Administrator's Corner

January 8, 2024

Good morning!

It's been a great start to the year so far. We appreciate all of you who are making it to school on time every day and readjusting to your academic schedule. Be sure to add in extra time for your commute on cold and snowy mornings in the coming weeks and months.

This week there will be no school on Friday, Jan. 12, unless you are a student/family who has been notified that attendance is mandatory for ACCESS testing. Testing will begin at 8:25 a.m. and testing rooms will be posted in the front lobby. Please bring a charged chromebook. All testing should be done by 1:00 p.m..

Additionally, there will be no school on Monday, Jan. 15 for any students or staff in honor of MLK Day. Work hard this week so that you can really enjoy the long weekend!

¡Buenos días!

Ha sido un gran comienzo de año hasta ahora. Agradecemos a todos ustedes que están llegando a la escuela a tiempo todos los días y reajustándose a su horario académico. Asegúrese de agregar tiempo extra para su viaje al trabajo en las mañanas frías y nevadas en las próximas semanas y meses.

Esta semana no habrá escuela el viernes 12 de enero, a menos que usted sea un estudiante / familia que ha sido notificado que la asistencia es obligatoria para la prueba de ACCESO. Las pruebas comenzarán a las 8:25 a.m. y las salas de pruebas se colocarán en el vestíbulo delantero. Por favor traiga un chromebook cargado. Todas las pruebas deben hacerse antes de la 1:00 p.m.

Además, no habrá clases el lunes 15 de enero para ningún estudiante o personal en honor al Día de MLK. ¡Trabaja duro esta semana para que puedas disfrutar realmente del fin de semana largo!

Paula Hammel

Assistant Principal

Monday-

Tuesday-

• PTO meeting: 6-7 p.m.



Wednesday- 

• Chipotle Fundraiser - Class of 2025: 4-8 p.m. (details below)

Thursday-

Friday-

• No school - ACCESS Testing for students who have been notified

Saturday-

Gideon Leahy was selected for the CU Honor Band in February and Joe Poole made the alternate list. Competition for this ensemble is on par with the All State Honor Band. THANK YOU so very much Mr. Mallaney for your help in recording the students. Your attention to detail and setting the students up for the best sound possible is so appreciated.

If you see these two students, congratulations are in order.

TJ Food Distribution Program - DISTRIBUTION DATE CHANGE!

The date for the January Food Distribution HAS BEEN CHANGED to Thursday, January 18 from 4:00-5:30pm at TJ!

Any family that is in need of food support is welcomed and encouraged to sign up HERE. Please note that you MUST sign up for us to have food available for you at the distribution.  

La fecha para la distribución de alimentos de enero HA CAMBIADO al jueves 18 de enero de 4:00-5:30 pm en TJ!

Cualquier familia que necesite apoyo alimentario es bienvenida y animada a inscribirse AQUÍ. DEBE registrarse para que tengamos alimentos disponibles para usted en la distribución.

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

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

PTO News

January PTO Meeting - tomorrow night!

Join us to learn more about the PTO’s plans for 2024.

Revisions to the PTO Bylaws will be voted on. Suggested

edits are found on the PTO’s webpage.

2024-25 Leadership: Our President and Vice President

positions will be vacant as of May. We’re hoping to have

“apprentices” in place by January to shadow the current

officers for a semester. If not you, then who?

Congratulations to Roxanne Stevens and Tiffany Berry, who

were elected to serve as the Class of 2027’s Board Member-

at-Large and Class Committee Co-Chair. THANK YOU FOR

VOLUNTEERING!

Attention Parents who love the Visual Arts (or have students involved in visual arts)

Class of 2025 Fundraiser this Week

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)

There are a few simple strategies you can use daily to reduce stress and BOOST happiness?

• Make relaxation a routine- We know that there will always be times when you feel overwhelmed, but by adding relaxation techniques into your daily routine, you may be better able to manage those stressful moments as they arise. 

• Practice Gratitude- it has been linked to lower levels of stress, depression, and an increase in overall mood. 

• Value social interactions- making time for family and friends will decrease feelings of loneliness and help ensure you have an emotional support system when you need it. 

• Prioritize physical health:

• Sleep- the state of your mental health is influenced by the sleep you get. Your brain needs enough to rest and recover so you can deal with stress and manage emotions.
• Food and hydration- your body needs nutrients and water to function properly. Hydration is linked to a decreased risk of anxiety and depression.  
• Exercise- movement helps with reducing anxiety, boosting confidence, allows a time for you to bond and connect with others. 

• Monitor social media- try to be intentional with the time you spend on your phone, using it for true connections to others, while avoiding mindless scrolling which has been linked to an increase in anxious and depressive symptoms, feelings of inadequacy, and unhealthy sleep habits. 

• Journal your feelings- journaling for just 15 minutes a day can significantly reduce stress and feelings of anxiety, and depression. No “right” or “wrong” way to do this- let go of expectations, and just get it out!

• Laugh- find different ways throughout the day to increase your laughter, either alone or with friends.

Mental Health and Social Emotional “Did You Know”: Compiled by Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP and Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW.  Resources:https://www.cnet.com/health/mental/7-daily-habits-to-reduce-stress-and-enhance-your-happiness/?utm_campaign=mb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew 

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 to reduce delays in receiving financial aid award information from your colleges. 

• 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. Students and parent(s) must have a StudentAid.gov username and password to complete the FAFSA. 
• Click here for info on HOW TO answer some FAFSA questions. Student and parent(s) MUST consent to using the IRS (tax info) Transfer in order to receive the PELL Grant, 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. Click the link above  for more information and to apply. 
• 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 

Wednesday, January 10: FAFSA Webinar hosted by Sallie Mae- 5pm 

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

Thursday, February 1: Colorado State University Regular Decision Application DUE 

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

Emily Webster, M.S..

DSF Lead College Advisor

emily_webster@dpsk12.net

Alyssa Baker, M.Ed. 

DSF College Advisor 

alyssa_baker@dpsk12.net

After Prom Planning Committee Update:

We will have our first meeting of 2024 this Thursday, 1/11 from 7-8pm in Room 111. I look forward to meeting you and sharing more about the location for After Prom as well as what is needed to make this a successful event for our kids! 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you are unable to attend and would like to volunteer to either head up a subcommittee and or volunteer. 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