October 2, 2017
Administrator's Corner

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have some very important dates coming up. First, "October Count," which is the official student membership headcount for all Colorado public school districts. When students are enrolled, scheduled and in attendance as of the official count day, the district receives an average of $7,200 in per pupil operating revenue. This submission accounts for 85% of the  district's funding. This year, the official count date is Monday, October 2nd. September 25th to October 9th is the window of when we need to collect attendance and work from students to get funding. Please ensure that your student is here during the window.

Other dates to remember are for parent teacher conferences which are October 4-5 from 3:30pm-7:30pm. This will be a great evening to have conversation around grades as our 6 week window for the first quarter of grades closes September 29th. Please plan on attending.

Thanks,

Queridos padres y guardianes,
 
Tenemos fechas muy importantes. Primero, "October Count," que es la plantilla oficial de estudiantes para todos los distritos escolares públicos de Colorado. Cuando los estudiantes están matriculados, programados y en asistencia a partir del día oficial de conteo, el distrito recibe un promedio de $ 7,200 por ingreso de operación por alumno. Esta presentación representa el 85% de los fondos del distrito. Este año, la fecha oficial de conteo es el lunes, 2 de octubre. El 25 de septiembre al 9 de octubre es la ventana de cuando necesitamos recoger la asistencia y el trabajo de los estudiantes para obtener fondos. Por favor, asegúrese de que su estudiante este aquí durante la ventana.
 
Otras fechas para recordar son para las conferencias de padres de familia que son octubre 4-5 de 3:30 pm-7:30pm. Esta será una gran noche para tener una conversación sobre las calificaciones como nuestra ventana de 6 semanas para el primer cuarto de las calificaciones se cierra el 29 de septiembre. Por favor planee asistir.
 
Gracias,
 
Paula Hammel
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
Get the App Today!
Week at a Glance - Week of 10/2-10/6
Monday
  • Official Count Day
  • Please click here (or see the above "Athletics Schedule" quick link) to see athletic events for the week
Tuesday

Wednesday
  • Office Hours/early release
  • Parent Teacher Conferences: 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday
  • Parent Teacher Conferences: 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday
  • Senior Portraits DUE for the Yearbook! Details below.
  • Shortened Classes for Jamaican Jam (35 minute classes - 4 minute passing periods)
    1) 7:30-8:05
    2) 8:09-8:44
    3) 8:48-9:23
    4) 9:27-10:07 (5 min Spartan Edition)
    6) 10:11-10:46
    Lunch 10:46-11:36
    7)11:36 -12:11
    8)12:15-12:50
    1:00- 3:00 - Jamaican Jam
Kudos Korner

 

Congratulations to Roger Nakagawa and Andrew Villescas for advancing beyond boys' golf regionals in Montrose, CO!

 

Today and tomorrow these two Spartans will compete in the State 4A golf tournament hosted by Raccoon Creek. If you're available and interested in watching some great golf, please come out and support! 

 

Good luck, guys!

Yearbook Cost and Deadlines



The yearbook is still at a discounted price! It is now $50, but will eventually go up to $65, so act now! The $50 discount will last until 11-3-17.

Senior portraits are due on October 6 by 11:59pm. Please submit on the yearbook webpage.

To see if we received your senior portrait, please go to the yearbook webpage after the due date.

If you would like to purchase a senior/baby ad, they are due by 11-17-17.  

Anything that you would need to know about the yearbook can be found   here .




PTO News and Assistance Needed
On  Wednesday, October 4, 2017 TJ's  PTO will host the first Staff Appreciation event of the year by providing dinner for the staff during Parent Teacher Conferences. Teachers will be busy from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM that night meeting with parents and families so we would like to provide a hearty dinner of soup and chili during the evening.

Please sign up here   to help make this dinner possible. If you would like to help but are not available on the 4th, you are welcome to make an online donation.  Please click here to make a donation   that goes directly to  TJ's  PTO account and will be used for this dinner or future staff appreciation events.
The staff truly appreciates your support during this busy evening.  Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,
TJ PTO
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.
Spirit Store Help Needed!
We need volunteers!
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.
 
The PTO Spirit Store is looking for volunteers to man the store and sell items during lunch hours (M, T, Th, F from 11:19-12:04 and Wednesdays from 11:00-11:45) at school. We are also looking for volunteers to sell before and after school a few days a week.

All the inventory for the store is now housed in the glass windowed room across from the auditorium in the front lobby. So it is easy to just open the door and sell items right from there. All the inventory is easily accessible.

Call or email Laura Whalen if you are interested.
Laura Whalen
cell: 303-681-7226
Free & Reduced Lunch Application
Click here to apply for Free & Reduced Lunch status!
Get Your Flu Shot!
Counseling News - Fall 2017 Denver Area College Fairs
big_dreams_education.jpg

In-State College Fair at TJ
Monday, October 9, 2017
(1:00-2:00)
TJ Gymnasium
Juniors and Seniors will be excused from class

Admission is free. Students are encouraged to register at GoToCollegeFairs.com and print the barcode and bring it with them to the fair.
Mental Health and Social/Emotional Tips
Did You Know...?
"Success is infinite. Someone else getting their slice of the pie 
doesn't mean there is less for you."
- David Holmes, Chiropractic Sports Physician

We love this quote. We know that high school (and life!) can be competitive in many aspects. Just like stress, some competition can be healthy. It can help us meet deadlines, push us to take healthy risks, increase our strength of character and allow us to learn things about ourselves we may not have otherwise learned. This week we want to highlight and remind our community that success does not always have to be thought of as a competition; and, as stated above, we believe it is infinite. With that said, there are so many ways to help your child be successful; we would like to pass along some ideas to help promote academic success for your child.

Get Involved- Research suggests that both parent and student involvement at the school level increase a student's academic success and achievement, increases their chance of avoiding high-risk behaviors, increases their self-esteem, and decreases their chance of dropping out.  

Help Build Resiliency- Resiliency is the ability to recover to a natural state in a reasonable amount of time from a difficult situation or event. So how can you help? 
- Think positively 
- Express love and gratitude 
- Express yourself 
- Get fit 
- Foster competency 

Please see our previous Tip in the October 20th, 2016 newsletter for additional ideas on building resiliency.

Increase Your Child's Happiness- We have some great questions and conversation starters that you can use as a guardian/parent/family member. Please see our previous Tip in the February 20th, 2017 newsletter for some guiding questions.
Mental Health and Social Emotional Tip: Compiled by Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW and Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP  
Musical Theatre Fundraiser
I'm raising money for Thomas Jefferson High School Musical Theatre . Please help support the cause! 
Donations will be used to help cover the cost of our amazing fall production. Your funds will provide first class professional musicians, costumes, makeup, sets, and more! You can also help by easily sharing this fundraiser out to your own network of contacts. Simply click here to go to the fundraiser page where you can learn more details and support the cause! Thanks for all of your help!
Tambyr Reed
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!
GT News
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!

 


  • Student Travel Experience: PERU in JUNE 2018, all students welcome! [email protected] for information.
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 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!
News from the Future Center
Seniors and Families-  Check out the resources below to help you plan your college and financial aid processes: 

 
Colleges Visiting Thomas Jefferson High School- Students can view and must sign up to attend college visits in their Naviance account.  University of Colorado Denver will be visiting TJ on Monday morning and Western State Colorado University on Wednesday.   
 
Meetings with Ms. MaezSeniors are encouraged to stop by the Future Center to set up a time to discuss their plans for next year.  A calendar of her availability is posted on the door.
 
Upcoming Events at TJ:

10/5/17- 4-7pm- Thomas Jefferson FAFSA Night- Bring required paperwork  to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the first step of the college financial aid process.  Please arrive before 6:30 pm. 

10/9/17- 1-2pm- Thomas Jefferson High School- TJ College Fair- Juniors and seniors will be pulled from class for this in-state college fair. 

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