Dear TJHSST Families,
A successful first week is in the books! I saw a lot of smiling faces from the Class of 2026 as they begun their senior year, all the way down to the Class of 2029 as they adjusted to their first week of high school!
I've wanted to send one final Back-to-School News You Choose newsletter before we settle into the routine of once a month newsletters. (The September newsletter will come out on September 5). I have a few new updates that you will want to check out including:
- The Jefferson Journal - a new newsletter that will be released in weeks there is not an edition of News You Choose.
- Back-to-School Night Reminders
- An Invitation to our Back to School Bash
- Lockdown Drills
- Info for the Class of 2026 on the parent/guardian college webinar coming next week.
- 9th, 10th, and 11th grade student photo days
In an effort to streamline communication, starting next week, and each week that a News You Choose is not being sent out, TJ Director of Communications Mike Roth will be sending a weekly E-Notify that will contain important updates and information that parents/guardians need to know.
The contents of this email will be information that in the past was sent out piecemeal at more random times, such as testing information, policy updates, schedule changes, webinars, and event promotion. By combining this into one email you will better know where to find this information and when it is coming in. There still may be occasional E-Notifys sent to smaller groups at random times on a need-to-know basis, but for the most part expect your updates on on the last day of the school week (which is Thursday next week) at 4 p.m.!
A reminder that next Tuesday we will be hosting our annual Back-to-School Night from 6:00-8:00 p.m. An E-Notify was sent to all families on Thursday, August 21 with full details.
With limited parking on the TJ campus, we encourage you to take advantage of the Virtual Back-to-School Night option! All teachers have created videos about each of the classes that they are teaching. It is the same information that they will be presenting in the in-person Back-to-School Night.
Please visit the All-Parents/Guardians Schoology page and select "Virtual Back to School Night" to see the videos. They are separated alphabetically by teacher last name.
TJ Families - We would love to see you at the annual BACK TO SCHOOL BASH (BTSB)!
The BTSB is this Thursday, August 28th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on the Practice Field. It is FREE to attend. There will be Food Trucks, 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!
We would like to thank all the TJ students and their families for their patience as we have adjusted to the new weapons screening process. Each day has the process has gotten quicker as we figure out what will and will not set off the alarm. Given that these are TJ kids, here are some funny Items that have set off the alarm:
- Floppy Disks (pictured above)
- sunscreen bottles
- Altoid cannisters (So in addition to the obvious no weapons at TJ, we also aren't allowed to have fresh breath apparently!)
Again thank you to everyone for doing your part in keeping TJ safe!
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.
We will be holding a lockdown drill at some point within the next two weeks.
Students viewed a video explaining lockdown drill procedures in advisory this week.
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 2026 Parents/Guardians
On Thursday, August 28 at 10:00 a.m. our Department of Student Services will be hosting a webinar for parent/guardians of the Class of 2026 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 27.
Class of 2026 families will receive a Zoom link for this webinar via email on Tuesday, so please check your inboxes. If you cannot attend the webinar live, it will be recorded and a link will be shared with you after it concludes.
A new volunteer management system, Volunteer FCPS, will allow students, parents/caregivers, and community members to register and search volunteer opportunities in the division.
All volunteers (new or returning) will register in Volunteer FCPS, complete a volunteer orientation, and be required to sign in using the visitor kiosk. Some volunteers will also be required to undergo a background check. Visit the Volunteer FCPS website for details.
TJHSST will be posting volunteer opportunities soon!
Note: The following message is from the FCPS Transportation Office and is meant only for our families who are using FCPS buses. Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William families should contact their respective transportation departments with any questions.
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.
If your student’s bus is delayed, you may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Please contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2050 with any additional questions. For concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact the FCPS Office of Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE to make sure you receive email messages about bus delays.
This coming Monday, August 25, 2025 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 29 as we begin the four-day Labor Day weekend holiday.
We will have two student picture days this year for our 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. Wednesday, September 10 and Tuesday, October 21, with a makeup day of Wednesday, December 3. The reason for the unusual scheduling this year is that we were originally scheduled for September 9 before FCPS canceled the school day due to the special election.
Students will be informed next week which of the two picture days they are being photographed on. When they get their photos taken our vendor (VOS Studios) will give them information on how to order that they will give to you.
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.
Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:
- Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
- Get records from other states’ systems if your child was immunized outside of Virginia.
- Request records from your health care provider. Some may charge for copies.
Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date.
Required Immunizations for Rising 12th Graders
Several immunizations are required for students entering12th grade.
- All students entering 12th grade are required to receive one dose of the MenACWY vaccine before the beginning of school.
- To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 16 or older.
As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.
Where to Receive Immunizations
If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s health care provider or one of the following clinics:
FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come first served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.
- Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekday and weekend clinics are available in July and August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.
Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.
For students to self-carry or store medications in the health room, FCPS requires updated medication authorizations each school year. I am providing links to the most recent versions of the authorizations for your convenience. Please print the document(s) that are appropriate for you student and share with your health care provider.
*Please note: The appropriate authorization should be on file even if you student self-carries an inhaler or epinephrine.*
Asthma/Inhaler:
The Virginia Asthma Action Plan is required for any inhalers (even if self-carried).
Once your health care provider has completed the Virginia Asthma Action Plan, you will need to complete the FCPS Authorization for VA Asthma Action Plan (SS/SE-65) authorizing the principal designee/SHA/PHN/school staff to administer the asthma medication to your student.
Anaphylaxis/Epinephrine:
Please have your health care provider complete the FCPS Authorization for Anaphylaxis Action Plan if your student will be self-carrying or leaving epinephrine in the health room.
Other medications:
Please have your health care provider complete the Medication Authorization (SE63) for all other prescription medications (not epinephrine or inhaler) or over the counter medications like Benadryl.
Over the counter (OTC) medications must be new/unopened and in their original containers. No healthcare providers signature is needed for OTC medications used for headache, muscle aches, orthodontic pain, or menstrual cramps. If you are providing an OTC medication for any other reason or if the dosing is outside of the manufacturer’s recommendations, a healthcare providers signature is required.
Prescription medications must be in a properly labeled and the label should match the dosing and frequency information on the Medication Authorization.
Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me (LWilkes@fcps.edu).
Thank you for your collaboration in keeping your student safe and healthy!
Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
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. Betsy Fawsett - Associate Principal
Ms. Yaara Crane - Subschool Principal (oversees Class of 2026 Science and Technology Division)
Mr. Shawn Frank - 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. Volita Russell - Subschool Principal (oversees Class of 2029 and Humanities Division)
Ms. Sara Wright - Director of Student Services (oversees Counselors, Social Worker, School Psychologist and other staff providing student support)
Ms. Leah Conte - Director of Student Activities (oversees Activities Office, 8th Period, Athletic Office, Building Maintenance, Custodians, Food Services)
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!
TJ's Anchor/Blue/Red Day Calendar
August 26 - In-person Back-to-School Night, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (Virtual option also available)
August 28 - Back to School Bash after school
August 29-September 1 - Labor Day Holiday (No school for students and staff)
September 5: - September News You Choose newsletter emailed to families.
September 9: - No school for students
September 22-27 - Homecoming Week
September 22 - Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Rosh Hashanah begins in evening) - school remains in session with normal hours, no activities in evening.
September 23 - Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Rosh Hashanah) - no school for students or staff
September 26 - Homecoming football game, 7:00 p.m. at Main Stadium
September 27 - Homecoming Dance at TJ in evening
October 1 - Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Yom Kippur begins in evening) - school remains in session with normal hours, no activities in evening.
October 2 - Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Yom Kippur) - no school for students or staff
October 3 - October News You Choose newsletter emailed to families.
October 8 - PSAT/SAT administered at TJ for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders (more information will be forthcoming on this)
October 13 - Staff Development Day - No school for students.
October 20 - Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Diwali) - no school for students or staff
October 24-25 - TJHSST 40th Anniversary Celebration
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