Dear TJ Families,

Welcome back! I am incredibly excited to get the 2025-26 school year started! Our faculty and staff are also excited to see your students, and have been working this past week, and in many cases throughout the summer to get ready for this upcoming school year. As has been our mission, we will continue to make TJ THE high school to go to if you want to prepare for college and career. Our work moving forward is to relentlessly pursue opportunities for our students to ensure that they are prepared for college and career. College and career readiness is at the forefront of everything we do so that all students are prepared for the challenges of post-secondary education – be it community college, technical school, or the most elite colleges and universities around the world. While this mission has not changed we also continue to have an unbelievably strong mental health team as well as partner with outside agencies to support the social and emotional health of the whole child. As was the case last year, a full Breakfast and full Lunch will be free to all students provided they enter their student ID at the point of sale. Any extra food or snacks that students would like to have must be purchased using their student accounts.  

Please click here to read my full letter which outlines continued expectations, the new bell schedule (also displayed below), and more!

Some key dates to put in your calendar are:

Registration now open - Online registration only - You can still register today!

• Registration Information

  • Information on Registration, Athletics, Choice of Studies, and more

8/18/25 9th Grade students first day of school 

• 7:50 a.m. building opens (breakfast is free)

• 8:20 a.m. All students meet in Auditorium

8/19/25 10th, 11th, & 12th Grade students return to school 

• 7:50 a.m. building opens for all students (breakfast is free)

8/21/24 - 8/22/24 School Pictures - you will go w/ your Math Class

I look forward to another great year at Thomas Jefferson High School AND I look forward to seeing you in person soon.

Please note - all newsletters moving forward will go out on Monday mornings.

Thank you!

Mike Christoff
Principal

Monday-

• First day of school - 9th grade students (class of 2029 only)

Tuesday-

• School in session for ALL CLASSES (9-12th grade students attend)

Wednesday- 

• Regular school day

Thursday-

• Picture day (students will go with their math class)

Friday-

• Picture day (students will go with their math class)

• Welcome back to all students and staff! We're excited for a great year ahead.

• Special thanks to Liz Lynch, Jason Klimczak, and all parents who helped to plan and execute another amazing Senior Sleep Out!

• Thanks to Tom Conroy and our amazing facilities staff for all of their hard work over the summer. The building looks fantastic!

The TJHS PTO would like to extend a warm welcome to all TJ 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 is in 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 questions answered. PTO meetings are typically held 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, 9/9 from 6-7pm 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 Class of  2029
Class Committee Chairs for Class of 2029

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

Welcome back TJ! The first monthly Food Bank distribution of the school year will take place on Tuesday, September 9!  Any family that is in need of food support is welcomed and encouraged to sign up HERE. Please note that you MUST sign up no later than Saturday, September 6 for us to have food available for you at the distribution. 

La primera distribución mensual del Banco de Alimentos del año escolar es martes 9 de septiembre.  Cualquier familia que necesite apoyo alimentario es bienvenida y alentada a inscribirse AQUI. DEBE inscribirse a más tardar el sábado 6 de septiembre para que tengamos comida disponible para usted en la distribución.

Thank you to the TJ Community for your continued support of the Food Bank!  If you are interested in making a financial contribution to the TJ Food Bank, 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.

Reporting and Monitoring Absences

Save time and get a quick response letting us know that your student is going to be absent, arriving late or an early dismissal by using the Parent Portal attendance tool. 

Guardians of DPS students must have an active DPS Parent Portal account to use this new feature. Visit myportal.dpsk12.org to sign up, or to check that your account is active and ready. 

Learn more about how to use this new feature.

Get ready to show your Spartans spirit from the first day to the last with customizable, top-brand merch. Now thru Sunday, save 20% on polos, tees, hoodies and more with code GAMEON20 + $4.95 shipping for a limited time.

» Shop your Spartans Sideline Store

If you’re looking for in-house gear stop by the DECA store in the cafeteria or look for us at Back to School night or the Homecoming football game. Feel free to email with any questions. 

Hey Spartans fans! The sale you've been waiting for is HERE. Starting 5/26, shop that spirit wear you've been eyeing and save 25% when you spend $100+. Use code HONOR25 at checkout and you're good to go. Ends 6/1.

 » Shop your Spartans Sideline Store

Stop by the DECA store after school Mon-Thurs for in-house gear. Feel free to email us with any questions.

Spartan Seniors and Families,

Click here to learn more about the Denver Scholarship Foundation and the DSF Scholarship. Your TJ Future Center (college advising) 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 Future Center: TJFC2026 schoology course, you will find many resources to help you with your college planning 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

• Be sure to review your Steps for Complete College Applications document. When the time comes, using this document will guide you through the required steps to ensure your applications are completed. Using MAIA Learning, linking your Common App to MAIA, and completing transcript request form(s) are all REQUIRED for all TJ Seniors applying to college! 

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

Saturday, September 13th- CU Boulder- Business at a Glance Info Session

Wednesday, October 1st- FAFSA Application OPENS, Create your account now!

Tuesday October 7th-Thursday, October 9th- CO Free College App Days, Get ready by working through these tasks! 

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

Did You Know...

TJHS has a variety of mental health and social emotional supports available to ALL students?

For starters, let’s introduce ourselves!

Mrs. Davis, Social Worker, is at TJHS Monday-Friday, and supports students in special education and students in general education (she is here for the whole building).  Samanda_Davis@dpsk12.net and (720)423-7072

Ms. Koncz, School Psychologist, is at TJHS Monday-Friday, and supports students in special education and students in general education (she is here for the whole building). Natalie_Koncz@dpsk12.net and (720)423-7077

Mrs. Horvatin Social Worker, is at TJHS Monday-Friday, and supports students who are on Section 504 Plans. Brooke_Horvatin@dpsk12.net and (720)423-7043

Mr. Gantz Jr., Social Worker, is a t TJHS Monday-Friday, and supports students who are in the Affective Needs Program through special education. cgantzjr@gmail.com 

Mr. Perry, School Psychology Intern, is at TJHS Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. ryan_perry@dpsk12.net 

We all work closely with our wonderful Counseling Team!
Stay tuned for weekly “Tips” from us in the TJ Newsletter! 

Have a great first week, Spartans!

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

Stay tuned for senior class news!

Welcome Back, Class of 2027! ☀️📚

We hope your summer was full of sunshine, adventures, and memories—but now it’s time to gear up for an exciting junior year!

Over the coming months, there will be many opportunities for students and parents to get involved so stay tuned!

Please consider making a donation to the Class of 2027’s Class Fund. Donations will support the After Prom (held Senior Year) and other class activities. This can be done through the online square account listed below

https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2027-class-donations/

Want to get involved and help with ideas and planning for the Class of 2027? Please contact Class of 2027 parent co-chairs Tiffany Berry at broncofantif@hotmail.com or Katie Mousel at katielmousel@gmail.com 

We can’t believe the students of the Class of 2028 are now sophomores. We can’t wait to see them experience a year where they are no longer the newbies on campus.

We will need people to help with day of registration, water, check-in, etc. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084CA8AE29A3FB6-56150578-class to help.

We are also busy scheduling regular Class of 2028 nights at area restaurants. Watch this space for schedule information.

It’s time to give $28 to the Class of ‘28

It’s time to give $28 to the Class of ‘28 to help cultivate community for our students! If each family gives $28, we get close to our fundraising goals. You can give the $28 for the class of 2028 through the PTO’s Online Square Account:

https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2028-class-donations/151.

Remember, all money raised by these events and donations will help fund an amazingafter-prom event during the students’ senior year.

Stay tuned for freshmen class news!