JONES HIGH SCHOOL

ORLANDO, Fla. — More than two dozen Orlando-area schools scored big this week with a total of $60,000 donated to fund classroom projects. The College Football Playoff Foundation and Florida Citrus Sports teamed up with DonorsChoose to fund $60,000 worth of class projects split between 38 Orlando-area schools. Officials made a surprise announcement at Jones High School on Tuesday. They announced funding for “Miss G’s Morning Wake-Up Pantry,” which is run by Jones’ college and careers specialist and senior class sponsor Naggine Georges, better known as Miss G. The pantry helps keep Jones High School students satiated and motivated between meals and throughout the day. ©2022 Cox Media Group

Check out this weeks Sonic Prep Player of the Week featuring Zavier Avera from Jones High School.

Channel 9 had the chance to explore the important role the Wells’Built Museum played in the history of our area. “So this building used to be a hotel back in the 20s,” said Wells’Built Museum educator Katrece Pitts. King, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong stayed at the Wells’Built Hotel while rocking the South Street Casino. The Wells’Built Hotel has since been converted into a museum housing memorabilia of Orlando’s African American community and displays on the Civil Rights movement, along with some African art and artifacts. For more information on the Wells’Built Museum, CLICK HERE.

Some of the best high school football players in the country live in Central Florida and some of the best college coaches in the country are hot on their trail.

The mother of a Jones High school student shot and killed Saturday evening wants to know who opened fire on her son and why.

Orlando City Commissioner Bakari Burns called the proliferating gun violence a “public health issue.”

ORLANDO, Fla — Orlando firefighters arrived this morning around 3 a.m. to heavy flames coming from a garage at an abandoned home on Mack Ave. and Gore St., a few blocks from Jones High School. Orlando Fire Department officials say fire investigators are working to determine a cause but there were no reports of injuries. Neighbors told firefighters the home has been abandoned for some time. READ: Man dies after shooting father and turning gunfire at Orange County deputies, sheriff saysThis is the second fire that Orlando Fire Department has put on the street in the last month. Stay with wftv.com for any updates on this breaking news.

Firefighters battle a house fire in Orlando.

Check out this week's Sonic Prep Player of the Week: A'ceon Cobb of Jones High School

Another Orange County high school football game planned for Aug. 20 has been canceled because of the pandemic.

Orlando, Fla. — Wednesday Orange County Public Schools confirmed that the Aug. 20 game against rivals Evans High School and Jones High School would be canceled due to COVID-19 quarantines. READ: Data shows kids more likely to get RSV than COVID-19, DeSantis saysThe district said the Evans High School football team has not been able to practice due to positive cases reported before the 2021-2022 school year started. Through contact tracing, the district has alerted all students and parents that may have been in close contact with a positive case. READ: Orange County Public Schools enacts new security protocols, mask mandate for board meetingsJones High School will now play Gadsden County High School on Aug. 19. Cox Media Group

The school district says the game was called off due to a lack of practice time for Evans High School.

Hundreds of students and their families showed up to Jones High School Saturday for a free physical and electrocardiogram test.

Four years ago, not a single student at Jones High School was enrolled in a physics course.

More than 1,500 students and their families along with other members of the community turned out to receive COVID-19 vaccinations at Colonial, Evans and Jones high schools Wednesday and Saturday, according to Orange County Public Schools.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – As we celebrate Black History Month, News 6 is reflecting on some of Central Florida’s deep roots, including what’s recognized as Orlando’s first Black community. Though they share the same name, Jones High School apparently has no relation to Jonestown, other than the fact that they both are historically Black. Credit: Jones High School Historical Society (WKMG)The school is named after principal L.C. AdUltimately, Orlando’s Housing Authority decided to demolish the buildings in Jonestown and relocate Black residents to a public housing development in Parramore called Griffin Park. Today, Parramore is known for its predominantly Black roots, most of which derived from those who lived in a community once known as Jonestown.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police officers are taking a new approach to raising the next generation of law enforcement leaders. The Junior Reserve Law Enforcement program was created for freshman and sophomores at Jones High School and Lake Nona High School. Cliff Long from the Orlando Regional Realtor Association said he wanted to educate young people more about unity. He said he approached Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon about the idea months ago. “To help even those who have gone into a bit of trouble and help put them back on track,” Chief Orlando Rolon said.

In Orange County, health officials are doing their part to help Floridians get protected from the flu. The FDOH held a Drive-thru Flu Shot event Saturday at Jones High School where anyone older than six months could drive up and receive a flu shot until 3 p.m.. Best of all, it was completely free. Health officials are using events, like the drive-thru flu shots, to help them prepare to administer a COVID vaccine to the public when it becomes available. But until then, the health department is encouraging everyone to do their part and get the flu shot, adding it’s not too late. The Orange County Health Department is offering another free flu shots drive-thru event on Saturday, November 14 at Colonial Promenade Mall located at 4308 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

51% of early votes in Florida have come from people 60 or older (Florida Chamber of Commerce)The data of early voters statewide provided by the Florida Chamber of Commerce makes it easy to see why Florida is in play this election, as more than 6 million have already voted. “We’ll probably have by Election Day more votes or about as many votes cast prior to Election Day to what we had in the entire 2016 election,” Coelho said. As of Oct. 27, early votes cast by women has reached 54% with votes cast by men trailing behind at 44%. The racial breakdown or early voters shows 15% of Hispanic voters barely outpacing black voters at 12% in the sunshine state. While votes cast by people 60+ make up 51% despite reports of record turnout among young voters in Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. – An 18-year-old Jones High School student was shot and killed Thursday in Orange County, sheriff’s deputies said. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Rayquwon Denmark, who turned 18 last week, died in the shooting, which was reported around 4 p.m. on Conley Street near South Ivey Lane, west of Orlando. The Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to the scene for “a victim in the roadway.”Deputies said Denmark suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Orange County Public School officials confirmed Denmark was a student at Jones High. “We were made aware of a tragic situation that claimed the life of one of our students yesterday,” Kirby said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – In honor of Black History month, there's no school more fitting to profile than the first public high school for African Americans in Orange County. A school with generations of alumni, a rich history, and a place that helped pave the way for so many people -- Jones High School. It later became Jones High School. In 1931, Jones High School had its first graduation of students completing the twelfth grade. In 1995, Jones High School celebrated 100 years as one of Orlando`s oldest high schools which for a half-century was the city’s only high school for African American students.

Jones High School celebrates milestone as first black high school in Orange CountyPublished: February 24, 2020, 10:53 amIn honor of Black History month, there's no school more fitting to profile than the first public high school for African Americans in Orange County.

ORLANDO, Fla. – A 16-year-old student was arrested Monday after he was found with a loaded handgun at Jones High School, according to Orlando police. According to the Orlando Police Department, another student and school staff members told School Resource Officer Ossie Battle the teenager was believed to have a magazine containing ammunition at school. Officer Battle immediately began investigating and conducted a search of the student, who was found with the loaded gun, police said. In a call sent to parents, Jones High School Principal Allison Kirby said the student will also be disciplined, according to the school’s code of conduct. “We would like to thank Officer Battle for his quick action in securing the safety of the students at Jones High School.