Administrator's Corner
November 8, 2021
As we come to an end of the first semester, it is important that you review your student’s progress toward graduation. All Colorado school districts, including DPS, adopted new graduation requirements that are in effect for students in the Class of 2022 and every graduating class after that. These new graduation requirements state that a student must complete each of the following:
- Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP): Students create a personalized college and career plan, completing steps in this plan each quarter and do this work in Advisement.
- Coursework: Students fulfill 24 units of credit in specific subject areas.
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Competency: Students demonstrate competency in English and math, and/or career readiness. Competency will be shown through finals in English, math, and Accuplacer testing (for all Juniors and some Seniors the weeks of November 8th and 15th).
Please encourage your student(s) to complete this semester strong with all their courses completed.
Cuando llegamos al final del primer semestre, es importante que usted revise el progreso de su estudiante hacia la graduación. Todos los distritos escolares de Colorado, incluyendo DPS, adoptaron nuevos requisitos de graduación que están en efecto para los estudiantes en la Clase de 2022 y cada clase que se gradúa después de eso. Estos nuevos requisitos de graduación indican que un estudiante debe completar cada uno de los siguientes:
- Plan Individual de Carrera y Académico (ICAP): Los estudiantes crean un plan personalizado de universidad y carrera, completando los pasos en este plan cada trimestre y hacen este trabajo en Asesoría.
- Trabajo en curso: Los estudiantes cumplen 24 unidades de crédito en áreas temáticas específicas.
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Competencia: Los estudiantes demuestran competencia en inglés y matemáticas, y/o preparación para la carrera. La competencia se mostrará a través de finales en inglés, matemáticas y exámenes Accuplacer (para todos los jóvenes y algunas personas mayores las semanas del 8th y 15th de noviembre).
Anime a sus estudiantes a completar este semestre con todos sus cursos completos.
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Paula Hammel
Assistant Principal
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Monday-
- Virtual College Fair: 5:30-7:30 (details below)
Tuesday-
- Virtual College Fair: 5:30-7:30 (details below)
- PTO Meeting: 7:00 pm. (details below)
Wednesday-
- Chipotle Volleyball Fundraiser: 4-8 p.m. (details below)
- Modern Market Sustainability Club Fundraiser (details below)
- Virtual College Fair: 5:30-7:30 (details below)
Thursday-
- Virtual College Fair: 5:30-7:30 (details below)
Friday-
Saturday-
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- Thank you to Newmont Mining for their continued and generous support of our Food Distribution program!
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Big thanks to Danyelle Charles for all of her work on the first ever "First Friday!" It was a great success, and there will be more in the future! We also appreciate Carla Allen, Bridget Couch, Brittany Nicolo, Kyler Jackson, the Wellness Team and everyone else who contributed their time and energy to help Danyelle and for a great cause!
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Great news! TJ has been asked by Denver Health and DPS to be a host site for a vaccination clinic for the Pfizer orange cap vaccine for children aged 5-11. The tentative date is for November 17, 2021. Stay tuned for more information!
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SkillsUSA Thanksgiving Food Drive |
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SkillsUSA is holding a Thanksgiving Food Drive to ensure Thomas Jefferson High School Families in need have a Thanksgiving dinner! Please support SkillsUSA in their efforts by donating non-perishable food items to complete a Thanksgiving Food Box. Sign up to donate and deliver item donations HERE. Donations can be dropped off in the school parking lot (3950 S. Holly St, 80237) from 3-5 pm on November 15 & 16. Donations can also be brought to school by students and dropped off in the SkillsUSA Food Donation Box outside the main office no later than November 16. Thanks for your support of SkillsUSA!
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PTO NewsTJHTO Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9th at 7:00 pm |
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TJHS PTO Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9th at 7:00 pm
Please join us on Tuesday evening for an important PTO meeting. We will be discussing many holiday related items including: holiday gifting plans, food bank distribution, and teacher appreciation events. We will also review the annual budget.
Hope to see you on the Zoom call!
Topic: PTO Meeting for November
Time: Nov 9, 2021 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 835 4516 2747
Passcode: 710142
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Possible Start Time Change for Next Year - Share Your Opinions! |
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As you may have heard, DPS Board of Education has announced that as part of the Healthy Start Initiative that in the 2023-2024 all secondary school will begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m. (https://www.dpsk12.org/healthy-start-times/)
Looking at the 2022-2023 school year, it may be possible that TJ's school day could be changed from our current school day of 7:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. to 8:50/9:10 a.m. - 4:05/4:25 p.m.. Due to transportation constraints those two options would be the only options for the 2022-2023 school year. If you would like to share your opinion regarding the school day for the 2022-2023 school year, you can do so by completing this short form here!
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Healthy Start Times Virtual Community Events |
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To help support the health and well-being of our adolescent students, the DPS Board of Education has voted to move to later start times for all middle and high schools for the 2023-24 school year. This initiative will mean middle and high schools will start their day at 8:20 a.m. or later, and elementary students will start their day earlier. Please join us for one of the upcoming virtual community events to provide feedback, ask questions, and learn more about why Healthy Start Times will help our Denver students thrive.
- English: Wednesday, Nov. 3, 6-7 p.m. (register to request interpretation services)
- Spanish: Tuesday, Nov. 9, 6-7 p.m.
- Vietnamese: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 6-7 p.m.
- Arabic: Wednesday, Nov. 17, 6-7 p.m.
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Fall Play - Tickets Available Now! |
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Tickets for the Fall Play, She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition, are on sale now! The play will run December 2-4.
If interested, please contact Andre_Moss@dpsk12.net. The price is $5 for students with a valid ID, including a college ID and $10 for adults.
She Kills Monsters is a dark comedy written from the perspective of Agnes, a high school cheerleader that has recently lost her little sister and parents in a car crash. After she finds her little sister’s Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master module, she decides to play, taking us along on a fantastical journey where we encounter sit-com loving demons, monsters made of Jell-O, five headed dragons, and a bunch of nerds that band together, learning to accept themselves and each other for who they are, regardless of orientation, ability, or their position on the cheer squad.
Cast List:
Agnes: Elle Benson
Tilly: Alex Baca
Miles: Peter Bodin
Orcus/Ronnie: Bodhi Layer-Carlson
Vera: CeCe Prime-Morales
Chuck: Landon Williams
Lilith/Lilly: Alex Mitchell
Kaliope/Kelly: Morgan O'Keefe
Narrator and Farrah the Faerie: Lacey Arritola
Steve: Hunter Adams
Evil Gabbi, the Beholder: Ashlee Gardner
Evil Tina: Maggie Craig
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Understudies:
Agnes: Alex Baca
Tilly: Emma Krause
Miles: Emanuel Morales-Gomez
Orcus/Ronnie: Josh Lucero
Vera: Leah McFee
Chuck: Alexander Howe
Lilith/Lilly: Devan Grissom
Kaliope/Kelly: Lila DiFalco
Narrator and Farrah the Faerie: Mattie Brightwell
Steve: Alexander Howe
Evil Gabbi, the Beholder: Elizabeth Zwerin
Evil Tina: Angel Fox
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Con Res Corner: Art Contest Winners! |
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1st Prize: Prisila Vazquez-Nava, 11th Grade
This is an “Ojo de Dios,” or Eye of God. In the indigenous Huichol culture of Mexico, the Eye of God has the power to see and understand things unknown to our physical eyes, and is a powerful symbol of protection from outside forces. To me, protection means freedom from conflict. To be protected and free from conflict means to be in a state of peace and resolution. Therefore, the Eye of God as a whole and in a broader context is a symbol for conflict resolution. In addition, by stringing together sticks and yarn in an intricate pattern, the mediums come together and become one, creating unity and symbolizing the strong, meaningful bond between people.
2nd Place: Victoria Garnica, 12th grade
This project I started my sophomore year. I had watercolor paper that Ms.Panelle had given me so I painted with watercolor to create a galaxy type of vibe. Recently, as of a month ago as I was packing my art supplies I came across the bare painting. I went to the park and just started coloring. I used a mix of copic markers, colored pencils, white gel pen, watercolor blending marker, and crayola markers. I drew a lot of inspo from this lady I follow on instagram as she makes prints in similar fashion. A huge reason why I see this as 'conflict resolution' is we ourselves are the heart of all the conflict as well as the resolution.
3rd Place: Roselyn Benally, 11th grade
My artwork symbolizes the differences people share and no matter where on the spectrum they can fix the problem anyhow. The dove is what’s holding the Lavender sprig a symbol of peace and 2 very different people solving out their differences.
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TJ Spirit Store - New Items and In Person Sale Soon! |
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We have some new items in the TJ spirit store and are excited to share them with the TJ community! The store will be open for student sales at lunch on Friday, November 12th and 19th. We accept cash, checks and cards. Email us at tjhs.store@gmail.com if you have any questions.
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Congrats on an awesome season, Spartans! |
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The TJ Volleyball team had another amazing season! Please go out and show your support this week at Chipotle on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.!
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Sustainability Club Fundraiser |
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Come support TJ’s Sustainability Club on Wednesday November 10th!
Where: Modern Market, 3475 S. University Blvd. Suite A, Englewood, CO 80113
When you go, be sure to tell them you are there to support TJ’s Sustainability Club so 30% of the proceeds go back to the club!
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Virtual College Fair - Week of Nov. 8th |
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We are excited to announce the launch of registration for our virtual fair week. Students, family members and counselors can register HERE.
The virtual fair week is November 8th-11th and each night is from 5:30-7:30 MT.
The first hour of the virtual fair week (5:30-6:30) is 2, 5x5 sessions which are 30 min each. Reps will be placed into rooms and then students will be randomly assigned for the first round and then the second-round students will get to pick which rooms they’d like to join.
The second hour of the virtual fair week (6:30-7:30) will consist of 2-30 min sessions that reps can use for either a general admissions presentation OR a session that corresponds with the theme for the day.
Each night is a different theme so please keep that in mind as you are registering for sessions.
- Monday is Financial Aid and Scholarships
- Tuesday is Diversity so highlighting 1st gen resources, HSI/HBCU and TCU, DACA, etc
- Wednesday is Find your Major - highlighting certain majors and departments
- Thursday is for Military and Transfer students
The virtual chat through the virtual fair booths will be active during the virtual fair time, Monday- Thursday 5:30-7:30 MT.
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Save the Date - November 17 |
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Spartan Garden is Looking for your Leaves |
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Instead of placing your leaves curbside, donate them to us!
We would love them in the giant paper bags if possible.
Thanks, TJ!
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Paraprofessional Job Openings at TJ |
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There are 3-4 paraprofessional jobs available here at TJ! The job would pay $15 and would be from 7:20 am-2:50 pm. Please contact the main office if you are interested. |
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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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Mental Health and Social/Emotional Tips |
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Did You Know…?
We are seeing a high level of students who are struggling with their mental health, managing emotions, and responding to demands of daily life. We also know community resources are experiencing a stress in resources and may have long waitlists to see new clients. Here are some warning signs regarding anxious and depressive symptoms so you can be on the lookout for changes in your child’s functioning, as well as supports you can put in place at home to help.
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Home-Based Interventions:
- Familiarize yourself with signs of depression and your child’s experience with it
- Try to keep conflict in the home low
- Destress together- model positive ways to take care of yourself and encourage others in your family to join or find their own coping skills
- Consider Mindfulness strategies (Apps: Headspace, Mindfulness Daily, Calm, etc.)
- Develop a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise and sleep are ALL important
- Help your child shift negative thinking- try reframing to find the positive in a situation
- Help your child regulate social and extracurricular activities
- Make your home safe (restrict any firearms with lock/code that your child cannot find, secure and additional weapons, drugs, medicines and alcohol-- remember kids can be impulsive! Limiting availability can increase safety.
- Consult with your Pediatrician or Primary Care Physician about treatment options (medication and/or therapy).
- Be patient and be prepared to listen.
Crisis Resources:
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News from the Future Center |
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From Your TJ Future Center
Keep up the great work, Spartans!
Be sure to check your emails regularly for updates from your colleges and
Tuesday, November 2: DSF Virtual Insight Panel: Career Readiness, Cover Letter
Wednesday, November 3: DSF Virtual Insight Panel: Healthcare
Thursday, November 4: Chapman University Rep Visit
Monday, November 15: University of Colorado at Boulder and University of Denver Early Action Deadlines
Katie Damas
Future Center Advisor CC Fellow
Future Center Phone #: 720-423-7134
Rm 135
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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Our class leaders are committed to providing Senior parents with continued support and the latest graduation and senior events. You can reach out for more info:
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HOW TO GET CONNECTED:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT of 2023!
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Class of 2024 - Sophomores |
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The Class of 2024 is hosting an online Pampered Chef fundraiser that anyone and everyone can enjoy!
The Class of 2024 will receive up to 15% of our total sales! The fundraiser runs through Sunday, November 28, so please pass it along to family and friends – products will be shipped to you directly. This is your opportunity to get those gadgets for your holiday meals or gifts for those chefs in your life!
Click here to begin shopping and support the Class of 2024!
Parent Meeting – Join Us!
Class meetings will be held the third Tuesday of month at 7pm.
There will be no meetings during November and December due to the holidays and school breaks, please plan on joining us in January.
Our next meeting details:
Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Jll McLain’s house
Class Donations – Every dime counts!
Sophomores are quite possibly the best “10s” out there! Gather those dimes (pennies, quarters, and ten-dollar bills too) and make a donation to the Class of 2024; 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! Corporate matching is always appreciated.
Extraordinary parents – come get involved!
Reach out with questions, comments, and ideas. We look forward to a great year!
Rebecca Moore
Tambyr Reed
Robin Morrissey
Dyanna Spicher (parent)
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Stay Connected, Spartans! |
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