Hello Spartan Families!

Just a reminder, there is no school today in observance of Labor Day. 

Please join us on Wednesday, September 3rd from 5-7 pm for Back to School Night! We will start promptly at 5 pm in the auditorium for a brief presentation from Mr. Christoff followed by an opportunity to meet with each of your student's teachers for a short 10 minute presentation about their class. You will follow the same schedule as your student so please visit the parent portal to review their schedule or ask your student to share it with you. 

Also, we will be hosting our club fair during lunch on Wednesday. Please encourage your student to see what's offered and get involved with a club or activity!

We hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend and we look forward to seeing you Wednesday!

Andrew Skari
Assistant Principal

Monday-

• Labor Day - No School

Tuesday-

• Regular school day

Wednesday- 

• Clubs Fair: 11:00-12:45

• Back to School Night: 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Thursday-

• Regular school day

Friday-

• Regular school day

Saturday-

• Artworks@Streets of Southglenn, featuring two TJ artists! (See below for details): 4:00-6:00 p.m.

• Congrats to Jason Klimczak who was interviewed about his financial literacy class. Click here to watch the clip!
  

• Congrats to Laine Gaherty and Naweed Hakimi whose art will be showcased at an art gallery this coming weekend! Details below.

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.

Buy Your Yearbook Here:  https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A00921800

Heads up—the spirit wear styles you’ve been eyeing are now 25% OFF at your Spartans Sideline Store. Use code LABORDAY25 today only.

» 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.

Fall Play: Noises Off. This classic British farce is a hilarious play within a play. The characters comprise a company of actors attempting to put on a production of Nothing On. As opening night looms, they attempt to get through a dress rehearsal. We then jump forward to various points in the run of the production as things only get more and more chaotic as interpersonal drama threaten to completely derail the show.

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

Thursday, November 13th at 7PM

Friday, November 14th at 7PM

Saturday, November 15th at 12PM

Saturday, November 15th at 5PM

Auditions & Callbacks:

Auditions: Tuesday, September 2nd or Wednesday, September 3rd from 3:30-4:30PM. (Choose whatever day works best, you do not have to attend both. If neither day works, please email the Director at Andre_Moss@dpsk12.net) You will need to choose a contemporary comedic monologue that fits your desired character, memorize it, and perform it in character.

Callbacks: Thursday, September 4th from 3:30-6PM. Sides from the play will be provided, nothing to prepare or memorize in advance. It will mainly consist of chemistry reads with other prospective actors.

Casting: There are 9 roles (4f/5m), please see the flyers around the school with the character descriptions to inform your audition.

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 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 

Tuesday, September 2nd- Jesuit Excellence Tour College Fair at Regis University 6pm

Wednesday, September 3rd- University of Northern CO Rep Visit in the TJFC 2:32pm

Tuesday, September 9th- Boettcher Foundation Scholarship Webinar

Wednesday, September 10th- University of CO Boulder Rep Visit in the TJFC 2:32pm

Thursday, September 11th- Virtual Career Panel: Multimedia Design/Content Creators 11am

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

Emily Webster, M.S. Alyssa Baker, M.Ed. Alejandra Rivera-Lopez, M.S.W Candidate
DSF Lead College Advisor, DSF College Advisor, DSF College Advisor- Intern
emily_webster@dpsk12.net alyssa_baker@dpsk12.net.arivera-lopez@denverscholarship.org

Did You Know…?

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

According to the CDC, in 2021 more than 48,000 individuals die by suicide. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 and 20-34.

The Role of the School in Suicide Prevention

Children spend a substantial part of their day in school under the supervision of school personnel.   Mental Health providers, which may include a school psychologist, social worker, school counselor and/or nurse who are trained to intervene when a student is identified at risk for suicide are available at school. These individuals conduct a suicide risk assessment, warn/inform parents, provide information about community services and, with your request, provide follow up counseling and support at school. TJHS also has a school-wide 9th grade prevention program the mental health and counseling teams implement every year, in addition to several other universal and targeted supports.

WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY CHILD SAFE?

ASK: Talking about suicide does not make a student suicidal. Asking if someone is having suicidal thoughts gives him/her permission to talk about it. Asking sends the message that you are concerned and want to help.

TAKE SIGNS SERIOUSLY: Studies have found that more than 75% of people who die by suicide showed some of the warning signs in the weeks or months prior to their death. Reach out to TJ’s mental health team if you are concerned or have questions. We are here to help! 

GET HELP: If you have concerns that your child is suicidal, seek immediate help from a mental health provider. Suicidal students need to be evaluated by an expert in assessing risk. Parents can contact school psychologists, social workers, counselors, or nurses for support. Parents may also want to consult with their insurance company to get a list of mental health providers covered by their policy. If there is immediate need for help you may take your child to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

LIMIT ACCESS: To weapons, medication, sharp objects, and materials that could be used for hanging/strangulation. 

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE: Increase adult supervision. It is important that parents surround themselves with a team of supportive friends or family members who can stop in and help as needed. 

REASSURE YOUR CHILD THAT LIFE CAN GET BETTER: Many suicidal people have lost all hope that life can improve. The nature of teenage and young adult brain development impacts their ability to problem solve, think through consequences, regulate behavior and emotions. They may have difficulty solving even simple issues. We have to help them with this. Don’t be afraid to talk through things out loud, so you are modeling your thought process for them. Remind your child that no matter how bad things are, the problem can be worked out. Offer your help. 

LISTEN WITHOUT JUDGMENT: Avoid making statements such as “I know what it’s like” or “I understand”. Instead make statements such as “Help me understand what life is like for you right now,” and “tell me more about that.”

Resiliency Factors:

• Family support and cohesion, including good communication

• Peer support and close social networks

• Being involved in school and community 

• Cultural or religious beliefs that discourage suicide and promote healthy living

• Adaptive coping and problem-solving skills, including conflict-resolution

• General life satisfaction, good self-esteem, sense of purpose

• Easy access to effective medical and mental health resources

 Resources:

• Safe2Tell: Anonymous hotline: https://safe2tell.org/  (877)542-7233

• Colorado Crisis Services: Mental Health supports (844-493-8255 and www.ColoradoCrisisServices.org 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ and (800)273-8255 

• The Trevor Project- http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ and (866)488-7386 

• The Blue Bench: https://thebluebench.org/ 

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

Resources: Denver Public School Mental Health and Assessment with Support from NASP, CCST, DCST; https://www.nami.org/; https://www.cdc.gov/ 

A huge thank you to all the parents who generously contributed their time, food, drinks, and games to make Senior Sleep Out a success! With over 100 students participating, the night was a fantastic kickoff to what promises to be an exciting Senior year. We’re looking forward to making unforgettable memories with the Class of 2026!

Carrie and Sheila

🍦Class of 2027 Fundraiser Night! 🎉

Mark your calendars! On Tuesday, Sept.9 from 3–11pm, head to Dairy Queen (4650 S. Yosemite St) to support the Class of 2027. Grab a sweet treat (or two!) and a portion of the sales will go right back to our class. Bring your friends, your family, and your sweet tooth—it’s a win-win!

*Just mention TJ at checkout 

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 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. Our first restaurant fundraiser is September 24 from 4-8 pm at the Chipotle at 7350 E Hampden. Stop by and let them know you are from TJ.

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!