SJHS Newsletter 2.8.26

Weekly Highlights:

• February - Career & Technical Education Month
• February 10 at 8:30 - 1:00 PM - Eastern Arizona College will be in the Career Center

• February 10 - Real Life Reads Book Club Meeting (see flier in Clubs Connection)
• February 13 at 9:00 - 11:00 AM - Grow Arizona in Career Center (to help Juniors and Seniors with college and career planning)
• February 13 - NAVIT Registration for 2026-27 Deadline
• February 14 at 8:00 - 11:00 PM - Sweethearts Dance in the SJHS Choir Room

Future Events - Save the Dates:

• February 15 - School Resource/Safety Officer Appreciation Day
• February 16 - Presidents' Day/NO SCHOOL
• February 20 - ACT Test Prep Begins at SJHS Library
• February 24 - ASVAB Test (for all Seniors and interested Juniors)
• February 25 - Northern Arizona University will be in the Career Center
• February 25 - SJMS STUCO Talent Show

Dear SJHS Families,

The definition of “teacher” in Oxford Languages is just as you’d expect: “A person who teaches”. But teachers do so much more than teach. Taking care of kids, making sure we’re safe and comfortable, and ensuring we’re on top of our assignments are just a few things I see the teachers at St. Johns High School doing every day. And what do these teachers get in return? Sometimes, they get dirty looks about essays and a yawn to the lesson plan they spent hours making. Sure, that’s what you’d expect from kids my age, but it shouldn’t be. I think teachers deserve more than a “teenagery” attitude every day. They deserve respect and attentiveness.

Kids my age seem like they don’t know how to sit and listen, or how to not make a snarky comment about the word a teacher misspelled on the slideshow. Why can’t teachers get a day off from this? I can’t think of any reason why not. These teachers work so hard and for long hours, and they’re usually at the school more than students.

When do teachers get a thank you from students? Or a gift from students? Or even just a day where every student pays attention to the lesson? Almost never, and personally, I don’t think that’s how it should be. So, I urge you, I implore you, to say thank you to that teacher that goes through heck and back every day because of teenagers being teenagers. Pay attention to the lesson; maybe you’ll learn something. A school where students sit, listen, and respect teachers would be such a wonderful place, so let’s make St. Johns High School that school.

by Bianca Diaz

As we honor Black History Month, we recognize the power of perseverance, education, and opportunity in shaping futures. One often-overlooked but critical factor in student success is daily school attendance. Showing up every day is not just about being present—it’s about empowerment, access, and building a strong foundation for lifelong achievement.

Historically, education has been a pathway to progress and self-determination in the Black community. Leaders, scholars, and change-makers understood that learning opens doors. Today, that legacy continues in classrooms where consistent attendance directly impacts academic success.

Why Attendance Matters in High School

In high school, every class period counts. Research shows:

• Students who miss 10% or more of the school year are far less likely to graduate on time

• High school attendance is a strong predictor of course completion and credit accumulation

• Seniors with strong attendance are more likely to meet graduation requirements and postsecondary goals

• Employers and colleges both report that reliability and consistency are key skills they expect from graduates

Missing just one day a week can equal nearly a full month of missed instruction by the end of the school year.

Attendance Is a Form of Empowerment

For generations, access to education has been a hard-won right. Today, being present in class is a way of claiming that opportunity and preparing for what comes next.

Daily attendance helps students:

• Stay on track with credits and graduation plans

• Build strong relationships with teachers and mentors

• Develop time management and accountability skills

• Prepare for the expectations of college, careers, and life after high school

Showing up sends a message—to yourself and to the world—that your goals matter.

Building the Future, One Day at a Time

Black History Month reminds us that progress is built through commitment, resilience, and action. For high school students, success isn’t only about big moments—it’s about consistent effort, day after day. This month, we celebrate students who take ownership of their education by being present, engaged, and focused on their future.

Every class counts. Every credit matters. And every day you show up is a step toward your goals.

Let’s continue building a legacy of excellence—starting with attendance.

Quarter 3 Incentive: No Tardy Party

To encourage positive attendance habits, the class with the fewest tardies and absences during Quarter 3 will win the No Tardy Pizza Party! This incentive promotes accountability, teamwork, and school pride while recognizing students who prioritize attendance and punctuality.

Parents/Guardians/Community Members: If you would like to help or donate rewards to our students for good or improved attendance, please fill out the form below.

We are noticing a growing number of students arriving late to 1st hour. The first few minutes of our day are dedicated to the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and important announcements. Students being late to 1st hour disrupts this important routine. We are kindly asking for your help in making sure students arrive at school on time each morning. As a reminder, 1st hour begins at 7:45AM and students need to be in their seats by then. Thank you for your continued support.

with Mr. Johnson

College/University Visits at SJHS

• February 10 at 8:30 - 1:00 PM - Eric Lehman from Eastern Arizona College will be in the Career Center to help students with registration, scholarships, programs, and housing
• If you have registered, wanting to register, or have questions for Eric, stop by the Career Center during this time for more information.
  
  
• February 25 at 12:30 - 1:30 PM - Tezbah Smiley from Northern Arizona University will be in the Career Center to help students with registration, scholarships, programs, and housing.
• If you are interested in applying to NAU or have questions, stop by the career center during this time.

ASVAB Testing at SJHS

• February 25 at 8:30 - 11:45 AM - SJHS will be offering the ASVAB for a 2nd time this school year. All seniors are expected to take the ASVAB and interested juniors are also invited to participate. Please see the flyer and registration form below. Visit Mr. Johnson with any questions.
• The ASVAB isn’t just a military test—it’s a comprehensive strengths profile. Students get a detailed breakdown of how they perform in areas like:
• Mechanical reasoning
• Spatial awareness
• Word knowledge
• Math problem‑solving
• Coding speed
• Technical comprehension
• That data is then paired with the Career Exploration Program, which matches students to hundreds of civilian careers based on their natural abilities—not just their interests.
• For a teenager who isn’t sure what comes after high school, this can be eye‑opening. It often reveals strengths they didn’t know they had and points them toward fields like engineering, healthcare, IT, automotive technology, culinary arts, construction, design, and more.
• Additional benefits for students:
• It’s free—a high‑quality aptitude assessment they don’t have to pay for.
• It helps with CTE pathways by highlighting areas where they’re naturally strong.
• It builds confidence by showing students what they can do, not just what they think they like.
• It supports post‑secondary planning for college, trade school, apprenticeships, or the workforce.
• It’s low‑stakes—no impact on GPA, transcripts, or college admissions.

• Monday, February 9 - 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM in Mrs. Johnson's Art Classroom

• Tuesday, February 10 - 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM in the Library

• Wednesday, February 11 - 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM in Mrs. Kelley's Classroom

• Thursday, February 12 - 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM in Mrs. Hitchcock's Culinary Classroom
• Thursday, February 12 - FCCLA Regionals

• Thursday, February 10 - 6:00 - 7:30 PM in Mrs. Hitchcock's Agriculture Classroom

• Friday, February 13

After it's four year absence, the students on the Academic Decathlon team claimed victory at the Region 1 Competition and returned the trophy to its rightful home. Combined, the team earned over 50 medals! We also had the top scorers at each level: Carter Smith at Honors, Wallace Pratt at Scholastic, and Alan Schuster at Varsity. Here are the complete medal results:

• 1st Place as a Team scoring 33,282 points

• Carter Smith - Honors

• Gold: Language Literature, Music, Science, Art, Economics, Speech, Social Science, Team Overall

• Silver: Math

• Roerie Knight - Honors

• Gold: Math, Interview, Social Science

• Silver: Language Literature, Music, Art, Economics, Essay, Speech, Team Overall

• Bronze: Science

• Cooper Heap - Honors

• Silver: Language Literature, Social Science

• Bronze: Essay, Interview

• Wallace Pratt - Scholastic

• Gold: Language Literature, Music, Art, Social Science, Team Overall

• Silver: Math, Economics

• Bronze: Science, Speech, Interview

• Hailey Nielsen - Scholastic

• Silver: Speech

• Bronze: Math, Essay, Social Science

• Sadie Nielsen - Scholastic

• Gold: Speech

• Silver: Social Science, Essay

• Bronze: Team Overall

• Zekiah Beasley - Varsity

• Silver: Science

• Bronze: Language Literature, Social Science

• Alan Schuster - Varsity

• Gold: Music, Science, Art, Economics, Essay, Speech, Team Overall

• Silver: Language Literature, Social Science

• Bronze: Math

• Josyah Smith - Varsity

• Silver: Math

• Bronze: Art, Music

We are consistently impressed with the work and dedication of our athletes and coaches! We are fortunate to host basketball this week, so come out and support! Here's what's happening:

• February 7 - 2 A North Region Semi Finals and Championship Basketball Games @ SJHS
• February 9 - Baseball, Softball & Track practices begin
• February 10 - Girls Basketball first round State (Copper Division) @ SJHS
• February 13 - Boys Basketball State play-in @ SJHS
• February 14 - Wrestling Division IV Sectionals @ Winslow High School

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We Are One. We Fear No One. Eyes Up.