Wildcat Family,
Two weeks ago I pulled into town. Since then you've had me at cookouts, waving from a parade, and visiting with folks out in public. I've been welcomed a lot of places in my career. Never quite like this. Thank you.
Monday was my first official day as your superintendent, and I want to start the way I intend to continue: with straight talk. This district has a history of excellence that this community built and is rightly proud of. We are not where we want to be right now, and I won't pretend otherwise. You deserve a superintendent who tells you the truth. Here is what I can promise. The teachers, the tradition, and the town it takes to get back there are already here. My job is to help us do it, together.
You'll hear from me often, and you'll never have to wonder what's going on in your schools. Board meetings are open and so is my door. When we make progress, you'll see the real numbers. When we fall short, you'll hear that from me too.
Please also join me in welcoming Pamela Dean, our new Elementary Principal and Special Education Director. She's new to Joseph City like I am, and we're both spending this summer doing more listening than talking. If you see either of us around town, stop us. And I mean everyone, not just parents. If you graduated from here decades ago, ranch outside town, drive to work every morning, or just love this community, these are your schools too. This town has backed them every time it counted. Tell us what they mean to you, what we do well, and what we can do better.
Thank you for trusting me with what matters most, your children's future and the future of this School District.
Go Wildcats!
Shannon Harvilla
Superintendent
Two weeks ago I pulled into town. Since then you've had me at cookouts, waving from a parade, and visiting with folks out in public. I've been welcomed a lot of places in my career. Never quite like this. Thank you.
Monday was my first official day as your superintendent, and I want to start the way I intend to continue: with straight talk. This district has a history of excellence that this community built and is rightly proud of. We are not where we want to be right now, and I won't pretend otherwise. You deserve a superintendent who tells you the truth. Here is what I can promise. The teachers, the tradition, and the town it takes to get back there are already here. My job is to help us do it, together.
You'll hear from me often, and you'll never have to wonder what's going on in your schools. Board meetings are open and so is my door. When we make progress, you'll see the real numbers. When we fall short, you'll hear that from me too.
Please also join me in welcoming Pamela Dean, our new Elementary Principal and Special Education Director. She's new to Joseph City like I am, and we're both spending this summer doing more listening than talking. If you see either of us around town, stop us. And I mean everyone, not just parents. If you graduated from here decades ago, ranch outside town, drive to work every morning, or just love this community, these are your schools too. This town has backed them every time it counted. Tell us what they mean to you, what we do well, and what we can do better.
Thank you for trusting me with what matters most, your children's future and the future of this School District.
Go Wildcats!
Shannon Harvilla
Superintendent
The Summer Strength & Conditioning program will start Monday, 1 June at 7:00 in the weight room. The program will run Monday-Thursday. Contact Coach Fischer at bradf@jcusd.org with any questions.
Joseph City Basketball Camp
June 22 -June 24. Boy and girls entering the 6th grade up to 12th graders. Call the High School for more information.
Congratulations to Lorelai Sander who has been nominated as a possible athlete of the week by AZ Central. Please help her out and vote for her using the following link: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/05/19/arizona-high-school-athlete-of-the-week-poll-may-11-16/90166341007/
If you have not heard yet, a group of parents have started a parent organization called the PSW (Parents Supporting Wildcats). The purpose is to enhance and support the educational experience of students at JCUSD. If you are interested in helping, please take 5 minutes and complete the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOmCMpZeKkTEDf4--k2XKmYlCGhArerY402K-oS9MPRbsR7Q/viewform?usp=header
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
Our high school history class took a field trip to see Joseph City historical sites such as the John Bushman home, gravestones of the original founders, Brantley's Pioneer Museum, etc.
High School Softball continues the AIA State Championships with a quarterfinal matchup this Wednesday, May 6th at 4pm. The Wildcats take on the Hayden Lobos. This is our last home event for the 2025-26 school year!
Tickets can be purchased through GoFan:
https://gofan.co/event/6557584?schoolId=AIA
Tickets can be purchased through GoFan:
https://gofan.co/event/6557584?schoolId=AIA
Anatomy & Physiology did their exploration dissection today --> that means that students have to opportunity to explore on their own - they can go as in-depth as they want. They had a fetal cow, fetal pigs, and cow eyeballs. This gives students the opportunity to use real surgical tools on different types of tissues. They can look at all organ systems including bones, muscles, and brain and see development at different stages.
Our Spring sports have exciting competition this week. Come support your Wildcats!
Microscope Day today in Biology!
While looking at premade slides and making our own slides of plant material, there was a creature that was found that came from a horse trough. We decided to call him Fred --> he was very cool looking and came with some single celled organisms as well. It was very cool to see his hair-like cilia.
While looking at premade slides and making our own slides of plant material, there was a creature that was found that came from a horse trough. We decided to call him Fred --> he was very cool looking and came with some single celled organisms as well. It was very cool to see his hair-like cilia.
Always a good day when students get to dissect.
In Earth and Space, we have been talking about space and what different telescopes can pickup from the Electromagnetic Spectrum, so we dissected Eyeballs.
Biology has been looking at Human Biology and dissected Rats to compare anatomy.
In Earth and Space, we have been talking about space and what different telescopes can pickup from the Electromagnetic Spectrum, so we dissected Eyeballs.
Biology has been looking at Human Biology and dissected Rats to compare anatomy.
In Biology, we play with Gummy Bear to show Osmosis.
In, Chemistry, we also play with Gummy Bears; but in Chemistry Gummy Bears scream, produce heat, and produce light.
In, Chemistry, we also play with Gummy Bears; but in Chemistry Gummy Bears scream, produce heat, and produce light.
Monday was an exciting day for the Neill family and the Wildcat family!! Congratulations to Amber and Audrey Neill who officially signed to play basketball for Yavapai College this fall as Roughriders! We are proud of you and can't wait to watch you continue the Traditions of Excellence you have embraced and enhanced. It’s a great day to be a Wildcat!
The Joseph City Baseball team spent time this weekend at Feed My Starving Children to help pack meals for those in need around the world. The boys worked hard to pack as many meals as they could. The service project was a great experience for everyone involved!
The Joseph City School District invites all staff, families, and community members to attend a Meet and Greet with the Superintendent Finalists, followed by a Question & Answer session.
This special event will take place on Friday, April 17th at the B.G. Bennett Auditorium.
The evening will begin at 5:00 PM with an opportunity to meet the finalists in the Auditorium Foyer. Immediately following the meet and greet, the finalists will participate in a Q&A session in the Auditorium.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to engage with the candidates and be part of this important process for the future leadership of Joseph City School District.
This special event will take place on Friday, April 17th at the B.G. Bennett Auditorium.
The evening will begin at 5:00 PM with an opportunity to meet the finalists in the Auditorium Foyer. Immediately following the meet and greet, the finalists will participate in a Q&A session in the Auditorium.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to engage with the candidates and be part of this important process for the future leadership of Joseph City School District.
Prom is coming up on April 18!
Super cool day!!!
7th Hour Earth and Space was able to watch Artemis II launch today - they even counted down!
Did you watch it launch?
7th Hour Earth and Space was able to watch Artemis II launch today - they even counted down!
Did you watch it launch?
Attention Parents - There is still time to buy a hug note for your 8th grader or Senior for the 2026 yearbook! Contact Juliec@jcusd.org for more information!
A special THANK YOU to our nurse Shelly for teaching our A&P class CRP and certifying them.
CPR is a skill that everyone should be able to do, the A&P students also understand the physiology behind what is going on with the heart and lungs during CPR.
CPR is a skill that everyone should be able to do, the A&P students also understand the physiology behind what is going on with the heart and lungs during CPR.
JCHS sent 4 teams of students to EA STEM Day at Eastern Arizona College recently.
Out of the 4 teams, all 4 placed.!
* Briana Warner, Iris Powers, & Caleb Case took 3rd in the Biology competition.
* Peyton Bushman, Justin Gardner, Lucy Hancock, and Benson Moss took 3rd in the Chemistry competition.
* Emma Faulkner, Rosemary Fischer, Kylie Hansen, and Michael Ross took 2nd in the Chemistry competition.
* Chiara Musichini, Kase Fish, Kathleen Gardner, and Kayden Gardner took 1st in Earth and Space. For getting first place, they were each awarded a 2 year tuition scholarship if they choose a STEM field at EA worth $24,000.
The A&P students also went down for a special audience with Tammy Gillespie, the EA Anatomy & Physiology professor, to learn from her with their cadaver.
