SJHS Newsletter 11.1.26

Tonight & Tomorrow:

• October 30 at 7:00PM - State 1st Round Football Playoff vs. Morenci - tickets must be purchased through GoFan (click link or scan QR on flyer below)
• October 31 at 9:30AM - Girls' and Boys' State Soccer Send-off starting at the high school
• October 31 at 1:00PM - Girls' Soccer State Championship Game vs. Snowflake at Winslow High School - tickets must be purchased through GoFan (click link)
• October 31 at 3:30PM - Boys' Soccer State Championship Game vs. Blue Ridge at Winslow High School - tickets must be purchased through GoFan (click link)

Important Events - This Week:

• November 3 - Election Day
• November 5 - Grow Arizona in the Career Center (every Thursday)
• November 5 at 6:30PM - School Board Meeting at the District Office
• NOW until November 14 - PTSO Food Drive - Class Competition (see PTSO section for flyer)
• NOW until November 14 - PTSO Blanket Fundraiser (see PTSO section for flyer)

Upcoming Events - Save the Dates:

• November 10 - SJUSD Annual Veteran's Day Assembly (more information to come)
• November 11 - No School / Veteran's Day
• November 14 - PTSO Holiday Bazaar (vendors wanted - see PTSO section for flyer)
• by November 14 - PTSO Food Drive (donate by - see PTSO section for flyer)
• by November 14 - PTSO Blanket Fundraiser (orders due - see PTSO section for flyer)
• November 18 - Cartwheel Webinar - "Helping Kids Get Started: Supporting Motivation for School, Homework, and Learning" (click to register)

• October 31 at 9:30AM - Girls' and Boys' State Soccer Send-off starting at the high school
• October 31 at 1:00PM - Girls' Soccer State Championship Game vs. Snowflake at Winslow High School - tickets must be purchased through GoFan (click link)
• October 31 at 3:30PM - Boys' Soccer State Championship Game vs. Blue Ridge at Winslow High School - tickets must be purchased through GoFan (click link)

Dear SJHS Families,

When most people hear the word integrity, they think about honesty. They think about telling the truth, following the rules, and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Those are certainly part of what is considered integrous (👈yes, that's a real word--the adjective form of "integrity" from the mid-1600s--let's bring it back and make it great again!). However, I believe integrity is much more than that.

Integrity means earning the grade you receive rather than looking for ways to get around the work. It means choosing character over convenience. It means understanding that success only has value when it is honestly earned. Integrity also means having the courage to act when you see something that isn't right. That is often more difficult.

It's one thing to refuse to cheat, but it's another thing to tell a friend that cheating isn't okay. It's one thing to be kind, but it's another thing to speak up when someone else is being mistreated. Real leadership isn't measured by titles, popularity, or accomplishments. Real leadership is measured by the choices we make when standing up for what's right carries a cost. Sometimes that cost is an uncomfortable conversation. Sometimes it comes with the risk of criticism, the possibility of losing approval from peers, or the reality of not being part of the "popular" crowd. Leaders understand that doing the right thing isn't always (and maybe isn't ever) the easy thing.

Unfortunately, unkindness often gains momentum because good people stay silent. A comment said as a joke can be hurtful, especially when that type of joking becomes a habit. And a habit can create the culture of the community. Sadly, I have run into this multiple times just in the past week, both professionally and personally.

Professionally, I have listened to students who have been deeply hurt by the "joking" words said by peers or others, and even worse, words said that were not intended to be a joke but meant to lash out and sting.

Personally, I have listened to my daughter share the hurtful words, gestures, and sounds being made about her by kids at school. We have addressed the things being said and done to her with coaches, teachers, and administrators, and they have all done what they could to address it. Despite these efforts, it hasn't stopped. This week, after she shared another incident, I asked her, "Do you want me to call the school again?"

"No," she said, "It will only make it worse." I understand why she would say that. Sometimes, when we as adults in a school address student behavior, there can be a period of improvement, but there can also be retaliation and increased incidents.

As administrators and educators, we employ every appropriate method we can do to address unkind behaviors--unfortunately, we can't be everywhere all the time. This is where we rely on students who see something to say something. Not only, do we need students to report what is happening to them and others, but even more powerful, we need students to use "peer pressure" for the positive. Something I have shared with my teachers is the concept of, "Care enough to confront." Do we care enough about the people involved? Do we care about the people being impacted? Do we care enough about the culture of our school? Do we care enough to confront the behaviors that we want to stop so we can make the environment positive and safe for all individuals?

Recently, I learned about a group featured on CBS News "On the Road" by American broadcast journalist Steve Hartman, who also co-hosts "Kindness 101" on CBS Mornings. The group is called "The Kindness Mob." The premise of "The Kindness Mob" is simple yet powerful. When someone is targeted by negativity or cruelty online, hundreds or even thousands of people intentionally respond with encouragement, support, and kindness. They use the power of a group not to tear someone down, but to lift someone up.

Imagine if every school had its own Kindness Mob.

Imagine if students used their influence to interrupt cruelty rather than join it.

Imagine if the first response to gossip was, "That's not okay."

Imagine if the first response to bullying was, "Stop."

Imagine if students who witnessed someone being excluded, ridiculed, or harassed chose to speak up, sit beside them, include them, or tell a trusted adult.

That's integrity. Integrity isn't fighting back with insults. It isn't starting an argument. It isn't trying to embarrass someone in retaliation. It's having the courage to say, respectfully and firmly, "This isn't right, and it needs to stop, now."

As we move through the coming week, I encourage all of our students to think about what integrity looks like in their everyday lives.

• Are you earning what you achieve?
• Are you treating others with dignity?
• Are you willing to stand up for someone who needs support?

The true measure of our character is not what we do when everything is easy. It is what we do when doing the right thing requires courage.

Let's be a school known not only for academic, athletic, and arts achievement, but for integrity, kindness, and the willingness to stand up for each another.

With appreciation,
Mrs. Mo

We are proud to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of our students through our quarterly Academic Honor Roll program.

This year, after the end of each quarter, students who demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence will be honored for their accomplishments.

Congratulations to the students who have earned this distinction for Quarter 1! We celebrate their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to success.

Honor Roll Categories

• Principal's Honor Roll: Quarter GPA of 4.0 or higher

• High Honor Roll: Quarter GPA of 3.75-3.99

• Honor Roll: Quarter GPA of 3.50-3.74
  

Click the button below to see the Monthly Attendance Newsletter!

• Updated Attendance Data
• Quarter 2 Attendance Reward Information
• Important Reminders

We are proud to recognize the outstanding attendance of our students through a quarterly Attendance Honor Roll program.

This year, at the end of each quarter, students who demonstrated a strong commitment to excellent attendance will be honored for their accomplishments.

Congratulations to the students who have earned this distinction for Quarter 1! These students have received a personal letter and will participate in a reward celebration to recognize their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to school attendance.

Attendance Honor Roll

• Perfect Attendance: 100% attendance (0 absences or tardies)

Mr. Johnson is working with Seniors during their English class the first Thursday of each month. We are working again this year with Grow Arizona, who will be here every Thursday to support students in completing their ECAP graduation requirement, supporting students with FAFSA, scholarship applications, and other career and college opportunities.

I am happy to announce a new scholarship platform created for our school that will keep SJHS students/families informed of national and local scholarship opportunities directly related to SJHS students. This new program will help bridge the communication gap and get important scholarship information out to all families.

You should have received an email (students and parents). If you did not, contact me directly so I can resend the invitation to sign up. Please click the link in that email and on the webpage, click connect with Rick Johnson. Follow the directions to create your free account. I will be able to see a student's interest and progress and help them create a specific scholarship list that directly pertains to each student. This platform will also keep track of deadlines.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Mr. Johnson

For more information or to apply, scan the QR code or visit https://www.darrinreedfoundation.org

• Monday, November 2 - 11:45AM - 12:30PM in Mrs. Johnson's Classroom

• Monday, November 2 - 12:00 - 12:30PM in the Library

• Tuesday, November 3 - 11:45AM - 12:30PM in the Library

• Wednesday, November 4 - 12:00 - 12:30PM in the Library

• Thursday, November 5 - 11:45AM - 12:30PM in Mrs. Hitchcock's Ag Classroom

• Thursday, November 5 - 12:00 - 12:30PM in Mr. Wareing's Autos Classroom

• Thursday, November 5 - 12:00 - 12:30PM in the Library

• Thursday, November 5 - all day in the Career Center

• Friday, November 6 - at the Odysea Aquarium

• October 30 - Football State 1st Round @ high seed
• October 31 - Girls & Boys Soccer State Championships
• October 31 - Volleyball Region Tournament
• November 6 - Football State 2nd Round @ high seed
• November 7 - Volleyball State 1st & 2nd Rounds

Get & Stay Connected! Scan the QR codes to keep up on the latest happenings at SJHS. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch our daily morning announcements, and don't forget to turn on notifications. #like #subscribe #keepitreal

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