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September 29, 2025
Good Morning TJ,
I can't believe that we're already 6 weeks through the school year! As we flip the calendar this week from September to October I wanted to highlight some upcoming events as these next few weeks are packed!
September 24th - October 8th: Student Count window. Student attendance is CRITICAL during this time period as this time period determines how TJ (and other schools around the state) are funded. Go To School!
October 8th: In-person Parent Teacher Conferences 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
October 9th: PSAT/NMSQT for 9th graders ONLY 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.** (10th,11th, and 12th do not have class)
October 9th: Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
October 10th: PSAT/NMSQT for 10th and 11th grade students ONLY 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.** (9th grade and 12th grade students do not have class)
THIS IS FOR STANDARD TEST TIME ONLY - IF YOUR STUDENT HAS EXTENDED TIME THEY WILL BE DONE LATER
October 13th: No Classes for ALL students
October 21st: Challenge Day for 11th grade ONLY (last names A-L)
October 22nd: Challenge Day for 11th grade ONLY (last names M-Z)
October 24th: College Fair
October 31st: No Classes for ALL students
Have a great week TJ and Go Spartans!
Mike Christoff
Principal
Monday-
Regular School Day
Tuesday-
Board Engagement Community Meeting (details below): 5:30-9:00 p.m.
Wednesday-
Regular School Day
Thursday-
TJ Shadows: 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Friday-
TJ Tours: 9:00-11:00 a.m.
First Friday Fall Festival (details below)
Saturday-
NCI Training: 7:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Congrats to the new members of the TJ Hall of Fame! There was a wonderful induction ceremony last week. Thanks to Andrew Skari, Grant Laman, and Mike Christoff, and anyone else who made this possible!
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.
We are still looking for a couple of parent volunteers to be the Class of 2029 Parent Representatives and the Class of 2029 Member At-Large. Interested? Please contact TJHSPTO@gmail.com
DONATIONS NEEDED FOR STAFF APPRECIATION DINNER - WED 10/8
On Wednesday, October 8, TJ’s PTO will host its first teacher appreciation event of the year by providing dinner during Parent Teacher Conferences. Teachers will be busy meeting with families that night, so we will serve a dinner of soup and sandwiches to keep them going!
A few volunteers are also needed to help during dinner - see the sign up for shifts during 3:30-7:30 PM. Please help make this dinner a huge success by signing up here!
Dropping Off Your Food Donations: On Wednesday, October 8th, drop off your item in Room 111 between 3:30-4:00pm. If your item does not need to be refrigerated or heated, you can drop it off in the main office kitchen on Wednesday before 3pm. Soups, stews and chili should be delivered ready to serve in a crockpot fitted with a liner to help us with clean up. We have plenty of serving utensils so no need to bring any of your own. The staff truly appreciates your support during this busy evening. If you have questions or need to contact someone on the day of the event, please call or text Beth Hocket at 720.448.3381. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
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.
The Denver Health School Based Health Center at TJ is now 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!
Get Some TJ Swag and Support a Great Cause
AVID Seniors are fundraising to get Computers for College
Buy a shirt (or preorder a hoodie) $15 Email erepens@dpsk12.net to order
Help these Seniors meet their goals to be better prepared for College!
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.
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 1 (Southeast Denver)
Kimberlee Sia, Treasurer
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Thomas Jefferson High School (3950 S Holly St.)
Spartan Seniors and Families,
Click here to learn more about the Denver Scholarship Foundation and the DSF Scholarship.
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!
FAFSA (free application for federal student aid) is OPEN NOW! Apply today! Even if you are not eligible for federal aid, many colleges use the results of the application to determine institutional aid. We recommend that all families complete the application in a timely manner for best results.
Upcoming Events: For more information, please visit the Future Center schoology course calendar
Wednesday, October 1st- 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, Reed College Admissions Counselor Visit in Denver
Monday, October 6th- Boettcher Foundation Scholarships webinar 5pm, University of California Night at Cherry Creek HS- rsvp required, Link your Common App to MAIA- DUE
Tuesday, October 7th and Wednesday, October 8th- CO Free App Days support in Room 111 all day!
Thursday, October 9th- Out of State College Fair at South HS 5:30pm
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 is one quick and easy way to help your mental health?
Cutting your social media use to 30 minutes a day lowers:
Anxiety
Depression
Loneliness
FoMO (fear of missing out)
Children and adolescents ESPECIALLY need help with this, as some of their cognitive abilities (such as emotional and behavioral regulation) are not fully developed yet.
To help you regulate specific app time limits for yourself, or a family member, go to:
Settings, Screen Time, then App Limits.
Mental Health and Social Emotional “Did You Know”: Compiled by Natalie Koncz, Ed.S., NCSP and Samanda Davis, LCSW, MSW. Resources: BHG October 2023; MSU Denver; NPR
We’re excited to share that the Class of 2026 graduation ceremony is officially scheduled for Tuesday, May 26th at 2:00 p.m. at DU.
Between now and then, seniors can look forward to a variety of fun and memorable activities. Be sure to mark your calendars—we don’t want anyone to miss this special day!
Stay tuned for upcoming restaurant nights in October and November!
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 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 (Class of 2028 TJ high school) to see what’s offered (and feel free to pass it along to friends and family who need plant ideas as well).
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