Jefferson High School - Jeffersonian Yearbook (Alexandria, VA)

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Everyday Occurrences Extraordinary Events Everyday occurrences and extraordinary events added up to a considerably exciting first year for students and faculty. It was a year of firsts — first love, first year for the school, first year of high school, first high school science fair, first Fairfax County regional magnet school — and lasts — last year of high school, last calculus test, last minute panic over assignments, and last college applica- tion. In the finite calculating system of the nine month school year located some- where between birth and eternity, we experienced moments that were per- sonally historical and nationally historical. Both positive and nega- tive aspects numbered our days and kept our calendars. The dark mo- ment of the space shuttle Challenger tragedy when seven crew members in- cluding teacher Christa McAuliffe were killed was coupled with the brighter days of the Dedication when many local digni- taries turned out and with the visit by President Reagan. Even in those brighter moments though, it rained (or snowed) on our parade. The day of the Dedica- tion found us sloppily Slushing into a bright- ly decorated gym area with oversized pictures, courtesy of the media center, The day of the Presidential visit it snowed. There was some- thing very new, too, about the bright, bright days, like the Ice Cream Social when we filled a courtyard with energy and paper flowers and ice cream. Classes, new subjects, and new labs gave us many bright moments and experiences different from other high schools. It wasn’t long before we learned that people, events, and equipment had added up to a high school experience with in- finite possibilities. |

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t may have been a rainy day outside the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, but inside hundreds of excited par- ents, students, adminis- trators, and guest speak- ers participated in an ex- uberant display that be- hand at 2:00 p.m. Plans for the dedication were made by a committee headed by Dr. David Saw- yer, assistant superinten- dent for Management In- formation Services and Dolores Bohen, assistant superintendent for Public and Professional Services, members of the graphics and photography staff as- sisted with the design for the brochures and dis- plays; members of the press were also in atten- dance. The entrance to the main gym was decorated with large photographs of students from the school for science and technol- ogy. Near the entrance, county officials such as Jack Herrity, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Mary Collier, chairman of the Fairfax County School Board assistant su- perintendents and leaders from the business and in- dustry community as well as students and parents, and faculty and adminis- trators from both the school for science and technology and Jefferson. The Chamber Choir, performed prior to the ceremony under the direc- tion of Laura Clark. While the choir sang, people began to file into the auditorium. Collier was the first to speak during the ceremony, comment- ing that it was the first time that so many people had gathered for a non- controversial issue. S. John Davis, state su- perintendent of schools, toldétherstudents =a applaud your dedication to a quality education.” NHN NN Rina DEDICATION DRAWS VIPs “IT applaud your dedication to a quality educa- tion.” —S. John Davis State Superintendent of Schools He congratulated the faculty and made a point of the unity of the faculty, business, students and parents, ‘“‘This school is only a small beginning,” Davis said, adding, ‘‘We need to expand our con- cepts and build magnet schools elsewhere.” Davis, recognizing that the school is both a national and a state model, cau- tioned students and fac- ulty to be aware of “living in a glass bowl.” Davis also read a letter from Gover- nor Charles Robb who ex- tended his congratula- tions on the opening of the school. r. David Sawyer, assistant superin- tendent for Man- agement Information Services presented Mel Perkins of AT T with a plaque. Perkins, chairman of the Fairfax County Education Foundation, will relocate to California. Since the school’s begin- ning, Perkins has been in- strumental in laying the groundwork for the school and in assisting with the donations from business and industry. Keynote speaker, Dr. John P. McTague, spoke of the need for increased technological advances in the United States. “The nation that led the world into industrialization is in- creasingly allowing its children to dissipate its value and may disappear