Administrator's Corner
With the spring sports season nearing its end, please keep an eye on the TJ Athletics page for the spring sports survey which will be posted soon. If your student athlete participated in a spring sport it is important that both the student and their family share their feedback about the season using the online survey so that we can continue to improve all of our programs.
Once that is done it will be time to turn our attention to preparing for the upcoming fall sports season. If your student athlete is interested in participating in the fall it will be important for them to complete the required paperwork and make sure a current sports physical is on file with the athletics office.
You can download the athletics packet or your child can pick up a packet by stopping by our office. The required paperwork can be turned in before the end of the school year or you can complete it during registration in early August. Once the paperwork is completed and the pay to play fee is paid, the student athlete will receive their "golden ticket" which allows them to participate in tryouts on August 17th.
We encourage all athletes who plan to play a sport in the fall to communicate with the Head Coach of the program to find out about voluntary off season workouts and strength and conditioning sessions being held during the summer. Contact information for each program is listed under the directory section of the athletics website and the offseason schedule will be posted on each team page soon. Thank you to all those who participated and supported TJ Athletics this year.
Go Spartans!
Andrew Skari
Assistant Principal / Athletic Director
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Interested in traveling to Germany and the Alps in 2016? Please come to room 217 or click
here for more details! You can also e-mail
Jennifer_Sonheim@dpsk12.org
or call: 720-423-7093
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Mr. Smith will be offering review session in preparation for the AP test on the following dates for anyone interested.
This schedule is subject to change due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts.
AP World
Evening sessions starting at 6:00 pm
Thursday: 5/7
Monday: 5/11
Wednesday office hours
5/13
Test: Thursday 5/14 AM
AP United States History
Test: Friday 5/8 AM
Hope to see everyone there!
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Tonight's Final Performance in the Black Box Theater
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August Wilson Project - Final Performance
Tonight, May 7th @ 7:00
in TJ's Black Box Theater
You are invited to join the August Wilson Project tonight for a performance of timely, powerful theatre. Please come see these wonderful actors as they pour their hearts into Wilson's amazing view of the 20th century and beyond. The performance will include scenes from Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, and Radio Golf.
Admission is by donation. Seating is limited. See or call Palmieri (303-906-3554) for tickets. See you there.
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Who will be crowned Mr. TJ 2015?
On Friday night, you won't want to miss the New Mr. TJ Show, where it'll be Raining Men! This Thomas Jefferson tradition features some of our most outstanding senior boys, showcasing their talents, dance skills and personalities in a quest to be crowned Mr. TJ. Each of our 9 contestants will be escorted by an equally outstanding senior girl. Also playing a role are student judges and emcees, faculty and alumni judges, and stage crew...all excited and ready to bring you a fabulous show.
Tickets are $5 at the door. Concessions and ticket sales begin at 5pm. Auditorium doors open at 6pm. The show starts at 6:30pm. Get there early for a great seat, you won't want to miss it!
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Alternative Cooperative Education
(ACE) is the only Career and Technical Education program designed specifically for high risk students and students who have barriers to graduating from high school for various reasons.
ACE addresses students' individual needs and works to transition students from high school to post-secondary education, training, and/or the workforce.
The ACE program teaches students employment skills, independent living skills, leadership skills and financial literacy.
ACE curriculum is CTE standards-based, and it is aligned with the Colorado Academic Standards.
ACE students often have jobs outside of school, and they are evaluated at their work sites on a regular basis as a part of their grade. ACE students may explore multiple career pathways through computer research, job shadows, guest speakers and field trips.
On Friday, April 24, 2015, 9 students participated in the ACE Statewide Conference held at the Lowry Conference Center.
Students can choose to participate in a skills demonstration event and/or a competitive event.
All of the students that participated did very well and were successful participants.
The following students attended the conference and were awarded ribbons:
D'Juan Thompson - Competitive Career Planning
Ruth Weatherington - Competitive Career Planning
Madisyn Higgins - 3rd place: Interviewing Skills
Jayln Johnson - 3rd place: Interviewing Skills
Joshua Portillo - 1st place: Interviewing Skills
Xavier Reddic - Career Planning Skills
Philemon Reynolds - Entrepreneurship Skills
Taj Smith - Interviewing Skills
Shi Vargas - Interviewing Skills
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Final Week for Online Donations to the TJ Bucket Challenge!
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The
online campaign comes to a close at the end of this week. There's been some great coverage of this creative campaign, and if you didn't see it 9News last week,
here's your chance!
Thanks to all the staff and students who have participated. We are halfway to our dollar goal, so please get your tax-deductible contributions in right away. Thank you TJ!
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Whole Foods Supports TJ's Library Renovation Project
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Donate your bag credits to TJ, and continue to support our Bucket Challenge goal!
Dear Thomas Jefferson High School,
We are so excited to partner with you as one of our Spring & Summer 2015 Bag Donation Recipients!
Our donation to you will go towards supporting your school library renovations and continue our partnership with you as one of our Whole Foods Market Tamarac "Adopted Schools"!
Please come by and visit us, and bring your own bag when you shop! (7400 E. Hampden Ave Denver, CO 80231)
Donate your 10 cent bag credit to Thomas Jefferson High School and let's grow great things together in 2015!
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Backyard Bash Celebration - May 15
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We need your support again, this time for the TJ Students!
TJ STUDENT LEADERSHIP, staff and TJ Partners are hosting the second Annual Backyard Bash celebration with fun and games for all to celebrate a great school year of many accomplishments and a continued commitment to academic excellence.
Now it's time for a little FUN! There will be kickball, volleyball, dodge ball, an inflatable obstacle course, and giant tricycle races for students to participate in. They can bring their yearbooks and hang out and enjoy the end of the school year with food, fun and games!
The event will be held on the TJ Campus on Friday, May 15th from 1-3PM.
We need your help to make this a fun day for the students. We are asking for your help by bringing food and drinks or volunteer your time and come join in the fun!
Please drop off any items in the TJ Main office on Thursday, May 14th or by 11 am on Friday, May 15th.
Click here to sign up and get involved!
Please do not hesitate to contact TJ Partners at TJParentPartners@gmail.com if you have any questions.
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A Better Way to Reduce Tardies
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Be a Hero!
Ms. Hammel is working to raise some funds to improve the tardy process here at TJ. Click
here to learn more about the
Hero Tardy Tracker, and click
here to donate!
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Changing the Game: TJ Boys' Volleyball
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TJ boys gear up for their inaugural season of volleyball.
While girls' volleyball has long been a part of Thomas Jefferson high school athletics, a boys' team was unprecedented until a few decided to try their hand at the sport by creating a TJ boys' Volleyball Team.
Read More
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Orientation Night for Incoming Freshmen - May 27
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On May 27th from 5:30-7:30 pm we will be hosting an Orientation Night for incoming 9th graders. All students will be tested for correct math placement.
Many TJ groups will be present to talk about various aspects of TJ life:
-PTO will be there to talk about volunteer opportunities
-current students will be there to talk about sports, electives and clubs
-Admininstration will talk about how to be a Spartan (daily expectations)
-Members of the Center for Communication Technology Magnet (CCTM) will be there to talk about the program
Incoming students will get schedules, get a general overview of their upcoming life as Spartans! There will also be an opportunity to sign up for 9th grade academy.
Hope to see you there!
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A message from our partner at Cherry Creek High School:
We are pleased to announce the launch of Unified Lacrosse, a non-profit organization established to promote the game of Lacrosse to people with disabilities.
Unified Lacrosse is the first program of its kind here in Colorado. Developed by a group of teenagers who attend and play lacrosse at Cherry Creek High School, they believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to play lacrosse. At Unified Lacrosse, Athletes with disabilities will be paired up with Partner-Athletes. The partner-athletes will work alongside the athletes, teaching them the basics of lacrosse and encouraging them to exceed their potential in a noncompetitive environment.
Our first event will be the "Kick-Off Camp." The cost of the Camp is FREE and open to boys and girls with disabilities, ages 7 to 19. We are thrilled to have Jeremy Dorr, a Legend High School lacrosse coach and former Unified Basketball coach, on board to help us run our Camp. His experience in working with people with disabilities will be invaluable to our success. The Camp includes five sessions and will be held at South Suburban Sports Dome in Centennial Colorado. The dates and times are as follows:
Tuesday, May19th: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Thursday, May 21st: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Tuesday, May 26th: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Tuesday, June 2nd: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Thursday, June 4th: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Unified Lacrosse is an organization in its infant stages. In order to guarantee its success, we need all the help we can get from our family, friends and community. Our number one goal is to find our athletes! Maybe you know a family with a child who has a disability? If you do, be our voice. Maybe you know someone that works with children and teens with disabilities. Tell them about Unified Lacrosse.
Help us spread the word about Unified Lacrosse! Get excited! Imagine the possibilities! Be a part of making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities in Colorado through the love of lacrosse.
To Register an Athlete, ages 7 to 19 for the Kick-Off Camp, please visit our website at http://www.unifiedlacrosse.com. There are three forms required to complete your registration: A Registration Form, a Liability Waiver and a Physician's Approval Letter.
To Become a Partner-Athlete, you must be age 11 or older and want to make a difference in a child's life. You will find an application and expectations of our partner-athletes on our website at http://www.unifiedlacrosse.com.
To Learn More about Unified Lacrosse we encourage you to visit our website at http://unifiedlacrosse.com.
Grow the Game, Unite the Community
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Eleven-year-old Olivia Oss shaved her head to raise money and awareness for childhood cancers.
Fifth grader
Olivia Oss has always been very stubborn, so when she told her family that she wanted to shave her head to raise money to cure childhood cancer, they knew that she was going to follow through. What they did not know was that she was going to engage her whole community and raise over $5,000 for St. Baldrick's Foundation.
Read More
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Opportunity for Grieving Teens/Young Adults
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This year marks the 10 year anniversary for Heroic Journey/Outward Bound Grieving Teens and Young Adults. Hurray! Thank you to the
New York Life Foundation and our growing list of sponsors
, we are able to provide different levels of scholarships to all of our students.
The first expedition had only 7 kids on it. Since then, more than 800 participants have traveled into beautiful wilderness areas across the United States to grieve, mourn, and connect with others that share a similar experience. Most commonly expressed outcomes have been connection and confidence. Confidence to face and overcome the challenges that come with the pain of having a loved one die.
If you know a grieving teen, age 14 to 18, or young adult, age 19 to 25, please tell them about our summer expeditions. A majority of our participants come from your word of mouth. PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.
This is more than a camp, this is a journey! In addition to backpacking we now offer a list of water based expeditions like rafting, sailing, and canoeing.
Summer of 2015 we have the following courses available:
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Area and Activity
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6/14/15 - 6/20/15
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Colorado Rockies Alpine Backpacking
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6/17/15 - 6/23/15
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Boundary Waters Canoeing
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6/21/15 - 6/27/15
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Maine Coast Sailing
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6/22/15 - 6/28/15
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Delaware Water Gap Backpacking and Rock Climbing
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7/17/15 - 7/23/15
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Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking and Rock Climbing
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8/8/15 - 8/14/15
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Colorado Rockies Alpine Backpacking / Young Adults (Ages 19-25)
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8/21/15 - 8/27/15
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Maine Appalachian Backpacking
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8/27/15 - 9/2/15
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Oregon Rafting
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My contact info is below or contact my Outward Bound Teammates at 866-467-7651.
Warm Regards,
Jason Stout
National Outreach Director
Outward Bound USA
910 Jackson Street | Golden, CO 80401
O: 828-239-2304 | M: 720.432.5786
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Community Golf Tournament
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Southmoor Park Golf Tournament to Benefit Schools
Everyone's buzzing about the 2nd Annual "All For One" Community Golf Tournament. And, why not? It's a really fun way to support our school and build a closer neighborhood. The tournament will be held May 30th at JF Kennedy Golf Course with lots of prizes and even an online silent auction. Because this is a community
event, the goal of the tournament is a donation of $1,000 per school (Samuels, Southmoor, Hamilton, and TJ).
Let's keep the trophy for another year!
On the day of the tournament, each team will be asked to declare which school they want to represent. The traveling President's (Principal's) Trophy will be awarded to the school with the winning team. The trophy will be displayed by the winning team's school until next year's tournament. A team representing Thomas Jefferson High School won the trophy last year and there's a rumor that other schools aim to take
it away this year!
"ALL FOR ONE" COMMUNITY GOLF TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Tournament Date: Saturday, May 30th
Shotgun Tee-Time: 7:30am
Golf Course: JF Kennedy Golf Course
10500 E. Hampden Ave., Denver 80014
Registration Fee: $95 per player
Includes: Green fee, cart, gift bag, lunch, prizes, and satisfaction
of supporting schools!
Print Off Sign-up Form here or sign-up by phone: 303-850-9880
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Third Annual TJ Football Golf Classic - June 14th
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Join us!
Our 3rd annual TJ Football Golf Classic will be held at Arrowhead Golf Club on June 14th. The Golf Classic is a charitable event held by the class of 2016 and coaching staff. It is a 100% volunteer organization made up of alumni, parents, and community members. All funds raised will provide the senior class with TJ memorabilia and end of season awards.
Click
here to see the full flyer, and
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Upcoming Community Events
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JOB FAIR: Free Community Event! (Resume Writing)
May 16th: 10-2PM @ Montbello Library
Community Resource Tables welcome!
For more information Contact RON ALLEN: 720-979-5482
KITE FESTIVAL: Free Community Event!
May 30th: 10-2PM @ Evie Dennis Campus (East Field)
Community Resources, Vendors & Event Sponsorship welcome
Please click here for more information about the Kite Festival
KATHY'S KAMP: Affordable Summer Enrichment Camp
June 8th -July 25th (7 Weeks) @ Evie Dennis Campus
Must register online. CCAP is accepted / limited scholarships are available.
Please click here for more information about Kathy's Kamp
JUNETEENTH Kids Zone: Free Community Event!June 20th 9:30-6PM @ 26th and Welton in the 5 Points. FFRC's Healthy Babies, Strong Families Program will sponsor the kids zone this year at Juneteenth. We invite Vendors and Community Partners to set up a booth for the kids zone -$150. Please contact La Toya if interested ASAP. Limited space available.
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Have a Future Spartan in the Family?
Click
here
for information about Ninth Grade Academy, August 10th-14th.
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News from the Future Center
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Dear Students and Families,
I can't believe we're nearing the close of the 2014-2015 school year! I hope it has gone well for you!
Seniors, a few pieces of advice: please make sure you can afford your college of choice before you put down a deposit. If you received a financial aid award letter, please see me if you would like to review your financial aid. Also, check out the resources below in the "Financial Aid Resources" section below for information on how to interpret your financial aid award letters. Also, make sure to check out the "Red Zone" document that will help you to decide how much student loan money to borrow.
Financial Aid Award Letters: For those of you who have completed the FAFSA and have started to receive financial aid award letters from colleges, I have created a spread sheet that you can use see how much you will have to pay. Click here to access that document. Consumer Financial also has a great website for comparing financial aid packages. Click here to link to their website.
Student Loans: To provide a complete financial aid package, colleges have been including student AND parent loans, some at a very high amounts. Don't borrow too much money. Check out the Red Zone hand out to guestimate your student loan payment upon graduation. For parents, check out this informative article from US News and World Report about borrowing money for college.
Scholarships: Check out the following scholarship resources:
- Denver Scholarship Foundation Scholarship Directory
- Where to search scholarships
- Click here for scholarships with approaching deadlines.
Applying for Financial Aid: FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Do NOT pay for this application. Click here for more FAFSA and financial aid resources.
Important College Events/Deadlines:
ASAP- Outstanding juniors interested in applying to the United States Military Academy at West Point should start their application process. Click here for more information.
5/9/15- 3:00-5:00pm, St. John's College, Recruiting & Scholarships Event, click here for more information.
5/11/15- Exploring College Options- Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, and Stanford student/family information session. For more details and to register, click here.
8/26/15- 7:00pm, Colleges That Change Lives information session. Click here for more information.
PLEASE let Ms. Maez know when...
You're accepted into college (bring in or email acceptance letters/emails).
You complete scholarship applications (see the attached scholarship checklist to help you organize what you need for your scholarships.)
You're awarded a scholarship or ANY time you get money from a college (might come with acceptance letter).
You receive financial aid award letters.
Denver Film Society Young Filmmakers Workshop
The Denver Film Society's Young Filmmakers Workshops are leading filmmaking camps for teens, ages 12-18. In the workshops participants have opportunities to learn the art of filmmaking, refine their work with film industry professionals, collaborate with other young filmmakers, and exhibit their films in public premieres. The application deadline is May 15th. Please click here to see more information about this opportunity.
Rena Maez
College Advisor, Thomas Jefferson High School
Denver Scholarship Foundation | a 501(c)(3) Public Charity
3950 S. Holly Street | Denver, CO 80237
O 720.423.7134 F 720.423.7098
rmaez@denverscholarship.org
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www.denverscholarship.org
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Helpful Financial Aid Links
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