners 1st Place- Isabel (Candy Shack) 2nd Place- Mickeal (Heart cake) 3rd Place- Eva (Hippo)

🚀 Exciting News for 5-12th grade students! Join us at STEAM Camp for an unforgettable experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics! Dive into hands-on workshops, connect with peers, and ignite your passion for innovation. Don't miss out! Register now with the link below or the QR codes on this posts images. • Senior (Grades 9-12): https://chocta.ws/pehlichi-senior • Junior (Grades 5-8): https://chocta.ws/pehlichi-junior #ChoctawNation #STEAMCamp #Innovation #Education 🌟🔬🎨

PSA: Jones Academy will be conducting a siren test today at approximately 2:45pm.

The Jones Academy high school Botball team is gearing up for competition season, using autonomous robots, coding and engineering skills to gain leadership and teamwork experience while addressing real-world needs. It's inspiring to see young people engaged in problem-solving and gaining valuable skills for the future. Good Luck!

Did you know that Jones Academy Elementary has so much to offer? The elementary serves both residential and day students with personalized instruction accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Bureau of Indian Education. They focus on prioritizing and preserving culture by offering weekly language and culture-driven classes. Their extracurricular activities vary from athletic driven to academic success to liberal arts by providing basketball, track, agriculture, stock show programs, and STEAM opportunities like robotics, Esports, band and art.

🚀 Exciting news! Jones Academy is thrilled to take part on an out-of-this-world project. Choctaw Nation's heirloom seeds are on a journey in the International Space Station with Boeing's support. Native American youth at Jones Academy will explore the seeds' growth upon their return, merging science, space exploration, and cultural heritage. Thanks to Boeing's commitment to STEM education, this unique project is set to inspire and educate students. Stay tuned for updates on this incredible space adventure! 🌱🔬 #STEMeducation #SpaceExploration #CulturalHeritage Follow the link to read the article. https://www.choctawnation.com/biskinik/news/seeds-in-space-choctaw-nations-heirloom-seeds-launched-to-iss/

November Students of the Month: Whitney Grizzle is a proud member of the Choctaw tribe of Oklahoma. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, cooking with friends and family, decorating for every holiday, and helping others. When she graduates high school, she plans on finishing her childcare program and getting a job on a cruise ship as a childcare specialist. She wants to do what she enjoys and get to see the world while doing it. Clayton Zimiga is a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, playing basketball, fishing, and riding dirt bikes. In the future Clayton plans to graduate high school, go to college for a major he hasn't completely decided on yet, and to get a good job that will allow him to take care of his mother when she is older. Manny Wickson is a 6th grade student in Mrs. Martin's class. Manny is a Choctaw Nation tribal member. His favorite color is lavender, and he enjoys drawing, hanging out with friends, and listening to stories from elders. Manny wants to be a clothing designer when he grows up. Myrissa Ealey is a 6th grade student in Mrs. Martin's class. Myrissa is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Her favorite color is white, and she enjoys horseback riding, going on scavenger hunts, spending time with friends and family, and listening to music. When Myrissa grows up, she wants to be a nurse.

Alumni Spotlight - Kielind Jim ”I came to Jones Academy in 2011 following my 7th grade year. It was a new experience for me as it was my first time living away from home, away from my mom and my grandma. But, it was an experience that I needed to help me gain the confidence to do things I wanted to do. It also sparked my interest in my culture, and I learned a lot from my friends from Mississippi that I probably wouldn't have learned on my own if I hadn't come to Jones. The friend experience that I had there was amazing, and the memories I had will live with me forever. There was happiness, triumph, success, and heartbreak, but everything I learned and experienced helped me grow and shape me into the person that I am today. My favorite time at Jones Academy was probably the Thanksgiving meal that we shared with all the students. There was a time when we all sat down and enjoyed the meal together, from the little kids up to the seniors, and just the smiles and laughter that roared from the cafeteria was an amazing thing to see. A lot of the friends that I made at Jones became family to me, and the staff made it a second home. I will never forget the staff who helped raise me into the man I am today. Some are still at Jones, some have moved on in their careers or their lives, and some are no longer with us, but I will forever cherish the lessons that they taught me. I started the Jones Academy stickball team in 2014 after we had students from Mississippi and around Choctaw Nation who wanted to play. But we couldn't get on any other community team, so I talked to Brad Spears at the time, and he told me that I needed to sacrifice that last season and be a coach if we were going to make this work. I did, and we came out on top that year, our first year as a team in the Choctaw Nation Youth League, and we came out as champions. It was an amazing season, and the very last game was down to the wire. But I can still see that shot in my head, the excitement from everybody on the sidelines. My most memorable years were my junior and senior years. A lot happened in those years that shaped my future, from ACT prep to the dreaded history project in my junior year. I decided to quit athletics my junior year and try to focus more on my culture because I couldn't do both, and it helped me have this drive to learn and teach my culture. Even though all the terrible things you may hear about boarding schools and all the history that comes with them, Jones Academy was different, and I think different is what some of us needed. I currently work as an Archaeological Technician, Cultural Advisor, and GIS Analyst for the Choctaw Nation in Durant, OK since November 2020. In this role, I specialize in using tools and techniques to document our cultural heritage and ensure that people are represented and documented accurately. I input data gleaned from artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations into the internal database for additional scientific analysis. I assess artifacts and note physical properties in exact detail, inspect, date, and authenticate material evidence, and document information for research purposes. I maintain compliance with record-keeping standards, documentation processes, and chain-of-custody requirements. I write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences. I explain the cultural, physical, and social development of humans based on data compiled from literature and field research. I build lasting professional relationships with fellow archaeologists through information sharing and effective communication, promoting advancements in the field through collaboration and collective research. I produce in-depth reports and publish findings via papers in field journals. I enhance my knowledge of cultures by conducting field studies and by practicing indigenous archaeology. I am grateful to Jones Academy and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma for their support as I have reached many heights in my life and career. Yakoke."

Our UNITY Youth Council and students made Jones Academy ornaments for the Elders in our area. Nittak Hullo Chito Na Yukpa! (Merry Christmas)

Today was an exciting day at Jones Academy as we celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Inchy's Bookworm Vending Machine! This vending machine aims to motivate students to reach their reading goals and build their own personal libraries. Students will earn books for various achievements and receive a coin to use in the vending machine to select a book for themselves. The purchase of this vending machine was made possible by a grant awarded by the Institute of Libraries and Museum Services (IMLS), and we are grateful for their support! Pictured are Robert Ray, Elementary Principal, Sierra McAfee, Librarian, Sonia Donaires, Library Assistant, and our two first coin recipients, Bella Hatcher and Amarae Stout. These two students achieved a remarkable feat by filling up their Book Buddies Book this semester and reading 36 books, all while passing their tests with flying colors! Congratulations to Bella and Amarae for their dedication to reading and their hard work!

October Students of the Month Nakos Plentybears is a proud member of the southern Arapaho and Seminole tribes. He enjoys running track, playing basketball, and hanging out with his friends. His plans for the future include graduating high school, and going to college for a degree in athletic training. While in college he plans to run track. Fichik Willis is a proud member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. In her free time she enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, spending time in the gym, and shooting hoops. When she graduates she plans to attend Fort Lewis College to major in criminal justice and study pre-law to become an attorney. Xhavian Rhoades is a 1st grade student in Mrs. Ketchum's class. Xhavian is a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. His favorite color is blue, and he enjoys playing stickball in his free time. When Xhavian grows up, he wants to join the Army and be an "Army Man". Mariah Bloomer is a 3rd grade student in Mrs. Well's class and is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She enjoys painting, coloring, and reading. Her favorite color is blue. Mariah wants to be a teacher when she grows up!

Jones Academy high school students attended the annual Choctaw College Connect fair in Durant, OK on Saturday, NOV 4, 2023. Students were able to meet with representatives from 63 universities and colleges including delegates from the Department of Labor. Participants were also eligible to win several scholarship awards. The event was sponsored by the CNO Higher Education Department. We want to express our gratitude to the Choctaw Nation for providing opportunities like this for students from all backgrounds to dream about and explore their possibilities.

Jones Academy superintendent Patrick Moore made a presentation to the elementary students about the traditions and workings of Powwow dancing. In paying homage to Native American Month, his lesson shed light on the importance and reverence of tribal customs and rituals. He brought beautifully crafted regalia with intricate designs that drew respect and awe from his young audience. The ceremonial dressings are part of his clothing that Mr. Moore wears during tribal dances. A shout out to Mr. Moore for his passion to inspire the next generations of Powwow dancers.

The SSC hosted a UNITY sponsored STEAM event by having a pumpkin painting contest. The top 3 winners received a snack basket and their pumpkins were on display for the Halloween holiday in the SSC.

Jones Academy middle and high school students spent an entire day at the Six Flag Over Texas theme park during fall break. Students enjoy various attractions, rides, and food at the family amusement park. Fun was had by all! The kids’ faces tell it all.