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
Follow this link for live up to date scores. You will need a "Game Changer" account. It is free.
https://web.gc.com/teams/s1oeet7zg8nv?utm_source=Web&utm_campaign=team_share_link
Returning to Paper: How Binder-Based Learning Is Strengthening Thinking at Ash Fork High School- Staci Martin, M.Ed.
During the third quarter, English students at Ash Fork High School experienced a meaningful instructional shift. Across all four levels of English, classrooms transitioned from primarily digital workflows to a structured binder system centered on handwritten work, in-class thinking, and paper-based organization.
This transition was intentional and rooted in a clear goal: to strengthen students’ cognitive engagement, support mastery of Arizona’s Reading and Writing Standards, and prepare students for the ACT, Arizona’s statewide assessment administered each spring.
Research consistently demonstrates that handwriting supports deeper learning. Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014) found that students who write by hand show stronger conceptual understanding because handwriting requires active processing rather than passive transcription. Similarly, Van der Meer and Van der Weel (2020) found that handwriting engages broader brain networks associated with memory formation and learning. Emerging research also suggests that excessive reliance on digital tools and artificial intelligence can reduce independent critical thinking when students are not required to generate their own responses (Gerlich, 2023).
In response to this research, Ash Fork High School English classes implemented binders as a central learning tool. Students now maintain organized records of their reading responses, annotation work, ACT vocabulary development, grammar practice aligned to the ACT English test, and writing exercises designed to build depth and clarity.
This work directly aligns with Arizona standards such as 9–12.R.RI.02 (analyzing central ideas), 9–12.R.RI.05 (analyzing structure), and 11–12.R.RI.08 (evaluating arguments), as well as writing standards 9–12.W.01 and W.02, which emphasize evidence-based thinking and clear written expression. These skills are essential not only for success on the ACT, but also for college, careers, and lifelong learning.
Each week, students submit their binders for review. This process allows me to assess student growth over time and provides students with a visible record of their own progress. Rather than simply completing assignments, students are developing organization, accountability, and ownership of their learning.
Student feedback has reflected the impact of this shift. While the transition initially required adjustment, students have reported increased clarity, organization, and focus. Students shared, “I like having everything in one spot,” and “I don’t feel lost anymore.” Others noted, “This type of work makes me think,” and “It slows me down in a good way.” Several students also reported reduced stress and less physical fatigue associated with decreased screen time.
This shift reflects Ash Fork High School’s commitment to research-informed instruction and student-centered learning. By creating structures that promote active thinking, organization, and independence, classrooms are strengthening the foundational skills students need for academic success.
As students prepare for the ACT and continue developing as readers, writers, and thinkers, this transition has reinforced a powerful principle: meaningful learning happens when students actively engage with ideas, organize their thinking, and take ownership of their growth.
At Ash Fork High School, this work is helping students build not only stronger academic skills, but also the habits of confident, capable learners prepared for their futures.
Show your school ID and receive a discount at participating locations: Del Taco, Sbarro, and KFC! 🍕🌮🍗
Just present your school ID to save!
📍 950 Old Highway 66, Ash Fork, AZ
Thank you to our community partners for supporting Ash Fork School District! 💙🖤
📱Ash Fork School Families 📱
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