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September 15, 2025
2025 TJ Homecoming Week “A Night in Vegas”
We’re excited to celebrate Homecoming Week with our TJ community! Here’s the lineup of spirit days and events. We’d love to see all our students showing their school pride and families coming out to support.
Monday – Millionaire Monday
Dress like you’re living the high life!
Homecoming Bonfire: 6:30–8:30 pm @ TJ (we’re still looking for chaperones!)
Tuesday – Day After Day
Dress how you’d feel the day after a night in Vegas.
Pack the stands! Come cheer on Softball & Tennis at 4 pm and Soccer at 6 pm.
Wednesday – Wild West Wednesday
Cowboy hats, boots, and western gear encouraged!
Thursday – Roulette Thursday
Pick your color: red, black, green, or dice-inspired.
Friday – TJ Day
Show your school spirit in Brown and Gold!
Assembly Schedule – Pep Assembly
Tailgate and Powder Puff
Football Game: 4 pm @ ACF
Let’s make it a week full of energy, pride, and community! Go TJ!
Azadeh Fathi
Assistant Principal
Monday-
Spirit Week: Millionaire Monday
Homecoming Bonfire: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday-
Spirit Week: Day After Day
Wednesday-
Spirit Week: Wild West Wednesday
Board Engagement Session at Evie Dennis: 6:00-8:00 p.m. (details below)
Thursday-
Spirit Week: Roulette Thursday
TJ Shadows: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Friday-
Spirit Week: TJ Day
TJ Tours: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Tailgate and Powder Puff Game
Homecoming Football Game: 4:00 p.m. at All City Field
Saturday-
Homecoming Dance: 8:00-11:00 p.m.
graphic by Ellie Huntsman
Congratulations to senior Ellie Huntsman on her 1,000th assist against Monarch last week! This is a remarkable accomplishment. Way to go, Ellie!
Click here to see the district message to families following the tragedy in Evergreen.
Traffic Update September 14 - September 20 S. Dahlia St. Bridge Replacement at High Line Canal
Travel Impacts
● All detours for vehicles, pedestrians, and trail users will remain in place until the end of the project.
Construction Activity
● Hallmark is working on sidewalks, curb and gutter, and prepping subgrade for paving. The project is currently on budget and on time, with completion by the end of September.
Project Contact Information For additional information about the project or requests to be added to weekly e-mail updates, contact the project team:
● Project Webpage: direc.to/mPsN
● Information Hotline: 720-730-8839
● Email: dahliaandyalebridgerehab@gmail.com
Thank you to everyone who attended our first PTO meeting of the year. It was wonderful to see so many new and familiar faces! We will have the minutes posted to the website later this month.
OCTOBER MEETING - SAVE THE DATE:
Next month's PTO meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 7 at 6pm in Room 111. Our guest speaker will be Kimberlee Sia, DPS School Board Director for Southeast Denver.
Homecoming is fast approaching and we could use your help! The theme this year is, "A Night in Vegas" and we are matching that theme with fun snacks for the dance. Please click here for the SignUp Genius and if you are able to donate, please drop them off at the main office or with Mr. Poole before the end of school on 9/19. Thank you so much for your help! We could not do this without you and your support!
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 2029
Class Committee Chairs for 2029
The October Food Bank distribution will take place on Wednesday, October 8. 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, October 5 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.
Congratulations to the actors! Just a reminder, shows will be November 13th-15th.
Does your student attend Thomas Jefferson High School?
Do you work for DPS full or part time?
Do you have construction experience?
Email Mr. Moss at Andre_Moss@dpsk12.net if you are willing to come in to help with set construction!
Link to Sign Up: https://forms.gle/Etk5GxLj26gyMNJB8
Join us for an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 24 from 6:00-6:30! Please scan the code below to RSVP.
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
Look for us at the Homecoming football game on Friday with your favorite TJ merchandise! You can also stop by the DECA store in the cafeteria after school. Feel free to email with any questions.
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Share Board Engagement Sessions Information with Your School Community
Dear School Leaders,
With only one year remaining in the implementation of the current Strategic Roadmap, it’s important that the Board of Education makes changes and modifications to its Ends Policies to drive the development of the next Strategic Roadmap.
Denver Board of Education Member, Kimberlee Sia, is holding two engagement sessions to gain feedback from the community she represents. Additionally, At-Large member, Director Scott Esserman, is also hosting two in-person engagement sessions. Feedback gathered from the sessions and the survey will directly influence the Ends Policies for the 2025-26 school year and beyond.
Session details are listed below. Please share these dates with your school community and encourage families to register and attend the session that works for them. Childcare, light refreshments and interpretation services will be available at each meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Board Liaison Lori Atwood.
Board District At Large (All of Denver)
Director Scott Esserman
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Evie Dennis Campus (4800 Telluride St.)
Board District 1 (Southeast Denver)
Kimberlee Sia, Treasurer
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Thomas Jefferson High School (3950 S Holly St.)
From the Health Office at TJ
Welcome Back! A few reminders to help keep our school healthy and safe:
- Medications- All Medications (prescription or over-the-counter) require a new provider order/signature, parent/guardian signature, and school nurse signature. The Medications authorization forms are good for 1 calendar year. Please bring medications to the health office in the original labeled container.
- Health Plans- If your student has asthma, allergies, diabetes, seizures or other health needs, please share updated action plans with the nurse.
- Keep students home if they have a fever of 100.4 F or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms of contagious illness. Notify the health office if your child is diagnosed with communicable diseases (e.g. strep, chickenpox, flu, etc.)
- Stay Connected- Please update us if your child's health changes during the school year.
Thank you for your partnership!
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. 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:
Start your applications through the Common App or directly through the schools’ website.
Be sure to review your Steps for Complete College Applications document. Using this document will help ensure your applications are complete. 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!
Complete the FAFSA application for the 26-27 school year! Click here.
Upcoming Events: For more information, please visit the Future Center schoology course calendar
Wednesday, September 17th- Northwestern University, University of Denver, and CO Mesa U Rep Visits in the TJFC during 8th period
Thursday, September 18th- University of Chicago Rep Visit in the TJFC during 4th period
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…?
Walking in nature can change your brain!
Points to ponder:
Studies have shown that urban dwellers have a higher incidence of psychological problems (when compared to people living near parks).
Brooding, is a mental state familiar to most of us, can be described as “preoccupied with depressing, morbid, or painful memories or thoughts.”
Brooding is not helpful or healthy, and can be a precursor to depression. It is disproportionately common in city dwellers.
In a small-scale study (Bratman, 2014), pre and post test data suggested that those subjects who walked in nature (versus path near busy road) showed improvements in their mental health and brain scans- they reported less focus and attention spent on the negative aspects of their lives, when compared to before the walk.
Note: during the walk, the subjects were not allowed to have companions or listen to music, but they were allowed to walk at their own pace.
So:
These results suggest that getting into natural environments could be an easy, accessible and almost immediate way to improve moods for city living folk!
Now go take a walk!
Mental Health and Social Emotional “Did You Know”: Compiled by Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP and Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW. Resources: The New York Times- How Walking In Nature Changes the Brain, July 22nd, 2015; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169204615000286
Senior Year is here!
Thank you parents-we did it! After an amazing job fundraising, its time to shift gears and focus on celebrating our seniors. Let's show up big by cheering them on at sporting events, joining in social activities, and making every moment count.
Homecoming kicks off on September 15th with lots of fun events throughout the week.
Let's make this year unforgettable for our seniors!
Mark your calendars! The Homecoming Bonfire is Monday, September 15 at 6:30pm. The Junior class is responsible for selling food at the bonfire and proceeds will go towards the Class of 2027’s fundraising efforts! We need your support and donated items to help make this event a success!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084CA8AE29A3FB6-58357541-homecoming
A big thanks to everyone who came out to support our Dairy Queen fundraiser!!!
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. 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 have a lot going on this year, starting with the Class of 2028 Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, September 13. This will be a 2-mile jaunt around the TJHS neighborhood – and it’s open to everyone. You don’t have to be a member or family member of the sophomore class to take part. While supplies last, your $20 donation will get you a T-shirt that’s sure to be a collector’s item in the future. Sign-up today. T-shirts and registrations will be at Back to School Night.
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 doing a year-round flower fundraiser. This is a great way to add some colorful flowers next spring by planting bulbs this fall – and benefiting the Class of 2028 all at the same time. If you are not looking to plant bulbs this fall, you will also find Christmas items and spring flowers. Check out the website to see what’s offered (and feel free to pass it along to friends and family who need plant ideas as well).
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.
It's time to give $29 to the Class of '29
Give $29 to the Class of '29 and help cultivate community for our students!
The Class of 2029 Class Fund supports class activities each year. If each family gives $29 we get close to our fundraising goals.
Give $29 to The Class of '29 through the PTO’s Online Square Account: https://tjhspto.betterworld.org/campaigns/class-2029-donation
Freshmen parents - we are still looking for another class parent co-chair and a class parent at-large member. Interested? Reach out to TJHSPTO@gmail.com