At this time, there are no plans for changes in the athletic program at French Camp Academy, said principal and athletic director Rusty McKnight. In addition to the four spring sports, French Camp fields teams in football, boys and girls cross country and boys and girls basketball. The school had a slow-pitch softball team in the fall, but the sport has been discontinued by MHSAA. There are no current plans to add volleyball to replace softball as a sport for girls in the fall.
French Camp is somewhat unique because about half of the 120 students are boarding students from as far away as Texas. “At a time like this with our kids spread out all over the place, it's hard to maintain a relationship with them. It's a challenge when we are not all together,” McKnight said.
The suspension of classes casts a cloud over the four spring sports -- baseball, softball, tennis and boys and girls track. All events scheduled prior to April 17 are canceled. Whether any of the events will be rescheduled, indeed whether there will be any more athletics this school year, is unknown.
“We have a strong athletic program We feel good about what we are doing,” said McKnight. “This is obviously a huge blow to everyone.”
But he added “We have to look at the big picture and that is the country's health. That puts it in perspective.”
The most important thing, he said, is for students to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. “That's what makes us different from most places. Having a great education and having a great athletic program is a plus.”
French Camp Academy is a private school, one of handful competing in the Mississippi High School Activities Association, that is following the lead of the state's public schools by suspending classes. Gov. Tate Reeves has issued an executive order closing public schools until at least April 17 and MHSAA has prohibited all activities until then.
“We're closed until at least April 17, like everybody else,” McKnight said. “We are starting the distance learning program for our kids. We hope to continue moving forward for education.”
School president F. Stewart Edwards posted a letter to parents on the school's website. “During these stressful days, French Camp Academy continues to hold true to its mission. French Camp Academy, a Christ-centered home and school, exists to serve young people and families for the glory of God. As a mission driven school, we have a deep sense of responsibility in our partnership with the families whose children attend here. We are working now to create an online academic community which will fulfill our educational obligation to you and your children and continue building our relationship.”
Grace Christian considering adding additional sports
Grace Christian is a private school, but is following the lead of Mississippi's public schools in remaining closed until at least April 17. But that doesn't mean the school has stopped teaching its 135 students.
“We follow suit with public school protocol,” said Jason Morgan, the school's headmaster and boys basketball coach. “Our school play, our sports and students activities of all kinds as well as kids getting together for classes is a no-go, at least until April 17th. The earliest we will return to school is Monday April 20th.”
The school's only spring sport, baseball, is currently on hiatus.
Grace Christian currently has four sports – volleyball for girls in the fall, boys and girls basketball in the winter and baseball for boys in the spring. Boys and girls cross country will be added in the fall and tennis might be added next spring. Morgan said there is interest in both among students.
“The great thing about cross country, and I coached cross country in Tennessee several years, is that it doesn't require 30 kids.”
He added that cross country is a great sport to get kids in shape for basketball. “I love it when sports work together.”
There are boys at Grace Christian not playing baseball who have expressed an interest in tennis, Morgan said. “And I have a good number of girls who are interested.”
The school is moving ahead academically despite the delay.
During the break the school has implemented “distance learning,” with weekly lessons and tests for students working from home,
“I didn't want us to sit on our hands and not have anything for our kids.” Morgan said. “We are full speed ahead.”
Teachers will provide lessons and administer tests weekly online while school is not in session. “No matter how long Grace Christian is out, our teachers are working very diligently to get these lessons up.”
The school will be open Monday mornings for students. “They go in the classroom. They turn in the previous week's assignments. They pick up the next week's assignment and they are out of there in two minutes. So we are abiding by all the government recommendations of avoiding large groups,” Morgan said.
Morgan expressed appreciation for national, state and local leaders in a time of crisis and for the school's seven-member board.
“Our leadership has done a good job in assessing the risk. The board has been very supportive of me and our teachers as we try to get this distance learning going. Our school is functioning 100 percent as well as we could be functioning under the circumstances.”
