Hi TJ,

We had a great time celebrating Black History month with our "At The Table with Dr. Martin Luther King" assembly that was followed by a cookout for all of the kids! We celebrate our diversity as it is a significant part in what makes TJ such a special place. 

A reminder that this Friday, February 14th there will be no classes for students as it is a teacher planning day, so please plan accordingly. There is also no school on Monday, February 17th due to Presidents' Day. 

Have a great week, TJ! 

Mike Christoff
Principal

Monday-

• Regular school day

Tuesday-

• Regular school day

Wednesday- 

• TJ/DSF FAFSA/CAFSA Workshop: 3:00-7:00 p.m. (see details and make an appointment below)

Thursday-

• Honor Roll/Smartie Party: 2:35 p.m. - Assembly Schedule

• Chamber Music Concert: 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Friday-

• No students - DPS Professional Learning Day

Saturday-

• Saturday School: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

• Set Construction/Saturday Build Days: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

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

• Big thanks to Danyelle Charles and everyone who helped make the assembly and the First Friday Cookout a success: Carla Allen, JROTC, Kyler Jackson, Admin Team, counseling team, Officer Cloud, Liz Lynch, Jonathan Howard, Andre Moss, Mike Logan, Woodie Bonner, Peg O'Keefe, Cindy Allen, Mitch and Mike Griebel, Brittany Nicolo, Tahj Dillard-Watkins, and the Facilities staff, as well as anyone else who volunteered that we may have missed!

• The TJ NHS Blood Drive was a huge success! Big thanks to nurse Ally Larocque for coordinating with the American Red Cross! Thanks to Mitch Greibel, Marianna Barclay, and Brittany Nicolo for the use of their classrooms and the gym! The NHS students did an incredible job with organization and execution. Thanks to Tambyr Reed and Stephanie Jones for their sponsor roles! We set the record for the most units of blood collected by a school in the state of Colorado. Way to save lives, Spartans!

• Last week was National Signing Day for our Spartan Athletes! Congrats to Max Feierstein, Gabi Leyva, Shane Curry, and Luke Cuellar who all committed to take their sport to the next level!

• Congratulations to Ajah Kamalagasan who was highlighted in the DPS Weekly for her journey!

• Congrats to our amazing Counseling team for the shout out in the DPS Weekly for School Counseling Week!

Dear DPS Community,

Denver Public Schools is committed to providing equitable and inclusive environments where all our students feel safe and socially and emotionally supported. With the potential change of federal policies, students, families, and staff who are undocumented are experiencing unease and uncertainty regarding potential mass deportation.

While we still do not know exactly what actions the incoming administration may or may not take at this time, it is important that our families have access to resources and information to establish an action plan.

This Family Resource Toolkit is available in English and Spanish and contains information and resources about your rights, current DPS policies, training, mental health support, and a list of community resources. Please read this guide and save it so you can refer back to it whenever necessary.

In addition to reviewing the guide, it is important that families update emergency contacts. Each student should have at least two emergency contacts. These individuals do not need to be family members; they can be any trusted adult known by the family. We also ask that families identify those authorized to pick up their students (including older siblings) from school if a parent or guardian cannot. Please see the directions at the bottom of this email for more information on how to update emergency contacts.

At the time of this communication, our schools are still designated sensitive locations, meaning that they are places where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is restricted from conducting enforcement actions. Our schools are safe, and we want our students here. While our function is to provide education for all students, our responsibility is to provide safe and welcoming environments. That has not changed.

In collaboration,

Dr. Alex Marrero
DPS Superintendent

Updating Emergency Contacts

Follow the step-by-step guide (in English and Spanish) to add, remove or modify emergency contact updates for your child in Infinite Campus. Please read the steps in this guide carefully. If you have questions or need help updating emergency contacts, please contact your child’s school.

Parent Portal Login Support

If you are unable to log into Parent Portal because you forgot your username and/or password, visit the MyPortal Support Contact webpage for links to reset. Note: You will need access to the email address associated with your Parent Portal account.

If you need help:

• Creating an account

• With a failing username or password

• Updating your email address

• With missing a student account

Submit a support ticket or call 720-423-3163.

Saturday School is back! During the week, (Monday-Wednesday) teachers will provide passes to students and assign them to Saturday School for Math and/or English. Students- if your teacher gives you a pass, you have been assigned to Saturday School due to a low grade in Math and/or English. Parents- you will receive a text message on Thursday if your student has been assigned to Saturday School. Saturday School hours are 8am-12pm. The entrance is located on the north side of the building near the softball field. A small breakfast snack will be provided for students. 

Any students interested in going to Ireland in the summer of 2026? Please contact Amber Wilson for more information - awilso2@dpsk12.net

Any students interested in going to Ireland in the summer of 2026? Please contact Amber Wilson for more information - awilso2@dpsk12.net

MC2 Program Applications! 

Applications are open for Denver Health’s Medical Career Collaborative (MC²). Current high school sophomores from the Denver metro area are encouraged to apply. 

MC² offers paid internships, mentorship, certification opportunities and career coaching, helping students explore health care careers and build a strong foundation for the future.

To learn more visit the program’s website.

 Application deadline: 5 p.m. on March 5.

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. 

Thank you to everyone who attended our February meeting last week! Our minutes will be posted later this month. We are in full swing with getting the online auction for the Spartan Grants program ready to go! Interested in helping out? Do you have something you’d like to donate? If so, reach out to the auction committee at tjhstogether@gmail.com!

To get the benefits, you must register for the program:

1. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/topic/king-soopers-community-rewards and sign in to your digital account or create a new one.

Make sure your loyalty card number or alternate ID is associated with your digital account.

1. Click on Enroll Now

2. Search for Thomas Jefferson High School Partners or use code UT036

3. Click Enroll

That’s it! You are now enrolled and can help raise FREE money for TJ! Thank you!

It is almost time for the 2025 TJ Spartan Grant program! This has been funded in the past by the TJ Silent Auction and the direct giving campaign. If you have wondered how this money has directly affected the students, take a look at this article.

In this article written by one of TJ’s talented students, it states, “Beyond just the classroom, Spartan Grants enhance the overall student experience at TJ, creating a strong sense of community. First Friday prizes and Problem of the Week awards are funded by the Spartan Grants to keep students motivated to excel academically and engage with the school community. These small yet impactful events recognize hard work and also create a culture behind student success.”

Mr. Logan, TJ math teacher, runs the Problem of the Week (POW) program.  Each week he will make 75 copies of a math problem and most get taken by students.  He says, “I try to vary the level of challenge to give my regulars something to really chew on, but I’ll also write a more accessible problem, so students who don’t typically try might give it a shot.  I would say my pool of winners, who receive the prizes, ranges in size between 12-25 students for each party.  The usuals for the party are: Jimmy John’s, Slices Pizza, Dunkin Donuts, and the occasional root beet float party as a cheaper option to conserve funds.  It’s been so fun running the program over the years!”  PTO and the Spartan Grant Program has funded this for many years and Mr. Logan reported that he and his POW community at TJ “would be super bummed to see the POW go unfunded!”

Please donate to the Spartan Grant Drive today. As you can see, the money goes directly to the classrooms and benefits our students! Spartan Grants

The TJ Together online auction committee is gathering donations.   Do you own a business you want to be included in the auction and recognized in our newsletter?  Would you be willing to host a party to be scheduled late this summer or early next school year?  All ideas considered! Click here to submit your item or idea.

We are currently in need of host families for 16 students participating in an exchange program from Chiben Gogo in Japan.

The students will be living with and attending school with students here at TJ. They will attend each of their classes but they will have their own work provided from their schools in Japan. These students study English in Japan so, although they are not fluent in English, they have the tools to communicate in the language. They simply need practice and exposure. The students will be with us from March 4th through March 23rd when they will return to Japan together. There are 8 girls and 8 boys in need of a host family.

If you are interested and able, please contact Mr. Jackson at kjackso@dpsk12.net for more information. This is a tremendous opportunity because it opens the doors for our students from TJ to travel to Japan and be hosted with families there as well. 

The February Food Bank distribution will take place on Tuesday, February 18.  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 Sunday, February 16 for us to have food available for you at the distribution. 

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.

Spring Musical: Anastasia (license pending)

Show Dates: Tickets are $5 for children, students, faculty and staff, veterans, and seniors, $10 general admission.

Thursday, March 6th at 7PM

Friday, March 7th at 7PM

Saturday, March 8th at 2PM

Saturday, March 8th at 7PM

Stay tuned for more information about casting and other important details. Keep your eye out for flyers and Spartan Edition spots in the near future!

Spartan Seniors and Families,

• If you have not yet done so, complete the FAFSA!  Colleges are putting together financial aid awards for students- don’t put off this important app! Student and parent(s) will need an FSAID (username and password). See below for links to schedule a FAFSA/CASFA completion appointment, if needed.

• The CASFA application is now open for non-US Citizens who qualify for ASSET.

• Work on your Institutional Scholarship applications. These are often students greatest forms of financial aid. Colleges will send you information on how to access these applications through their portals. Stop by the FC for help! 

Upcoming Deadlines and Events:

Monday, February 10th: FAFSA Workshop at Capital One Cafe Downtown

Wednesday, February 12th: TJ DSF Financial Aid (FAFSA or CASFA Completion) Workshop - click here to schedule an appt! 

Thursday, February 13th: Tech Careers Virtual Insight Panel 12pm, UNCO and Western CO Rep Visits in the TJFC during 7th

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...?

We are taking a break from tips this week, and you should take a break, too!

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

Thanks to all who came out for the restaurant night at Qdoba last week and to all our other restaurant nights. We are in a great position for our After Prom on May 3rd 11p-2p at The Island. Please mark your calendars because we’ll need lots of parent help that night. Look for a Sign Up Genius for volunteer shifts and food donations after Spring Break. Any questions?hmbdvm@yahoo.com.

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

Class of 2027, mark your calendars for an upcoming restaurant fundraiser night at Dough Counter on Tuesday, March 11. More details to come as it gets closer!!!

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. Your donation is tax deductible as the TJ Partners PTO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 

Please also 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

Hello Class of 2028 parents and families! Thank you for your support at our first two events.

The Bottom of the 9th event is coming up in a few months. Please let me know if you interested
in helping. We are also brainstorming a bigger fundraiser so if you have any ideas, please send
them our way (kevkrug@gmail.com or jillkrug@gmail.com).

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