Welcome back, Spartans!

Only two weeks until Finals! It is time to buckle down and make sure you are getting your work done and done well. Make sure you are utilizing Spartan Time and getting help from your teachers.

In addition to finals, we have some fun events coming up to help you decompress. Be on the lookout for those.

Below is the Finals Schedule. 

Have a great week!

Jon Poole
Assistant Principal

Monday-

• Regular School Day

Tuesday-

• Winter Instrumental Dress Rehearsal: 3:30-6:00 p.m.

• PTO Meeting: 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday- 

• Screenagers: Under the Influence: 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Thursday-

• TJ Shadows: 8:00-11:00 a.m.

Friday-

• First Friday Celebration (assembly schedule)

• TJ Tours: 9-10:30 a.m.

Saturday-

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

• Thanks to SkillsUSA and DECA for all of their help with the Holiday food drive! They worked hard collecting donations and organizing them into holiday meals for TJ families.

• Before break TJ hosted a Gently Used Fall Clothing Boutique where all clothing was free to students! Special thanks to the Mental Health team, the counselors, leadership and DECA students (particularly Zach Alleman and Shep Schneider), and the sustainability club as well as the PE department for sharing their space.

  
  

• Congratulations to Liz Lynch, who has

  been selected as the 2024 ACTE New and Related Services Division Teacher of the Year- Special Populations!  She will be presented with her award at the ACTE Vision in San Antonio, TX, later this week.

• See below for a JROTC celebration!

You can stop by the DECA store in the cafeteria after school Monday thru Thursday. We sell t-shirts, hoodies, pants, hats, stadium seats, socks, stickers, etc. Feel free to email us with any questions. 

Hello TJ families! 

We can’t believe the holidays are right around the corner! This year we are partnering with Minted to help us fundraise for the TJHS Spartan Grants program. Since 2017, the PTO has granted over $100, 000 to the TJ community through the grants program to, fund needs in our classrooms and extracurriculars. 

Using our unique code, FUNDRAISETJHSP, you can get 20% off your holiday card and Minted gift purchases - and for every order placed, Minted will donate 15% of sales back to TJ! To participate, simply go to minted.com/holiday to order your holiday cards and to start shopping. Apply code FUNDRAISETJHSP at checkout to claim your discount. It’s that easy! As always, thank you for your support!!

Thank You, TJHS Supporters!

On behalf of the PTO, THANK YOU to every parent, family and community member who has helped support our students, staff and school this fall. Whether it’s through PTO activities or the many other clubs, organizations and activities that ask for your support, we know that there is an army who help make special things happen at TJ. The time, talents and treasure you give to support TJ are appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who attended our meeting on Tuesday. Our minutes will be posted on the TJ website by the end of the month. Our next meeting will be held on December 3.

Help Wanted!
The PTO still has vacancies in the following positions. Contact us to learn more about these andother opportunities to give back to TJ:

Bus Stop Chair - Our bus stop chair will be vacant after May. We’re hoping to have an “apprentice” in place by January to shadow the current chair for a semester to learn more about the role. The chair works in collaboration with ROTC to maintain the bus stop and hang new art each quarter. 

Spirit Wear Co-Chairs - Our spirit wear co-chair positions will be vacant after May. In this role you will collaborate with DECA to help with spirit wear sales. 

TJ PTO Launches Fundraising Campaign

Introducing the Spartan Grant Drive! TJ PTO has launched this online fundraising campaign that will support the very important TJ Spartan Grant program. Every year our TJ Staff has the opportunity to request funds from the PTO in a variety of areas including classroom needs, club/student activities support and social support services. The purpose of our fundraising campaign is to fund the Spartan Grant Program so that our school can receive financial support where it is needed most. Any donation amount is welcome and appreciated. Our goal is to raise $20,000. To read more and donate, visit TJ Spartan Grant Drive. Please consider sharing with family and friends.

Thank you to the TJ SkillsUSA chapter for their help with the Thanksgiving and November Food Bank distribution!

The December food bank and holiday food distribution information will be sent via email within the next couple of weeks.

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

Screenagers: Under the Influence - December 4th from 5:30-7pm at Thomas Jefferson High School. View the Trailer. Along with the screening, the Maddie Wright Foundation will be there as resource. They will have Narcan for free as well as additional resources on Fentanyl. 

Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston as she picks up her camera once more to examine the impact of our digital age on teens' decision-making in relation to substances such as vaping, drugs, and alcohol.

Exploring the latest research and learning more about the personal experiences of teens and families, the film highlights the changing landscape of the substances themselves, offering solutions for how we can best empower teens as they face decisions about what they will and will not be influenced by.

Spartan Seniors and Families,

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, scholarships, and calendar at least weekly.

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

• Create your FSAID (FAFSA Username and Password). Parent(s) will need one too. Click here to learn more. 

• Some colleges require the completion of the CSS Profile for financial aid. Check here for your colleges! 

• Complete the FAFSA! The application is now open for submission. Be sure to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA. 

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

Did You Know...? 

Adolescents who are rejected by their peers are at greater risk for anxiety and depression?

Here are 6 ways to accept others as they are:

1) Watch Your Thoughts: Think about what you’re thinking about. We often think things about other people, judging them, without even realizing it. Work on paying more attention to your thoughts and do your best to shift them in a non-judgement, more accepting direction.

2) Look For the Positive: Not accepting other is a result of seeing the negative in them. Instead of focusing on why someone is different, focus on what’s good about that person and their choices/actions.

3) Avoid Right/Wrong Dichotomies: It is very tempting to see the world in black and white with a right and wrong way to do things– but that’s just not how it is. Things don’t always have to be right or wrong of we choose to accept them as they are. One way we can do this is if we stop labeling our way as “right.”

4) Stop Judging Yourself: Our judgments of others are often a result of our personal criticisms. If we stop putting pressure on ourselves to do things the “right” way, we can also stop putting pressure on others. Not judging ourselves or others is a crucial step to acceptance. 

5) Focus On The Now: A lack of acceptance can generate from comparing things to the past. Comparing things to the past always hinders an acceptance of what it.

6) Reverse The Situation: ASk yourself, “what if someone were judging me and not accepting me? How would I feel?” Keep these questions in mind the next time you are not accepting others. 

Here is a short video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KyvlMJefR4 

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

Thanks to all the supporters of Class of 2025 for coming out this semester to our restaurant nights at Freddy’s and Ester’s and for buying Amaryllis bulbs. We appreciate all of you! We are well on our way to an amazing After Prom. We hope everyone has a safe and fun Winter Break. We’ll see you next year!

As we are winding down the first semester, please consider making a donation to the Class of 2026. 

Give $26 to The Class of '26 through the PTO’s Online Square Account:

2026 Class Donations | TJHS PTO

Thank you,
Sheila and Carrie

Class of 2026 have Prom Ideas?

Complete this form: 

Prom Locations 2026

More questions check in with Mr. Klimczak or Ms. Lynch

Join us December 11 for a fundraiser at Chipotle at 7350 E. Hampden Ave. Unit B-2 from 4-8pm. 25% of all sales will go toward the Class of 2027 after prom fund. Order in person and show this flier or order online and use the code PJW83JE. 

Thank you to everyone who came out for our Qdoba fundraiser night!

Does your employer match donations? We are looking for an organization to do a match with one of our fundraisers. If you know of an organization willing to make a corporate match, please contact Tiffany or Katie at the emails listed below. 

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 

Hello Class of 2028 parents and families! The class of 2028 needs 1-2 parents to be co-chairs and lead the planning of fundraising and social events. Each class is expected to raise the money needed to host their After Prom and other activities senior year.  The sooner the fundraising gets started, the more choices there will be for events senior year. Parent sponsors also plan community building activities for the parents of the class of 2028.  We are successful because of your behind-the-scenes contributions, large and small. It all adds up to a stronger community. An engaged parent body shows our students that we care about them!

If you need more information, contact tjhspto@gmail.com.

It's time to give $28 to the Class of '28 

Give $28 to the Class of '28 and help cultivate community for our students!
The Class of 2028 Class Fund supports class activities each year. If each family gives $28 we get close to our fundraising goals.

Give $28 to The Class of '29 through the PTO’s Online Square Account: https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2028-class-donations/151