August 26, 2019 was the first day of school for students. For last year's sixth graders this day was the first day of a new school and a new phase of life - junior high.   “There were a lot of things that took some getting used to,”  seventh grader Taylor Feather said.  “The locker room...

Author Paul Volponi visited May 29 and 30 thanks to a grant from the Altoona Area School District Foundation.  Librarian Justina McCaulley and English teacher Maggie Lewis were instrumental in writing the grant and organizing the activities for the two days.  Students attended assemblies, worked with...

Readers Workshop is a new way of learning for the junior high.  There are only a few teachers in the pilot this year such as Autumn Barry Kyle, Amanda Kelly, Wanda Vanish, Alyssa Hetrick, Tim Mitchell,  LIndsay Zerbee and Christine Knott-Hallinan “The reading has increased since students are given...

Timothy Mitchell is an eighth grade reading teacher and has been teaching for 35 years.  He taught elementary school for twenty-four years and this is his eleventh year at the junior high.  In addition to teaching at AAJHS,  he taught at Curtin Elementary, Irving Elementary, Washington-Jefferson Elementary,...

On Sept. 20, Spanish teacher Patricia Leonard welcomed Willa Boothe as a student teacher. Boothe just graduated from Penn State University. Boothe started teaching the morning classes off and on. When the second semester started, she began teaching every class. “I absolutely loved being at...

On April 15, Dr. Barbara Seniors Harkins Foundation awarded eighth grader, Danielle Bardelang, second place for the nationwide essay contest. Any student from the United States in grades six to eight was eligible to enter the sixth annual contest. “Mr. Hatch sent out an email about the contest....

Anime Club - Led by John Garlick: To finish the school year, the Anime Club will be hosting their annual end of the year party at the end of May.  Japanese-imported candy and soda will be available during the event. Students are allowed to cosplay as well. Diversity Club - Led by Keith McFarland: ...

German foreign exchange students have come to Altoona where they stay with their hosts and attend school.  This experience is a new thing for both the host and the exchange student. Both have to adapt and learn how to communicate with each other.  Exchange student Lea Mercedes is hosted by Brooke Long....