Eighth, ninth grade prepares for move to new high school
Paris Lawson, Reporter
October 23, 2019
During the beginning of the 2020 school year, there will be changes for eighth and ninth graders. The ninth grade will be moved to the high school and the sophomores will also move as usual. By the beginning of the next school year, the new high school is scheduled to be built. This change has br...
Ninth, eighth grade orchestra performs in concert
Myah Lear, Reporter
October 23, 2019
On Oct. 21, the orchestra performed a concert with the Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School to practice with new people and so that the orchestra had something special to do in the fall. This was the first concert of the year for the orchestra and showed how much they have progressed from the be...
Aides provide support
Danielle Bardelang, Reporter
October 23, 2019
Everyday some students with mental, physical and emotional disabilities are aided by Student Education Aides (S.E.A.). An S.E.A. is an adult who provides support to classroom teachers by working directly with a student. Aides are helping in the classroom. “An S.E.A. is someone to be there for th...
Ninth grade performs last football show
Mykenzi Doran, Reporter
October 23, 2019
At 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, the eighth and ninth grade band and band front members will perform together at Mansion Park Stadium for the last time. This performance impacts eighth and ninth graders as they take the field for their last pregame and halftime shows with the seventh graders. ...
Cyber school offers alternative education option for students
Alyssa Feather, Guest Reporter
October 17, 2019
Being able to participate in the Altoona Cyber Academy became an option for many during the 2012-2013 school year, but it was only available to high school students. Now, the program has expanded and is available for junior high kids as well. Students also get to participate in all activities in...
Seventh grade students face fears
Alyssa Feather, Guest Reporter
September 5, 2019
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 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. 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,...
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. Japanese-imported candy and soda will be available during the event. Students are allowed to cosplay as well. Diversity Club - Led by Keith McFarland: ...