‘Not age-appropriate’ PG-rated video shown to Apache Junction second-grade class

A class of second-grade students at Four Peaks Elementary School in Apache Junction were recently shown a PG-rated video that was not age-appropriate, the school district said in a statement.

According to a parent's Apache Junction 411 Facebook post, it was "Sprite Fright - Blender Open Movie."

“We recognize that the material did not align with our school’s standards for age-appropriate viewing,” it states.

“To be clear, our policy states that only G-rated videos may be shown without prior parental permission. We regret that this standard was not followed and are reinforcing our guidelines to ensure this does not happen again,” it states.

Four Peaks Elementary School is at 1785 N. Idaho Road in Apache Junction.

Parents with questions can call Principal Sunni Braaksma at 480-677-7500, according to the AJUSD statement.

“We understand that parents expect appropriate content in the classroom, and we take that responsibility seriously. While we cannot discuss individual personnel matters, we are committed to maintaining a learning environment that is supportive, safe, and aligned with our educational values,” the school district said in the statement.

AJUSD has three elementary schools, a junior high school and a high school. In 2025 it is slated to open The Classical Academy at Superstition Mountain, a K-5 school designed to provide students with a traditional, liberal arts education. The district boundaries run from Meridian Road on the west to the town of Queen Valley on the east and from the Goldfield Mountains to the north, south into the San Tan Corridor. Communities served include Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, Peralta Trail, Queen Valley and unincorporated Pinal County land in-between.