Hello Spartan Families!

There is no school today in observance of Labor Day. We hope all of you enjoy the long holiday weekend, and we will see you tomorrow!

A few important dates and reminders:

• DPS Safety and Security will be facilitating our required Lockdown and Secure the Perimeter drills this Thursday morning

• We will be holding our club fair on Wednesday during both 4th and 5th period lunch. Encourage your student to see what's offered and get involved with a club or activity!

• Finally, please be patient with each other during morning drop off. We all know how difficult traffic has been, so let's be sure to allow some extra minutes each morning to get everybody here on time.

Andrew Skari
Assistant Principal

Monday-

• Labor Day - No School

Tuesday-

• Fall Play Auditions: 3:45-6:00 p.m.

• PTO Meeting: 6:00 p.m. in room 111

Wednesday- 

• Club Fair during both lunches

• Fall Play Auditions: 3:45-6:00 p.m.

Thursday-

• Fall Play Auditions: 3:45-6:00 p.m.

• Back to School Night: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Please note: Back to School Night is September 10th from 5-7 p.m.

Friday-

• Regular School Day

Saturday-

• AP Music Theory: 9 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in room 148

• Set Construction Build Day: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

• Kudos to the Girls' Flag Football coaches: Head Coach Suzanne Meyer and Assistant Coach Abby Griffin for starting a pilot girls flag football team two years ago and building it into a two-level team that is now CHSAA sanctioned. The team played great against East in their first official CHSAA matchup!

The TJHS PTO would like to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning families! We’re a group of parent volunteers who support the school-wide activities and programs that make TJ the DPS neighborhood high school of choice for Southeast Denver. Everything the PTO does isin support of our remarkable students and staff. YOU make all the difference!

To be part of this engaged group of parents, visit the PTO webpage and click on the JOIN Today! link at the top.This will subscribe you to our emails about meetings and events.

Our monthly meetings are a great way to meet other parents and get information and questionsanswered. PTO meetings are held in person on the first Tuesday of each month, from 6-7pm at TJ. Our meetings often feature a member of the school administration speaking or community official on a topic of interest to parents. We hope to see you sometime this fall!

Our September meeting is Tuesday, 9/3 from 6-7 p.m. in the Community Room at TJHS - Room 111.

Please consider how you can use your skills to help TJ be the best it can be.

Current leadership opportunities include:

Member-at-Large for 2028
Class Committee Chairs for 2028

Please reach out if you have any questions/comments/concerns. We know how stressful new environments can be for students and parents. The PTO is a great resource!

Questions? Want to get involved? Email TJHSPTO@gmail.com

Monthly Food Bank distributions are set to begin in mid-September. All families in need of food assistance are welcome and encouraged to register. Details about the date, time, and registration link will be provided in the upcoming weeks.

Las distribuciones mensuales del Banco de Alimentos están programadas para comenzar a mediados de septiembre. Cualquier familia que necesite apoyo alimentario es bienvenida y animada a inscribirse. Los detalles sobre la fecha, la hora y el enlace de registro se proporcionarán en las próximas semanas.

If you are interested in making a financial contribution to the TJ Food Bank to help us kick off the year, you can do so HERE.

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

As part of a holistic approach to increasing gun safety and awareness in our neighborhoods, in line with Dr. Marrero’s Statement on Gun Violence Prevention, DPD District 3 is providing free cable gun locks to community members – no questions asked. When used correctly, a cable gun lock makes a firearm inoperable in case a child was able to access the gun.  Click here for more information about how to acquire a free cable gun lock at our District 3 Station.

Spartan Seniors and Families,

Click here to learn more about the Denver Scholarship Foundation and the DSF Scholarship for students with financial need. Your TJ Future Center is in room 135 across from the Main Office. We look forward to scholars visiting during their off periods and/or with permission from their respective teachers!  

Seniors: In your TJ Future Center: TJFC2025 schoology course, you will find many resources to help you with your college process. Please review the course updates and calendar at least weekly with your family. (Parents, here is the DPS guide for accessing Schoology!) You will find a list of Scholarship Highlights posted weekly in addition to information about College Rep Visits in the TJFC, College Fairs, major deadlines, reminders about your next steps for college and more!  Most importantly, please drop by the Future Center to say hi and ask questions! 

College planning tasks from your Future Center schoology to work on now:

• Create your Colleges Considering and Applying Lists in MAIA(required).

• Link your Common App to MAIA Learning (required).  

• Be sure to review your Steps for Complete College Applications document. When the time comes, usings this document will guide you through the required steps to ensure your applications are completed. 

Upcoming Events: For more information, please visit the Future Center schoology course calendar 

Saturday, September 7th- Daniels Fund College and Financial Aid Showcase 

Monday, September 9th- Major Scholarships Info Sessions Period 1 and 8

Wednesday, September 11th- Apprenticeship Information Session

College Rep Visits in the TJ Future Center start on September 18th. Sign up via MAIA:Events! 

Emily Webster, M.S. Alyssa Baker, M.Ed.
DSF Lead College Advisor DSF College Advisor
emily_webster@dpsk12.netalyssa_baker@dpsk12.net

The Role of the School in Suicide Prevention

Children spend a substantial part of their day in school under the supervision of school personnel.   Mental Health providers, which may include a school psychologist, social worker, school counselor and/or nurse who are trained to intervene when a student is identified at risk for suicide are available at school. These individuals conduct a suicide risk assessment, warn/inform parents, provide information about community services and, with your request, provide follow up counseling and support at school. TJHS also has a school-wide 9th grade prevention program the mental health and counseling teams implement every year, in addition to several other universal and targeted supports.

WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY CHILD SAFE?

ASK: Talking about suicide does not make a student suicidal. Asking if someone is having suicidal thoughts gives him/her permission to talk about it. Asking sends the message that you are concerned and want to help.

TAKE SIGNS SERIOUSLY: Studies have found that more than 75% of people who die by suicide showed some of the warning signs in the weeks or months prior to their death. Reach out to TJ’s mental health team if you are concerned or have questions. We are here to help! 

GET HELP: If you have concerns that your child is suicidal, seek immediate help from a mental health provider. Suicidal students need to be evaluated by an expert in assessing risk. Parents can contact school psychologists, social workers, counselors, or nurses for support. Parents may also want to consult with their insurance company to get a list of mental health providers covered by their policy. If there is immediate need for help you may take your child to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

LIMIT ACCESS: To weapons, medication, sharp objects, and materials that could be used for hanging/strangulation. 

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE: Increase adult supervision. It is important that parents surround themselves with a team of supportive friends or family members who can stop in and help as needed. 

REASSURE YOUR CHILD THAT LIFE CAN GET BETTER: Many suicidal people have lost all hope that life can improve. The nature of teenage and young adult brain development impacts their ability to problem solve, think through consequences, regulate behavior and emotions. They may have difficulty solving even simple issues. We have to help them with this. Don’t be afraid to talk through things out loud, so you are modeling your thought process for them. Remind your child that no matter how bad things are, the problem can be worked out. Offer your help. 

LISTEN WITHOUT JUDGMENT: Avoid making statements such as “I know what it’s like” or “I understand”. Instead make statements such as “Help me understand what life is like for you right now,” and “tell me more about that.”

Resiliency Factors:

• Family support and cohesion, including good communication

• Peer support and close social networks

• Being involved in school and community 

• Cultural or religious beliefs that discourage suicide and promote healthy living

• Adaptive coping and problem-solving skills, including conflict-resolution

• General life satisfaction, good self-esteem, sense of purpose

• Easy access to effective medical and mental health resources

 Resources:

• Safe2Tell: Anonymous hotline: https://safe2tell.org/  (877)542-7233

• Colorado Crisis Services: Mental Health supports (844-493-8255 and www.ColoradoCrisisServices.org 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ and (800)273-8255 

• The Trevor Project- http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ and (866)488-7386 

• The Blue Bench: https://thebluebench.org/ 

Mental Health and Social Emotional “Did You Know”: Compiled by Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP and Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW. 

Resources: Denver Public School Mental Health and Assessment with Support from NASP, CCST, DCST; https://www.nami.org/; https://www.cdc.gov/ 

Stay tuned for upcoming events!

Thank you to everyone that attended the TJ Stadium Party on August 24th. It was a great way to start of the new school year.  And thank you to Jill and Matt Van Abbema for opening up your home for the party!

We will announce our next Class of 2026 Parent meeting in next week's newsletter. In the meantime, please save the date for the Homecoming Bonfire on Monday, September 23rd.  The Junior class is responsible for selling and serving food at the bonfire.  We will need parent volunteers for that event.

Thank you,

Carrie Alleman and Sheila Tyler

We hope to see you all at the meeting on Tuesday as we plan for the year ahead for our students.

Save the Date - Wednesday, September 18

Eat at Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe - Hampden on Wednesday, September 18th. They will be donating a portion of sales to the Class of 2027.

It's time to give $27 to the Class of '27 

Give $27 to the Class of '27 and help cultivate community for our students!
The Class of 2027 Class Fund supports class activities each year. If each family gives $27 we get close to our fundraising goals.

Give $27 to The Class of '27 through the PTO’s Online Square Account:
https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2027-class-donations/112

Sophomore Parents - want to connect? Contact Committee Co-Chair Kendal Mullins at
kendalbmullins@gmail.com.

Welcome! Stay tuned for Class of 2028 news! Questions? Want to get involved? Email TJHSPTO@gmail.com