HAJHS September Newsletter
Academic Year: 2024-2025
Aevidum
Attention Students!
We're excited to announce that Aevidum, our school’s mental health and wellness club, is starting up again! Aevidum is all about creating a community where everyone feels supported and valued. We work to raise awareness about mental health issues, promote kindness, and make sure no one ever feels alone. You can join the Google Classroom using the code: VQGY3MX
Our first meeting of the year will be on Monday, September 9th in Room 218 from 3:00-3:45.
Whether you’re returning or new to Aevidum, we’d love to see you there! Come join us to learn more about what we do and how you can get involved.
Remember, you are never alone—and together, we can make a difference.
Band
September After-School Band Schedule:
Mondays, beginning 9/9: 7th and 8th Grade Drumline from 3-4:15
Wednesday, 9/11: 7th and 8th Grade Rehearsal with the Senior High at the Stadium from 3 - 4:30
Friday, 9/11: Junior High night at the Football Game. Meet at the Junior High at 6:00 PM. Pickup is from the Junior High around 8:30
MATHCOUNTS
MathCounts is a prestigious academic competition for 7th and 8th graders. It is highly recommended for students who enjoy problem solving and mathematics. We will start meeting in October and will meet from 3:00 to 4:00 in room 220 one day per week. I want to see which days work best for everyone. MathCounts is a national middle school mathematics competition that increases student interest in mathematics, builds problem solving skills, and fosters achievement through competition. At our meetings, we will examine problems from past competitions and from mathcounts.org, looking at engaging problems and topics.
The top 4 students in our MathCounts club will compete as a team and individually at our local chapter competition at Penn State Altoona on Saturday, February 3. The next several students will compete individually at the competition. Students can earn a top place and advance to the state competition in the spring. This is a great opportunity for students to excel and enhance their math skills.
If interested, contact Mr. Valeria in room 220 or email at robert.valeria@hasdtigers.com.
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
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.
Project NASA Club
- This club is for students interested in our universe, outer space, new discoveries and working together to overcome obstacles.
- Activities typically start at the end of January.
- In previous years, we have met as a club virtually in the evenings in order to collaboratively work on documents. The day and time of the meetings will be discussed as a group.
- Students will get to travel to the NASA Goddard Space Center in Maryland on a field trip towards the end of the school year. The NASA Goddard Space Center controls most of our country’s unmanned satellite programs (such as the James Webb and Hubble satellites). Satellites are built and tested in the many facilities that are located within NASA Goddard Space Center.
- Advisors for this club are Mr. Bryan James and Mrs. Rita Murphy. Feel free to email either of us with any questions you may have.
Wednesday, September 11 - 2:50 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. - both groups
Wednesday, September 25 - 2:50 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. - both groups
October 2024
Wednesday, October 9 -
Reading Club - 2:50 P.M. - 3:20 P.M.
Reading Competition - 3:20 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.
Wednesday, October 23 -
Field Trip (must turn in permission slip) - 12:00 P.M.-2:45 P.M.
Reading Club - 2:50 P.M. - 3:20 P.M.
Reading Competition - 3:20 P.M. - 3:45 P.M.
Tiger Treasure Store
The Tiger Treasure Store is open again this year! 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 will operate once a week ,during all lunch periods, opening day is to be determined.
Thank you!
Jackie Settimio and Dawn Cunningham
Junior High Fundraiser
Students received their sales packets and order forms on August 29th. The Junior High holds only one fundraiser per school year for grade-level activities. A "Fair Share" program is offered to families who are not interested in fundraising for their students' share for the year-end class trips/activities. Each student will be required to either sell magazines and/or cookie dough OR pay their Fair Share amount. The Magazine/Cookie Dough sale will run from Thursday, August 29th to Wednesday, September 11th. All orders are due in the main office by Thursday, September 12th.
Cookie Dough delivery and pick-up is scheduled for Tuesday, October 29th in the Junior High Cafeteria from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Fair Share amounts:
7th Grade - $40.00 or sell 6 magazines or cookie dough
8th Grade - $60.00 or sell 8 magazines or cookie dough
9th Grade - $25.00 or sell 4 magazines or cookie dough
Payment for the fundraiser or Fair Share balance can be made via cash or check. If possible, please make one check per student when selling the fundraiser. Payment by check should be made to HAJHS.
The following are the scheduled year-end activities:
7th Grade***** Pittsburgh Pirate Game (Fundraiser/Fair Share Sponsored)
8th Grade ***** Hershey Park (Fundraiser/Fair Share Sponsored)
9th Grade***** Blue and White Dance (Fundraiser/Fair Share Sponsored)
If you have any questions, please email Amanda Hammel at amanda.hammel@hasdtigers.com.
Note from the Nurse
If a student is feeling ill, it is important for the student to visit the nurse's office in order to ensure the student is assessed appropriately and assisted as needed. The nurse will contact the student's parent/guardian if it is determined that the student should be sent home. This will be reflected in the student's attendance records.
If a student contacts a parent on their own to be picked up due to an illness and does not visit the nurse, an early dismissal will be entered in to the student's attendance records, which counts toward parent excuse totals.
Whenever a student is picked up early, a parent/guardian must sign the student out by checking in using the LobbyGuard system in the main entrance vestibule.
Cafeteria Information
Join us for Breakfast and Lunch daily! Lunches are planned to include a meat/meat alternative, bread/grain, vegetables, fruit & milk. Breakfasts include a variety of entrees, fruit, juice, and milk. In addition to full meals, students can purchase a variety of snacks and beverages at ala carte prices.
Cafeteria Account
A computer system is used to track cafeteria transactions including money deposits and meal purchases. It is important to keep a positive balance on the account.
1. PAYMENT WITH CASH OR CHECK:
Students may deposit money into their cafeteria account at breakfast or lunch time when they are going through the serving line. Please make your check payable to “HASD Cafeterias”.
2. PAYMENTS MADE EASY through School Café
You can add money to your child’s account through the School Café App that is available at the Apple App Store or on Google Play or by visiting School Café at https://www.schoolcafe.com/HOLLIDAYSBURGAREASD. A service fee of $2.25 will be applied to each deposit transaction made. If you have several students throughout the district, you can make one transaction, then transfer money to each child’s account.
3. MANAGE BALANCES
In addition to making payments through School Café, you can view purchase history, check the current account balance and sign up to receive low balance alerts. For convenience, you can also set up automatic payments to replenish cafeteria funds.
4. THE CAFETERIA LINE
When a student purchases a meal or ala carte food item, they will need to enter their six-digit Identification Number in the PIN pad when they reach the cashier. The total amount of their purchase is then debited from their cafeteria account.
5. A LA CARTE
Snack items are available for purchase.
6. APPLY FOR FREE & REDUCED MEALS (a new application is required each year)
Apply, submit, and track your application through the School Café App.
Get the App at the Apple App Store or on Google Play
You may also apply on-line at https://www.schoolcafe.com/HOLLIDAYSBURGAREASD
ALLERGY?
Please contact the Food Service Office directly if your child requires any necessary medical accommodations due to a food allergy or intolerance. A medical for special dietary needs form will need to be completed and is available in the main office or the nurse’s office.
Menus are emailed monthly and available in the school office
If you have questions about your child’s lunch account balance, please contact
Rebecca Kane, Cafeteria Manager at 814-695-4426 or email rebecca.kane@hasdtigers.com
From the Attendance Office
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.
- Upon arriving in the morning, students will 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 computer(Navigate) in the foyer.
Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)
The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meets monthly during the school year at the HAJHS on the third Wednesday of the month (Time TBD). 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.
Tiger Pack Program
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.
ParentSquare
Dear Families,
We are excited to announce that we adopted a new form of school-to-home communication at Hollidaysburg Area School District called ParentSquare. It is important to note that School Messenger will no longer be used for communications, and that your communications will look different moving forward. All notifications and emergencies will be sent via ParentSquare.
This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with HASD. It provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to:
Send and receive district, school, and class information
Share pictures and files
See calendar items
Sign up to volunteer
Schedule parent-teacher conferences
and much more . . . all in one centralized place!
All district and school, grade level and classroom information will be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text (or phone call for certain emergency alerts if a text message fails to be delivered). For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices).
By default, parents/guardians will receive texts and emails in a "digest" which means a daily summary of notifications at one time in the evening, usually about 6pm. You can change this to receive instant notifications by either text or email if preferred. ParentSquare app notifications are completely controlled by parents and are set to show instant in-app notifications by default.
Please take a moment to review the attached and linked ParentSquare resources.
ParenSquare Parent & Guardian Getting Started Guide
ParentSquare Overview for Parents/Guardians Video
ParentSquare Parent/Guardian Training Video
10 Tips for Starting with ParentSquare
HASD Opt-Out Form (Only complete the Opt-Out if you do not want to receive messages from HASD. Note that you will still receive emergency notifications.)
We look forward to working with you as we transition to ParentSquare!
Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School
Website: https://jh.hasdtigers.com/
Location: 1000 Hewit Street, Hollidaysburg, PA, USA
Phone: (814) 695-4426
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollidaysburgAreaSD
Twitter: @Tigerwires