J.O. Combs would like to welcome all incoming freshman/new students and their parents to attend our student registration night on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Combs High School gymnasium.

The principle core of the Kiwanis Mission is the belief that the most effective way to enhance the community is to enhance its children. Great things happen when you give a child a chance to learn, experience, dream, and succeed.

Students have until Saturday, Jan. 16, to register for the spring 2016 semester at Central Arizona College.

Beginning July 1, 2016, San Tan Heights Elementary School, Mountain Vista Middle School and San Tan Foothills High School will run and operate as member schools of the Florence Unified School District. Over the next few months, the Florence Unified School District and the Coolidge Unified School District will be working on the consolidation of the schools and staff in San Tan Valley.

On Saturday, January 16th the Poston Butte High School Cheer Squad earned 1st place trophies for both of the Blue and Orange Competition Cheer Squads at the UCA Cactus Cup at Cactus Shadows High School. The Blue Squad also was awarded the Grand Champion Trophy which is awarded to the team with the highest score for the entire competition.

J.O. Combs is inviting you to join us on Tuesday, February 9 at 6:00 p.m. for our Kindergarten Kick-Off and to register your child.

Florence Unified School District Board Member Janeane Candelaria resigned from her position effective January 25, 2016.

Mrs. Candelaria served the voters in FUSD since 2013 and served as Vice-President of the Board for the past year.

The J.O. Combs Unified School District Spelling Bee was held Monday evening, January 25th at J.O. Combs Middle School. The top three winners will represent the Combs District in the Pinal County Spelling Bee on Friday, February 19, 2016 at Vista Grande High School in Casa Grande.

Adam Leckie, the Director of Exceptional Student Services for the Florence Unified School District, was awarded the CASE Early Career Special Education Administrator Award. The award is officially called the “G” Kevin Gerish Award and it was awarded at the National CASE Conference in Atlanta Georgia.

Each year, the Pinal County Attorney's Office sponsors an Anti-Drug Poster Contest for sixth grade students throughout the county. From all of the county submissions, approximately ten are chosen as finalists to be selected as the Grand Prize Winner, the Bookmark Winner, or the T-Shirt winner for the contest.

The Pinal County Health Department paired up with Ranch Elementary School to teach the importance of hand washing.

The San Tan Campus of Central Arizona College, is offering High School Equivalency (HSE) classes this spring to help students earn their HSE credential (formerly known as the General Educational Development (GED) diploma).

J.O. Combs Middle School participated in a district-wide community service opportunity this holiday season by hosting a Holiday Angel Tree. This wonderful program allowed students and staff members an opportunity to purchase holiday gift items for families in need.

Ellsworth Elementary is challenging their learners through a Greek and Latin roots meaning activity.

Students are given a Thinking Map tree with various root words, prefixes, and suffixes.

The Florence Unified School District once again has been recognized at the Arizona School Boards Association State Conference, held on December 9th – 11th in Phoenix.

A goal at Ellsworth Elementary is to get students reading more non-fiction books. The Librarian at Ellsworth is making sure that happens by displaying different non-fiction books in chairs purchased through Scholastic Money.

Central Arizona College is currently enrolling students for its 2016 spring semester that begins on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

Third grade students at Ranch Elementary are being asked to apply many different learning strategies to lessons every day.

Combs High School will be hosting a Re­lay for Life event on April 20, 2012.

Organizers are looking forward to this school/community event to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Central Arizona College adjunct faculty and Phoenix-area attorney Leo Valverde will moderate and present during the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ 26th Annual Conference Oct. 20-22 in Washington, D.C.