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2021-01-11 6pm-6:45pm PTSA Diversity Talks

The PTSA Diversity Committee of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) is launching a series of Diversity Talks webinars in January!  This series is especially for elementary and middle school students in grades 4-8. Join us to hear from people working in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. What sparked their interest in STEM? What did they study in school? What kinds of jobs do they do? What else would you like to know? 

Mark your calendars for Monday, January 11, at 6 p.m. to hear the first speakers of our Diversity Talk series: Suresh Shenoy, Neena Shenoy and Nikhil Shenoy. 

Suresh Shenoy, a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, is a business leader and philanthropist who has contributed deeply to many aspects of the northern Virginia community. He was executive vice president at Alyx Technologies Inc., a Virginia-based consulting and technology services company. Mr. Shenoy was a founding member of the Thomas Jefferson Partnership Fund and served on its board until 2002. 

Neena Shenoy is a mechanical engineer by training (Tufts University 1981 and MIT 1984). She was involved in designing aircraft engines for GE and worked on the U.S. Space Shuttle program for NASA designing some critical components.

Nikhil Shenoy graduated from TJHSST in 2002, MIT in 2006 and the University of Chicago in 2014. After working at Goldman Sachs, Proctor and Gamble, and Kastle Systems, he is now CEO of Colvin Run Networks, a company that he started in northern Virginia to offer artificial intelligence and blockchain solutions to governments.  

Parents, register at this Zoom link: https://bit.ly/TJDiversityTalk1 

Submit questions in advance here: https://bit.ly/tjdiversitytalks

Video of the event: https://youtu.be/Ohfcdek8t7c

2020-12-17 6:30-8:30pm PTSA Meeting (Online)

Advance registration is required, please register now using this link:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMtc-6urjwtGdxt2hEqIU-isL7kUBYxr8h2

UPDATE: If you can’t get in this is the passcode: 993660

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Do NOT share the link you receive as it only allows one device to join.

NOTE: An email with a Zoom registration link will be sent out to all TJ families registered in AtoZ. If you did not receive one, make sure you are registered in AtoZ Connect (tjptsa.com/archive/join).

2020-12-09 Being a Present Parent (slides)

The Power of Showing UpDownload

Click the above link to download the slides from “Being a Present Parent” discussion series led by Danielle Armstrong, LCSW, TJ Social Worker (Oct-Nov 2020). Based on the book “The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired,” by Daniel J. Siegel, MD, and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD.

Key concept:

Parents can focus on building a relationship with their child involving the 4 “S”s so they can build confidence and resilience as they grow toward adulthood and independence:

Safe: feel protected and sheltered from harm

Seen: know you care about them and pay attention to them (gives
mindsight–knowing you have feelings and thoughts that are real and are worth
being loved and paid attention to)

Soothed: know you will be there when they’re hurting (life comes with pain, but
won’t have to go through it alone)

Secure: trust you to predictably help them feel “at home” in the world, then learn to
help themselves feel safe, seen and soothed

2020-12-12 & 13 Teacher/Staff Gift Collection

Thinking about a gift for teachers or other staff who have been working hard this semester? The TJ Keyettes Club is hosting a holiday gift collection this weekend, Dec 12th and 13th. It is opportunity for students to drop off teachers and staff cards or gifts before winter break at 1 of 9 convenient locations. All the information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/TJHolidayGiftCollection

2020-12-09 Navigating TJ Workshop

TJPTSA Academic Support Committee is organizing a Navigating TJ workshop for Class of 2024 parents on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 from 7PM to 9 PM.

TJ administration members, PTSA committee chairs and Booster organization leaders will be invited as panelists to answer your questions. It’s a great opportunity to learn about volunteering and participating in all things at TJ. You are encouraged to submit your questions here (https://forms.gle/YwJCeoqbHdJoA86e6) in advance or ask them during the meeting.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0ofuyuqzsvGdU_z1oowQrzeg77z7OIIifx

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

2020-12-16 Mental Health Coalition meeting (WEDNESDAY) 4:30-5:30 PM

(Note date change from usual Thursday meetings.) All parents, guardians, and students are invited to join the Mental Health Coalition, led by SGA and the student mental health group Minds Matter. MHC brings together students, administration, teachers, counselors and parents to coordinate mental health and wellness efforts for the TJ community. Video link available on the PTSA Google calendar. Meetings occur monthly on the 3rd Thursday, 4:30-5:30 PM.

2020-11-20 Launching Your Adolescent into Adulthood video

The video from this 10/30/2020 FCPS Parent Resource Center workshop “Launching Your Adolescent into Adulthood” is now posted online. Some topics include:

  • 10 Tips to help launch your young adult successfully into adulthood
  • Strategies to teach your child “soft” employment, money management and communication/self-advocacy skills.

Presented by Dr. Amy Fortney Parks, LPC, ACS, Owner of The Wise Family Counseling & Assessment Services in Alexandria and Arlington

For upcoming events or to view past workshops, visit the FCPS Parent Resource Center.

2020-11-20 Send Thanksgiving cards to teachers, staff, students, friends and family

SGA, Minds Matter and the PTSA Health & Wellness Committee would like to encourage you to show your appreciation for teachers, staff, your student, your friends or family this Thanksgiving by sending free electronic or printable Thanksgiving cards: https://www.greetingsisland.com/cards/holidays/thanksgiving

Once you’ve finished your message, click “next” and “send online.” For sending cards to FCPS email addresses, DO NOT click “send via email.” These messages cannot reach fcps.edu web addresses! Instead, click “copy link” and send them an email containing the link.

You can also print the cards and stick them in the mail (for non-staff). You can look up many of your TJ friends’ mailing addresses on AtoZConnect. Login (using the same login as your PTSA account), and click the drop down menu in the upper left corner, then choose “directory.”