Dear TJHSST Families,
I hope all is well as we head into the final two weeks before Winter Break! Hopefully there won't be anymore weather issues before everyone gets to enjoy some rest and relaxation!
Things will pickup pretty quickly when we return from break on January 5. That includes Course Selection Season for our students that will be returning for the 2026-27 school year. This newsletter contains information about our Virtual Curriculum Night, as well as the Academic Advising schedule.
We also made an announcement this month about TJHSST's Hall of Honor. I encourage you to read about that below and nominate some worthy alumni and former staff!
Parents/guardians of the Classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029 are invited to join TJ staff and Student Services on Thursday, January 15 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. when we host our annual Virtual Curriculum Night.
During Curriculum Night representatives from different TJ departments will explain the various course offerings that will be offered during the 2026-27 school year and answer some questions. Presentations for each department will be held in a separate Zoom room, and parents/guardians will be able to switch between rooms at their own leisure.
More information will be coming next month, but be sure to mark Thursday, January 15 down in your calendar!
Each Class of 2027, 2028, and 2029 student will have a one-on-one meeting with their counselor to go over their course selections for the 2026-27 school year. These meetings will take place through a specific class. The student will receive the specific date of their meeting from their teacher.
Academic Advising Schedule
- Rising 12 - through English 11 - Jan 20 to Feb. 6
- Rising 11 - through Chemistry - Feb. 10 to Feb. 26
- Rising 10 - through IBET - Feb. 27 to March 13
Please visit our Course Selection 2026-27 homepage as it will be updated often with the latest information.
We've had some crazy weather to begin December. Hopefully it isn't a sign of things to come!
TJHSST is unique in that it serves 5 different districts in Northern Virginia. Please remember though that we are a Fairfax County Public School and will ultimately follow whatever decision FCPS makes when it comes to inclement weather, (i.e. school cancelations, early release, or delayed start time).
Sometimes those decisions are different than the ones made by Loudoun County Public Schools, Prince William County Schools, Arlington Public Schools, or Falls Church City Public Schools.
Notice on the status of school for the day will come from FCPS and not TJ. The same applies to other districts.
TJ Director of Communications Mike Roth sent an E-Notify on Thursday, Dec. 4 with a district-by-district transportation policy to TJ based on what decision they made about the status of school. If you have any questions, please reach out to him.
Our teachers will be understanding if there are difficulties because you have a foot of snow in your area, even if Fairfax County got barely a dusting. If there are different transportation decisions across districts, our teachers will work with your child to ensure continuity of instruction. To manage expectations and reduce anxiety for students, teachers will use strategies such as posting on Schoology, modifying lessons, or adjusting deadlines. No one should take an unnecessary risk through Inclement Weather to get to TJ. Please reach out to your individual teachers if you have any concerns or want to discuss alternate arrangements.
-- Please Note: The E-Notify message sent on Thursday, Dec. 4 mentioned the possibility of live streaming classes when we are open and other districts do not have transportation. That is no longer the case as FCPS discontinued that beginning with the 2023-24 school year. I apologize for the miscommunication.
A new Graduation Status tool is available in ParentVUE and StudentVUE! The tool helps parents and students monitor and track their progress in meeting graduation requirements.
Please note that the TJ Diploma requirements go beyond the Advanced Studies diploma requirements and are not able to be tracked using this feature. For questions about student progress toward the TJ Diploma requirements, please refer to FCPS Regulation 3355 and consult your counselor with any questions.
Graduation Status includes progress toward the Standard or Advanced Studies diploma for high school students and middle school students who have enrolled in one or more high school courses. This new feature is available in addition to the course history and unofficial transcript options in ParentVUE and StudentVUE.
To view the Graduation Status section, which is only available for students who have enrolled in high school courses, please take the following steps:
- Login to your SIS ParentVUE/StudentVUE account.
- Go to “Course History.”
- Go to “Graduation Status” and toggle “on.”
For questions about graduation requirements, please contact your child’s school counselor. Learn more about ParentVUE.
TJHSST has had its alumni go on to do some amazing things in life. And that is often because of the amazing faculty and staff we have had over the years!
Now it is time to honor those accomplishments!
We are excited to announce the TJHSST Hall of Honor! This is your chance to nominate the best of the best both in alumni and former staff! We will be holding a yearly induction ceremony with the first class being inducted on Alumni Day, November 28, 2026 (save the date!)
For alumni they can be honored both for accomplishments during their time at TJ and in professional/personal life after TJ. Faculty/staff is the same thing, both their time at TJ and anything they've done since leaving TJ.
We invite you to nominate a TJHSST alum (it can be yourself) or a former staff member here:
TJHSST Hall of Fame Nomination Form
These are the official nomination categories (subject to change based on selection committee criteria):
Faculty and staff
STEM fields
Entrepreneurship
Business
Entertainment
Government
Law
Education
Humanities
Other
With the nomination we request as much supporting information as you can provide. Please include a letter explaining their accomplishments along with photos and contact information (not necessary, but appreciated).
If you have any questions please reach out at mbroth@fcps.edu.
Here is information from the TJ Student Government Association (SGA) about our annual Winter Bash that takes places next Friday, Dec. 12!
When: Friday, December 12th @ 5:30 - 8:30pm
Where: At TJ! Enter through the dome.
Why: Hang out with friends, eat food, participate in activities, sing karaoke, and have the chance to win gift cards!
Activities: Bingo, Gingerbread House Competition, Trivia, Karaoke, Games, Photobooth and of course, food!
Prizes: Gingerbread House Competition - $50, Bingo - $10 each for 4 winners , Trivia - $50 each for 2 winners
Price: $10 on MySchoolBucks, $15 at the door (cash only at the door)
-- Please Note - The following message is from the TJ SGA.
This year, we are partnering with NHS, Rotary Interact, and Keyettes to collect toys for Mobile Hope, an organization that provides support and emergency shelter to youth who are at-risk, precariously housed, or homeless. We ask that you bring in toys and donate toys and place them under the winter tree in Nobel. If you are in NHS, place the toys in the bins labeled around the school for NHS! The last day to donate toys will be December 19th - so get those toys in and allow us to spread the holiday cheer.
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.
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.
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. A spine affected by scoliosis has a sideways curve, making it appear more like an “S” or a “C” than a straight line. Untreated scoliosis can lead to limited motion, back pain, deformity, and in extreme cases, impaired function of the heart and lungs. Early detection and treatment may prevent scoliosis from progressing.
Please check out this Scoliosis Fact Sheet courtesy of FCPS.
Cookiepalooza Photo Gallery on Instagram
Each year TJ Student Services hosts Cookiepalooza to introduce freshmen to all the services they have to offer as we head into course selection season.
Coming with their English 9 class on either Dec. 2 or 3, the Class of 2029 met the counselors and support staff, got to solve a fun puzzle, wrote what gave them joy and of course got a cookie before heading back to class!
Junior College Kickoff Photo Gallery on Instagram
Senior Research Lab visits Photo Gallery on Instagram
November was a big month for the Class of 2027! On November 7, the junior class met with their counselors for the College Kickoff presentation, where they went over things such as the application process, how to begin the research process, types of colleges, testing information, ideas for visiting colleges, and much more!
But before reaching college they also need to prepare for their senior year and their Senior Research lab! On November 14, juniors got to visit three of the nine labs of their choosing to learn more about the types of projects they might be interested in doing. During one of the blocks they also went to the cafeteria to learn about TJ's popular Research Practicum program which allows them to do their research project outside of the school with one of our mentorship programs.
Thanksgiving Staff Luncheon Photo Gallery on Instagram
Thank you TJ PTSA for the amazing Thanksgiving Staff Luncheon on November 20! They provided an incredible array of food, including homemade cakes! They even brought to-go containers for those who wanted seconds!
We really feel appreciated as we head into the holiday season! TJ has the best community!
Guitar Club Performance Gallery on Instagram
TJ students have musical talent! Our Guitar Club (which meets during eighth periods) set up a performance during lunch on November 17 to entertain students with some very intricate guitar playing! Check out the Instagram gallery above for some pictures and video samples of them rocking out!
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!
December 8 - Modified Anchor Day with 60 minute advisory and no JLC as well as Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Bodhi Day) - school remains in session.
December 10 - Winter Band Concert - 7 p.m. in Auditorium
December 22-January 2 - Winter Break - no school for students or staff
January 6 - Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Three Kings Day/Epiphany) - school remains in session with normal hours.
January 7 - Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Orthodox Christmas) - school remains in session with normal hours.
January 9 - January News You Choose newsletter will be released
January 14 - Winter Orchestra Concert - 7 p.m. in Auditorium
January 19 - Martin Luther King Holiday - no school for students or staff
January 20-21 - Midterm Exams - Humanities, WLMAPE courses
January 22-23 - Midterm Exams - Math, Computer Science, Science and Technology courses
January 28 - Modified Red Day with two-hour early release - end of first semester
January 29 - Staff Development Day - no school for students
January 30 - Teacher Workday - no school for students
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