Author Paul Volponi inspires young writers
June 4, 2019
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...
Reading Workshop to continue next year
Sadie Price, Reporter
May 28, 2019
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 give...
Mitchell to retire at end of school year
Zakary Hicks, Reporter
May 23, 2019
Timothy Mitchell is an eighth grade reading teacher and has been teaching for 35 years. Â He taught elementary school for twenty-four years and this is his eleventh year at the junior high. Â In addition to teaching at AAJHS, Â he taught at Curtin Elementary, Irving Elementary, Washington-Jefferson Elementary,...
Spanish student teacher says “adios” to students
Destiny Montgomery, Reporter
May 17, 2019
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 Alt...
Bardelang recognized by Harkins Foundation
Destiny Montgomery, Reporter
May 6, 2019
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. I offered it t...
May club monthly update
Destiny Montgomery and Brayden Adams
May 3, 2019
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. Â Japanese-imported candy and soda will be available during the event. Students are allowed to cosplay as well. Diversity Club - Led by Keith McFarland:Â ...
Student body welcomes foreign exchange students
Avery Reid and Zak Hicks
April 26, 2019
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 Lo...
Pfiester attends national advocacy event for Alzheimer’s Association
Brayden Adams, Reporter
April 25, 2019
In March, ninth grade student AnnMarie Pfiester visited Washington, D.C. to serve as an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association.  Pfiester has attended two of the premier national advocacy events held annually in Washington, D.C. each year. Pfiester was very busy during her time in Washington, D.C. â€...
Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests get closer
Zakary Hicks, Reporter
April 15, 2019
The seventh and eighth grade PSSA's are here.  These standardized tests include reading and mathematics for seventh and eighth grade, writing for eighth grade and science for eighth grade. These tests require early planning. “There just never seems to be enough time to get in all the different materials a...
Junior high students, teachers take part in foreign language festival
Brayden Adams, Reporter
April 12, 2019
On March 23, numerous junior high students attended the annual APPLES Foreign Language Festival at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Â Areas that students competed in included listening, speaking, dancing, composition and vocal competition. Multiple schools participated in this event. Â Because of this, ...
Teachers team up to help students succeed
Zakary Hicks, Reporter
March 26, 2019
Numerous seventh, eighth and ninth grade teachers assembled five teams of five to compete in the March Madness contest.  These teams compete by implementing instructional strategies and generous actions from March 4 to March 15. “It was a competition where teachers participated in teams using teaching ...
Teachers decide between buildings
Destiny Montgomery, Reporter
March 25, 2019
With the new high school coming during the 2020-2021 school year, teachers in the junior high faced the decision to move to the high school or stay at the junior high. Teachers could either stay and teach sixth, seventh or eighth grade, or they can move and teach ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth. Sin...