Admissions set to haul in unsuspected transfers

According to Director of Enrollment Edward Maynard, JC is “growing. Our freshman numbers are on track to be higher than last year.”

As of May 13, there are 148 freshmen in the coming class of 2018, which is four more that the 144 that were enrolled on that date last year. The 2013-2014 school year opened with 150 freshmen.

“The shadowing process has never stopped [this year],” Maynard said. According to him, there are generally few shadows during the final months of the school year, but this year, shadows have continued to visit regularly.

However, “we have a high level of transfers coming in next year,” Maynard said. Currently, 14 students are preparing to transfer.

“In some cases, sports are a part of it. In some cases it’s the social aspect of it,” Maynard said. “A lot were already in the works before the whole turf field thing.” Of the 14 transfers, only two are girls.

Most of the transfers will enter the sophomore class, but two will be seniors. According to Maynard, seniors are generally not accepted as transfers but these two were “because of extenuating circumstances.”

As for how many students will not be returning to JC next year, it’s “a little early to tell,” Maynard said.

According to him, schools generally need to budget for losing 14-15 kids, but he estimates fewer than 10 for JC next year.

According to Maynard, “You don’t want to go into the next year with a net loss.”

Kathy Deaver is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.

Jazz band swings into course schedule

After school next year, in addition to hearing students singing in chorus practice, you will also hear sounds of jazz, swing, and blues music, as jazz band will be considered a credited class next year.

Jazz band will meet four times a week after school from 2:45-3:30.

“The administration and I have been talking about it,” band teacher Marc Bolden said. “We needed to make sure there was enough interest and that it will improve the ensemble.”

Previously, jazz band was an extracurricular activity that was held once a week. However, due to games and other conflicts, participation declined. Bolden increased the meeting times to twice a week to make sure students would show up at least once a week.

Now, as a class, Bolden says there still will be some conflicts, but “there will be more time to understand and dissect the music.”

Additionally, “the goal is to set up a big band-style ensemble,” Bolden said.

“I’m excited that it will be a class,” junior and trumpet player Austin Kiss said. “Before, people wouldn’t show up, but when you’re being graded, more people will feel the need to come.”

According to Bolden, the students in the class will receive a letter grade. “[The grade] will be determined by quizzes and tests as well as performances.”

Students will learn how to “understand jazz literature, define the types of jazz (jazz, swing, blues, latin, etc.), and understand the written music,” Bolden said.

Those students interested in taking both jazz band and chorus next year would have to choose between the two. According to Bolden, “hopefully in the future, they will both be in the school day.”

Angela DeCarlo is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.