Yuma High School News

Yuma Union High School District is seeking volunteer judges for multiple competitions at its annual Academic Decathlon Scrimmage.  
 
The scrimmage, which will help students prepare for Arizona’s regional competitions in 2025, takes place over two days (Dec. 5 and 7, 2024) at Kofa High School. 

There are multiple volunteer opportunities for those interested: 
Essays: After November 19, at your convenience, but finished evaluation by December 5
Interviews and Speeches: December 5, 2024 (4 - 8:00 p.m.)
Tests: December 7, 2024

Training will be provided to ensure volunteers are well-prepared for their role as a judge or proctor. Dinner will be provided for all Thursday volunteers, while continental breakfast will be provided for all volunteers on Saturday. 

To sign up and volunteer for this exciting event, please visit https://forms.gle/SFDZwyyrC7wRdfnZ9 and complete the volunteer registration form.

After filling out the form, a representative from Kofa High School will contact you with instructions specific to your competition. Questions should be directed to Joe Daily at jdaily@yumaunion.org or (928) 502-5357.

According to Arizona’s Academic Decathlon website, the Academic Decathlon program was started in California in 1968 by the Orange County Academic Decathlon Association, in cooperation with the Orange County Superintendent of School’s office. The Arizona Academic Decathlon Association (AADA) was formed in 1985 from the Pima County Academic Decathlon Association, which was started the previous year by the Pima County School Superintendent. Arizona held its first statewide competition in 1985.

Their mission is to promote, motivate and acknowledge excellence in academic efforts and educational achievement through a program of academic competitions for high school students of all scholastic achievement levels. As the name indicates, students compete in ten areas: art, economics, essay, interview, literature, mathematics, music, science, social science, & speech.
YUHSD schools have traditionally fared well at the state level of Academic Decathlon with Cibola High School finishing in the top 13 multiple times, and several students from Cibola, Gila Ridge, and Yuma High taking home individual prizes.  
 

Yuma Union High School District’s Mastery of the Arts Program (MAP) will host an open house event on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. at the Taylor D. McBride Auditorium on the Yuma High School campus. 

The open house is a drop-in event that is free of charge and open to the public.

“Please come and celebrate the power of shared creativity and see firsthand the incredible talent and passion of our students,” YUHSD Executive Director of MAP Lauren Spurlock said. “The Mastery of the Arts Program is special because it brings students from all seven of our district high schools together with resident community artists. The open house event brings our schools, this special program, and the larger Yuma community together through the arts.”

The open house will allow the public an opportunity to tour the classroom space in Snider Hall, see MAP students’ artistic accomplishments, view student artwork including drawings, mural paintings, audio and film projects, watch live performances by student musicians, vocalists, actors, and dancers, and more. Guests will also have opportunities to meet the program’s resident artists and teachers and learn about their creative processes, and connect with others who share a passion for supporting arts education.

MAP is designed for all YUHSD students who have a purposeful interest within the arts. It is open to students in ninth through 12th grade. The intent is to work collaboratively with each of the YUHSD high schools’ fine arts programs and community artists to grow, enhance and refine a student’s skill sets within the art disciplines. All program courses are designed to be an extension of a student’s fine arts high school experience. 

YUMA , AZ – Four chess teams and nine individuals from Yuma Union High School District have qualified for the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) State Championships, with team competition set for November 8-9 at Marana High School and individual matches on November 22-23 at Tempe High School.

This year, San Luis High School, Kofa High School, Gila Ridge High School, and Somerton High School will represent YUHSD at the team state championship. This marks the first state appearance for Somerton. San Luis secured first in Region V with 10 wins and one tie, while Kofa took second with six wins and three ties.

“My goal this year for the region is to see better chess at all levels,” Yuma High School Chess Coach and YUHSD Chess Director Erik Langland said. “ Region V has struggled at the state level to have students do well for many years. The group headed to state this year is one of the strongest we have had for a while. Most of our strong players are all returning next year to only get better.”

This year’s team tournament will feature 26 teams from across Arizona, each playing five rounds of 5-on-5 matches to determine the state champions. The individual competition will include 68 players who earned their spots through regional qualifiers and a play-in tournament.

“I am most proud of my teammates for coming out to practice every week to better themselves and to keep improving as individuals which helps the overall team,” SLHS first board Rey Zamudio said. “I am still very proud of myself for placing second as an individual because I wanted to make state as both a team and individual and did both last year as well.”

YUHSD individual state qualifiers:
Enrique Aguero (San Luis High School); Emilio Lopez (SLHS); Yvette Martinez (Kofa High School); Joemar McDonnell (Cibola High School); Efren Panduro (Somerton High School); David Ramos (KHS); Wodan Shinn (Yuma High School); Lakai Williams (KHS); Rey Zamudio (SLHS) 
 

The Yuma High School Hall of Fame Committee will enshrine six individual members and one team into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.

The class includes athletes Dakin Banta Whitmer, golf (2007); Adam Cano, track (1937); Jason Cullen, football (2001); Jim Timmons, football, baseball, and basketball (1968); original artist of the iconic Crim Head Candalario Cano (1933); sports photographer of 48 years, Randy Hoeft; and the 2017-18 wrestling team. 

The group will be formally enshrined on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. The enshrinement ceremony will be held in the Yuma High School Cafeteria at 12:30 p.m. followed by the presentation of their Hall of Fame inductee plaques at the Palace Gym at 1:30 p.m. The ceremony will be live streamed on the Yuma High School Facebook page.

The ceremony is the final portion of a two-day celebration for enshrinees, including a gathering at Lute’s Casino in downtown Yuma on Friday and reserved seating and recognition during the Nov. 1 Yuma High football game versus Odyssey Institute High School.

Being part of YHS history and inducting the Class of 2024 into the Hall of Fame is an incredibly humbling and proud moment,” YHS Athletics Director Steve Anderson said. “It’s an honor to recognize the achievements of individuals who have contributed so much to our school’s legacy. Seeing their accomplishments celebrated and knowing that their stories will inspire future generations of YHS students fills me with pride.”

The 2024 class is the thirteenth inducted into Yuma High’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Beginning with the inaugural class in 2010, each member has been honored with a plaque in the east wing of the Palace Gym.

The Hall of Fame was organized to maintain the rich heritage and tradition of successful athletic programs at Yuma High School. It recognizes, preserves, and honors the athletes, coaches, and individuals who have made significant contributions to Yuma High athletic programs. Many individuals have been influential in the “Criminal Tradition” of excellence and have had exemplary accomplishments in the school’s athletic programs. 

The Hall of Fame honors the contributions and accomplishments of those individuals who are worthy of recognition and have set examples for others to emulate. Nominees for the Hall of Fame must exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and moral character. All candidates are judged on their significant and/or long-term contributions to athletic endeavors.

There are 142 individuals and eleven teams enshrined in Yuma High’s Hall of Fame, including members of this year’s class.

Here is a full list of the 2017-18 wrestling team: Coach: Jeff Welsing; Assistant Coach: Shawn Doerr, Bo Seibel, Justin, Villa; Members: Jose Bugarin, Mario Bugarin, Servando Campos, Erick Cervantes, Jayden Dobson, Shane Garcia, Aidan Irwin, Anthony Jimenez, Levi Martin, Carlos Nunez, Jonathan Ruiz, Jacob Sanchez, Josh Sanchez, Oscar Vega, Leo Velazquez

 

Yuma Union High School District  will host a Migrant Parent Advisory Council (MPAC) meeting on Tuesday, October 24, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Somerton High School.

This event provides migrant families with the opportunity to connect with YUHSD Migrant Education Program staff, hear from community speakers, and learn about valuable local resources. Families will also have the chance to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversations about the services available to them.

“Families should join to get Migrant program information about our services and any upcoming events," YUHSD Migrant School Community Liaison Isabel Montez said. There will also be other agencies available for community services as well” 

The event is open to all migrant families within the district. Dinner will be provided to all attendees. 

For more information, please contact the YUHSD Migrant Education Program at (928) 502-4660. 

Yuma Union High School District schools, once again, took part in the “Great Arizona ShakeOut,” the international, two-minute earthquake safety drill, on Thursday, Oct. 17, promptly at 10:17 a.m.

The ShakeOut is an annual opportunity to practice how to remain safe during high-magnitude earthquakes: "Drop, Cover and Hold On," according to the event’s official website (shakeout.org). It has also been organized to encourage individuals, their communities, schools, and organizations to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure space in order to prevent damage and injuries.

More than 40,000 Arizonans participate each year in the event, including more than 25,000 participants from K-12 schools in the state. All seven YUHSD schools are annual participants.

“It is important for our staff to practice the drills so that we are prepared for an actual event,” YUHSD Director of Health and Safety Henry Gonzalez said. “We also had the benefit of having our partners from the local fire and police departments to observe our drills and provide valuable feedback for us to make our existing plans better.”

YUHSD schools used the ShakeOut as an opportunity to practice widespread emergency preparedness as well. Some schools discussed the importance of being prepared in class following the event, while others conducted other emergency drills throughout the day.

It is the 13th year Arizona has participated in the event. Over 58 million people annually take part in the shakeout across the globe.

According to the Arizona Geological Survey, Arizonans have experienced more than 3,500 earthquakes since 1852, including a magnitude 5.3 near Duncan, Arizona in 2014. The Arizona Seismic Belt, which runs from the north-northwestern to the southeastern part of the state, has incurred multiple earthquakes above magnitude 3.0 with a magnitude 5.0 or higher occurring nearly every 10 years or so.
 

Yuma Union High School District schools and offices will be closed to the public for its annual fall break on Friday, Oct. 11 and Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. 

Students will return and offices will re-open for regular business on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Students from eight local high schools will have an opportunity to visit Arizona Western College over the coming weeks to attend High School Senior Days.

In an effort to eliminate barriers and make higher education accessible for all students, AWC has created events exclusively for high school seniors to experience what it’s like to be on a college campus. Students are invited to learn about majors and programs, go on a guided tour, participate in a scavenger hunt, and have lunch on campus.

High School Senior Day events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the AWC Yuma Campus, 2020 S. Ave. 8E.

•    Oct. 9 – Kofa High School 
•    Oct. 10 – San Luis High School
•    Oct. 16 – Gila Ridge High School
•    Oct. 17 – Vista High School
•    Oct. 24 – Cibola High School & Yuma High School

“We’re excited for seniors to join us at AWC for High School Senior Day! Students will have an opportunity to explore our AWC campus and learn about the many benefits of continuing their education after high school,” said Biridiana Martinez, AWC Outreach, Recruitment & Early College Director.

Students can reach out to their high school counselor or email admissions@azwestern.edu for more information. 

Yuma High School Student Council will be hosting a homecoming festival on Friday, September 20, 2024 during the Yuma High Varsity Football game against Kofa High School from 5-10 p.m. Guests and students are encouraged to show up in safari-themed attire as the theme is “Safari Festival.” 

“We’ve worked tirelessly since the beginning of August coming up with different things we want sold at our booths, our theme, our decorations, and our overall outline and scheduling of the festival,” Yuma High Senior Class President Miguel Cancio said. “This is a perfect way to show your support towards our clubs who have been working day and night, including multiple club meetings to make sure they’re fully ready for the festival. We can’t wait to see you all there!”

The festival will consist of different clubs with booths selling food, snacks, and Yuma High merchandise. There will also be a car show event, Kona Ice, a taco truck, games, and more. 

One big part of the homecoming festival this year is the 65th anniversary of the school’s historic rivalry with Kofa High School. T-shirts commemorating the anniversary are available for purchase. 

“The festival is a great event to attend because it is a rivalry that has bought our community together over the last 65 years, and it is great to support our young athletes while having a good time with family and friends,” Yuma High Student Body President Sylvia Gradias said.

Yuma High students will be celebrating homecoming with a spirit week and pep rally.

Spirit Days are as follows:
Monday, Sept. 16 - Color Mixer (seniors: pink, juniors: purple, sophomores: green, freshmen: white)
Tuesday, Sept. 17 - Family Reunion (soccer mom vs. BBQ dad)
Wednesday, Sept. 18 - Adam Sandler vs. Paris Hilton (chill or upscale)
Thursday, Sept. 19 - Thrifty Throwback (dress like a previous decade)
Friday, Sept. 20 - Safari Seek-Out (dress as a safari animal or forest friend)
 

Yuma Union High School District held a special dedication ceremony on Friday, August 23, 2024 to name the auditorium inside Yuma High School’s Snider Hall, the Taylor Dean McBride Auditorium. 

“Honoring Mr. McBride is truly a full circle moment for me and my fellow Choralair Alumni,” YHS Choralair alum Wendy McKay said. “The auditorium in Snider Hall was where he taught and mentored thousands of students over the years. His impact on our lives has been immeasurable and we believe that naming the auditorium the Taylor Dean McBride auditorium is the perfect way to tell his story and share his legacy for many years to come.”

After hearing from McKay during a call to the public at their regular June meeting, the YUHSD Governing Board, citing Policy FF regarding the naming of facilities, voted in favor of the change on July 10. Several board members expressed their gratitude to be a part of making this honor happen for McBride. McKay was in attendance at this meeting along with several other YHS choralair alumni. 

"Naming the Taylor Dean McBride Auditorium at Snider Hall honors the significant positive impact Mr. McBride made on the entire Yuma community,” YHS Principal Michael Fritz said. “I was honored to be a part of the naming process and it was a privilege to work with our Yuma High School Choralair alumni."

The dedication took place during the Choralair reunion weekend where they came together to surprise and recognize McBride and his impact, and share some of their fondest memories. The auditorium was filled with YHS Choralair alumni and McBride was moved to tears.

McKay presented pictures of what the auditorium signage will look like in a few weeks with McBride’s name attached to it. 

About McBride
McBride is a YHS alum himself and he devoted most of his life teaching music to the students of Yuma High. He started the Yuma High Choralairs group in 1964 and continued his career at Yuma High until his retirement in 2009. 

Yuma Union High School District’s dropout rate continues to plummet. For the fourth consecutive year, the district reported a decline in its dropout rate, a number that has dropped below 2 percent for the first time in its modern history.

According to data compiled from Arizona Department of Education Connect, YUHSD’s dropout rate for the 2023-24 school year was 1.42 overall, while the Arizona state average dropout rate was 4.72.

YUHSD has outperformed the state of Arizona every year since 2012.

"We are proud of the fact that our dropout rates have improved for the fourth year in a row,” YUHSD Associate Superintendent Derek Bosch said. “YUHSD Dropout Prevention Specialists play a crucial role in helping students stay in school and succeed academically. As a district, we are committed to keeping students in school and that starts with having a specialist at each school working closely with school staff, outside agencies, families, and students, in an effort to support the educational needs of each student."

All YUHSD campuses employ a Dropout Prevention Specialist as part of their respective guidance counseling departments. The group of Yescina Cuming at Cibola, Patricia Quezada at Gila Ridge, Edgardo Gonzalez at Kofa, Rigoberto Conde at San Luis, Arisbey Garcia at Vista, Chris Reese at Somerton, and Edna Lugo at Yuma High has been nationally recognized for the role they play in keeping students in school.

“We are dedicated to keeping students in school or finding the best educational options tailored to the student's needs,” SLHS Dropout Prevention Specialist Rigoberto Conde said. “We provide supportive services within our district and collaborate with community partners to help improve our graduation rates and positively impact students' lives.”

Dropout Prevention Specialists are part of the collaborative effort between the counseling department, teachers, and support staff members to intervene with students before they consider dropping out. This includes phone calls, one-on-one conversations with students, and home visits.

Here is a list of dropout data for all YUHSD schools from the 2023-24 school year:

Cibola: 0.78 percent
Gila Ridge: 2.26 percent
Kofa: 1.57 percent
San Luis: 0.94 percent
Somerton High: 0.00 percent
Vista: 0.77 percent
Yuma High: 0.81 percent

Here are YUHSD’s dropout rates for the past four years:

2023-24: 1.42
2022-23: 2.14
2021-22: 2.85
2020-21: 3.58

Children need healthy meals to learn. Yuma Union High School District will be offering healthy meals to all
students at NO COST every school day in School Year 2024-2025. Your child(ren) will receive free breakfast and
lunch meals every school day without having to pay a fee or submit a household application.

Your child(ren)’s school is approved to operate Community Eligibility Provision (Cibola High School, Gila
Ridge High School, Kofa High School, San Luis High School, Somerton High School, Vista High
School, and Yuma High School). No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to receive free
meals without having to pay a fee or submit an application.

My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find out how to apply for
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance
office or call 1-855-432-7587.

If you have other questions or need help, call (928) 502-4773.

Yuma Union High School District schools will be hosting open house events for families to meet their child's teachers and learn about the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

Families will have an opportunity to receive ParentVUE information, learn about campus activities, including clubs and athletics, and tour their school.

“The success of any high school and its students is intimately tied to the relationship we cultivate with our parents and families,” CHS academic principal Itzel Rodriguez said. “During open house, families will have the opportunity to meet our dedicated teachers, learn more about their coursework, and understand how best to support their student's educational needs. We believe that strong partnerships with parents are essential to creating a successful academic environment for our students."

Here is a list of all seven events for YUHSD schools: 

Gila Ridge High School: Tuesday, July 30 (5-6:30 p.m.)
Kofa High School: Tuesday, July 30 (5-7 p.m.) 
San Luis High School: Tuesday, July 30 (5-7 p.m.) 
Somerton High School: Tuesday, July 30 (5:30-7 p.m.) 
Yuma High School: Tuesday, (July 30 4:30-6 p.m.)
Vista High School: Wednesday, July 31 (5-6:30 p.m.) 
Cibola High School: Monday, August 12 (5-7 p.m.)

Parents and guardians should refrain from using the open-house time for in-depth, parent-teacher conferences. Instead, use the open house time to schedule a conference in the future, if needed.