February 19, 2018
Administrator's Corner

Dear Spartan Families,

Just a reminder that there is no school on Monday because of Presidents' Day and also on Tuesday due to a teacher comp day. We encourage you to attend parent teacher conferences from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. This is a great opportunity to check in on your child's progress and work together with their teachers to help improve academic performance. Enjoy the long weekend and we look forward to seeing you at conferences!
 
Queridas familias Spartan,   
              
Solo un recordatorio de que no hay clases los lunes por el Día de los Presidentes y también los martes debido a un día de comp de maestros. Lo alentamos a asistir a las conferencias de padres y maestros de 4:00 a 7:00 p.m. Los miércoles y jueves. Esta es una gran oportunidad para verificar el progreso de su hijo y trabajar junto con sus maestros para ayudar a mejorar el rendimiento académico. ¡Disfruta el fin de semana largo y esperamos verte en las conferencias!

Andrew Skari
Assistant Principal
Quick Links
Week at a Glance - Week of 2/19-2/23
Monday- 

  • No School

  • Please click here (or see the above "Athletics Schedule" quick link) to see athletic events for the week
Tuesday- 
  • No School
  • Community Meeting - The Future of S.E. Denver: 5:30 p.m. (see below for details)
Wednesday-
  • Office Hours: 2:14-2:55 p.m.
  • PTO provides dinner for staff: 3:00-4:00 p.m.
  • Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:00-7:00 p.m.
  • Career Exploration at DU (see below for details): 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Thursday -
  • Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:00-7:00 p.m.
  • Band concert: 7:00 p.m.
Friday - 
  • Final day for discounted yearbook - see below for details!
Kudos Korner
  • Congratulations to the Swimmers and Divers for the League Meet at Manual. This photo captures the amazing team spirit our Spartans have! Swimmers & Divers, freshmen to seniors - ALL cheering on their teammate! And looking so good in the TJ Parkas & t -shirts - way to represent!
Community Meeting - February 20th
PTO Early Dinner for P/T Conferences
Dear TJ Families:

The second semester is in full swing which means it is time for Parent Teacher Conferences. 
On  Wednesday, February 21, 2018 , TJ's PTO will host a baked potato bar for staff from 3:00-4:00 p.m. before conferences begin that night.  Please sign up here  to help make this dinner possible. We can't do it without you! 

Bring your item to room 111 any time between 1:00-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21st. We need to have all the food by 2:30 p.m. to begin serving at 3:00 p.m..   If your item does not need to be refrigerated or heated, you can drop it off in the main office on Tuesday before 3: 30pm  or anytime on Wednesday before 2:30  p.m . (There is no school on Tuesday, so all the food needs to arrive on Wednesday.)

If you are not available on the  21st , there are still ways to help!  You are invited to  click here to make a donation  or bring in check or cash donations to the office by February  17th . Donated funds will be used for this dinner or future staff appreciation events.

The teachers and staff really appreciate your support during this busy evening.  Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,
TJ PTO
Career Exploration Opportunity - February 21st
Final Yearbook Discount


This is the final discounted price for the yearbook! It will be $60 until February 23rd. After that, the book will be $65 until we are sold out.   To ensure you get a book, buy now!

Anything that you need to know about the yearbook can be found on the yearbook website here!

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].
Part Time Custodian Wanted
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
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
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...?

Love is healing and provides many health benefits.
"I need somebody to love," sang the Beatles, and they got it right. Love and health are intertwined in surprising ways. Humans are wired for connection, and when we cultivate good relationships , the rewards are immense. But we're not necessarily talking about spine-tingling romance
.  Listed below are the health benefits just by having positive relationships and love in your life:

1. Fewer Doctor's Visits
2. Less Depression & Substance Abuse
3. Lower Blood Pressure
4. Less Anxiety
5. Natural Pain Control
6. Better Stress Management
7. Fewer Colds
8. Faster Healing
9. Longer Life
10. Happier Life

So go on and Nurture Your Relationships:
How, you say?
To foster a loving relationship that yields concrete benefits, here are four tips:
  1. If you are depressed or anxious, get treatment.
  2. Brush up on communication skills and learn to handle conflict.
  3. Do things that are challenging and exciting with your loved one on a regular basis.
  4. Celebrate each other's successes.
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