TJHSRAIDER

REPORTERInside this Issue:Principal Corner.....................................2-3Character Strong.......................................4Counseling Connection.............................5Communities In School.............................6Raider Advantage & Summer Bridge.......7PSAT & SAT/Speech & Debate..................8Attendance.................................................9Math Team.................................................10Homecoming Spirit Week.........................11Homecoming Events.................................12

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 EDITION

Principals CornerAdrienne Chacón

Goal 5: On Track t o Graduat ion. The month of September was spent analyzing numbers, adjusting class sizes, and making sure students were properly placed in classes based on their graduation plans. We are all working together to help our scholars be successful. Online grades should be updated by teachers every three weeks to help you keep up on student progress. Last week was our first upload. We want to team up with you to make this happen. There are some important supports in place to help students be successful at TJ that we hope you check out. They are:

Raider Advant age. A program where students can receive support from teachers and AmeriCorp tutors each day, Monday through Thursdays after school. Buses will run at 4:00 pm to help students stay for these programs.

Aft er School Teacher Suppor t . Many of our teachers work with students before or after school. Please encourage your child to check with their teachers about available times to meet and get a litt le extra one-on-one support.

Welcome to another great year at TJ! We are celebrating 50 years of TJ?s pride, spirit and academic success. We are kicking off the year with an early homecoming in September. If you know a former TJ student, please inform them of our upcoming homecoming celebration. We would love to see them at the big football game on September 28th, 7:00 at the Federal Way Memorial Stadium. We want to celebrate our incredible school with you!

Goal 2: The Whole Child. Our year is off to a great start. One of our focus goals for the year is around attendance and the importance of students being in class on time, every day. The first 5 minutes of class are critical for scholars to understand expectations, get organized, and demonstrate previous learning to teachers. Please check ParentVue regularly to be sure your student is arriving on time to class daily. Remember, students missing more than 8 days a semester are considered chronic absences, and their grades may be negatively impacted by this. If students miss 2 days a month, they are missing 10% of the year! It all adds up. If you have any questions, please contact the Attendance Office at 253-945-5603. This year the state of Washington has clarified the list of acceptable valid excuses for student absences. Please take a look so you can help support your student?s success in attendance.

St udent -Led Conferences (Student Success Conferences) are a MUST for every parent or guardian. We want to work together with you to help make every scholar successful. We hope that all of you come to school with your scholar and find out how you can partner with us to make your children the most successful they can be. A letter inviting you to the conferences will be sent home at the end of October. The conferences will again be held within the Library, Cafeteria, Deuce, and Commons by department to provide improved access to teachers.

This year, FWPS will be standardizing a Student Conference schedule for all schools. We will be releasing the schedule to families as soon as it is finalized. Please come with your students to visit us during our Student Success Conferences next month. We will have resources available for you to access like college scholarship and admission details, FAFSA help, college essay support, information about optional school programs, along with a parent support booth for MYP and standard grading questions. Interpreters will be available for Spanish, Korean and Russian. So don?t worry. People will be around to help you. I look forward to seeing you at our Student Success Conferences.

People often comment that there is a positive culture on our TJ campus. We all feel it; students helping and supporting each other in so many different ways, teachers greeting students as they walk by or enter class, and people going out of their way to help others. TJ is a community set on ensuring that every scholar experiences opportunities to succeed, regardless of their background or status. Thomas Jefferson is a great place, and I feel proud to be the principal. I hope to see you all soon at our upcoming conferences.

We look forward to partnering with you to make this a wonderful year for your scholars!

Adrienne ChacónPrincipal

We've always prided ourselves at TJ for pushing beyond just academics and getting to the heart of what students need to be successful. We encourage students to be globally minded, think beyond themselves, and extend their learning beyond the classroom walls.

This year, we've partnered with Character Strong to bring a new focus to our advisory periods. Students will not just be advised on what is necessary to graduate, but also prompted and encouraged to think deeper about their own purpose and character. While we want students to think about what they want to do when they get older, we believe it is equally important for them to know who they want to be.

Students are prompted each week to take on a challenge in their own life to start intentionally practicing good character and develop positive habits. We started the program off by asking them to simply thank their teachers for the time and energy they put into helping them with their education. The dares are small, but intentional in developing the character we hope to see all students have.

While you might see and hear about some of these dares at home, we would also like to invite you into the process. Below you will find a Character Dare for our parents. While not in any way required, we hope this is an easy way to partner with the work being done at school to help prepare your student to be their best self.

We know that in order to be #RaiderStrong as a school, we need to make sure all students are being pushed to be #CharacterStrong. We're looking forward to the opportunities for student growth and the development of the whole child here at TJHS!

Counseling Connect ion

On behalf of the counseling department, we would like to welcome new and returning families to

TJ?s 2018-2019 school year! The counseling department is excited to assist students in attaining

personal and academic success. We want students to be college and career ready. Each grade

level should concent rat e on t he follow ing:

9t h grade: It is important that you choose a positive peer groups and pass all of your classes.

Freshmen should become familiar with credits, transcripts, and how every class counts towards

graduation. Please remember that the class of 2021 & beyond are required to complete 24 hours

of com m unit y service for graduation!

10t h grade: You should be focusing on your personal project (a graduation requirement) in your

ATL class (either 1st or 2nd semester). Please also continue to attend and pass your classes!

Sophomore year is also a great year to start exploring some of your post-secondary options.

Please remember that the class of 2021 & beyond are required to complete 24 hours of

com m unit y service for graduation!

11t h grade: This year, your PSAT test scores will determine your qualification for the National

Merit Scholarship. This is also the year to continue or start your post high school planning. The

Life After High School event will be held at TJ on October 17th at 6:00PM. This event will have

numerous colleges and vocational institutions available to students and their families.

12t h grade: Please be advised t hat you m ust com plet e ALL graduat ion requirem ent s in

order t o par t icipat e in t he graduat ion cerem ony on June 8t h. If you any questions about your

standing please make an appointment to see your counselor for an accurate credit analysis.

Additionally, the college application process has begun and Financial Aid opens on October 1st!

Preview all transcripts before sending them out. Be aware of due dates and provide advanced

notice to your counselors, teachers, and staff for letter of recommendations (at least 2 weeks).

Lastly, please plan on attending the Life After High School night at TJ. It will take place on October

17th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Information on post-secondary opportunities, scholarships and

Financial Aid will be available.

PSAT/SAT exam day: Wednesday, Oct ober 10t h. All 9th through 11th graders will be taking the

PSAT in advisory while all 12th graders will be taking the SAT in the gym.It is im perat ive that you

monitor your grades on a regular basis at http://grades.fwps.org using your User ID and

Password. If you need help resetting your password, please see Tama Warrior in the counseling

office.

What is Communit ies

In School s?

"We are par t of t he nat ion's leading dropout prevent ion organizat ion, work ing in public schools t o sur round st udent s w it h a com m unit y of suppor t , em power ing t hem t o st ay in school and achieve in l i fe.

In Federal Way last year , our sit e coordinat ors helped 7,867 st udent s overcom e bar r iers t o success, st ay on t rack t o graduat e, and aim for a br ight er fut ure.

Source: ht t ps:/ / federalway.ciswa.org/

With the new school year

underway, I wanted to send out

an introduction and reminder

regarding the roles of

Communities In Schools and

some of the services and

program I am able to provide at

TJHS. Many of the young people

we serve are facing challenges

both inside and outside the

classroom that affect their ability

to focus and succeed at school.

Communities In Schools

coordinates a comprehensive

range of services to support all

the needs of these students ?

academic and non academic ? so

they come to school ready to

learn. My role as School

Outreach Coordinator at TJHS is

to build one-on-one

relationships with students and

provide them with the resources

that they may need such as food,

clothing and school supplies;

connect them to services in the

community such as mental

health counseling or anger

management; and to provide

enrichment opportunities that

may not be available otherwise.

Program s at TJHS include: food

bank, lunch bunch student

group, clothing, school supplies,

personal hygiene products,

academic assistance, attendance

monitoring,

interview/homecoming/prom

attire, mentoring, social services

coordination and referrals, goal

setting, holiday assistance,

service learning projects, winter

coats, college and career

planning and enrichment

activities

To access any of these services

please contact:

Amber Rowe Mosley

253 945 5704

amberrm@cisfederalway.org

Raider Advant age

Raider Advantage is an after-school homework help program which meets Monday through Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 in the TJ Library. Computers are available for student use, with four friendly, recent college-graduated, AmeriCorps Volunteers on hand every

day to offer help, answer questions and encourage focus.

Teachers from many different departments, as well as members of TJ?s nationally recognized Math Team, have graciously volunteered to be present in order to help

students with specific assignments.

We also have IB teachers available to help. Printing is available for five cents (black and white) and 50 cents (color) a page.

Students need to be in the library by 2:15, or must have a signed note from a teacher/administrator explaining where they have been and why they were late. Activity Bus Passes are given to students who arrive on time, work on school assignments, and

stay until 4:00. Raider Advantage is not a place for students to ?hang-out? after school, talk with friends and goof around.

If your student needs a litt le help getting back on track with their grades please think about joining us every Monday through Thursday in the Library from 2:00-4:00. It could

really make the difference for a strong finish to the semester.

TJ's Sum m er Br idge programTJ was host to the district 's Freshman Bridge program, with Mrs. Moon, Mr. Lee, and Ms. Friedman at the helm of this unique and evolving program bridging 8th and 9th grades. Participants earned 0.5 elective credit for completing a program rich in literacy, high school learning skills, physical activity, critical and creative problem solving, team-building, and college & career awareness.

Guest presenters included social studies teacher Ms. Potyondy-Edens, who helped TJ students craft and produce tech help videos in both Spanish and English that coach fellow Raiders in navigating the Canvas app; English teacher and assistant football/ track coach Mr. Springfield, who instilled pride in scholarship, character, and athletics; and 11th/12 grade athletes and student leaders, who gave a panel talk on being connected, organized, successful, and involved high schoolers.

Students toured UW-Tacoma, where pre-College Coordinator DJ Crisostomo used his personal story of struggle to honor everyone's "starting point" and inspire Raiders to be their best selves on their journeys through high school and beyond. We were also treated to a worksite tour of Bellevue's Spring District, where students saw how career fields, academics, and personal interests merged.

We are so proud of our Raiders who, through participating in Freshman Bridge, have started their high school journeys #RaiderStrong!

PSAT & SAT Inform at ion

Mark your Calendars for PSAT and SAT October 10th!

9-11th grade will test in classrooms, (PSAT 9 and PSAT/NMQST)=

12th grade will take SAT in the Gym

Testing rooms will be posted in the deuce and cafeteria the week before testing.

Testing begins at 7:25am sharp.

Any questions, contact Mrs. Wittman at ewittman@fwps.org

Speech And Debat e

"In June our Speech and Debate team brought their ultimate game to Nationals in Fort

Lauderdale, Florida. After coming from a second place finish in State, our team sent six

individuals to Nationals. Hakeem Shibly (now graduated) placed 7th in the nation in Impromptu

speaking! World schools debate went on to place 45th in the world! We are now back with some

fresh talent and ready to work this year. We practice every Monday from 2:00-3:30 pm and

Tuesdays from 6:00-7:30 pm all in room E-1. 2018-2019 is the year of the Raider! Please join us

and help us as we shape the bright minds of tomorrow."

If your absence OR t ardy is relat ed t o any of t he follow ing st at e approved reasons, it is EXCUSED.

? Participation in a district or school approved activity or instructional program

? Illness, health condition or medical appointment (medical, dental, counseling, optometry) Please bring a note from the provider on their letterhead

? Family emergency

? Religious or cultural purposes

? Court, judicial processing or jury duty

? Post secondary, technical school or apprenticeship program visitation or scholarship interview

? State recognized search and rescue activities

? Absence related to student?s homeless status.

? Absence resulting from a disciplinary/corrective action (suspension, emergency expulsion

? Principal (or designee) and parent, guardian or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity.

Please rem em ber you have 48 hours (2 school days) t o excuse an absence!

What is excused?

What is unexcused?!

For m ore inform at ion about FWPS at t endance policies, please see pages 6 & 7

in 2018-19 Right s and Responsibil i t ies.

Scholars ar r iving before 7:55am w it hout an

approved wr it t en excuse, should go direct ly

t o class, They w il l be m arked t ardy by t he

t eacher . (excused check in at at t endance)

All ot her classes, scholars repor t direct ly t o

class if ar r ive w it h in f ir st 10 m inut es of class.

Pass needed f rom at t endance af t er t hat . Lat e ?

No longer approved for

excusing t ardies

(UNEXCUSED)

? Overslept

? Missed bus

? Car problems

? Traffic

? Had to eat breakfast

? Transportation issues

? My sibling was not ready

? Personal reasons

Mat h Team Excels at Nat ionalFrom July 9th to July 13th 2018, the Thomas Jefferson Math Team competed in the 48th annual Mu Alpha Theta National Convention in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This annual competition held in a different city each year, brings together the top high school math students from across the nation. The Thomas Jefferson team placed 7th overall in the nation out of over 50 of the top schools throughout the country. This is Thomas Jefferson?s record setting 24th straight year with a top ten finish in the nation. Below are a list of students who won trophies, including Nick Kim who became a National Champion in Trigonometry!

Theta = Algebra 2 Division Alpha = Pre-Calculus Division Mu = Calculus Division

Thet a Division (Advanced Algebra division)

Zoie Aquino- 12th Theta Analytic Geometry, 15th Theta Functions

Joshua Jung- 4th Theta Matrices

Jacob Norris- 9th Theta Gemini, 11th Theta 2-D Geometry, 15th Theta Matrices,

Brandon Truong- 9th Theta Gemini

Alpha Division (Pre-Calculus division)

Jared Hoover- 13th Alpha Gemini

Abby Hyde- 14th Open Mental Math

Austin Kim- 11th Alpha Complex Numbers, 11th Alpha Matrices and Vectors

Nicholas Kim- 1st Alpha Trigonometry, 3rd Alpha Applications, 9th Open Speed Math,

7th Alpha Sequences & Series, 7th Alpha Ciphering

Keila Kimura- 13th Alpha Gemini

Jared Tran- 3rd Alpha Chalk Talk

Angela You- 14th Alpha Relay

Mu Division (Calculus Division) Zach Botz- 5th Mu Comprehensive, 9th Mu Areas & Volumes, 9th Mu Applications,

15th Open Mental Math

Richard Chung- 10th Open Number Theory, 15th Mu Relay, 4th Mu Sequences and Series,

11th Mu Limits & Derivatives, 9th Mu Gemini

Piers Hanson- 6th Mu Differential Equations, 10th Mu BC Calculus

Amy Holden- 9th Mu Gemini