Administrator's Corner

January 15, 2024

Hello Spartan Families!

A reminder that there will be no school today for any students or staff in honor of MLK Day. 

If your student is in the 11th grade please encourage them to attend our weekly SAT prep starting this Friday during lunch. There will be free pizza provided so we hope to see you there!

DPS is also offering a free 8-week online SAT prep program as well. Led by live, expert teachers, this virtual program aims to elevate SAT scores and enhance college admission prospects. Those who participate will be entered into a drawing to win $500. Please visit the DPS website using the following link DPS Free SAT Prep for more information and to register your student. 

Additional academic support is available to all students at Saturday School. Our next session is scheduled for January 27th from 8-11. Breakfast will be provided and students have the opportunity to make up missing work and receive small group instruction from TJ teachers. 

All students have reviewed their most recent PSAT data with their Math and English teachers. Ask your student what they learned about their data!

¡Hola familias espartanas!

Un recordatorio de que hoy no habrá clases para ningún estudiante o personal en honor al Día de MLK.

Si su estudiante está en el 11º grado por favor anime a asistir a nuestra preparación semanal del SAT a partir de este viernes durante el almuerzo. Habrá pizza gratis, así que esperamos verte allí!

DPS también está ofreciendo un programa de preparación SAT en línea gratuito de 8 semanas también. Dirigido por maestros expertos en vivo, este programa virtual tiene como objetivo elevar los puntajes SAT y mejorar las perspectivas de admisión a la universidad. Aquellos que participen serán ingresados a un sorteo para ganar $500. Por favor visite el sitio web de DPS usando el siguiente enlace DPS Free SAT Prep para más información y para registrar a su estudiante.

Apoyo académico adicional está disponible para todos los estudiantes en la Escuela Sábada. Nuestra próxima sesión está programada para el 27 de enero del 8 al 11. Se proporcionará desayuno y los estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de recuperar el trabajo perdido y recibir instrucción en grupos pequeños de los maestros de TJ.

Todos los estudiantes han revisado sus datos PSAT más recientes con sus profesores de matemáticas e inglés. ¡Pregúntale a tu estudiante qué aprendió sobre sus datos!

Andrew Skari

Assistant Principal

Monday-

• No school - MLK Day

Tuesday-



Wednesday- 

Thursday-

• Food Bank Distribution: 4:00-5:30 p.m. (details below)
• Faithbridge Regional EDU Circle: 6:00 p.m. (details below)

Friday-

Saturday-

• Please note: Saturday School will resume on January 27th

Congratulations to junior Macy Whistler, who was accepted to the U.S. Senate Page School. She's one of only 30 students nationwide who got accepted to the program for this term. She will be living in Washington, D.C. for the semester, attending school in the morning and assisting on the Senate floor during the rest of the day. You make us proud, Macy!

TJ Food Distribution Program

The January Food Distribution will take place this Thursday, January 18 from 4:00-5:30pm at TJ!  

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

¡La distribución de alimentos de enero se llevará jueves el 18 de enero de 4:00-5:30 pm en TJ!

Comuníquese con Megan Perkins (megandperkins@gmail.com) si tiene preguntas.

If you are interested in making a monetary donation to the TJ Food Bank you can do so HERE. We appreciate your support!

PTO News

Fund Raising Committee Meeting TOMORROW night - Tuesday, 1/16

The PTO’s ability to support TJ is fueled by our annual fund raisers. We’re in a transition year

and need your input on how to raise funds for our Spartan Grant Program and other PTO

initiatives. Please join us on Tuesday, 1/16 from 5:30-6:30pm in the Community Room at TJHS

(Room 111).

January PTO Meeting Minutes

Thank you to all who attended last week’s PTO meeting. The minutes, monthly financial

statements and newly revised Bylaws are found on the PTO’s webpage.

Please consider being a PTO Leader for 2024-25!

No prior PTO experience is required! Contact us to learn more about these and other

opportunities to give back to TJ:

President or Co-Presidents: This position serves as the facilitator of the

PTO’s monthly meeting and handles administrative (non-banking) duties. It

can be shared between two volunteers as Co-Presidents.

Vice President: The VP assists with the monthly PTO meetings and

participates in activities as their schedule and interest allows. The Vice

President position does NOT automatically become President in a

subsequent year.

Ready for an Adventure?

Join us for an adventure to Eastern Europe where we will see the ancient Croatian cities of Dubrovnik and Split and the majestic, storybook castles and mountains of Slovenia. This 9 day tour takes off this summer in mid-July with the EF tours. While we have recruited 12 students for this trip, we have room for more! Contact Amber Wilson (amber_wilson@dpsk12.net) for all of the details! But don't wait, enrollment will end the first week of February!

Make-a-Wish Week is Coming Soon!

Make-a-Wish week is February 5-10 and Leadership is putting on a “Where Dreams Come True” dance. All proceeds from the dance go to making a little girl’s dreams come true. We’re also doing different restaurant fundraisers over the next month, so keep an eye out for more information. The whole point is community outreach and having the whole community come together to make a little girl’s dreams come true!

Click here to learn more and to donate! Thanks in advance for your support.

Faithbridge Regional EDU Circle

FaithBridge is committed to building and bridging relationships and resources to ensure an equitable and excellent education for every child. We boldly aim for a reality where 100% of children graduate ready for the choice of college and appropriately prepared to realize their dreams.

Their monthly regional circles for the community will address current happenings within DPS and get community feedback. Students and families are encouraged to attend.  

• Budget Overview with Chuck Carpenter
• Discipline Matrix Update
• Updates from Director Kimberlee Sia
• Parent Impact Opportunities with FaithBridge
• Light snacks will be shared and we will have language interpretation (Spanish) for those who need it

Free SAT Prep for 11th Graders

Donation Request for Drawing & Painting Classes

Drawing & Painting is in need of large towels. If you have any used bath or beach towels, please bring them by. Thank you so much! Timi Biermann, art teacher

Happy New Year TJ! Need TJ gear for the rest of the year? Send us an email. Also, anyone interested in joining the fun and getting to know the TJ community by selling gear, please get in touch at tjhs.store@gmail.com. Thank you TJ community for your school spirit! 

Did You Know…

(en español)

Family connections and prosocial involvement opportunities are

important protective factors for our youth?

TJHS recently participated in the Colorado Healthy Kids Survey.  From this information, we learned lots of great information about our students! One thing we are highlighting this week:

 81.7% of students surveyed “usually or definitely have chances to do fun things with their parents or guardians.”

If you are having a hard time connecting with your teen, try these strategies! 

Mental Health and Social Emotional “Did You Know”: Compiled by Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP and Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW.  Resources: https://childmind.org/article/tips-communicating-with-teen/; https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hkcs 

Yearbook News

Buy A Yearbook Now!

Sparta-Fill is Here!

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

Future Center News

Spartan Seniors and Families,

The FAFSA and CASFA Applications for financial aid are now open! We recommend completing your application as soon as possible while noting that the FAFSA website is not working consistently at this time. You’ll either complete the FAFSA or the CASFA- not both! Please aim to complete your application by the end of January, if possible, to reduce delays in receiving financial aid award information from your colleges. Be sure to CONSENT to using the IRS (tax info) Data Transfer in order to receive aid, if eligible. 

• Create or recover your StudentAid.gov username and password (formerly known as FSAID) for the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Click here for more info. 
• Click here for info on HOW TO answer some FAFSA questions. Student and parent(s) MUST consent to using the IRS (tax info) Data Transfer in order to receive aid, if eligible. 
• For students without documented legal status in the US, the CASFA application is available to provide financial aid in the state of Colorado.
• Institutional Scholarship applications are open for most colleges and are often students’ best form of financial aid. Get started on your applications using the instructions provided by your college(s)!

Upcoming Events (visit the TJ Future Center schoology course for more details):



Monday, January 15: University of Colorado Boulder Regular Decision Application DUE 

Thursday, January 18: City Year Info Session in the TJFC 

Wednesday, January 31: Colorado Mesa University Scholarship Application DUE, Denver Deltas Scholarship Application DUE  

Thursday, February 1: Colorado State University Regular Decision Application DUE, Denver Scholarship Foundation Scholarship application OPENS  

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

Emily Webster, M.S. Alyssa Baker, M.Ed.

DSF Lead College Advisor DSF College Advisor

emily_webster@dpsk12.net alyssa_baker@dpsk12.net

After Prom Planning Committee Update:

We had a great After Prom Committee meeting last week! If you were unable to attend and

would like to volunteer, please email Cheri Jones at: jonesoils.co@gmail.com

KEY DATES FOR SENIORS

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

Friday, 4/19/24: Prom - at Space Gallery in Denver’s Art District and After Prom. There’s no

school for students on 4/19!

5/20/24: Senior Check Out (last day for Seniors)

5/21/24: Graduation Rehearsal @ TJ; Cap & Gown Distribution

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

Any questions or ideas? Email Heather Reeder @ hmbdvm@yahoo.com

If you want to help, please consider donating directly to Class of 2025!

https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2025-class-donations/99

Please join us in Room 111 on January 24th at 6:00 p.m. for our next parent meeting. We will brainstorm a social event for the Sophomore class and additional fundraising opportunities for the Spring.  

Thank you,

Sheila and Carrie

Freshmen Parents - want to connect? Contact Committee Co-Chair Kendal Mullins at

kendalbmullins@gmail.com or 303-875-6810.

Please consider making a donation to the Class of 2027’s Class Fund. Donations will

support the After Prom event (held Senior Year) and other class activities that will be planned by

our Parent Committee these next four years. Your donation is tax deductible as the TJ Partners

PTO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Please reach out to your employer as your donation

may be eligible for matching funds.

The Class of 2027 Donation Link is found in the PTO’s Online Store:

https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2027-class-donations/112