Prospector Press 12/1/25

Posted Date: 12/01/25 (02:15 PM)

Dear Prospector Community,

We hope you had a restful break and are ready to finish the quarter strong. With only three weeks left, this is the perfect time for students to buckle down, stay focused, and put in their best effort. Every assignment, every study session, and every day of attendance matters as we close out this quarter.

This season is also a wonderful time to support our students outside the classroom. Our winter sports teams are competing hard, and we encourage everyone to attend home games and cheer them on. In addition, our talented musicians will be performing throughout the community: orchestra, choir, and band concerts each take place the week of December 8.

You can also catch our amazing fine arts program in the community at the Gold Canyon Tree Lighting on December 3 and the Light Parade on December 6. These events are great opportunities to celebrate the dedication and creativity of our students.

Let’s support one another, show up for our teams and performers, and make these final weeks of the quarter our most focused and successful yet.

With pride and gratitude,

Lisa Ginn

Principal

Important Dates to Remember

December 8 and 9

ELA and Math Benchmarks

December 8

Winter Band Concert, PAC

December 9

Winter Strings Concert, PAC

December 11

Winter Choir Concert, PAC

December 12

Club Day in Prospector Period

December 12

Student Council Bonfire

December 16th-18th

Semester Final Exams

Hello Families and Guardians,

As we head into the final three weeks of the semester, I want to share some important updates, reminders, and opportunities to support your student—and help them finish strong. A lot is happening, and your involvement makes all the difference.

1. Benchmark Testing – December 8–9

We’ll run a special benchmark schedule on these days. Please take a moment to review the schedule with your student so you both know which classes are testing on which days.

2. Final Exams

Final exams begin on December 16th and end on December 18th. These exams are the culminating assessment of the semester, and they will not be given early. Students must be present on assigned exam days, so it’s essential to review the final exam schedule carefully with your student. Final Exam Schedule.

3. Course Selections for Next Year

This week, students will bring home a course selection form to plan their classes for next year. These forms are due by Friday, December 5, and should be turned in to their ELA teacher. Please take the time to review the course selections with your student, discuss their interests and goals, and make informed decisions together.

How You Can Support Your Student

Please review the schedule together: Go through both the benchmark and final exam schedules and make sure your student knows which days they have tests.
Encourage device readiness: Please make sure your student brings their Chromebook fully charged every day—especially during benchmark testing and finals.
Take advantage of extra help: We strongly encourage students to attend their teachers’ tutoring or extra help sessions now, while there is still time to solidify understanding before finals.
Engage in course planning: Talk through the course selection form with your student. Help them consider which electives, core classes, or pathways align with their future goals.

We know the end of the semester can feel busy and stressful. But with clear focus, planning, and support, our students can finish strong and set themselves up for a successful start to next year.

Thank you for your partnership. If you have any questions about the exam schedule, tutoring, course selection, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your child’s teachers. We’re here to help.

Sincerely,

Melinda O’Barr

Assistant Principal of Academics

Final Exam Schedule *click here*

Prospector Athletics

Prospector Families,

As we head into our winter season, we encourage you to come out and support our soccer, wrestling, and basketball teams! Our student-athletes have been working hard, and your presence in the stands makes a tremendous difference. Whether it’s a home match, a tournament, or a rivalry game, your support helps build school spirit and motivates our athletes to perform at their best.

We hope to see you cheering loudly and proudly throughout the season.

Thank you for supporting our students and helping make Apache Junction High School such a great community.

Go Prospectors!

Questions? Don't hesitate to get in touch with Athletic Director Traston Yates at traston.yates@goaj.org

Hello AJHS Families,

We can’t believe the semester is almost over. November was a busy month with a field trip to ASU Polytechnic campus. Additionally, Mrs. Powell and Ms. Fritsche have been doing credit checks and this will continue through the end of the semester. Here are some events happening in December:

1st week of December: course selection forms go out
Friday, December 5: ALL course selection forms due to English teachers
Monday, December 8: Resolution Copper presents to seniors during Benchmark Testing in the PAC
Tuesday, December 9: Senior presentation about community scholarships during Benchmark Testing in the PAC

Seniors, the FAFSA application opened on October 1st. If you haven’t completed this yet, let’s get that done! If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Powell.

Feel free to contact Mrs. Powell and Ms. Fritsche for any additional questions.

Cartwheel Services

Apache Junction High School is committed to supporting the well-being of our students and believes supporting mental health is an essential part of overall student health. We partner with Cartwheel to provide teletherapy, family check-ins and guidance, and psychiatric care—all with licensed clinicians and no waitlists.

Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, having a hard time staying focused, or needs someone to talk to, Cartwheel is here to help. Learn more about Cartwheel and what common signs to look for to determine if your child might benefit from mental health support here.

Raise your hand for support today – we’re here when you need us.