Thomas Jefferson High School Students Balance Activities with Coursework

This is the third article in a three-part series on admissions and student life at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. and

The name tells you science and technology are emphasized at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, but there’s much more to being a student there.

“In our name, high school comes before science an technology, so it’s very important students get the full breadth of experience of being a high school student because it’s part of growing up,” said Glazer. “We try to create an environment that supports the whole child. We want them to be involved in clubs, activities, we want them to have social events, we want them to understand how important the humanities are to critical thinking skills necessary to be a successful professional. The synergy among disciplines is incredibly important to encourage innovation in our students’ thinking.”

Principal Evan Glazer said he understands the challenge TJHSST students face in performing at such a high academic level while balancing everything else, but he emphasized that the school’s curriculum is intended to ensure students have a well-rounded education.

“As a parent, I was a little concerned about his normal after school-activities,” said Emily Witting, whose son Dane is a rising senior. Dane has been in the orchestra the last three years, is a member of the National Honor Society and he tutors at an elementary school in Fairfax County. “Since some of the church-related ones start earlier than he arrives home, we have had to make changes. That was the hardest adjustment for me, but we knew that would be the case when he started at TJ. We added some activities on the weekends, and for the most part Dane has balanced the TJ course load and other activities,” said Witting.

Curriculum and Student Life

As far as curriculum, students at TJHSST follow an intensive four-year program. According to their website, “the foundation of the curricular program at TJ focuses on an interdisciplinary approach aimed at maximizing the full potential of each student's intellectual, technological and affective skills.” The curriculum includes the Freshman IBET, computer science, humanities, Foreign Languages, Fine Arts and Physical Education.  The Freshman IBET program, or Integrated Biology, English and Design and Technology program, is unique to TJHSST and intended to help incoming freshman adapt to the TJHSST culture. In IBET, students are required to complete research projects that deal with issues in the real world.

There are a total of eight periods in a school day at TJHSST which begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:50 p.m. Seven of those periods are devoted to academic coursework and one period is designated for student activities and activity-related coursework.

During this eighth period, students are encouraged to use the time pursue individual passions such as activities, sports or community service projects and endeavors. Some students also use the free period to complete homework assignments early or play games to unwind.

“[The eight period schedule] is great in the sense that it provides students with a great deal of freedom to choose from a variety of activities,” said Dane Witting. “On Wednesdays, I do tutoring at Belvedere Elementary. I spend a good part of eighth in study halls and computer labs to get ahead on homework. There are also the occasional orchestra rehearsals.  About one block a week, I use eighth period to relax and hang out with friends.  In the past, I have done activities such as ultimate frisbee and bridge club.”

TJHSST offers more than 85 clubs and 25 varsity sports, many of which are the same as activities found in most high schools such as Student Government Association, Drama, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), French Honor Society and more. [See the full list of activities here.] The school also has publications that feature writing students and staff such as the school newspaper tjTODAY and yearbook. Teknos, the school’s Journal of Science, has also won awards.

“In a sense, I feel like I am getting a better high school experience as the atmosphere at TJ is more trusting and allows for more freedoms. For example, the students can eat lunch wherever they want, teachers typically don't require hall passes, and students are free to choose eighth period activities,” said Dane Witting. “Overall, there's just a better relationship between the teachers and the students.  There is also a generally better relationship among fellow students as well. Many of the dramas and pressures that exist at one's base school just don't appear at TJ.”

Community outreach is also one way some students choose to devote their eighth period time. For example, students Kevin Cao and Abrar Omeish started GIVE, a student-run community organization aimed at providing opportunities for civic engagement in the community. [Look for a profile on GIVE on Annandale Patch next week].

Glazer said the school also encourages students to help other students and go to schools in Annandale and participate in mentoring programs for younger children to help them develop study habits. Every year, the school also sponsors a special event for students such as , aimed at elementary and middle school girls and encourages participation in the fields of math, science and technology.

Some local parents who admire the TJHSST eight period part of the curriculum have called for the program to be implemented in other Fairfax County high schools to help all students have more rounded college applications.

Parents are the biggest cornerstones of the community, according to Glazer. He said TJHSST parents are extremely active and hold meetings at their homes or other locations several times during the year to try and accommodate everyone since the school has such a wide reach across the region. The TJHSST Parent Teacher Student Association is one of the school’s biggest resources.

“We [the parents] e-mail with needed information and help each other if need be.  I am a part of the orchestra boosters and together we are involved with many orchestra related activities with excellent parent involvement,” said Emily Witting. “Being that we live in Prince William County, we are in the minority and we have found the communication to be great as weather-related changes occur during the school year affecting the bus schedules and such.”

The application process for the class of 2016 begins in the fall of 2011.