Hello TJ! 

It sure is a great week to be a Spartan! The pride, excitement, and joy that were on display during homecoming week was great to see! After dancing and celebrating this weekend at the homecoming festivities, go ahead and take today off. There will be no school for students today, as teachers and staff will have the opportunity to come together for professional learning. 

This year, all students will complete universal behavioral and emotional health screening using the Behavior and Emotional Screening System (BESS) during the school day. We use this information to help guide interventions and supports for students.

If you, the parent/caregiver, would like to confirm or revoke your opt-out decision, please do so by calling the front office.

Be on time and attend all of your classes! Look for the positive things that happen throughout your day! Make this week a great week! 

Thank you,

Michelle Killian
Assistant Principal

Monday-

• No Students - Professional Learning Day

Tuesday-

• Regular School Day

Wednesday- 

• Class of 2028 Chipotle Fundraiser (details below)

• Ireland 2026 trip informational meeting: 6:00-6:30 p.m. in room 111 (details below)

Thursday-

• School Picture Retakes (details below)

Friday-

• Regular School Day

Saturday-

• Thanks to all of the students and staff who made all of the Homecoming events a huge success! Special thanks to the spirited staff members below who surprised us and graced us with their talent at the pep rally!

• Congrats to two of TJ's amazing artists, Naweed Hakimi and Laine Gaherty!

• Congratulations to the JROTC students! See below for a recap.

Travel Impacts

● S. Dahlia St. is expected to be opened to traffic by Friday, 9/26 at the latest.
● The Highline Canal Trail is expected to be opened and the detour will be removed by Friday, 9/26 at the latest.

Construction Activity

● Hallmark is in the process of placing pedestrian sidewalks and paving the new bridge.
● Even though the road will be open, minor construction work will continue with the possibility of lane shifts and/or flagging traffic through the work zone.

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

OCTOBER MEETING - SAVE THE DATE: 

Next month's PTO meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 7 from 6-7 in Room 111. Our guest speaker will be Kimberlee Sia, DPS School Board Director, who represents Southeast Denver. 

Thank you to everyone who attended September’s meeting! You can find our meeting minutes here.

A HUGE Thank You to everyone who donated snacks for the Homecoming dance! The kids were well fed thanks to your support! Thank you so much for making their night extra special! 

It is a tradition here at TJ to provide dinner for the teachers/staff during parent teacher conferences.  In-person conferences will be held this year on Wednesday, October 8th and our staff will be at school all day.  Please use this link to sign up to bring something for the staff dinner and instructions for where to bring everything.  We could not do it without you!  Thanks so much for helping! If you have questions, please call or text Beth Hockett at 720-448-3381.

Questions? Want to get involved? Join our e-mail list: TJHSPTO@gmail.com

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.

Starting Tuesday 9/23/2025 The Denver Health School Based Health Center at TJ will begin offering flu shots.

• Students must be consented to receive care at the clinic. If you are not consented at the School-Based Health Center, you can pick up a consent form at the clinic which lasts for 4 years.  

• Appointments are required. Families may call the clinic at 303-602-8958 to schedule an appointment. Students that are already consented to be seen at the clinic can stop by to schedule an appointment.

• Covid-19 vaccines are not available at this time.

If your student is already consented, please reach out directly to make an appointment for their flu shot.

In addition, families can also get free flu shots and OTHER vaccines at local Safeway and King Soopers pharmacies for free.  Walk-ins or appointments are welcome, and many locations even offer grocery discounts with your vaccination.

King Soopers

https://www.kingsoopers.com/health/schedule-appointment

Safeway

https://www.kingsoopers.com/health/schedule-appointment

For any questions, please contact TJ Health Office
Sarah Perry, RN
720-423-7061

Link to Sign Up:  https://forms.gle/Etk5GxLj26gyMNJB8

TJ Interact is hosting a Fundraiser for type 1 Diabetes. Click here for more information!

Join us for an informational meeting on Wednesday, September 24 from 6:00-6:30! Please scan the code below to RSVP.

Student-run ACE business, Spartafill, attended their first market of the season at the U-Hills Farmers Market, located at Wellshire Presbyterian Church 

Come join us again on October 4th 9-1pm (2999 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80222).

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

Score the latest styles, cuts and colors at great prices—customized and delivered to you with new discounts every week. 

» Shop your Spartans Sideline Store

For in-house gear stop by the DECA store in the cafeteria after school. Feel free to email with any questions.

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. 

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

• Colorado Free App Days are coming up soon! Be sure to start your applications NOW so you are ready to submit on October 7th-9th! Here’s all the info you need! 

Upcoming Events: For more information, please visit the Future Center schoology course calendar 

Thursday, September 25th- Boettcher Foundation Webinar: Scholarships 

Wednesday, October 1st- FAFSA Application OPENS- for US citizens and eligible non-citizens and CASFA application OPENS- for CO ASSET students/non-US citizen residents. Complete your applications ASAP! 

Thursday, October 2nd- Davidson College, U of Puget Sound, and Western CO University Rep Visits in the TJ Future Center

Saturday, October 4th- In and Out of State College Fair at Mountain Vista HS

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...?

 There are some quick easy things you can do if you are feeling stuck, or need new ideas in solving a problem. 

1. Change Environments! A disruption in your everyday life may provide the force needed to alter the direction of your thinking. For some people, small changes might help (reorganizing your desk or taking a new route to work), whereas for others, more upheaval (a new job) is required. 
   

2. Look as if You’ve Never Seen: Try approaching situations (even routine ones) as if you were encountering them for the first time; “beginner’s mind” allows you to remain open to new experiences despite any expertise you may have. For example, when you  are brushing your teeth, take a moment to look at the toothbrush as if you’ve never laid eyes on it- observe its color, shape, size. 
   

3. Viva la Difference: The mere presence of individuals from different backgrounds with different points of view in your everyday life creates an atmosphere in which people can better respond to change. 
   

4. Shift into Positivity: Unlike negative emotions that trigger specific reactions, positive emotions prompt us to broaden our attention, explore our environment, and open ourselves to absorbing new information. Take a few moments to think about the things in your life that are going well and for which you are grateful; this will automatically brighten your mood, AND free your brain! 

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

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! 

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and donated food for the Homecoming Bonfire! Your support made the night a success! We couldn’t have done it without you!

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 

The Class of 2028’s first restaurant fundraiser of the year is coming up Wednesday, September 24 at the Chipotle at 7350 E Hampden from 4-8pm.  Stop by and let them know you are from TJ or order online using code WYDRC8K.

THANK YOU to the 40+ students, parents and community members who took part and volunteered to be a part of the inaugural TJHS Fun Run/Walk on September 13. We had a great time meeting new people and exploring the neighborhood together.

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 amazing after-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