Livewire

The student news site of Altoona Area Junior High School
  • December 20Click here for today's announcements!
  • December 19Click here for today's announcements!
  • December 19Breakfast Dec. 20 - Pancakes with Bacon with a choice of fruit and milk.
  • December 19Lunch- Holiday Meal, Baked Chicken, Roll, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Cookie, Steamed Corn, Choice of Fruit, Choice of Milk
  • December 18Click here for today's announcements!
  • December 17Breakfast Dec. 18-Pancake Wrapped Breakfast on a Stick with a choice of fruit and milk.
  • December 17Lunch - Chicken Fajita Wrap with Baked Beans, Steamed Corn, and Choice of Fruit and Milk
  • December 17Click here for today's announcements!
  • December 16Breakfast for Dec. 17 Egg & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich with a choice of fruit and milk.
  • December 16Breakfast 12/16- Apple or Cherry Strudel, with a choice of Fruit & Milk

Livewire

Livewire
Ben Blackie

Ben Blackie, Reporter

Ben Blackie is a student at AAJHS. Along with being in the school newspaper, he has been a part of the school’s student council since seventh grade. He is also in the ninth grade committee. Every year during his summer vacation he and his family try to do a new and adventurous activity. For example this past summer he went parasailing and zip lining .

All content by Ben Blackie
Score it! Casey Kuhn is taking a shot while teammate Cassidy Klock watches. In January 2018 Altoona vs State Collage.

[Photo] Season for winter sport kicks in

December 14, 2018
Cool! Mrs. McAleer observes one of her groups. McAleer let her students pick their groups.

Students dissect frogs

Ben Blackie, Photographer
May 25, 2018
Run! Taylor Lane runs to get someone out from the other team. Lane got out and was able to get back in.

School hosts final game night for year

Ben Blackie, Photographer
May 25, 2018
Inquiring photographer

Inquiring photographer

Riley Steinbugl, Chastity Brunner, and Ben Blackie
May 25, 2018
We placed! The Altoona girls 4x8 rushed at their meet. The girls won and got third place.

AAJHS Now: In Pictures

Chastity Brunner and Ben Blackie
May 22, 2018
Push! Samantha Abbott throws the discus. Abbott also threw the shot put.

Seventh and eighth grade track meet

Ben Blackie, Photographer
May 18, 2018
“I think it’s dumb. I mean they don’t really count towards anything anyway.” ninth grader Layla Shelow said. Photo taken by Ben Blackie

Inquiring photographer

Caley Galarneau, Ben Blackie, and Chastity Brunner
May 15, 2018
Jump! Jace Ebersol vaults on May ninth. Ebersol was part of the few ninth grade pole vaults.

Ninth grade track athletes compete

Ben Blackie, Photographer
May 14, 2018
Haha. Peyton Shaffer and Emily McGuire smile at their spring concert on May 4. They smiled and continued singing.

AAJHS Now: In pictures

Chastity Brunner and Ben Blackie
May 10, 2018
Up! Brooke Davis jumps up in long jump. Davis beet her last pr

Altoona vs. Penns Valley track meet

Ben Blackie, Photographer
May 4, 2018
Run! Abbie Herncane runs in the track meet on Saturday the twenty eighth. Hurcane also ran against girls and boys from the other schools

Track athletes compete in Mountain Lion Classic

Ben Blackie, Photographer
May 1, 2018
Isabella Frank, Alaina Koehle, Mya Crownover, and Eve Hogan are all showing their spirit by wearing maroon and white.

[Photo] Students show their spirit

Maddy Pincin, Reporter
May 1, 2018
Pole Vault! Daniel Batrus vaults at the track meet on Monday April 23. Batrus vaulted against boys from Altoona and Punxsutawney

Track meet 4-23-18

Ben Blackie, Photographer
April 27, 2018
Jump! Ty Friedenberger jumps in the triple jump event at the track meet. Friedenberger jumped against athletes from Punxsutawney.

AAJHS Now: In Pictures

Chastity Brunner and Ben Blackie
April 26, 2018
Up! Sophia Caputo jumps as high as she can while participating in the high jump event. Caputo was one of the last to go and was able to take her time.

Seventh grade track meet

Ben Blackie, Photographer
April 20, 2018
Pole vault! Mia Sassano practices pole vaulting on April 10th. Sassano made sure what height she was going to try and vault for the meet the next day.

Student track athletes prepare for upcoming meet

Ben Blackie, Photographer
April 13, 2018
March. Parents and children march for anti-bullying on April 9. The parents and children marched then took a big picture.

AAJHS Now: In pictures

Chastity Brunner and Ben Blackie
April 12, 2018
Peace! On Thursday. April 5 seventh and eighth grade had an assembly for the upcoming PSSAs. During the assembly preformences by the Jr. High cheerleaders, student council, drama club and the JPP even made a slideshow.

PSSA Assembly

Ben Blackie, Photographer
April 6, 2018
“They can do random searches and wand checks. And, lock all doors and move things in advance to their advantage.” ninth grader Kendra Houp said. Photo taken by Ben Blackie

Inquiring Photographer

Caley Galarneau, Ben Blackie, and Chastity Brunner
April 6, 2018
Seventh grader, Abby Hurincane, thinks about her next move. Abby competed first in the competition.

[Photo] Students compete in rock, paper, scissor competition

Morgan Baker
April 6, 2018
Seventh & Eighth grade track practice 3-17-18

Seventh & Eighth grade track practice 3-17-18

Chastity Brunner and Ben Blackie
March 23, 2018
Riley Steinbugl waits on base while the pitcher throws the ball. She is getting ready to take a lead.

[Photo] High school spring sports begin

Morgan Baker, Reporter
March 23, 2018
Public Speaking! Darrian Berkheimre and Cassie Kyle talk about their workshop. Kyle and Berkheimer also did their workshop with Adalynn Cherry.

Students learn “The Treasures of Leadership” at student council conference

Ben Blackie, Photographer
March 20, 2018
Lets have some FUN! Gym teacher, John Nezneski poses as a basket ball trophy. Nezneski came up with relay race games for his gym students to play.

Gym 3/15/18

Ben Blackie, Photographer
March 16, 2018
Welcome! Students recently attended a lego club event. Students were allowed to build what ever they wanted

AAJHS now: in pictures

Ben Blackie and Chastity Brunner
March 15, 2018
Students in Makenzie Wilt's eighth grade classroom write postcards to Parkland students after viewing the television segment created by AAHS students.

[Photo] Editorial: 17 ways to honor those who lost their lives in the Parkland Shooting

March 15, 2018
Say Cheese! Student council members Isabella Frank, Adalynn Cherry, Cassie Kyle, Lydia Baum, and ninth grade adviser Jessica Hogan pose for a picture at the 2018 Student Council District Conference . Many of the AAJHS student council members also taught a workshop during the conference as well.

Student council conference

Ben Blackie, Photographer
March 12, 2018
On Set! After many weeks of preparing for their play, Mary Poppins, the Drama club practices in front of their living room set. The cast built the sets after the original Mary Poppins set.

Drama prepares for rendition of Mary Poppins

Ben Blackie, Photographer
February 23, 2018
Ninth grader Cameron Passarello wore a New York Yankees baseball home jersey , supporting #99 Aaron Judge , the outfielder.

[Photo] Fans support favorite sport teams

Sarah Weathersbee, Reporter
February 21, 2018
The Play! One of the scripts is left on the ground while the Drama Club practices. The Drama club went through he whole play and fixed any errors.

Drama club prepares for Mary Poppins

Ben Blackie, Photographer
February 9, 2018
'Bluetastic’! Jamen Mccabe paints his sketch book a dark blue. Mccabe blended the colors blue and black to get the perfect shade.

AAJHS now: In Pictures

Chastity Brunner and Ben Blackie
February 8, 2018
Give it! One of the gym student does a rematch against her opponents. The student won and went on to the next team.

AAJHS Now: In pictures

Ben Blackie and Chastity Brunner
February 5, 2018
Inquiring Photographer

Inquiring Photographer

Jocelyn Fetter, Caley Galarneau, Sydney Wilfong, Chastity Brunner, and Ben Blackie
February 1, 2018
Hit! Aaron Carothers listens to his coach as he gets ready to wrestle his opponent. Carothers won the match which helped the teams score go up.

Wrestling team achieves victory

Ben Blackie, Photographer
January 24, 2018
Shoot it! Eighth grade player Casey Kuhn takes a shot while practicing before the State College game as Cassidy Klock watches.The team continued to practice until their coach called a huddle.

[Photo] Girls’ basketball season begins

Abbie Starr, Reporter
January 18, 2018
Put me in! One of the players on the ninth grade white team waits to be put back into the game. The payer then got into the game and helped score a basket.

Ninth grade White Basketball Team 1-10-18

Ben Blackie, Photographer
January 12, 2018
You got this! Coach Chuck Sayler coaches the team during their game. Sayler then gave another pep talk during half time.

[Photo] Boys' basketball season continues

February 1, 2018
B-ball. A basketball sits to be used at the game on Jan. 10. Soon after players used the ball and Altoona won the game.

[Photo] AAJHS now: In pictures

January 11, 2018
Con Fuoco! Damien Crider, member of the cello group plays "Chant De Noel" along with the other Eighth grade cello members. Crider also played with the Symphonic Orchestra.

Orchestra members play hearts out

Ben Blackie, Photographer
December 19, 2017
Give It! Ninth grade basketball player, Kyle Pheasant tries to steal the ball from his Holidaysburg opponent. Pheasant was successful and was able to pass the ball to another AAJHS player.

[Photo] Basketball teams begin season

December 20, 2017
Got music?

Got music?

Ben Blackie, Reporter
November 17, 2017
Dr. Collins teaches seventh, eighth and ninth grade teachers. The teachers learned how to use Collins Writing.

Collins writing program changes classroom instruction

Ben Blackie, Reporter
October 27, 2017
How does homework affect your social and home life?

How does homework affect your social and home life?

Chastity Brunner, Ben Blackie, and Gianna Ciavarella
October 3, 2017
Lets go girls! The varsity girls soccer team break out of a inspirational pep talk before their scrimmage against BG. The girls gained many goals in the beginning of the scrimmage which led them to get ahead and win.

Altoona soccer scrimmage and Gold ribbon walk

Ben Blackie
October 2, 2017
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