2. Mission
The school’s mission is to provide students a challenging learning environment focused on math, science, and technology, to inspire joy at the prospect of discovery, and to foster a culture of innovation based on ethical behavior and the shared interests of humanity.
Current Mission Statement.

3. Core Skills and Values Critical Inquiry and Research Problem Solving
Intellectual Curiosity
Social Responsibility
In recent years, we have revisited and re-evaluated programs and curriculum at the school and have redefined our goals in four areas that provides the opportunity for improved vertical articulation.
Grew out of our SACS process from staff input. Add our definition of what this means to TJ? We hear these terms, but at TJ we live it through our programs.

4. Business & Technology explosion in Maryland
Historical Context: 1985
Nation at Risk Report
Business & Technology explosion in Maryland
Education challenged to develop private and public sector partnerships
A brief overview of three influences on the school in the early 1980’s provides a context for the vision behind the school:
Nation at Risk Report
Business & Technology corridor on Route 270 in Maryland
Lack of business presence in No. VA… needed to help support the growing population in the Northern Virginia counties.
Partnership of Business and politicians came up with the idea of magnet school for Sci/Tech. Approached FCPS with assurance that the school system would continue to fund it as a public school, and that additional funds would come from the school’s designation as a Governor’s Regional School.

5. West Virginia Maryland Virginia DC Loudoun Falls Church Fauquier
Prince
William
Falls Church
Arlington
Fairfax
Fauquier
Virginia
Maryland
West Virginia DC
Regional aspect of the school: this map reflects the surrounding jurisdictions that participate by sending their students to TJ. Counties sending their students here are responsible for providing students transportation as well as paying for each student. Some students travel as far as ninety minutes and more one way to get to school in the morning.

6. The TJPF Partnerships Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. ExxonMobil
Fannie Mae
Battelle
Sun Microsystems
FedResults
Northrop Grumman
Lockheed Martin
Orbital Sciences
Raytheon
Vibration & Sound Solutions
Deltek
SAIC
Micron
Google
ManTech
Business relationships are key to TJ in terms of partnerships supporting our curriculum and programs such as the Mentorship Program, where students and faculty benefit from the expertise brought by each partner. Sharing knowledge between professionals, faculty and students with an eye towards evolving technologies, innovations and fields of research.

7. Educating the Complete Student
Comprehensive Program:
Academics
Arts
Athletics
While the focus of the school is clearly defined as Science, Technology and Mathematics, the inter-disciplinary benefits are pursued at every grade level. Students are exposed to and encouraged to participate in a wide range of experiences that can only be found in a comprehensive program. These experiences include student leadership and character development.
Comprehensive Program starts a step up; for example, all students have completed Algebra I before beginning studies at TJ. All course work is at the honors level.

8. Courses For Science & Tech Courses, see next page
then
Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Numerical Analysis, Complex Variables
Math through Calculus
Computer Science
4 years of English
4 years of Social Studies
3 years of Foreign Language
Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Spanish, including AP
2 years of Physical Education
These are some of the requirements of TJ diploma. Over four years students must earn 26 credits. Algebra must be completed before entering TJ.
1 year of Fine Arts
For Science & Tech Courses, see next page

9. Science & Tech Courses 7 courses minimum graduation requirement
(the “average” TJ student takes 8.5)
12 Geosystems
11 Physics
10 Chemistry
9 Biology
12 Senior Research Tech Lab
1 year SciTech Elective or
AP Science Class
9 Design & Technology 9
10/11
AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, Advanced Optics, Alternative Energy Systems, Analog Electronics, Architectural Drawing, Artificial Intelligence, Astronomy, Audio Electronics, Automation and Robotics, Bionanotechnology, Communication Systems, Computational Physics, Computer Assisted Design, Conventional Energy Systems, Digital Electronics, DNA Science, Introduction to Engineering, Marine Biology, Microprocessor System Design, Nature of Materials, Neuroscience, Organic Chemistry, Parallel Computing, Prototype Development and Processing, Quantum Physics & Nanotechnology, Systems Engineering
The following Ven diagram outlines the philosophical foundation of the curriculum at TJ, starting with a quick overview of core course work by area in the first domain of courses and content.

10. Humanities Innovative Programs
Hum I: World History & Geography and English10
Hum II: US/VA History or AP US History & English11
AP Lit in Senior Seminar
AP Lang in Topics in Globalization
CHUM (Chemistry and Humanities)
The Humanities Division while teaching core skills and texts is also a key area of the school for academic innovation. Besides IBET, the teaming of history and English in grades 10 and 11 along with interdisciplinary 12th grade courses such as Senior Seminar and Topics in Globalization are direct responses of a gifted faculty meeting the needs of a gifted student body. Last year saw the introduction of the latest of innovative courses in the Humanities Division: CHUM (Chemistry – Humanities), a 10th grade course.

11. Building sound research, writing & collaboration skills
Humanities
Building sound research, writing & collaboration skills
Strong habits of Inquiry and Research
Collaborative, interdisciplinary projects
Communication and Presentation Skills
TJ students establish academic habits of inquiry in their Humanities work, employing search methods finding primary sources, vetting Internet and book resources, and bringing curious, well-trained minds to their original research projects.
The Humanities classroom gives students real world experience with collaborative, interdisciplinary projects producing effective presentations.

12. Specialized Programs IBET Geosystems
Senior Lab Projects/Mentorship Program
Eighth Period
In order to better grasp how all of these various goals and philosophies inform our school, it helps to understand our specialized programs starting in the ninth grade and culminating in the twelfth grade.
Admissions process. Diverse geographical. TJ diploma.

13. IBET is how we induct freshmen into Jefferson’s four values and skills.
Inducting freshman into a large complex high school with four core values and skills
Knowledge is and should be integrated
There are exciting real-life problems to solve
Problem solving is often better as a team effort
Even teachers do better in teams and model teaming regularly for their students
Teams require flexibility, listening, sharing, support and humor
It provides a safe-haven—a school “home for half of each day
It gives every student a group of 72 classmates and four adults to really get to know
It allows the counselor to learn about their new counselees as they work and interact with each other “in the field”
It allows teams to utilize time in a dramatically different way from the normal period-by-period pattern 13

14. IBET (Integrated Biology, English and Technology)
Integrated English, Biology and Technology
Field work: Setting out an area to quantitatively measure salamander egg production and migration.

15. Class Schedule, IBET Groups
Tuesday
(90 Minutes)
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
Monday
(45 Minutes)
Period 5
Period 6
Period 7
Period 8
Wednesday
A&B
Thursday
Friday
An outline of our schedule through the week with an emphasis on scheduling for IBET.

16. IBET: Integrated Learning
Communication, collaboration, and problem-solving are key components to work success in and out of school
The world of work
shows students what skills and behaviors are required to be successful
provides role models
Students learn about local issues through community work
Students are active partners with community agencies and teachers in authentic research

17. Geosystems Senior core science course
Analytical, quantitative, systematic
Heavy on math, modeling, and data
Extend knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology
Where it all comes together
Geosystems was designed explicitly to exploit the prior science and mathematical preparation of the Thomas Jefferson senior which is unique on such a large scale.
It is a calculus based course in which all students have previously taken biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science.
Geosystems provides the opportunity to see how the sciences really work together at a level that is unachievable without the degree of preparation of our students.
Why not AP Environmental Science? Yes, AP Environmental Science does offer an AP credit, but given that every Jefferson student takes a minimum of four (with an average of six) AP courses, the benefit was considered to be largely outweighed by the opportunity to become the most scientifically literate high school graduates in the nation.
Additionally, AP Environmental Science introduces no computer modeling, remote sensing, or the manipulation of large, real time data bases.

18. past atmospheric & climatic changes
Geosystems
past atmospheric & climatic changes
land area changes
sea changes
atmosphere
hydrosphere
“solid” earth
biota
In lower level courses in the earth sciences, the systems on the left are studied (atmosphere, hydrosphere, solid earth, and the biosphere. Geosystems, however, examines not only those systems, but how they have reacted with each other over time to make huge changes on the earth. Our access and ability to manipulate and model data permit our students to do this level of work.

19. Geosystems Sea Surface Temperatures 6 cell world climate model
Plots from World Seismic Network
Geostationary WX Images
World Chlorophyll Reflectance
Examples of student work.
#1 is the visual of the 6-cell atmospheric model that students derive and then use for modeling experiments
#2 is an image of the daily sea surface temperatures for the world. This is a data source for the seasonal and long-term analysis of temperature change.
#3 is an image of the daily world chlorophyll satellite image used to track both temperatures and biota on the earth
#4 TJ has contact with 8 geosynchronous weather satellites that cover the whole planet. We can tell in real time what is occurring weather-wise anywhere in the world.
#5 TJ students can plot, manipulate, and analyze any earthquakes on the earth due to software sills and availability of the world seismic network.

20. Senior Research

21. Tech Labs Astronomy Microelectronics Automation & Robotics
Biotechnology
Chemical Analysis
Computer Aided Design
Computer Systems
Energy Systems
Communications Systems
Microelectronics
Oceanography & Geophysics
Optics & Modern Physics
Prototyping & Engineering Materials
Neuroscience

22. Mentorship On Site Mentorship In House Mentorship
Using agencies, research institutes, universities etc.

23. Class Schedule, Mentorships
Tuesday
(90 Minutes)
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
Monday
(45 Minutes)
Period 5
Period 6
Period 7
Period 8
Wednesday
A&B
Thursday
Friday
An outline of our schedule through the week with an emphasis on scheduling for IBET.

24. Eighth Period Socialization Service Opportunities Academic Support
Reword this slide
Students from wide geographical areas, this time provides time to explore interests beyond academics and collaborative projects in addition to leadership and mentoring opportunities

25. World Languages, Music, Art and PE

26. School Spirit
One Question/One Book
Outreach: Tutoring and Mentoring younger students

27. Student Research

28. The Jefferson Partnership Fund was established by a group of parents in collaboration with administration and staff to provide further resources and funding for the various specialized programs at TJ that don’t fall under the umbrella of support given all public schools in Fairfax County. This initiative explores and creates new partnerships with businesses, thus extending and enriching our Mentorship and Laboratory Research program collaborations, as well as soliciting support from our growing alumni population and from our parents.