Three quarters down, one quarter left to go! There was a lot of excitement today from the students as they got their taffy treat, plus a two-hour early release.
I encourage families to take the following week off to recharge the batteries. With AP testing and final grading coming up the final semester always brings its unique stresses and we want students to come in feeling their best.
TJ will be mostly shut down next week; the main office is available by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. There also will be no Jefferson Journal next week.
We will see everyone back on Tuesday, April 7 (remember April 6 is a teacher workday). Enjoy your Spring Break!
As always, please reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mike Roth
TJHSST Director of Communications
During the week-long Spring Break, March 30-April 3, TJ is open by appointment only. Please contact the party you wish to meet with and arrange the meeting before showing up at the school as staffing will be limited. If you do need to schedule a meeting, please set it up between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
TJ Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2026, your child has worked hard all year on their independent research project and will be presenting their findings during our annual tjSTAR event (Symposium to Advance Research) on Wednesday, May 20 during the school day!
Each senior is allowed two guests to come see them present. You will need to RSVP ahead of time. Specific instructions will be sent out via E-Notify from Director of Communications Mike Roth either late next week or early the following week. Please be on a lookout for that email, but for now please mark Wednesday, May 20 on your calendar!
We are excited to announce that our main stadium field will be named after our legendary former football coach Vaughn Lewis! We invite all members of the TJ community, especially former players who still live in the Northern Virginia area, to join us at the April 23 school board meeting (7 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School) as a proclamation will be voted on to make this official!
In addition, we will have a ceremony this fall at a football game to honor Coach Lewis. More details to come!
Link to Honor Code on TJ Website
Did you know TJ has an official honor code? The link to it on our website is above, but below is the official language:
"I will uphold academic and personal integrity in the TJ community."
As members of the Thomas Jefferson community, we honor academic and personal integrity. We uphold the values of honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility.
Honesty is a value that holds each person to the truth, to tell the truth, and to defend the truth. Honesty results in fairness for each member of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology community. Integrity is firm adherence to our values with and without the presence of others. Respect is treating others as we would like to be treated. In an environment of respect, work we submit as our own is our own. Responsibility is the quality of being accountable for our actions and accepting the consequences of our actions.
The Honor Code is a physical representation of the values that Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology should encompass. At any educational institution, a code of conduct must be established so that people, teachers and students alike, know the proper way to behave. Integrity and the honest reputation that students acquire through their actions is the most valuable gift they can carry with them after graduation, and it is the most valuable gift any educational institution can give. Formulas and facts can carry students only so far in life. True success lies in one's desire to be good for the sake of being good, doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. The Honor Code is not meant as an imposition, but rather as a standard to which all students and faculty should be held. At Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, we encourage higher academic achievement; this code asks that we hold each other, with the same rigor and passion in academics, to a higher standard of integrity and of personal commitment.
Spring is nearly here, and that means that yearbooks will only be sold for a few more weeks!
Please visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 13621 before Saturday, April 25 when sales close!
Last year, we sold out of the yearbook before distribution day and had a long waitlist. To avoid disappointment in May or June, I urge you to pre-order your 2026 yearbook NOW!
With the purchase of theTechniques yearbook, you get the Threshold literary magazine, the Teknos science magazine, and a year of tjTODAY (distributed at school throughout the year and online) for free.
Don't delay, but please email me if you have any questions.
Lisa Hampton, Ed.M.
tjMedia adviser
lmhampton@fcps.edu
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.
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.
Photo Gallery of Virginia Science Olympiad on Instagram
Champions once again! TJ won the Virginia Science Olympiad in dominating fashion last weekend, taking first place in 11 categories and second place in four others to beat its closest competitor by 61 points!
Congratulations to all the individuals for their hard work; we are so proud of you! Click here for the official results by category.
Photo Gallery of Taffy Day on Instagram
Students NEVER want to miss the last day before a long break at TJ, because you never know what is going to happen!
Friday was our second annual Taffy Day! We had 600 pounds worth of taffy shipped in from Principal Mukai's favorite taffy shop from where he grew up in Utah! Over 30 different flavors for our students to try and pick their favorites!
It was an exciting treat for the students to start their day (and save some more for later)! Happy Spring Break everyone! #TJBetterTogether
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 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
March 30 - April 3 - Spring Break - no school for students or staff.
April 6 - Teacher Workday - no school for students.
April 10 - School Planning Day - no school for students.
April 16 - First performance of Spring Musical Anastasia. Performances on April 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25. Tickets available here.
April 20 - This Monday will be a Blue Day for TJ
April 21 - Teacher workday - no school for students.
May 4-May 15 - AP Testing at TJ
May 20 - tjSTAR at TJ during morning
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.
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