Baseball Finishes Regular Season With a Bang

TJ Baseball defeats East 17-4, and prepares for the upcoming playoffs.
by Marc Houghton
Photo by Ryanne Mollo

 The Spartan baseball team is on a roll, coming off their sixth consecutive city championship after romping the East Angels in their last regular season game on Monday.  TJ came out of the gates swinging and never cooled down, as they finished off their DPL rivals by a score of 17-4 in the sixth inning.  After a tough loss against 5A Doherty on Saturday, April 26th, the boys bounced back, and are now carrying some strong momentum into the state playoffs. 

    TJ’s offense has been working well for them all season, and they showed their talent at the plate against East on Monday.  They got out to an early lead, and were up by a score of 13-4 after five innings, with help from a home run by Brett Nathan, his seventh of the year.  The final blow came when Michael Mankoff hit a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game by the 10-run rule, and to give TJ the outright city championship along with their Read more

Tennis Shuts Out Montbello

Spartans continue success against league opponents.
by Keenan Moore

    The Lady Spartans continued there successful season as the routed the Montbello warriors 7-0.
    This is just the latest win for the Spartans as they had one of their more successful seasons in a long time.  This match had been highly anticipated as this was yet another tough league opponent for the Spartans.  These two teams had gone back and forth among themselves over the past few years and the Spartans took the match last year and were wanting another victory to show who the dominant team is.  
    It was obvious from the get go that the Spartans had come to play as the number one singles match started.  The match went quickly and the next three single matches seemed to follow in quick succession.  Now it was time for the doubles to keep up the pace that the Spartan singles had set for the team.  The number one doubles pair came up and just like the number one single, made quick work of the Warriors.  The next two matches were exactly the same and it was obvious to see who the dominant team was this year.  This is the second year that the Spartans have beaten the Warriors and also the second time that it was by means of a shutout.
    This weekend will commence the annual playoffs for the girls’ tennis season.  Even though it might just be districts, it is still critical to the success of the Spartans as they will hope to progress in the playoffs.  They must win their matches if they would hope to make it to the regional competition.  This means that the pressure will be constantly on if any of the Spartans wish to go deep into the playoffs this year.  Last year, junior number one single Mindy Gidan, fell just short of making it to the state competition.
 

Soccer Falls to Rebels

Offensive struggles for Spartans continue.
by Keenan Moore

    The Lady Spartans played yet another tough league opponent in the South Rebels yesterday and they were not able to pull out a win, losing 2-0.
    The girls seemed to be ready to play, as the Spartans were able to control the ball inside the Rebel zone for the majority of the first half.  However, it seemed like no matter what the Spartans would do, the Rebels always had some kind of counter for it.  There were many shots on goal that the South keeper would find a way to save.  The Spartans also had a bad break when a shot hit the post on an empty net and reflected out of bounds killing a perfectly good scoring chance that the Spartans had towards the end of the first half.  The first half ended with the Rebels stealing a pass and going all the way across the field to score the first goal of the game.  
    The second half had the Spartans in a familiar spot, needing to mount a comback.  Yet again the Spartans started out strong and controlled the ball inside the Rebel zone.  However, there were fewer shots in the second half as the Rebels were able to clear the ball out of their zone quite effectively.  As the final minutes of the game were ticking away, the Rebels put one more goal up against the Spartans and put the game away.  
   The Lady Spartans have been shutout in their last two games and they have been outscored by a 5-0 margin.  The Spartans still have two games in which they can turn their season on a positive note. Their next game is against Lincoln this Thursday at Lincoln at 4:15.
 

2008 PMI Scholarship Winners

TJ Computer Magnet students are rewarded for their efforts.
by Ben Gilliland
photo courtesy of Stacey Fornstrom

    On Saturday April 5, the Project Management Institute (PMI) awarded multiple scholarships to Computer Magnet students from Thomas Jefferson and North High Schools, and two TJ students were also awarded the title of Project Manager of the Year for their final projects in their Computer Magnet classes.
     At TJ, seniors in the Computer Magnet program take a Pathways class, sponsored by PMI for high school students. In the class no new skills or concepts are taught, rather the students are to apply all of the knowledge that they have learned over the past three years in the Magnet program. “Pathways has been a good fit here at TJ. We wanted a class that let the students choose what they want to do.  As a teacher I just provide support,” said Pathways Teacher Stacey Fornstrom.
    For the past several months Magnet students have been working on their final projects in their Pathways class, building a successful web-based business. “There is no set curriculum for this class. The students had to come up with the idea themselves and it’s up to them how they design and create their website,” said Fornstrom. All of the students in the class applied for the PMI scholarship. They had to fill out an application where they explained their project, told how they would use their computer skills in the future, and said what extra curricular activities in which they participated. There were ten students, from both TJ and North, who were awarded the scholarship.
Read more

A MacBook Aboard 815: The Shape of Things to Come

A LOST addict types really, really fast between commercials.
CAUTION [If you didn’t see last night’s episode STOP! Spoilers Ahead!]

by Manny Perez

    Everyone loves when regular TV shows mix-up their air times, right? No? Yeah, well me neither. Lost, in the spirit of “ABC’s All-New Thursdays”, has decided it will be airing from now till May 29th at 9 pm instead of the regular 8 pm; thus throwing this reporter into at least one high-speed chase trying to get home on time, only to learn he still has an hour to spare.

9:07 – Good old Lost Island seaside. Jack is feeling off due to this completely warped schedule and is thus taking some medication to ease the pain. Kate welcomes herself into the tent and she starts talking with Jack about why Sayid isn’t back from the boat, but before too long Bernard is yelling for help from the shore. Apparently he sees dead people. Someone is floating facedown in the water, but no worry, it’s just the stupid doctor from the boat we all hate.

Meanwhile OTOSOTI (On the other side of the island) Locke, Sawyer, and Hurley, are playing Risk before being interrupted by an automated phone call “Code 14-J.” Taking their time, they go ask Ben if he would like to sign-up for a free MasterCard. At this, Ben jumps, grabs and pumps a shotgun, and tells the three to head over to the other house. “They’re here”. Read more

2008 2nd Semester Finals Schedule Announced

FINALS SCHEDULE
Spring of 2008
Draft

Monday, May 19th through Thursday, May 22nd
Normally Scheduled Day

Friday, May 23rd
Period 1- 8:00 to 9:10 (Final)
Period 2- 9:15 to 10:25 (Final)
Period 3- 10:30 to 11:40 (Final)
Period 6- 11:40 to 12:30 (Lunch)
12:30 to 3:00 Test make-up and Tutoring

Monday, May 26th
Memorial Day – School is closed

Tuesday, May 27th
7:30 to 8:00 (Study Period)
Period 4- 8: to 9:10 (Final)
Locker Clean out 9:10 to 9:30
Period 5- 9:30 to 10:40 (Final)
10:40 to 11:30 – Test make-up, tutoring
Period 6- 11:30 to 12:20 (Lunch)
12:20 to 3:00 Test make-up and Tutoring

Wednesday, May 28th
7:30 to 8:00 (Study Period)
Period 7- 8: to 9:10 (Final)
Period 8- 9:15 to 10:25 (Final)
Test make-up- 11:00 to 12:10
Period 6- 12:10 to 1:00 (Lunch)
1:00 to 3:00 Test make-up

Thursday, May 29th
Finals review, Grade Check, test make-up
Period 1- 7:30 to 7:51
Period 2- 7:56 to 8:17
Period 3- 8:22 to 8:43
Period 4- 8:48 to 9:13
Period 5- 9:18 to 9:39
Period 7- 9:44 to 10:05
Period 8- 10:00 to 10:30

Friday, May 30th – Teacher Work Day

 

Sci-Fi Juggernauts: A Clockwork Orange

A horrowshow veshch about some chepooka.
by Sinjin Jones

There are dozens of classic novels that fall under the category of “must-read” science fiction. Throughout this year, I will examine why a handful of these particular works are absolutely essential additions to everyone’s reading list, even those who do not consider themselves science fiction fans.

"Then I looked at its top sheet, and there was the name – A CLOCKWORK ORANGE – and I said: ‘That’s a fair gloopy title. Who ever heard of a clockwork orange?’"
-Jack, A Clockwork Orange

     Using a slang he created, Anthony Burgess fashioned a masterpiece of science fiction that explores the human condition in a completely unique way: he called it A Clockwork Orange.
     The plot of A Clockwork Orange is one that, at first glance, makes the casual reader grimace: a group of friends led by the main character, Alex, run amok through a futuristic British city wreaking havoc. However, the short description is deceiving. At its core, A Clockwork Orange explores the very foundation of human beings, their need for commitment, free will, and the evil that is inherent in government. The novel follows the story of Alex, a resident and troublemaker of this semi-futuristic society, and his group of friends as they gallivant around, causing immense amounts of damage. Alex is a mere 15 years old but is the vicious leader of a gang of criminals which, throughout the novel, perform various unsavory deeds (including, but not limited to: theft, bribery, and especially violence of every kind). Read more

Prom in the City

TJ Prom 2008 lights up the city.
by Asia Dorsey
photo by Asia Dorsey
 
    Held at the Exdo Event Center on 35th and Walnut, most attendees agree that Prom 2008 lived up to the flash and brilliance of its theme: Prom in the City.  

    TJ seniors (and some underclassmen), were welcomed to the annual formal event by a flaming and fabulous red carpet and a bumping sound system. Upon entering Exdo the first things one notices are the three giant screens playing music videos. Next is the  non-alcoholic bar, serving up the tastiest looking concoctions, complete with maraschino cherries.  Attention is then drawn to the fashionable couches, centerpieces, and of course the dance floor which is lit up like a psychedelic Christmas tree. 

    Everyone was dressed to the nines and looking extra glamorous for their red carpet premier. There was an abundance of stylish outfits to take in while folks danced to the eclectic and tasteful collection of music being played by the DJ.

    The dance was complete with conga lines, on-stage dancing, and of course all the Mr. TJ boys giving an encore performance to Ice-Ice Baby, which was quite  the event. There were times when the floor was completely vacated as couples mingled and chatted, and other times when it seemed like there were so many people moving and shaking that they had to take up dancing on the ceiling to combat the limited space.

    Finally, the event the crowd had been waiting for . . . Cheria Cauley and Krubiel Workie were crowned Prom Queen and King 2008. The crowd went wild with applause and the dancing again commenced. It was a very special night indeed with some TJ seniors coming out of their shells like they had never before.

    But the night was only beginning for TJ Prom goers.  Stay tuned for a detailed rundown of the whole After Prom experience.
 

Thomas Jefferson Journal Selects Staff for Next Year.

2008-2009 TJ Journal roster set.
photo by Manuel Perez

    Since its inception in 1960,  the Thomas Jefferson Journal has had the distinction of being an elite high school newspaper, receiving many awards and boasting teams of talented writers.  Recently the publication has decided upon its newest staff to carry on this strong tradition.  
    The newly appointed members of the staff for next year will range from sophomores to seniors. The new staffers are: Jasmine Kabera, Lauren Abrams, Matt Kleberger, Martha Alvarez, Mike Montgomery, Samuel Thomas, Robert Lampert, Theresa Bradley, Andrew Briss and Jake Hazan. The returning members are Rhea Boyd, Keenan Moore, and Scott Bruskin who will come back to the Journal as reporters with one year’s experience under their belts.  The finalized staff members have yet to be given their future section assignments, because the editors are still deciding who will work where.
    The editors who have been chosen based on their experience and their qualifications for each section have been selected as well. Manny Perez was picked as the Living and Arts editor as well as the Photo Editor for next year’s staff. Perez’s pictures have been a staple of the newspaper’s for the past year and he will return next year in the same capacity.
     Katie Bone will be a new addition to the newspaper next year and will be replacing Christina Danek as the Copy Editor.
  Asia Dorsey will be the editor for the Community section as well as the new People section editor, which will highlight teachers and outstanding students in the TJ community.
     Following in the footsteps of the likes of Malcolm Glenn, Erin Coleman, Turia Lahlou and Ben Gilliland is next year’s Editor-in-Chief, Vince Crespin who will be editor for both Editorials and Headline News departments. “When I was told by the current editors that I would be next year’s editor-in-chief, my first reaction was to smile.  This was something I really wanted and was excited to receive. My second reaction was the thought of all the talented writers who have come before me at this position. People like Ben, whom I have known for years, and Turia, are awesome writers, as well as Malcolm and Erin, whom I never had the chance to meet, but who both have achieved a lot in the journalism field since graduating from TJ and moving on from the position. So needless to say I was ecstatic when I received the news,” commented Crespin. Read more

Soccer Takes Down West

Lady Spartans rebound strongly against West.

By Keenan Moore

The Lady Spartans played their second game at All City Field last Tuesday night, and they were able to pull out a win beating the West Cowboys 4-0.
    The girls were looking to rebound strongly from their loss to the powerful league opponent Kennedy.  The Lady Spartans did just this as they came right out of the gate firing, getting their first goal quickly after the start of the game.  Freshman midfielder Casey Elderman seemed to open up the floodgates for the Spartans as they struck two more times before halftime.  Goals from junior midfielder Robin Emerson and sophomore Stephanie Warren put the Spartans up 3-0 at the end of the first half.
    For the girls to be able to put the Cowboys away in the second half, the defense would have to stay strong and keep the Cowboys out of their zone.  They had done a good job of this in the first half, but there was another half for the Spartans to show their worth.  They did just this and then some as the vast majority of the second half was spent in the Cowboy side of the field.  Read more

Next Page »