February 26, 2018
Administrator's Corner

Thanks to all the families that braved the cold to come to Parent-Teacher conferences last week. We truly appreciate your investment in our students, it certainly has an impact on their success. So again, thank you!
 
This upcoming week we have our extended luncheon Thursday so there will be a slightly different schedule. The schedule is linked here.  Seniors, don't forget: we have cap and gown photos with Jostens on Tuesday.  AP payments are due by March 16th. Go to Parent Portal and click on "Student Payments via My Schoolbucks" tab to complete this.
 
Spring sports start today! Make sure to get signed up on the Family ID link on the Athletics Page.  Students cannot participate until this has been completed, and additionally they must have an current physical on file with the athletics office.
 
And lastly, congratulations to our Winter Sports for all their successes! GO TJ!

Gracias a todas las familias que hicieron frente al frío para asistir a las conferencias de padres y maestros la semana pasada. Realmente apreciamos su inversión en nuestros estudiantes, sin duda tiene un impacto en su éxito. Así que de nuevo, ¡gracias!   

Esta semana que viene tenemos nuestro almuerzo extendido el jueves, por lo que habrá un horario ligeramente diferente. El cronograma está vinculado aqui­. Personas mayores, no lo olviden: tenemos fotos de togas y gorras con Jostens el martes.   Los pagos de AP vencen el 16 de marzo. Vaya al Portal principal y haga clic en la pestaña "Pagos estudiantiles a través de My Schoolbucks" para completar esto.   

¡Los deportes de primavera comienzan hoy! Asegúrese de registrarse en el enlace de identificación familiar en la pagina de atletismo. Los estudiantes no pueden participar hasta que esto se haya completado, y adicionalmente deben tener un físico actual en el archivo de la oficina de atletismo.   

Y, por último, ¡felicitaciones a nuestros Deportes de Invierno por todos sus éxitos! ¡VAYA TJ!

Jon Poole
Administrative Intern
Quick Links
Week at a Glance - Week of 2/26-3/2
Monday- 
  • Please click here (or see the above "Athletics Schedule" quick link) to see athletic events for the week
Tuesday- 
  • Cap and gown photos: 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Wednesday-
  • Office Hours: 2:14-2:55 p.m.
  • Senior Class All-Parent Meeting, Library, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday -
  • TJ Talks: Navigating the Transition from High School to College - 6:00 p.m. (details below)
Friday - 

Kudos Korner
  • If you missed our TJ alum - Dom Garcia's story on TJ and how we are partnering with the Denver Scholarship Foundation to prepare kids for applying to college, click here!
Talking about Violence
2nd Annual TJ Auction
We are less than one month away from the 2nd Annual TJ Auction and we need your help! Please ask for donations at your favorite places to shop, dine and play! If each family secured just one donation, we would double last year's earnings! Funds raised will have a direct impact on student by being used to pay for classroom grants.

Helping is EASY!
1. Use this Auction Letter to share with businesses. Email it or share it in person. We're not kidding--it's that simple. It has all the necessary details to submit donations, plus PTO's tax ID number as all donations are tax deductible! 
 
2. Collect as many donations as possible while you're out and about. Companies value the opportunity to earn the business of TJ parents and support public education.

3. Deliver items to the AUCTION mailbox in the office.

If you have an item to donate from your business, donation information can be entered directly into the Auction management system here.

Thank you for your help and support! The success of the auction is a direct indicator of our schools upward trajectory. We are all incredibly busy people, but this small effort will make a huge difference! 
 
If you have any questions reach out to Auction Chair Megan Perkins: [email protected].
To apply, please visit our website http://careers.dpsk12.org

Select " Work in DPS " and go to School support Operations and select " Apply Now. " Select " External Candidates. " Enter " Custodian " in Keyword box. Click the " Apply for the Job " button and enter your information. 
TJ Talks - March 1st
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Feb. 26 - March 4
2019 Panera Fundraiser - March 6
Community Service Opportunity
The Hampden Branch Library is in need of volunteer homework helpers during their Plaza program on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:30. For any  students seeking more community service hours close to home, please contact Virginia Vassar Aggrey: (720) 865-2362 or  [email protected] 
ADOLESCO Youth Exchange: Application due date March 15, 2018 
Our flexible and affordable non-profit program of short term peer-to-peer exchanges to learn French in France, German in Germany, and Spanish in Spain, is now open to qualifying students in the USA. 

Unique!   Our two-way exchange program is unique: each child lives with their exchange partner's family AND takes a turn to host (the kids are together in each country, sharing their language, culture and family life with their exchange partner).    

Who? Adolesco matches US children and teens (ages 9 to 18) with age-mate exchange partners in France, Germany, and Spain for peer-to-peer language immersion and cultural exchanges. 

Flexible! Exactly WHEN and for HOW LONG each child travels are up to the two families to decide, together - there are no set arrival and departure dates. 

Affordable! A non-refundable $100 application fee, plus our program cost of $1,800, is a fraction of the costs of other exchange programs. Each family must also cover their own travel costs, purchase Travelers' Insurance ($150 or less), and cover expenses associated with hosting. 

How? The Adolesco Team will pool all qualified applicants and match candidates twice a year, typically matches are announced in early December and in early May. You and the other family will decide the exact timing and length of the exchange together, and you will have more than a year (including two summers and the year in-between) to travel and host. 

School? Please note that there is no need for Adolesco to register with your School District as an "Approved Exchange Agency" as most of our exchanges happen over the summer, and any US school attendance will be short term and at the discretion of the school principal. Regardless, our candidates might still be able to attend school in France, Germany, or Spain. 

Apply Today! Start the application process by submitting the free Pre-Application (Adolesco.org/pre-application). We will send you the Full Application, consisting of multiple forms, requests for references, and an interview, upon receipt. 

 Contact Marie Meyer, Exchange Coordinator, at 303-913-4845/ [email protected]  Find upcoming Info meetings at https://www.facebook.com/Adolesco.org/events Info sign-up at www.adolesco.org/contact
Part Time Custodian Wanted
24th Annual Safe City Youth Summit
New Spirit Store Hours
The TJ Spartan Spirit Store is a virtual store which is online. The store is also set up at some school events such as athletic events, concerts, plays and conference nights. Click here for more information!
  • TJ spirit store hours are on Fridays during lunch only. We have two parents who will be alternating shifts to make the store convenient and accessible to students. The store will continue to be open during special events, and Julie Thibodeau will continue to be available at other times for the offhand, urgent purchase. But we feel this regular weekly schedule will be easy to remember, easier to staff, and hopefully maximize use of the store. 
We take Cash and Credit Cards!
New PopSockets are in for $9 each or buy with a friend and save, 2 for $16.

When the store is open we will be in front of the physical store by the auditorium. For games, we will be in front of the gym in the lobby.

Call or email Laura Whalen if you have questions.
Laura Whalen
cell: 303-681-7226
PTO News
  • Want to help make your students high school experience the best it can be?  
  • Want to support the staff at TJ? 
  • Want to get to know some parents at TJ?                                    
      Come to a PTO meeting!

We meet monthly and have 1-2 events each month that we support. You can help out as your schedule permits.   Email  [email protected]  with any questions.
Mental Health and Social/Emotional Tips
Did You Know...?

Dangerous Texting Slang
It is important to be aware of language that students may be using online. Sharing this information with staff and parents can be important to prevention programming. Bark.us advises, "be aware of which devices your kids have access to that connect to the Internet. These days, if it connects to the web, it can also be used for texting."  For more info, click here.
Kids usually use these text abbreviations when they want to alert their friends that parents are nearby or when they have something to hide:

9 and CD9 both stand for "Code 9", which means parents are nearby
99 means, "Parents are gone"
KPC stands for "Keeping Parents Clueless"
MOS stands for "Mom Over Shoulder"
P911 is a "Parent Alert" or "Parent Emergency"
PAL stands for "Parents Are Listening"
PAW and PRW both stand for "Parents Are Watching"
PIR stands for "Parents In Room"
POS stands for "Parents Over Shoulder"
Mental Health and Social Emotional "Did You Know":  Compiled by Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW and Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP. 
Class News You Can Use
All Classes 

  • Great news! All Class T-Shirts are now available (as well as other TJ gear) in the Spartan Store!

     
  • Supporting our TJ students, classrooms and teacher is as simple as a click of a button. Visit the online store to donate to TJ PTO today: Online Spartan Spirit Store for TJ Gear
Class of 2018 - Seniors
Calling all Senior Parents!
Our time is limited and these last few months will be filled with significant milestones and fun celebrations.  Now is the time to get involved and make Spring semester of Senior year memorable and meaningful for your Class of 2018 student. 

*We have a choreographer for Mr. TJ (thank-you Tyler Cobb) and now we need parents willing to supervise rehearsals and provide lunches/snacks.  All parents, regardless of if you have a son or daughter, are welcome to help.  Please contact  [email protected] to get involved with this fun TJ tradition.  

*Fundraising efforts have been successful and now comes the celebration.  Want to get involved with After-Prom?  All parents are welcome and needed with planning, implementing, and supervising this special event.  Please contact  [email protected] to indicate your interest in helping.  

Together we can make incredible memories for the Class of 2018. 
Class of 2019 - Juniors
Class of 2019 Parent Meeting!
When:  February 13th @ 5:00pm
Where:  TJ Room 111
What:  Join fellow parents from the class of '19 to learn about upcoming events, important testing dates and preparation, and fundraising goals to support Class of '19 Senior year activities.  

Questions?  Contact Anne McCord at  [email protected]
The Class of '19 is raising money for senior year activities including After Prom.

How you can support:
Class of 2020 - Sophomores
  • Thank you to Megan Perkins and Lisa LoJacono, the parent representatives for the Class of 2020. Please look for important information to come.  If you are interested in getting involved please email Megan at:   [email protected]  or Lisa at:   [email protected] .
Class of 2021 - Freshmen
  • New Graduation Requirements! DPS has adopted new, evidence-based graduation requirements that will go into effect this year for the graduating class of 2021. Click here
    to read more!
  • Click here for a video about the new graduation requirements.
News from the Future Center
 
Seniors are encouraged to stop by the Future Center to set up a time to discuss their plans for next year.  

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
   
[email protected] |   www.denverscholarship.org