Thomas Jefferson High School (Tampa, Florida)

Infobox School
name = Thomas Jefferson High School


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type = secondary school
affiliation =
district = Hillsborough County Public Schools
grades = 9-12
president =
principal = Daniel Bonilla [http://jefferson.mysdhc.org/admin]
head of school =
dean =
faculty =
staff =
students = 1939(as of September 22, 2007)
enrollment =
athletics = Football, Basketball, Baseball, Wrestling, Cross Country, Track, Swimming, Volleyball, Golf, Cheerleading, Soccer, Tennis, Softball, Flag-Football.
conference = 4a
colors = Blue, Gold
mascot = Dragons
public/private = Public
campus type =
campus size =
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location = 4401 Cypress Street Tampa, Florida 33607
country = United States
coordinates =
website = http://jefferson.mysdhc.org

Thomas Jefferson High School is a secondary school located in the heart of the Westshore Business District of Tampa, Florida. Thomas Jefferson High School is an Area 1 [ [http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/schools/school_info.asp?site=3784 School Information ] ] high school operated under the Hillsborough County Public School system.

chool History

Thomas Jefferson High School was founded in 1939 due to the increasing high school population in the Tampa area [ [http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/19/Northoftampa/65_years_later__their.shtml Northoftampa: 65 years later, their spirit remains ] ] and is named after the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. The first principal was D.W Waters and the first class to graduate was in 1942. The school board decided that the current building no longer met modern educational requirements and decided to close the school in 1967.The original Thomas Jefferson High School still exists today as the D.W. Waters Memorial Center building at 2704 N. Highland Avenue. Upon closure of the school, students were sent to neighboring schools to complete their education. On August 27, 1973 the new school building was opened at its current location on West Cypress Street. [http://jefferson.mysdhc.org/jhs_history.doc]

Magnet Program

In 2001 Thomas Jefferson High instituted a magnet program with various courses focusing on international studies.
*International Business & Honors Finance
*International Culinary Arts
*International Fashion & Retail Marketing
*International Law & Criminal Justice
*International Tourism & Resort Operations

Athletics

Jefferson high students are offered a wide variety of sports throughout the academic year at the varsity and junior varsity levels.
Fall
Football (class 4a) [ [http://www.fhsaa.org/fb/2007/brak4.htm FHSAA.org: Football: 2007: Class 4A Championship Bracket ] ] , Swimming, Cross Country*, Volleyball, Golf*, Cheerleading.
Winter
Basketball*, Wrestling*, Soccer*, Cheerleading.
Spring
Baseball(boys only), Softball(girls only), Track*, Tennis*, Flag Football(girls only)

Note: an "*" denotes that a separate boys and girls team is played for the same sport during the season.

Extracurricular Activities

Jefferson High students also participate in various clubs, groups, and organizations which help broaden their knowledge and skills.
Honors Clubs
Beta, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, French Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society,
German Honor Society
Magnet Clubs
Deca Blue (finance/retail marketing), Deca Gold (tourism/resort operations), FBLA, FCCLA/HERO, FPSA (Florida public service association), Mock Trial Team,
Service Clubs
Junior Civitan, Key Club, SAC (student advisory council), SADD, Shanti
Interest Clubs
Arriba, Ballroom Dancing, FCA, True Love Does Wait, Nubian Queens, Science Brain Bowl, YO, Model United Nations, Human Rights, Step, Male/Female Weightlifting, Hip-Hop, Crew, Best Buddies.
Additional
Dancerettes, school newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook.

Alma Mater

OUR HEARTS AND MINDS ARE EVER TRUE,
TO THEE O GLORIOUS GOLD AND BLUE.
DRAGON SPIRIT WILL REMAIN,
TO KEEP US LOYAL TO THY NAME.
WITH OUR GOAL OF UNITY
WE STRIVE FOR PERFECT HARMONY,
OUR VOICES RAISED TO SING AS ONE
AND HAIL THE NAME OF JEFFERSON.

Notable Alumni

* Ferdie Pacheco (1944) Personal physican for Muhammed Ali
* Rick Casares (1950) AFL/NFL football player
* Bob Martinez (1950) Former Tampa mayor Florida governor
* Tony La Russa (1962) Major league baseball player/manager
* Tony Zappone (1965) Author, photojournalist, broadcaster
* Joe Lala (1965) Musician & Actor
* Fred McGriff (1981) Major league baseball player
* Luis Gonzalez (1985) Major league baseball player
* Tino Martinez (1985) Major league baseball player
* (Donald) Reche Caldwell, Jr. (1997) NFL football player
* Andre "Bubba" Caldwell (2003) NFL football player

Notes & References

* [http://jefferson.mysdhc.org/sports/ Jefferson Sports]

External links

* [http://jefferson.mysdhc.org/ Official site]
* [http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/default.asp?action=verifySelectionSchool&report=RC&districts=29&schoolYear=2007-2008&school_grade=&level=School&schoolNumbers=293784 School Accountability Report]