This Tuesday kicks off another year at Jesuit Middle School of Omaha.  8th graders and new students will report for a half day orientation.  Students will be done at 12:00.  All students will report on August 20 for the first full day of school.  Registration will take place in the morning on both days.

Approximately 15 students in grades four through seven from the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) had the chance to attend a basic fundamentals basketball camp during their summer vacation. This camp was hosted by Kirk Trotter, JMSO Dean of Students, and fellow Creighton Prep High School graduate Maurice “Mo” Harrison.

For four days, the young men learned dribbling, passing and defensive skills, as well as how to play together as a team. Camps are held throughout the year to keep the young men active during their free time, as well as to improve on overall concepts of the game. In addition, camp costs are kept reasonable so that everyone has the opportunity to participate.

For more information on the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha, please call (402) 346-4464.

Although the official school bell at Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) won’t ring again until August, there are currently four openings available in the fifth grade class. Interested families can contact Principal Tony Connelly at (402) 346-4464 for enrollment information.

Our school, located at 2311 North 22nd Street in the old Butler-Gast YMCA building, provides a Christian education for young men in grades four through eight who aspire to build strong character and earn a college degree. Founded in 1996 and sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), this private, independent Catholic school provides a unique, personal learning environment for young men in the fourth through eighth grades.

JMSO embraces families, volunteers and partners to support its educational programs and provides a caring, compassionate learning environment. Challenged by an outstanding multi-cultural staff and a values-centered curriculum reflecting the Jesuit tradition, students are treated as individuals and are fully prepared to pursue high school and post-secondary degrees.

The mission of JMSO is to offer young males of all faiths a quality educational opportunity and encourage them to take ownership of their lives and develop themselves as responsible leaders. Our school is guided by Catholic principals and these basics of Jesuit education: Gospel values, academic excellence, self-discipline, religious diversity and forming “Men for Others.” JMSO prepares its graduates academically, socially and spiritually for a lifetime of leadership and acceptance into a college preparatory curriculum. Our school commits to walking with and supporting our graduates through high school and into college.

The school bell rang a bit later at the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) on Monday, June 9 as students arrived after 8:00 a.m. for the start of summer session. Approximately 36 young men—a mix of new and current students—are enrolled in the three-week curriculum. Summer school affords the opportunity to shore up deficits, review material to help mastery, offer math and reading enrichment, as well as to stay in the mode of learning.

Summer session is not only helpful for current JMSO students, but for the new ones as well. All incoming fourth grade students, as well as transfer students are required to attend. This also gives the young men an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the school, students and faculty.

For more information on the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha, please call (402) 346-4464.

Students at the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) were recognized for achievements during the fourth quarter at the year-end awards ceremony on Thursday, May 22. This quarter, 10 students were on academic honor roll and 32 students were on citizenship honor roll.

Academic recognition requires the young men to have A’s and B’s in every subject. Citizenship honor roll recognizes the young men who receive 10 or fewer ‘yellow cards’ during the semester. Yellow cards are similar to a demerit system followed at many parochial schools.

Those who attend JMSO are guided by the Catholic principles and five basics of Jesuit education: Gospel values, academic excellence, self-discipline, religious diversity and the concept of Men for Others. JMSO also prepares its graduates socially and spiritually for a lifetime of leadership and acceptance into a college preparatory curriculum.

The students who earned Academic Honors are pictured: Tyler Franklin, Majeric Ashley, James Scott, Ki-Jana Moore, Todd Wright and Paul Bryant, Jr. and (Seated L-R) Da’Vion Grigsby and Kris Young. Not pictured: Valentin Castro and Terry Grigsby.

Congratulations to the following students who earned Citizenship Honors: Demetri Clark, Da’Vion Grigsby, JaVon Minton, Jacob Sanders, Brandon Simpson and Kris Young, fourth grade; Ryan Bartee, Paul Bryant, Jr., DaJuan Lester, James Overton, Darvelle Robinson, Tyler Ross and Lucas Shelton, fifth grade; Brian Mills, James Scott, Jermaine Suggs and Nathaniel Williams, sixth grade; Valentin Castro, Jomar Ingram, Ronnell Johnson, Taylor Johnson, Mikey Leach, Ki-Jana Moore, Josh Willis and Todd Wright, seventh grade and John Gause, Terry Grigsby, Taj Hopkins, James Jones, Tre King, Tyrone Robinson and Kevin Ross, eighth grade.

Attendance levels at JMSO continue to remain consistent. Congratulations to the following students for earning Perfect Attendance Honors: JaVon Minton, Brandon Simpson, Andrell Sherrod-Lewis, Amar Whitaker and Martaloni Rish, fourth grade; Ryan Bartee, fifth grade; Khalil Grant, DeAngelo Peak, James Scott, Jermaine Suggs and Nathaniel Williams, sixth grade, Taylor Johnson and Ki-Jana Moore, seventh grade and Terry Grigsby, Tre King, Cal Mayberry and Dillion McCoy, eighth grade.

Contact the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha today for enrollment information! (402) 346-4464

The sounds of pomp and circumstance filled the air of the school commons area on Monday, May 19 as 15 students from the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) graduated from the eighth grade. A dinner and celebration followed the hour-long ceremony that was attended by approximately 160 people. This is the eighth graduating class in school history.

The ceremony opened with a welcome by Terry Grigsby, followed by an opening prayer from Fr. Jim Michalski, S.J., President of JMSO. Following the prayer, a reflection was read by Student Council President DaVaun Brown. Both Terry and DaVaun have been at JMSO since the fourth grade.

The commencement address was given by Adam Wright, graduate of Omaha North High School and University of Nebraska at Omaha football stand-out. Wright, the uncle of JMSO students Lucas and Kevin Shelton, is a Project Director at Northern Natual Gas. He told the young men to always follow their dreams, know the value of their potential and not let the “image that society paints” dictate how you live your life and affect the decisions you make. Using football terminology, he illustrated a connection between the words “influenza” and “influence,” noting that you need to vaccinate the influences in your life the same way you vaccinate yourself against the flu virus.

School guidance counselor Tony Phillip was another stand-out performer of the evening, as he sang R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” to the students of JMSO. Soon after, he sang Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful,” as the young men presented roses to their mothers and grandmothers and clocks to their fathers and grandfathers.

Presentation of the graduates was given by eighth grade teacher Brian Lindley, followed by the awarding of diplomas by Principal Tony Connelly and Fr. Jim. The Ignatian Award of Excellence was then given to Terry Grigsby for his commitment to the five pillars of Jesuit education: Gospel Values, Academic Excellence, Self Discipline, Religious Diversity and Men for Others. The ceremony ended with a closing prayer written and read by Justin Coleman.

Congratulations to the class of 2008 as they head to metro-area high schools: Keenan Ashley, DaVaun Brown and Taj Hopkins, Creighton Prep; Justin Coleman, James Jones and DeShun Roberts, Omaha Central; Terry Grigsby, Cameron Hayes and Anthony Mann, Omaha North; Tre King, Cal Mayberry, Dillion McCoy, Tyrone Robinson and Kevin Ross, Roncalli Catholic and John Gause, out of state.

A special thank you to: the students and staff members of JMSO who worked very hard make the school look wonderful; to the parents of the seventh grade class and the Jerry and Cheryl McKay family for their hard work prior to and following the ceremony and to Choir Director Dede Johnson for her piano accompaniment.

Contact the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha today for enrollment information! (402) 346-4464

Goggles and beakers and Petri dishes, oh my! Students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades at the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) held the First Annual Science Fair on Tuesday, May 6 in the school gym. Experiments were classified in five categories: consumer, life, physical, social and sports. Each student also created a brochure-style cardboard display board explaining their experiment and compiled the necessary elements needed to complete their project, for a total of 42 experiments.

To find an experiment that best fit their interests and needs, each young man completed an online survey at www.ScienceBuddies.com and looked through several books in their classroom and school library. After choosing a topic, each student developed a hypothesis and outlined the independent and dependent variables. Then it was off to the lab to conduct the experiment and tabulate the results. The students are also in the process of completing a research paper on their experience as well.

Sixth grade homeroom teacher Mike Mansour was the moderator for this project. He and the students worked in conjunction with seventh and eighth grade homeroom teachers Paul Franklin and Brian Lindley to complete the research paper portion of the project. “The science fair is a great way for students to show off the scientific process in action,” said Mansour. “Mastering the scientific process in an important step in preparing for the jobs of the future, as careers in science and technology are growing at a significant rate.” Some of the projects included: testing battery life (name brands versus store brands), paper towel absorbency, age and eye sight, hearing by age and the long jump (with or with out shoes).

Congratulations to the following students who were recognized as Category Winners: Jonathan Sanders (7), Most Original; Jomar Ingram (7), Best Use of Scientific Process; Jermaine Suggs (6), Best Presenter; Jemar Berry (7), Most Visually Pleasing and Ronnell Johnson (7), Most Outstanding. Congratulations to the following students who earned Honorable Mention: Majeric Ashley and James Scott, sixth grade; Taylor Johnson and Mike Nelson, seventh and Keenan Ashley, DaVaun Brown, Taj Hopkins, Tre King and Cal Mayberry, eighth grade.

For more information on the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha, please contact Principal Tony Connelly at (402) 346-4464.

Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) student Terry Grigsby found that “there is no place like Nebraska” on Friday, May 16 as he was honored at the tenth annual “Breakfast for Champions” at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. The event was sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and the EducationQuest Foundation. Distinguished guests included Governor Dave Heineman, who delivered the welcome address and Dr. Tom Osborne, Husker Athletic Director, who served as keynote speaker.

Approximately 300 eighth grade students from across the state were honored for their accomplishments in scholarship, leadership and service. Husker legends and academic champions were also on hand to sign autographs and to encourage students to continue their commitment to school. In addition, the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation presented scholarships to two former Champions who will be enrolling at UNL this fall.

Terry is an active part of the JMSO community. Not only was he a member of the 8th grade CYO Championship Basketball Team, but he has participated in the JMSO Spelling Bee and Tri-School Spelling Bee Competitions for the past three years. He is also a class representative for the Student Council. Terry is the son of Joyce and Terry Grigsby and will attend Omaha North High School in the fall, where he will participate on the track team. After graduation, Terry aspires to attend University of Southern California, with plans for a career in sports medicine.

Five students from the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (JMSO) put their spelling and vocabulary skills to the test on Tuesday, April 28 as they participated in the third annual Tri-School Spelling Bee Competition, held at St. Pius/St. Leo Catholic School. For the second year in a row, JMSO took second place, falling only three points behind St. Pius/St. Leo, while Holy Ghost Catholic School came in third. Some of the day’s words included: lieutenant, alliteration, treacherous, providence, nightingale, protocol, miniature and maneuver.

Congratulations to the following students who represented JMSO at this contest: Jacob Sanders, fourth grade; Paul Bryant, Jr., fifth grade; Tyler Franklin, sixth grade; Valentin Castro, seventh grade and Terry Grigsby, eighth grade.

For more information about the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha, please contact Principal Tony Connelly at (402) 346-4464.