Another successful year comes to an end.
TJ students jump for joy as they leave school and begin their well-earned summer celebrations. Photo by Anna Becker
For 50 years, Thomas Jefferson High School has been the model of perseverance, hard work, and achievement, and this year is no exception. Recently, TJ has proposed a plan to achieve excellence throughout the school, which includes a pre-magnet program for 8th graders attending Hamilton Middle School, an AP seminar program, and enabling further community participation for all TJ Spartans.
TJ has also made significant strides in AP participation and achievement, displayed by the 60.7% increase in scores above three on AP tests. In addition, participation in all classes has increased, with the overall school attendance rate being at 88%. This year, TJ also added an ACT preparation course for Juniors, with the goal of increasing the number of students who get a score of at least a 20 by five students.
Principal Sandra Just, finishing her fifth year as the queen of the Spartans, still recognizes TJ’s pride and success. “TJ has a proud history,” said Just. “As we plan our celebration of 50 years in this community, it is important to reflect on how to build and strengthen our core values and priorities.”
TJ Spartans have also continued to achieve in sports, with the Boy’s Varsity Basketball team progressing to the “great eight” in the playoff season, and the Varsity Football team winning City and getting to the first round in the playoff season. In addition, the Varsity Baseball team closed their season with a win on May 7, sending them into this season’s playoffs.
Of course, TJ continued its tradition of the Mr. TJ contest. This year’s senior boys danced, sang, posed, and flexed in front of a panel of judges, and an auditorium filled with roaring Spartans. Senior Billy Sprague won the contest, the crown, and the hearts of countless Spartans.
The Rent Project, a unified effort to spread peace and equality throughout TJ and the community, is a highlight of TJ’s cultural impact this year. Students involved in the Rent Project ran a coat drive for the homeless, advocated peace and acceptance by selling Peace Bracelets as a reminder to be kind and considerate of others, and of course, held the spring musical Rent. This highly successful musical event has been called a, “…reminder of love, friendship, and the importance of living in the moment.” Other cultural achievements include the inaugural year for TJ’s new M.E.Ch.A. club, the renewal of the Black Student Alliance, and the award-winning Interact Club.
TJ has continued to excel in the Computer Magnet and DECA programs. Five Spartans won the Project of the Year competition after months of vigorous work with Computer Magnet Instructor Stacey Fornstrom’s guidance. Also, two TJ web-designers won the SkillsUSA competition and are going to Nationals. TJ’s DECA program also made vast strides this year, producing six finalists at the State Conference on February 20. The Computer Magnet is also continuing the production of the Spartan Edition, an innovative digital video journalism production class that allows students to produce a 10 minute video announcement program, and the Thomas Jefferson Journal, an award winning online newspaper that can be found at www.tjjournal.com.
While this year has come to an end, here are some important dates to be remembered during the summer:
July 26-30 – 9th Grade Academy
August 3rd – Senior Registration
August 4th – Junior Registration
August 5th – Sophomore Registration
August 6th – Freshmen Registration
August 12th -13 – Walk-in Registration
August 19th – First day of school for freshmen
August 20th – First day of school for all students
