Administrator's Corner
On January 24th and 25th, 2017, the junior class will participate in Challenge Day. This is a seven hour long workshop in which the community comes together to address personal problems or past issues that have affected each person. This social and emotional learning experience helps build community and inspire students to pursue opportunities for service and leadership. This program goes beyond traditional anti-bullying efforts, building empathy and inspiring a school wide movement of compassion and positive change. We are excited to bring this opportunity to our junior class and would like to thank the volunteers and the non-profit organization Challenge Denver for making this day possible.
El 24 y 25 de enero de 2017, la clase "junior" (grado 11) participará en el Día de "Challenge". Este es un taller de siete horas de duración en el que la comunidad se reúne para abordar problemas personales o problemas pasados que han afectado a cada persona. Esta experiencia de aprendizaje social y emocional ayuda a construir comunidad e inspirar a los estudiantes a buscar oportunidades de servicio y liderazgo. Este programa va más allá de los esfuerzos tradicionales contra la intimidación, construyendo empatía e inspirando un movimiento de compasión y cambio positivo en toda la escuela. Estamos muy contentos de traer esta oportunidad a nuestra escuela y queremos agradecer a los voluntarios y a la organización sin beneficio, Challenge Denver por hacer este día posible.
Andrew Skari
Assistant Principal
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TJ's Tardy/Truancy Policy
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Thank you for your su
pport in keeping our attendance at its best!
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9
th
graders will be doing CMAS testing on March 23
rd-24th
. Please make spring break plans accordingly so that students are here to test.
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- Congratulations to all of the Spartans who made the honor roll! There were 465 students who earned higher than a 3.0 GPA (that's 45% of our population, indicating a 2% growth from last year!), and 143 Academic Lettermen, which means these students have achieved a 3.5 GPA for three consecutive semesters. Way to go, Spartans...keep up the great work!
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Week at a Glance - Week of 1/23-1/27
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Monday-
- Please click here (or see the above "Athletics Schedule" quick link) to see athletic events for the week
Tuesday-
- Challenge Day (Juniors, A-L)
Wednesday-
- Challenge Day (Juniors, M-Z)
- Office Hours/early release
Thursday-
Friday-
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Challenge Day is a
full day event over the course of January 24th and 25th.
The junior class will be invited. Juniors with last names starting with A-L will participate in challenge day on Tuesday January 24th Juniors with last names starting M-Z will participate in challenge day on Wednesday January 25th. The event will be held in the gym. Check-in is in the cafeteria at 7:30 am. Lunch will be provided.
Challenge Day is a transformational day of fun, leadership and power that can change the way people view one another forever. The goal of Challenge Day is to help stop the teasing, violence and alienation that is so deeply a part of the school experience for millions of young people every day. Through a variety of games, trust-building activities and presentations, they will be given a unique opportunity to see themselves and the people around them through a new set of eyes.
Since 1987, the nationwide Challenge Day programs have helped to transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of teenagers just like you. Challenge Day has not only received numerous awards, but has also been featured in the best-selling book, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul and the Emmy Award-winning documentary, Teen Files: Surviving High School, Oprah and MTV.
We have a few volunteer slots available so if you wish to volunteer please contact Samanda Davis at 720-423-7072 or at
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We will be offering a FREE Mock SAT Exam on Saturday January 28, 2017 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. in Room 111. Students can sign up outside Room 134 starting January 17th.
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Senior Work Day Opportunity - Credit Recovery
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Any SENIORS who are taking Credit Recovery courses on Edgenuity are strongly encouraged to come work in room 32 on Friday, 3 February 2017. That day is a no-student contact day, and seniors working on their classes (especially if they have more than one class to complete by 12 May) need to come in from 8-2-ish.
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Mr. TJ is a senior tradition at Thomas Jefferson run by the senior parents. It's a beauty pageant for the senior class boys. The event will take place April 14. This is a great opportunity to raise money for Prom but we are in need of parents to help run and organize the event. Practices take place during school and sometimes after. Please contact Sara Andolsek if you are interested or with questions.
Sara_andolsek@dpsk12.org
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Are You Looking to Get Fit in 2017?
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Do you want to train in a group setting on the beautiful High Line Canal? Join us
every Sunday beginning January 8th
to train for one of the 7 races offered during the 2017 Colfax Marathon weekend!
- Created in partnership with Denver City Councilwoman Kendra Black and Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR)
- Club is open to all ages and abilities
- Meet Sundays @ 9am (snow or shine) on the High Line Canal behind Eisenhower Rec Center for a group run/walk with coaches provided by DPR
- Club membership: $5 registration fee
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We will start collecting money for students who are taking AP tests this month. Every test is $93. Please know that if your student cannot make the test date, it will be $45 more to change the test date per College Board.
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Leadership is doing a sports/TJ memorabilia project. TJ families, alumni, or community members do you have any TJ gear that you no longer want? Please bring them into the main office labelled Leadership.
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Time to Plan Ahead for Yearbook Ads!
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Don't put it off - recognitions ads are due soon!
Yearbook recognition ads are a great way for parents, families and friends to commemorate student achievements and important milestones. In addition, revenues from recognition ads help our school to create a better yearbook. Jostens is managing your school's yearbook ad sales so please do not contact or send materials to the school.
Please take into account our school's ad content guidelines on the bottom of this form during the creation of your ad online. Because these recognition ads can take some time to design and create, we wanted to give families plenty of notice.
All ad orders must be placed online by 2/16/2017.
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Buy Groceries and Benefit TJ!
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Buy King Sooper Cards that you can load and use and then a percentage (5%) goes to TJ PTO.
We can make ALOT of money from these when people just do their normal grocery shopping or gasoline purchase.
Right now we only have 7 people using the cards but we made $2500.00 + ......i
magine if at least 1/3 of the school used these cards!
lf 150 families at our school committed to spending $250 with their card each month, our school would earn $22,500 in one year! Anyway...details below and here is one image you can use.
- Did you know you can earn 5% of every dollar loaded to your re-loadable gift card at King Soopers?
- Use your reloadable King Soopers gift card to purchase groceries, gas, and prescriptions!
- You can get a card from the online store - mkt.com/TJSPartanStore
...or by sending an email to Kevin Whalen,
kevinjwhalen@yahoo.com, or stopping in to see Julie Thibodeau in the main office.
Cards are $5 and can be re-loaded anytime you are in King Soopers and can be used for any purchases including gas!
Thanks in advance for your support with this awesome fundraiser!
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Cold Weather Care Guide and Sheltering Options for Families
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As cold weather approaches, many families need extra assistance and sheltering options. Please
click here to see the comprehensive guide.
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Communications Protocol for District Weather Closures and Delays
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As we prepare for winter weather conditions, the Communications and Transportation Services teams want to ensure we're aligned with how we're sharing news about districtwide closures, dismissals and delays:
- When districtwide school closures or early dismissals occur, information will be provided by Communications to students, families and educators.Additionally, messaging will be shared through area radio, television and print media, as well as through district websites and social media tools. We also encourage you to share this information on your school websites and social media tools.
- Communications will use Infinite Campus to send out districtwide school closure or early dismissals messages.
- Please note that the Transportation Services team will share information with students, families and educators about any delayed openings using its notification system called Bus Bulletin.
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The TJ Spartan Spirit Store is a
virtual store
which is online. The store also is setup at some school events such as athletic events, concerts, plays and conference nights.
NEW Spirit Store Items!
Check out the new American Apparel soft 100% cotton v-neck t-shirts in dark gray or white with gold TJ on the front and Spartan on the back. Also, get a new gray fleece blanket with gold TJ embroidered in the corner to keep you warm while cheering on the Spartans this winter.
New XXL and XL sizes in men's Under Armour ankle zip sweatpants and new inventory in the Under Armour 1/4 zip long sleeve pull overs in graphite grey stripe with embroidered TJ. XXL hoodies and T-shirts now available.
Order online and pickup at school:
mkt.com/TJSpartanStore or contact Laura Whalen to pay by cash or check.
Look for the Spirit Store at all TJ Spartan athletic events this year.
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French
Club - Le
cercle francais
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Ms. Janczak has a student teacher this semester who would like to facilitate a French Club meeting Thursday after school and also during lunch on Tuesdays.
All students (NO French needed!!!) are welcome to come to French club or "Le cercle francais" on Tuesdays at lunch OR Thursdays after school in room 9. We will play games, watch movies, organize bake sales to support Muanjadi Organization (muanjadi.org) which is an organization that supports girls going to school in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Again, you do not have to speak French to come!!!
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Mental Health and Social/Emotional Tips
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Challenge Day promotes looking and understanding oppression and how to stop it. This can be an uncomfortable subject. Here are a few ideas on how to recognize and tips to alleviate oppressive behavior.
Oppression is a word that is often talked about but it isn't always explained. "Oppression" may be defined as: the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner; an act or instance of
oppressing
; the state of being oppressed; the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, anxiety, etc.
So...what does that mean? Why is talking about oppression so important in high school? The answer is simple: it's because it happens on campus-in fact it happens everywhere you look. From the way that people speak, how people are perceived...overall-it's how groups of people feel like they are treated.
Confused yet? Picture this scene: Two students (a male and a female) sitting in Biology, talking about a test that had just occurred that was difficult. The woman says "The test was hard because the professor is black...he just wants us to all suffer" and the guy says nothing. Now imagine that you are a student overhearing this conversation, how does it make you feel? Do you wonder if more students feel this way? What about other groups? Maybe even a group that you identify as.
The next question is: why didn't the guy say something? Why didn't he say: "that's not true...it was tough because the class is supposed to be." There are many answers to that question...maybe he wasn't comfortable saying something to the woman and didn't know how to address it, or maybe he agrees with her and silence is his way of agreeing.
So...if you overheard this conversation...what could you do? How can you stop oppression? Or at least not actively encourage it...
- Be aware of the language that you use. Using language, jokes, and phrases that are discriminating against groups of people
- Educate yourself on other groups that exist in your environment. While it is important to be aware of the groups that are in your environment it is equally important to learn about them so that you can potentially understand what might be viewed as oppressive behavior for them.
- Learn to recognize the signs of oppression: what kind of jokes and actions that can be viewed as oppressive behavior. It is hard to address the issue of oppression if you don't know what it is.
- When you are comfortable-> say something when you hear someone say something oppressive confront them about their actions.
- Support others when you hear them speak up about oppression-speaking up takes courage and when others hear the support one person gets they are more likely to say something the next time they hear someone say something like "that's so gay."
Bottom line when thinking about oppression: regardless if you encourage oppression or if you speak out against it, remember how both reflect back on you and how others perceive the person that you are.
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Mental Health and Social Emotional Tip:
Compiled by Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW and Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP
Information gathered from YES! Magazine
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SENIOR T-Shirts - Get Yours Now
We still have some of the original Class of 2017 T-Shirts available. Y
ou can purchase online and pickup at school OR
see Julie Thibodeau in the office
to buy your shirt.
Profits from these shirts support After-Prom Event for 2017.
So please support our Seniors and a safe, fun Prom 2017.
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Thanks for helping to make TJ and the Class of 2017 Great!
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FUNdraising Party to Support TJ Class of 2018 Prom
Sign up to play Left, Center, Right, an easy to learn dice game of chance (you don't have to know how to play before you arrive).
Cost
:
$30 per person (collected at the door), includes food, beer, wine; money to play 3 rounds of the game; a chance to win up to $180; satisfaction of helping to create great memories for the Class of 2018; and most of all, a super fun time with a great community.
Where:
Bartels Home, 1865 South Newport St., Denver
When:
January 28, 2017 at 6 pm
Who:
Adults only. Do not need to have a student in the TJ Class of 2018.
If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation to the Class of 2018 prom, please contact
karycramer@msn.com.
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- Please look for more opportunities this school year for parents to socialize, get connected and contribute to the Class of 2018 fundraising efforts. Please email karycramer@msn.com if you're interested in helping out at any point this year. We need you!
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Class of 2019 - Sophomores
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If you have an idea for fundraising, community building event or volunteer opportunity, please contact Jane Bulger:
janeebulger@gmail.com
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- Thank-you to Megan Perkins and Lisa LoJacono who have agreed to be 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: megandperkins@gmail.com or Lisa at: lisalojacono@gmail.com.
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News from the Future Center
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Almost half the senior class has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to access money for college. If you have not yet applied and/or you would like more information, please contact Rena Maez at
rmaez@denverscholarship.org
or at 720-423-7134.
Sophomores! Access Opportunity is looking for applicants! They help their students enroll in their best fit college through individualized college counseling, academic and test prep tutoring, and leadership development. Access Opportunity students receive financial assistance to help pay for college. If you are interested in learning more, there will be an information session on 1/25, during office hours (location TBD). Otherwise, please click here
for more information about the program and click
here
to apply. Please contact Ms. Maez if you would like to participate in the information session.
For upcoming events, college visits, financial aid workshops, scholarships, and much more, visit the Future Center
wikipage
!
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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