May 14, 2018
Administrator's Corner

Good news...we're almost there!

Only two weeks left, Spartans. Make sure you finish strong, get all your work in, are here in class, and study hard.  Also, this Friday is the Backyard Bash to celebrate all the hard work everyone has done this year to make TJ one of the best schools in the state. That's right, we were recognized as one of the top schools in the state AGAIN! Click here to learn more. 

Just a reminder, the finals schedule is a little odd due to the holiday. Click here to see the schedule.

Good Luck, Spartans!

Buenas noticias ... ¡ya casi llegamos! 

Solo quedan dos semanas, Spartans. Asegúrate de terminar fuerte, obtener todo tu trabajo, estar aquí en clase y estudiar mucho. Además, este viernes es Backyard Bash para celebrar todo el trabajo duro que todos han hecho este año para hacer de TJ una de las mejores escuelas del estado. Así es, ¡fuimos reconocidos nuevamente como una de las mejores escuelas en el estado! Pulsa aquí­ para saber más.  

Solo un recordatorio, el calendario final es un poco extraño debido a las vacaciones. Haga clic aquí para ver el cronograma. 

Buena suerte, Spartans!

Jon Poole
Administrative Intern
Quick Links
Week at a Glance - Week of 5/14-5/18
Monday- 
  • Please click here (or see the above "Athletics Schedule" quick link) to see athletic events for the week
Tuesday- 
  • Choir Concert: 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday-
  • Office Hours: 2:14-2:55 p.m.
Thursday -

Friday - 

  • Backyard Bash - special schedule: 

    (37 minute classes - 4 minute passing periods)
    1) 7:30-8:07
    2) 8:11-8:48
    3) 8:52-9:29
    4) 9:33-10:20 (10 min Spartan Edition)
    6) 10:24-11:01
    Lunch 11:01-11:46
    7)11:50 -12:27
    8)12:31-1:08
    Back Yard Bash (outside) 1:10-3:00
Kudos Korner
"All days of glory, joy and happiness."
[Lewis,  King John . Act 3, Scene 4]

Congratulations to all of our great Shakespearian performers at this year's Shakespeare Festival!  Even when there was no school in session, these kids all converged downtown and performed their hardest!

We won four Spirit of Shakespeare awards! Well done Shakespearian Spartans!

Shakespeare Festival Babies 2018
Jordan Davila-Brown
Yohvani Diaz-Luna
Yasli HernadezCarsi
Phabyan Longtree
Deanna Preston
Billy Renteria
Renae Stewart
Edith Mercado
Eric Gonzalez-Maldonado
Wyatt Hunsaker
Dakota Addams
Darby Bell
Sawyer Stein
Leah Hornak
TJ's HP Returned Sunday from the All-Services National Championships held in Daytona Beach Florida 4-6 May.  There were JROTC teams from all over the country and from as far away as Germany.  The team had an incredible run this year and finished off their season strong.  TJ's HP went up to the podium twice, taking second place for their Color Guard and second place for their Exhibition Drill events.  The team finished up the competition 7th overall nationally in the Challenger Division!!!!!!

It was a crowning event and fitting end for the 11 seniors on the team after a terrific 4 year run the team has enjoyed.
The senior Pathways Capstone class participates each year in the Project Management Institute (PMI) Project of the Year award dinner. This year TJ had 16 students present their projects to the Denver PMI chapter members. Two students from TJ were selected for this award. Conner Side created a project that was a 3D prototype turbocharge system. Roger Nakagawa created a mobile software handicap app for the TJ golf team. Roger also won the PMI college scholarship of $2000. Presenting the awards and scholarship were Chuck Knezevich, President of the Denver Metro Education Foundation, and Bob Kois from Kois Solutions and PMI instructor at CU in Boulder.
9th Grade Orientation
9th grade orientation will be on May 31st from 6-7 p.m.
Staff Appreciation Picnic
The end of the school year is quickly approaching so it's time to come together one last time before summer to say THANK YOU to the wonderful staff at Thomas Jefferson High School for all that they do for our kids. TJ PTO will be hosting one last staff appreciation event during finals, a Summer Picnic Luncheon on Friday, May 25th from 12:00-1:00pm in Room 111.
 
Please help us make this end of year celebration a great one by contributing to the lunch in any way you can. With your donations, we are buying fried chicken for the staff and need help with the rest of the meal too. If you can't bring food for the meal, there is still time to donate. Click here to donate. Any amount helps!
 
Please sign up here and bring your item to the main office any time prior to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 25th. Non-perishable items can be dropped off in the main office before 3:30pm on Thursday, May 24th. 
 
Thank you!
Spartan Spotlight
             Jay Iyema is a senior at Thomas Jefferson. She was born in Congo Kinsasha and came to the United States at the age of four. 
                                                                                                                                                                                 photo by Baxter Stein




Immigrants get the job done.
We came to this country with our heads held high, basking in the great opportunities previously out of reach.
Immigrants get the job done.
With these freedoms in our palm, we must grasp them tightly, for these opportunities are once in a lifetime.
Immigrants get the job done.
Living far away from the motherland, far away from the home we love, we came to this country surrounded by unfamiliar faces, but we still rise above.
Immigrants get the job done.  
Perseverance is our middle name, and we won't let the hatred of others get in the way of living our  American Dream.
We won't stop working, we won't stop striving, we won't stop trying.

los inmigrantes hacen el trabajo
les immigrants font le travail
يحصل المهاجرون على هذه المهمة
移民完成工作
indvandrere får jobbet gjort
gli immigrati ottengono il lavoro
wahamiaji kupata kazi kufanyika
tinanggap ng mga imigrante ang trabaho
Einwanderer bekommen die Arbeit erledigt
immigrantes adepto officium perfectus
nā kānakaʻeleʻele e hana i ka hana
移民は仕事を終わらせる
иммигранты выполняют работу
കുടിയേറ്റക്കാർ ജോലിയെടുക്കുന്നു
οι μετανάστες κάνουν τη δουλειά τους

Immigrants
get the job done.

-Jay Iyema
Tech Day of Industry - Deadline May 15
Yearbook News




Price:  The book is $65 until sold out. Last year, we sold out quickly, so act fast!

Distribution:  Yearbooks will be handed out at the Backyard Bash on Friday, May 18. Students will need a photo ID to pick up the book.

Class of 2019:  It's time to start thinking about senior photos for the class of 2019. The best time to get those taken is over the summer. The deadline will be early October, so please plan accordingly.  


New Parent Portal Coming Soon
The New and Improved Parent Portal is Almost Here!
 
We've heard your feedback loud and clear about the existing Parent and Student Portal, and we're redesigning it to provide a better user experience for DPS parents and families! The good news - the new portal will be available as early as May 15 for a sneak peek before summer break. This is only a sneak peek, and you will be able to experience what the new portal will be like by reviewing your student's end of year report cards and grades. Please stay tuned for more updates from the Parent Portal team throughout the summer. We're excited to bring you this new and improved experience on the Parent Portal, and we want to keep you informed about the new features we will be adding to the platform. To create a Parent Portal account, please visit myportal.dpsk12.org and click Getting Started. If you do not remember your username or password, contact our hotline at 720-423-3163 or email [email protected].
 
¡El Nuevo y Mejorado Portal para Padres ya casi está aquí!
 
Hemos escuchado sus comentarios alto y claro sobre el Portal para Padres y Estudiantes, y lo estamos rediseñando para proporcionar una mejor experiencia de usuario para padres y familias de DPS. La buena noticia - el nuevo portal estará disponible el 15 de mayo para obtener un vistazo antes de las vacaciones de verano. Esto es solo un adelanto, y usted podrá experimentar cómo será el nuevo portal al revisar sus boletas y calificaciones de fin de año de su estudiante. Por favor estén atentos para más actualizaciones del equipo del Portal de Padres durante el verano. Estamos entusiasmados de brindarle esta experiencia nueva y mejorada en el Portal para Padres, y queremos mantenerlo informado sobre las nuevas funciones que agregaremos a la plataforma. Para crear una cuenta del Portal para Padres, visite myportal.dpsk12.org y haga clic en "Getting Started". Si no recuerda su nombre de usuario o contraseña, comuníquese a nuestra línea de asistencia al 720-423-3163 o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected].
Job Opportunities
Star Playgrounds
We're looking for people to help with our summer playground installations, specifically highschoolers who would need a summer job. Basic requirements: are no felony background, be able to lift a bag of concrete, and be able to get to our office on SantaFe & Titan Parkway. Last year we had kids biking here! We start at 7am, pay $13-15/hr, and have an awesome office manager! They get to work outside assembling playgrounds. Right now we're looking for bodies from end of April or May until the fall. Click here for more information!
Young Americans Bank
There are some potential job opportunities that we have for your students at Young Americans Bank. If you do not know anything about us we are a bank that is designed to teach the youth about financial literacy. Please feel free to visit us our website at  www.yacenter.org   for additional information.
 
I am looking to hire 6 New Account Representatives for our Cherry Creek location and one for our Lakewood location. This position is a year round position, during the school year the students will primarily work every Saturday and can work 3-4 days a week during the summer/winter/spring break. The students will need to be at least 16 years old and be excited to work and learn about the financial industry. I have enclosed a job application and a job description for your review. I would be happy to come out and interview students who are interested. Please call me at the number listed below with any questions.

Click here for the job description, and click here for the employee application!

Lila Rodriguez
Operations Officer
Young Americans Bank
3550 E. 1st Ave
Denver, CO  80206
Main: (303) 321-2265
Direct: (303) 320-3206
To apply, please visit our website http://careers.dpsk12.org

Select " Work in DPS " and go to School support Operations and select " Apply Now. " Select " External Candidates. " Enter " Custodian " in Keyword box. Click the " Apply for the Job " button and enter your information. 
School-Based Health Center News and Summer Hours
Gardening Season is Coming in Hot
fresh_tomatoes_basket.jpg
TJ Green Team is taking preorders!
  • For every preorder we will throw in an extra plant (of our choosing)
  • All Proceeds go to the Special Education Green Team
We will be selling:

Tomatoes (several varieties)
Tomatillos
Marigolds
Jalapeno peppers
Basil

Please email [email protected] with your preorders
Spartan Spirit Store
The  TJ Spartan Spirit Store  is now in two places for your convenience-online and in the main hallway at TJ between the gym and auditorium. The store is also set up at select school events including athletic events, concerts, plays and conference nights.  Click here  for more information!
  • On-campus Spirit Store hours are on Fridays during lunch only. A couple of our wonderful parents alternate shifts to make the store convenient and accessible to students. It's also open during various special events. Julie Thibodeau will continue to be available at other times for the occasional urgent or spontaneous purchase.
  • We take cash and credit cards!
  • Order Spartan wear online. Great gifts for every class, parents and grads, too. 
  • Purchases from the Spirit Store directly benefit PTO's activities to build community, improve school spirit, and have a positive impact on every student at TJ! 
Questions?  Contact Erin Markham for more information:   [email protected] or  303-809-5449.
PTO News
  • Want to help make your students high school experience the best it can be?  
  • Want to support the staff at TJ? 
  • Want to get to know some parents at TJ?                                    
      Come to a PTO meeting!

We meet monthly and have 1-2 events each month that we support. You can help out as your schedule permits.   Email  [email protected]  with any questions.
Mental Health and Social/Emotional Tips
Did You Know?
We have 8 school days until finals start!

As the school year winds down, we are noticing increased levels of stress in our students. For this reason, we are reviewing tips to help with identifying and managing stress, so our kids (and parents, and staff!) can finish strong!
 
What Is Stress?
     * Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to.  When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. This is called the fight-or-flight stress response .
 
Is Stress Good or Bad?
  • Some stress is normal and even useful.
  • It can help if you need to work hard or react quickly. For example, it can help you win a race or finish an important job on time. Stress can help students finish assignments or do well when performing.
*BUT too much stress can lead to:
  • Depression, mood swings, irritability
  • Headaches, stomach aches, back pain
  • Trouble sleeping
  • It can weaken the immune system making teens get sick easier
  • Relationships may suffer, and teens may not do well at work or school 
Causes of Stress
  • New, unpredictable situations
  • Unclear or unrealistic expectations
  • Expectations of something unpleasant
  • Fear of Failure (socially or academically), Perfectionism
  • Major Developmental "hurdles"
  • Irrational thinking
Healthy Ways to Relieve or Avoid Unhealthy Stress
  • Learn better ways to manage time; help your child with this. They may need guiding and modeling initially. You may get more done with less stress if you make a schedule. Teach your teen to prioritize their responsibilities.
  • Find better ways to cope. Look at how they deal with stress. Be honest about what works and what does not. Think about other things that might work better. Some ideas:
-        Exercise. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress. Walking is a great way to get started.
-        Write. It can help to write about the things that are bothering you.
-        Let your feelings out. Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when you need to with someone you trust.
-        Encourage your teen to do something they like- A hobby can help you relax. Volunteer work or work that helps others can be a great stress reliever.
-        Help your teen learn how to relax the body and mind. This can include breathing exercises, muscle relaxation exercises, massage, aromatherapy, mindfulness exercises, yoga, or relaxing exercises like tai chi and qi gong. A few smart phone apps such as Headspace and Smiling Mind also provide guided exercises and tools.
-        Remind your teen to focus on the present when they feel stressed. Try meditation, imagery exercises, listen to relaxing music. Try to look for the humor in life. Laughter really can be the best medicine.

Let's find the balance of working hard and feeling good!
Mental Health and Social Emotional "Did You Know":  Compiled by Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW and Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP.  Resources:  Content taken from presentation compiled by Sarah Hartman, LCSW at George Washington High School.
Food and Nutrition Resources for Families
  • Click here for Food Resource Hotline information
Class News You Can Use
All Classes 

  • Great news! All Class T-Shirts are now available (as well as other TJ gear) in the Spartan Store!

     
  • Supporting our TJ students, classrooms and teacher is as simple as a click of a button. Visit the online store to donate to TJ PTO today: Online Spartan Spirit Store for TJ Gear
Class of 2018 - Seniors
Thank-you to each and every parent that helped throw an amazing After-Prom event for the Class of 2018. The night would not have been successful without all of our wonderful volunteers!! We want to say thank-you for all your hard work, creativity, and countless hours of effort. Please join us to celebrate at a happy hour at the home of Jim and Kary Cramer 3103 S. Milwaukee Street. Friday May 18th at 5:30pm. RSVP to [email protected]
Class of 2019 - Juniors
The Class of '19 is raising money for senior year activities including After Prom.

How you can support:
Class of 2020 - Sophomores
The Class of 2020 has the unique opportunity to match donations through the remainder of the school year! If you are a parent of a current sophomore at TJ and would like to contribute, please contact class liaisons Megan Perkins ( [email protected]  ) or Lisa LoJacono ( [email protected] ) before May 30th to have your donation matched. All funds raised will go toward Class of 2020 senior year activities which benefit the entire class.
Class of 2021 - Freshmen
  • New Graduation Requirements! DPS has adopted new, evidence-based graduation requirements that will go into effect this year for the graduating class of 2021. Click here
    to read more!
  • Click here for a video about the new graduation requirements.
News from the Future Center
 
Seniors are encouraged to stop by the Future Center to set up a time to discuss their plans for next year.  

Rena Maez 
College Advisor, Thomas Jefferson High School 
Denver Scholarship Foundation | a 501(c)(3) Public Charity  
3950 S. Holly Street  |  Denver, CO 80237 
O 720.423.7134   F 720.423.7098
   
[email protected] |   www.denverscholarship.org