Dear TJHSST Families,
We did it, one week down! Everyone seems to be adjusting to their new routines and our new students seem to be getting used to life at TJ. In my walks around the school, I've seen a lot of happy faces and community building both student-to-teacher and student-to-student.
I've wanted to send one final Back-to-School News You Choose newsletter before we settle into the routine of once a month updates. (The September newsletter will come out on September 6). I have a few new updates that you will want to check out including:
- Back-to-School Night Reminders
- An Invitation to our Back to School Bash
- TJ's Meditation and Reflection Room
- Lockdown Drills
- 9th, 10th, and 11th grade student photo days
- A look back at our first week of class (follow us on Instagram!)
Back-to-School Night for parents/guardians of the Class of 2025 (12th grade) and the Class of 2028 (9th grade) is this Tuesday, August 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is a chance for parents/guardians to meet and greet their student's teachers and hear a general overview of each class.
Families from those classes received an E-Notify from Communications Specialist Mike Roth on Thursday, August 22 with all the logistical details of the event. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to him.
Class of 2026 (11th grade) and Class of 2027 (10th grade) families, your Back-to-School Night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. You will receive an E-Notify from Mr. Roth on Thursday, August 29 with all the logistical details.
TJ Families - We would love to see you at the annual BACK TO SCHOOL BASH (BTSB)!
The BTSB is this Thursday, August 29th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on the Practice Field. It is FREE to attend. There will be Food Trucks, a mobile video game truck, inflatables, games and more! Come out and enjoy the festivities!
At 7:00 p.m., come cheer on our TJ Football Team. Tickets to the game are only $5.00 for students, $7.00 for adults
TJ Students - The AUDLOB will be available for you to drop off personal belongings until 5:00 p.m. Bring a lock to secure your items. If you would like to bring your backpack to BTSB and the football game, that is permitted. Any items stored in the AUDLOB will be available for pick-up at the end of the 3rd quarter of the football game.
We hope to see you there!
Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.
Update Contact Information
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to their child’s school.
Complete Permission Forms
Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Submit Absences
Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Note: Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to the school front office.
Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet? Our Department of Student Services sent you an activation code over the summer. If you cannot find it, please reach out to us for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Please remember that each year, TJ families are required to fill out the TJ Residency Verification Form.
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The Residency Verification Form (Online Submission)
- This online Google Form needs to be filled out at the beginning of the year. It is the confirmation that you remain a resident in one of TJHSST’s participating jurisdictions (FCPS, Prince William, Loudoun, Falls Church, Arlington)
New for the 2024-25 School Year - Starting August 19th, parents/guardians can report up to two (2) consecutive full-day absences using ParentVUE. Here are instructions on how to do so.
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. At TJ, we have a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan for our school that is reviewed and updated regularly. Our plan includes procedures on how to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Students and staff regularly practice these drills every school year. We also practice lockdown drills.
A Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. However, we are not required to share the exact date and time of the drill. We are required to practice lockdown drills two times a year. Therefore, this message serves as notification of our plans to conduct the required drills this year. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training; they are instruction and classroom based.
Students will view a video preparing them for the lockdown drill during Advisory on September 4. The lockdown drill will occur soon after that.
Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. After reviewing this content, you should discuss the value of these safety drills with your child.
Keeping TJ safe and secure for all students and staff involves the participation of the entire school community, and we thank you for your help to keep our school safe.
This message is intended for our Class of 2025 Parents/Guardians
We wanted to just send a reminder of some information that was shared with you in an E-Notify that was sent on August 1 by Dr. Bonitatibus. On Thursday, August 29 at 10:00 a.m. our Department of Student Services will be hosting a webinar for parent/guardians of the Class of 2025 regarding important senior year topics.
The webinar will include information on college applications, transcript requests, graduation, etc. It will be the same information that the seniors themselves will receive in a meeting the day before on Wednesday, August 28.
Class of 2025 families will receive a Zoom link for this webinar via an E-Notify next Tuesday so be sure to check your inboxes.
This coming Monday, August 26, 2024 will be a Red Day - periods 5, 6, 7, and advisory will be held. The reason for this is there is no school on Friday, August 30 as we begin the four-day Labor Day weekend holiday.
All Fairfax County Public Schools have a designated Meditation and Reflection Space within school premises that is available for individuals to engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, irrespective of their religious or non-religious beliefs.
TJ has one Meditation and Silent Reflection Space that is easily accessible to accommodate the needs of students and staff. The space we have designated is room 104, located right next to our Health Clinic. Individuals using the space shall respect the rights and beliefs of others.
The main purpose of these spaces within FCPS schools is to ensure that students and staff of all backgrounds have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school division. Here are some specific rules from FCPS:
- The meditation and silent reflection space is intended for personal use, and individuals using the space shall respect the rights and beliefs of others.
- The meditation and silent reflection space may be used for individual or group prayer, meditation, or silent reflection.
- The use of the meditation and silent reflection space is voluntary, and no student or staff member will be compelled to use or participate in activities within the space.
- Individuals using the meditation and silent reflection space shall abide by these rules and guidelines while using the space.
- Students whose religious beliefs require them to pray at a specific time that coincides with instructional time can be accommodated, on a case-by-case basis.
- Parents/caregivers must provide written permission for a student to miss instructional time as a religious accommodation.
- All requests for accommodations during instructional time should be directed to the student's grade-level administrator.
- All school staff are expected to abide by approved accommodation requests for individual students.
This space is available to all students and staff during regular school hours. If the dedicated space in room 104 needs to change because of other needs at the school, we will inform everyone accordingly.
If a student needs to use the room during a specific time that coincides with instructional time, then they will need a parent or guardians written permission to do so. If your child needs this accommodation, please reach out to their grade level administrator to make arrangements.
To ensure that the space remains inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all, we ask that students who wish to store personal items do so in the labeled areas and that they always return the space to the configuration we have posted in the room. TJ is not responsible for personal items stored in the room. Also, students who do not respect the posted protocols may lose the privilege of using the space. We thank everyone for accommodating our students’ and staff’s diverse needs.
The following message is from our Safety and Security Department:
- During school hours, there is no parking in front of the school. This is a fire lane. If you are picking up or dropping off your student, pull into the visitor lot for the drop off or pick up. Then proceed off campus. All visitors need to park in the visitor lot.
- For our bus riders we have been receiving feedback from our bus depot locations. We ask that you drop off your student and leave. If your location has a parking lot, please utilize the parking lot. There should not be any standing or parking in front of schools.
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For Fairfax County residents/students only, Late Buses are due to begin next week. The start date is August 28. Late buses will be on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The departure time will be 6:30 p.m. These buses will be located outside of door 12, along the curb.
- Student drivers are not to park in spots designated for staff only. Please observe the signs that are posted. Students can park in the back parking lot, on the access road nearest the practice field and in the stadium parking lot. Parking passes need to be visible starting Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Parents/Guardians of 9th, 10th, and 11th graders - Underclassman picture days will take place on September 10-11 through English classes. Here is some more information from our vendor:
🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001138826#login
📸 Images Available: Approximately two-three weeks after picture day
📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com
Timelapse of Senior Sunrise and photo gallery on Instagram
One of the really neat traditions at TJ is the Senior Sunrise. On the first day of school, the new senior class will gather at the main stadium at 5:45 a.m. and watch the sunrise while enjoying each others company. It is symbolic of the adventure that the Class of 2025 is about go on. On the last day of school they will gather again, this time at night, and celebrate with the Senior Sunset.
Be sure to check the link above which shows a timelapse of the event, along with some photos.
Geosystems Works on History of the Planet
AP Economics Learns How Countries Use Trade to Grow
Freshmen Get TJ Pennants After Learning About 8th Period
Honors Physics Tries to Measure Pi
Design and Technology Makes Paper Towers
We had a lot of fun during the opening week of school. Everyone began to establish routines, while teachers had a lot of unique activities to help everyone get to know each other while learning in the process!
The links above lead to the TJ Instagram page and highlight some of the different activities that happened during our opening week of school!
No experience? No problem! Coaches will introduce you to the game of football in a safe and encouraging environment. Feel free to watch practice this week and see if Football could be for you! Practices are 4:30 after school on most days.
Questions? – contact Coach Kramer – tdkramer@fcps.edu
Need to get ahold of someone at TJ? Here is some commonly requested contact information:
Main Office - 703-750-8300
Attendance Office - thomasjeffersonhigh.attendance@fcps.edu
Student Services - 703-750-8340
Student Activities - 703-750-8333
Security - 703-750-8331
Administration Contact Information
Dr. Ann Bonitatibus - Principal
Mr. Shawn Frank - Assistant Principal (oversees Class of 2025 and World Language, Art, Music, and Physical Education Division)
Ms. Yaara Crane - Assistant Principal (oversees Class of 2026 Science and Technology Division)
Ms. Chrystal Benson - Assistant Principal (oversees Class of 2027 and Mathematics and Computer Science Division)
Ms. Volita Russell - Assistant Principal (oversees Class of 2028 and Humanities Division)
Ms. Sara Genetin - Director of Student Services (oversees Counselors, Social Worker, School Psychologist and other staff providing student support)
Mr. Dylan Forshay - Director of Student Activities (oversees Activities Office, 8th Period, Athletic Office, Building Maintenance, Custodians, Food Services)
Mr. Leo Resquin - Director of Technology (oversees Technology Team, Testing Tech Support, tjSTAR, Safety and Security/Transportation)
Mr. Mike Roth - Communications Specialist (oversees NewsYouChoose and eNotify, Event promotions, print/digital text, photo, video, Social Media accounts, TJHSST Webmaster and Visitors US & International (TJPF)
For another specific staff member, please use our Staff Directory to find contact information.
Be sure to visit Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology On its official social media channel on Instagram @OfficialTJHSST for pictures and highlights of all the fun events and activities going on at TJ! (Please note that we have discontinued use of our X/Twitter account).
We'd love it if you give us a follow!
Aug. 26: This Monday will be a Red Day - periods 5, 6, 7, and advisory will be held.
Aug. 27: Back to School Night will be held in-person at TJ for the Class of 2025 and the Class of 2028 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Aug. 29: Back to School Bash held after school at TJ Athletic Fields.
Aug. 30-Sept. 2: Labor Day Holiday. No school on Friday, August 30 or Monday, Sept. 2.
Sept. 4: Back to School Night will be held in-person at TJ for the Class of 2026 and the Class of 2027 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Sept. 23-27: TJ's annual homecoming week.
Sept. 28 - TJ's Homecoming Dance in evening
Oct. 2: Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Rosh Hashanah begins in evening) - school remains in session with normal hours, no activities in evening.
Oct. 3: No School for students or staff (Rosh Hashanah)
Oct. 4: Teacher Work Day - No school for students.
Oct. 9: PSAT (10th and 11th grade) SAT (12th grade)
Oct. 11: Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Yom Kippur begins in evening) - school remains in session with normal hours, no activities in evening.
Oct. 14: Staff Development Day - No school for students.
Oct. 21: First Quarter Catch-Up Day at TJ
Oct. 31: End of first quarter - Modified Red Day with 2-hour early release
Nov. 1: No School for students or staff (Diwali)
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