September 4, 2017
Administrator's Corner

Dear Parents and Students,

Just a reminder that Back to School Night is scheduled for September 6th from 5 to 7 pm. Also, there are plenty of fun and exciting activities planned for Homecoming Week which is September 11 through the 16th. Students should watch the Spartan Edition or check the TJ Website or App for updates. Here is a quick summary of the daily themes and events for spirit week:
  • Monday - Monsters Inc (Dress like your favorite cartoon monster)
  • Tuesday -  Jungle Book/Safari Day
  • Wednesday - Cinderella (dress like royalty)
  • Thursday - Incredibles (Dress like a Super Hero or Villain)
    • Extended lunch for PowderPuff Game on turf field
  • Friday - TJ Day! Wear your Spartan Gear!
    • Pep Assembly - 2:15
    • Tailgate Bonfire - 6:30 pm
  • Saturday
    • Football game at All City Field at 11:00 am
    • Homecoming Dance at 8 to 11:00 pm
Thank you and go Spartans!

Estimados Padres y Estudiantes,
 
Sólo un recordatorio de que la Noche de Regreso a la Escuela está programada para el 6 de septiembre de 5 a 7 pm. Además, hay un montón de actividades divertidas y emocionantes para la semana de "Homecoming" que es el 11-16 de septiembre.  Los estudiantes deben ver la Edición Espartana (tele) o revisar el sitio web o la aplicación de TJ para obtener actualizaciones. Aquí hay un breve resumen de los temas y eventos diarios para la semana de espíritu:
 
lunes - Monsters Inc. (vístete como tu monstruo animado favorito)
martes - Jungle Book / Safari Day (vístete como en safari)
miércoles - Cenicienta (vístete como realeza)
jueves - Incredibles (vístete como un súper héroe o villano)
                *almuerzo extendido para el juego de PowderPuff en el campo de futbol
viernes - Día TJ! ¡Visitete con tu ropa de Spartans!
                *Asamblea de Pep - 2:15
                *Fogata - 6:30 pm
Sábado- Juego de fútbol en el campo All City a las 11:00 am
                *Baile de "Homecoming" de 8 a 11:00 pm
 
¡Gracias y Vamos Spartans!

Andrew Skari
Assistant Principal
Quick Links
TJ's Tardy/Truancy Policy
Thank you for your su pport in keeping our attendance at its best!

Please click here to view TJ's attendance policy

Please click here to view Colorado's student attendance policy
Week at a Glance - Week of 8/28-9/1
Monday
  • Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
  • Yearbooks on sale (until 9/29) for $45...see below for details
  • Please click here (or see the above "Athletics Schedule" quick link) to see athletic events for the week
Tuesday
  • ASA Bully Prevention Assembly: 1:30 p.m. Special Schedule:
    • p 1) 7:30-8:10
      p 2) 8:14-8:54
      p 3) 8:58-9: 38
      p 4) 9:42-10: 32(10 min Spartan Edition)
      p 6) 10:36-11: 16
      Lunch 11:16-12:01
      p 7)12:01-12:41
      p 8)12:45-1:25
      ASA Bully Prevention (outside-main parking lot) 1:25-3:00
Wednesday
  • Office Hours/early release
  • Back to School Night - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday

Friday
Kudos Korner
Mike Christoff, Vasi Reiva, Paula Hammel, and Danny Showers celebrate the award.
  • Congratulations to Senior Vasi Reiva! She was awarded the Outstanding Intern Award for her summer work with United Airlines through the 2017 CareerLaunch Program. Way to go, Vasi!
  • A big Spartan "welcome back home" to former Spartan and local news anchor Dominic Garcia! Click the image below to watch the video about how TJ helped shape his life.
Attention Parents
Time to Order School Photos!













It's time to order school pictures! Click here to read more about how it works, and click here for the order form. 
TJHS Welcomes ASA High School Tour

The ASA high school tour is a Bullying Prevention Program that includes some of the best skaters and BMX riders in the world. 

Come watch some of the best actions sports athletes in the world and learn about how to prevent bullying. 

Date: Tuesday, September 5th, 2017
Show Location: Thomas Jefferson High School Parking Lot
Showtime: 1:30 pm-2:45 pm

Click here for more information!
Yearbook Discount - Act Soon!


All information about the yearbook can found here

Whether you are looking for the senior picture deadline or how to                 purchase a book, there is one stop for everything! 

The book is currently on sale for $45. To get the lowest price, purchase     before 9-29-17. The book will be $65 at full price, so this is quite a             discount! 

Click here for more information.



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. 

Our first meeting is  September 12 at 6 pm in Room 111. Email  [email protected]  with any questions.
Athletic Sticker and Pass Information
·Current fall athletes can get their Athletic Sticker in Jasmine's office if they bring their current student ID
 
·Students playing winter/spring sports who pay early at the treasurer (Carla Allen) can bring their receipt and ID to Jasmine to get their sticker also
 
·Students who don't pay a Pay-to-Play (non-athletes) can purchase a year pass (not a sticker) in Carla's office for $60

o   Parents and community members can also purchase a year pass for $60 in Carla's office
 
Please note: All passes and stickers get you in to DPS League games.  Passes/stickers do not work on out of district games, tournaments, and CHSAA regionals/state tournaments.

Thanks for all of your support of TJ athletics!
Download the new TJHS Mobile App today!
We encourage you to download the app from the App Store or Google Play at no cost (scan the QR codes below or simply search for "TJHS"). We will be finalizing formatting and loading new content in the coming weeks, so please be patient and check the app frequently for new information! Our hope is that this will be yet another way to strengthen communication for our community. 

Helpful hint: make sure your push notifications are on, 
so that you can get  updated info and event reminders!
Purchase School Supplies at Office Depot or Office Max and Give Back to TJ!

Education is the Foundation for a Brighter Future: Give 5% Back To Your School!
Simply make a purchase of  qualifying school supplies, provide your school ID at checkout and your designated school will receive 5% back in credits for FREE supplies!

It's a small act that can make a huge difference.

TJ's school code is 70017648
Mental Health and Social/Emotional Tips
Did You Know...?

"Research shows that in 81% of violent incidents in U.S. schools, someone other than the attacker knew it was going to happen but failed to report it. Typically, the information goes unreported because of fear of being a 'snitch' or that the attacker will then target the informant, thereby creating a 'code of silence'.
To penetrate this code of silence, Safe2Tell Colorado initially was founded as a 501c3 non-profit organization, incorporated to develop a statewide anonymous reporting tool available 24-hours a day to accept reports whenever a Colorado youth or concerned adult perceived a threat to their safety or the safety of others."
We wanted to take this opportunity to remind our community about this wonderful resource! We all have a responsibility in keeping our community safe. We are encouraging all staff, parents, students and community members to put this resource in their phone. Here are three ways you can access this program:

          1) Use the Mobile App   - search Safe2Tell CO
           
          2) Make a report on the Safe2Tell Website   -   https://safe2tell.org/ 
           
          3) Phone a tip in using the Safe2Tell phone number:  1-877-542-7233
Mental Health and Social Emotional Tip: Compiled by Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW and Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP   
Resources:  www.safe2tell.org  
GT News
Hispanic/Latino Club
Hispanic/Latino Student Club will be meeting every Wednesday in room 218 for lunch. Please join us!
Native American Student Alliance Club

  • Meets every Wednesday at lunch in room 17
  • NASA Club is student led
  • NASA Club goal is to spread awareness around Native American heritage and our mission is to bring Indigenous values, awareness, and cultural events to school community and Denver community
  • If you have questions, please contact Chenoa at 720-423-2379 or [email protected]
Parent Training Opportunity 
Children's Mental Health Youth Action Board - Applications Now Being Accepted!
2017-2018 Application Instructions
The Children's Hospital Pediatric Mental Health Institute (PMHI) is recruiting up to 12 passionate youth (ages 15-17) to participate as members of the Children's Mental Health Youth Action Board (YAB). The board consists of up to 15 youth from across the Denver Metro Area who are interested in improving mental health in Colorado.  
 
Goals of the Youth Action Board:
  1. Advise Children's Hospital Department of PMHI on projects and materials to improve patient care.
  2. Raise the awareness of child and adolescent mental health issues in the communities we serve by creating a project each year that will support social change.
  3. Develop the leadership and advocacy skills of each board member.
 
Applicant Qualifications:
  • A young person ages 15-18
  • Interested/ passionate about youth mental health
  • Able to get to and from Children's Hospital Colorado
  • Available on Tuesdays from 4:30pm-6:00pm starting October 3, 2017
  • Interested in making change
 
Time Commitment and Expectations:
The Youth Board will meet every other week starting October 3rd. Meetings will be held on Tuesdays from 4:30-6pm at Children's Hospital Colorado in the Gary Pavilion, Aurora, CO. Travel stipends are available to youth who need to travel more than 10 miles to Children's Hospital Colorado's Aurora campus. Each selected youth will have the opportunity to participate in the 8 hour Youth Mental Health First Aid Training that may be held on a Saturday in late November.
 
Examples of past projects:
Each year, we create a project that is intended to create change around mental health. You can see examples of our past projects here:  https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-and-departments/departments/psych/youth-action-board/projects/
 
Application Process:
Complete the attached application AND include ONE picture that says something about you, your passion for children's mental health, your family, or your community then e-mail both the application and picture to  [email protected] by 5pm on September 13th. Do not send links to a Google document, I've had trouble accessing that in the past.
 
Spirit Store Items
Get Your Gear On!
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.
 
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 pullovers in graphite gray stripe with embroidered TJ. XXL hoodies and T-shirts now available.
Public Input Opportunity
Class News You Can Use
All Classes 

 

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

 

Class of 2018 - Seniors
  • 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 [email protected] if you're interested in helping out at any point this year. We need you!
Class of 2019 - Juniors
The Class of '19 is raising funds to support senior year activities such as After Prom.  Following are ways to support the class
  • Purchase a Class of '19 t-shirt on the Spartan Store Website or purchase one at the next TJ event.
  • Participate in Neighborhood Eats Programs:
    • Lowry Beer Garden:  Monday September 25th between 5-9pm.  A parent meeting will be held at 6pm, don't miss it!  10% of  the night's proceeds will be donated to the class!
    • Chipotle:  Monday, October 9th between 4-8pm.  50% of participant proceeds will be donated to the class!
  • Make a financial donation on the Spartan Store Website Ask your employer if they will match your donation!
  • Host a parent event!
For more information or to volunteer at class events, contact Anne McCord at   [email protected]

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!
News from the Future Center
TJ Seniors and Families:
Worried about financial aid?  Need help navigating the process?  Need scholarship resources? On 9/21, Ms. Maez will lead a presentation about how to apply for scholarships and financial aid.  The meeting starts at 6pm and will take place in the TJ Auditorium.  If you need language translation services, please RSVP before 9/8/17 to [email protected].
 
Save the date!  Need help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid?  On 10/5/17, from 4-7pm, experts will be available to help you complete this application.  This workshop takes place during parent/teacher conferences and should take approximately one hour to complete.  More details to follow!

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