Please note: the final newsletter of the year will go out on 5/24. |
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May 17, 2021
Administrator's Corner
Happy Monday Spartans,
What a year it has been! Despite all of the delays, changes, and adversity, we have a lot to celebrate as we near the end of the school year. Like our students and community has done all year, our TJ Spartan Football team showed an incredible amount of resilience and courage on Friday night to come from behind and win TJ's first state championship since 1989. I am so proud of those young men and their incredibly dedicated coaches. Additionally, the support of the students, faculty and staff, alumni, parents, and community was overwhelming. It was a wonderful reminder of why I am so proud to be the Principal of TJ, a school and community like no other. Thanks to everyone who made this possible, especially Mike Griebel and his coaching staff, our Athletic Director Anne Rice, the players, their parents, and all the supporters.
Thank you!
We are also pleased to report that we had a second successful vaccine clinic at TJ on Saturday. Stay tuned for an opportunity for ages 12-15 to get vaccines in the coming weeks.
A couple of important reminders:
- In person school returns on Tuesday May 18th. All in person students should return to "in-building" learning for a normal Tuesday schedule.
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May 21st check out for seniors
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May 24th rehearsal @ 1:00 p.m.
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May 25th Commencement at noon (details below)
- Finals will be held the week of May 24th - detailed schedule below.
Thanks, TJ! Let's finish strong!
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Happy Monday Spartans,
¡Qué año ha sido! A pesar de todos los retrasos, cambios y adversidad, tenemos mucho que celebrar cuando nos acercamos al final del año escolar. Al igual que nuestros estudiantes y la comunidad han hecho todo el año, nuestro equipo de fútbol TJ Spartan mostró una increíble cantidad de resistencia y coraje el viernes por la noche para venir de detrás y ganar el primer campeonato estatal de TJ desde 1989. Estoy muy orgulloso de esos jóvenes y de sus entrenadores increíblemente dedicados. Además, el apoyo de los estudiantes, la facultad y el personal, los ex alumnos, los padres y la comunidad fue abrumador. Fue un maravilloso recordatorio de por qué estoy tan orgulloso de ser el Director de TJ, una escuela y comunidad como ninguna otra. Gracias a todos los que hicieron esto posible, especialmente Mike Griebel y su personal de entrenamiento, nuestra Directora Atlética Anne Rice, los jugadores, sus padres, y todos los partidarios.
¡Gracias!
También nos complace informar que tuvimos una segunda clínica de vacunas exitosa en TJ el sábado. Manténgase atento a la oportunidad de que las edades de 12 a 15 años obtengan vacunas en las próximas semanas.
Un par de recordatorios importantes:
- La escuela en persona regresa el martes 18th de mayo. Todos los estudiantes en persona deben regresar al aprendizaje en construcción para un horario normal del martes.
- Salida del 21st de mayo para las personas mayores
- Ensayo del 24th de mayo - 1:00 p.m.
- Inicio del 25th de mayo al mediodía (más detalles a continuación)
- Las finales se celebrarán la semana del 24th de mayo, programa detallado a continuación.
Gracias, TJ! ¡Acabemos fuerte!
Mike Christoff
Principal
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Monday-
- Regular Remote Monday schedule
- All students remote
- AP Testing - Computer Science Principles (7:30 a.m.) and Statistics (12:00 p.m.)
Tuesday-
- In-person students back in the building
Wednesday-
- In-person students back in the building
Thursday-
- In-person students back in the building
Friday-
- In-person students back in the building
- Senior Checkout (details below)
- Health Clinic Closed
Saturday-
- Senior Parade (details below)
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Our very own Andre Moss is a FINALIST award recipient in the 2020-21 Denver Public Schools Rae Harris Intellectual Curiosity Awards! Andre was a very strong candidate and wound up with a distinguished commendation in a top flight crowd for all of his work, contribution, and investment in all of our TJ Equity teams this year! In addition to his Equity work, Mr. Moss also challenges his students to think outside the box and regularly collaborates with his colleagues to put Students First. Curiosity is so valuable and TJ is so lucky to have Mr. Moss!
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A huge thank you to teachers Leonard Fox and Lisa Freedberg who put together three visual art shows this year! Please see below to enjoy the amazing student work displayed!
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Finals - Week of May 24th |
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Click here to see the video of Spartans celebrating their coach and storming the field after the win!
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Celebrate TJ's Visual Arts Students |
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Celebrate TJ's Visual Arts this year by viewing our Virtual Art Shows!
Check out the artwork created by our talented ceramics, drawing & painting students.
Click the links below to view:
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Way to go, Spartan artists!
This is amazing work!
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Yearbook - "People of TJ" Project |
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Our TJ Teachers & Staff are the very best! To show our gratitude for all they have done over this challenging school year, TJ PTO has lined up some special treats this week. A food truck will be serving up tasty tacos, there will be a sweet treat from Dairy Queen on Friday, and we will show off our appreciation with a new banner that we can reuse for many occasions in the future. Please continue to share messages of gratitude with teachers via an email or note. It means so much to them!
You can find the minutes and the recording from our final 20-21 school year PTO meeting on the TJ website. We will be ramping up in July to set the wheels in motion for the school year ahead!
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Boys' Swim Team Fundraiser |
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Help raise money for TJ high school by purchasing an organic juice cleanse!!!
Monday May 10th – Friday May 21st
Order a 3 day ($120) or a 5 day ($180) organic juice cleanse and I will donate 30% of sales. You will be emailed a gift certificate that can be redeemed anytime in the next year.
Benefits of a juice cleanse include:
*Weight loss (average 4-5 lbs on the 3 day and 6-8 lbs for the 5 day)
*Decrease in uncomfortable GI symptoms
*Reset cravings and appetite
*Detoxify
Breen Juice is a Mom owned small business that was established almost 5 years ago.
If interested in more information before you commit or to order a cleanse please email me at breenjuice@gmail.com and I will send instructions and what to expect. Per day on the cleanse involves 4 juices and 1 almond milk. YOU CAN EAT ON THE CLEANSE!! The cleanse itself is only around 1000 calories a day so you can snack on anything that is not MEAT WHEAT or DAIRY
Thanks for the support!! Kelly Reese
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Commencement Information:
When: May 25th
Where: Infinity Park
950 South Birch
Glendale, CO 80246
Time: Students and staff arrive at 11:00 a.m. – ceremony begins at 12:00 p.m.
Dress: Caps and Gowns (students may decorate caps – keep it school appropriate!)
Guests: Each student may have up to 4 guests – children 2 and under do not count towards the 4 guests
Senior Check Out:
When: May 21st: 8 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: TJHS Parking Lot
Time: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Stations:
- Pancake Breakfast 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. only
- Credit/ICAP Check with your Counselor
- Technology Return (any school owned devices must be returned i.e. Chromebooks/Hotspots etc.)
- Uniform/Equipment Return (for seasons A,B,C)
- Book Return (textbooks only – you do not need to return library books)
- Cap & Gown Pick Up (you will get your sashes and cords as well)
- Phonetic Cards (so we know how to pronounce your name for the ceremony!)
- Guest List completed
Graduation Rehearsal:
When: May 24th
Where: TJHS
Time: Students must arrive at TJ at 1 p.m.
Dress: normal school clothes – you should not wear your cap and gown for rehearsal
Finals:
Week of May 24th: click here for the finals schedule.
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TJ Food Drive and Distribution Program |
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Thank you to the TJ Community for your amazing support of the Thomas Jefferson High Food Bank this school year! Our final distribution for the 2020-2021 school year is this week. We will not be collecting or distributing food over the summer, but plan to start the program up again in the fall. Below are 2 resources for families to access additional food support this summer:
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Student Leadership Opportunity - Kramerica Gives |
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Mission:
To provide students with leadership and opportunities to empower them to live up to their full potential.
Vision:
Helping students prepare for a successful life after high school through community service, financial education, mentorship, and fun.
The Kramerica Gives Student Leadership Program, with 20 students representing various schools throughout the Denver area, has four main pillars: Leadership, Mentorship, Community Involvement, and Scholarships.
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Senior Parking for Next Year |
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Upcoming seniors: if you are interested in signing up for Senior Parking for next year, please contact Carla Allen in the Treasurer's office!
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School Based Health Clinics |
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If your student needs summer school, please reach out to their counselor to get signed up! |
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The yearbooks will not be available for pickup by Senior Checkout. They will be available for pick up the week of May 24. More details to come! |
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Annual All for One Golf Tournament - Golfers and Advertisers Needed! |
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The Annual All For One Golf Tournament will be held at Wellshire Golf Course on June 12th. Net proceeds from the tournament are awarded equally to TJ High School and three other neighborhood schools each year, totally $20,000 since 2014. You can participate as a golfer or get lots of exposure for your business as an advertiser. All the details can be found at www.allforonegolf.org or call John at 720 232-4554.
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Hello TJ!
Here is a Summer Programs Toolkit with ready-made resources for students and families. The programs listed in this toolkit are free, or may be offered at reduced rates, and provide students with opportunities for college credit and career experiences.
If you are interested in any of these programs, please reach out to your counselor!
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Online Registration for 2021-22 School Year |
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We will be working on a new collection of items for an online sale. Please watch the newsletter and School Deets for information. Reach out to TJHS.STORE@GMAIL.COM with any questions!
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College and Career Readiness |
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Our goal is that all students graduate college and career ready. One of the ways we achieve this goal is to support students' career and college exploration through programs that provide opportunities for students to discover how their interests and passions might someday fit into the world of work. There are many resources to help you learn more about career and college programs in DPS, visit collegeandcareer.dpsk12.org to learn more! Handouts: English / Spanish
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Matthew Mason (He/Him/His)
Navigator at Thomas Jefferson High School
DPS Career and College Success
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FREE Summer Coding Camp for Girls - CSU (virtual) |
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CSU is offering an online girls only coding camp this summer for girls going into 10th & 11th grade in the fall. TJ alum Morgan VandeRiet will be one of the instructors! It is an introductory camp to Python, and they will also be doing a little bit of Scratch. It is FREE! It is June 14-18 from 11-3pm. Due to the prevailing health and safety concerns imposed by COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus, the camp is delivered online. There will not be any face-to-face, in person meetings.
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Chromebook and Materials Distribution - By Appointment Only |
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Dear Spartan Families,
TJHS will continue to offer pick up opportunities for Chromebooks and class materials distribution by appointment only.
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To make a request please fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/h381kzTdGeEnXTa46
- We will contact you using the email address provided in the form to arrange a time for pickup.
- If you are returning damaged technology please make sure the power cord is returned with the unit
- We are out of Wifi Hotspots and we don't know when additional units will be made available.
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School Based Health Centers are OPEN! |
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Denver Health School Based Clinic Staff is excited to welcome back students returning for in-person learning! Whether you are staying remote or coming back to school, we are here for you. Give us a call at 720-423-7190 to set up an appointment! #werehereforyou #covid19 #denverpublicschools
Thomas Jefferson School Based Clinic: 720-423-7190
Consent for Thomas Jefferson School Based Clinic:
English:
Spanish:
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In an effort to provide GT students and their families with the resources and supports needed to begin/complete their Advanced Learning Plan (ALP), the TJHS GT Site Team has created a Google Classroom for each GT grade level. The title and code for each grade level is listed below:
TJHS Gifted and Talented 2024 Cohort - doyqstu
TJHS Gifted and Talented 2023 Cohort - b7vpvfn
TJHS Gifted and Talented 2022 Cohort - orzg7to
TJHS Gifted and Talented 2021 Cohort - by7mjwi
The TJHS GT Site Team, working alongside our District GT Partners, has included resources, websites and documents to help you complete your ALP goals. Keep in mind that there are affective as well as academic goals. At this time, students should only focus on the Goals / Advanced Learning Plan section and not worry about the badges right now. We don't want you to get in there and feel overwhelmed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Tate, our Dean Instruction and GT Point of Contact at adria_tate@dpsk12.org
Our District GT Partner is Brian Beard, brian_beard@dpsk12.org, and you may receive GT newsletters from his office with internship and university opportunities.
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Mental Health and Social/Emotional Tips |
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Did You Know…?
It is TIME FOR FINALS! There are some quick and easy things you can do to prepare for upcoming tests.
Whether we like it or not, the school “testing season” is upon us! Some people stress a lot, a little or not at all. Here are some simple things any test-taker can do to help with preparation for the big day:
1) Get some sleep: Cramming the night before is not the best use of your time. Adolescents need the most amount of sleep per night, and the night before a big test is no difference. Aim for 8-9 hours- plan ahead to go to bed earlier and make sure your alarm is set in the morning to give you plenty of time for breakfast and to get ready.
2) Do something relaxing before bed: Put away your phone and all electronics at least an hour before bed (eye-roll, we know). Take a shower or bath, listen to music, draw, read, color, journal, talk with family, etc.
3) Eat the right food: Dinner the night before and breakfast the morning of- keep it as healthy as possible, and limit sugar and caffeine intake. High-protein foods like scrambled eggs are often best for aiding concentration and minimizing fatigue.
4) Wear comfortable clothing: This would be a good day to wear sweatpants or workout gear that is loose and breathable.
5) Visit the Bathroom 15-30 minutes before: Limit water intake starting an hour before the test.
6) Answer the questions you know: If you come across something that you can’t answer, star it, and move on! Come back to the “starred” after completing all the items you know.
7) Read the question in full before trying to answer it. At least some of the answer choices will be designed to trap students who don’t read the question fully. Also identify the answer first before looking at the answer choices, since some of the choices will be designed to prime you into misinterpreting the question. Don’t jump to conclusions.
8) Take a deep breath: If you become anxious or overwhelmed, take a deep breath, try closing your eyes for a few seconds (but don’t put your head down on the table!). Get back to it! Just do your best.
Mental Health and Social Emotional Tip: Compiled by Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW and Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP.
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News from the Future Center |
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Class of 2021,
Please complete this required form so we know where to send your Final HS Transcript! If you have not yet received your Financial Aid Award information, please set up a time for us to meet! Your school may be missing information needed to proceed. Signing up for housing, if applicable, and orientation are current priorities.
Congratulations on all of your hard work and accomplishments!
Class of 2022 and Parents,
Emily Webster
College Advisor | Thomas Jefferson High School
Denver Scholarship Foundation | a 501(c)(3) Public Charity
789 Sherman Street, Suite 610 | Denver, CO 80203
emily_webster@dpsk12.net
ewebster@denverscholarship.org
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Class of '21 - SENIORS!
Graduation PARADE! Saturday May 22 – Meet at 9:30 AM to decorate
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Infinity Park is excited to host our graduation ceremony. The graduation ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 25th with the ceremony beginning at 12:00 p.m. The physical address is: 950 S. Birch Street, Glendale, CO 80246.
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HUGE shout out to all the staff and parents who made Senior Showcase, Prom and Senior BBQ a success. Many parents donated money and volunteered their time.
Wendi Vanderiet and Holly Bellomo for their vision, organization and ideas
Lisa Allen for consistent support the past four years
John Trujillo for breathing life into Senior Showcase
Lisa Roberts for the Voodoo donuts and brownies
Matt Bartels and the Bellomos for rallying to drape the prom tent and hang lights
Jen Abram for keeping our meetings on track
To All the parents - too many to name - who donated items and helped at the Senior BBQ – It was a special event and YOU made it possible
Jon Poole and Mike Christoff for helping put together the senior weekend and for answering our many questions,
even when there we no answers.
We also could not have done any of this without our Amazing class sponsors Elizabeth Lynch and Jason Klimczak!!
Thank you class of 2021 community!!
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SAVE THE DATE! August 28th
What: The Annual TJ Season Opener Stadium Party
When: Saturday, August 28, 2021, 6:00 - 10:00 pm
Where: Brooke & Rob Bolinske's Backyard
Who: All TJ Parents are Invited
Why: We had to postpone this annual TJ Fall tradition last year. If you bought tickets for this party at the 2020 TJ Auction, you are all set. Funds from any additional tickets we sold will be split among the Classes of 2022 & 2023 and matched by a corporate sponsor.
Tickets: $30 per person
(This party will be held outdoors and will follow all current Denver guidelines for gatherings.)
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Class of 2023 - Sophomores |
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SAVE THE DATE! August 28th
What: The Annual TJ Season Opener Stadium Party
When: Saturday, August 28, 2021, 6:00 - 10:00 pm
Where: Brooke & Rob Bolinske's Backyard
Who: All TJ Parents are Invited
Why: We had to postpone this annual TJ Fall tradition last year. If you bought tickets for this party at the 2020 TJ Auction, you are all set. Funds from any additional tickets we sold will be split among the Classes of 2022 & 2023 and matched by a corporate sponsor.
Tickets: $30 per person
(This party will be held outdoors and will follow all current Denver guidelines for gatherings.)
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Stay Connected, Spartans! |
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