-October Students of the Month -
Isabella McDonald is a 3rd grade student in Mrs. Wells' class. Isabella is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Her favorite color is black, and she enjoys swimming, fishing, and playing in the mud! When Isabella grows up, she wants to join the military.
Felix Wickson is a 4th grade student in Mrs. Guthrie's class. Felix is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. His favorite color is red, and he enjoys playing basketball, fishing, playing outside, and watching football. He said his favorite thing is watching the Kansas City Chiefs lose. When Felix grows up, he wants to join the Air Force.
Sinte-Ska Roberts is a proud member of both the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Nakota tribe. In his free time, he enjoys singing and creating powwow drumsticks. After graduating high school, he plans to attend Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas to pursue a degree in engineering. Ultimately, he hopes to earn enough to care for his mother and engage in charitable work.
Taleah Bull Bear is a proud member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Nation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, sleeping, and hanging out with friends. After graduating high school, she plans to attend college and study psychology and cosmetology.
PSA: Jones Academy will be testing its warning system today at noon.
As part of the celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Hartshorne High School hosted an intertribal exhibition of Native American dancers at the Event Center in Hartshorne. At least 20 tribes from 10 different states and Canada were represented. The event featured the different styles of pow wow dancing, highlighting the intricate and distinct traditions and customs of respective tribes.
During Native American Heritage Month, Superintendent Patrick Moore made a presentation to the elementary students explaining the significance of the traditional regalia and dressings used during pow wow dances. He brought out traditional articles of clothing used during tribal ceremonies and competitions. Mr. Moore explained to the students the symbolism of the regalia with its vibrant colors and intricate designs that illustrate the strengths and personal traits of the individual dancer. He also sang hymns in their original language and played a hand drum. During the lessons, Mr. Moore is always able to evoke interest and eagerness from the children to learn about their heritage.
Jones Academy 2024 Art Contest
Jones Academy 2024 Art Contest Winners.
The cafeteria staff served about 300 meals at our annual Thanksgiving dinner on November 13, 2024. Our students and staff alike were able to enjoy and celebrate a meal together with their families and guests. The ham and turkey with all the trimmings and desserts were the very best. Kudos to the cafeteria and the Choctaw Nation for making all this possible. We have so much to be thankful for this season and want to express our “thanksfeelings” for those we cherish the most. Remember: Gratitude is an action!
Caylen Ahtone attended Jones Academy and Hartshorne Schools from 2000 to 2006. He completed 6th grade at Northward Elementary School before continuing on to Hartshorne Middle School and High School. Throughout his high school years, Caylen was actively involved in sports, participating in football, basketball, and baseball, and was also a member of the Student Council.
After graduating in 2006, Caylen pursued higher education at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. He began his professional career in 2007 at the Chickasaw Nation’s Treasure Valley Casino in Davis, Oklahoma, working as a Surveillance Officer until 2009. In early 2009, Caylen relocated to the Little Axe area and began working for the Absentee Shawnee Tribe as a Security Officer. He also worked for SandRidge Energy as a Security Technician until 2017. While at SandRidge, Caylen completed the Reserve Peace Officer Academy and served as a Reserve Deputy at the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.
Caylen met his future wife, Samantha, in late 2014, and they were married in 2017. The couple now resides in Pryor Creek, Oklahoma, with their two children: Carlee Dry, who is in middle school, and Caleb Ahtone, who is in elementary school, both in Pryor.
In 2017, Caylen was offered a position as a Security Officer at Hard Rock Casino in Catoosa, where he worked until mid-2022. In 2022, he transitioned to a role at Cherokee Nation Business' Cherokee Federal in Tulsa, working as a Corporate Security Officer.
In his free time, Caylen enjoys watching sports, hunting, fishing, and cheering on his children in their athletic activities. He also remains actively involved in his tribal ceremonies, as his Native American heritage is a central part of his life. Caylen occasionally supports his alma mater, Jones Academy, by attending Hartshorne games when he has the opportunity.
Caylen views his time at Jones Academy as a pivotal moment in his life, and he believes that the experiences and support he received there were instrumental in his success. He made lifelong friends from all over and continues to stay connected with them through social media.
“Show respect to all, but grovel to none.” - Tecumseh
Caylen is a proud member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.
On Saturday, November 16th, the Jones Academy Youth Council and students took part in the Hartshorne Veterans Day parade. With a long history of alumni and staff who have served in the military, Jones Academy proudly honors our Veterans and all those who have served our country!
This week, Jones Academy Library hosted a sponsored Scholastic book fair, made possible through the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS). Each student received 5 free books of their choice. Classrooms, dormitories and the library also received free books. Yakoke, IMLS!
On Saturday, November 9th, a group of our students traveled to Durant to attend the Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU) tailgate and football game. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma's Freshman Year Initiative invited Jones Academy to join in the university’s tailgate tradition, which included games, food, and performances by the band before the game. The students also had the opportunity to tour the campus and explore what SOSU has to offer. The day concluded with SOSU’s Savage Storm football team competing against Arkansas Tech, where they unfortunately fell short of securing a victory.
Jones Academy Elementary students are learning about the election process and how important it is to exercise their right to vote through a mock election.
Jones Academy students joined 1600 high school juniors and seniors at the 2024 Choctaw Nation Career Expo in McAlester, OK, on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The event was an opportunity for students to explore career and educational options after high school. Over 100 vendors representing employment, service organizations, colleges, universities, trade schools, and the armed services met with prospective students to discuss various vocations and fields of professions. Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr., and other featured speakers offered encouraging words of wisdom and timely advice to the youth in attendance. A great shout out to the Choctaw Nation. Thank you!
*September Students of the Month*
Rylee Powell is a proud member of the Seminole Tribe. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Xavier Ochoa is a proud member of the Cherokee Nation and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, drawing, and spending time with friends and family. After high school, he plans to attend Haskell Indian Nations University to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. His goal is to build a successful career to support his family and travel the world.
Anayah Sankey-Moore is a 3rd grade student in Mrs. Well's class. Anayah is a member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribe. Her favorite color is blue, and she enjoys playing outside with friends, reading, and dancing! When Anayah grows up, she wants to be a dancer.
Leyon Watkins is a 1st grade student in Mrs. Ketchum's class. Leyon is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation. His favorite color is red, and he enjoys playing video games as well as playing outside with his friends. When Leyon grows up, he wants to be a police officer.
Our students participated in Indigenous Day activities in McAlester, OK last week. The event, which was sponsored by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, included a parade march, cultural activities, a stick ball demonstration and a traditional evening meal.
During the first week of October, four students and three staff members from Jones Academy attended the National American Indian Science and Engineering Society conference in San Antonio, TX. The students participated in various STEM activities, attended sessions covering a wide variety of STEM subjects, and had the opportunity to network in different rooms. They also attended a college and career fair. The conference focuses on educational, professional, and workforce development for Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands. The event concluded with dinner and a fashion show at the closing banquet, followed by a Pow wow.
Jones Academy Elementary Library recently hosted a Book Tasting for students in 1st through 6th grades. The library was decorated as “Starbooks Cafe” for 4th through 6th. Students had a cookie and "Starbooks Tea" as they "tasted" books in various Dewey decimal numbers. 1st through 3rd grade students became chefs in “Bistro Read-A-Lot, where they decorated a sticker pizza and had cookies and drinks, while they "tasted" fiction and nonfiction books and series. Thanks to JA Cafeteria for providing cookies for our event! This event was funded by The Institute of Libraries and Museums.
Four high school students from Jones Academy are participating in the AISES National Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The photos showcase our students engaging in various science and cultural activities with conference representatives. The girls focused on coding robots and traditional beading, while the boys concentrated on researching sustainable energy. They built several windmills to enhance turbine wind speed as a way to model efficient power generation.
Students took the opportunity to show their hogs at shows in Ft. Smith and the Tulsa State Fair.
Jones Academy offers students the opportunity to raise award winning hogs by feeding, cleaning pens, exercising, and brushing the hogs all the while gaining a valuable understanding of hard work.
August Students of the Month
Maya Baker is a proud member of both the Choctaw and Cherokee tribes. She enjoys reading, being outdoors, and hanging out with her friends. Her plans for the future include finishing high school, going to Julliard School of Performing Arts to pursue a degree in acting. She later wants to get another degree in culinary arts and business to open her own bakery when she retires from acting.
Malakai Franklin is a proud member of the Muscogee Creek Nation. In his free time, he enjoys weightlifting and hanging out with his friends. His plans for the future are to graduate high school, go to college and get a degree in business. He plans on owning his own trucking company one day.
Joseph Scott is a 6th grade student in Mrs. Martin's class. Joseph Scott is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. His favorite color is dark red, and he enjoys playing with LEGOS, playing video games, and exploring nature. When Joseph Scott grows up, he wants to be a YouTuber.
Amerianna Sankey-Moore is a 1st grade student in Mrs. Ketchum's class. Amerianna is a member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribe. Her favorite color is pink, and she enjoys playing outside! When Amerianna grows up, she wants to a police officer.
