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Recycle or trash: ‘What’s the difference?’ students ask

by Alice Chung and Pratima Gopalakrishnan
Senior News Editors


The yellow boxes at the ends of halls are clearly marked "recycling," but after lunch on a typical weekday, they are filled with candy wrappers, leftovers from lunch and stray paper bags.

RECYCLING

The eighth-period schedule lists environment-friendly clubs such as the Key Club and the Environmental Science Club, but the practice of recycling is far from common at Jefferson. A tjTODAY poll found that 96 percent of seniors recycle at home but only 70 percent do so at school. This trend was generally true for all grades.

"It's annoying ... full article


Ciara's 'Evolution' a hit

by Cara Walsh
Entertainment Editor


"I feel like music is so different than what it used to be… I was inspired to do something different this time around: the evolution of music," explains Ciara in an interlude in her sophomore album "The Evolution."
Ciara's new CD, which came out on Dec. 5, includes the hit "Get Up", which was in the movie "Step Up." With three No.1 singles and a Grammy-nominated debut album already under her belt, "The Evolution" doesn't fail to live up to her reputation as a top hip-hop artist.

"The Evolution" definitely ... full article


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Jefferson Alumni at Service Academies

by Teresa Ventura
Features Editor


Jefferson 2007 grad alumnus Ian Carter-Condon shaved his head right from the beginning. Similar to a boot camp, he woke up early each day for six weeks of physical training last summer, constantly saluting people of ranking above him, which, in his case, is almost everyone.
While many of last year?s seniors were traveling the world, getting ready for college or off to ?beach week,? Carter-Condon started intense military training in what the Naval Academy calls Plebe Summer.
?[It was] six weeks of me missing the best summer of my ... full article


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Mandatory reading evokes varied reactions

by Marie French
Features Editor


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Focused on football, junior Dan Keramat overlooked his elbow when he scraped it during a summer practice. He continued to overlook it even when the scabs that formed over the wound kept ripping off. Eventually, what looked like a ?pimple within a growing red circle of skin? showed up on his elbow, so he went to see a doctor.
That ?scrape? that Keramat had overlooked was infected with a barely-treatable strain of staph infection.
MRSA, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, has been constantly showing up in schools across the country ... full article


 

'Class of ‘08 continues to promote holiday cheer'

It sounds like senior Jonny Faubell is describing a deeply involved research project the way he talks about the tradition he started for the Class of 2008 called “25 Days of Christmas.” The non-denominational tradition, started as a way to increase holiday cheer among classmates, has blossomed into a month long event that many seniors look forward to as they count down the days to winter break.

“It’s something that seniors can take credit for. And it’s delicious,” said senior Jared Rector. It all started during Faubell’s sophomore year and ... full article


Longtime partner, Arena Stage, builds new theater

by Hailey Arnold and Amelia Friedman
Entertainment Editors


On Jan. 30, Arena Stage had a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on the now 47-year-old theater campus in Southwest D.C. In order to accommodate this current renovation, Arena is using a temporary facility in Arlington.

Over the years, Arena Stage and Jefferson have kept up an ongoing relationship. A vital key to this continuing relationship is Advanced Placement English Language and Creative Writing teacher Bettie Stegall.

“I have the kids enter the contests at Arena because it gets them published, gets them performed and raises the bar to another ... full article


Over recent decades, the media has developed a perception of the typical teenager as an individual with low self-esteem, no confidence, and a mindless obsession with popular culture. “Teenagers + media = low self-esteem,” claims an online forum.  These clichĂ©s from magazines, Hollywood, and even the well-intended Family Life Education program have created the archetypal adolescent â€" one who is shallow and acutely self-aware.  

However, on Jan. 23, a class of 25 high school students at Robinson Secondary was asked, “How many of you feel good about yourselves?”  

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Multitalented Rupinen is a triple threat

by Hailey Arnold and Amelia Friedman
Entertainment Editors


Senior Patty Rupinen stands in her knee-length cheetah-print jacket, expressing herself with poise and confidence. Her highlighted hair is pulled behind her ears, curtaining a strong gaze as she speaks. Outfitted in one-of-a-kind clothing, her personal fashion complements her individuality and independence.

The triple threat with acting, singing and dancing talent was born in Fort Worth, Texas. Rupinen moved multiple times throughout her childhood due to her father’s enlistment in the army. After living in Texas, Rupinen moved to Maryland, Korea, Kansas, Hawaii and finally back to Virginia.

The oldest ... full article


Miller’s ‘Bridge’ rendered mediocre by forced acting

by Hailey Arnold
Entertainment Editor


Arthur Miller’s production of “A View from the Bridge” is brought to life at Arena Stage in classic Miller style. The simple set is filled with dark and gloomy colors. A small and intimate cast portrays every emotion under the sun, and the main character slowly decays in a situation that gradually gains tension until the ultimate, explosive ending.

“A View from the Bridge” follows the story of a dysfunctional family, a seemingly traditional Miller theme. Dockworker Eddie Carbone (Delaney Williams) spends his days working hard, trying to earn enough ... full article


Actors bring ‘Macbeth’ to life

by Kimberly Sprout
Special to tjTODAY


Dramatic background music boomed throughout the theatre as a tense battle scene raged onstage. This was the opening to Jefferson’s recent production of “Macbeth.” A great tragedy by the playwright William Shakespeare, “Macbeth” has been transformed on stage and on-screen countless times.

Macbeth (John Goodwin) hears a prophecy by three strange witches (Patty Rupinen, Jackie Fitzsimmons, and Elena Lagon) that he is to become king of Scotland. Determined that their words are true, he is convinced by his wife (Maya Gueron) to murder King Duncan (Kevin Place). However, this awakens ... full article


Girl Scout cookies are like America: bountiful, diverse and full of trans fat

by Julia Alderson
Special to tjTODAY


Yesterday afternoon, my 6-year-old neighbor and her father came trudging up my driveway with a wagon full of Girl Scout cookies for the family. We are now stuck with six boxes of Samoas, four Thin Mints, two Tagalongs, a box of Do-Si-Dos and a box of Trefoils. At $3.50 a piece, the Alderson family contributed $52.50 to Troop 2659 and the Girl Scouts of America.

Girl Scouts have infiltrated American society - five types of Girl Scout cookies are among the top 15 bestselling cookies in the country. To me, ... full article



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