TJHSST Alumni Association

The Official TJ Alumni Site

TJHSST Alumni Association
6560 Braddock Road
Alexandria, VA 22312
alumni@tjhsstalumni.org
©2004

Thomas Jefferson High School
for Science & Technology
Alumni Association

Jefferson Touts Accomplishments

SAT scores have steadily risen from 1453 (2000) to 1478 (2003), the highest in the nation.

National Merit Semifinalists have continued to rise from 153 (2000) to 170 (2003), the highest in the nation.

U.S. Dept. of Energy NATIONAL SCIENCE BOWL WINNERS – 2002 & 2003, a first for TJ and Virginia.

Siemens Awards for ADVANCED PLACEMENT in 2002 & 2003 - TJ became the only school ever in the nation to win all four (4) Student Regional Awards now for two years. In 2003, we also have the National AP student winner.

Virginia State and Regional Science and Engineering Fair Grand Prize Winners and multiple First Place winners during the last three years.

Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalists (top 300 in nation) – four in 2002 and five in 2003.

USA COMPUTING, PHYSICS, MATHEMATICS OLYMPIADS – multiple Finalists and International Team winners (6-14) for last three years.

USA BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD - Finalists in 2003 for the first time in TJ history.

Academic Initiative Beltway Invitational Champion
University of Maryland Fall Classic Champion

TEKNOS, The Journal of Science, Mathematics, and Technology won a first ever national award for technical journals competing against only professional journals.

THRESHOLD, A Magazine for the Arts and Sciences, continues to win the highest awards for artistic journals of prose, poetry, art, and photography in ASPA and CSPA. (New sponsor appointed by principal.)

TJ Today, the student newspaper, achieved its highest honors to date in 2003 with a National winner in Quill and Scroll, NSPA, CSPA. (New sponsor appointed by principal.)

The Music Department continues to win the highest praises. Under the new leadership of Mary Ulrey, the Band has won: Superior Rating and Superior Sightreading – District Festival, 2003; Superior Rating and 1st Place, Best Brass and Outstanding Solo Award – Myrtle Beach Fiesta-val Competition, Spring 2003 (Jazz Band); Atlantic Indoor Association Finals, Lynchburg, VA 2003; Best Percussion, Best Drum Majors – Charlottesville Calvacade Marching Band Competition, 2002 (TJMC TJ Marching Colonials).
Under the new leadership of Allison Bailey, the Orchestra has won: Keynote Instrumental Ensemble Performance for Virginia Music Educator’s Association Conference, November 2003; First Place and Grand Champion Instrumental Ensemble – Musicfest Orlando, 2003; Gold Medal and First Place in Class, Chicago Heritage Festival, 2002.

The Drama Department has garnered several CAPPIES for individual acting in musicals and commentary on other schools’ plays during the last two years. The One-Acts, Musicals, and Shakespeare Troupe performances have steadily increased in participation and quality of work during the last three years.

It's Academic Team:

Green Eggs and Hammond Champion

Virginia Concorde District Champion

Virginia Northern Region Champion

Virginia State Finalist

Benjamin Banneker High School Tournament Champion
Spotswood Champion

Maggie Walker Governor’s School Champion

Sidwell Friends Quaker Bowl Champion

Spring 2003 International Knowledge Master Open (KMO) Champion

National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) High School National Champion

National Scholastic Championship

National Champion Team at Panasonic National Academic Challenge

Strong start to the 2003-2004 season by winning the Blake High School Tournament

24 returning members 8 of which are female (first ever)

61 new team members in training representing all ethnic groups

Female Club President and Coach

Our team sponsors two local tournaments that enable top teams to place nationally

Captain is 2003 AAA Travel High School Challenge Champion

Faculty:

The 9th grade Integrated Biology, English and Technology (IBET) program has new resources and leadership which has resulted in more team planning and integrated projects. In the summer of 2003, they held their first ever IBET Teacher Retreat.

The Leadership Team of the school has expanded beyond the Administrators and Division Managers to include more Faculty and Student representation.

As faculty members retire, the new teachers include seasoned, successful veterans, and outstanding young educators all of whom are experts in their fields and have Masters or Doctoral degrees. The Guidance Department has documented substantially fewer students seeking to change teachers due to the departure of some of the weaker ones and the hiring of people whom the students respect and want as teachers.

The faculty and staff have been involved in a two-year, self-evaluation project for accreditation. This has reinvigorated our commitment to our mission and beliefs and resulted in a variety of initiatives including Student Technology Portfolios, infusing Research Skills into every area, focus on Intellectual Risk Taking, and Creative Problem Solving throughout the curriculum to name a few.
Mrs. Lodal was evaluated by her Cluster Director during 2003. He conducted a survey of the faculty and parents. She received the highest scores from both groups who expressed great confidence in and appreciation for her leadership.