The second week of AP testing is now complete! We have only one week of testing to go. On Monday, the majority of freshmen currently enrolled in Algebra 2 will be taking their Algebra 2 SOL test. The entire week also includes AP makeup exams. If they are taking one, students have been made aware of the date, time, and location.
Next week is filled with fun events. On Monday, the majority of our 10th and 11th graders will head into Washington, D.C. for the annual Humanities Department trip to the Smithsonian. On Wednesday, we host our annual tjSTAR research symposium where our seniors showcase the independent research projects they have been working on the entire school year to their parents/guardians, VIP guests, mentors, and their fellow students! Finally, on Friday the student body gets to let loose with its annual J-Day in the afternoon.
Please remember that after next week we will have a five-day weekend! Monday, May 25, is Memorial Day. Tuesday, May 26, is a teacher work day, and Wednesday, May 27, is a Religious or Cultural Observance Day. The building will be closed to all visitors on Monday and Wednesday, and available by appointment only that Tuesday.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mike Roth
TJHSST Director of Communications
TJ's annual Techstravaganza will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is free to attend for all families throughout the DMV area.
Hosted by Tomorrow's Women in Science and Technology (TWIST) club with the help of a generous grant from the TJ Partnership Fund, this event allows our students to bring their love of STEM to kids throughout the entire DMV.
Different tables will be set up where kids will get to do fun things like make slime, look through microscopes and play with drones! This year the grant from TJPF will allow us to bring in over 20 Title I schools and provide them lunch.
Thank you to TWIST, the TJ Partnership Fund and its partners for putting on this amazing annual event!
On Thursday, May 7, the Fairfax County School Board approved changes to the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). The approved changes include updated guidance for cellphone possession and use, to align the FCPS cellphone policy with Senate Bill 108. This new Virginia law goes into effect on July 1 and states that all schools in the Commonwealth must follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy.
This means that starting July 1, 2026, across all grade levels at FCPS, student cellphones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (including watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, and other items connected to the internet) must be off and personally stored (i.e., put away in backpacks) for the duration of the school day — thus, no cellphones from bell to bell.
High school students will no longer be able to use cellphones and personal devices during lunchtime. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
Other SR&R Changes for the 2026-27 School Year
Visit the FCPS website or the School Board agenda to learn about additional updates, including:
- Added guidance and procedures for in-school and out-of-school suspensions and discipline investigations, including supports for students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
- Expanded guidance and standardized disciplinary procedures (“Universal Grade Matrices”) related to harassment, hate speech, discriminatory behavior, and Title IX reporting requirements.
- Responses to incidents involving intimate images, fighting, physical aggression, object throwing, and drug policy violations.
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. You will need 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.
All Fairfax County middle and high school students can get a Student Bus Pass SmarTrip card to ride the Fairfax Connector and Fairfax CUE buses for free! With the pass, fares are free from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, all year. Learn more about the Student Pass and access the application, which can be returned to the front office.
Children 12 and younger ride for free on the Fairfax Connector with a paying adult.
As our school community grows and changes, more of our students and families are facing practical needs. That’s why we’re excited to have the Jefferson Junction, our brand-new non-perishable food and hygiene resource for students.
But we can't do it without your help.
We're asking our amazing TJ parents and families to partner with us in stocking the pantry shelves. Whether it's some healthy snacks or hygiene essentials, every donation makes a difference. We will collect donations on a rolling basis to keep the pantry stocked. All donations will be used to support TJ students.
🛒 Want to help? Here’s how:
- Visit our Amazon Wish List and have items sent directly to the school: https://a.co/giHCfQN Attention: Danielle Armstrong, Social Worker
- Drop off non-perishable donations at the school: Attention: Danielle Armstrong, Social Worker
From all of us at TJ, thank you for stepping up and helping Jefferson Junction become a place where every student knows they’re seen, valued, and supported.
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.
Is your student experiencing anxiety, behavior changes, or challenges with peer and family relationships? If so, you may refer your child for weekly therapy with a licensed therapist through Hazel Health. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for information on this service.
 
One of TJ's best traditions, the annual TJHSST Memorial Awards and Military Recognition took place on May 15 during 8th period.
In front of a crowd of their peers and parents, several students were honored with Memorial Scholarships, and 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 – Justin Kim, Class of 2026
Beau Thompson Memorial Scholarship – Elizabeth Courtenay Klein, Class of 2026 and Amy Nam, Class of 2026
Sarah Lahr Memorial Scholarship Poetry Award – Elaina Wang, Class of 2029 and Thomas Gay, Class of 2026
Sarah Lahr Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest – Adhiraj Chhoda, Class of 2027
Our Military honorees are:
United States Air Force ROTC, Brown – Caroline Li, Class of 2026
United States Air Force ROTC, Colorado School of Mines – Sophia Stidman, Class of 2026
United States Air Force ROTC, Yale – Jennifer Zhang, Class of 2026
United States Air Force Academy - Jimmy Chawla, Class of 2026
United States Air Force Academy - JoonWon Lee, Class of 2026
United States Army ROTC, Harvard – Jayelle Jones, Class of 2026
United States Army ROTC, Princeton - Rushil Kukreja, Class of 2026
United States Army ROTC, Texas A&M – Andrew Tramel, Class of 2026
United States Navy ROTC, Georgetown – Rhesa Hicks, Class of 2026
United States Navy ROTC, Virginia Tech, Tori Isidro, Class of 2026
United States Navy ROTC, Brown, Matthew Ryan, Class of 2026
United States Naval Academy – Matthew Ryan, Class of 2026
United States Naval Academy – William Depew, Class of 2026
United States Naval Academy – Sydney Hammond, Class of 2026
United States Naval Academy – Oliver Kiker, Class of 2026
United States Naval Academy – Kent Slate, Class of 2026
United States Naval Academy – Alaura Thapa, Class of 2026
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!
Need to get in contact with 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 and 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 Jefferson Journal 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
May 20 - tjSTAR at TJ during morning
May 20 - Band Spring Concert, 7 p.m. in auditorium
May 21 - Orchestra Spring Concert, 7 p.m. in auditorium
May 22 - J-Day in afternoon. There will be a Modified Red Day schedule to accommodate with more information to come.
May 25 - Memorial Day - no school for students or staff.
May 26 - Teacher Workday - no school for students.
May 27 - Religious or Cultural Observance Day (Eid-al-Adha) - no school for students or staff.
May 28-June 2 - Senior Final Exams
June 5 - This Friday will be a Modified Anchor Day with dismissal at 10:30 a.m.
June 6 -TJ Class of 2026 Graduation at Eagle Bank Arena, 7 p.m.
June 11 - Underclassman Final Exams Periods 1 and 2 - half day with dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
June 12 - Underclassman Final Exams Periods 3 and 4 - half day with dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
June 15 - Underclassman Final Exams Periods 5 and 6 - half day with dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
June 16 - Underclassman Final Exams Periods 7 and makeup exams - half day with dismissal at 11:55 a.m.
June 17 - This is the 2-hour day; school will be dismissed at 10:40 a.m. Last day of school for students.
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