Jefferson High School - Jeffersonian Yearbook (Alexandria, VA)

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Rising to the Challenge of Molecular Biology “King Phillip came over from Germany stoned” are probably the most remem- bered words in the first unit of Molecular Biology. Remember back in the olden days ... when we took our ONE field trip to either Hemlock Overlook, Mason Neck, or Dranes- ville District Park? Which came first ...a chicken or an egg? The Evolution Unit will tell you. Is DNA double or single stranded? What are the three types of RNA? If you are not sure, read the Genetics Unit. ... Then came science projects... you remember them. Awake until two in the morning finishing those drastic inventions of the science teachers. Lucky students who put their projects in the Chuck Sane works with June Cohan. science fair really had a blast! Everyone thought that the fair turned out to be a big success! (But we won’t remember all those pizzas we ordered for lunch.) The human reproduc- tion unit during the third quarter was probably the most memorable biol- ogy unit. All those great filmstrips or those wonderful worksheets to color finally came, last but least, the fourth quarter and chapters on the human body systems. Allin all, it was a year in science that we shall never forget, at least not until next Tuesday. Tim Porch checks microscope. LP ABAD: 4

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Drama Class: From Time to Time The students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology are a pretty well rounded group of individuals. This is shown by the fact that not all of the students are really into science or math alone, but they are also in- terested in the fine arts, such as drama. The num- ber of different projects the drama classes did all added up to quite a busy, yet enjoyable elective class. Erik Peterson said, “T enjoy expressing creativ- ity through acting, but I wish I could go to drama more often. The one-week block sessions are not enough time for some of the projects.” The projects they worked on ranged from improvisa- tional speeches, to making a movie. Quite a bit of time and effort went into work- ing on these projects, al- though many of the stu- dents complained about the lack of sufficient time to complete big projects, such as the movie. This re- states the question of whether the techlab blocks were the best way to allow the students to ex- perience the different lab activities, as well as our electives. Many students say that the projects they did could have been much better, had there been more time to work on them. Acting wasn’t all the drama students did. They also worked on sales campaigns, poetry read- ing, and debates. The topics used for debates were either real or made up issues that needed to be argued for or against. This was a way of teaching stu- dents to have constructive arguements that actually go somewhere. So, the drama students at Science and Tech en- joyed the drama program, but wish that the program could have been longer. Hopefully the administra- tion can find a way to please all the students with a schedule change for elective classes. 25

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EEE IT TO THE JUDGE JUDGE: So, tell me about your project? (student is speechless) STUDENT: Uh... Well you see, I took these plants Andean. JUDGE: (interrupting student) It says here on your abstract that the purpose of your experi- ment was to grow the plants under certain con- ditions. STUDENT: That’s right, you see here I have shown that ... (student points to his backboard) JUDGE: Did you do this abstract on a computer? STUDENT: (puzzled) Uh Peeves JUDGE: What kind of computer? STUDENT: An Apple Ile JUDGE: What did you prove according to the reasons stated in the hypothesis in relation to the procedure and conclu- sion? LONE Um ... the graphs show that the plants grew the most when put under the ... Gudge interrupts) JUDGE: I can’t see the logic behind your proce- dure. Where did you put the plants? STUDENT: In the sun. JUDGE: How long? STUDENT: About four hours a day (Judge: nods and scribbles something on a pad) JUDGE: Do you plan to continue this project in the future? STUDENT: Uh... yeah. JUDGE: Well good-luck Gudge walks off) The Thomas Jefferson High School and the School for Science and Technology both had a strong showing in the Areas II and III Regional Science Fair, held from March 21 to 23 at Robinson Secondary School. Science and Tech student Jeff Skerker was chosen as one of two grand prize winners who will advance to the 37th Annual Internation- al Science and Engineer- ing fair held in Fort Worth, David Van Hemel works on biology “Techies” Nab 9 out of 11 First Place Awards at Fair Texas from May 11 to 17. Two Science and Tech seniors as well as five Jefferson students took first place in their catego- ries. In addition, Science and Tech won nine out of the total eleven first place awards given at the fair. Says Skerker, “I think we made a name for ourselves ... TO win so many prizes really shows the quality of the programs offered at our school.’’ Combined, Jefferson and Jefferson Science and Tech received 50 place awards and 59 organizational awards. The fair began the morn- ing of Saturday the 22nd at 8:00 and lasted until 1:00 in the afternoon. Several people with excep- tional projects were asked to remain for grand prize judging which lasted until as late as 5:30. Awards were presented the follow- ing afternoon and open house was held for public viewing. Several digni- taries were on hand to present the awards, in- cluding Fairfax County School Board members, Area Superintendents, and representatives from the armed services. Teachers and individuals from business and in- dustry composed the body of approximately 200 judges. “I’m impressed with the quality of the work I see here,” said William Porter, an organizational judge and the director of animal medicine at Hazleton Labs. Added another judge, ‘“‘You see a wider spectrum of poorer projects at the individual school fairs. But these projects have already been screened through that stage. I like what I’ve seen here.” 20