Administrator's Corner

October 17, 2022

Happy Monday, Spartans! 

We appreciate all of the families who attended last week's conferences. Special thanks to the PTO and parents who provided dinner for the staff on Wednesday evening! We hope your students have had a restful couple of days off. 

Believe it or not, there are only about 7 weeks of classes left before semester 1 finals. Please make sure your students are getting to school on time, attending all classes, and seeking out extra help when needed. Additionally, as colder weather sets in, please be sure to allow extra time for the morning commute. 

Our fall sports have had a great season so far! Some teams are still competing, but some have qualified and will be competing in post season:

• Softball qualified for state
• Boys' Tennis qualified for state
• Volleyball will be in regionals
• Cross Country will compete in regionals

Keep up the good work, Spartans!

For all the latest athletics scheduling please visit https://dpscalendars.org/public/genie/757/school/11/

¡Feliz lunes, espartanos!

Agradecemos a todas las familias que asistieron a las conferencias de la semana pasada. ¡Gracias especiales al PTO y a los padres que ofrecieron la cena para el personal el miércoles por la noche! Esperamos que sus estudiantes hayan tenido un par de días descansados.

Créalo o no, sólo quedan unas 7 semanas de clases antes de las finales del semestre 1. Por favor asegúrese de que sus estudiantes lleguen a tiempo a la escuela, asistan a todas las clases y busquen ayuda adicional cuando sea necesario. Además, a medida que el clima se pone más frío, asegúrese de dejar tiempo adicional para el traslado al trabajo por la mañana.

Nuestros deportes de otoño han tenido una gran temporada hasta ahora! Algunos equipos todavía están compitiendo, pero algunos han calificado y estarán compitiendo en la post temporada:

• Softbol Calificado para Regionales
• Boys' Tennis Calificado para el estado
• Voleibol estará en Regionales
• Cross Country competirá en Regionales

¡Sigan con el buen trabajo, espartanos!

Para conocer las últimas programaciones de atletismo, visite https://dpscalendars.org/public/genie/757/school/11/

Anne Rice

Athletic Director and Assistant Principal

Monday-

• No classes for students/professional day
• TJ Spirit Store online sale live NOW! Details below.

Tuesday-

Wednesday- 

• Senior class meeting: 10:40 a.m. in the auditorium

Thursday-

• Class of 2024 Parent meeting: 6-7:00 p.m. in room 111

Friday-

• Workforce Readiness Kickoff: lunch in room 111

Saturday-

• Props to teacher and coach Suzanne Meyer and the Lady Spartans for an amazing inaugural flag football season! Read more below:

"The Thomas Jefferson team’s sideline illustrated just how popular flag football could be among Colorado girls. There were Black girls and white girls. Girls speaking Spanish. Girls wearing hijabs. Girls with purple hair. Upperclassmen cheering for underclassmen. Soccer players. Basketball players. Swimmers.

Seeing such a diverse group engaged with the sport is rewarding, coach Suzanne Meyer said.

'There’s just a great team spirit,' she said."  Click here to read full article.

October 6, 2022: All For One Golf has again provided proceeds from its annual tournament to Thomas Jefferson and three other schools in the area. $1,150 was awarded to cover the cost of equipment or services that might not otherwise be possible during the school year. We appreciate your support for the tournament (www.allforonegolf.org)  

AFOG Attendees:

John Boozer, Tournament Director

Bryan Dean of Bryan Dean American Family Insurance – Title Sponsor

Dan Mahoney, President, Southmoor Park South Neighborhood Association

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Congratulations to TJ Softball for winning Regionals and qualifying for state over the past weekend! Good luck this upcoming weekend as you compete for a state title!

Workforce Readiness Program Info Session

Want a job, but not sure where to start? Need to build your resume? Want to learn how to define and maximize your potential for better employability and long term wealth building? 

The Center for African American Health and the NBA Foundation have teamed up to provide a Workforce Readiness Program to help Black students acquire these skills and more. In this free program you can receive support landing a summer or part-time job to build your work experience and skills for the future or explore and start a career in healthcare and health related areas to increase care and advocacy that is representative of the community. That is Nothing But Net!

Come eat some pizza and learn more at the Workforce Readiness Program Kickoff event on Friday, October 21 in room 111 during lunch.   Use either of these links to register and be entered into a drawing for a gift card:

https://tinyurl.com/TJCCA

Space and pizza are limited so register today!

Questions? Email Emily_Bobrick@dpsk12.net or stop by 137F in the counseling center.  

Details and signup information for the November / Thanksgiving Food Distribution in the coming weeks.  

If you are interested in making a monetary donation to support Thanksgiving and Holiday TJ Food Bank efforts you can do so HERE. We appreciate your support again this year! 

If you have questions or are interested in helping with the Food Bank please reach out to Megan Perkins (megandperkins@gmail.com) Becca Mahoney (beccaandjoemahoney@gmail.com) or Jillian Krause (jillian.krause@gmail.com).

Minutes from the October PTO meeting have been posted online here, along with the most recent

Financial Summary.

THANK YOU to Susan Dolson and everyone who helped make the Staff Appreciation dinner last

week a success. Our teachers and staff really appreciated all of the delicious soups and treats,

which provided a welcome break during the long days of Parent Teacher Conferences.

Have you linked your King Soopers Shoppers Card to TJHS yet? Last year the PTO received

over $7,000 from the KS Community Rewards program. We use the funds to support class

committees and our Spartan Grants program. It requires only a few minutes of your time to enroll.

Then every time you shop at King Soopers and enter your account number (usually your phone

number), the PTO receives a percentage of your grocery sales. Click here for more instructions.

The PTO’s organization name is Thomas Jefferson High School Partners, or use code UT036.

Thank you to all who currently participate!

Questions? Looking for ways to get involved? Email TJHSPTO@gmail.com or visit the PTO Page of the TJ Journal.

Online sale of TJ merchandise with Fancloth is running NOW until November 4. Huge selection, including name brand items, delivered to your door in time for the holidays! Shop here: https://fancloth.shop/C5XWY

If you are looking for a TJ hoodie, t-shirt, PJ pants, joggers, hat, sticker, magnet, etc., please email us at TJHS.Store@gmail.com and we’ll help you get the items you want. 

Tutoring Available

Yearbook News

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1008670/Thomas-Jefferson-High-School/ 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12v4BiS0N1HDYbhNkpQE4hULbMSMztjPmTTh4TCBBbAw/edit# 

Did You Know...?

(en español)

Taking a break from your social media is good for your mental health.

Logging out of your Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media accounts for a week can boost your well-being by as much as 22%. 

Taking a tech breather can also lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

SO, in order to help your kids engage in this activity, you can try it too! Maybe make it a whole family challenge. Whoever can go without accessing social media the longest wins a prize or gets a special privilege. 

Help them think about their emotional reactions by having them score themselves (1-5 scale) the week before the challenge/tech break, and the week of the tech breather. Have a discussion about where their levels are and why?

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

TJ Class of 2023 Commencement Date is May 18, 2023!

Please see below for important Graduation dates:

Senior Check-out:

Friday, May 12, 2023 - time TBA

Thomas Jefferson High School

Rehearsal:

Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.

University of Denver

TJ 2023 Graduation Ceremony:

Thursday, May 18, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.

University of Denver 

TJ PARENTS Thank you for your great support of the Oktoberfest Fundraiser for 2023 at Kris & Scott Hougard’s Beautiful Backyard Biergarten!  Many thanks and kudos to our creative Co-hosts: Candace Lewis, Christy Jordan & Chris Little, Karin & Ray French, Kieu Vu, Kris & Scott Hougard, Megan & Jeff Robert, Molly & Lewis Roetto and Tanya Matthias & Ed Kennedy. With about 60 supporters in attendance and numerous generous donations from several families, we will net around $3,500 for this FUNdraiser! THANK YOU!

Senior Parents please come join us for a hands-on, walk-through meeting at TJ! Help come up with some ideas and plans for our Seniors’ 2023 AFTER PROM to be held at TJ LATE NIGHT on April 29, 2023! 

RSVP to catherinepoirier@comcast.net and please let her know if you are willing to bring an appetizer, dessert or drink! All fun ideas are welcome - come find the Team and After Prom project that will be fun for you!

See you all Tuesday, October 25th!

Click here for updated 2023 TRADITIONS & DATES LIST

* PARENTS & STUDENTS: FAFSA Applications Are Now Open - Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) See Future Center for more Details!

*STUDENTS: Wednesday, October 19, 2022 - 10:40 a.m. SENIOR CLASS MEETING in Auditorium

- Josten’s Class Ring and Graduation Announcement information,

TJ Counselors Updates, Senior Class Sponsors Important Updates - info from Mrs. Berg & Mr. Long

*PARENTS: Tuesday, October 26, 2022 7:00 p.m. PARENT 2023 Walk-Through & After Prom Planning at TJ - Meet in room 111.

RSVP to catherinepoirier@comcast.net.

*SENIORS & PARENTS: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 - YEARBOOK SENIOR PHOTOS AND SENIOR QUOTES ARE DUE!

- See Yearbook link for specifications. TJ Yearbook Info 2022-2023

We always need more help and input and the 2023 Seniors have a big year ahead! If you would like to get in on the action, please be on our Senior Parent Committee/Group for Senior Year Events and After Prom Event at TJ, please send your contact info to:

Catherine Poirier catherinepoirier@comcast.net  or

Christy Jordan christy.jordan@comcast.net - we will get you involved!

You can also REALLY help by donating directly to 2023 on the link at the bottom of our page and/or attending our After-Prom Walk-Thru and Planning meeting AT TJ, Room 111, Tuesday, October 25th!  

2023 Class Faculty Sponsors are:

Mrs. Annie Berg, MSW, annie_berg@dpsk12.net - Room 114B

Mr. Nic Long, nicholas_long@dpsk12.net - Room 237

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT of 2023! 

2023 PARENTS: HELP US SUPPORT OUR SENIORS! 

LET’S BE GREAT - EVERYONE DONATE

Please DONATE $23 for ‘23

Let’s all make a final push and send in our support now $10 $23 $50 $100 $230 whatever you are able to do! This money supports all 2023 fun class activities, community-building, senior year events and of course AFTER-PROM! We purchased and handed out fun yellow SENIOR SPARTAN SHADES to all the seniors for Homecoming TJ Spirit Day & Pep Rally - they LOVED THEM - thank you! Community-building lately also included us underwriting the Senior Sleepout and the Senior Splash events and so the students made all the money from the events for their Prom. These events could not happen without your Financial Support! Let’s keep up the momentum for a Great Senior Year!  

2023 Class 2023 Class Donations | TJHS PTO | TJHS PTO

Parent Meeting

Date: October 20, 2022

Time: 6pm – 7pm

Location: TJHS Room 111

Please join us to recap on the great fundraising we’ve done so far,

collaborate on other fundraising ideas and class events.

Class Donations

If you haven’t donated to the Class of 2024, now is your chance! Corporate matching is

a great, easy way to raise funds. Money raised will be used for the Class of 2024 After

Prom.

Please click on the PTO Square link to support the class. Feel free to pass the link onto

family and friends! (https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2024-class-donations/96)

Extraordinary parents – come get involved! 

 Reach out with questions, comments, and ideas. We look forward to a great year!

Rebecca Moore

rebecca_moore@dpsk12.org

Tambyr Reed

tambyr_reed@dpsk12.org

Robin Morrissey

robin_morrissey@dpsk12.org

Dyanna Spicher (parent)

dmspicher@hotmail.com

Wondering what these class committees are all about? The class of 2026 has two faculty sponsors, Elizabeth Lynch and Jason Klimczak, who will work with students to build community within the class and plan and raise funds for their Senior Prom. Each class is expected to raise the money needed to host their Prom, After Prom and other activities senior year. The sooner the fundraisers get started, the more choices there will be for events senior year.

Traditionally, the Parent Sponsors and their committee raise the funds needed for After Prom as well as build community within the parents so that there is a healthy team of volunteers to help facilitate After Prom and other class events.

Parents Sheila Tyler and Carrie Alleman have agreed to get the ball rolling for the Class of

2026’s Parent Committee! Look for more information soon as they start planning for future

events.

In addition, the PTO Board has one “Member at Large” position held by a parent or community member representing each class. This person attends all PTO meetings, is available for committee work and is a voting member of the PTO Board. If you are interested in this position, email tjhspto@gmail.com by October 25.

An engaged parent body shows our students that we care about them!