th

th
2
I hope you had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to your junior high experience. Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School has a wide variety of ways for you to get involved. There are sports, music activities, and other clubs for you to enjoy.
The 7 th grade team teachers focus on building the academic and study skills of each student. To this end, they have compiled information, advice on reaching your full potential, helpful tips, and answers to a lot of your questions. Parents and students should read this manual and keep it handy as the year progresses. After school begins, the students will receive handbooks which explain rules and procedures in greater detail.
Our dedicated faculty and staff provide many opportunities for students to achieve success---the rest is up to you. Have a great year!
The mission of the Hollidaysburg Area School District is to empower all students to achieve their best . . . . . every day.

Assignment Sheet
Attendance Policy
Cafeteria
Dress Code
Gym Locks and Uniforms
Locks
Morning Drop-off and Pick-up
Topics
Page
Nurse
Principal’s Message
ProgressBook™ Instructions
Purpose of Teaming
Questions Asked by Students
Resources for Parents
Sample Schedule
School Supplies
Staff Phone Numbers
Student Assistance Program
Teacher Phone Numbers
Tips for Parents
Tips for Students
Website Address: www.tigerwires.com
The school district’s website has lots of information
about student activities, teacher web pages, and upcoming events.
Check it often to keep up with what’s new and what’s available in the H.A.S.D.
6
8
11
6
7
4
5
2
12
5
8
10
9
5
5
6
13
5
5
5
3

4
Teaming is a way of grouping students that creates a small school atmosphere within a large school. Instead of a large group of seventh grade students, there are three teams each with an equal number of students.
Seventh grade students come to the junior high from four elementary schools, other districts, and private schools. They are equally distributed into three teams of students. Each team has basic, college-bound, and pre-honors levels, and no team is better or smarter!
There are many advantages to teaming in a large school--physically, socially, and academically. Physically, students are kept in one area most of the time. They have the same core teachers with classes in one area of the building. This helps keep them from
“getting lost” or being mixed with older students. Socially, they are part of a group instead of just a number in a large school. Each team creates a team name and logo and functions as a group in various activities throughout the year. Academically, teachers can monitor progress as a team of teachers and provide interdisciplinary lessons. It is easier for parents to meet with teachers since the team teachers have common planning time.
Teaming gives students a sense of belonging
and helps ease their adjustment
into secondary education.

Attendance Policy
5
When a student returns from an absence, he should first check in with his homeroom teacher. Then, he should take his written excuse to the LGI Room where excuses and early dismissals are accepted. Also, it is his responsibility to check on any missing assignments.
Extended vacations must be approved by the principal, and the necessary forms are in the main office. Assignments given prior to an extended vacation are due upon return. For an extended absence due to illness, a parent or guardian should call the guidance office to make arrangements. The Student Handbook states that for each day absent, a student has that number of days absent plus one to turn in all make-up work.
Cafeteria
The computer system that is used in the elementary schools to handle cafeteria money and track purchases is used at the junior high as well. Students can put money in their cafeteria account before school begins on the first day of the week or when going through the serving line at lunch; they do not need to turn in money to their homeroom teachers. Students from households that meet income guidelines are eligible and should apply for free or reduced price lunches.
Dress Code
Clothing articles will be considered unacceptable or disruptive if they are too sheer, too short, too tight, or too revealing. In addition, the following items are not to be worn in school: shirts with printed obscenities, profanity, sex, messages with double meanings; shirts with words or pictures advertising drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, or violence; hats or bandannas; and outdoor apparel.
Gym Uniforms and Gym Locks
Gym uniforms, which consist of a T-shirt and shorts, can be purchased from The Locker
Room and ProActive Sports. Also, please buy a combination lock for your child’s gym locker.
Gym classes are held four days per week.
Locks
Locks for student lockers are provided by the junior high; only school locks are permitted on school lockers. Students will keep these locks through the ninth grade, and they’ll learn to use them during the 7 th grade student orientation time with their teachers. (If they forget their combination, they can get it from their homeroom teacher.)
Nurse
Materials will be sent from the administration office to parents regarding health information and emergency cards. If you have any questions about health concerns, do not hesitate to contact our school nurse, Ext. 6531.
Student Assistance Program
The S.A.P. is a voluntary program in the junior and senior high school and conducted by a team of people who have been trained through a state endorsed program of drug, alcohol, and suicide prevention. This team works in cooperation with the Altoona Hospital Mental Health
Center and Blair County Drug and Alcohol Services. S.A.P. is an identification, an intervention, a referral, and support program. Parents or students wishing more information on the S.A.P. program should call the nurse or guidance office.

6
Morning Drop-off and Pick-up
In the morning, follow the traffic past the front of the Hollidaysburg Y and drive along the curbing around the front side of the school. Please do not cut through the parking lot. Also, do not park in the apron directly in front of the school; this area is for buses only and is monitored for safety by the Hollidaysburg Police Department.
Sample Schedule
During student orientation and during the homeroom period on the first day of school, your child will review his schedule with his homeroom teacher. The schedule won’t look exactly are scheduled.
like the one below; it is intended to give an example of how classes
Period
1
Day 1
Chorus
Day 2
Study Hall
Day 3
Study Hall
Day 4
Chorus
Day 5
Chorus
English English English English English 2
3
4
5
Math
Science
L
Math
Science
U
Math
Science
N
Math
Science
C
Math
Science
H
6
7
8
9
History
Reading
Art
Team Activity
History
Reading
Art
Health
& PE
History
Reading
Art
Health
& PE
History
Reading
Art
Health
& PE
History
Reading
Art
Health
& PE
School Supplies
School supply lists for each of the three teams are printed on the back of the 7 th grade orientation flyer. Teachers will remind the students what they’ll need for each class. Some school supplies are also available in the student store located behind the cafeteria.

7
8.
9.
6.
7.
4.
5.
3.
ProgressBook™ Instructions for Parents
ProgressBook is a classroom management tool that integrates grades, attendance, and communication into one system. On the Tigerwires
(www.tigerwires.com) website, click on Student/Parent Gradebook from Home. If you don’t already have a login name and password, you’ll receive one soon after the beginning of the school year.
After you have logged in to the Parent Access Web Site for the first time, you should enter your email address. Then, if you lose your login information, you can
2. request that it be sent to you.
1. Use the login or user name and password the school provides to log in to the Parent
Access Web Site. Once you have logged in with that information, you may change your login name and password, if you desire.
Links display in columns under Student, Classroom, School, and Account headings that are also represented on the tabs located across the top of the screen.
The Student tab includes the information parents will view most frequently. Parents and students can view grades for classes, individual assignments, report card grades, attendance records, and class schedule.
The Averages section of the Student tab displays a student’s grades by class for each grading period. You can click on the class name link to navigate to the Progress Details screen and view more information for that class.
The Progress Details section of the Student tab displays assignments accompanied by weight, mark, and comments, if any, for the selected class and grading period. You can view the assignments in order by date, by assignment type, or by assessment type. For easier viewing, click on “view by assignment type” to see the assessments divided into groups.
If the teacher marked an assignment as missing, the marks appear on the Parent Access
Web Site. The assignment counts as zero (0) in the student’s class average, if it is marked as missing.
On the Classroom tab, student and parents can check for homework assignments and view homework and activities for the month at a glance.
If the teacher posted homework assignments, they display on the Homework section of the Classroom tab.
You can use one login name and password to access multiple student accounts in a school district by linking them.
10. You may reset your student’s password to the Parent Access Web Site in case the student forgot it or shared it with other students.

 Staff Phone Numbers
Main Office – 695-4426
Mr. Edward Barton
Dr. Maureen Letcher
Mr. Dale McCall
Principal
Assistant Principal
Dean of Students
Miss Allison Herbaugh 7 th
Mrs. Joy Peterman
Grade Guidance Counselor
Librarian/Media Specialist
Mrs. Barbara Huff School Nurse
Ext. 6510
Ext. 6515
Ext. 6176
Ext. 6522
Ext. 6165
Ext. 6531
Ext. 6540 Mrs. Betsy Knab Food Service Manager
 Teacher Phone Numbers and Email
Mrs. Mary Kay Barton
Ms. Marcia Erickson
Mrs. Kathy Goetz
Mr. Kevin Long
Mrs. Melanie Nedrich
Jr. High Staff
Team One
Mathematics
Social Studies
Ext. 8019
Ext. 8117
Learning Support Ext. 8143
Envir.Sci./Scientific Inq. Ext. 8226
Reading
English
Ext. 8082
Ext. mary_barton@tigerwires.com marcia_erickson@tigerwires.com kathy_goetz@tigerwires.com kevin_long@tigerwires.com melanie_nedrich@tigerwires.com
Ms. Jennifer Barry
Mrs. Marion Borr
Mrs. Christina Bracken
Learning Support
English
Reading
Team Two
Ext. 8131
Ext. 8445
Ext. 8425
8 jennifer_barry@tigerwires.com marion_borr@tigerwires.com christina_bracken@tigerwires.com allison_tomkowski@tigerwires.com robert_valeria@tigerwires.com john_yogus@tigerwires.com
Ms. Allison Tomkowski
Mr. Robert Valeria
Mr. John Yogus
Social Studies
Mathematics
Ext. 8164
Ext. 8198
Envir.Sci./Scientific Inq Ext. 8245
Mr. Mike Bianco
Jr. High Staff
Ms. Linda Lang
Mrs. Deb Martin
Social Studies
Mathematics
English
Reading
Team Three
Ext. 8033
Ext.
Ext. 8218
Ext. 8205
Mrs. Jean Sinal Envir.Sci./Scientific Inq Ext. 8351
Elective Teachers
Mrs. Laura Bryson
Mrs. Christine Burkey
Mrs. Stephanie Everett
Mrs. Linda Koenig
Art
Contemp. Living Skills
Music/Orchestra
Phys. Ed. - Girls
Mr. Kris Laird
Mrs. Jennifer Pappal
Music/Band
Music/Orchestra
Mr. Jon Szynal Phys. Ed. – Boys
Mrs. Barb Wertz- Leiden Art
Ext. 8418
Ext. 8058
Ext. 8119
Ext. 8211
Ext. 6118
Ext. 8295
Ext. 8384
Ext. 8409 mike_bianco@tigerwires.com linda_lang@tigerwires.com debbie_martin@tigerwires.com jean_sinal@tigerwires.com laura_bryson@tigerwires.com christine_burkey@tigerwires.com stephanie_everett@tigerwires.com linda_koenig@tigerwires.com kris_laird@tigerwires.com jennifer_pappal@tigerwires.com jon_szynal@tigerwires.com barb_wertz-leiden@tigerwires.com

Tips for Students
9
2.
3.
4.
1.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Choose a place to study that works best for you---away from the television.
Some students need a quiet place to work, but others work best with a little background noise.
Keep your school supplies in your study area. You’ll need things like paper, pencils, tape, a stapler, a calculator, and a dictionary.
Use a big monthly calendar with lots of room for writing. At the beginning or the end of each week, write down any big assignments, tests, or practice times.
Get some self-stick notes! They’re great for big and small reminders. Some students mark their books that they need to take home at the end of the day; others use them while reading long chapters in textbooks.
Check your weekly assignment sheet for assignments and work ahead, if possible.
When you finish with homework, put everything in your backpack so that you’re ready for the next day. Remember – it sounds silly to tell a teacher that you
“forgot” a book or an assignment at home. The rule for everyone is the same:
Either you’re prepared for class or you’re not!
Empty your folders of any papers that you don’t need to keep anymore.
Check monthly calendars, ProgressBook, and any other method that the teacher provides to keep students and parents informed.
Manage time by not waiting until the last minute to do long-term assignments.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Write all assignments on your weekly assignment sheet.
Look at your assignment sheet towards the end of the day so that you know what to take home.
Keep your papers and notebooks together by subject.
Raise your hand and wait to be called on by the teacher.
Talk to teachers about make-up work due to absences.
Practice good manners and show respect for authority (all faculty and staff members), for fellow classmates, and for the school.

10
Tips for Parents
One of the biggest changes for your child from elementary school to the junior high is taking on more responsibility. Turning in work, keeping track of long-term assignments, organizing belongings, and being accountable for behavior are key factors in a successful academic career as well as being necessary for jobs, professions, and college.
Take advantage of a.
b.
www.tigerwires.com
ProgressBook
Monthly school newsletter and calendar
Student’s weekly assignment sheet c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
all sources of home and school communication:
Marking period interim reports
End of marking period report cards
“Meet the Teacher Night”, September 7
Parent/teacher conferences, November 23
Email th rd
 Check your child’s weekly assignment sheet every night.
 Check ProgressBook. Missing assignments (due to absences or late work) are recorded by ProgressBook as a zero until they’re received by the teachers within the given due date.
 A teacher will conduct class, provide reviews, and assign homework in order to teach a lesson about a particular subject or topic. Your child must prepare for the test or assessment of this lesson with some study time at home.
 If you or your child’s teachers feel that your child could be doing better in school, you can work together with the Guidance Office to help develop a plan for success. Being motivated for school and underachievement are serious issues that require the combined efforts of school and home.
 Encourage daily reading and writing.

11
Resources for Parents
“Adolescence is marked by rapid and uneven physical growth; mood swings and rebelliousness; the importance of a peer group and friends; and learning to think about ideals.”
Moving Right Along: Ways Parents Can Help Children Succeed in the Middle
Grades, The Parent Institute, P.O. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA 22039-7474,
Copyright 2002
Does this sound like anyone you know? If it does, the information below should help you to navigate the world of the junior high student.
 Middle School – Moving on Up! PBS Kids Go! http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/school/middleschool/index.html
 An Education and Child Development Site for Parents http://www.education.com/
 Minnesota’s “Say Yes to No” Campaign http://www.sayyestono.org/
 Dr. Sylvia Rimm’s Family Achievement Clinic http://www.sylviarimm.com
 Clarke, Jean Illsley, et al.
 Glasser, William. For
How Much is Enough?
New York: Marlow & Company, 2004.
Parents and Teenagers: Dissolving the Barrier Between You and
Your Teen.
New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002.
 Goldberg, Donna. The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in
School and Beyond , N.Y., N.Y.: Fireside, 2005.
 Gurian, Michael, et al.
2001
Boys and Girls Learn Differently!
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass,
 Rimm, Sylvia. Why Bright Kids Get Poor Grades: And What You Can Do About It.
York: Crown Publishing Group, 1995.
New
 Walsh, David . No: Why Kids---of All Ages---Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say
It.
New York: Free Press, 2007.
 Walsh, David. Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for
You and Your Teen.
New York: Free Press, 2004.

12
Questions Asked by Students
What should I do if I forget my locker combination?
You can get it from your homeroom teacher.
What do we do after we eat lunch?
Students stay in their seats until they are told to put their tray and trash where they belong.
Are we allowed to chew gum in school?
No.
Where is the lost and found department?
In the Dean of Students office by the cafeteria
When may I go to the nurse’s office?
If you don’t feel well or are injured, your teacher will give you a pass.
What should I do if I have to leave school for a doctor’s appointment during the day?
Bring an excuse to school in the morning and take it to the LGI Room during homeroom.
What should I do if I lose my schedule?
Tell your teacher or go to the guidance office, and they will give you a new one.
What should I do if someone bullies me?
Ask your teacher, guidance counselor, or other adult to help you find the best solution.
When may I use the restroom?
At lunch, between classes, or by using your hall pass
Do we enter the building if we arrive early?
If the weather is nice, students may stay outside. If it is cold or raining, they may go to the cafeteria or wait in the lobby.
What are “specials” or electives?
These classes include contemporary living skills, art, band, health, chorus, and gym.
How should I act when I’m trying to make new friends?
Treat others the way that you want to be treated.

Weekday
Date
Day #
Weekly Assignment Sheet ________to________ Name __________
13
 List all homework assignments for each class. If none, write in “no homework” for that class.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
ENGLISH S
Friday
MATH
READING
SCIENCE
SOCIAL
STUDIES
ELECTIVES
A
M
P
L
E
Signature


Notes
14