Spring Events:
Graduation/ Promotion:
- Kindergarten Promotion - May 7th , 9:00 AM
- 8th Grade Promotion - May 11th , Parade begins at 5:00 PM
- High School Graduation - May 14th , 6:00 PM
Multipurpose Room
You must have a ticket to attend!
Community Events/ Opportunities for Community Service:
- Dance-a-thon (April 23rd, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm)
Dance the night away and earn prizes!
- Ash Fork Clean Up Day (April 25th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
Clean up our town and earn community service hours)
- Freshmen Orientation (April 30th, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM)
Summer Melt:
- Summer Melt is a free program that helps our graduates transition to their next steps (college, military, workforce, etc). Reach out to Ms. B for details. kberisford@afjusd.org
Sports:
- HS Baseball Home Game: April 20th - 3:00 PM Playing Salome
- HS Baseball Away Game: April 25th - 1:00 PM Playing Joseph City
- Congrats to our Middle School Volleyball A Team for taking 3rd place in their final tournament!
- Coming up: Basketball camp for elementary Students! Details to come!
Upcoming Fieldtrips:
- Diamondbacks Game for students who donated blood this year! Thank you for saving lives! April 21st
- 4th & 5th Grade Prescott Pops Symphony Music Memory Program. May 7th
- Kinder & 1st Grade Bearizona May 11th
- High School Team Building Picnic May 11th
Navajo Taco Sale:
- Tickets on sale now! Purchase from any of our Seniors!
Pick-up: May 2nd
We’ve had such a great response to our Throwback Shirts that we’re extending the order deadline through Thursday!
Order forms are still available in the front office. Don’t miss your chance to grab one of these Ash Fork throwback designs before it's too late! Shirts will be ready for pickup next week in the front office.💙💛
Building Real-World Readiness: Senior Mock Interviews in Action
Staci Martin, M. Ed.
Fourth quarter in Senior English took a deliberate shift away from traditional instruction and toward real-world application through a structured mock interview unit. While public speaking and communication are core components of the Arizona English Language Arts standards, this experience pushed students beyond academic expectations and into authentic workplace preparation.
Over the course of several days, seniors participated in multiple rounds of mock interviews, rotating between the roles of interviewee and interviewer. This repetition proved to be one of the most impactful elements of the experience. With each attempt, students demonstrated noticeable growth in their ability to maintain eye contact, speak clearly, and organize their thoughts into more complete and meaningful responses. Just as importantly, they began to sound less rehearsed and more natural: an essential skill in any real interview setting.
One of the more surprising outcomes of this unit was how quickly students adapted to the role of interviewer. Approximately two-thirds of the class initially performed more confidently as part of an interview panel than as the interviewee. When placed in the position of evaluating others, students showed strong instincts in identifying effective answers, asking follow-up questions, and recognizing the difference between vague responses and those supported with clear examples. This shift allowed them to better understand what employers are actually looking for and, in turn, apply those insights to improve their own performance.
As the unit progressed, students began to bridge the gap between academic skills and workplace expectations. They moved from giving surface-level answers to providing evidence-based responses that reflected responsibility, effort, and problem-solving; thus, demonstrating qualities that extend far beyond the classroom.
The culmination of this experience highlighted an important takeaway: success in interviews is not about perfection, but about preparation, clarity, and the ability to communicate one’s value. While this unit aligned with Arizona English standards in speaking and listening, its true impact reached further. Students were not only practicing communication skills, however, they were developing the confidence and awareness necessary to navigate real-world employment situations.
By the end of the process, students demonstrated growth not only in their speaking abilities but in their understanding of how to present themselves as capable, reliable, and ready to take the next step beyond high school.
April 30, 2026
5:00–7:00 PM
Ash Fork School Multi-Purpose Room
This event will help students and families feel prepared for the transition to high school. Attendees will meet teachers, staff, and the academic counselor, and learn about expectations and opportunities at AFHS.
Free dinner will be provided for all students and families.
Keynote Speaker: Steve King, Yavapai County School Superintendent
We look forward to welcoming our future freshmen!
Event Cancellation Notice
K–5 Family Plant Time
We regret to inform you that the K–5 Family Plant Time event scheduled for April 14th has been canceled due to a high number of staff members being sick.
What’s Next?
We plan to reschedule this event at a later date and will share updated details as soon as they are available.
Thank You
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you at the rescheduled event!
The Class of 2026 is excited to offer Cinco de Mayo Grams! 🌮🎉
Send a fun surprise to a friend, student, or staff member on May 5 for just $8 each. Each gram includes festive treats and goodies to celebrate the day!
📍 Order forms are available in the Ash Fork Schools Front Office
📅 Delivery: May 5
⚠️ Limited quantity available (only 96 total!)
Support the Class of 2026 and help make their upcoming events and activities possible—grab your order form soon before they’re gone!🎊
🌱 K–5 Family Plant Time is almost here! 🌱
Join us at Ash Fork Elementary for a fun evening of planting, creativity, and time together as a family. Come create something special and make a few memories along the way!
🗓 April 14
⏰ 4:15 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Ash Fork School Multi-Purpose Room
This event is open to all K–5 students and their families—we’d love to see you there! Let’s grow something together. 🌼🌿
Throwback Shirts are here!
Rep your Spartan pride with vintage yearbook-inspired designs from the 60s, 70s, and 90s!
👕 $15 each
✍️ Add a name to the back for just $5 more
📍 Order forms available in the Ash Fork Schools front office
Each shirt features artwork pulled straight from the yearbook cover of that decade—perfect for alumni, students, staff, and longtime Spartan supporters.
Grab your favorite era (or all three 😉) and show off your Spartan history in style!
Ash Fork Joint Unified School District is offering free Child Find developmental screenings for young children in our community April 29, 2026 from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
Child Find helps identify students who may benefit from extra support before they start school or while they are in their early learning years.
You may want to schedule a screening if your child has difficulty with:
• Speech or communication
• Learning or understanding directions
• Motor skills or coordination
• Behavior or attention
• Social interaction with others
• Completing age-appropriate tasks
Early support can make a big difference in a child’s success.
📞 Call (928) 637-2561 to schedule a screening
🌐 www.afjusd.org
Screenings are free and available to eligible children in our district.
Ash Fork Joint Unified School District is looking for passionate English Language Arts teachers ready to make a real difference in students’ lives. Join a supportive team where educators are valued, leadership is approachable, and your work truly matters.
Why teachers choose Ash Fork:
✔ Four-day school week
✔ National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
✔ 'A' - Rated School District
✔ Average teacher salary $66,000 + extra earning opportunities
✔ Supportive Superintendent and leadership team
Teach. Inspire. Lead. Become a Spartan. 💙💛
Apply today:
https://www.afjusd.org/page/employment-opportunities
Questions? Contact Sue Atkinson at 928-637-2561 ext. 3
Come see the difference a close-knit district can make—for your students and for you.
Ash Fork Elementary School is getting ready to welcome our newest Spartans!
Stop by Wednesday, April 29th anytime between 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM to complete your child’s kindergarten registration paperwork and pick up a welcome goody bag for your incoming student.
📍 Ash Fork School
46999 N 5th St.
Bring with you:
• Immunization record
• Birth certificate
• Proof of physical address
This is an open-house style event, so families may stop by anytime during the day.
We can’t wait to meet our future Spartans! 💙💛
✨ Ash Fork High School Legacy Project: Beauty & the Beast ✨
We’re collecting formal clothing donations for students at Ash Fork Schools! These items will help our students shine at High School Prom and 8th Grade Promotion.
Donation Times:
• Weekdays: 7:15 AM – 4:30 PM (Front Office, through April 9)
• Special Drop-Off: Saturday, April 4 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Every donation makes a difference and is truly appreciated ❤️
Thank you for supporting our students!
The safety of our students is our highest priority, and drills like this are essential to ensuring we are fully prepared to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency. Your participation plays a critical role in helping us strengthen these procedures and keep every child safe.
https://youtu.be/tc0dLxXxz9E
🚨 Student Reunification Drill – Bus Barn Procedures 🚨
📅 Thursday, March 26, 2026
⏰ Early Release at 1:30 PM for all students
🚗 Parents may begin lining up at 1:00 PM
To pick up your student, please follow these steps:
➡️ Enter from 6th Street and follow signs to the Bus Barn parking lot
➡️ Stop at the Identification Check (bring your photo ID & reunification card)
➡️ After verification, proceed to Student Pick-Up
➡️ Your child will be brought to you for reunification
⚠️ Important Reminders:
• Only approved adults listed in PowerSchool can pick up students
• Make sure your emergency contacts are up to date
• High school students who drive themselves must still be checked out by an adult at the bus barn before leaving
Thank you for your cooperation as we practice keeping our students safe ❤️
🌟 ASH FORK COMMUNITY CLEAN UP DAY! 🌟
Let’s come together and make our town shine! 🧹✨
Join us on Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM as we work side by side to keep Ash Fork beautiful. Whether you can stay the whole time or just stop by to help out, every little bit makes a difference!
📍 Meet at the Ash Fork Library
(450 W. Lewis Avenue)
👨👩👧👦 All ages are welcome!
(Kids 12 & under must be accompanied by a parent)
🧤 What to bring:
• Comfortable clothes
• Closed-toe shoes
• Gloves
🔥 FREE BBQ LUNCH starting at 11:00 AM!
🥚 BONUS FUN: Find the hidden egg somewhere in town and win a cash prize! 👀💰
Let’s show some love to our community and enjoy a great day together. Bring a friend, bring your family, and let’s make it count! 💚
📞 For more info: 928-637-2774
📧 afdasecretary@gmail.com
#AshFork #CommunityStrong #CleanUpDay #SmallTownPride
Ash Fork Schools would like to inform our families and community that a pesticide application will be taking place on campus during Spring Break.
📅 Date of Application: 3/13/2026
Scheduling this application during Spring Break allows it to be completed while students are not on campus. The product will be applied according to all safety guidelines and regulations as part of our efforts to maintain a safe and healthy environment for students and staff.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the school office.
Thank you for helping us keep our campus safe and well maintained.
— Ash Fork Schools