Jefferson High School - Jeffersonian Yearbook (Alexandria, VA)

Page 27 text:

Art teacher Don Okazaki listens intently at the last Virginia High School League meeting. The two-year-old school for science and technology offered a wide spec- trum of activities including about 30 9th period clubs. The activity period was a novel idea which allowed students to, on Tuesdays through Fridays, “choose their own destiny,” at least as long as they showed up where they were scheduled to. However, as several students were to find out, it was useless to try to dodge your fate, as that didn’t agree well with Mr. Rumberger. This period also allowed S T athletes to arrive at practice earlier, and newspaper yearbook staffs to get extra time to complete deadlines. The activity period was just one more thing that made Science and Tech a special concept in action. — by Mike Widener 2S

Page 26 text:

The Wave of the Future Is. . . Swinging Along With Zip The day was December 8, at the Madeira School, and the ex- perience was Innerquest, an obstacle course which must be conquered both as a group and as an individual. Four groups of ten people completed such events as balancing on a suspended beam, traversing a small pond without getting wet, or permeating a spider-web of rope. As individuals, par- ticipants had to climb planks suspended between trees or ride a rope pulley across a ravine over a deadly drop. A lot was learned about each other, most of it surprising. Given the chance, any group would benefit from the Inner- quest experience. Mary Kreck and Julie Carlin check out equipment for a day in the woods. Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It’s back to school we go! Seniors Kevin Barney, Aaron Seniors Jason Yates and Rich Hilligras, Louis Doan, Carrie Girstantis, Helen Oh, and U Jin Her Alexander take a break from their return. activities. 22

Page 28 text:

24 Jefferson Day: A festival of laughter, fun, and friendship “Enthusiasm of Jefferson Day storms the halls: “I’m going to skip!’ I’m leaving at 12 -dole “I’m just going to see the dunking machine and then I’m leaving. There is no way that I’m going to stay until nine at night.” “Jefferson Day??? How BORING! I’m not coming to school!” “Slide shows???”’ “History of Jefferson??? Sounds like loads of excite- ment to me!” Remember these remarks that were heard constantly the week before Jefferson Day? All from friends and classmates .. . and even some teachers. Once the bell rang at 12:35 p.m., students were urged on their way to the gym by all their teachers. In other words, skipping was close to im- possible. When students reached the hot, sweaty, and smelly gym, (you have to remember the many times we've tried to squeeze both schools in that little cell) the tone changed. It was packed with wall-to-wall enthu-siasm. THE OLYMPICS The olympics were by far the day’s most exciting event. Competition between the classes was fierce, and it all came down to the last event. After the first five events, the olympics had fallen behind schedule, and the tug-of-war became the final event. The seniors and the exactly sophomores were tied for first, and all either class had to do was place higher than the other to win. THE FAIR The gym was full of people doing strange things: catching escaped helium balloons with tape, a balloon, and a very long string, standing by the cotton-candy maker as stray tufts landed gracefully on their heads, playing musical chairs, bidding for “cream pies” and throwing them at people. Cameramen prowled in search of exciting material. Outside, teachers perched above the dunking booth waving rubber chickens at a huge crowd, while students signed a paper pledging to wear seatbelts and wore the Seatbelt Convincer. It was Jefferson Day, and the Jefferson Fair was happening. Signs outside the gym an- nounced that students were one step closer to dunking a senior (and helping to raise money for that class) while inside, a teacher waved the Russian Club’s rules for cream-pie throwing. Keyettes manned a Kissing Booth, call- ing friends over. So did sophomores selling chances to “Skin the Wire” and win a water gun. Balloons and cotton-candy were their own advertisements, while those manning the Video Club’s booth had to explain their ac- tivity to interested fair goers (a chance to record something at the TV-studio). Only the balloons are new, the smile is always a part of sophomore Hwan Soo Choi. RALLOAXS: MEMORIES Even with the poor atten- dance, the production ‘Our School” was a great tribute to the memories of Jefferson High School. The show featured ex- teachers and staff members, as well as some familiar faces like principal Richard ‘’Tank”’ Murphy, or coach Dick Wickline. It also touched some of the unusual moments of Jefferson during the tur- bulent 60’s, and the years that followed. The play guided its viewers through the history of Jeffer- son H.S. The combination of the slide show, lighting, and stage design brought the history of Jefferson alive. The play closed with the “Spirit of Jefferson” writ- ten by Scott Beller. “I stood by his side with principal William H. Jordan, greeted a new stu- dent body, and watched the genesis of an institu- tion ... For twenty-three years proud in prosperity enduring in adversity, of dedication and honor, I am a Colonial, now and forever. I am the spirit of Jefferson High School.”