Our JCHS Food Science students are cooking up something delicious!

Last week, the class held its first kitchen lab by learning to make perfectly scrambled eggs. 🍳 This week, they’re taking their skills to the next level with more complex breakfast creations.

We can’t wait to see (and smell!) what they whip up next!

Our high school FFA recently presented to Mrs. Williford’s 7th and 8th grade PACE classes at Washington Middle School.

This is a great example of our JCHS students inspiring our middle school students, sharing their passion for agriculture, leadership, and hands-on learning with younger students.

We love seeing our older students step up as mentors and role models!

📸 Mrs. Williford

Today kicks off National School Bus Safety Week.

Remember, always stop when the stop-arm is out for school buses—it’s the law! ✋ 🛑 Flashing red lights and a stop sign ALWAYS mean it's time to keep kids safe.

#schoolbussafety

JCHS student Luke Davis interviews Quinton Smothers, the new head coach for the Boys Basketball team.

Davis asked Smothers about his milestones on the court as a player, what it means to be at Johnston City, and how he's bonding with players before the season even starts!

Watch out for this story in our next issue of JC Hometown Highlights, out in December!

JCHS Athletic Schedule October 13 through October 18th, 2025!

All Johnston City Schools are closed today, Monday, October 13th, in observance of Columbus Day.

Enjoy this Fall day, and we will see you back in class tomorrow!

All Johnston City Schools will be closed on Monday, October 13th, in observance of Columbus Day.

We hope you enjoy your three-day weekend after an action-packed Homecoming week!

❤️ Homecoming Dress-up Days continue 🖤

Today, students dressed as their favorite meme. We spotted The Chimpmunks, Kris Jenner, The Lorax, and more!

Tomorrow is already our last dress-up day of the week. It's Spirit Day, so grab your red and black!

Parents and Guardians,

All Johnston City Schools have early dismissal tomorrow, Friday, October 10th.
▪ Elementary/Middle Schools - 1:50 p.m.
▪ Johnston City High School - 2 p.m.

We hope to see you at the Homecoming parade, which starts at 3 p.m.

Find more information here: https://www.jcindians.org/article/2432241

Johnston City Schools Superintendent Mr. Pietrantoni recently visited our high school's Social Work class to talk about the importance of grants and grant writing.

These skills can be applied in various careers, including the social work profession, non-profit sector, government agencies, healthcare settings, and educational institutions.

📸 Mrs. Gualdoni

Our JCHS students dressed as comedian Adam Sandler for Day 1 of Homecoming Week!

Tomorrow, it's Class Color Day for Johnston City High School students.
▪ Seniors: Purple
▪ Juniors: Blue
▪ Sophomores: Red
▪ Freshmen: Green

Let's keep the Homecoming fun and traditions going! #rolltribe

🏆👏 Happy National Coaches Day! 👏🏆

Today, we celebrate and thank our incredible coaches at Johnston City High School and Washington Middle School!

From early practices to late nights, our coaches dedicate their time, energy, and passion to helping our student-athletes grow. Not just in sports, but also in teamwork, discipline, and confidence.

We are grateful for every coach who leads our Indians in:

⚾️ Baseball
🏀 Boys and Girls Basketball
⛳ Boys and Girls Golf
👟 Boys and Girls Track
🎳 Bowling
📣 Cheerleading
💃 Dance
🚩 Flag
🏈 Football
🥎 Softball
🏊‍♀️ Swim
🏐 Volleyball
🏆 Wrestling

Thank you for the impact you make in athletics and beyond!

A friendly reminder to please watch for an email this week regarding parent-teacher conferences. The email will include a Google form for you to complete in order to secure your spot. Forms must be submitted by October 15th.

Conferences will be held on Monday, October 20th, and Monday, October 27th, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.

We strongly encourage all parents and guardians to attend, as these meetings are an important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and work together with teachers to support continued growth.

A reminder to join us TOMORROW for the Johnston City Lions Club Fish Fry Fundraiser!

▪ Saturday, October 4th
▪ 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (or until we run out)
▪ NEW LOCATION: Johnston City High School

For just $12 per person, enjoy a delicious meal of fish, hushpuppies, sides, dessert, and a drink. Dine in or carry out — the choice is yours!

Proceeds benefit scholarships for JCHS seniors! Don’t miss out on this hometown favorite. Come hungry and support a great cause! ❤️🖤

Jenny Ditch and Abby Porter from John A. Logan College visited Johnston City High School today, meeting with sophomores to discuss the dual credit and dual enrollment programs.

These provide many benefits to our students, including:
▪ An easier transition from high school to college
▪ A greater likelihood of completing their college degrees
▪ Cost savings for students and families
▪ Real experience in the expectations of college-level work
▪ Enhanced skills required in college success, such as time management, critical thinking, and study skills

Additionally, small-group advisement appointments were held with our juniors and seniors.

We had a packed house for our JCHS FAFSA Completion Night, attended by our high school seniors and their families.

Events like these help parents and guardians navigate the financial aid process for college or career school, which can often feel overwhelming without the right guidance.

Thank you to Garrett Speith, Presenter, and Elizabeth Bird, Coordinator, from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Also on hand were Cheri Rushing, Director of Financial Aid at John A. Logan College (JALC) and Larissa Van, Financial Aid Coordinator at JALC.

Now's the time to put the finishing touches on your outfits for JCHS Homecoming Dress-Up Days.

Here's the schedule for October 6th - October 10th:

▪ Monday: Adam Sandler Day
▪ Tuesday: Class Color Day
▪ Wednesday: Athlete vs. Mathlete
▪ Thursday: Meme Day
▪ Friday: School Spirit - Red & Black Day

We can't wait to see the creative outfits our students come up with as we celebrate our Indian pride! #rolltribe

We’re proud to celebrate and recognize our incredible principals across Johnston City Schools.

Each day, they lead with dedication, support our teachers and staff, and create a safe, welcoming environment where students can thrive!

❤️ Mrs. Schell - Johnston City High School
🖤 Mrs. Armes - Washington Middle School
❤️ Mrs. Smiley - Lincoln Elementary School
🖤 Mrs. Murrah - Jefferson Elementary School

Join us in thanking our principals for their hard work, leadership, and commitment to our school community

This afternoon, JCHS Journalism student Keira interviewed Mrs. Adkins about her upcoming retirement at the end of the school year.

Mrs. Adkins reminisced about her first years of teaching, the lessons she has learned from students during her career, and the advice she would pass down to new educators.

You'll find this story in our upcoming issue of the district-wide magazine, JC Hometown Highlights, out in December!

We had perfect weather for our JCHS Student Council Car Wash!

On Saturday, more than a dozen of our members volunteered to wash cars, SUVs, trucks -- and yes -- even a boat! 🚤

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to support our group, and to Banterra Bank for allowing us to use their parking lot.