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Dear TJHSST Families,
With the first week complete, we have some important updates to share in this week's Jefferson Journal.
Please be sure to read on for information on an upcoming Lockdown Drill, the Meditation and Silent Reflection Room, the Student ID bus badges for our Fairfax County based student bus riders, the Back to School Bash, and more.
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
This coming Monday, August 31, 2026 will be a Red Day - periods 5, 6, 7, and advisory will be held. This adjustment accounts for the student holiday on Friday, September 4, as we begin Labor Day weekend.
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. At TJ, we have a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan for our school that is reviewed and updated regularly. Our plan includes procedures on how to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Students and staff regularly practice these drills every school year. We also practice lockdown drills.
A Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. However, we are not required to share the exact date and time of the drill. We are required to practice lockdown drills two times a year. Therefore, this message serves as notification of our plans to conduct the required drills this year. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training; they are instruction and classroom based.
We will be holding a lockdown drill at some point within the next two weeks.
Students viewed a video explaining lockdown drill procedures in advisory this week.
Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. After reviewing this content, you should discuss the value of these safety drills with your child.
Keeping TJ safe and secure for all students and staff involves the participation of the entire school community, and we thank you for your help to keep our school safe.
FCPS supports students who need to take time during the school day to engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, inclusive of their religious or non-religious beliefs. If your student will regularly miss instructional time to meet these needs, please submit a pass for the Meditation and Silent Reflection room to the main office. These forms are available in the main office and here. The forms require a parent signature.
If you have any concerns or need to discuss your student’s needs, please contact your subschool principal.
Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Opt your child in or out of online educational tools and choose how student information is managed. Visit FCPS’ Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system.
On Friday in advisory we distributed student ID cards to all our students who reside in Fairfax County, ride the school bus, or use FCPS transportation services.
ID cards should be worn or attached to your child’s backpack and brought to the bus each day.
Students who have student ID cards should begin tapping as they board and exit the bus. Only students who use FCPS transportation services will be provided with a student ID card at this time. TJ's out-of-county students did not receive the ID cards.
We ask for your patience! Bus drivers are checking in students and may need some extra time at each bus stop while they do this. The transportation team is working hard to minimize any potential delays.
Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.
This message is intended for our Class of 2027 Parents/Guardians
On Tuesday, September 1 at 11:00 a.m. our Department of Student Services will be hosting a webinar for parent/guardians of the Class of 2027 regarding important senior year topics.
The webinar will include information on college applications, transcript requests, graduation, etc. It will be the same information that the seniors themselves will receive in a meeting the day before on Monday, August 31.
Class of 2027 families will receive a Zoom link for this webinar via email on Monday, so please check your inboxes. If you cannot attend the webinar live, it will be recorded and a link will be shared with you after it concludes.
TJHSST Community -
We invite you to join us for our first home football game of the season on Thursday, September 3, as the TJHSST Colonials take on Parkview High School!
Kick off the evening at 4:15 p.m. on the TJHSST practice field with our Back-to-School Bash, featuring:
- Food trucks
- DJ
- Games
- Inflatable obstacle course
- Fun for the whole family
Football Game Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults. We strongly encourage you to purchase tickets in advance through eTIX to avoid waiting in line: BUY TICKETS HERE! Tickets will go on sale Monday, August 31st.
As we prepare for an exciting fall sports season, TJHSST is implementing additional safety and security measures at all home varsity football games.
All spectators will participate in security screening using the weapons detection technology introduced in FCPS high schools last school year. A standardized bag policy will also be in place to help ensure a safe and efficient entry process.
The following items are prohibited:
- Backpacks
- Purses
- Fanny packs
- Tote bags
- Outside food and beverages
- Sporting equipment, including balls, bats, and sticks
- Any item prohibited by FCPS policy or determined by event staff to present a safety concern
Approved bags are limited to:
- Clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags no larger than 12” x 6” x 12”
- Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”
- Medical and diaper bags, which are subject to inspection
As a reminder, middle school students and younger must be accompanied by a responsible adult who remains with them throughout the event.
These measures are designed to support a safe and welcoming environment for everyone attending TJHSST home football games. We encourage spectators to arrive earlier than usual to allow adequate time for security screening.
We are excited to welcome parent and caregiver volunteers to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)!
All TJHSST volunteers must register through the Volunteer FCPS system. This platform allows parents, caregivers, and community members to register, complete required steps, and explore volunteer opportunities throughout Fairfax County Public Schools.
To volunteer:
- Register through Volunteer FCPS and complete the short online volunteer orientation.
- If you registered as a volunteer last year, you do not need to apply again.
- Visit the Volunteer FCPS website for additional information and details.
TJHSST will be sharing volunteer opportunities for the upcoming school year soon. Thank you for supporting our school community—we look forward to having you volunteer with us!
School Picture Day is Coming!
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