August 9, 2025

Prospectors,

We are excited to share the positive impact of our campus changes this school year. Reducing the overall campus size has already made a noticeable difference in daily life at Apache Junction High School.

Our seniors have especially enjoyed the benefit of parking closer to campus, making their mornings smoother and more convenient. Teachers have also noticed a significant reduction in classroom tardiness, as students can now move between classes more efficiently.

Most importantly, the smaller outside perimeter has enhanced the safety of our campus. With less area to monitor, our staff and security teams can more effectively ensure the well-being of all students and staff.

We are grateful for your support as we continue to create a safe, welcoming, and productive learning environment for all. Together, we are building a stronger AJHS.

Principal Ginn

Dear Parents and Families,

We are now four weeks into the school year—time is flying by! Did you know that both parents and students can easily view the gradebook for each class? It shows not only the overall grade but also detailed scores for every assignment. Checking the gradebook regularly and keeping up with assignments is a key step toward a successful semester.

As a guardian, you can access the gradebook through ParentVUE. The link to ParentVUE is available on the AJHS website under the “Parent Portal” tab. Simply log in with your parent account and go to the “Gradebook” section. If you haven’t set up your account yet and need an activation key, please reach out to the school office for support.

We encourage you to reach out to your student’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns about their progress. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification on assignments or to inquire about tutoring hours and opportunities. Together, by staying connected and proactive, we can make this a positive and successful semester for every learner.

Melinda O’Barr

Assistant Principal

Every minute of learning is valuable. To support all students in making the most of their classes, students who arrive late will be sent to the sweep for the class period and will need to make up the missed time after school. This includes arriving late in the morning without a parent. Your support is appreciated in fostering a consistent and productive learning environment.

Hello AJHS Students and Families,

We are off to a great start to the school year! The last 3 1/2 weeks have flown by and we are looking forward to the progress our students will make this year.

Parents and Guardians please make sure to be checking in on your students' grades weekly. This helps to keep them accountable. Some assignments may not be marked missing in the gradebook. Make sure to also look at the column that has the point value earned. For example a student may not have an assignment marked missing but their grade will reflect a 0/50. That means they have not turned in the assignment, quiz or test. If you need help accessing your parent vue app please contact the school and we will assist you. You can also have your student pull up their grades on their chromebook to show you through student vue. As we get further into the quarter if your student is starting to fall behind in their classes make sure to have them stay for after school tutoring. They can make that appointment with their teacher. If they need transportation we do have a late tutoring bus that will take students home at 3:25pm. Students just need to let their teacher know the day before if they need the bus for tutoring so they can get them on the list.

Grand Canyon university will be on campus next week Thursday morning before school in the library. Shannon Penn will be here to meet with Seniors who would like to apply to GCU or would like to fill out the application for the Discover GCU trip. If a student wants to attend the Discover GCU event on Saturday Sept 27th they will need to fill out an application for the event and have a parent/guardian fill out a waiver. For more information reach out to Shannon Penn at Work Cell (480) 390-6034 or email at shannon.penn@gcu.edu

As always please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Powell or Mrs. Fritsche with any questions you may have!

Girls Volleyball, Girls and Boys Golf, and Flag Football officially start on Monday!

Please ensure that your athlete is cleared at FinalForms.com prior to the start of practice!

Volleyball brian.cabelli@goaj.org

Flag Football loren.saulsby@goaj.org

Golf ed.matlosz@goaj.org

We must stay mindful of our student dress code as the weather heats up. Student tops should have straps and cover the stomach. No tube tops or strapless tops are permitted. Students violating the dress code can call home for a change of clothes or borrow a shirt from the nurse for the day. Thank you for your help!

Our Career and Technical Education (CTE) Construction program gives students more than hands-on skills—it allows them to earn industry-recognized credentials like OSHA-10 and NCCER Core. These certifications prove to employers that our students are job-ready, safe, and skilled.

With a credential in hand, graduates can step right into the workforce, qualify for paid apprenticeships, get a head start on trade school or college, or even start their own business. The construction industry is booming, and these credentials give our students a competitive edge before they even leave high school.

Jeff Cox

CTE Director

August 8- Drama Parent Meeting, 6 pm Drama Room

August 11- Volleyball Practice Starts

August 18- Bus Evacuation Drills

August 20- Early Release 

August 25- Bus Evacuation Drills

August 28- First Home Football Game

September 17- College and Career Fair and Early Release