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March 17, 2025
We're almost there! This is the last week before Spring Break. There will be no Saturday School on 3/22 or 3/29, and there will be NO SCHOOL on March 31 (Cesar Chavez Day observed). All students return on Tuesday, April 1st - no fooling!
Remember to keep your attendance up and get your work done so you can all participate in upcoming fun events we have planned after Spring Break!
Mike Christoff
Assistant Principal
Monday-
Regular School Day
Tuesday-
Chipotle Fundraiser - class of 2028: 4:00-8:00 p.m. (details below)
Wednesday-
TJ Food Bank Distribution: 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Thursday-
Regular School Day
Friday-
Regular School Day
Congrats to senior Shane Curry, who was named 5A Denver Public Schools Player of the Year for basketball!
Link to buy a yearbook:
Human Trafficking 101: A Training For Guardians And Caregivers
On March 19th, we invite guardians and caregivers to participate in an essential interactive training session. This guided presentation will explore how children can be vulnerable and the tactics, such as grooming, that may be used to exploit those vulnerabilities.
Our presenters will share practical steps to help you identify and respond to suspected exploitation. Additionally, there will be hands-on training focused on assisting children in developing safety plans to protect themselves. Don't miss this opportunity to learn valuable skills that can make a difference. Register here.
Spanish interpretation will be available
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 8 a.m.-12 p.m. The entrance is located on the north side of the building near the softball field. A small breakfast snack will be provided for students.
The March 2025 Food Bank distribution will take place Wednesday, March 19, 2025. 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, March 16, 2025 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.
The TJ PTO feels incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful people who have helped us throughout this school year. Thank you to everyone who has attended a meeting, donated their time, donated money, and helped support our teachers and students! We appreciate you! The minutes from our March meeting can be found here.
The TJHS PTO is gearing up for our annual online auction in support of the Spartan Grants Program and we need your help! We are looking for donations for concert and sporting events tickets, restaurant gift cards, community parties, and beyond! If you are interested in being involved, please reach out to Anna & Heather at tjhstogether@gmail.com to the PTO at TJHSPTO@gmail.com We know with your help and support the auction will be a huge success!!
SPARTAN GRANTS PROGRAM APPLICATION IS OPEN!
We are excited to announce that the PTO's Spartan Grant Program will open on February 20th. For those of you who aren't familiar with this program, it started several years ago when a group of TJ parents decided to start an online auction to raise money to fund classroom grants. Since 2017, the PTO has granted over $125,000 to the TJ community, funding needs in our classrooms and extracurriculars. Unfortunately, last year there was not an online auction, which limits our funds significantly. As of now, we can offer $3,000 total. Rest assured, we have an amazing pair of parents who are taking on the online auction so we are hopeful that we will be able to offer more in future years.
This link takes you to the Spartan Grant application. TJ Staff who are interested in applying, please fill it out and include all the information requested. Because of our low funds this year, we ask that your requests are thoughtful, impactful, and need funding via these grants and can’t be funded any other way.
The deadline to apply is March 21st. The PTO will review all applications at our April meeting. We will provide responses to all applicants by mid-April. Funds are then transferred to the school by May 1, for use in the 2025-26 school year. Since some grants are time sensitive, please let us know if you need your funds prior to those dates.
Thank you for all that you do for our TJ students!
The TJHS PTO Team
Spartan Grant Chairs Christine Casey Perry & Brooke Bolinske
Parents and Staff Save the Online Auction Watch Party and Happy Hour Date!
Date: 5/1/25
Time: 6-8 pm
Where: Cheers Tiki Bar
Address: 3415 S. Monaco St Pkwy
More details on this casual event to come!
Spartan Seniors and Families,
Congrats on earning OVER $3 million in scholarship dollars so far! Keep applying! Additionally, TJ has the 3rd highest FAFSA submission rate of traditional DPS high schools. There is still time to apply- set up an appointment with your DSF College Advisor!
Below are a few important college tasks to work on in the coming weeks.
The DSF Scholarship application is now open and takes about 20 minutes to complete.
Click here to learn more about eligibility and for the link to apply!
Share your Financial Aid Awards/Scholarship Wins by completing this form. Your name and the name of the scholarship(s) will be highlighted in the Graduation Program. Complete the form as many times as needed and add ALL scholarships, not just scholarships from the university or college you are attending!
If you have not yet submitted your FAFSA or CASFA application, please get that done BEFORE Spring Break. Colleges are actively creating financial aid packages NOW!
Work on your Comparing the Cost of Colleges assignment to help your decision making process. Sign up for the Comparing the Cost of Colleges Workshop on Wednesday!
Upcoming Deadlines and Events:
Monday, March 17th: Robert Sullivan Scholarship DUE
Wednesday, March 19th: Comparing the Cost of Colleges Workshop p. 7+8. Sign up via MAIA Learning: Events!
Emily Webster, M.S. Alyssa Baker, M.Ed.
DSF Lead College Advisor DSF College Advisor
emily_webster@dpsk12.netalyssa_baker@dpsk12.net
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.
Spring is almost here- let’s start the cleaning!
It is that time of the year that some people look forward to- opening the windows, deep-cleaning the house, getting rid of old items they no longer need; others may wince at the thought of going through closets, drawers, cabinets and feeling pressured to make the “to get rid of this, or to keep it?” decision. Though it can be difficult, time consuming and possibly argument-invoking, it can be important for your physical and mental health. Let’s find out how!
What can “Spring Cleaning” do for me?
By making the effort to declutter areas, you can actually increase your productivity! Cleaning off your kitchen table, work-space, entry table, etc. can help support a more organized approach to work and facilitate ease with completing tasks. Plus, it may look nicer and more welcoming to guests and visitors in the home.
The cleaning process itself can increase your energy levels!
Spring cleaning can benefit your physical health! Do you ever think about the amount of dust and dirt that build up within the house? Cleaning your living space can help with asthma and allergies.
People who have a clean and tidy home are happier. Hello strong mental health! Cleaning your space can provide a sense of accomplishment, pride and satisfaction. And perhaps decrease conflict with family members, roommates, etc.
Regularly cleaning and decluttering can help increase focus and decision making! By removing obstacles (which are often the physical presence of stuff) from your space, you now can focus on problem solving and decision making.
You can give back to your community. All those unused items can be donated to charities for people and families in need. Or you can plan a garage sale with your neighbors and use the collected money to do something nice for the neighborhood or community (basketball hoop on the street, plants for some homes, donate to a local foodbank, etc.)
Great, so where do I start?
Each weekend during the month of April, pick 1-2 rooms/spaces in your home you will tackle.
Enlist family members to help- it is everyone’s stuff!
Get a box and label “donations,” and place all items you no longer need in the box
Immediately after completing the area/room, take that box to a donation center! (get it out of your home before you find a “reason” to keep any of the items you know you don’t really need! 😉
Now, put on some music, a podcast, whatever, and get cleaning!
Mental Health and Social Emotional Tip: Compiled by Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP and Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW. Resources: https://www.fastcompany.com; www.goodnet.org
Youth Apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to jump start your career in a high demand industry, earn high school credit and up to $40,000 during a 2-3 year apprenticeship, plus gain invaluable experience and earn industry credentials. Learn more and view current jobs HERE, then go to https://tinyurl.com/TJXplore24-25 to sign up for a Lunch & Learn on Friday, March 21st. Questions? Contact emily_bobrick@dpsk12.net.
Class of 2025 Parents & Guardians,
Prom will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025. There will be a fun After Prom party at the Island, free to all seniors. There will be all kinds of games, entertainment, food, and fun. We recognize you all have busy lives and full schedules so there will be many ways to be part of this Class of 2025 signature event. One way is to help secure prizes. You can donate gift cards or purchase items from the Amazon Wishlist. This link can be forwarded to grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors and friends who maywant to contribute to this fun event!
Class of 2026 Parent Meeting: Tuesday, April 8th at 7:30 p.m. (immediately following the PTO meeting) Room 111
We will start planning Juniors and Junk Food and discuss the Senior Sleep-Out taking place in August. Hope to see you there!
Thank you,
Sheila and Carrie
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Class of 2027 for our fundraiser night at Dough Counter! It was a great success!
We will be having a popcorn fundraiser called Double Good that will run April 7-April 11. Be on the lookout for more details and how to order their yummy popcorn in the upcoming newsletters!!!
Class of 2027 parent meeting: Tuesday, April 8 at 7pm following the PTO meeting in Room 111.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out via emails/texts expressing interest in helping with our upcoming Sophomore events. We will be planning and discussing ideas for these events at the meeting and all are welcome!!!
The upcoming events will be Sophomores and S’mores (May- date TBD) and Class of 2027 Teacher Appreciation day for our amazing teachers will be on Thursday, May 8.
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
See you at Chipotle on Tuesday, March 18 from 4-8 pm, our dine-in fundraiser at Chipotle,
7350 E Hampden Ave Unit B-2, Denver, CO 80231-4894. The online code to use will be
6ZNDQEA. The flyer is below.
There will also be a dine out event in April at Café Palooza. More details to follow.
May is a busy month for the class of 2028. Please put these dates on the calendar:
The Bottom of the 9th event will be May 2, between the end of school and the 4:15 home
baseball game. The kids all come over and tailgate to celebrate the end of the 9 th grade and
then watch the game. I’ll have a Signup Genius closer to the event, so be on the lookout for
that.
The class of 2028 will provide food on May 6 for Teacher Appreciation Week. I’ll have a Signup
Genius closer to the event.
Finally, we are attempting to create/host a fundraising Fun Run on May 17. Stay tuned for more
details. If you have experience in having a fun run, please let me (jillkrug@gmail.com) or Kevin
(kevkrug@gmail.com) know. We would love any help and guidance.
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-
