Here's a great opportunity to learn the game, have fun, and show off the future of Joseph City Athletics! Students have a chance to play in front of the Varsity crowd on August 28th. Come to the high school front office to fill out the form and secure your spot.
The first bell of the year rang Monday morning and I spent it walking classrooms. What I saw was simple and it was everywhere: teachers greeting students by name, positive interactions in every room I walked into, and a renewed energy across both campuses that you can feel in the hallways. Then midweek a teacher wrote me, unprompted, to share how she rebuilt the way her class reviews material so students retrieve what they know instead of just re-reading it, and her students are already talking about their own learning differently. That is not an accident. That is a professional who studies her craft, and this district is full of them.
Look at what those professionals run. Three full preschool classes. Elementary classrooms where reading support is built in, not bolted on. A junior high and high school with agriscience and FFA, career and technical education, business, Spanish, band, choir, drama with a licensed musical on the way, yearbook, a library, online electives that let a student reach past our zip code, and NAVIT career programs beyond that. A school counselor who knows every student's name. And real special education support, not a promise on a website: a director of special education services on campus, a licensed speech-language pathologist, dedicated aides working one on one, a resource room, and IEPs that are written carefully and then actually followed, right down to transportation when a student's plan calls for it. Families drive past bigger districts for that, and they should.
And there is one thing a school gives that nothing else can: other kids. Lab partners. Teammates. A choir that only sounds right when everyone carries their part. A seat at the lunch table. Class and student council elections are Tuesday afternoon, and that is the point of all of it. Kids here learn to work with people they did not choose, to speak up in a group, to carry their share, to belong to something bigger than themselves. That is not extra. That is the education, and it only happens together.
It is also why discipline looks different this year. Our whole staff is trained on a restorative approach. When something goes wrong in a classroom, the first move is not the principal's office. It is a calm conversation where the student names what happened, who it affected, and how to make it right, and the plan gets built with the family, not just reported to it. You will hear about a classroom problem from the teacher first. That is the promise. It asks more of a student than a detention ever did, and it keeps kids where the learning and the belonging happen: in class.
The belonging spills into the stands, too. Thursday night's Blue and Gold scrimmage was well attended despite the rain. Now mark your calendar: football hosts a home scrimmage Friday, August 14 at 5:00. Volleyball has been grinding in the gym all week and hosts its home scrimmage Friday, August 21 at 1:00. Junior high softball opens at home against Mogollon on Thursday, August 20 at 2:00, and varsity football opens at Desert Heights on Friday, August 21 at 7:00. Come out. These kids play better when the town shows up, and this town shows up.
We also welcomed new and returning families this week, and I am proud of how we did it. The Governing Board opened our classes, programs, and athletics to ESA families across the region. Some enrolled full time. Some are taking exactly what they need: a science lab, an ag class, a sport, a music program, with their ESA paying for that single class directly through ClassWallet.
Everything on this page is what those families get, trained teachers and real support and teammates, things no living room or corporate tutor can offer. And here is what the whole community gets: every time a family chooses this school, their student's taxpayer-funded state education dollars come home to Joseph City and go to work right here, paying teachers, maintaining our impressive facilities, and running programs for every kid in town. Enrollment is not just a number. It is how a small district stays strong. Questions about joining us, full time or for a single class? Call the district office at 928.288.3307 and we will walk you through it in one conversation.
One last thing. Our teachers have started telling their own stories, posting straight from their classrooms, the small wins you never used to see. Follow this page and the app, because there is more coming every week, and you should see your kids' school the way we see it.
We have been an A school. We have been the best high school in this county. That is not nostalgia, it is the standard, and this week met it.
Look at what those professionals run. Three full preschool classes. Elementary classrooms where reading support is built in, not bolted on. A junior high and high school with agriscience and FFA, career and technical education, business, Spanish, band, choir, drama with a licensed musical on the way, yearbook, a library, online electives that let a student reach past our zip code, and NAVIT career programs beyond that. A school counselor who knows every student's name. And real special education support, not a promise on a website: a director of special education services on campus, a licensed speech-language pathologist, dedicated aides working one on one, a resource room, and IEPs that are written carefully and then actually followed, right down to transportation when a student's plan calls for it. Families drive past bigger districts for that, and they should.
And there is one thing a school gives that nothing else can: other kids. Lab partners. Teammates. A choir that only sounds right when everyone carries their part. A seat at the lunch table. Class and student council elections are Tuesday afternoon, and that is the point of all of it. Kids here learn to work with people they did not choose, to speak up in a group, to carry their share, to belong to something bigger than themselves. That is not extra. That is the education, and it only happens together.
It is also why discipline looks different this year. Our whole staff is trained on a restorative approach. When something goes wrong in a classroom, the first move is not the principal's office. It is a calm conversation where the student names what happened, who it affected, and how to make it right, and the plan gets built with the family, not just reported to it. You will hear about a classroom problem from the teacher first. That is the promise. It asks more of a student than a detention ever did, and it keeps kids where the learning and the belonging happen: in class.
The belonging spills into the stands, too. Thursday night's Blue and Gold scrimmage was well attended despite the rain. Now mark your calendar: football hosts a home scrimmage Friday, August 14 at 5:00. Volleyball has been grinding in the gym all week and hosts its home scrimmage Friday, August 21 at 1:00. Junior high softball opens at home against Mogollon on Thursday, August 20 at 2:00, and varsity football opens at Desert Heights on Friday, August 21 at 7:00. Come out. These kids play better when the town shows up, and this town shows up.
We also welcomed new and returning families this week, and I am proud of how we did it. The Governing Board opened our classes, programs, and athletics to ESA families across the region. Some enrolled full time. Some are taking exactly what they need: a science lab, an ag class, a sport, a music program, with their ESA paying for that single class directly through ClassWallet.
Everything on this page is what those families get, trained teachers and real support and teammates, things no living room or corporate tutor can offer. And here is what the whole community gets: every time a family chooses this school, their student's taxpayer-funded state education dollars come home to Joseph City and go to work right here, paying teachers, maintaining our impressive facilities, and running programs for every kid in town. Enrollment is not just a number. It is how a small district stays strong. Questions about joining us, full time or for a single class? Call the district office at 928.288.3307 and we will walk you through it in one conversation.
One last thing. Our teachers have started telling their own stories, posting straight from their classrooms, the small wins you never used to see. Follow this page and the app, because there is more coming every week, and you should see your kids' school the way we see it.
We have been an A school. We have been the best high school in this county. That is not nostalgia, it is the standard, and this week met it.
Wednesday Middle School Science and JCJH hit the ground running as they completed the first LAB of the school year, by learning to use LAB tools.
Junior high photography students were excited to have class outside today as they begin working with cameras, and getting comfortable handling the equipment. Students worked in teams to complete a 'photo scavenger hunt'.
Keep an eye out for some exciting projects this year!!
This week, students tackled a full-year pre-test to give us a roadmap of everything we'll be learning this school year! I was so impressed by how much background knowledge they already have tucked away. Pre-tests show us where we start so we can celebrate how far we grow—and this group is set up for an incredible year ahead!
Yearbook Class is ready to get the year started! PAWSITIVE VIBES!
1st TextBook Tuesday of the year!
2nd day of school and we are into curriculum. I have found that most Freshmen and Sophomores do not like TextBook Tuesdays, but upper classmen appreciate the relaxed assignment.
When talking with former students, that are adults, in the real world, they would love to come back to High School and do a TextBook Tuesday instead of "adulting".
TextBook Tuesdays are where test questions come from, so the information is available even if a student is not in class, this helps with those that play sports.
Here's to a great 26/27 school year!
2nd day of school and we are into curriculum. I have found that most Freshmen and Sophomores do not like TextBook Tuesdays, but upper classmen appreciate the relaxed assignment.
When talking with former students, that are adults, in the real world, they would love to come back to High School and do a TextBook Tuesday instead of "adulting".
TextBook Tuesdays are where test questions come from, so the information is available even if a student is not in class, this helps with those that play sports.
Here's to a great 26/27 school year!
Blue & Gold Scrimmage!
If you are able to help out Mrs. Smith, she is inviting parents to send any of the following:
Golf pencils.
Glue sticks
Large crayons (not the jumbo and not the regular size)
1.5 inch binder (for homework)
Band-aids
Clorox wipes
Tissues
Golf pencils.
Glue sticks
Large crayons (not the jumbo and not the regular size)
1.5 inch binder (for homework)
Band-aids
Clorox wipes
Tissues
Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Metzger invite you to consider donating to their classrooms.
2nd Grade Families: We are inviting you to consider supporting Mrs. Colligon's class. Any and all donations welcome!
3rd to 5th Grade Math Class Supplies
Mr. Murphy is looking for donations of:
Pencils
Dry erase markers
Spiral notebooks
Staples
Please consider helping him out if you can! We appreciate you!
Mr. Murphy is looking for donations of:
Pencils
Dry erase markers
Spiral notebooks
Staples
Please consider helping him out if you can! We appreciate you!
3rd, 4th, and 5th ELA Classroom Supplies
Mrs. Beatty is inviting you to consider donating to her ELA classroom! Here are the items she suggests:
Dry erase markers
Pink, blue, green, yellow hi-lighters (skinny)
Pencils
Composition notebooks
3x5 cards
Tissues
Hand sanitizer
Copy paper
Lined paper
**Holbrook Transportation Update**
Pickup times are the same except for McLAW's ROAD first stop is at 6:45 am.
Please check your times for stops after that.
New times so students can arrive in time for breakfast.
https://www.jcusd.org/page/bus-schedules
Pickup times are the same except for McLAW's ROAD first stop is at 6:45 am.
Please check your times for stops after that.
New times so students can arrive in time for breakfast.
https://www.jcusd.org/page/bus-schedules
**Winslow Transportation Update**
Elementary students leaving police department at 7:05 and Safeway at 7:20
Naomi House leaving at 7:35
New times so students can arrive in time for breakfast.
https://www.jcusd.org/page/bus-schedules
Elementary students leaving police department at 7:05 and Safeway at 7:20
Naomi House leaving at 7:35
New times so students can arrive in time for breakfast.
https://www.jcusd.org/page/bus-schedules
Spelling for the win in Mrs. Hunt’s 1st grade class! Way to go, word-builders!
First day factory fun in Mrs. Metzger's fabulous grade one!
Bob and Bertha are officially out of storage and ready to help Mrs. Fischer and our upper elementary science students bone up on their observation skills this year!
Big smiles and warm welcomes from the front office today! We are so ready to partner with our families for an incredible, smooth, and successful school year ahead!
Making our first day of Kindergarten SHINE!
Today we dipped our hands into some magical glitter sand to celebrate the start of an amazing school year while exploring new textures, calming those first-day nerves, and building fine motor skills. These Kinders brought so much joy, energy, and sparkle to our school today!
Today we dipped our hands into some magical glitter sand to celebrate the start of an amazing school year while exploring new textures, calming those first-day nerves, and building fine motor skills. These Kinders brought so much joy, energy, and sparkle to our school today!
