Administrator's Corner
November 28, 2022
We hope you had a fun Thanksgiving Break and are ready to finish the semester strong!
Winter sports events are starting this week. Get the latest on game schedules by visiting TJ's Athletic Events Calendar.
There are three weeks of school left this semester. As we wrap up the semester and get ready for finals, it is important that your student attends class every day. Students can attend tutoring every Tuesday and Thursday from 3-4pm and are encouraged to reach out to their teachers if they have questions or need additional help on a lesson. Let's make it a great end of semester!
Esperamos que haya tenido un divertido descanso de Acción de Gracias y estén listos para terminar el semestre con fuerza!
Los eventos deportivos de invierno comienzan esta semana. Obtenga lo último en los horarios de juegos visitando el Calendario de Eventos Atléticos de TJ.
Quedan tres semanas de escuela este semestre. Al terminar el semestre y prepararnos para las finales, es importante que su estudiante asista a clase todos los días. Los estudiantes pueden asistir a tutoría cada martes y jueves de 3-4pm y se les anima a comunicarse con sus maestros si tienen preguntas o necesitan ayuda adicional en una lección. Vamos a hacer de él un gran final de semestre!
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Anne Rice
Athletic Director
and Assistant Principal
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Monday-
Tuesday-
Wednesday-
- Senior Baby Photos Due for Yearbook (details below)
Thursday-
Friday-
Saturday-
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Huge thanks to Graham Baughn and the counselors for all of their work with testing! Our Juniors crushed the Accuplacer! 279 Juniors were tested before Thanksgiving break and about 84% of them have already met the College Readiness graduation requirement...in November of their Junior year! Congrats, Spartans!
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Congrats to senior Juliana Willson! She is a member of the 2022-2023 All-State Mixed Choir! She was selected out of 2000 students. This is a huge honor. Please congratulate her on an exceptional job well done. She and the 3 all-state choirs will be performing at the Buell Theatre in February.
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TJ Food Bank Distribution Program | |
The TJ Leadership Class is organizing a Food Drive to provide everyday food items for families over the Holiday Break from school. Please see the list of items they are collecting below and donate if you are able! Collection boxes are in the front office.
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 on December 14 from 12:00 – 3:00 pm.
Cualquier familia que necesite apoyo alimentario es bienvenida y alentada a inscribirse AQUÍ. Tenga en cuenta que DEBE registrarse para que tengamos alimentos disponibles para usted en la distribución el 14 de diciembre de 12:00 – 3:00 en la tarde.
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SkillsUSA and Leadership Food Drive | |
Thomas Jefferson High School’s chapter of SkillsUSA and TJ’s Leadership Class is looking to spread some holiday cheer this December! Starting today, SkillsUSA and Leadership will be hosting a food drive to celebrate and support families in our community for the holiday season. Boxes will be placed in every 1st period class and the main office for donations to collect a variety of non-perishable food items. Students are encouraged to drop off their donations during the 1st period. On the 8th and 9th of December, SkillsUSA will have members posted by the entrance to the school near the North parking lot (by the baseball field). Any parents, guardians, or students are free to swing by between 7:00 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. to drop off any donations. The last day to bring food items is December 9th.
THE HOLIDAY MEAL BOX
Included is a Signup Genius link to contribute to the Holiday Meal Box(click here to sign up) for those who want to help with specific food items for the Holiday Meal Box for TJ families.
We, SkillsUSA and Leadership are working hard to better ourselves, our community, and our environment.
Here is a list of Non-Perishable general food items to consider for classroom drop off.
Bags/boxes of pasta
Jars of pasta sauce
Bags of rice
Canned beans
Canned fruit
Canned Vegetables
Canned soup
Canned chicken/tuna
Cereal
Peanut butter
Jelly
Granola bars
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Supporting our Class Committees
It's the Season of Giving!
Giving Tuesday (11/29) and Colorado Gives Day (12/6) offer opportunities to support
your favorite state and national charities. Consider giving even more locally - the TJHS
PTO is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations to the PTO and our Class Committees are
100% tax deductible.
Visit the PTO's Online Store to direct your donation to your student's Class
Committee. Not familiar with the work of our Class Committees? We're hard at work
raising funds for class activities, culminating in major events senior year. This includes
the Senior Sleep Out, After Prom and more. Please keep TJ and our students in mind
as you plan your end of year charitable donations. Your generosity could be matched by
your employer's matching gift program. Ask your payroll or HR office if they provide this
service.
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December Teacher Appreciation - Cookies Needed!
Calling all bakers...parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. The PTO will be providing a cookie bar for the staff before the winter break to thank them for all their hard work. The staff (160 of them) will each fill a box with 7-10 cookies and treats, depending on the amount
we receive. We need YOU to make the event work. Can you spare a dozen or two from
the cookies you’re making for your holiday treats? See our Sign Up Genius here for more details. We hoping to get 60-70 dozen cookies in total, preferably home made treats (but commercially baked cookies won’t be turned away). Thank you for your time and effort!
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Parent Judges Needed for Business Competition 12/1 | |
Five hundred high school students are ready to engage in a DECA Regional Competition next
month and we need 25-30 more parents or professionals to volunteer as judges for these
business simulation events. Past parent participants have found this to be a rewarding way to
spend a day supporting our students. Your student does not need to be in DECA for you to
serve as a judge. Parents of current DECA members are eligible to judge but cannot judge the
category that their student is competing in.
Thursday December 1, 2022 from 7:30AM to 3:30PM
Arapahoe County Fairgrounds & Event Center
25690 E Quincy Ave, Aurora, CO
Each judge will interact individually with 10-16 competitors. Judges will be provided with a copy
of the challenge, scripted questions and a detailed, task-specific score sheet. Scoring is done
online, so please bring your own device (laptop or tablet), or let us know if you will need one. A
concise training will be provided for judges prior to the competition.
You may choose your preferred event upon arrival. Topics include: Business Management &
Administration, Hospitality & Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Sales, Finance. A complete
list is found online here.
Help shape Colorado’s future business leaders – Sign up here to be a DECA judge on
December 1.
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The Mountains are Calling | |
The University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University and the University of Denver invite you to join us for our virtual joint event:
"The Mountains are Calling - Study in Colorado!"
Wednesday, December 7th, 5:30-7:00 p.m. (MT)
During this event, you will hear quick updates from each university, and have the opportunity to ask a panel of admissions professionals questions that may be on your mind about the admission process. We want to make sure we provide you with important information that will help ease the journey to higher education for your high school students.
The panel for the Q & A will include:
- Dr. Jennifer Ziegenfus
- Interim Executive Director of Admissions, University of Colorado Boulder
- Heather Daniels
- Executive Director of Admissions, Colorado State University
- Dale Louis Gaubatz
- Executive Director of Admissions, Colorado School of Mines
- Derek Jay DuBose
- Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Director of Admission, University of Denver
Join us virtually on December 7 to get answers to questions about the admission process, learn about each university and how higher education in Colorado offers opportunities that help students grow and become successful professionals.
Click here to register for "The Mountains are Calling - Study in Colorado!"
We hope you can join us and we look forward to sharing why the mountains are calling! If you would like to share this event with your students, feel free to share the student registration link for "The Mountains are Calling - Study in Colorado!"
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Deck the Walls: TJ's Art Exhibition Coming Soon! | |
Support your students and the arts at TJHS! Art + Ceramic students' work will be on display December 6th - 8th in room 111 during lunch and December 6th & 8th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Come see all the AmAzInG artwork made this semester! | |
Youth Apprenticeship Hiring Hub Now Open! | |
You may have heard about the exciting work-based learning opportunities through apprenticeship offered in partnership with CareerWise Colorado. Apprenticeship provides additional avenues to college and career
success while proving applied-learning environments with world-class businesses with positions in career pathways such as financial services, business operations and information technology.
Watch this short film about why youth apprenticeship is an important innovation to our education system. (3 min watch)
To be eligible for apprenticeship, students need only be on-track to graduate. If your student is interested in exploring the possibilities apprenticeship can provide, they should speak with Emiy Bobrick (emily_bobrick@dpsk12.net or in room 137F in the counseling center) or talk to their guidance counselor.
The Fall Hiring Hub is targeting seniors, but there will be many more jobs available for rising juniors and seniors in the spring. Click here to learn more and see all of the current available positions.
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The Spirit Store will be open every month during First Friday, as well as some of the upcoming home basketball games. In the meantime, if you are looking for a TJ hoodie, t-shirt, PJ pants, joggers, hat, seat cushion, sticker, bracelet, etc., please email us at TJHS.Store@gmail.com and we’ll help you get the items you want. | |
Mental Health and Social/Emotional Tips | |
Did You Know...?
Last week was National School Psychology Week!
Natalie Koncz and Kendra Long, thank you so much for all you do, every day for our students and staff. Your support of students truly makes TJ the wonderful place it is and we are so grateful to have you both!
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News from the Denver Scholarship Foundation Future Center | |
Spartan Seniors and Families!
Amazing work thus far on your college access process. The majority of you have submitted at least one college application. Admissions decisions and scholarship awards are rolling in. Keep it up!
- If you have not yet submitted your FAFSA or CASFA application, please make this a priority to ensure full access to financial aid, if eligible.
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Check to see if any of your colleges require the CSS Profile, a financial aid application, to be completed. Some colleges have Priority Deadlines in November!
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If you have submitted any college applications, be sure to complete the correct Transcript Request Form to ensure your transcript, letters of recommendation, and other supporting documents get sent to your college(s)! See your Steps for Complete College Applications for details.
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Don’t forget to check your Weekly Scholarship Highlights and apply for any scholarship for which you are eligible.
CSU Fort Collins Early Action Deadline is December 1st. Be sure to complete the REQUIRED Common App Transcript Request Form to ensure a complete application!
Emily Webster
DSF College Advisor
emily_webster@dpsk12.net
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2023 PARENTS:
LET’S RAISE CASH IN A FLASH!
Please DONATE $23 for ‘23
$10 $23 $50 $100 $230 whatever you are able to do! This money supports 2023 fun class activities, community-building, senior year events and of course AFTER-PROM!
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Your direct support goes to:
- AFTER-PROM transforming TJ into an amazing FREE event - fabulous decorations, food, prizes, games, inflatables - you name it…your funds help pay for it!
- SENIOR SPARTAN SUNGLASSES for Hoco
- SENIOR SLEEPOUT & SENIOR SPLASH - we underwrite the events so Seniors make Money for their Prom
- Other upcoming SENIOR EVENTS
These events could not happen without your Financial Donations! Click here to help achieve our goals! THANK YOU TO SO MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY DONATED ALREADY!
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MARK YOUR 2022 FALL CALENDAR!
UPCOMING FUNDRAISING & EVENTS for SENIOR Class of 2023!
Click here for updated 2023 TRADITIONS & DATES LIST
* PARENTS & STUDENTS: Senior baby photos for Yearbook are due November 30, 2022. Yearbook Jostens Baby Photos - search for recognition ads tab.
Full Page Color: $180
½ Page Color: $130
¼ Page Color: $105
⅛ Page Color: $80
* PARENTS & STUDENTS: FAFSA Applications Are Now Open - Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) See Future Center for more Details!
* PARENTS & STUDENTS: Now Open - CHALLENGE DAY FEE is in your MYSCHOOLBUCKS Account MYSCHOOLBUCKS and you also need to register here CHALLENGE DAY SIGN UP (Challenge Day Event for Seniors will be Thursday or Friday, February 16 or 17, 2023.)
* SENIORS & PARENTS 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
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2023 SENIOR PARENTS!
THIS IS THE YEAR TO GET INVOLVED!
We need all of you!
HOW TO GET CONNECTED:
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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)
Parent Meetings
Parent meetings will be held every few months to discuss fundraising and events to
support the Junior Class. If you have fundraising ideas, please mark your calendar
when the information is posted or reach out!
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
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Class of 2025 - Sophomores | |
We will have an in-person meeting in late January to discuss how you can get involved with planning fun class activities and fundraising efforts. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about our class efforts or have ideas to share, please reach out to either Carrie or Sheila at Carriealleman@yahoo.com or Sheilmtyler@yahoo.com.
If you haven’t donated to the Class of 2026, and would like to do so by the end of the
year, please click on the PTO link below:
https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2026-class-donations/108
If you have corporate matching, please have your donations matched. Remember, every little bit helps! You may also share the PTO link with family, friends, and neighbors.
Let’s go TJ Class of 2026!
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Stay Connected, Spartans! | | | | | |