Jr. Highlights - Indiana Area School District

Jr. Highlights
Mr. Michael Minnick, Principal
Mr. Gregg Wilson, Assistant Principal
Parent Newsletter - December 2014-January 2015
Mrs. V. Haney, Editor – Mrs. M. Snedden, Publisher
Our Principals’ Perspectives
Having concluded a successful first quarter of academics and fall
athletics season, our activities of late have kicked-off the holiday
spirit with sparkles! This season started off with the beautiful
orchestral concert, conducted by Ms. Julianne Laird, the
entertaining fall drama, The Beatles Slept Here, directed by
Ms. Robyn Bailey-Orchard, and will have hosted our holiday
choral concert, led by Mrs. Ellen Werner at about the time this
edition of the Jr. Highlights has been released! There are so many
wonderful performances by our students! Whether your family
enjoys the Strings, a vocal ensemble, our very own Spirit Band, a
drama, or IJHS Athletics, you will surely be “taken away” by the
talents of our students!
Community is an integral part of the success of any school. This is
descriptive and true of the Indiana Junior High School. Everyday
acts of good citizenship, kindness, and respect toward others is
celebrated through our Character Counts referrals on a daily basis.
Students who are referred (by faculty and staff) are given an official
Indiana Junior High tote bag through the main office and are
recognized on our daily “roll-ups” and morning announcements. In
addition, each grade level team elects a JH Student of the Month.
Those six students are invited to lunch with Mr. Wilson and
Mr. Minnick, compliments of Indiana’s Steel City Samiches. If you
are interested in learning more about all the happenings at IJHS,
check out all the latest news and highlights via the school’s website,
as well as our Twitter and Facebook sites!
Our vision at the IJHS is Success for All! Achievement, learning,
growth; these are ubiquitous terms throughout educational circles.
However we measure progress, it’s unquestionably linked to their
meaning. A safe school environment is essential for us to focus on
teaching and learning. Attending school is critical to a child’s
success. Quality teaching that effectively utilizes assessment data to
meet kids at their instructional levels. Leadership, forward thinking
and systemic planning all contribute to a school’s success. Your
place within this process is invaluable! I encourage you to ask
questions, share your goals for your children, and express your
concerns. ‘We’ cannot be all that we are capable of being without
your support. So with this thought at this time in the school year,
we encourage you to stay up-to-date with your child’s progress via
PowerSchool, read through our Jr Highlights for the happenings
within the school, bookmark the iasd.cc web site, and checkout the
IJHS Facebook and Twitter accounts for school news. Our success
is your success! Make today a great day!
Sincerely,
Mr. Mike Minnick
Happy Holidays!
November brought some great events to Indiana Junior
High. On November 7, a Veterans Day assembly was
held at the auditorium for students, faculty, staff, and
special guests. Mrs. Kristine Bussoletti and our
students did a phenomenal job with all of the activities
scheduled during this event. The Fall Drama, The
Beatles Slept Here, was performed on November 22-23.
Ms. Robyn Bailey-Orchard and our students should be
extremely proud of the job they did during this
performance. As 2014 draws to a close there are still
some exciting things planned for December.
Some dates to remember in December:



IJHS Choral Concert will be held December 3
at 7:30 p.m.
STUCO Christmas Dance will be held
December 12 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
An activity day will take place for students on
December 23, which is the last day before our
Holiday break. The activity day will be for
half of the school day and students will have
the opportunity to participate in several
different activities.
I would like to personally congratulate the October
Student of the Month Winners: Sophia McCabe,
Gracie Porter, Justin Raible, Hannah Scardina,
Laura Welch, and Talia Mastalski. These students
were treated to lunch from Steel City Samiches and
prizes. In addition to Student of the Month we have had
more than 70 students win prizes for Character Counts
referrals from teachers this school year. The
overwhelming majority of our students continue to do
the right thing. Great job!
As always, please feel free to contact me with any
questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a wonderful
holiday break.
Sincerely,
Mr. Gregg Wilson
Veterans Day Assembly Held November 7
Readings and readers for the program included the following:






Opening Comments (Mr. Kirsch, IASD Superintendent)
The Star-Spangled Banner (Mrs. Haney and Mrs. Gallo)
America’s Wars (Parker Koons and Jessica Morse)
Order of the Day, June 6, 194 4 (Mr. Mossgrove)
Congressional Medal of Honor (Mr. Freeberg)
Freedom is Not Free (Mrs. Lockard)
Principal Michael Minnick, Captain Dave Sabulsky, and
Assistant Principal Gregg Wilson.
Captain Dave Sabulsky was the guest speaker at the Veterans
Day Assembly at the Indiana Junior High School on
November 7. Captain Sabulsky currently serves as the
executive officer, supporting the continuity of operations and
personnel management. Additionally, he serves as an assistant
professor of Military Science for I.U.P. and St. Francis
University. Mrs. Kristine Bussoletti was the coordinator for
this assembly and created the “America’s Wars” and “God
Bless the USA” Photo Stories. The “Star-Spangled Banner”
and “America the New Colossus” were sung by Mrs. Werner
and the Jr. High Vocal Ensemble (Jenna Clayton,
Zack Gallagher,
John
Harper, Meagan
Hatfield,
Barb Klimkowski, Parker Koons, Jessica Morse,
Laurance Nakrosis, Drew
Nelson, Alexa Piraino,
Sequoiah Rhoades, Laura Simms, Nick Skalican,
Raeleigh Smith, Keith Uncapher, Jacob Valentin,
Persephone
Wensel,
and
Hannah
Wiltrout).
Mr. Gregg Wilson led everyone in the “Pledge of Allegiance”.
The trumpeters, (Lily Carone) and (Joshua Mbogo) played the
taps and echo taps. Dr. Rummel coordinated the taps.
American Legion Post 141 Commander Wes Wertz,
Captain Dave Sabulsky, Mr. Gregg Wilson, and
American Legion Post 141 Adjutant Chris Kough
Awards were presented to Captain Dave Sabulsky by
Mrs. Bussoletti and Maddie Todd (co-president of Stuco) and
to Mr. Gegg Wilsom by Mr. Minnick and Marie Marcoline
(co-president of STUCO). Mr. Wilson was in the PA National
Guard and stationed in Iraq for 18 months. He was honorably
discharged from the Army in July 2006.
Teachers, staff, and students’ family members’ pPictures who
served in the Armed Forces were displayed in the Main Lobby’s
showcase during the month of November.
Faculty Donate to Turkeython
Jr. Highlights is the newsletter for families of
students at Indiana Area Junior High School. It
is published monthly during the school year under
the authority of the Indiana Area School District,
501 East Pike, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701.
This past month, Indiana Junior High School faculty
contributed $720 to the 2014 Turkeython sponsored by the
United Way. IJHS participation is part of the IAEA districtwide effort to support the United Way of Indiana County.
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IASD Strings Things
County Chorus Congrats!
The IASD Orchestras and Ensembles extend an invitation
to all members of the IASD community to attend the next
concert on Thursday, December 4. The senior high
orchestra together with the wind ensemble will perform at
7:30 in the senior high auditorium; the concert will
conclude by 8:30, a perfect way to jumpstart your holiday
season!
Congratulations to the following IJHS students who
represented our school so well at the recent Indiana
County
Chorus
Festival:
Jasmine
Blank,
Zack Gallagher, John Harper, Meagan Hatfield,
Jessica Morse, Laurance Nakrosis, Drew Nelson,
Sequoiah Rhoades, Nick Skalican, Raeleigh Smith,
Persephone Wensel, Allie Coker, India Krug,
Courtnay Leydic, Connor McQuaide, Paige Mitsko,
Owen Morris, Sara Rahkonen, Kiara Smith, and
Abby Walker.
You haven’t yet missed your chance to become part of the
newest booster club at IASD. A slate of officers for iStrings
was recently installed, with Bev Mastalski President,
Richelle McCabe Vice President, Laura Herrington
Secretary, and Jane Potter Baumer Treasurer. You can help
support the orchestra program by becoming a member of
iStrings, open to ALL students, parents, and community
members, whether or not you/your child participates in the
orchestra program. Becoming an iStrings member is a great
way to show your support for orchestra players; members
have a shared mission to support and enable student
participation in many music enrichment programs. Your
input is needed! If you’d like to become a member or have
questions
about
the
boosters,
email
[email protected] or talk with an officer or
Ms. Laird directly. We’re looking forward to a great group
of people collaborating and sharing ideas for the benefit of
the orchestra students and the larger school and Indiana
communities.
Holiday Choral Concert
The annual Holiday Choral Concert will be presented on
Wednesday, December 3, at 7:30 p.m. All IJHS choral
groups will be performing. Report time for all singers is
7:00 p.m. Concert dress is a white shirt and black pants for
boys. Girls should wear a white top with either black pants
or a black skirt with black tights or leggings. Families and
friends, please plan to join us for a night that will surely
put you in the holiday spirit!
7A Gives Thanks for Many Things
Please remind your student orchestra member to connect to
his/her Google classroom to receive notices and reminders
about music assignments and performances. Connection
codes are available on Ms. Laird’s Strings Blogs on the
IASD website.
Finally, don’t forget to mark your calendar for more
upcoming music events: December 17 (all day) Hoss’s
Community Day fundraiser, January 30, at 7:00 p.m., for
the INDIANA ORCHESTRAS ROCK concert featuring all
string students, and February 10, for a special production
of Schubert’s G Major Mass with the Senior High
Orchestra and Senior High Choral Groups.
Giving Thanks – Team 7A took time to think about the
many things for which they are thankful, not only the
possession they have, but also the events and people who
have shaped their lives. Each student selected one
specific example to describe and wrote it on a feather.
All the feathers were attached to the turkey outside
room 226. Team 7A teachers include Mrs. Jennifer
Matko-Beer, Mr. Jeff Duffee, Mrs. Lorrie Gallo, Mr.
Dave McGarvey, and Mrs. Lori Shields.
Attending an Activity at IJHS?
If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with
Disabilities Act and need assistance at an event, please make
your needs known to the main office in advance. Reasonable
efforts will be made to accommodate you.
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Forensically Speaking
Guidance News…
The Indiana Junior High Forensics Team, coached by
Ms. Robyn Bailey-Orchard, ended its season in the
Five-County Junior High Forensics League for grades 7-9 at
North Star Middle School on November 13, winning 14
ribbons in six of the seven categories against competitors from
eleven schools.
Career Exploration - Grade 6: The school counselors are
conducting a career exploration lesson with all 6th grade
students in January during their Computer Concepts class.
Students will learn about John Holland’s career theory which
identifies six personality types. Students will be able to define
each personality type and identify careers within each type.
Students will have access to pacareerzone.org to gather basic
facts on careers of their choice. Developmental career
activities for eighth grade students took place in November
and there are plans for seventh grade activities in May. We
encourage parents to have discussions with their child about
these lessons. Please contact either Mrs. Erica Aiken or
Ms. Cori Anderson if you have any questions.
In the category Drama, seventh grader Gwen Lindberg won
third place.
Thinking on their feet in the Impromptu category, seventh
graders India Krug and Hanna Contrucci won second place
and fourth place respectively.
In the highly-demanding Informative Speaking category,
freshman Dominic Ciocca placed third and eighth grader
Talia Mastalski placed fourth.
Seventh grader Lily Boulard placed second, freshman
Giaco Gentile placed third, and seventh grader Nathan Birch
5th placed in the challenging category of Persuasive Speaking,
Tips for parents concerning homework and study habits:
Students at IJHS are encouraged every day by their classroom
teachers to write down their homework assignments in their
assignment book. It is important to check to see that
homework assignments are being written down and completed
each night. If students spend a little time each evening on each
class they can save themselves a great deal of stress before
assignments are due.
Seventh grader Paige Mitsko placed first in the Poetry
category with a perfect score of 4.
Eighth grader
Rachel Okey placed sixth.
All four competitors in the Prose category placed. Eighth
grader Serena Chang placed first with a perfect score of 4.
Seventh graders Tyler Pruitt placed third; Haley Hibsman
placed fifth; and Danny Lee placed sixth.
A special farewell to freshmen Nabeeha Affan,
Dominc Ciocca, Giaco Gentile, and Jacqueline Sprenger
who competed in their final tournament.
It may be helpful to designate a study time and place for your
student at home. Working with your student to pick a time and
place will help make them accountable and take ownership in
completing their homework. Study areas should be free from
distractions and be equipped with materials such as pens,
pencils, paper, scissors, or other supplies they may need.
Having those materials in one place can help students from
wasting time looking for things while they could be working.
Love Basket Collection Results
Indiana Junior High students, faculty and staff donated
620 non-perishable items and $209 to the Love Basket this
year. The Love Basket furnishes food to the less fortunate
members of Indiana County each year, and IJHS is proud to
help in this worthy cause. Leading the way by making
announcements at lunch and on morning TV, making and
hanging posters, and collecting items were STUCO members
Nathan
Birch,
Hanna
Contrucci,
Debra Flint,
Ashley Graham, Marie Marcoline, Maddie Todd, and
Anna Romance.
Parent Reminder
Please remember to keep your child’s contact
information up-to-date with the school, and have
your child memorize a home phone or
cell phone number.
Thank you!
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IJHS Musical: Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka
Accelerated Reader (Motivational Program)
All 7th & 8th graders are invited to audition for the IJHS musical
Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, on Wednesday, December 17, (vocal)
AND Thursday, December 18, (acting). The performances are
Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 p.m.
There are both speaking roles (10M/8W) and an ensemble chorus
(kids, cooks, squirrels, and Oompa-Loomps) available. Dance
experience is a plus, but NOT a requirement!
Students are very actively engaged in the Accelerated
Reader computer based program. Our glass enclosed
bulletin board on the 2nd floor is updated monthly, and
students look forward to checking out the newest members
of point clubs. As of November 24, Nathan Birch is now a
member of the “700-Point Club,” Gwen Lindberg is a
member of the “500-Point Club”, Ken Lyman is in the
“400-Point Club,” and Sara Rahkonen is a member of the
“200-Point Club,” six students are members of the
“100-Point Club,” and twenty students are now members of
the 50+ Point club.
Here’s what to do:
a. Pick up the Audition Information and Audition Form
outside room 112, from Mrs. Werner (chorus room), or
from Ms. B (room 302). Audition music will also be
available.
b. Sign up for a time between 2:45 and 5 p.m. for each
audition on the Call Board outside room 112.
c. Carefully read the Audition Information, ESPECIALLY
the Backstage Rules.
d. Complete all the information required on the Audition
Form, INCLUDING THE SIGNATURE OF A
PARENT OR GUARDIAN.
e. Bring the form with you to the vocal audition on
December 17.
One hundred seventy-eight seventh grade students have now
taken and passed tests using the program to assess their
ability to comprehend the reading material they have chosen.
All grades are welcome to apply to work on the Tech crew. See
Dr. Rummel for information if you’re interested in the pit ensemble.
The directors are Ms. Bailey-Orchard (show), Mrs. Kline
(choreography), Dr. Rummel (pit ensemble), and Mrs. Werner
(vocal).
Top readers so far include:
Student
Points
Nathan Birch ................................. 779
Gwen Lindberg ............................. 505
Ken Lyman.................................... 408
Sara Rahkonen ............................. 203
Joshua Killam ............................... 165
Jason Kovolchick .......................... 143
Mohannad Al Maita ..................... 112
Hannah Wick ................................ 112
Danny Lee ..................................... 100
Alexis Smathers ............................ 100
November AR Readers
November proved to be a stormy month of reading! Here are
the TOP 10 6th grade Accelerated Readers as of
November 25:
STUCO News
Holiday Activity Day: Student Council is featuring an activity day
on the day before Christmas break. Students will have the choice for
certain activities to do in the afternoon of that day. This year, they
are ice-skating, bowling, movies, a volleyball tournament,
swimming, and board games. In past years, the students have always
enjoyed this day, and everyone has plenty of fun.
Christmas Dance: Student Council will have its annual Christmas
dance this year on December 12. It is a semi-formal dance, open to
students of all grades. The cafeteria (the dance location) will be
decorated with this year’s theme, and refreshments will be available.
5
10:
9:
8:
7:
6:
5:
4:
3:
2:
Sara Kane
Kaylee Becker-George
Gregory Kenning
Alyssa Lyman
Silas Schiera
Ethan Frederick
Alyssa Colen
Audra Moore
Sandy Milby
And the winner is…ETHAN TOMB, with 395 points!!
ETHAN is the guy to beat!
From the Attendance Office
Student absence and tardiness continue to be a growing national and local concern. Regular attendance is necessary for all
students to benefit from our instructional program. It also helps to instill a much-needed sense of responsibility that will carry on
into adult life. It is more important than ever for us to have strong support from home in order for students to experience success
in school.
When a student is absent, it is helpful if the parent notifies the attendance office by telephone (724-463-8568) on the morning of
the absence. This call does not take the place of the required written excuse parents must provide upon the student’s
return to school. If the student does not submit this excuse to the homeroom teacher within three (3) days, the absence will be
unexcused. Late excuses are not acceptable. Medical excuses are helpful anytime a student requires medical attention for illness
resulting in absence. It is the parents’ responsibility to provide a clear and complete excuse when the child is absent. Using
the words emergency or personal reasons does not provide enough information for the time to be excused. E-mail excuses are not
accepted.
The school district auto-dialer program will telephone each morning that a student is absent
unless we have prior knowledge of an absence. The program makes one call per family rather
than a call for each child in the family who may be absent. Please be sure that the telephone
number you give to the guidance department as your primary number is the one you want used
by the auto-dialer.
The attendance office must be notified in writing of any extended and/or preplanned absence two (2) weeks in advance. Trips
are only excused when an educational component is clearly explained in the written request for the absence. Religious
holidays are excused when parents inform the school in writing and the pre-approval process is completed. Please note that the
pre-approval process is not complete until the proper form with all signatures is returned to the attendance office.
Requests for early dismissal for medical appointments must be presented in writing to the attendance office at 7:20 a.m. the day
of the appointment and must include the time and reason for the dismissal; just the word “appointment” is not enough to excuse
the time missed. Students are expected to return to school after the appointment with a card signed by the physician or dentist.
It is expected that these appointments will be kept to a minimum.
What is the Difference Between the Flu and a Cold?
Both the flu and the cold are viral infections and can cause symptoms such as coughing and sore throat. A cold is a
minor viral infection of the nose and throat. The flu, however, is usually more severe, with a higher fever and the
addition of aches and pains.
Remember, hand washing is the most important way to prevent the spread of all infections.
If your child has been sick, I ask that you not send him/her to school unless they have been fever free for at least
24 hours. If your child is vomiting or has a persistent cough they will be more comfortable at home.
Symptoms
Cold
Flu
Fever
Rare
Headache
Aches and Pains
Tiredness and Weakness
Extreme exhaustion
Stuffy nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Chest discomfort, Cough
Rare
Slight
Quite mild
Never
Common
Usual
Common
Mild to moderate, hacking
cough
Characteristic, High (over 101º F)
and lasting 3-4 days
Prominent
Usual and often severe
Can last up to 2-3 weeks
Early and prominent
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Common, can become severe
6
December 2014
Sun
Mon
1
7
Tue
2
8
9
Wed
Thu
Fri
3
4
Choral Concert
iStrings
Concert (SH)
11
12
13
Group Photo
Day
10
5
Sat
6
Christmas
Dance
14
15
16
17
18
Musical
Auditions
21
22
23
24
STUCO
Holiday
Activity Day
28
29
30
No School
19
20
26
27
Musical
Auditions
25
Holiday
Break Begins
Merry
Christmas!
No School
31
No School
No School
January 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
4
5
Sat
6
7
2
Happy New
Year!
No School
School Closed
8
9
3
13
14
15
16
17
21
22
23
24
28
29
30
10
Return to
School
11
12
18
19
20
Act 80 Day
End of 2nd
No Classes for
Quarter
Students
26
27
25
31
Indiana
Orchestras
Rock
7