WELCOME BACK, SPARTANS!

Administrator's Corner

August 21, 2023

Haga clic aquí para ver la versión en español del mensaje de bienvenida del Sr. Christoff.



Dear TJ Families,

Welcome back! I am incredibly excited to get the 2023-24 school year started and get our Spartans back into TJ! Our faculty and staff are also excited to see your students,  and to connect with them personally and academically. As has been our mission, we will continue to make TJ THE high school to go to if you want to go to college. We will not deviate from the efforts that we have been making over the course of the many years of this work. Our work moving forward is to relentlessly pursue opportunities for our students to ensure that they are prepared for college and career. College and career readiness is at the forefront of everything we do so that all students are prepared for the challenges of post-secondary education – be it community college, technical school, or the most elite colleges and universities around the world. While this mission has not changed we will continue to put an added focus on our students’ social and emotional health, the whole child. Here is our new bell schedule. Please note the new start and end times as they have changed from last year. We will start at 8:25 a.m. except on Wednesdays when we have Professional Learning in the morning. Wednesdays we will start at 9:25 a.m.. Due to construction in the building this summer, we have been approved to have a “9th Grade Academy” day on August 21st for the Class of 2027. August 22nd will also only be for the Class of 2027. All students will start on August 23rd (more details below). Continued expectations for this year are:

1. All students must wear their IDs at all times; no student will be issued either an excused or unexcused pass without an ID. Students have been told that wearing their ID is a safety measure, so please make sure that you keep track of them!
2. Seniors must have a 93% attendance rate in order to attend Senior Prom or the commencement ceremony. We all know that consistent attendance supports academic success.
3. As a 1:1 school students should all have their MyTech device (Chromebook). Please plug them in each night. Students will be responsible for the Chromebook and are required to sign the DPS MyTech Device agreement. 

We will continue with the systems that have been in place and have proven to be effective in maximizing time for instruction and providing the environments that are conducive to the success of our students. We will continue to enforce the following:

– Tardy policy

– Attendance policy

– Behavior expectations

**These policies are clearly defined in the student handbook that is available on the TJ website and you can find them here. 

Some key dates to put in your calendar:

• Registration now open - Online registration only
• Registration Information
• Everyone must complete this even if you are a returning family!
• 8/20/23 Senior Sleepout (7 p.m.) 
• Senior Sleepout Contract and Information
• 8/21/23 Class of 2027 “9th Grade Academy” 
• 8:25 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. (Office Hours from 3:35 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.)
• All of Class of 2027 is expected to attend
• More details to come!
• 8/22/23 First day of classes for Class of 2027
• 8:25 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. (Office Hours from 3:35 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.)
• Class of 2027 will go through their schedule and learn where their classes are

• 8/23/23 All students return to school 
• Late start day - 9:25 a.m. - 3:55 p.m. (No Office Hours on Wednesdays) 
• 8/29/23 - 8/30/23 School Pictures - you will go w/ your English Class

Please continue to the next page…you’re almost done! 

Please see the Pick Up/Drop Off Map below.

Pick Up/Drop off times do get extremely busy around the school. Please plan accordingly to provide adequate time for your student to get from the car to class. To ensure everyone’s safety please adhere to the map above as to where you can and cannot pick up or drop off your student. 

Lastly, the building will likely be very warm this week and for the next several weeks. Please remember to dress accordingly and to bring a water bottle. 

I look forward to another great year at Thomas Jefferson High School!

Sincerely,

Mike Christoff

Principal

Monday-

• 9th grade only - 1st day of school - (8:25 a.m. start time)

Tuesday-

• 9th grade only - 2nd day of school - (8:25 a.m. start time)

Wednesday- 

• First day of school for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders - 9:25 a.m. start time

Thursday-

Friday-

Saturday-

• Class of 2025 Stadium Party: 6-10 p.m. (details below)

Congratulations to our amazing TJ leaders who won awards at the end of last year:

Denny Bryan - DPS Girls' Volleyball Coach of the Year

Scott Thomas - DPS Athletic Trainer of the Year

Skyler Magee - DPS Girls' Tennis Coach of the Year

Damion Allen - DPS Girls' Basketball Coach of the Year

Grant Laman - DPS Boys' Basketball Coach of the Year

Go Spartans!

Congratulations to Zarin Moon, Maria Potter and Telemariam Tewodros for being nominated by their supervisors for the Launch Outstanding Summer Intern among over 300 DPS students in the Launch Internship Program!  See the TJ Career Hub section below to learn more about internships and career exploration opportunities.

Zarin Moon redesigned the Career Development  page on the DPS website with the CTE team. Check it out to learn all about career programming!

Maria Potter being recognized for her leadership skills in front of the mural the Art Street interns helped paint with local/global artist Anthony Garcia, Jr. 

Tek Tewodros in the conference room of Xcel’s downtown General Counsel office, where he worked as a legal intern.

See below for more TJ Career Hub Summer Internship Celebrations!

New Bell Schedule

Please note: students will have a late start on Wednesdays. Period 5 indicates lunch.

Pick up/drop off Map

Pick Up/Drop off times do get extremely busy around the school. Please plan accordingly to provide adequate time for your student to get from the car to class. To ensure everyone’s safety please adhere to the map below as to where you can and cannot pick up or drop off your student. 

Registration

Online Registration for 2023-24

Current DPS families – save time by updating your student’s information online! By completing this process using your Parent Portal account, you can avoid paper forms and save time at the school during the fall return. All SchoolChoice applicants must have an accepted seat prior to registering their student. Select one of the windows available to register your student(s) online for 2023-24:

• The “Early Bird” window, May 8-19
• Current year, late July-September 1st

To register online, primary legal guardians of current DPS students must have an active DPS Parent Portal account. Visit myportal.dpsk12.org to sign up, or to check that your account is active and ready.

For more information on how to complete online registration, contact the front office or visit schoolchoice.dpsk12.org.

Healthy School Meals for All: Complete the "You Benefit" Form!

All students in DPS will have access to free, healthy school meals for the 2023-24 school year thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters!

While meals will be provided for free to all DPS students through Healthy School Meals for All, families will still need to complete a form to ensure DPS gets full access to available federal funding.

What this means for families:

• We ask all DPS families to please complete the "You Benefit!" Form (formerly referred to as the Meals Application). Completed forms will help us access all available funds to cover the cost of meals and other nutritional programs for students.
• Families who fill out the You Benefit! form may qualify to receive discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utility support, and more.
• Only one form is required for all children in a household.

Fliers with more information are available in all Consent Decree languages here. Scan the QR code on the flier or click here to complete the “You Benefit!” Form.

If you have questions about the “You Benefit!” Form, the DPS Food & Nutrition Services department is available at 720-423-5600 or foodservices@dpsk12.org.

PTO News

To be part of this engaged group of parents, visit the PTO webpage and click on the JOIN Today! link at the top. This will subscribe you to our emails about meetings and events.

Our monthly meetings are a great way to meet other parents and get information and questions answered. PTO meetings are held “in person” on the first Tuesday of each month, from 6-7pm at TJ. We’ll be experimenting with “hybrid” or Zoom meetings this year in the hopes of being more flexible for parents who can’t make it in person. Our meetings often feature a member of the school administration speaking on a topic of interest to parents. We hope to see you sometime this fall!

Our September meeting is Tuesday, 9/5 from 6-7pm in the Community Room at TJHS -

Room 111.

Please consider how you can use your skills to help TJ be the best it can be. Current leadership opportunities include:

Member-at-Large for 2027 and 2026

Class Committee Chairs for 2027 and 2024

Fund Raising Chair(s)

Please reach out if you have any questions/comments/concerns. I know how stressful new environments can be for students and parents. The PTO is a great resource!

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

TJ Food Distribution

Thank you to our TJ Community for supporting the Food Bank again this school year! We served as many as 60 families a month last year and your financial and food donations are much appreciated. We will resume Food Bank distributions this fall. September Food Bank distribution date will be announced soon.

TJ Career Hub Summer Internship Celebrations

From designing lunar furniture for NASA in the Engineering Academy to web design, event planning, legal briefings, and mural design, 26 TJ Spartans used and learned diverse skill sets all across Denver in the Summer Launch Internship Program. Students worked 120 hours over six weeks and earned high school credits and a financial grant award! Congratulations to all who committed part of their summer to expanding their horizons and exploring their career goals. If you have questions about career explorations opportunities or internships, please contact Emily_Bobrick@dpsk12.net!

Arts Street (Community Art & Entrepreneurship)

Maria Potter*

Atkins Global (Civil Engineering)

Hui Ling 

Mariah Williams 

Colorado Department of Higher Education- Credential Pathways (Web Design)

Lena Washington

Denver Public Library-Hampden Branch (Library & Program Support)

Nes Masa

Sophia Shon

DPS Department of Academics (Web Design)

Adelaide Krabbenhoeft

DPS Career & Technical Education (Web Design)

Zarin Moon*

DPS Engineering Academy in collaboration with NASA Hunch (Aerospace Engineering)

Nahom GMicheal

Evangelia Latsis

Brian Limias-Garcia

Fanuel Mesfin

Estelle Wheeler

DHE Computer Systems (Chromebook Fulfillment & Repair)

Michael Benissan

Alex Mitchell

Diversity in Finance Collaboration (Business/Finance)

Edward Monroy

Sarhyia Owens

Nishan Sapkota

Global Grid 4 Learning (Data Management)

Asher Snyder

KGNU Radio (Broadcast & Audio Engineering)

Jason Wright

Make A Chess Move (Google IT Certification Program)

Assad Ali

Mikias Yohannes

Studio Colombia (Community Outreach & Event Planning)

Caye Cardoza-Villanueva

Xcel Energy General Counsel (Legal)

Teklemariam Tewodros*

Xcel Energy Homesmart Program (Accounting)

Eagan Reeder

Homecoming at the Bella Boutique - FREE Dresses, Shoes and Accessories for Denver Teens!

The Bella Boutique will be open for one weekend only to help you find everything you need for Homecoming! We are offering free dresses, shoes, and accessories to Denver teens in need of formal wear this Homecoming season. The Boutique will be open September 8th through September 10th and spots are limited so book your appointment today! 

We look forward to providing you with a personal shopping experience to ensure that picking the dress of your dreams is a day you will never forget. 

NEW SHOES IN STOCK

We recently received a large donation of brand new beautiful shoes! Come check out our new inventory of heels in all sizes!

NEW DRESSES

We've received donations of new dresses directly from local boutiques! We have everything you need to make you feel beautiful for this special event! 

Click here to book an appointment!

Class of 2026 Paint Recycling Day - Save the Date!

Sparta-Fill is Here!

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

Looking for a TJ hoodie, t-shirt, PJ pants, hat, seat cushion, sticker, bracelet, etc.? Please email us at TJHS.Store@gmail.com and we’ll help you get the items you want.

Activism at Work - Student Opportunity

Did You Know...? 

(En Español) 

TJHS has a variety of mental health and social emotional supports

available to ALL students?

For starters, let’s introduce ourselves!

Ms. Koncz, School Psychologist, is at TJHS Monday-Friday, and supports students in special education and students in general education (she is here for the whole building). Natalie_Koncz@dpsk12.net and (720)423-7077

Mrs. Davis, Social Worker, is at TJHS Monday-Thursday, and supports students in special education and students in general education (she is here for the whole building).  Samanda_Davis@dpsk12.net and (720)423-7072

Mrs. Berg, Social Worker, is at TJHS Tuesday-Friday, and supports students who are on Section 504 Plans. Annie_Berg@dpsk12.net and (720)423-7043

Ms. Miccio, Social Worker- Prevention and Therapeuric Specialist, is at TJHS Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, and supports prevention efforts regarding substance use and suicide prevention programming (she also helps run our GSA!). Megan_Miccio@dpsk12.net and (720)423-7008

Mrs. Depoy, Social Worker- Prevention and Therapeutic Specialist, is at TJHS Mondays & Thursdays, and supports students through small group and individual interventions (anxiety and substance use). annie_depoy@dpsk12.net and (720)423-7008

We all work closely with our wonderful Counseling Team!

For More Information:

• Counseling Website: https://sites.google.com/dpsk12.net/tj-counseling-department-remot/mental-health-supports?authuser=0 

Stay tuned for weekly “Tips” from us in the TJ Newsletter! 

Have a great first week, Spartans!

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

Future Center News

Spartan Seniors and Families! 

We’re looking forward to supporting you throughout your college access journey! 

Click here to learn more about the Denver Scholarship Foundation and the DSF Scholarship. Your DSF Future Center is located in room 135 across from the main office. 

Seniors: In your Future Center: TJFC2024 schoology course, you will find many resources to help you with your college, scholarship and financial aid processes this year. Please visit this page regularly, use the resources provided, and complete the assignments as they are designed to help you maximize your opportunities. Please review the course weekly with your home adults and other supports. A list of Scholarship Highlights will be posted weekly in addition to information about College Rep Visits in the TJFC, major deadlines, reminders about your next steps for college and more!  Most importantly, please drop by the Future Center to say hi! 

Three college planning tasks from your Future Center schoology to complete as soon as possible.

• Complete the "Your College Search and MAIA Learning" assignment. Using MAIA is required. Check out the tools in the "What colleges are a good fit for me?" folder to improve your search! 
• Start your Scholarship Search assignment. Many  major scholarships have VERY EARLY FALL deadlines. Don’t wait! 
• Do any of your colleges require letters of recommendation? Prepare now!



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

Wednesday, August 23rd- Boettcher Foundation Webinar: Scholarships 

Wednesday, September 6th- DSF Virtual Insight Panel: Careers in Healthcare 

Thursday, September 7th- Emily Griffith Technical College Rep Visit in the TJFC 

Thank you to Dyanna Spicher for leading the Class of 2024 Committee the past three years. Under Dyanna’s leadership, over $20,000 has been raised for the Class of 2024’s senior activities and After Prom. Her leadership culminated in a successful Senior Sleepout last night. The Class Committee leadership is usually shared by co-chairs and we’ll be looking for new co-chairs to carry forward with this year’s events. Interested in learning more?

Class of 2024 Parent Meeting

Wednesday, 8/30 from 6-7pm

TJHS Community Room - Room 111

Please email tjhspto@gmail.com if you are not able to make the meeting but would like to receive updates by email.

SENIOR SLEEPOUT THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who volunteered and/or donated items to make the Senior Sleepout a success. Volunteers in bold need some coffee as they worked the overnight chaperone shift!

Applause and appreciation go to: Amy Brady, Amy Lloyd, Becca Mahoney, Bine Trujillo, Carrie Alleman, Christine Shapard, Dan Mahoney, Dawna Edwards, Debbie Smith & husband, Dyanna Spicher, Emily Smith, Heather Barben, Jake Fernandez, Jane McPherson, Janelle Nelson, Janet Randles, Janis Herbst, Jean & David Steimel, Jenni & John Scobey, Jennifer Newpower, Jill VanAbbema, Jillian Krause, Jll McLain, Kari Baca, Kari Blanchard, Katie Swats, Kendal & Derek Mullins, Kim & Anthony Tapia, Kristi Sawyer, Lansing Tyler, Laura Koupal, Lizzie & Dean Price, Megan Perkins, Mindy Hartley, Nancy Picucci, Nicole Pacheco, Nyssa & Rick Zabel, Phyllis Smith, Rebecca Tsvetkov, Rob Maes, Roxanne Stevens, Sheila Tyler, Stephanie Leigh, Steve & Krista Zizzo (Apologies to anyone omitted, names were taken from SignUp Genius last week!)

What’s on deck for 2025 in the Fall?

We will be hosting a Stadium Food Party for parents to celebrate the kids being back in school

on Aug 26th at 6pm! This will be a great opportunity to meet other parents with kids in 2025 and

enjoy food, drinks and games!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0E45AFA62BAA8-thekids

Welcome back everyone! Please mark your calendars for the Class of 2026 Paint Recycling event taking place in the TJ parking lot on Saturday, September 23rd from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. This event is free to the public with donations benefiting the Class of 2026. The paint recycling company handles all of the paint, but we need student and parent volunteers to help.  

Please see the sign-up genius link below to volunteer:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CADA72FA31-class

Thank you,

Sheila and Carrie

Stay tuned for class or 2027 news!

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