CAVALIER CONNECTION
THOMAS JEFFERSON INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL’S ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Center Stage: Amanda Almich ‘08 Directs the Upper School Musical
Letter from the Director of Development & Alumni Engagement
Dear TJ Alumni & Alumni Families,
As we progress through the 2024-2025 Academic Year, I continue to be impressed by the level of excellence displayed by our current TJ students. Similarly, I continue to meet more people and learn from our deep network of TJ Alumni who have gone on to do some pretty remarkable things across the country and beyond.
For our second issue of The Cavalier Connection, you’ll read Alumni Spotlights, updates on school happenings, event recaps, and more. This issue also has a special focus on the Upper School Musical, and as I know, for many of you, the musical is filled with TJ traditions and fun memories.
As I mentioned in our first issue, TJ will celebrate two significant milestones this academic year: the first being the largest-ever graduating class with 29 students; and the second will be reaching over 500 alumni! As you read through this issue, feel free to connect with me should it jog a happy memory, or you find yourself wanting to find more connection with the school. We are grateful you are a part of our community and hope to see you soon.
Happy Holidays & Go Cavaliers!
Warmly,
Lauden Baker Director of Development & Alumni Engagement
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
Mr. Alex Schwartz – TJ Class of 2005
TJ’s second quarter Alumni Assembly Speaker was Alex Schwartz, Class of 2005. Alex, who also taught English at TJ for the 2009-2010 school year, addressed the Upper School student body on the importance of finding and protecting your passions and how to stay focused on your career goals and dreams.
Alex started his journey at TJ as a 6th grader in 1998. In Upper School, Alex was involved in the school newspaper, musicals, and film class. While in college, Alex served as Editor-in-Chief for his college newspaper (the 3rd oldest newspaper in the United States!). He also cultivated his passion for film, leading a College Film Commission that would assist in the production of student film festivals. In 2009, Alex graduated Magna Cum Laude from Beloit College in Wisconsin with a B.A. in English & International Relations.
After graduation, Alex continued to pursue his love of film with work on a variety of film sets as a grip and production assistant. After his time as TJ’s English teacher in 2010, he continued his passion for film directing and producing. He has since produced and directed for clients that include Microsoft, Comcast, U.S. Bank, 3M, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles to name a few.
Alex currently lives in Kansas City with his wife, Sophie, and their two sons, Ezra and Max.
TJ Alumni Advisory Council Steering Committee
• Jacob Gutwillig, Class of 2005 – President
• Kathy Liu, Class of 2000
• Bradley Knapp, Class of 2001
• Doniqua Colbert, Class of 2002
• Cabal Culp, Class of 2005
• Angie Scott, Class of 2005
• Anne Hershewe, Class of 2006
• Mary McDonald, Class of 2006
• Sanjay Jenkins, Class of 2014
• Noah Wells, Class of 2016
Thank you to those who joined us for our first full Alumni Advisory Council Meeting in September. It was a great meeting that included school updates and the connection of many generations of Cavaliers. Interested in joining the Alumni Advisory Council? Our next meeting will be in 2025.
Email alumni@tjeffschool.org for more information.
NEWS FROM NEWMAN ROAD
On November 1st, 2024, TJ earned Charter School status with the National Speech & Debate Association. To earn Charter School status, a school’s Speech and Debate team must accumulate at least 50 degrees in three years (Degrees are earned by participating in Speech and Debate events). TJ received a special plaque as recognition.
This recognition comes shortly after TJ sent two Juniors to the NSDA National Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa during our first year as an NSDA school last year.
TJ Excels in Fall Athletics:
After an exciting season for fall Athletics, our Cavaliers walked away with State-level representation in three different sports:
Sophomore Ashan Appuhamy finished his season in Boys Swimming 28th in State for his 100m butterfly with a time of 58.26.
For the second year in a row, our Lady Cavs Tennis team dominated their regular season and took 4th place as a team for Class 2 in State.
Our Boys Cross Country team earned 2nd place for Class 1 in State. Between the girls and boys, TJ had 5 All-State Medalists.
THOMAS JEFFERSON
And the “BEST” TJ Class is...
THE CLASS OF 2009!
Congratulations to the Class of 2009 for having the highest percentage of participation for this year’s Annual Giving Campaign: More Than Just A Number! With the help of over 270 donors, we were able to raise over $280,000 for TJ. Your gifts help continue the work of TJ’s Mission and allow TJ to invest in exceptional faculty, provide a world-class education, enhance facilities, and more. Thank you to all of our Alumni who participated in this year’s Campaign.
If you would still like to make a gift to TJ’s Annual Fund, you can do so by visiting www.tjeffschool.org/agc2024 or scan the QR code below.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
Ms. Amanda Almich – TJ Class of 2008
Ms. Amanda Almich, is no stranger to the arts. In fact, quite the opposite. Not only does Amanda teach both Pre-K through 4th grade art and theater at TJ, she has also been a part of 34 TJ productions (38 if you count the four she participated in as a TJ student). Her dense theater resume includes roles like Prop Master, Hair Stylist, Set Designer, Costumer, Lighting Designer, Choreographer, and Co-Director; all culminating into her directorial debut of an Upper School musical, this year’s production of “Alice By Heart” which ran November 22 and 23 (technically, Amanda directed 2023’s production of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” though she claims she relied pretty heavily on her “Mr. Atteberry training wheels”).
When asked how it feels to continue the performing arts legacy at TJ, Amanda had this to say:
“Working on the productions is my favorite part of being back at TJ. I think, in those first few years of helping out, there was a subconscious “re-living of the good ol’ days,” but as soon as I started taking on a more active role in the shows, it quickly became more about making the best experience and memories for the students. I still remember watching the bows of “Phantom of the Opera” (2019) from the wings and feeling so happy and excited for all the kids and what an amazing job they did. The farther I get from my high school graduation days, and the memories fade more and more, the fondest memories about my time at TJ are still the months of rehearsals with Mr. Atteberry for the Upper School Musicals. So, I really love that I get to continue creating those memories for future generations of TJ students.”
On
Saturday, November 23, TJ hosted the annual fall Alumni Reception preceding the Saturday night performance of this year’s Upper School Musical, “Alice by Heart.” With Cavaliers spanning over twenty years, Alumni, Alumni Families, and TJ Faculty enjoyed catered light bites from Club 1201, reminiscing, and complimentary tickets to the musical.
“Alice by Heart” is a modern reimagining of the classic story “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Set against the backdrop of World War II, Alice and her community shelter in an underground tunnel hoping to avoid air strikes. When her best friend takes ill, she decides to recite “Alice” by heart to engage her friend and distract those around her. The story takes on a new meaning to her as she begins her retelling. Can she find the bravery to finish it?
Senior Signing: Backstage walls of the TJ Concert Hall
“We used to have to rent a lift for the day,” Mr. Atteberry said. He was, of course, referring to the time-honored TJ tradition where Seniors who have just completed their final TJ musical get to memorialize their names on TJ’s walls; or for some, the beam on the ceiling of the “Old Gym.” Before the construction of TJ’s Concert Hall, students would get to ride one-at-a-time on a small lift that would allow them to sign one of the support beams in what is now the “Old Gym.” Considered a rite of passage, today’s Seniors now memorialize their names somewhere on the backstage walls of the TJ Concert Hall. The first cast to do this in the Concert Hall was the 2012 cast of “Hello Dolly.” In keeping with tradition, the Seniors who just completed this year’s musical, “Alice by Heart,” signed their names after their final performance.
Musicals Through the Years
Upcoming Alumni Events
Friday, 12/27 - Basket-Bowl! (At TJ)
11:00am -1:00pm
Alumni and Alumni Families are invited back to TJ for special pick-up Basketball games in the Field House and Quiz Bowl free rounds led by TJ Alumnus, Mike Madden. Concession-style refreshments will be provided.
Friday, 12/27 - Alumni Reception at Tropicana Bar & Grill
3:00pm-5:00pm
Alumni and Alumni Families are invited to enjoy free drinks and light bites at a special Alumni Reception hosted at Tropicana Bar & Grill. This come-and-go reception will serve as a great opportunity to connect with your fellow Cavaliers over the holidays.
Friday, 01/10 - Homecoming (At TJ)
Alumni and Alumni Families are invited back to campus for a special barbecue reception during the Boys and Lady Cavs Homecoming Basketball games in the Field House. Dinner is on us, so grab your purple and gold and get ready to cheer on our Cavs! Tentative Schedule:
5:00pm – Reception Begins & JV Boys Game
6:15pm – Lady Cavs Varsity Game (Special Cheer Performance at Halftime)
8:00pm – Boys Varsity Game (Homecoming Coronation at Halftime)
Saturday, 03/08 - Escapade: Party-Gras!
211 S. Main, Joplin
5:30pm -10:00pm
Join your TJ community at this fun and fresh gala fundraiser to support TJ. Drinks, live music, auctions, and gourmet food help to round out this special event inspired by Mardi Gras. Tickets will go on sale in early 2025.
Stay In Touch
Need to update your email, contact information, or have good news to share? Please email alumni@tjeffschool.org with your updates.
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its education policies, admissions policies, and other school-administered programs.