Somerton High School News

Somerton High School is hosting a Title I and College Information Family Night on Tuesday, November 18 from 5-6:15 p.m. in the Somerton High School Dining Commons.  

Families can expect to learn how to help their students succeed through the Title I program and ways they can get involved to make a difference in school activities. 

Arizona Western College will also be in attendance to talk about early-college opportunities, admissions, and dual-enrollment programs that can get their students a head start in their post-secondary education and save families money. 

“We invite all families to attend and participate as we work together to support our students’ success,” SHS Director of Counseling Maria Dillard said. 

The event is open to all Somerton High School families. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title I is a federal program that provides supplemental assistance to school districts for children of low-income families to ensure all students receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. YUHSD offers a Title I schoolwide program at each of its schools. 

Somerton High School Student Council will be hosting its first fall festival called “The Great Fall Stampede” on Thursday, November 6, from 6-8 p.m. at Somerton High School.  

All members of the community are invited to enjoy food, games, performances, and shop Toro merchandise. There will also be a bake sale with all proceeds going to the Yuma Community Food Bank.

SHS Student Council had the opportunity to showcase their leadership skills as this event was completely student-led and organized by the students. 

“Our students have worked hard to plan ‘The Great Fall Stampede,’ and it’s amazing to see their ideas come to life,” SHS Student Council Advisor Kassandra Jasso said. “It’s a chance for our Toro family to celebrate together while supporting a great cause in our community.”

There is a $3 entrance fee or $2 with a non-perishable food item. Children 10 years old and younger enter at no-cost. It is a cash-only event.  All food donations will benefit the Yuma Community Food Bank.

Yuma Union High School District is hosting a College, Career, Community, and Military (CCCM) Fair for all students and families on Thursday, November 6, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Cibola High School. 

The event is an opportunity to connect directly with college and university representatives, military recruiters, trade schools, and more.

“The College, Career, Community, and Military Fair is designed to help students and families explore a wide range of opportunities beyond high school,” YUHSD Director of College and Career Readiness Christal Buckley said. “By participating, students gain exposure to colleges, career pathways, community organizations, and military options—all in one place.”

Arizona's major universities, two-year colleges, military academies/Reserve Officer Training Corps representatives, community agencies and career and technical programs will be present at the event along with businesses from around Yuma County previewing internships and future job prospects.

This is the first time YUHSD has hosted an in-person, district-wide CCCM Fair since 2019. In addition to the November 6 event, all YUHSD schools will also be hosting their own CCCM Fair for their respective students during the school day from November 18-20. 

Yuma Union High School District will host a Transition Fair on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at the District Office Board Room, 3150 S. Avenue A.

The event will feature a variety of community agencies that provide services and resources for different stages of transition, including life after high school. Families will have the chance to learn about assistive technology, day programs, pre-employment services, job retention services, home and community-based services, and military options.

“Access to resources and guidance before graduation allows students and their families to plan ahead, explore available programs, and connect with the agencies and services that can best support their future goals,” YUHSD Transition Specialist Kacie Baker said. “By attending, families will have the chance to ask questions, build connections, and feel more confident about the path forward.”

Among the agencies scheduled to attend are YCAT, Collaborative Technology Solutions, Encircle Families, Community Health Associates, and MIKID.

The Transition Fair welcomes students of all ages and their families across the Yuma community.
 

Yuma Union High School District educators took part in a district-wide professional
development day on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.

The goal of the professional development day was to help teachers and support staff members improve their skills and better serve the students of YUHSD. Staff members participated in various group activities throughout the day, including a focus on personalized learning, lesson planning, IEP strategies, the Canvas learning management system, health and wellness, and more.

“Professional Development Day gives me the chance to stay up to date on the tools and strategies I need for my classroom,” Vista High School teacher Carmen Middaugh said. “It’s also a great opportunity to connect with colleagues and share ideas that can help our students succeed.”

The day began with all teachers gathering in the auditorium, where each school principal recognized one teacher with a championship belt, symbolizing the champion they are for their students.

Here are the school champions for fall 2025:
Holly Hendrick, Cibola High School; Araceli Hermoso Palacios, Gila Ridge High School; Sheryl Clifton, Kofa High School; Maria Salgado, San Luis High School;Ron Bratton, Somerton High School; Carmen Middaugh, Vista High School; and Maj. James Branch and Sgt. Maj .Jeffrey Conway, Yuma High School.

In addition to staff training, students also gained valuable experience during PD Day. Students from Gila Ridge High School’s Film and TV Production program and Kofa High School’s Digital Photography program collaborated with the YUHSD Communications team to capture the day as part of a Work-Based Learning opportunity.

“I think the district has given students a valuable opportunity to apply the hands-on skills they’ve learned in the classroom,” YUHSD CTE Work-Based Learning Director Mariana Martinez Reynoso said. “The students came prepared and ready, and it was exciting to see them put their learning into practice.”

YUHSD typically hosts professional development days for teachers and staff once a semester to give them an opportunity to collaborate and learn from each other. The second professional development day, recognized county wide, will take place in February 2026. Support staff members also took part in a variety of activities at various sites throughout the district.

While the district was closed to the public, students were engaged through Canvas, while
working from home. School resumed as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
 

Yuma Union High School District and its schools will be closed on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025 in observance of Labor Day. School across the district will resume as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

For more information about the district calendar, please visit YumaUnion.org or click https://www.yumaunion.org/district1/district/district-calendars

After supporting over 180 families last school year, Yuma Union High School District is excited to continue its Parent Academy series this fall, beginning September 2.

Parent Academy is designed to help you feel confident and informed as your child navigates high school. Attendees will learn about:

· How students can earn college credit while in high school

· Support services available to students and families

· Ways to get involved in your child’s education

· Planning for life after graduation—college, career, and community

“Parent Academy is designed to empower families with the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to help their students thrive in high school and beyond,” Somerton High School Director of Counseling Maria Dillard said. “With a refreshed and expanded curriculum this year, we’re inviting parents to learn alongside their students and take an active role in shaping their future success in college, career, and community life.”

Flexible Ways to Join:

· In-person sessions

· Live virtual sessions on Wednesdays from 5:30–6:30 p.m.

· On-demand videos available anytime on the district website

Each session covers a new topic in just one hour. Join any session that fits your schedule—no RSVP required. Families will, however, receive reminders and info via ParentSquare, the district’s mass messaging platform.

 

See below for the complete list of weekly sessions and locations:

Tuesdays (5:30-6:30)

Kofa High School (English and Spanish)

San Luis High School (Spanish)

Somerton High School

Yuma High School

Wednesdays (5:30-6:30)

Cibola High School

San Luis High School

Virtua

Thursdays (5:30-6:30)

Gila Ridge High School

 

Week 1 Sept 2-4 

Academics: Technology platforms, communication, attendance, concurrent enrollment, dual enrollment, standards-based grading, earn college credit in high school.

During Session 1 of YUHSD Parent Academy, parents will receive an introduction to the technology platforms used for learning and communication, guidance on effective communication with teachers and staff, and the importance of regular attendance. The session will cover concurrent and dual enrollment opportunities, allowing students to earn both high school and college credits, as well as various programs that enable students to earn college credit while still in high school. The session will also explain standards-based grading, which measures student proficiency based on set standards, and outline the student supports available to help students succeed.

 

Week 2 Sept 9-11 

Student Supports: Teachers, Counselors, Para Professionals, Social Workers, Nurse, Administration, School Safety, IEP, 504

During session 2 of the YUHSD Parent Academy, discover the wide range of resources available to support your student’s success at YUHSD. This session will provide an overview of the dedicated team working to meet your child’s academic, social, and emotional needs, including teachers, counselors, para-professionals, social workers, nurses, and administrators. Learn about school safety measures, individualized education programs (IEPs), 504 plans, and other support systems designed to ensure every student thrives. Join us to connect with our team and explore how we partner with families to empower students.

 

Week 3 Sept 16-18

Getting Involved: Career and Technical Education (CTE), Mastery of the Arts Program, Athletics, Activities, Portrait of a Graduate

During Session 3 of YUHSD Parent Academy, parents will learn about various opportunities for student involvement and development. The session will cover Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, which provide hands-on learning experiences in various trades and professions. Parents will also hear about the Mastery of the Arts Program, which encourages students to develop their artistic talents. Additionally, the session will highlight the athletics and extracurricular activities available, promoting physical health and teamwork. Finally, the Portrait of a Graduate will be discussed, outlining the key skills and attributes students should develop to succeed in life beyond high school.

 

Week 4 Sept 23-25

Planning for the Future:  realizing goals, senior packet, exploring the future, transcript review, admissions, standardized tests, post graduate pathways, financial aid.

During Session 4 of YUHSD Parent Academy, parents will be equipped with essential information to help their students plan for the future and achieve their goals. This session will cover the components of the senior packet, crucial for graduation preparations, and offer guidance on exploring future career and education options. Parents will learn about the importance of transcript reviews and the college admissions process, including standardized tests. Additionally, the session will discuss various post-graduate pathways, from higher education to vocational training, and provide an overview of financial aid opportunities to support students' educational endeavors.

The Somerton High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) leadership team hosted a training session for students designated as Courtesy Corp members on August 21 at the SHS Learning Commons.

CTE leaders and ambassadors taught students about Courtesy Corp, CTE, proper handshakes, elevator pitches, and presentation skills. Students practiced handshakes and elevator pitches to prepare for greeting visitors.

"It was a great activity to raise awareness of the culture at Somerton High School" SHS CTE leader Valeria Salomon said.

The Courtesy Corp member will welcome and greet the visitor, show them the class Canvas page including any activities or announcements, the learning goal, and performance scales, in hopes of increasing awareness of the class culture and projects in each classroom.

Yuma Union High School District athletic programs will offer multiple ways to purchase tickets to events during the 2025-26 school year, including utilizing online ticketing platform GoFan. 

“We’re excited to bring GoFan digital ticketing to our events because it makes the experience easier and faster for everyone,” Yuma High School Athletic Director Steve Anderson said. “Fans can purchase tickets right from their phones, skip the hassle of carrying cash, and get through the gates quicker. It’s a win-win for our staff and our community.”  

Fall athletic events begin on Tuesday, August 26. All YUHSD home games that require a purchased ticket will accept payment through the GoFan mobile application and cash. 

To download the GoFan app, event-goers are encouraged to visit their preferred app store and search “GoFan.” For convenience, QR codes will also be available at each participating event.

Ticket prices are as follows for all regular-season YUHSD home games: 
•    Regular: $6 
•    Military/senior discount: $5
•    High school students are free with a valid student identification card.
 

Somerton High School and Vista High School received the top “safety committee” awards of $8,300 apiece on Wednesday, Aug. 13, during Yuma Union High School District’s monthly Governing Board meeting. 

It’s the second year in a row that Somerton has shared the highest award. Vista has perennially been among the top award winners, earning a share of the highest award in five of the past seven years. Since the safety committee awards began in the 2015-16 school year, Gila Ridge, Kofa, Vista, Somerton, and San Luis High School have all earned the top award at least once. 

On Wednesday, YUHSD Director of Finance Brenda Higuera distributed checks from Board-approved insurance proceeds to the safety committee for each of the seven eligible schools in the district. In order to be eligible for the funds, the campuses fulfilled several requirements for the 2024-25 school year. 

Each school is required to have a safety committee that meets quarterly and conducts inspections twice per school year. During those meetings and inspections, each committee is looking for building and equipment hazards and safety concerns such as damage to crosswalks and signage. They also monitor injuries on their campus throughout the school year. 

SHS Assistant Principal David Barrios and VHS Principal David King were presented prop checks in the amount of $8,300 for their schools incurring the fewest safety hazards and injuries on campus in 2024-25. 

Other safety committee awards included: San Luis High School ($5,800), Cibola High School ($5,100), Yuma High School ($4,800), Kofa High School ($4,600), and Gila Ridge High School ($2,300). 

The committees at each campus will now choose three proposals for how to spend the funds, and allow students and faculty to vote on which proposal to approve for improving their respective campuses.

Yuma Union High School District’s longtime, bold goal to get its dropout rate to zero continues to inch closer to reality. For the fifth consecutive year, the district reported a decline in its dropout rate, a number that remains more than 3 percent better than the state average.

According to data compiled from Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Connect, YUHSD’s dropout rate for the 2024-25 school year was 1.13 overall, while the Arizona state average dropout rate was 4.47. 

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

“I’m incredibly proud and encouraged by our district's low dropout numbers,” YUHSD Associate Superintendent Lili Campa said. “They show students' resilience, but most importantly the dedication of every educator, support-staff member, and our dropout prevention specialists who have worked hard to ensure our students stay on a path to being college, career and community ready. The success motivates and gives us hope to keep pushing forward and work towards closing any remaining gaps." 

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, Chris Reese at Somerton, Arisbey Garcia at Vista, and Anet Solorzano at Yuma High has been nationally recognized for the role they play in keeping students in school.

Asked what makes the dropout teams so successful, VHS Dropout Prevention Specialist Arisbey Garcia, said: “We take proactive steps to address the various areas where students are struggling. This is accomplished through collaboration with students, families, community partners and other methods to ensure students are provided with all available resources to remain in school.”

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 2024-25 school year:
Cibola: 1.19 percent
Gila Ridge: 0.91 percent
Kofa: 0.90 percent
San Luis: 0.70 percent
Somerton High: 0.92 percent
Vista: 0.32 percent
Yuma High: 1.68 percent

Here are YUHSD’s dropout rates for the past five years:
2024-25: 1.13 percent
2023-24: 1.42 percent
2022-23: 2.14 percent
2021-22: 2.85 percent
2020-21: 3.58 percent

Somerton High School student Naylea Lopez Fimbres will have her artwork used as the new seal for Somerton Municipal Court. 

Lopez Fimbres, a junior, was recognized during the August 5, 2025 Somerton City Council, marking the official selection of her artwork. 

Somerton Municipal Judge Edna Lugo, who previously worked as Dropout Prevention Specialist with Yuma High School, presented the new seal to the City Council during the meeting, explaining its significance and recognizing Lopez Fimbres. 

Following the presentation, Somerton Mayor Gerardo Anaya awarded Lopez Fimbres a certificate of recognition on behalf of the city.

“I still can’t believe my art was picked to represent the seal,” Lopez Fimbres said. “It’s an honor to know that something I created will be part of the town.”

The seal, which will be used in official court communications and documents, features several symbolic elements. The star and rays represent Somerton’s constant sunny days, while the scale alongside the rays signifies light shining on the truth and justice. The olive branch and green coloring were included to represent Somerton’s strong agricultural roots.

The seal design originated from a collaboration between Somerton High School and the court. Judge Yolanda Valenzuela-Torok approached the school with the idea of involving students in the creative process. As part of a choice assignment in a U.S. History class, students submitted original designs. All submissions were reviewed by the judge, who selected Lopez Fimbres’s artwork as the final choice.

“We are thrilled to see our student’s creativity making a lasting impact in the community,” Somerton High School Principal Lucky Arvizo said. “Having Naylea’s input contribute to the new municipal court seal is a huge honor.”
 

UPDATE: The event will be held at Yuma High School

Yuma Union High School District, in partnership with Onvida Health, will be hosting a no-cost sports physical event on August 8, 2025 at Yuma High School.

The event is open to all YUHSD student-athletes. Parents/guardians must be in attendance. 

Doors open at 4 p.m. with the event concluding at 8 p.m. Exams will be conducted by Onvida Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Director Dr. Ryan Zerr and other medical residents. 

“Providing free athletic physicals for YUHSD students through Onvida Health continues to be a valuable event for our community,” Gila Ridge Athletic Director Johannah Elliott said. “Events like this ensure our student-athletes can participate safely while reducing barriers for families. We are grateful for the partnership with Onvida Health and look forward to welcoming families from across Yuma County as we prepare for another safe and successful sports season.” 

A physical is required to participate in Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) competition. All physical examinations completed at the event will cover the student-athlete for the 2025-26 school year.
 

Yuma Union High School District schools will be hosting open house events for families to learn about the 2025-26 school year.

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

“Open House is a great opportunity for our students and families to get to know our highly committed staff and learn about the resources we have in place to support learning,” SLHS Academics Principal Delia Castro said. “When students feel connected to their teachers, they are more likely to thrive—and this event is the first step in building that important partnership between home and school. Even though the conversations may be brief, they give students a glimpse into their courses and allow staff to learn about any support students might need to help set them up for a successful school year.”

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

Gila Ridge High School: Monday, July 28 (5-6:30 p.m.)
Kofa High School: Monday, July 28 (5-7 p.m.) 
San Luis High School: Monday, July 28 (4-6 p.m.) 
Somerton High School: Monday, July 28 (5:30-7 p.m.) 
Vista High School: Monday, July 28 (5-6:30 p.m.) 
Yuma High School: Monday, July 28 (4:30-6 p.m.)
Cibola High School: Monday, August 11 (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.