Prom dot com
Prom night. Immortalized in every teen coming of age movie, the event is filled with sparkling dresses, impeccable catered food, and an unforgettable party. This, unfortunately, was not the case for...
View ArticlePost online AP season reflections: good intent, questionable execution
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, College Board hosted their annual AP Exams online this year from May 11, 2020 to May 22, 2020, with makeup exams being held the week of June 1, 2020. Every...
View ArticleFirst aid, second priority
Freshman students at Jefferson are learning first aid and CPR through an online course this spring. Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced us into distance learning, teachers and students have had to...
View ArticleGovernor announces Virginia schools reopening plans
As the school year resumes next fall, learning will look significantly different from before. Six feet apart at all times and faces covered by masks may become our new in-school reality. On Tuesday,...
View ArticleFairfax County Public Schools releases preliminary reopening recommendations
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) released preliminary findings and recommendations for the 2020-21 school year based on the Virginia Governor and the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control (CDC)...
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Eliminating standardized testing is not the answer
Funny story, I actually hate standardized testing. But in terms of college admissions, standardized tests are the least of our worries. The UC system recently announced that the SAT and ACT...
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(Un)Equal Opportunity: Breaking down demographics at Jefferson
‘TS’. Again. Another year, another disappointing number. Or lack thereof. Established in 1985, Jefferson has an extensive history as a magnet school. Not only does it promote excellence in STEM...
View ArticleIntroduction to Playing hide & seek with diversity, a series of student stories
Feb. 23. March 13. May 25. May 26. The first three dates mark influential events of the Black Lives Matter movement- the days Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd went from being Black...
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My not so Black-and-White look at diversity at Jefferson
Black people are less talented at this age. Black people are less academically driven. Black people are less qualified to be here than most Asians that apply. Those are things that have come up in...
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Your finish line and mine
I once told a friend that I’m on free lunch and she burst out laughing and asked me why. We go to a school where less than 2% of the students receive free or reduced lunch. As a kid, my family moved a...
View ArticleDo The Right Thing: Spike Lee’s ultimate argument against hate
“Bright” (2017) is one film in a long legacy of lazy films about racism, which, like every other film of its kind, can’t help but pin racism down to one or two bad apples, one or two historical events,...
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Unmasking mental health during the pandemic
COVID-19 is not the only health issue we face in the midst of this pandemic. As schools and stores closed with many left jobless, the concern for mental health rises in the background. Mental health...
View ArticleRallying for Black rights
Masks on. Signs up. Rain or shine, locally and globally, people are standing up to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, including Jefferson students. Senior Grace Cullen attended several...
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Return to school survey results released
Results from the Return to School Family and Staff survey conducted by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) were released in June. The survey gathers data from staff and families concerning access to...
View Article“The Lighthouse”: A spellbinding modern myth
“The Lighthouse” is a perfect maelstrom of sexual frustration and toxic masculinity; one that creeps its way into your psyche with a world so atmospheric and immersive that it creates a new modern...
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What it means to be a TJ Latina
A teacher once asked me if I ever felt uncomfortable at Jefferson. It’s important to note that their intentions for asking the question were well-meaning. That question, though, has stuck with me for...
View ArticleEnnio Morricone: In Memoriam (1928-2020)
You very well may not have seen “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”, but you sure as hell have heard it. You might not have heard of Ennio Morricone before you heard about his death, but you’ve heard his...
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Return to school frequently asked questions and survey results
Return to school survey results and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) were compiled by the Jefferson Parent Teacher Students Association (PTSA) and released on July 6, 2020. The following...
View ArticleDoes “Hamilton’s” VOD release live up to its mythic hype?
“Hamilton” is a show that needs no introduction. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s alchemic hip hop-jazz-R&B-historical epic has become so ubiquitous with pop culture that most people who wanted to see the show...
View Article“Earth and Blood”: or, How to make a boring action movie
When I watch an action movie, especially a straight-to-Netflix action movie, I need very little to walk out satisfied. Obviously good action is a must, but just as important as that is good structure,...
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