HAJHS February

Dear Junior High Students and Families,

Winter is in full swing, as we have already completed a number of Flexible Instructional Days this school year. Please see the attached FID guidelines for information regarding work completion and expectations.

As a reminder, students do not have access to the building until 7:20am. If possible, please coordinate drop off in order to minimize the time that your student has to wait out in the cold.

On Friday, March 14th, students will participate in various mental health activities for part of the school day. The activities are aimed at improving mental health and making students feel better all around. Last year's event was a great success and we are looking forward to offering even more activities for the students this year.

Sincerely,

Dale McCall

Principal

Hollidaysburg Area Junior High

Each month, we celebrate outstanding students for their efforts both in and out of the classroom. Teachers and staff nominate students that exemplify what it means to be a Golden Tiger (Citizenship, Adaptability, Analytical Thinking, Integrity, Perseverance, Communication) and one student is selected from each grade level by HAJHS Administration.

Congratulations to the January Students of the Month!

FREE Breakfast for ALL Students

Breakfast will be FREE for all students.

It is still important to those who may qualify for free/reduced priced meals, to apply or update their meal application for the 2024-25 school year.

9th graders from Fuel Up visited Longer Elementary to get students active! Some students led first and second grade students through a winter adventure activity break in their classrooms while others held winter themed games in kindergarten PE class.

On Saturday, Jan. 12, World Language students from the Junior and Senior High hosted their annual World Language Festival in the Senior High Cafeteria. This festival ran from 12-4:00 and was open to children and their families from the community. French, German, and Spanish students prepared many activities such as cultural crafts, language inspired games, and mini lessons, as well as selfie stations, cultural foods to sample, and other learning activities for the visiting children to participate in. The festival was free to the public and was a big success. Visiting families gave a lot of positive feedback!

Congratulations to Leila Siliga for placing eighth in the Brighter Financial Futures Fall Investing Challenge! She competed against over 3000 registered students. On October 7, 2024, she started the challenge with a virtual portfolio of $100,000 in fake currency. The goal of the challenge was to grow their portfolio. By December 13, 2024, Leila had grown her portfolio by 49% to $149,144.73. Leila’s tactic was to buy low, and then sell high. She said that “McDonald’s stock was down 2% so I bought shares hoping that it would go up again.”

What is the Brighter Financial Futures Fall Investing Challenge? It is an educational simulation organized through the Pennsylvania Council on Financial Literacy (PennCFL). This program aims to teach students about investing and financial markets through a hands-on, competitive experience. Students are getting the chance to manage a virtual investment portfolio using real-world market data.

All students in Mrs. Kathy Shaffer’s Fall Personal Finance class participated in the investment challenge.

Aevidum meetings are held from 3:00pm to 3:45pm in Room 218 on the following dates:

• February 3rd
• February 10th
• February 24th

Art Club meetings are held from 3:00pm to 3:45pm in Room 132 on the following dates:

• February 6th
• February 20th
• February 27th

Announcements for Band:

19 Students will represent Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School at the Blair County Junior High Band Festival on February 12 and 13 at Bishop Guilfoyle Academy. Congratulations to these students!

After School Band Schedules:

Percussion Ensemble: Meets Mondays from 3:00 - 4:15 PM. We will meet Tuesday, February 18 instead of Monday, February 17.

7th/8th Jazz Band: Meets Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:00. There will be NO Jazz Band on Thursday, February 13.

• Thursday, February 13 / 3:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M.

• Tuesday, February 25 / 3:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M.

1st: Sam Brannock

2nd: Maynard Snowberger

3rd: Thomas Wagner

4th: Avery Black

5th: Julia Van Kleunen

On Saturday, February 1, fourteen of our members will compete at the Blair Region MathCounts Competition. We will meet on the following dates in February, with all meetings being from 3:00 to 4:00 in Room 220.

Tuesday, February 4

Tuesday, February 11

Tuesday, February 18

Tuesday, February 25

Top Picture: Top Four Students

Bottom Picture: Sam Brannock, First Place

The Project NASA Club will meet on the following dates. Students must attend at least 3 meetings in order to be eligible to attend the Planetarium Field Trip.

Wednesday, February 5th at 7:00 PM on Google Meet

Wednesday, February 19th at 7:00 PM on Google Meet

Monday, February 24th at 7:00 PM on Google Meet

Friday, February 28th at 8:30 AM meet in lobby to walk to the senior high for a Planetarium Presentation

For more information, contact Mrs. Murphy in room 314. rita.murphy@hasdtigers.com

Students who maintain a 94% GPA through the first 3 marking periods of their 8th grade year will be invited to apply for membership in the HAJHS Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. In addition to their GPA, students will be evaluated by the faculty council on the basis of service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Requirements for admission include, but are not limited to, 1) being active in 2 (two) school related activities in either 7th or 8th grade, 2) having participated in at least 1 (one) community service event in either 7th or 8th grade, 3) be enrolled in a minimum of 3 (three) college bound level classes, and 4) have had no more than 3 (three) detentions or 1 (one) suspension. If you believe your child may be eligible to apply, please review these requirements early with them.

PALs will meet February 13th for a Valentine's Day Party, during 8th period in the auditorium

February 2025

• Monday, February 3 / 3:00 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.

• Wednesday, February 19 / Eat & Meet Lunches

• Thursday, February 27 / 3:00 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.

Meeting Dates and Times

February 2025

• Wednesday, February 5 -

• Reading Club - 2:50 P.M. - 3:20 P.M.

• Reading Competition - 3:20 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.

• Wednesday, February 12 -

• Reading Competition - 2:50 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.

• Wednesday, February 19 -

• Reading Club - 2:50 P.M. - 3:20 P.M.

• Reading Competition - 3:20 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.

• Wednesday, February 26 -

• Reading Competition - 2:50 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.

Student Council meeting on February 6 from 3:00-3:30 in Mrs. Galo's room 130

February 13th will be a Valentine's theme day. Students who wear red/pink/hearts will receive council cash at lunch.

Student council will be selling candygrams at lunch from February 24-February 28 for $1.00. Deliveries will be on March 17th.

Yearbooks are available for pre-order. Go to yearbookordercenter.com and enter our school code: 4315. Books are $22 each until January 1st, when they increase to $25. Guaranteed pre-orders close February 14th

Any questions can be directed to nicole.stouffer@hasdtigers.com or abigail.miller@hasdtigers.com

The Tiger Treasure Store is open! It is located in the back of the cafeteria in the same room as the School Store. The store has new or gently used clothing for free as well as toiletries, hygiene products, and more! The store is open on Wednesdays during all lunches.

Jackie Settimio and Dawn Cunningham

Fair share balance is due Friday, March 21st. Any remaining fair share balance money is due by March 21st. If fair share is not met, your student CAN NOT go on their field trip or attend the dance.

A “Fair Share” program is offered to families who did not participate in fundraising for their students’ share for the year-end class trips/activities.

Fair Share amounts Due:

7th Grade - $40.00

8th Grade - $60.00

9th Grade - $25.00

Payment for fair share can be made via cash or check. All checks for fair share balance should be made out to HAJHS.

The following are the scheduled year-end activities:

7th Grade ***** Pittsburgh Pirates Game. Wednesday, May 21st

8th Grade ***** Hershey Park. Tuesday, May 27th

9th Grade ***** Blue and White Dance. Friday, May 2nd

If you have any questions about fair share and balances, please email Amanda Hammel

amanda.hammel@hasdtigers.com

Feb 7 - Four-Way Test Speech Contest

Feb 11 - FKS LGI 6:30-8:00 Autism/Applied Behavior Analysis

Feb 13 - Valentine's Theme Day - Wear Red/Pink/Hearts

Feb. 14 to Feb. 17 - No School for Students, Holiday

Feb 24 to Feb 28 - Student council selling candygrams

March 14 - Early Dismissal: JH-12:40, Lunch will be served, PM In-service

March 14 - Mental Health Day

April 15- JH LGI 6:30-8:00 Extended School Year (ESY)

April 17 – No School for Students, Act 80 Teacher In-service

April 18 to April 21 - No School for Students, Holiday

May 20 - No School for Students, In-service (Election Day)

May 23 - Early Dismissal: JH-11:10 – No lunch, PM In-service

May 26 - No School for Students, Holiday

All attendance excuses may be emailed to the Attendance Secretary, Amanda Hammel at amanda.hammel@hasdtigers.com or you may fill out this FORM.

Early Dismissals:

• Students needing an early dismissal need to bring a written excuse indicating the time of the early dismissal and the reason for the request.
  
  
• When arriving at school before entering the auditorium or going to breakfast, the student should report to the lobby outside the Main Office for an early dismissal pass.
  
  
• Students are responsible to report to the main office at the time of their dismissal, we do not interrupt class to call students.
  
  
• Please note the time on the written excuse is the time the student is dismissed from class, please allow enough time for them to meet you in the lobby.
  
  
• All students must be signed out by the person picking them up using the Navigate system in the foyer.

The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meets monthly during the school year at the HAJHS on the third Wednesday of the month at 10am. All parents and guardians are members and are invited to come to the meetings. Attending meetings is a good way to meet other parents and learn about what is happening at the Junior High School. PAC organizes many activities at the Junior High.

If you are interested in volunteering, please see the Junior High main office or access the volunteer signup form at hasdtigers.com - Junior High Page - Parents Tab - Parent Advisory Committee.

If you would like to participate in the Tiger Pack Program by receiving a bag of food weekly for your child(ren), please have your student(s) return the form that was mailed home. Forms are also available in the Main Office and attached below. A new signup form must be submitted every year. If you would like to donate to Tiger Pack or have any other questions, please contact Chris Burkey at christine.burkey@hasdtigers.com for additional information.

Website: https://www.hasdtigers.com/hajhs/home
Location: 1000 Hewit Street, Hollidaysburg, PA, USA
Phone: (814) 695-4426
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollidaysburgAreaSD/
Twitter: @Tigerwires