Happy New Year, Spartans!

I am Azadeh Fathi, and I will serve as your acting principal for the first two weeks of January. We're looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow morning when all students report back to school! Please remember that as the weather and traffic get bad, it is critical to plan ahead and leave earlier in order to be on time for class. For many students, this is a great time to hit the reset button - on attendance, grades, habits, and behavior. 

Just a reminder that classes start at 8:20, and the school does not open to students until 7:50. Be sure to get here early and enjoy a free breakfast! You are late if you are here after 8:20 a.m.

Let's have a strong start, Spartans. New year, new chapter!

Azadeh Fathi
Principal Resident

Monday-

• Teacher Workday

Tuesday-

• First Day for Students

• Spring Musical Auditions: 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Wednesday- 

• Spring Musical Auditions: 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Thursday-

• TJ Shadows: 8:00-11:00 a.m.

• Spring Musical Callbacks: 3:30-6:00 p.m.

Friday-

• TJ Tours: 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Saturday-

• Destination Imagination Colorado Leadership Training: 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria

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

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

• The TJ community always steps up to make the holidays meaningful for others throughout November and December. Special thanks to all students, staff, and families who helped with the TJ food drive, clothing drive, Adopt-a-family, and more! Thanks to PTO for their ongoing support of the staff. It takes a village!

• From Samanda Davis, who spearheaded the Adopt-a-Family event: "I am thrilled to share that we had an overwhelming response from our Thomas Jefferson High School Family, with 70 parents/school staff offering to help our adopt-a-family program. I WAS BLOWN AWAY.  Thanks to our efforts, we were able to provide assistance to 40 families and over 150 children in need for gifts and food. This community spirit truly embodies the joy of the holidays.
  

  Thank you once again for everything you do. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season!
  

  A shout out to my helpers:  Jillian Gleason, Rossanda Jackson, Jeremy Anderson, Maggie Kennedy, Megan Miccio, Annie Depoy, Annie Berg, and Natalie Koncz.  Hooray for Matt Santambriogio for letting the program invade his space for two full days!!

  Thank you to Matt Nicolo and DECA for providing all the gift wrapping items for families to taken in the joy of wrapping the gifts themselves and to our FOODBANK moms (Megan Perkins, Becca Mahoney, and Jillian Krause) who provided all the staples which included fresh food and meat. You ROCK!"

• TJ Senior Evan Whistler was featured on CBS News right before winter break. He was recognized for his involvement in STEM classes and leadership skills in Robotics. He is one of only 6 students awarded this in the state. If you see Evan, tell him congrats!

Click here to see the broadcast!

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. 

Happy New Year TJ families! 

While our monthly meeting is usually on the first Tuesday, this month’s meeting will be held next week on Tuesday January 14 from 6:00-7:00 in Room 111. Our guest speaker for the month will be District 4 Councilwoman Diana Romero-Campbell. We hope you can join us to hear what she has to say and to learn about our plans for 2025!

Invest in TJ's future by supporting the Spartan Grants Program. Check out the article written by one of TJ's talented students here: https://tjhs.dpsk12.org/investing-in-tjs-future/

Click HERE to donate!

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.

The January 2025 Food Bank distribution will take place next Thursday, January 15 from 3:30-5:00pm. Any family that is in need of food support is welcomed and encouraged to sign up HERE. Please note that you MUST sign up 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

Auditions & Callbacks:

Auditions: Tuesday, January 7th or Wednesday, January 8th from 3:30-5 p.m. (Choose a date, you do not have to attend both.) You need to choose a musical theatre song that fits the character in terms of personality and sound, memorize it (minimum of a verse and a chorus), and perform it in character.

Callbacks: Thursday, January 9th from 3:30-6PM. Sides from the musical will be provided, nothing to prepare or memorize in advance. It will mainly consist of chemistry reads with a dance section.

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!

New Year, New You? Start of 2025 by exploring the world of apprenticeships, where you get to earn while you learn.  CareerWise will be accepting applications from rising juniors and seniors for apprenticeships in the 25-26 school year.  Connect with Emily Bobrick if you want to learn more. 

Spartan Seniors and Families,

Congratulations on an amazing first semester! 

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.

Have you been admitted to college(s)? Share your wins by completing the linked form.

Have you completed your FAFSA and/or been awarded scholarship(s)? Share your wins by completing the linked form. Your name and the name of the scholarship(s) will be celebrated on the graduation program! 

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

• If you have not yet done so, complete the FAFSA! The application is now open for submission. Be sure to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA. Student and parent(s) will need an FSAID (username and password). We recommend that once your accounts are verified you set aside 30 minutes together to submit your FAFSA application. Check out the resources in the TJ Future Center schoology course too! 

• 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. 

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 happy to see your faces, TJ students and families!

Welcome back, and we hope you have a great first week of the 2025 Spring Semester!

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

Please join Class of 2025 January 14th 4-8pm for an After Prom fundraiser restaurant night at Chipotle 7350 E. Hampden Ave. Remember to tell them you’re there for the TJ 2025 Fundraiser.

Our goal is to raise more money for prizes and food for After Prom. As always if restaurant nights aren’t a good fit for you, please consider donating directly to the parent committee of 2025 where 100% of the money you spend goes directly to After Prom! https://tjhsstore.square.site/product/2025-class-donations/99

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

Please come support the class of 2027 for a restaurant night on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at Birdcall (4996 E. Hampden Ave). You will need to enter TJHS122 for online or in-store checkout. 

Join us for a delicious meal and help support our school!!!

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! The class of 2028 has found its two co-chairs – Kevin and Jill Krug.

They are looking for help with fundraising activities. Some of the planned activities are “Eat Out Nights,” Bottom of the 9th and a few others. Email Kevin at kevkrug@gmail.com or Jill at jillkrug@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out.

We need to raise funds for all the fun social activities, After Prom and other senior events.

Our January EAT OUT NIGHT is at Ester’s from 4-8 (1950 S Holly St, Denver, CO 80222). You must mention this fundraiser (Class of 2028).

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.