Jefferson High School (Iowa)

Infobox School


name=Thomas Jefferson High School
type=Public
location=1243 20th St. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA
information=[phone]
established=1957
grades=9-12
enrollment=1552
principal=Charles McDonnell
mascot=J-Hawks
colors=Columbia blue and white
district=Cedar Rapids Community Schools
website= [http://jefferson.cr.k12.ia.us/ jefferson.cr.k12.ia.us]
district Website= [http://www.cr.k12.ia.us]

Thomas Jefferson High School is a public high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is the eighth largest high school in Iowa. Jefferson is home to many activities, clubs, and ensembles. These include the Academic Decathlon team, the marching band, the Band of Blue, the varsity show choir, West Side Delegation, and the softball team, coached by the winningest high school coach in the nation, Larry Niemeyer. In addition, Jefferson has athletic teams and performing ensembles that consistently do well. The school's mascot is Jeffy the J-Hawk and the official school colors are Columbia Blue and White.

School Statistics

Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School is one of the few 2 time Blue Ribbon National School of Excellence. Jefferson currently has 170 staff members, and 1552 students. The following are the number of students in each ethnic group:

*Am. Indian/Alaska Native: 7 (0%)
*Asian/Pacific Islander: 35 (2%)
*Hispanic: 27 (2%)
*African American: 116 (7%)
*White: 1367 (88%)

The following is other statistical information about Jefferson:
*Eligible for discounted/free lunch: 414 (27%)
*The Student to Teacher ratio is 17:1

[ [http://www.schooldigger.com/go/IA/schools/0654000263/school.aspx Thomas Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids Iowa / IA school information ] ]

Credit Information

Jefferson uses the system of 5 credits earned per trimester for a class that meet every day. 2.5 credits are earned for classes that meet every other day.

The following are the Credit requirements for each grade level:

9th Grade: All Freshmen must complete 15 credits of Science (3 trimesters) All Freshmen must complete 3 trimesters of Language Arts Credit Target: Required: 82.5 Credits. Target Credit Total: 82.5 Credits

10th Grade: All Sophomores must complete 3 trimesters of Language Arts All Sophomores must complete 15 credits of Science (3 trimesters) Credit Target: Required: 150 Credits. Target Credit total: 165 Credits.

11th Grade: All Juniors must complete 3 trimesters of Language Arts Credit Target: Required: 217.5. Target Credit Total: 250 Credits

12th Grade: All Seniors must complete 3 trimesters of Language Arts All Seniors must take Government or AP Government and Economics or AP Economics Credit Totals: Graduation Requirement: 285. Target Credit Total: 330

Foreign Languages and Trips

Jefferson offers 4 years of Spanish, with the option of AP Spanish as a replacement of 4th year Spanish as well as 4 years of French, with the same AP option.Jefferson offers trips to Spanish and French speaking countries every two years. There is a trip to France for French students that will be taking place in the spring of 2008. At this time, the next Spanish trip is tentatively scheduled for Puerto Rico in 2010.

Advanced Placement and College Courses

Jefferson offers the following AP Courses:

*AP Calculus
*AP Statistics
*AP Biology
*AP Chemistry
*AP Physics
*AP World History
*AP US History
*AP Economics
*AP Government
*AP English Language and Composition (11)
*AP English Literature Composition (12)
*AP French
*AP Spanish
*AP Music Theory

In addition, Jefferson offers several other courses that can receive college credit. These include:
*The Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering sequence

*Kirkwood Academy dual credit courses:
**Auto Mechanics (I and II)
**Principles of Technology (I and II)
**Computer Programming
**Local Area Networking
**Info Systems Management
**Advanced Manufacturing(KCC)
**Auto Collision(KCC)
**Welding
*Education & Human Services Academy
**Foundations of Early Childhood Education (KCC Fall)
**Exploring Teaching (KCC Spring)
**Intro to Disabilities Services (KCC Fall)
**Human Services Careers Orientation (KCC Spring)
**Intro to Psychology (KCC Fall)
**Developmental Psychology (KCC Spring)
*Graphics Academy
**Photoshop (KCC)
**Page Layout (KCC)
**Digital Drawing (KCC)
*Health Services
**Pharmacy Technician
**Patient Care
**Emergency Medical Technician (opportunity to become EMT certified)

Project Lead the Way

Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering courses: Jefferson High School is one of the first three schools in the state to become a PLTW certified school. Jefferson has been the leader of this program in Iowa, setting an example for numerous other schools that have decided to begin this program. For more information on PLTW, visit http://www.pltw.org and http://www.pltwiowa.org/

The Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering sequence consists of:
**Introduction to Engineering Design
**Principles of Technology
**Computer Integrated Manufacturing
**Civil Engineering and Architecture
**Biotechnical Engineering
**Digital Electronics
**Aerospace Engineering
**Engineering Design and Development

Athletics

Jefferson has 23 Varsity level sports and is one of 14 schools that participate in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Fall Sports:
*Football
*Volleyball
*Men's and Women's Cross Country
*Men's Golf
*Women's Swimming

Winter Sports:
*Wrestling
*Men's and Women's Basketball
*Men's Swimming
*Men's and Women's Bowling

Spring Sports:
*Men's and Women's Tennis
*Men's and Women's Track
*Men's and Women's Soccer
*Women's Golf

Summer Sports:
*Men's Baseball
*Woman's Softball
*Cheerleading
*Dance Team

Fine Arts

Jefferson is famous for their fine arts department and is continually recognized for its achievement. The marching "Band of Blue" and Wind Symphony consistently receive Division 1 ratings at State contest, as does the Concert Choir and Meistersingers. Recently, the Band of Blue was Grand Champions at the Marion Marching Band Invitational, winning first place in class 4A and all caption awards except color guard. Also, West Side Delegation was crowned Grand Champions at the Benton Community Show Choir Invitational, winning Best Choreography and Best Band. The Best Band award at Benton was the thirteenth Best Band award earned in three years, making the band arguably the best in the state of Iowa. The instrumental and choir/orchestra departments go on educational tours alternating every year. This year the band will be traveling to Hawaii over spring break; the choir has not yet announced their trip destination. Jefferson's Thespian Troupe produces five productions a year, including one musical and one children's theatre piece. Plays are produced in one of two venues on campus; the auditorium or the little theatre. Almost half of the students at Jefferson participate in fine arts activities. Some of Jefferson's fine arts include:

Instrumental
*Band of Blue, marching band
*Wind Symphony
*Symphonic Band
*Jazz Band
*9th Grade Band
*Pep Band

Choral
*Men's 9th Grade Choir
*Women's 9th Grade Choir
*Jeff Singers
*Men's Select Concert Choir
*Women's Select Concert Choir
*Meistersingers
*Ovation (Show Choir)
*West Side Delegation - WSD (Show Choir)

Orchestral
*Symphonic String Orchestra
*Symphony Orchestra
*Philharmonic String Orchestra
*Jefferson Fiddlers
*Wires of Fire
*Harp Ensemble

Theatre
*Thespian Troupe 561

Extra Curricular Clubs and Organizations

In addition to varsity sports, there are numerous other Extra-Curricular Activities for students to get involved in. Some of these include:
*Math Team
*Science Bowl
*Pledge Group
*Chess Team
*Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
*Student Council
*Game Makers Club
*Character Safari
*Win With Wellness
*Friends of Freshmen
*Academic Decathlon
*Special Olympics
*Speech Team
*Common Ground (GSA)

Academic Decathlon

Jefferson's Academic Decathlon team is led by John Wojtowicz. The team has won the state championship eleven of the past twelve years and placed third in the medium-sized school division at the national competition in Garden Grove, CA. This is the highest finish ever for any Iowa team.

tudent Publications

Jefferson's student-run newspaper is called The Outlook. The student page for this is http://www.jeffersonoutlook.org. Everything from photography to editing, and writing each article are done by the students. The other student-run publication at Jefferson is the yearbook, The Statesmen.

chool History

Thomas Jefferson began in 1957, but competed in several athletic events in 1956. The formed teams from 2 separate high schools, Theodore Roosevelt High School, and Woodrow Wilson High School, who merged into one school in April 1956, upon the completion of the construction of the school. Since then, Jefferson has been housed at its current location. Jefferson added a new gymnasium addition to the school in 1990,a new Science wing, and a fantastic music wing as well in the same year. The school has been named a "Blue Ribbon National School of Excellence" two times, one of the few traditional schools to earn this honor twice.

Notable Alumni

*Landon Cassill, NASCAR driver
*Andrew Boysen Jr., Composer
*Andrew Petersen, Team Andrew Grand Master
*Jacob Jaacks, (known as Jake Crane while attending school) Professional and Iowa Hawkeye basketball player
* Kevin Worley, Broadway actor
* Layne McDowell, former professional and Canadian football player
* Larry Lawrence, former Oakland Raider, played in the Super Bowl
* Karen Schulte, former athlete and announcer for WMT Radio

References

External links

* [http://jefferson.cr.k12.ia.us/ Official site]