TJ School News

Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School has released its Middle and Upper School Second Semester 2010 honor rolls.

Students earning High Honors earned at least a 90 average and no more than one grade of B or lower; a student who averages over 90% during a semester and receives more than one B will earn honor roll status but not high honors.

Students on the Honor Roll earned an 80 to 89.9 average. No student may have more than one grade of C or lower to receive honors.

TJ High School High Honor Roll: 9th Grade: Victoria Baker Justin Brown Ophelia Chen Hannah Matthews Christopher Saladin Clayton Woolery   10th Grade:  Katie Arnold Dexter Borup Samantha Bradshaw Adrianne Elliott Jody Esguerra Jake Hockman Rebecca Humphreys Alexander Oserowsky    11th Grade:  Cayla Burnett Carlie Fitzpatrick Spencer Reagan 12th Grade:  Taylor Barton Camille Cragin David Evans  Devin Gilliam  Spenser Newman Adam Ondo Michael Reinsvold Amanda Saladin Jenny Simpson Jacob Stuppy Elise Watson Catriona Whiteside TJ High School Honor Roll: 9th Grade: John Bowman Austin Burns Matthew Eads Sarah Evans Jeremy Lynn Samantha Mountjoy Thomas Richins   10th Grade:    Rachel Belcher Allison Bowen Shannon Clark Rhiannon Riesenmy Jonathan Shumaker Shelby Smallwood Gus Stuppy         11th Grade:  Cassandra Zuehlke 12th Grade:  Coleman Bandy Gannon Ewing Samantha Kemp Rachel McNally Jay Powell Jordan Stauffer Alexandria (Ali) Weil Mikel Winn Ji Yoo

TJ Middle School High Honor Roll: 6th Grade:   Sydney Butler Noah Chotrow Mario Destephen Edward Hershewe Lorden Hoff Audrey Kanan Joseph Scott Pranav Suri Noah Wells Sarah Wilson   7th Grade: John Burnett Laurel Lown Charlotte Newman Kathryn Salmon Hannah Shumaker   8th Grade: Frank Cascone II Kaylee Conner Joseph Hedgcorth Sanjay Jenkins Adelle Kanan Thisbe Scholfield-Johnson TJ Middle School Honor Roll: 6th Grade: O.B. Chambers Marisa Donica Morgan Dunker Michael Joseph Hannah Martin Emily Miller Levi Vasquez Lauren Weiss 7th Grade:  Suma Ancha Christian Atteberry Addison Doran Zachary Gilbreth Lindsay Lindeman Megan March Connor Matthews 8th Grade:  Brendyn Burns Brooks Butler Tyler Carter Madelaine Chotrow Benjamin Elliott Madison Fitzpatrick Krista Miller Brittany Mundy Evadne Rodriguez Joseph Simpson Trevor Spriggs Tristen Turner Toni Williams

Congratulations to TJ 11th Grader Maggie Jones on her selection to the Missouri Fine Arts Academy.   The Missouri Fine Arts Academy is a highly selective 3-week residential program for 150 of Missouri's artistically talented students who are ready to begin their junior or senior year in high school. Maggie has been selected as a member of the 2010 Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) on the campus of Missouri State University from June 6 through June 26, 2010.

Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School has released its Middle and Upper School First Semester 2010 honor rolls.

Students earning High Honors earned at least a 90 average and no more than one grade of B or lower; a student who averages over 90% during a semester and receives more than one B will earn honor roll status but not high honors.

Students on the Honor Roll earned an 80 to 89.9 average. No student may have more than one grade of C or lower to receive honors.

TJ High School High Honor Roll: 9th Grade: Victoria Baker Justin Brown Ophelia Chen Matthew Eads Jeremy Lynn Hannah Matthews Christopher Saladin Clayton Woolery   10th Grade:  Katie Arnold Dexter Borup Samantha Bradshaw Adrianne Elliott Jody Esguerra Jake Hockman Rebecca Humphreys Alexander Oserowsky    11th Grade:  Cayla Burnett Carlie Fitzpatrick Spencer Reagan 12th Grade:  Coleman Bandy Taylor Barton Camille Cragin David Evans Gannon Thomas Ewing Devin Gilliam Rachel McNally Spenser Newman Adam Ondo Jay Powell Michael Reinsvold Amanda Saladin Jenny Simpson Jacob Stuppy Elise Watson Catriona Whiteside TJ High School Honor Roll: 9th Grade: John Bowman Austin Burns Sarah Evans Samantha Mountjoy Thomas Richins   10th Grade:    Rachel Belcher Allison Bowen Shannon Clark Rhiannon Riesenmy Shelby Smallwood Gus Stuppy Tonia Vu        11th Grade:  Zachary Powell Cassandra Zuehlke 12th Grade:  Samantha Kemp Jordan Stauffer Alexandria (Ali)Weil Mikel Winn Ji Yoo

TJ Middle School High Honor Roll: 6th Grade:   Sydney Butler Noah Chotrow Mario Destephen Edward Hershewe Lorden Hoff Audrey Kanan Emily Miller Joseph Scott Pranav Suri Noah Wells Sarah Wilson   7th Grade: John Burnett Lindsay Lindeman Laurel Lown Charlotte Newman Kathryn Salmon Hannah Shumaker   8th Grade: Frank Cascone II Madelaine Chotrow Kaylee Conner Joseph Hedgcorth Sanjay Jenkins Adelle Kanan Thisbe Scholfield-Johnson TJ Middle School Honor Roll: 6th Grade: Marisa Donica Morgan Dunker Michael Joseph Hannah Martin Morgan Quick Levi Vasquez Lauren Weiss 7th Grade:  Suma Ancha Christian Atteberry Addison Doran Megan March Connor Matthews Holly Powell 8th Grade:  Brendyn Burns Brooks Butler Tyler Carter Benjamin Elliott Madison Fitzpatrick Krista Miller Evadne Rodriguez Joseph Simpson Trevor Spriggs Tristen Turner

Congratulations to Madelaine Chotrow for winning the Dr. Arvarh E. Strickland African American History Prize for best documentary on African American History in the entire state of Missouri at the State National History Day Contest in Columbia.

"So This is the Little Lady Who Started This War?" Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Contribution to the Start of the American Civil War: (Windows Media Player)

Congratulations to the TJ Middle School academic bowl team on finishing in 1^st place for the year. 

 The TJ team took 1^st place in the tournaments for language arts, history, science and math, and finished 2^nd place in the recent humanities tournament.

Pictured (left to right): Thisbe Scholfield-Johnson, Adelle Kanan, Madelaine Chotrow, Chris Saladin, Lindsay Lindeman, Justin Brown, Suma Ancha, Sanjay Jenkins, John Burnett, Clayton Woolery, and Bradley Copeland.  (Trevor Spriggs is also a member of the team, but was not available for this picture.)

A Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School 8th grader has qualified to participate at the state level of the National Geographic Bee April 3 at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo.

Clayton Woolery won the Thomas Jefferson local Geography Bee Dec. 4, and if he does well at the state level, he could advance to the national competition on May 19 and 20 at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington D.C.

The final round of the National Geographic Bee, featuring Alex Trebek, will air on the National Geographic Channel on May 20, and then on public television stations.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association notified Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School recently that three of the school’s athletic teams were recognized for scholastic achievement during the fall semester.  The girls tennis team and the boys soccer team received Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Awards, and the girls volleyball team received the Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Award.  To receive the “distinguished” representation, the team had to have a GPA of 3.0 to 3.24.  The TJ girls volleyball team achieved 3.2.  For recognition as “outstanding,” the team’s GPA needed to be between 3.25 and 4.0.  The girls tennis team achieved a 3.6, and the boys soccer team achieved a 3.4.

Our school will receive an installed, high-tech media studio, and specialized training for teachers and students.

Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School is one of 10 schools across the country selected for On Location: Spotlight On Your Community. The program, developed by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with Daimler Financial Services, is designed to allow students the opportunity to tell the story of the arts in their community, which will be shared worldwide. TJ students will feature nationally-known Carthage artist and sculptor Bob Tommey. 

As one of the 10 schools selected, Thomas Jefferson will receive a two-week visit by the "On Location" Bus, an installed Media Lab (consisting of computer, digital editing software, camera(s), sound recording equipment, and accessories) valued at approximately $5,000, $1,000 for the school to support the project, curriculum materials and support, training for teachers and students on how to use the media equipment, and instruction in development of storytelling skills by professional teaching artists in drama and media.

Thomas Jefferson was the only private school selected to participate.

“The program will help us introduce our students to new ways of communicating in a digital world," said John Peruggia, who teaches English and Humanities at Thomas Jefferson, and who is principally responsible for the school’s selection.  "They’ll get the chance to go behind the scenes and see how the media works from behind the camera and in the planning room.”

In addition to Thomas Jefferson, the Interactive Media Bus will visit schools in Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas between Jan. 7 and May 29, 2009.  The bus will be at Thomas Jefferson from May 4 to May 15, and the school will have its media studio equipment installed then.

On Location provides students with experiences using digital media to tell stories, share, and explore their world. Through arts-centered learning projects like On Location, students develop the ability to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively — all key 21st Century skills that prepare young people for the real world.

For more information about the program, visit the OnLocation Web site.

Schools Selected for the 2008-2009 School Year:

• Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, Joplin, Missouri
• Arts and Technology Academy Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
• Hometown Elementary, Hometown, West Virginia
• Samuel S. Gaines Academy, Fort Pierce, Florida
• Beaufort Middle School, Beaufort, South Carolina
• Antonia Pantoja Charter School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Anderson Middle School, Berkley, Michigan
• Normal Park Museum Magnet, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Foley Middle School, Foley, Alabama
• W.A. Meachum Middle School, Forth Worth, Texas

Twenty-eight Thomas Jefferson students in grades 4 – 8 competed in the National Geographic Society 2009 Geography Bowl Dec. 4. 
TJ 8th grader Clayton Woolery won the compettion and will advance to the next level of competition -- a written exam that will determine state competitors.  All school winners are eligible to win the national championship – a $25,000 college scholarship – at the national competition May 19 and 20, 2009, in Washington, D.C.
Participants were selected from grades 4-8, and answered a series of questions developed by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to spark student interest in geography, and increase public awareness.
The winner of the TJ Geography Bee will advance to the next level of competition – a written examination that will determine state competitors. 
Thomas Jefferson Students participating:
8th Grade: Bowman, John; Brown, Justin; Saladin, Chris; Woolery, Clayton;
7th Grade: Copeland, Brad; Gilbreth, Marisa; Jenkins, Sanjay; Kanan, Adelle; Simpson, Joe
6th Grade: Atteberry, Christian; Burnett, John; Gilbreth, Zac; Kistler, Katy Kay
5th Grade: Chotrow, Noah; Hoff, Lorden; Robeson, Marley; Scott, Joe; Suri, Pranav; Wells, Noah
4th Grade: Barnes, Jonathan; Cascone, Joey; Chapman, Albert; Eckert, Alexa; Hershewe, Gabriel; Martin, Austin; Mueller, Hannah; Riesenmy, Tiernon; Tate, Joey

Thomas Jefferson’s 2008 Canned Food Drive set a school record last week with more than 10,000 food items donated. The school’s National Honor Society organized the drive, and students in all grades (Pre-K – 12 participated). 
The Salvation Army said that the amount of food items collected – 10,365 -- is the most they ever seen donated by one location in the area.
Salvation Army Captain Mary Poff said that the food will be distributed to local families, and that it will feed approximately 1,000 adults and 2,500 children. She said that they especially appreciated the donation of the ramen noodles which are a real “hit” with children.  
Thomas Jefferson’s National Honor Society has sponsored the food drive for several years, and each year participation -- and the amount of food collected -- grows.
Students in all grades at Thomas Jefferson participated, and the winning classes in each division are listed below, along with the number of food items each collected.   

Upper School
Seniors  -- 2344
Juniors   -- 2872 
Sophomores  -- 11
Freshmen -- 2903      Winners  

Middle School
8th Grade --  -3
7th Grade  -- 73     
6th Grade -- 177      Winners

Lower School
5th Grade  -- 60     
4th Grade  -- 207     
3rd Grade  -- 472      Winners
2nd Grade -- 40
1st Grade  -- 49
Kindergarten  -- 40
Pre-Kindergarten -- 22

Three TJ chess players finished in the top 10 in Missouri at the 2008 Grades State Chess Championship Tournament in Columbia Oct. 25. After just two short years, the Thomas Jefferson Chess Team has three players in the top 10 in the state in their respective grade divisions. This is quite an accomplishment considering that two years ago these players didn know much about chess, and that this year they beat or were competitive with many of the best players in the state. Most of these top players were from the Kansas City and St. Louis areas, and many of them are from very well established programs and have been playing chess since their early elementary years. The TJ chess team coach, Scott Johnson, (who also teaches chess as an elective class at TJ) commented, "What is really encouraging is that it is not just one player, but the whole team improves each year. We just had three players move into the top 10 in the state, and it will be great to see what these brilliant chess minds are able to accomplish in the years to come as more of our players move into the top echelons of chess in the state of Missouri.

• Congratulations to Justin Brown for placing 6th place in the 8th Grade division.
• Congratulations to John Burnett for placing 6th place in the 6th Grade division.
• Congratulations to Zac Gilbreth for placing 9th place in the 6th Grade division.

Congratulations to Clayton Woolery (1^st Place) and Katie Arnold (2^nd Place) for earning the top two places in the Odyssey Teen Art Exhibit at The Bridge. The exhibit featured art from 26 students from area schools that was displayed during the Bridge’s Odyssey event Oct. 25.  The winners were announced Nov. 6.  

Congratulations to the Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School Middle School volleyball team on its undefeated season.  The team finished 15-0, and their wins included 1st place finishes in the St. Mary’s tournament in Pierce City and the Trinity Lutheran tournament in Freistatt.  The team, coached by Tom Brumfield, included students in grades 6, 7, and 8.

Pictured:

Back row, from left – Seventh Graders Madison Fitzpatrick, Marisa Gilbreth, Kaylee Conner, Jacqueline Lieurance, Adelle Kanan, Thisbe Scholfield-Johnson, and Evadne Rodriguez.  Middle row, left to right – Sixth graders Charlotte Newman, Kate Salmon, Addi Doran, and Laurel Lown.  Front row, left to right – Eighth Graders Emily Watson and Samantha Mountjoy. 

Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School announces MSSU Middle School Science Fair winners.  Seventh grader Alex Oserowsky took 1st Place in Physics and the Discovery Young Scientist Award with his science fair project that tested “How extreme temperature affects the strength of fishing line.”  Other winners include; Ninth grader Emily Watson-3rd Place Animal Studies, seventh grader Bradon Dunker-3rd Place Plant Studies, seventh grader Katie Arnold-American Women in Geoscience Award and sixth grader Justin Brown-Most Outstanding Project in Materials Science.