![Varsity cheerleaders yell out their cheers at their practice on Oct. 22. The competitive varsity cheer team had practice all week before district finals on Oct. 23 to perfect the upgraded routine. “[Cheer] is a lot of hard work,” varsity cheer coach Mary Brunson said. “Practice is key and [we keep] trying to push the limit [to] see what we can do [and] what we can’t. Once we find [a routine] that’s comfortable for us, we [stick] with it and perfect it.”](https://www.tjtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0290-1200x800.jpg)
![Yuan finishes out the race with a time of 17:59, placing 16th. “I've run [at Burke Lake] a bunch of times. [It] makes you more experienced, so you know your general race strategy [and] to not go too fast,” Yuan said. “Practices [have been] helpful because they build up your general aerobic ability. They generally make you better [prepared].”](https://www.tjtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC03683-1200x800.jpg)
![The new bathrooms, which are in front of the entrance to Jefferson’s track and football field. “Over the summer, every school in Fairfax County [was] getting [the new bathrooms]," Director of Student Activities Leah Conte said. "They’re school board approved. We are fortunate enough to have here now."](https://www.tjtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/bathrooms-1200x900.jpg)
As part of a Fairfax County wide movement to install stadium bathrooms in high school sports facilities, new bathrooms were built outside of the Jefferson...
![Sitting on the bench, junior Bonna Koo and freshman Nick McGrorey act as their characters—Koo an immortal and McGrorey a time traveler—during the one act “Until We Meet Again” by senior Abeni Smith. Smith’s one act follows the Immortal and the Time Traveler, and their relationship’s evolution over time. “When I first read the script, it was a little confusing trying to figure out who I was,” Koo said. “So, we ended up doing some exercises after, [and] ran through the script a bunch of times. We had time to think about who our characters were. We formulate a characterization, [and] we all [have to] read each other. So, I found parts of my character when I read my partner's characterizations of her [character].”](https://www.tjtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/first_0201-1200x800.jpg)
![A group of juniors play “Clash Royale” on their phones during lunch. Lunch is the only time when phones are allowed to be out. “I think once we adapt to it, it's not going to be something we miss because [for] everyone moving forward, that'll have been the policy [since] middle school,” DNA science and biology teacher Aubrie Holman said.](https://www.tjtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_6621-2-e1758016994220-1200x958.jpeg)
"KPop Demon Hunters" launched on Aug. 23, it didn’t just make a splash— it distinguished itself and, in my opinion, is the film of the summer. The...
![Senior drum major Grace Bai stands on a podium while conducting the marching band during an after-school practice. Bai conducted the first two parts of the show at the 36th annual Oakton Classic on Oct. 18. “In order to lead the band musically, we [have to] keep the band together,” Bai said.](https://www.tjtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_9671-1200x800.jpg)
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