Message from the Principal

Dear TJHSST Families,

What an incredible "homecoming" this year has been! Returning to my alma mater as your principal has truly been a dream come true, and I want to express my deepest gratitude for the incredibly warm welcome you've all extended. Working alongside TJ's phenomenal students, dedicated staff, and supportive families has made my first semester back an absolute whirlwind – in the best possible way.

Together, we've achieved so much in a short time. The unwavering dedication and hard work of our students and staff continue to be the bedrock of what makes TJ the extraordinary institution it is. And to our parents and the PTSA, I cannot thank you enough for your invaluable insight, tireless support, and commitment to our shared vision. Your partnership is truly vital.

As we look ahead, there's so much to be excited about! Next year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 40 years of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. I'm already looking forward to commemorating this incredible legacy with all of you. I feel incredibly fortunate to be back at TJ, ready to champion new opportunities that will empower our students as they innovate and build toward an even brighter future.

I'm eagerly anticipating my first full academic year as your principal, and I wish every one of you a truly wonderful and restorative summer break.

Regards,

Michael Mukai

Principal

#OneTJ

• IMPORTANT UPDATES
• FAMILY AND STUDENT RESOURCES
• CELEBRATIONS!
• FEATURES
• GENERAL INFORMATION

IMPORTANT UPDATES

Join Us for the Class of 2025 Graduation this Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. inside EagleBank Arena!

We invite the TJ community to join us this Wednesday, June 11 inside EagleBank Arena at 9:30 a.m. as we celebrate the Class of 2025 at their commencement ceremony! Come honor the 37th graduation class of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology!

If you cannot make it in person you watch via a livestream broadcast!

TJ will have a graduation rehearsal on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in the TJHSST main gym. Attendance is mandatory. Seniors should arrive at TJ after 9:00 a.m. and be seated in the TJ Main Gym by 9:25 a.m. for the start of rehearsal. Graduation rehearsal is for students only. Seniors - please check Schoology for full details on how the rehearsal is structured. 

Remember you can visit the Class of 2025 FAQ website. It has all the details/dates about the final days of school, graduation, and obligations there. If you have any questions please reach out Senior Class Administrator Assistant Principal Volita Russell.

Thank You for Your Service to FCPS! TJ Staff Members Recognized for Years of Service

As the year comes to an end, we'd like to recognize the following staff members for reaching these years of service milestones with FCPS. We appreciate all you do for our kids and TJ!

Goodbye and Thank You for Making a Difference - TJ Retirements

We would like to recognize Social Studies teacher Teresa Hamrick, as well as Instructional Assistant Vicky Plescow, who are retiring at the conclusion of the school year. We thank you for everything you have done for the students and TJ, and wish you all well as you embark on your new adventures!

Underclass Laptop Collection Information

Here is information and the dates in which our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders should turn in their FCPSOn laptop. Please note that this end of year collection is for all students not participating in summer school. 

• Monday, June 9: Once final exams are complete, please turn in your device AND charger at our FCPSOn Laptop collection station near the Art Gallery.
• Tuesday, June 10: Last opportunity to return equipment near the Art Gallery.

Please Pick Up All Medications from Health Room by June 10

Note from the TJ School Nurse:

All medication stored in the health room must be picked up by 11am Tuesday, June 10.  Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed. With parent or guardian permission, students may transport over-the-counter medications and some prescription medications to and from the school health room. It is school policy that any controlled medications be picked up by the parent or guardian. Please call the health room at 703-750-8320 if you have any questions about the medication pick up process.  

Overdue TJHSST Obligations

Free, Self-Paced SAT and PSAT Prep

TJ is proud to offer independent SAT and PSAT practice at no cost for all rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. This opportunity provides valuable resources to help students prepare at their own pace. Students received an email on May 27 from Albert.io via their FCPS Gmail account with details on how to access the program. We appreciate your continued support in encouraging your student’s academic success.

NOVA Early Online College Fall 2025 Semester Registration

NOVA’s Early Online College is back for the Fall 2025 Semester!

NOVA Early Online College (EOC) allows rising high school juniors and seniors (will be 11th and 12th graders in 25-26 SY) the opportunity to take up to 2 tuition free college courses. Check out this flyer.

Registration is open now and deadline is 5pm on July 25. Classes begin Sept. 22 and end Dec. 16.

Questions? Email nmshaikh@fcps.edu.

Calling All TJ Alumni - Save the Date for 40th Anniversary Celebration - Oct. 24-25, 2025

Calling all TJ Alumni! - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology opened in the Fall of 1985 and will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this fall! 

Be sure to save the dates of October 24-25, 2025 to come back home to Northern Virginia for our 40th Anniversary celebration! 

On Friday, October 24 there will be a tailgating event before the football game, plus a recognition opportunity during halftime.

On Saturday, October 25 there will be opportunities to tour TJ, participate in panels, and record your story as part of the "Oral History of TJ" project. 

The event will conclude with an offsite gala that evening!

We will also officially unveil Alumni Hall this weekend and reveal the details of our brand new Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame!

Please keep an eye out this summer for emails from both TJ Director of Communications Mike Roth and the TJ Partnership Fund with more details on the event. If you are interested in more details or want to provide some of your memories towards the celebration, please fill out this Google Form. 

FAMILY AND STUDENT RESOURCES

How to Apply for Free and Reduced Meals and Fee Waivers

Free/Reduced Application information and forms for qualified families (Online Submission)

FCPS offers nutritious meals every school day.  Your child may qualify for free meals or reduced-price meals at TJHSST. Students who qualify for reduced-price meals receive breakfast and lunch at no cost.  For information on how to apply for Free and Reduced-price meals, please visit the link above.  The online free and reduced-price meals application is available in 8 languages and can be completed on mobile devices.  It needs to re-apply annually.

Consent to Share Form (PDF)

If you have children eligible for the Free and Reduced-price meals program, they may also be eligible to participate in other FCPS fee-based programs without paying a fee or by paying a reduced fee.

This would include things that are specified in FCPS Notice 5922. Those are:

• Musical Instrument fees
• Driver Education fees
• Student Parking fees
• Career and Technical Education Certification fees
• Fine Arts fees
• Technology and Engineering Education Material fees
• Online Campus fees
• Advanced Placement fees (after six exams)
• Returned Check fees

You are also eligible to receive information about scholarships, classes and services that are provided by agencies and organizations other than FCPS.

In order to receive the benefits, you have to fill out the Consent to Share Form (please visit the link above), a written agreement allowing FCPS staff to share information about your children's meal eligibility status.

Dietary Accommodations for Students

In recognition of National Food Allergy Awareness Month, the Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) wants to emphasize that it has implemented a standardized process for dietary accommodations. This ensures that FCPS students receive safe and healthy food.

The Dietary Accommodations information provides step-by-step guidance for families to follow to ensure safe and appropriate food is provided to their student(s). This guidance includes needing a Medical Dietary Accommodation Form to be signed by a Licensed Health Care Provider and forwarded to FNS.

For students who need a milk substitute, the Milk Substitution Form signed by a Parent/Guardian must also be on file with FNS. 

Forms are to be emailed to dietary.forms.fns@fcps.edu by parents/guardians. FNS Registered Dietitians on staff will then contact the family to begin planning safe meals for their student and place an alert on the student’s file at the register

No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students

Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as:

• Mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss.
• Anxiety, worry, fears.
• Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships.
• Academic stress.

Students can be referred by a guardian or designated school staff member. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or by contacting an FCPS school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.

TJ Sports & Camp Physical Event

We wanted to provide you with an update to the TJ Sports Physical Fundraiser event.

We were not able to get enough medical providers to volunteer at our May 27 event. Therefore, we have moved the date to JULY 30 in hopes of recruiting more help. This event will be held at TJ and be combined for TJ, Marshall, and Lewis.

Here is the link to sign up for the waiting list. https://forms.gle/ZoVMqAZbV6tnGRPR8

We still need medical providers to help at this event. Please let us know if you have any MD, DO, NP, or PA practitioners that will be willing to volunteer.

Preparing for 2025-2026 School Year Athletics - New VHSL Physical Form

Legislation introduced in the Virginia General Assembly and recently signed into law will result in two significant changes to the athletic pre-participation examination (physical) requirements for FCPS student-athletes:

• Beginning July 1, 2025, athletic physicals will be considered valid for a period of 14 months from the date the form is signed by the medical provider completing the exam.  This is the date on page 3 of the VHSL Athletic Participation/Parent Consent/Physical Examination Form (revised January 2021).
• Beginning May 1, 2025, athletic physicals SHOULD be completed on the new VHSL Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Evaluation Form (revised April 2025).
• Link to that form on our website: https://tts-livesite.rschooltoday.com/sites/tjsports.org/files/files/Private_User/HRMurphy/VHSL%20PHYSICAL%20APRIL%202025.pdf
• Pages 1, 2 and 3 are mandatory. Please consider turning in all 6 pages so we are aware of your student’s medical history.

Please reach out to Head Athletic Trainer Heather Murphy if you have any questions or concerns regarding the TJ physical event or changes to the VHSL PPE form or date changes.

See you on the sidelines!

CELEBRATIONS!

Four TJ Projects Earn Awards at International Science and Engineering Fair

All of the FCPS students at the ISEF competition (including our TJ students)

TJ had six projects compete at the 75th Annual International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio last month, with four of them winning awards! Here is a list of the winners and their category.

• Oliver Wang - First Award in Sustainable Materials and Design for his project: A Hybrid Hydrogel-Heat Sink for Enhancing GPU Performance, Solar Panel Efficiency, and Electric Vehicle Range
• Ansh Malhotra and Anush Devkar - Third Award in Embedded Systems for their project: BrailleSense: A Modular, Low-Cost Solution for Accessible Braille Displays
• Sarah Park - Fourth Award in Biomedical Engineering for her project:  Revolutionizing Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Monitoring With AI-Powered Infrared Spectroscopy
• Nikhil Krishna and Nived Nandakumar - Fourth Award in Physics and Astronomy for their project: A Comprehensive Machine Learning Paradigm for Space Debris Surveillance: An Integrated Triple Model Framework for Identification, Orbital Prediction, and Collision Risk Evaluation
• Sarah Park also received a Special Award from NC State College of Engineering, providing full scholarship to their weeklong Engineering Summer Camp.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2024-25 Science Fair season!

Fifteen More Students Earn National Merit Scholarships

FCPS Release

National Merit Scholarship Winners on TJ Instagram

You may remember in the May News You Choose newsletter when we revealed that Samarth Bhargav and Claire Chen had each won National Merit Corporate Scholarships. Well we have even more good news as we can now reveal that 15 students join them by winning traditional National Merit Scholarships this year! We made up more than half of the 28 winners throughout FCPS! Each will receive a scholarship from the NMSC’s funds. Here are our 15 winners with probable career field in parenthesis.

Sanchali Banerjee (science/research)
Arnav Bhalla (medicine)
Logan Bradley (computer science)
Dhruv Chandna (computer science)
Avni Garg (applied mathematics)
Jason Hao (financial quantitative analysis)
Sophia Huang (computer science)
Grace Im (law)
Rohan Kotla (medicine)
Sophia Zhang Lin (computer science)
Eloise Minnigh (veterinary medicine)
Phoebe Pan (biomedical engineering)
Samvrit Rao (orthopedics)
Patrick Shi (bioinformatics)
Ray Zhang (science/research)

Congratulations to these seniors and good luck in your continued educational experience!

Kudos

In each newsletter we want to give some quick shout outs to TJ staff, students, teams, and alumni.

• National Champions! Congratulations to Dr. Stickler and the TJ Ocean Bowl Team for taking the title at the National Ocean Science Bowl on May 17! The competition featured 18 teams from throughout the United States who had won regional competitions. 
• TJ had a fantastic showing at the Science Olympiad with all four of its teams winning an award. Awards earned were:
  • 3rd Place Medal in Anatomy and Physiology
  • 4th Place Medal in Entomology
  • 6th Place Medal in Geologic Mapping
  • 6th Place Medal in Engineering CAD

• TJ's Technology Student Association (TSA) cleaned up at the Virginia TSA Technosphere in early May. We were named the 2024-25 Van Dyke Award winner as the Virginia High School Chapter of the Year! Senior Megan Sawant was the Wilcox Scholarship Awardee!
  • In addition two of our students will be officers in the Virginia TSA next year with Shirdi Palle being elected President, and Avni Patel being elected Vice President!
  • The picture above is the full team with the awards they won!
• Congratulations to the TJ Chess Team on their performance at Supernationals in Orlando May 10-11, represented by 15 of our students. We took second amongst high school teams both in the main event and in Blitz (which is speed chess). In the JV section we were the top high school in the country and finished first overall!
• Our two students who qualified earlier this year for the American Chemistry Society National Chemistry Olympiad exam got their results recently. Competing against over 1,000 other students from across the country:
  • Hrishi Desai earned the designation of High Honors, awarded to the top 50 competitors in the country.
  • Hrishi Bhooma earned the designation of Honors, awarded to the next top 100 competitors in the country after High Honors.
• On the biology side, great job by freshman Rithik Samanthula for winning the American Regional Biology Competition! He wanted to be sure to thank Dr. Del Cerro and Ms. Leonard for their support and introducing him to the Biology Olympiad Club.
• Congratulations to the TJ Envirothon Team for a third place finish at the Virginia State Championship! They took first in several individual categories on their way to their best ever finish!
• The National Council of Teacher's of English (NCTE) announced its Achievement Awards in Writing on May 20. TJ had an incredible eight winners, all ranking in the top two designations of First Class or Superior!
  • Earning a First Class ranking were:
    • Sophia Dipasupil
    • Minati Divakar
    • Breanne Graham
    • Rayna Kim
    • Justin Yu
  • Earning a Superior ranking were:
    • Aryaa Sharma
    • Abeni Smith
    • Sophia Tzvetanov
• Sophomore Ami Le won the Wayfinder Creator of the Year Award in their national Future-Ready Storytelling Challenge contest. Watch her winning video "From Vietnam to the US: A Story of Adaptability." 

• Congrats to the Latin students (pictured above) who came in second place out of more than 100 teams around the country in the Latin League Tournament – with 6 challenging monthly competitions testing their knowledge of Latin grammar and translation, etymology, classical mythology, Roman and Greek history, classical art and architecture and more.

• Congratulations to our Spring Athletes from the Class of 2025. (pictured above). This spring from baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, track, and lacrosse, 80 student-athletes were recognized for their contributions and dedication to TJ Athletics. Best of luck on your future endeavors.

• Kudos from Wenjie to Joseph, Junpei, Ming, Margaret, Tanya, Tahira, the Tech team, the custodian team, the office team, the Student Services team and the Admin team for your support and assistance at the in-person registration. I’d like to express my hearty appreciation and gratitude to all of you for being a wonderful teammate!! Enjoy your summer!

TJ Honors All Team and District Athletic Champions for 2024-25 School Year

TJ District Champions Award Ceremony Photo Gallery on Instagram

On May 28 during 8B TJ honored all of its District Champs in every sport throughout the year. We gave medals to all individual district champs (several of them won more than one!), as well as medals and patches to our team district champs!

Over 140 athletes were honored for their achievements on the field this season!

FEATURES

Seniors Showcase their Year's Work at Annual tjSTAR

Photo Gallery of tjSTAR on Instagram

One of the hallmarks of the TJHSST program is the Senior Research Lab. This allows students to work on an independent research project of their choosing for the entire year.

Since 2009, students have had the opportunity to showcase their work at the annual Thomas Jefferson Symposium to Advance Research (tjSTAR). Held during the school day on May 21, each group was assigned a presentation block where they were able to present their findings to their peers and parents. 

The event also featured a keynote speech from TJ alum Chappy Asel '17, who went into the world of AI and how he has gotten involved in it since graduating from TJ.

Thank you to the student-led tjSTAR Committee for organizing the event (it is a tremendous undertaking each year) and thank you to the TJ Partnership Fund for your grant that makes running tjSTAR possible! 

Freshmen Have their Time to Shine at IBEST Symposium

Photo Gallery of IBEST Symposium on Instagram

The Class of 2028 also had an opportunity to show off their hard work and put a bow on their freshmen experience with the annual IBEST Symposium on June 2! 

After a warm welcome from Mr. Mukai, the cohorts went to the gym to display their posters. There were four total shifts, with about 25 percent of the students presenting at one time, while the other 75 percent would go around to the presentations and ask questions. Each student was responsible to report on six or seven presentations.

At the end of the symposium the freshmen gathered back in the auditorium for the Plenary Speaker, Tiffney Kathir, a TJHSST Class of 2014 graduate who is now a Senior Brand Manager at Proctor and Gamble and the Co-founder of Tilt Desserts!

A big thank you to our IBEST Teachers for organizing and executing this event! It's a heavy lift and we know that without you it would not be possible! Congratulations Class of 2028 on a successful year of IBEST!

Honoring Those Who Serve - TJ Holds Annual Memorial Scholarship and Military Recognition Ceremony

Photo Gallery of Memorial and Military Recognition Ceremony on Instagram

One of TJ's best traditions, the annual TJHSST Memorial Awards and Military Recognition took place on May 30 during 8th period.

In front of a crowd of their peers and parents, several students were honored with Memorial Scholarships, the seniors who will be serving our country at either a Military Academy or ROTC program were recognized.

Earning TJHSST Memorial Awards were:

Class of 2018 Memorial Scholarship – Japneet Kaur, Class of 2025

Beau Thompson Memorial Scholarship – Asha Das, Class of 2025 and Marina Lin, Class of 2025

Sarah Lahr Memorial Scholarship Poetry Award – Gabrielle Marshall, Class of 2028 and Ayesha Khan, Class of 2025

Sarah Lahr Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest – Royce Ward, Class of 2025

Our Military honorees are:

United States Air Force ROTC, Virginia Tech – Vivian Monaco, Class of 2025

Corps of Cadets Citizen Leader, Virginia Tech – Japneet Kaur, Class of 2025

United States Air Force ROTC, Harvard – Megan Sawant, Class of 2025

United States Army ROTC, Purdue – Adarsh Bharadwaj, Class of 2025

United States Army ROTC, Syracuse - Caroline Bryant, Class of 2025

United States Army ROTC, Harvey Mudd College – Aidan Cho, Class of 2025

United States Army ROTC, Carnegie Mellon University – Josephine Clayton, Class of 2025

United States Army ROTC, Virginia Tech – Jonathan French, Class of 2025

United States Army ROTC, Princeton – Grace Im, Class of 2025

United States Military Academy – Ari Kaplan, Class of 2025

United States Navy ROTC, Harvard – Jake Foster, Class of 2025

United States Naval Academy – Merrilee McWeeney, Class of 2025

United States Navy ROTC, South Florida, Tuyet Nguyen, Class of 2025

United States Naval Academy – Anna Vuong, Class of 2025

Congratulations to our scholarship winners and thank you for your service to our newest members of the armed forces! We are so proud of each and every one of you!

Nine TJ Senior Student-Athletes Sign to Compete at Collegiate Level

Photo Gallery of Signing Day Ceremony on Instagram

Photo Gallery of Signees on TJ Athletics Instagram

We want to give a special shoutout to the nine Class of 2025 student-athletes who signed letters stating their intent to play their chosen sport at the collegiate level!

TJ held a signing ceremony on May 28, inviting their families for pictures and cake! We can't wait to cheer you on at the next level! #Wecameforthesports

Giving Back to the Community - TJ Teaches STEM at Annual Techstravaganza

Techstravaganza Photo Gallery on Instagram

On May 17, TJ put on its annual Techstravaganza, which is is our largest outreach program of the year!

Hosted by Tomorrow's Women in Science and Technology (TWIST) and thanks to a generous grant from the TJ Partnership Fund (TJPF), our students were able to bring their love of STEM to kids throughout the entire DMV. Different tables were set up where kids got to do fun things like make slime, look through microscopes and play with drones!

The event was free to the public, and thanks to the TJPF, TJ was able to bus several Title I elementary school classes to the school and feed them lunch!

Thank you to TWIST, the TJ Partnership Fund and its partners for putting on amazing show!

Time to Let Loose! TJ Students Unwind During J-Day

Photo Gallery of J-Day on Instagram

J-Day! A tradition started by the original Thomas Jefferson High School in 1984 and adapted into a yearly tradition by TJHSST was a smashing success on May 23!

Part fundraiser, part field day, part socializing event our students had the chance to let loose and relax as they celebrated getting close to the end of the school year!

There were items for sale, several performances in Nobel Commons, the conclusion of the J-Day basketball tournament, and plenty of outdoor activities to let them just have fun!

Thank you to the TJ SGA for organizing such a complex event and thank you to the TJ PTSA for donating the inflatables!

Estonian Ambassador to United States Visits TJ to Speak to AP Government and AP Lang Classes

On May 15, TJ welcomed Estonian Ambassador to the United States Kristjan  Prikk to TJ to speak with Mr. Bourjaily and Ms. Lebryk-Chao's AP Government/ AP Lang cohort!

He introduced the students to Estonia and they had a healthy discussion about how misinformation spreads throughout the world, a topic they have been working on lately.

Thank you Ambassador Prikk for stopping by and giving our students this unique experience!

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to Contact Us

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

Mr. Michael Mukai - Principal

Ms. Volita Russell - Subschool Principal (oversees Class of 2025 and Humanities Division)

Ms. Yaara Crane - Subschool Principal (oversees Class of 2026 Science and Technology Division)

Ms. Chrystal Benson - Subschool Principal (oversees Class of 2027 and  Mathematics and Computer Science Division)

Mr. Dylan Forshay - Subschool Principal (oversees Class of 2028 and World Language, Art, Music, and Physical Education Division)

Ms. Sara Wright - Director of Student Services (oversees Counselors, Social Worker, School Psychologist and other staff providing student support)

Mr. Dave Arthur - 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. 

Follow TJ on Instagram!

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!

Important Calendar Reminders

June 9 - This is a half day - Final Exams for seventh period and makeups, grades 9, 10, and 11. 

June 9 - Graduation Rehearsal for Class of 2025 at TJ in morning.

June 10 - This is the 2-hour day school will be dismissed at 10:40 a.m. Last day of school for students.

June 11 - TJ Class of 2025 Graduation at Eagle Bank Arena, 9:30 a.m.

June 23 - TJ Virtual Summer School Begins

August 14 - New Student Orientation in morning

August 18 - First day of the 2025-26 school year

October 24-25 - TJHSST 40th Anniversary Celebration

6560 Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312 | Main Office: 703.750.8300
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