Joyce Clark Middle School

Don't forget we have our OPEN HOUSE/MEET THE TEACHER on Wednesday, August 6th, from 4:30 to 6pm. See you soon! #CoyoteStrong #OnePackOnePurpose

Dear JCMS Families, Thank you for extending us grace as we’ve worked through schedule adjustments during the start of this school year. Your patience and understanding have not gone unnoticed, and we are truly grateful for your support. I also want to take a moment to celebrate our amazing students. Our seventh and eighth graders have shown remarkable respect, maturity, and adaptability as they adjust to a new administration and uphold campus expectations. They’ve been friendly and polite, greeting me with smiles each morning, responding positively to gentle reminders of rules, and showing genuine care for their school community. They’re learning quickly that walking on the sidewalks and not the rocks isn’t just a rule, it’s about their safety, and they’ve been incredibly receptive. We also want to share an important update regarding lunch. We heard your concerns, and after some reflection and a trial run on Friday, August 1, we made the decision to shift away from one lunch period. The new structure not only worked smoothly but also gave students more time to eat and socialize, and more kids took advantage of lunch than on the previous days. We will continue this new lunch schedule moving forward to better meet the needs of both students and staff. We know there will still be a few bumps in the road, but we are committed to tackling each challenge thoughtfully, one step at a time. Above all, please know that your children’s well-being and success remain at the heart of every decision we make. With gratitude, Principal Paz, JCMS

JCMS will be hosting Open House/Meet the Teacher on Wednesday, August 6th, from 4:30 to 6pm. We hope you can join us!

🚗 New Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures at Joyce Clark – Starting July 30th! 🚸
To improve student safety, we're making important changes to our traffic flow this year:
✅ All student drop-offs will now take place at the north entrance so students can exit safely onto the curb—no more stepping into traffic!
🚫 No double-lane drop-offs allowed in front of the school. Please pull all the way forward before letting your child out to help keep traffic moving.
🚌 South entrance = Buses only. Cars will not be permitted to enter here.
➡️ Families may travel either direction on Lenzer Ave, but must enter at the north driveway and exit via the south driveway.
🚫 Do NOT use the parking lot to skip the line or drop off your child—this creates serious safety risks.
We’ll have staff and law enforcement on campus to guide the flow. Please follow all directions and signage.
We know change takes patience—and we appreciate yours as we prioritize what matters most: our students’ safety. 💙
#JCMS #StudentSafety #TrafficUpdate #OneTeamOneGoal

📣 Update: Our school and district offices are now open! We’re ready and excited to welcome you as we prepare for the first day of school tomorrow. Let us know how we can help! 🎉📚🚌

Open House for JCMS is next week on August 6 from 4:30 to 6pm.

🚗 New Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures at Joyce Clark – Starting July 30th! 🚸
To improve student safety, we're making important changes to our traffic flow this year:
✅ All student drop-offs will now take place at the north entrance so students can exit safely onto the curb—no more stepping into traffic!
🚫 No double-lane drop-offs allowed in front of the school. Please pull all the way forward before letting your child out to help keep traffic moving.
🚌 South entrance = Buses only. Cars will not be permitted to enter here.
➡️ Families may travel either direction on Lenzer Ave, but must enter at the north driveway and exit via the south driveway.
🚫 Do NOT use the parking lot to skip the line or drop off your child—this creates serious safety risks.
We’ll have staff and law enforcement on campus to guide the flow. Please follow all directions and signage.
We know change takes patience—and we appreciate yours as we prioritize what matters most: our students’ safety. 💙
#JCMS #StudentSafety #TrafficUpdate #OneTeamOneGoal

Technology is a big part of our world, and we’ve learned to embrace it in many ways. However, during the instructional day (from the time they step foot on campus until the end of day), it’s important that we stay focused and minimize distractions. To support a productive learning environment, cell phones, smart watches, and wireless earbuds are not permitted in classrooms. These devices can interfere with learning and instruction. While we recognize that many students carry personal devices, they must be turned off and stored securely in backpacks—not in pockets or on their person. Please note: JCMS is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal electronic devices. Thank you for helping us create an environment where students can stay focused and succeed.

We have rescheduled Den Days for next week to allow more flexibility for all back-to-school paperwork. All students are welcome to attend during any of the following times: Monday, July 21: 1–5pm Tuesday, July 22: 9AM–12pm Wednesday, July 23: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM in the Front Office

This is Terri Romo, Interim Superintendent of Sierra Vista Unified School District. I’m coming to speak with you about a very important topic & we need our community's help.

As you have heard, we have an employee who has been arrested. Last night, I was contacted by the Sheriff’s Office and informed that they will be releasing an official statement encouraging families to share any information they may have regarding Mr. Benjamin. We stand united with the Sheriff’s Office in urging our community members to come forward with any and all information related to this matter or to any allegation of child abuse.

As shared by the Sheriff’s Office-
Due to the circumstances in this case, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have come into contact with Mr. Benjamin and experienced any suspicious/criminal activity to contact the Sheriff’s office immediately via SEACOM at 520-803-3550.

Even with all of the safety protocols school districts like SVUSD must follow when hiring staff-like fingerprint clearance cards, reference checks, etc….It takes an entire community to keep our students safe. We know it may not be easy, but we encourage anyone within this community to come forward and contact law enforcement whenever you suspect a child is in danger.

I’m a mom, this is my community, and I’ve dedicated my life to caring for children as an educator.

Once again…Please contact the Sheriff’s office immediately via SEACOM at 520-803-3550 or our local police department with any information related to this or any allegations of misconduct with a child.

We must stand together to protect our children. Please join me in this fight.

🌟 Professional Learning in Action! 🌟

Last month, 50 of our amazing teachers and leadership team members spent 2½ days in Scottsdale at the Solution Tree Conference, diving into powerful sessions on educator wellness, school transformation, and creating cultures of belonging. 💡💬

Huge thanks to our incredible Curriculum Team for organizing this grant-funded opportunity—and to every staff member who gave up part of their summer break to grow, collaborate, and (let’s be honest) brave that Arizona heat! ☀️🔥

Your commitment to continuous improvement is what helps us #AchieveExcellenceTogether 💙📚

#SVUSD #EmpoweringYou #ProfessionalLearning #EducatorWellness #Teamwork #SolutionTree #LifelongLearners

🎆 All school and district offices will be closed on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day! Wishing our SVUSD community a safe, fun, and festive holiday as we celebrate the 🎉 birth of our nation and the 🇺🇸 freedoms we hold dear. #IndependenceDay #SVUSD #FourthOfJuly #🎇 #CelebratingFreedom

🎥 A Message from Our New Superintendent, Terri Romo 💬

Hello SVUSD Families, Staff, and Community!

I’m honored and excited to begin this journey as your new Superintendent. As someone who deeply believes in the power of public education, I am committed to continuing the incredible work already happening across our district.

Together, we will build on our foundation of excellence, support every student’s success, and ensure that SVUSD continues to thrive.

Please take a moment to watch this short video message https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfI76WGMIfs where I share a bit more about myself and my vision for our district. Let’s continue Achieving Excellence Together! 💙✨

#SVUSDpride #AchievingExcellenceTogether #WelcomeSuperintendentRomo

🌟 BUZZING INTO NEW LEARNING! 🐝💛 This year's SVUSD Summer Institute was a HUGE success! Over four days, our amazing staff gave up part of their summer break to grow professionally, connect with colleagues, and dive into powerful strategies—from AI in the classroom to hands-on math, engagement tools, and more! 🙌 This FREE event, led by our incredible curriculum team & instructional coaches, is just one example of how SVUSD invests in its people 💬 Special shoutout to Crystal Wambach for organizing an unforgettable week of learning! This is what #AchievingExcellenceTogether looks like. #BuzzingIntoNewLearning #EmpoweringYou #SVUSDStrong #TeacherLife #ProfessionalLearning

📣 JCMS Families! It’s almost time for Den Days Schedule Pick-Up! 🐾 Come pick up your schedule, meet some of your teachers, and get ready for an amazing school year! 📅 7th Grade: July 16th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM 📅 8th Grade: July 17th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM 📅 Missed Den Days? No worries! You can pick up schedules for 7th & 8th Grade from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the front office starting July 18th. 📍 Joyce Clark Middle School We can’t wait to welcome everyone back! 💜🖤💜🖤 #JCMS #DenDays #WeAreJCMS #JCMSCoyotes

📣 All school and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates freedom, resilience, and progress. We encourage our community to take this day to reflect, learn, and honor this important moment in our nation’s history. #Juneteenth #SVUSD #HonoringFreedom #CommunityMatters

The Sierra Vista Unified School District Governing Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Terri Romo as Interim Superintendent for the 2025–2026 school year, effective July 1, 2025. Mrs. Romo brings more than three decades of dedicated service to SVUSD, having served as a student, teacher, principal, and most recently, Assistant Superintendent. A proud product of SVUSD schools, Mrs. Romo is deeply invested in the success of the district and the community it serves. “While I never envisioned myself pursuing the superintendency, I feel called to offer my leadership during this important transition,” Romo shared. “Sierra Vista is my home. I am a proud product of this district, and now I have the privilege of raising my children in the same community and schools that helped shape me.” Throughout her career, Romo has demonstrated a deep commitment to doing what is best for children. Her work has included extensive grant writing, securing millions of dollars in additional funding to support students and staff, and fostering a culture of integrity, transparency, and collaboration. The Governing Board selected Mrs. Romo to serve as a stabilizing force during the district’s transition, as the search continues for a permanent superintendent. "Mrs. Romo’s experience, compassionate leadership, and unwavering dedication to SVUSD make her the ideal person to guide our district through the year ahead,” said Governing Board President Donald Lee. “She understands our schools, our students, and the unique needs of our community.” Terri Romo will succeed Dr. Eric Holmes, who has served as Superintendent since 2020. The Governing Board extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Holmes for his five years of service, leadership, and commitment to students, staff, and families. As the district prepares for a year of significant change—including the launch of the middle school academy concept and the closure of two school campuses in the 26-27 school year—Mrs. Romo stands ready to lead with empathy and decisiveness. “SVUSD is my home,” Romo stated. “I understand the pride each school holds and the deep impact this next phase will have on our community. I am honored to serve as a bridge during this transition, and I remain committed to strong, compassionate leadership.” Mrs. Romo holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and a Master’s in Education from Northern Arizona University. She is certified in teaching, administration, and the superintendency. Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Romo as Interim Superintendent and in thanking Dr. Holmes for his dedicated service to our district.

📣 Starting June 9th, our SVUSD Welcome Center will begin summer hours! ☀️💼 Our amazing team will be ready to assist you with registration and answer any questions you may have: 🕖 Mon, Wed, Fri: 7 AM – 12 PM 🕛 Tues & Thurs: 12 PM – 5 PM 📅 Special Saturday Hours: Open on July 26th, 9 AM - 12 PM for your convenience! Enjoy your summer, and we look forward to seeing you soon! 💙 #SVUSDWelcomeCenter #SummerHours #WeAreHereToHelp #SVUSDPride #EnjoyYourSummer

Wishing all SVUSD families and staff a safe and wonderful Memorial Day weekend. ❤️ 📌 Reminder: All SVUSD offices will be closed on Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day. 🎓🎉 Congratulations to the Class of 2025! We’re so proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what’s next! 💙🎓✨ #ClassOf2025 #SVUSDPride #MemorialDayWeekend #CongratsGraduates #SVUSDStrong