Happy December and greetings from The Suite Life!  This week's Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lesson focuses on the SEL core competency of Relationship Skills.  The topic of discussion during homeroom is Asking for Help. 

Asking for Help

We all need to ask for help at some time whether we are school age students or adults in the working world.  The presentation during homeroom will emphasize how important it is to develop a level of comfort in seeking help when obstacles or challenges arise.  Seeking support is not a sign of weakness, but a valuable growth tool. Parents play a vital role encouraging students to seek help when needed, both in school and out of school.  The lesson features videos of students, teachers, administrators, and others describing their own experiences in asking for help and helping others.  We hope this helps students recognize:  

• When to ask: Student recognizes the difference between needing help and needing to try on their own first
• Where to seek help: Student knows from where or from whom to access help
• How to ask: Student knows what to say or what they must do to seek help

The dinner table questions below are a good way to initiate conversation about the topic at home and share family stories about recognizing the need for help and following through with finding help.  

December 2, 2020 SEL Dinner table conversation starters:

1. Why do you think TJ students sometimes hesitate in asking for help? What are some barriers they might be facing?
2. How can parents support students to make it easier to ask for assistance?
3. Share as a family times you've all had to ask for help. What was the outcome? How did you feel?

Family Resources: 

• Article:  What Makes It So Hard to Ask for Help?  Asking for help is an essential aspect of emotional strength
• Schools, Families and Social Emotional Resources 
• CASEL Parent Resources

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.  

Timely Topic | Student Resources

Part of the process of becoming a good self-advocate is seeking out and utilizing the resources available to you. In addition to talking to your teachers, counselors, librarians, and other school support during their designated office hours, 8th periods, and other scheduled times, you may want to explore the many other resources available within school and within your community.    

One resource for academic help is TJ Peer Tutoring! Students can fill out the appropriate subject form below and will be matched with a Peer Tutor. (The form requires students to use their fcpsschools.net email address.)

Community Resources

Sometimes the help we seek is related to mental wellness, for ourselves, a friend, or family member. If you or a friend are experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact one of the following for immediate support:

CrisisLink Regional Hotline: 703-527-4077 

• CrisisLink is a hotline for individuals in crisis or family/friends seeking guidance for how to help a loved one. 

CrisisText:  Text NEEDHELP to 85511

Mobile Crisis Unit: 703-573-5679

• The Mobile Crisis Unit (MCU) is an emergency mental health program of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board that provides on-scene evaluation, treatment and crisis intervention in the community. MCU operates from 8 a.m. to midnight. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE

Merrifield Center Emergency Services: 703-573-5679

• The Merrifield Center, of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, offers a range of clinical programming. Emergency Services, staffed 24 hours per day, seven days per week, works with people in psychiatric crisis who need immediate attention. 

Dominion Hospital Emergency Room: 703-538-2872

Inova Emergency Services: 703-289-7560 

Call 911 in case of a life threatening emergency; TTY dial 711

More resources:  FCPS Student Safety and Wellness 

Transcript Requests

“So, I'm applying to this program….”

'Tis the season where current students of all grades are applying to enrichment and scholarship programs.   Many of these opportunities involve the need for a student’s school transcript.  A transcript lists courses completed in fulfillment of high school diploma requirements and those courses in which a student is currently enrolled, as well as listing the GPA from the student's last completed scholastic year.  There are TWO types of transcripts: 

UNOFFICIAL | This is an unsigned copy of the transcript that the Transcript Office can send to the student via their school email address.  Students can copy and scan an unofficial transcript for their use.   Most programs accept these unofficial transcripts.  

OFFICIAL | This transcript is signed by a school official and has a seal indicating that this is an official document sent by the school.  The Transcript Office prepares and sends this transcript to the program after a student has submitted an official transcript request form at least ten school days in advance of the application deadline.    

Due to Winter Break, we have limited school days to process transcript requests for upcoming application deadlines, so please PLAN AHEAD.  

How current students request a transcript:  

Go to Naviance Student (accessed through FCPS 24/7 Learning) →Document Resources Folder→All Grades Transcript Forms→Student Directions Transcript Requests 2020 to find directions about how to request either an unofficial or official transcript and the applicable Google Forms to complete.   If you have questions, please contact the Transcript Office, @email.

How to reach your counselor and the Student Services team?  Click here for all contacts:  Student Services 

There is a counselor available on site at TJHSST every weekday and you can reach the Student Services suite by calling 703-750-8340 during office hours.

This document contains links to one or more web pages that are outside the FCPS network.  Neither FCPS nor TJHSST controls the content or relevancy of these outside pages.

**External opportunities may utilize an online technology, or video and web conferencing tool that has not been assessed or approved for use in FCPS by the FCPS Department of Information Technology.  Students should gain permission from their parent/guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity.  Families should review and agree to the Terms of Service and User Agreements for any technology platform used to facilitate these opportunities.