Hello Jaguar Community -

We are happy to report that our Reading and English Language Arts TAKS exams on Wednesday went well. We especially appreciate the support and assistance of our parents in encouraging their students. Likewise, I would like to thank our counseling department for the significant time and energy spent in organizing and overseeing the exam process.

Among our other recent successes, our JROTC cadets returned from their competition in El Paso with ten trophies in hand, including Overall First Place in Armed Drill, Overall Second Place in Unarmed Drill, Overall First Place in Male Color Guard, five other top-three team places, and two top-three individual places. Congratulations to Colonel Maitland, Sergeant Major Suchy, our cadets, and their families!

Also, fourteen of our chemistry students recently competed in the annual American Chemical Society's scholarship exam at San Antonio College. The total number of exam participants was 147, meaning that nearly ten percent of the competitors came from Johnson High School. Even better, one of our students qualified to take the Chemistry Olympiad exam. Congratulations to our science department (particularly Mr. Pat Cunningham for organizing our portion of the competition), our academic competitors, and their families!

Our baseball and softball programs also brought us some impressive accomplishments this week. Over last weekend, varsity baseball team won the SAISD tournament. Varsity softball, which is off to a great start in district play, also won a very exciting come-from-behind 12-10 victory against the defending state champion Smithson Valley Rangers Monday night.

Looking ahead to athletics events this week, along with spring district play in tennis, baseball, and softball, the boys' and girls' soccer teams close out district play with the girls' varsity currently in third place and looking to become our first-ever playoff-bound team sport program. Tomorrow night's (Tuesday, March 9) boys' soccer match versus Reagan also promises to be the start of special tradition. You may remember that last year, Ian Fincke, a CTJ junior, passed away in a skateboarding accident. Many in the community may not know that Ian was also a very active participant in local soccer. To honor Ian's love of soccer and his connection to Reagan and Johnson High Schools, the family has established the "Fincke Cup" to be awarded to the winner of the second of the two seasonal varsity boys' matches between Reagan and Johnson. The family has also established a scholarship in Ian's name.

Our track teams continue their strong starts with JV meets at Steele (girls) and Northside (boys), and both varsity squads competing at the Harlandale Relays. Previous meets have brought us strong results and campus records continue to fall.

In the area of fine arts, our dance and drill teams return from their national contests (please note that, because I do not have final results at the time of writing the update, the previously promised breakdown of their season will be included in the next update). Orchestra takes its turn in the annual UIL concert and sight reading contest (held this year at Judson High School). Our speech and debate team heads to El Paso for the state tournament.

Because next week is Spring Break, the Community Update will also take a break, but will return on Monday, March 22. I wish our students and their families a very safe and restful break.

Have a great week!


Kristopher Wickerham
Principal
Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson High School