AJH Principal

April 17, 2012

Finish Line!

The 2011-2012 school year is nearing the end, the teachers and students have worked very hard. With one set of STAAR tests out of the way we are preparing to take another set next week. Despite everyone being a little anxious about the new tests, I believe we have prepared the students to be stars on the STAAR. The teachers have planned, prepared, and taught brilliantly in their quest for student success. We expect our students to take the state tests with a positive mindset and to utilize the knowledge their teachers have given them. Good luck students!

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August 2, 2011

by AJH Principal

Time to Start Another Year of Learning

It seems like only last week the eighth grade class of 2011 graduated from the halls of Arp Junior High. Where did the summer go? TEA's state ratings for 2011 have been released. Even though our TAKS scores were higher in most of the tested subjects compared to 2010 our state rating dropped from Exemplary to Acceptable. A new set of scoring criterion used by the state for 2011 is the reason for the change in our campus status.

For the fifth year in a row our campus TAKS scores have continued to improve. I feel very blessed to be part of a campus that is growing in a positive direction. Even though we have lost several key teachers over the past few years to retirement or position changes we have maintained steady improvement in student productivity. For the upcoming school year, we will be adding three new teachers to our faculty who will be encouraged to bring new ideas and teaching styles to our campus. The bar has been raised and we will work hard to continue the growth that we have become accustomed to.

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December 31, 2010

by AJH Principal

Fall Semester Comes to a Close!

The first semester of the 2010-2011 school year is coming to a close. AJH once again hosted the UIL academic contest in December with junior high schools from Arp, Sabine, West Rusk, and Winona competing in the competition. Sabine was crowned the district champion with Arp, West Rusk, and Winona placing second through fourth respectively. With the UIL competition behind us we are now gearing up for the stress-packed push towards the TAKS exams that begin during the first week of March. The teachers are prepared for that push and with each AJH student receiving their own laptop computer via a grant the preparation for success on the TAKS just got a little easier. The teachers and I have decided to modify the bell schedule at the beginning of the second semester to allow for a TAKS tutorial period at the end of each day. This extra 30 minutes at the end of the day will allow teachers to accomplish two objectives: Give the students who are struggling with the required essential knowledge skills tested on the TAKS extra attention and just as important it will also address the students who are very close to meeting commended performance on the tests. To earn an Exemplary Rating 25% of the students will have to meet commended performance criteria on all of the TAKS tested subjects. Therefore, those students who have shown success in the past will also be encouraged to earn even higher scores to insure AJH another Exemplary Rating in 2011.

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August 31, 2010

by AJH Principal

The 2010-2011 School Year is Here!

We are off to a great start with 215 students, up from a 13-year low of 204 students from last year. We are still beaming with pride from our recent TEA EXEMPLARY rating that was announced at the end of July. The upcoming year will be full of adventure and learning for our students. Many activities have been planned including Rites of Passage days designed to build character and teamwork, as well as teach about cultural differences, American customs, and civic responsibilty through community service projects. Our students are encouraged to read, read, read through out the day to have a better understanding of being a life-long learner via reading. Along with the emphasis placed on reading grade level teachers work together planning lessons that can be taught across curricular lines. Students are most successful with new information when they can put it to good use outside the classroom walls. Therefore, if the ELA and science teachers can incorporate math concepts into their lessons the students have a better chance of strengthening their math skills.

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August 4, 2010

by AJH Principal

AJH - EXEMPLARY CAMPUS

Arp Junior High has achieved TEA's highest rating; Exemplary, for the 2009-2010 school year. We are all on cloud nine around here! After reaching Recognized Status in 2008 we knew the potential was there for our faculty and students to achieve an Exemplary grade. The faculty and staff at AJH have built a cohesive unit that is working for the good of all students. The collaboration between all parties from teachers to custodial and cafeteria staff is at an all time high and the test results are proof of that fact. Congratulations to AJH students, teachers, and staff!

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April 23, 2010

by AJH Principal

8th Grade TAKS results

We recieved our 8th grade TAKS results for math and reading from the March administration. Ninety-six percent of the students passed math and ninety-four percent passed the reading on their first attempt. We are very encouraged with our campus outlook now that our 8th grade students and teachers have given us a great start. A great deal of preparation has occured and will continue through next Monday as we get closer to the 6th-7th grade math and reading tests, as well as the 8th grade science and social studies exams. The teachers have prepared "blitzes" to have a last ditch effort to cover all the possible types of questions that may be on the state's tests.

With the great jump start the 8th grade have given us, we are looking forward to a big finish with the upcoming tests next week. Parents are encouraged to get their children in bed at a decent time on the nights before a TAKS test and to stress to their kids the importance of taking their time on the tests. On Tuesday, April 27th, the 6th and 7th grade will take their math TAKS test. On April 28th, the reading test, and the 8th grade will take their science exam on Thursday, April 29th and social studies on April 30th.

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October 23, 2009

by AJH Principal

Can Food Drive

Wow! Arp Junior High students and staff contributed over 1600 can food/non-perishable food items to the food drive competition between Arp HS and Troup HS. Arp ISD's total food contribution was over 8600 items, easily outdistancing Troup ISD's total. The drive was for Philadelphia Blessing, a non-profit organization in Whitehouse, that supports local families in the Arp, Troup, Whitehouse area.

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October 8, 2009

by AJH Principal

AJH Principal's blog

We’re off to a new school year that is expected to be a wonderful adventure! Arp Junior High missed reaching the state’s RECOGNIZED status for the second year in a row by 6/100 of a point. AJH’s faculty and staff has many new faces who are energized and ready with great ideas and strategies to bring the campus back to an award winner.

Despite replacing 8 teachers I am more determined than ever to help make this campus one of the best middle school campuses in the state. The new teachers coming in this year have a vast experience range, but all are excited about being members of a campus faculty that has lofty goals for itself and their students.

Joining the staff at AJH is Lindsay Marshall (7th grade math) who has 39 years experience in education and at one time was the principal at AJH. Susan Weems (6th grade math) is in her 18th year of education and has already proven to be a valuable member of our faculty. Also in the math department is first year teacher, Hillary Bryand (8th grade math). Her energy and love of the subject is proving to be an asset in the classroom.

Along with Mr. Marshall the seventh grade staff has three more new teachers.Morgan Broyles (ELA/reading) is a new teacher from UT-Tyler; Shawn Coughlin (science) is a SFA graduate coming to us from the environmental science field. Kimmie Everett is an Arp HS and Louisiana Tech graduate and she will be teaching history as well as coaching high school girl’s athletics.

Rounding out new faculty members are Kim Hardy (special education), Chance James (music/band) and Mary Lou Holland (Art). Mrs. Holland is transferred from the secretary’s office to the classroom. She is currently enrolled in college in Tyler pursuing her teacher’s certification in Art. Tonya Irwin is now our campus librarian replacing Terrie Sumrall who has moved into a secretarial role on the campus.

Our goals are high and we are expecting to see gains in all areas of the campus. I invite parents to contact me if they have any questions and visit the campus when ever possible.

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