Contributed Photo: Pima Junior High School Kindness Initiative sponsors are represented on Rider T-shirts, which are given away as part of the available prizes. The school and student body thank the local businesses for their support.
By Ryan Conrad: Pima Junior High School Principal
PIMA – In an effort to build and maintain a culture of kindness and mutual respect, Pima Junior High School (PJHS) has been fortunate to build partnerships with various Gila Valley Businesses during the 2019-2020 school year for its Kindness Initiative.
Fifteen local businesses have donated funds to reward PJHS students for working hard in the classroom and showing kindness to others. Students can earn items such as jelly wristbands, water bottles, string backpacks, lanyards, and a special Rider Pride T-shirt by earning “Rider Pride” cards.
These cards are earned by demonstrating acts of kindness to others and for outstanding academic effort in the classroom. Students earn and save these cards and redeem them for prizes. We also commissioned local artist and PJHS staff member Shelly Pritchard to create a mural for our hallway that originally appeared in part in the 1977 PHS yearbook. The mural is a tribute to all past and present Pima Roughriders and a standard and ideal we want to follow daily. The Pima Turkey Trot also sponsored a pizza party for all students who could beat principal Conrad in the race.
Additionally, Kainoa’s Hawaiian Grill and Arizona Dodge have sponsored new uniforms for our athletics teams. Kainoa’s purchased football uniforms and Arizona Dodge purchased basketball uniforms for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. Our teams have looked amazing as they have taken the field and court this season. We are so thankful to Eric and Malia Blair and Robb and Kellie Hatch for their partnership and love for our student-athletes.
Pima Junior High School is grateful for the tremendous support our community businesses have shown for our students. This initiative is helping our students to build a culture of kindness and mutual respect at our school. It is also a wonderful thing for our students to know that they have the support of our Gila Valley community with them as they work hard in the classroom every day.
With the support of our community and local businesses, we will continue working to build a culture of kindness and mutual respect. Our students, staff, and parents appreciate the tremendous support we receive and we will continue to bring it every day.
Thank You Gila Valley!
Pima Junior High School would like to thank the following local businesses for loving and supporting our students: Kainoa’s Hawaiian Grill, Arizona Dodge, Sorensen Financial, Optimal Health Systems, Velocity Builders, Pima Turkey Trot, Eastern Arizona College GEAR UP, A&A Design Co., Hughes Plumbing, Taylor Freeze, Copper Hills Dental, Haralson’s Tire, Roadrunner Rehab, Hughes Custom Performance, Desert Cross Veterinary Hospital, and SW Risk Management
