Administrator's Corner

October 23, 2023

Thanks to all who made the testing week a success! We appreciate all of the families who came to conferences, as well as the PTO parents who provided dinner to the staff during conferences. 

Congrats to our TJ Softball team for winning second place at State. Please continue to show your support for all of the fun things happening around TJ - sports, music performances, theater performances, and more!

We only have four weeks between now and the Thanksgiving/fall break, and after that there are only two weeks before Finals Week! Be sure to buckle down and make the most of it so that you can end the semester on a high note. 

¡Gracias a todos los que hicieron de la semana de pruebas un éxito! Agradecemos a todas las familias que vinieron a las conferencias, así como a los padres de PTO que proporcionaron la cena al personal durante las conferencias.

felicita a nuestro equipo de Softbol TJ por ganar el segundo lugar en el Estado. ¡Y felicitaciones a nuestra banda de marchas de TJ por hacer el 8 final en la Copa de la Amistad en su primer año!

Por favor, continúe mostrando su apoyo a todas las cosas divertidas que suceden alrededor de TJ - deportes, actuaciones musicales, actuaciones teatrales y más!

Solo tenemos cuatro semanas entre ahora y el descanso de Acción de Gracias / Otoño, y después de eso solo hay dos semanas antes de la semana final! Asegúrese de abrocharse y aprovecharlo al máximo para que pueda terminar el semestre con una nota alta.

Jon Poole

Assistant Principal

Monday-

Tuesday-



Wednesday- 

• Class of 2025 Fundraiser at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar: 4-9 p.m. (details below)

Thursday-

• Class of 2025 Parent Meeting: 6:00 p.m. in room 111

Friday-

Saturday-

• A huge thank you to our amazing PTO parents for providing teachers with dinner during conferences!



• Shout out to Leslie Hillen and Marnie Bromley for all of their hard work during testing week.

Conflict Resolution Art Contest Winners

We are pleased to announce the winners of the October 2023 Conflict Resolution Art Contest! Winners were chosen based on creativity, effort, and how well they depict conflict resolution through the art piece. Congratulations to each of them for their amazing work! Their art will be displayed at the bus stop on Hampden! 

1st - Alaine Gaherty, 10th grade  

2nd - Ella Megliola, 9th grade 

3rd - Kenna Mackey, 9th grade  

PTO News

A big THANK YOU to all the parents who made the Parent-Teacher conferences dinner a success. From cooking such delicious soups and chilis to baking and bringing desserts to helping with set up, rotating food and cleaning up the dinner. We could not have done it without you parents!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: NEXT PTO MEETING - TUES 11/7 (6-7pm)

Join us on November 7 to meet other parents and learn more about what your student’s class committee has in store and what help is needed to make it a special year. This meeting will be held in person. No Zoom/livestream option will be available.

OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES, FINANCIALS AND ZOOM RECORDING

Our October meeting was full of great information about the school’s safety program, transportation issues and more. Thank you to our guests, Principal Mike Christoff, DPS Board Member Scott Baldemann and City Councilwoman Diana Romero Campbell. The minutes and financials from the meeting are found on the PTO’s page.

The Zoom recording of the 10/3 meeting is found here. Passcode: za#f2^$L

TJ Food Bank

Details regarding the November Food Bank distribution will be sent via email.  

The Food Bank is in need of reusable grocery bags for food distribution! If you have any bags to donate, please put them in the box in the office - thank you! 

Thank you to the TJ Community for your continued support of the Food Bank!  If you are interested in making a financial contribution to the TJ Food Bank, you can do so HERE.

Reach out to Megan Perkins (megandperkins@gmail.com), Becca Mahoney (beccaandjoemahoney@gmail.com) or Jillian Krause (jillian.krause@gmail.com) with questions.

Saturday School to Support Students

We will be starting Saturday school to support students with their Math milestones, English competencies, acquisition of the English language, and credit/unit recovery. Saturday school will begin on October 28th and go through December 9th. (There will not be Saturday school on November 18th or 25th.) Snacks and drinks included as well as Breakfast Snacks. Please fill out this form by Wednesday if you would like your student to attend. Here is the schedule for Saturday.

Weekly Incentive Prizes for students: Tickets to Elitches Garden, Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Sports games, Legos, backpacks, travel bags.

STEAM Exposure Day - October 26

Speech and Debate Clothing Drive

In accordance with our upcoming novice tournaments, Speech and Debate club will be holding a clothing drive from October 19 to November 17.

We are looking for formal and business clothes to be donated, but all clothing is welcome (and recommended). Collection boxes will be in English classrooms and in the Admin and Front offices.

Remaining items will be donated to other charities for those who need access to them. Thanks for your help!

Student Job Opportunity - Here at TJ!

Need a job with not many hours?

There are two Student Sweeper positions open at TJHS.

This position pays $18.29/HR —-- 2 Hours a day (After School)  Monday through Friday

If Interested, please see the Job Description and Scan the QR Code.

The QR code will get you to the DPS Job Search, enter the keyword ‘sweeper’ and search for jobs. Select the Student Sweeper position for service building and from there, create a profile then apply for the position.

Free Grocery Store Access for You!

We wanted to provide you information on Integrated Family Community Services. IFCS provides access to a free grocery store, allowing people to shop for their basic needs twice a month. The market offers fresh produce, frozen meat, and dairy products which are stocked weekly along with pantry staples such as pasta, beans and rice. All families in Colorado are eligible to shop at the market and no proof of income is required. 

Filling out a simple intake form is all they require. Families can go to the location and fill out the paperwork, or do it online HERE and immediately do their first shop. They are open for shopping in the morning (8:30-11) and again in the afternoon (1-2:30) Monday - Friday (see below). IFCS is located at 3370 South Irving Street, Englewood, CO 80110. 

IFCS also offers many different services that families can be eligible for based on income and where they live. More information on those services can be found HERE. There are also programs they offer throughout the year that provide school supplies, Holiday assistance and more. Families can sign up for the newsletter that will provide information and due dates on upcoming programs HERE. Just by signing up for the program families will be made aware of other opportunities for help that partners of IFCS offers.

Please look into the opportunity for support and let us know if you have questions.

Megan, Becca & Jillian

Food Bank 

¡Accesso gratuito al supermercado, para ti!

Queríamos darle información sobre Servicios Comunitarios Familiares Integrados. IFCS proporciona acceso a una tienda de comestibles gratuita, lo que permite a las personas comprar sus necesidades básicas dos veces al mes. El mercado ofrece productos frescos, carne congelada y productos lácteos que se almacenan semanalmente junto con alimentos básicos de despensa como pasta, frijoles y arroz. Todas las familias en Colorado son elegibles para comprar en el mercado y no se requiere prueba de ingresos. 

Llenar un simple formulario de admisión es todo lo que requieren.  Las familias pueden ir al lugar y completar el papeleo, o hacerlo en línea AQUÍ e inmediatamente hacer su primera compra.  Están abiertos para ir de compras por la mañana (8:30-11) y nuevamente por la tarde (1-2:30) de lunes a viernes (ver más abajo). IFCS está ubicado en 3370 South Irving Street, Englewood, CO 80110. 

IFCS también ofrece muchos servicios diferentes para los que las familias pueden ser elegibles según sus ingresos y el lugar donde viven. Puede encontrar más información sobre esos servicios AQUÍ.  También hay programas que ofrecen durante todo el año que proporcionan útiles escolares, asistencia para las vacaciones y más.  Las familias pueden suscribirse al boletín que proporcionará información y fechas de vencimiento sobre los próximos programas AQUÍ.  Con solo inscribirse en el programa, las familias conocerán otras oportunidades de ayuda que ofrecen los socios del IFCS.

Por favor, busque la oportunidad de apoyo y háganos saber si tiene preguntas.

Hello Spartans and families! We are available by email for TJ merch requests  (tjhs.store@gmail.com).

Stay tuned for an online store! Thank you TJ community for your school spirit!

Yearbook News

Buy A Yearbook Now!

School Based Health Center at TJ

DPS Substance Use Prevention Program Announces Fall Webinar Lineup

he DPS Substance Use Prevention (SUP) Program will continue to host a monthly webinar on the first Wednesday of every month at noon. Webinars will feature experts from the Denver community who will provide attendees with information about relevant issues that youth are facing today.

Upcoming webinars to save the date for:

• Nov. 1 at noon: Digital Wellness for Youth and Families with Brian Dino, DPS Digital Coach.

Learn more about the webinars listed above and register here.

Save the Date - TJ Movie Night Nov. 17

Sparta-Fill is Here!

For more information, please visit https://spartafill.com/

Did You Know…?

(en español)

Talking to our kids about global conflicts can feel uncomfortable and overwhelming. AND, it is important our kids have the opportunity to process what they are seeing, hearing, feeling and thinking with trusted adults. 

It is okay to need resources in supporting this process! Click here to access Tips for Parents, developed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). 

Here are some specific Tips for Teens as well.

Mental Health and Social Emotional “Did You Know”: Compiled by Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP and Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW. Resources: www.nasponline.org

Future Center News

Spartan Seniors and Families,

Click here to learn more about the Denver Scholarship Foundation and the DSF Scholarship. 

In your Future Center: TJFC2024 schoology course, you will find many resources to help you with your college process. A list of Scholarship Highlights will be posted weekly in addition to information about College Rep Visits in the TJFC, College Fairs, assignments to help you through your college steps, reminders about your next steps for college and more.  If you haven’t yet met with your DSF College Advisor, please drop by the Future Center to say hi and ask questions! 

College planning tasks from your Future Center schoology to work on now:

• Be sure to use your Steps for Complete College Applications doc to guide you. Using MAIA Learning, linking your Common App to MAIA, and completing transcript request form(s) are all REQUIRED! 
• Create your FSAID for the FAFSA application. Students and parent(s) must have an FSAID to complete the FAFSA. FAFSA will likely open in December. 
• Some colleges require completion of the CSS Profile for financial aid. Click here for more information. 

Upcoming Events: For more information, please visit the Future Center schoology course calendar 

Wednesday, October 25th: CO School of Mines Rep Visit, Sallie Mae webinar: FAFSA Updates, Federal Financial Aid Bootcamp webinar

Thursday, October 26th: Holy Cross College Rep Visit, Federal Financial Aid Bootcamp webinar 

Emily Webster, M.S..

DSF Lead College Advisor

emily_webster@dpsk12.net

Alyssa Baker, M.Ed. 

DSF College Advisor 

alyssa_baker@dpsk12.net

Senior Sleepout Lost and Found: Are you missing a small blue cooler, a black and green

cooler bag or a fire extinguisher? These items were left at the Senior Sleepout in August and

have never been picked up. See Ms. Charles in the Main Office to reclaim them!

Senior Survey: Has your senior filled out the “Class of 2024 After Prom Party” survey? It’s

found on Schoology in Class of 2024 Updates. We need input ASAP so we can start making

plans for After Prom. Please ask and have them fill it out by the end of the week. This link also

works, but please, no parent responses!

KEY DATES FOR SENIORS

11/17: Yearbook Photos and Senior Quotes Due. More info is on the Yearbook’s webpage.

1/30/24: deadline to purchase Senior Recognition Ads for the yearbook.

4/20/24: Prom at the Curtis Ballroom in Greenwood Village

5/28/24: Graduation at 1pm at the University of Denver’s Magness Arena

Please join us October 26th at 6pm for a meeting of the Class of 2025 parent committee. We will discuss plans for the rest of the year including a Holiday fundraiser, teacher appreciation and possibly another parent party for the Spring. The meeting will be held at TJ in room 111.

Any questions?

hmbdvm@yahoo.com or 303-887-1038

Please join us October 25th at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar 5380 Greenwood Plaza Blvd #106, In the Landmark @ Greenwood Village. Come between 4pm-9pm to help raise funds for After Prom.

Please join us on November 14th at 6:00 p.m. in Room 111 for our Class of 2026 Parent meeting. We will update everyone on our fundraising totals from the paint recycling event and our 10/19 restaurant night. We will also brainstorm additional fundraising opportunities as well as a Spring event for the Sophomore class.  

Stay tuned for class or 2027 news!

Questions? Want to get involved? Email TJHSPTO@gmail.com