tjTODAY
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 6560 Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312
NOVEMBER 13, 2013
After seven years, over 50 students and uncountable hours of preparation, Jefferson is...
takeoff Students prepare to launch first high school satellite into orbit
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senior Rohan Punnoose, who is the current student leader of the project, said. Under Energy Systems Laboratory Director Adam Kemp, the program began in the Systems Engineering course in 2006. The Orbital Sciences Corporation, a company that focuses on manufacturing satellites, donated a kit to help start the satellite. In addition, for the past six summers, students worked at Orbital on the actual flight hardware and assembly. The project was supposed last only three years but after the class was cut in the same year, Kemp continued the project for his Energy Systems Laboratory. “From about 20 students working on the satellite, it came down to two or three students,” Kemp said. “This year, Rohan is the only person working on it.” The launch was planned for earlier this year. “I’ve always wanted to do this project,” Punnoose said. “When we found out that we would not be launching in 2013, but actually in late 2013, we needed another senior tech labatory project to work on the satellite. Mr. Kemp asked me if I would do it so I immediately said yes.” continued on p. 2
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Requirements to graduate in Virginia change
School Board allows early periods opt out photo illustration by Tara Gupta
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VOLUME 29, ISSUE 2
by Ellen Kan Managing Editor This fall, another change in the graduation requirements for Virginia high school students went into effect. Beginning with the class of 2017, all students who wish to obtain a standard or advanced studies diploma must complete a virtual course before graduating. First introduced in 2011 by the Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), the second largest school system in Virginia after Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the idea of an online graduation requirement was subsequently modified and adopted by the state when Gov. Bob McDonnell signed the bill into law in April 2012 as part of his campaign for education reform. Whereas the VBCPS proposition mandated that these online courses be worth at least half a credit, the current state policy allows students to fulfill their graduation requirement through both credit and noncredit-bearing, or elective, courses. At the moment, it is uncertain to what extent this new decree will apply to Jefferson students. According to Principal Evan Glazer, the state policy is not clear about what constitutes an online course, as the requirement can also be interpreted as an “online experience.” “The state guidelines are very ambiguous, so FCPS has to figure out what is considered acceptable,” Glazer said. “The Jefferson adminsitration’s goal is to see if we can provide an automatic approval because the blended learning experience is something that all Jefferson students do. My hope is that the requirement does not detract from the our students’ Jefferson education.” continued on p. 2
ready for
by Sandy Cho News Editor After nearly seven years of planning, designing and building, the TJ3Sat satellite is ready to go up into space, making Jefferson the first high school to have students successfully build and launch a satellite. It will be launched from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va. on Nov. 19. The TJ3Sat is a CubeSat, a cube-shaped satellite typically used for space research. By sending external text strings through a ground station, a Text Speak module on the satellite will convert the text into analog voice signals and on a frequency, the satellite will send the signals to amateur radio stations on Earth. In addition, the satellite will also provide telemetry data on its status, such as voltage and temperature. Students will also be able to send what they want said through the TJ3Sat website and the satellite will send those signals down for hours. “The satellite will beam down the string of text on a ham radio frequency and even people on the other side of the world, like China, will be able to hear when it passes over,”
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by Lindsay Williams Online Editor The Fairfax County School Board recently passed a resolution in 2012 allowing seniors to opt out of their first and second period classes that are not required for graduation. This is being offered on a limited basis for the class of 2014 with only two students at Jefferson taking advantage, but the program will be implemented in full next year. Currently, students who don’t need their first two classes to graduate are being permitted to drop those classes and come to school later. Next year, students will be allowed to elect not to take first period classes. Counselor Tonya Lathom believes that this will be a good option for students who need the extra time for sleep, especially those who have long drives. “I think it’s a great option for students to have,” Lathom said. “Students have already exercised their voice that a later start for some is a good idea by enrolling in the online classes which enables them to come into TJ late. Because so many students are coming from all over northern Virginia it’s a way of not having to deal with an hour and a half bus ride and being able to drive in and gain more time to sleep.” Principal Evan Glazer also believes that opting out of first and second period as a senior will reduce stress for some students, who are currently not taking a fifth period class in order to spend the full day at their mentorship activities. continued on p. 2
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