April 23, 2015
Administrator's Corner 

 

Hi TJ Family,

I'm really looking forward to attending my 5th Prom at TJ this weekend! It's always great to see the kids get dressed up and have some fun, and this Senior class deserves to get out and have some fun! They've worked very hard during their almost 4 years at TJ and have helped us to become rated as one of the top comprehensive high schools in DPS!

We are also getting ready for the ACT test next Tuesday, April 28th for all Juniors, as well as our Advanced Placement (AP) testing going on in during the first two weeks of May. While school may be winding down, our drive the finish line is not!

We're asking that all our kids gear up for a busy April and May so that they can do well on their course finals from June 1st - June 3rd with make-ups on June 4th and 5th. We also have our New-Freshman Orientation scheduled for Wednesday May 27th at TJ from 5:30-7:30! See below for more information.

We will send more information out on orientation soon. We look forward to seeing you around TJ and don't forget to check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Mike Christoff
Assistant Principal
CCT Photo Gallery - TONIGHT!
camera.jpg
Join us!

Thomas Jefferson High School and The Center for Communication Technology present...

TJ Photo Gallery 2015!
Thursday, April 23
CCT Hallway
6pm - 8pm

Stop by to view the work of our talented photography students. You can purchase their prints, as well! 

Hope to see you there.
Sunday Night at Starbucks
Word on the street is that Mrs. Morris-Sherer will treat the first 15 students to coffee drinks! Stay tuned...we hope to make this a monthly event!
Quick Links

Prom News
This weekend!

 

Prom 2015

At Mile High Stadium in the Champions Club

April 25, 2015

7:00-11:00

 

Click here for more information about parking and picture prices!

AP Review Sessions
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

Tuesday, 4/28

Thursday: 5/7

Monday:   5/11

Wednesday office hours

5/13

Test: Thursday 5/14 AM

 

AP United States History

Evening sessions starting at 6:00 pm

Thursdays: 4/23, and 4/30

Wednesday office hours

5/6

Test: Friday 5/8 AM

 

Hope to see everyone there!

TJ's Night Out - Thank you!
What a night!
A huge thank you to Sara Andolsek, the visionary behind this successful event. Thanks to all of the teachers, parents, and alumni who made this night possible, from providing food to serving food, from being bouncers to being volleyball refs. We hope to see this wonderful event become a tradition!
Congratulations to the Drill Team
The JROTC Drill Teams performed last Saturday at the Rocky Mountain Regional Drill Meet, and made us proud! The following results are out of field of 26 teams/schools competing.

 

Rifle Drill:  2 ND Place finish in Combined (Regulation and Exhibition Drill)
Rifle Drill:  1 ST Place finish in Exhibition
DrillHP (Stomp): 5 TH Place in Exhibition Drill 

 

Roberto Guevara finished 8 TH out of 45 competitors in Individual Drill (W/Arms)

Walid El Kebir finished 5 TH out of 300 in the individual drill 

 

Our cadets worked very hard over the course of the year. Congratulations to all involved! 

Prom and Mr. TJ - Win/Win!

Dear Seniors and Parents of Seniors:

 

Senior Prom is on April 25, 2015 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High from 7-11pm. Al's Formal Wear at 201 Steele Street, Suite 1B in Cherry Creek North (720-941-2999) is offering a $40 discount on tux rentals using the coupon code 33862708.  There are all sorts of tuxedo styles and you can even build your own tux by clicking here.

 

Al's is a long-time supporter of Thomas Jefferson High School's Mr. TJ event and we encourage students to rent their formal wear from Al's. If we get enough student rentals using the coupon code, Al's will support Mr. TJ with tuxedo donations for this year's Mr. TJ on May 8, 2015.  

 

For every five referrals, Al's Formal Wear will donate one tux. With every tux rental, they'll give the school $5.

Be sure to use the following code:
33862708
ATTENTION JUNIORS:
Junior class shirts for sale: $10 for short sleeved, $15 for long sleeved. Bring your money and shirt order to Sara Andolsek by Wednesday, May 6th!
Senior Attendance - Message from the Administration
We have about 50 students who need to raise their attendance percentage to 92% to walk at graduation. You will find your school ID number and percentage along with how many "events" you need to attend in the front office and on bulletin boards.

"Events" to recover attendance will be AP test sessions, tutoring after school, Saturday school (May 9th), and home athletic events that you sign in with an Administrator and are seen cheering for our athletes.
 
You may also attend the April 28th study session. Because this day is for 11th grade ACT testing, we ask that you enter through the down stairs doors closest to the senior parking which goes into the ROTC/Art/Shield hall way. You will then need to sign in and be working on APEX or in room 34 as a study hall from 7:30am to noon. You may not be in any other part of the building. Teachers will be in room 34 to help you as well.
College Options Day at TJ - May 2
Dear TJ Family, Friends and Neighbors,

On May 2nd, from 9-12 a.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School, your TJ Counseling Department and the Denver Scholarship Foundation will be proudly hosting representatives from such colleges as Colorado State University, Colorado College, and Regis University for several informational sessions that will help get your kids ready for college!

Representatives from the colleges as well as your TJ Counseling and Denver Scholarship Foundation staff will be hosting breakout sessions that will include the following topics:

-Admissions Unplugged
-How To Apply to a Highly Selective College!
-FAFSA Information
-Navigating Naviance

Panel discussion with an open forum Q&A for all participating Universities.
More details to come! This is open to any family of a TJ student. We would like to encourage all of our Sophomore and Junior families to attend, but for all of you Freshman families, it's never too early to start planning for college!

Please RSVP to jeremy_anderson@dpsk12.org with your name and how many people will be in your party.
 
Hope to see you at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 2nd!
 
~TJ Counseling & Denver Scholarship Foundation

P.S. Please share with other TJ supporters!
Nursing Services Health Screenings

Dear Parents & Guardians:

Denver Public Schools Nursing Services will be conducting the yearly school health screenings for VISION, HEARING, HEIGHT and WEIGHT and BMI (Body Mass Index) at Thomas Jefferson High School.

Screening Dates :  April 29th and April 30th
Rescreen Dates: May 18th and May 19th

All 9 th grade students will be screened as will those in other grades with special considerations.Parents/guardians of students who did not have optimal hearing or vision will be notified, in writing, of the results.

 

If you do not want your student to participate in the screenings, please contact Deb Samuels, the school nurse by April 24th.

Deborah_samuels@dpsk12.org 

720-423-7061

Date Change - Upcoming Performances in the Black Box Theater
August Wilson Project Performances
May 6th & 7th @ 7:00
                in TJ's Black Box Theater

You are invited to join the August Wilson Project for two performances 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 performances 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.
Click here for affordable counseling resources for DPS students and families!
Final Countdown for the TJ Bucket Challenge: Only Two Weeks Left! 

TJ students created this postcard to evoke a laugh and make a point. TJ's library is dated. Almost carbon-dated. All the way back to 1960.  

 

The school is in the midst of trying to revitalize some of these key areas for a new generation of students. These efforts will go a long way toward improving the school's curb appeal and boosting neighborhood student retention.

There are just two weeks left to meet our goal--will you please help? Please consider a tax-deductible donation in your name, a friend or family member's name, or your company name.

 

Click here to help TJ fundraise for library and study lounge improvements.    

 

Please copy/paste/forward to other TJ supporters. Thank you!
Kicking Her Dreams into Full Gear
Senior Marinah McGinnis has received a full ride to play soccer at Trinidad State Junior College.
When Senior Marinah McGinnis began playing soccer at the age of 5, little did she know that her new hobby would pay for her college education. The entire McGinnis family shares a passion for sports. McGinnis and her older sister grew up playing soccer and basketball, but as they both grew older they knew soccer was the sport for them.  Read More
Orientation Night for Incoming Freshmen - May 27

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! 

Community Golf Tournament
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    

Upcoming Community Events

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. 

Have a Future Spartan in the Family?
Click here for information about Ninth Grade Academy, August 10th-14th.  
Registration forms here: English and Spanish 
Coming Home
For senior Kenny Muniz, high school has been a wild ride.
Transferring schools can be a tough situation for any student. With the loss of friends, new surroundings, and different teammates and coaches for athletes, it can be a difficult task to handle. Senior baseball and football player Kenny Muniz has been through all of this twice. Read More
News from the Future Center
Dear Students and Families,

 

As always, I am happy to meet with you to discuss any college, career, or financial aid questions.  In the meantime, please review the information below: 

  1. 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. 
  1. 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. 
  1. 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. 
  1. College Acceptances:  All students and parents should have received a college acceptance status email from me.  Please let me know if you have any questions.
  1. Scholarships:  Check out the following scholarship resources:
    1. Denver Scholarship Foundation Scholarship Directory
    2. Where to search scholarships 
    3. Click here for scholarships with approaching deadlines. 

 

Have a great week!

Ms. Maez

 

Important Future Center Events/Deadlines:

All events in the Future Center, unless otherwise noted.

4/28/15- 9:00am-10:00am- Grand Canyon University college visit

5/1/15- College Decision Day-  Please commit to a college by this date.  Admission awards expire after this date.

 

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.

 

Summer Programs

Many colleges offer summer programs at their campuses.  Research the websites of the colleges of your interest.  Many will offer scholarships to cover costs.

 

Have a wonderful week!

  

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 |   www.denverscholarship.org
Helpful Financial Aid Links
Financial aid presentation
Colorado institutional scholarships- Includes helpful instructions on how to apply to scholarships at ALL Colorado colleges and universities.
Click here for a link to Denver Scholarship Foundation's scholarship directory.