|
Dear TJHSST Families,
We have some important updates from Fairfax County Public Schools this week; please be sure to read the articles about the SEL Screener learning opportunity available to families, as well as the importance of filling out and returning the Federal Impact Aid Survey.
Next week is the final week of the first quarter. On Friday, October 30, we will have a two-hour early release, with the school day coming to an end at 2 p.m. There will be teacher workdays on Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3 with school resuming on Wednesday, November 4.
If you ever have questions or aren't sure who to reach out to, please feel free to contact our Director of Communications, Mike Roth. He will gladly assist you or connect you with the right person.
Warm regards,
The TJHSST Team
Registration Form to Attend Family Cafe
TJHSST students took the SEL Screener during advisory on Monday, October 19. Parents/Guardians, we would like to share a learning opportunity about the SEL Screener results with you!
The FCPS SEL Team has partnered with the Family and School Partnerships Office to offer a Family Café Series titled, Growing Together: Talking about Social-Emotional Learning at Home. Families will have the opportunity to learn about the SEL Screener and how they can use their child’s results as a starting point for conversation and skill building.
There is one session scheduled within each region; however families can attend any session that is most convenient for them. Session, will be offered October - December, 2026. Note, the session on November 10 will be held at the Thomas Jefferson Library, not at TJHSST.
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. Schools will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, October 28.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is how we ensure we receive all the resources available to us from the federal government. For more information, please visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
It’s time to order the 2027 TJ yearbook! Last year, we sold out before distribution day and had a long waitlist. Those who we could move off the waitlist paid 50% more than the original list price to cover the reprint costs.
To avoid disappointment and greater expense in May or June, visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 13621. Included in the purchase of Techniques yearbook, you get copies of the Threshold literary magazine, Teknos science magazine, and a year of tjTODAY newsmagazine (distributed at school throughout the year and online).
You will also find options for purchasing a nameplate to personalize your student's yearbook, but nameplates must be ordered by December 31, 2026. Please email yearbook adviser Lisa Hampton at lmhampton@fcps.edu if you have any questions.
FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
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. Please note that students need to be residents of Fairfax County to receive a pass.
On Saturday, October 17, at the VHSL State Media Championships, tjMedia won several individual and publication awards across all our media platforms.
The Jefferson yearbook, Techniques, picked up a Charles E. Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence in Scholastic Journalism. This award is given to a school publication that has won at least five Trophy Class awards within the past seven years.
In fact, all tjMedia platforms, TJTV News, tjTODAY, and Techniques, earned Trophy Class awards for their work in 2025-2026.
The event also included a Write-Off Contest in which Jefferson students earned the following distinctions:
Sebastian Garcia Gaytan: 1st place for Feature Writing
Shriram Navale: 1st place for Copy Editing
Eden Cho: 3rd place for Broadcast Script Writing
Alaina Yee: 3rd place for Editorial Writing
Please congratulate all members of tjMedia for their contributions to our award-winning journalism program!
Photo Gallery of AP Business "Shark Tank" on Instagram
Here come the sharks! On Thursday and Friday, students in Ms. Nelson's AP Business and Personal Finance class made pitches about their "products" similar to the TV show Shark Tank!
The twist? The sharks were all TJHSST alumni! Some were able to join person while others joined in on Zoom. Thank you to the following alums for participating: Heather Lukas, Sruthi Thatchenkery, Yana Kaplun, David Hsu, Sam Le and Grace Miller.
TJ students often want to be future entrepreneurs, so this was a great practice to learn both the benefits and potential pitfalls when starting your own business!
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
Mr. Dylan Forshay - Subschool Principal 1
Ms. Yaara Crane - Subschool Principal 2
Ms. Ellen Hagan-Bowerman - Subschool Principal 3
Mr. Shawn Frank - Subschool Principal 4
Ms. Sara Wright - Director of Student Services
Ms. Leah Conte - Director of Student Activities
Mr. Mike Roth - Director of Communications
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!
TJHSST Anchor/Blue/Red Day Calendar
October 30 - End of first quarter. Modified Red Day with two-hour early release
November 2 - School Planning Day, No School for students
November 3 - Teacher Workday, No School for students
November 4 - This Wednesday will be an Anchor Day for students
November 11 - Veterans Day, school remains in session with normal hours
November 16 - Modified Anchor Day with no JLC
November 25-27 - Thanksgiving Holiday, No School for students and staff
November 28 - TJ Alumni Day
December 4 - Observance Day in evening (Chanukah), school remains in session with normal hours
December 7 - Modified Anchor Day with no JLC
December 8 - Observance Day (Bodhi Day), school remains in session with normal hours
December 9 - Winter band concert in auditorium, 7 p.m.
December 11 - Winter Bash in evening
December 19-January 3 - Winter Break, No School for students and staff
|
