Aledo Junior High
ISAT Reward
On Friday, March 20th, AJHS invited ComedySportz Club, Guys in Ties, to entertain faculty and students for doing a great job on the ISATs. Students were given popcorn and a drink as they entered the gym and the assembly was from 1:30 to 3:00 PM. Since the Guys in Ties finished early, Mr. Boucher, Superintendent, was available for some magic. JON RICKE MAKING SOUND EFFECTS WITH COMEDY SPORTS. |
 KATHRYN AS THE “THREE HEADS”. |
 RICK, JOHN & JEFF “SINGING” THE SOUNDS S, Z & T. |
 TAELOR STROPES QUICKLY WRITING EACH NEW IDEA. |
 MR. BOUCHER AND JORDAN SHEESE DOING “MILK MAGIC”. |
 MR. BOUCHER “TYING” THE STRING FOR LAUREN BARTON. |
Wrestling
 |
Science Class Lab-Eye Dissection
 |
 |
 |
Gettysburg Address
 |
 |
 |
Spelling Bee
 |
 |
Science Olympiad
 |
FOOD DRIVE
 Kamryn Nylin, Hannah Kellogg, Michaela Baker, Cayley Staker, Kathryn Ricke, Matthew Weeks, Morgan Weeks, Bailey Swanson, Mason Weeks, Tanner Shull, Zeke Snyder, Mrs. Berglund, Jon Ricke, Kaylen Ferguson, Rev. Dietmeier, Jamie Breeden and Logan Snyder. |
Student Council delivered all AJH items to the food pantry on Friday, January 29th. Total junior high items donated from all teams were 1,730 items. Money was also received throughout the drive and $150 was given to Rev. Dietmeier, chairman of the food pantry. Volunteers at the pantry were excited and very appreciative of all junior high efforts in their generous donations. |
 Students from Mr. Runbom’s study hall and staff who participated in loading our trucks for the food pantry: Matthew Chausse, Mrs. Breeden, Hanna Kirkhove, Zach Aldinger, Bernie Ausmus, Brody Lloyd, Ryan Garrett, Zane Sackville, Gage DeShane, and Mr. Nelson. |
Spelling BEE
 |
 |
 |
Congratulations to Baylee Evans for winning the Aledo CUSD #201 Spelling Bee on Wednesday, Jan. 28 2009. Baylee is a 6th grader at Aledo Jr. High School. Her Championship word was “apostrophe”. Jordan Sheese (8th) finished in second while Rachel Hawk (8th) came in third. Awards of $100, $75, and $50 U.S. Savings Bonds are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers respectively. Finishing out the top six spellers were Austin Deborn (6th), Quintin Russell (8th) and Lucas Hamann (7th). The top six spellers qualify for the Mercer County Spelling Bee to be held on Thursday, February 19, 2009, 6:30 at Aledo Jr. High School in the music room. Baylee and Jordan automatically qualify for the Argus/Dispatch Championship Bee to be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 6:30 at Augustana College Centennial Hall. Other contestants competing admirably in the spelling bee were Jacki Olson (6th), Dalton Lower (8th), Cheyene Terry (5th), Ashton Klingaman (5th), Brian Wagner (8th), Ty Taylor (5th), Austin Lindell (5th), Adam Lloyd (7th), Brad Garrett (5th), Kate Baugher (7th), Jenna Speer (5th), Drake Stirn (6th), Sydney Magedanz (8th), and Austin Jackson (6th).
Food Drive
 |
The Aledo Junior and Senior High Schools are combining efforts for a two-school food drive. Both Student Council groups as well as high school’s FFA and Key Club are joining efforts to take part in the what they hope will be the biggest food drive ever for Mercer County. They really want to help the Mercer County Food Pantry restock their shelves after the holidays. The students ask for community help and support during the drive – January 20-30th.
Students will be kicking-off their campaign with a two-school assembly at AHS gym on January 20th at 8:00 AM. Johannes Bus Service is donating buses in order for the junior high students to attend the festivities.
Participants in the assembly include: Mr. Ruggles’ pep band, student council groups from both schools performing skits, and Rev. Dietmeier speaking on behalf of the Mercer County Food Pantry.
Faculty and students from both schools have been teamed together: seniors with all staff from both buildings, juniors with 6th graders, sophomores with 7th graders and freshmen with 8th graders. Student council members will be counting food items daily and each item brought in will count as one point. At the end of the drive the team with the most points will receive a meal provided by the FFA, Mercer Market in Aledo and Hy-Vee, Inc. in Milan.
Representatives from each building will be announcing their own incentives for students to bring in different food items. Some incentives include: high school’s top four students will receive a special month parking pass or two weeks free lunch, 15 cans brought in will receive a free Gatorade and 25 cans a free lunch, and students will receive double points on color days; junior high is offering free dance passes, free t-shirts, early to lunch options, free Gatorade and McDonald’s cards. Prizes may be awarded all week and team totals will be posted daily on the Aledo school website.
Pyramids
 |
 |
 |
The following are pictures from Mr. Koresko’s second hour class. Students presented their pyramids during classes on Thursday and will be taking them home after the holiday break.
Science Lab
Mrs. Reick’s 7th Grade classes conducted an experiment to observe the effects of muscle fatigue. Students lifted their English textbook approximately 120 times in a minute for five separate intervals.
Visiting Canine at Aledo Junior High
For the past two weeks the Aledo Junior High Sixth Grade has been studying heredity in their science class under the direction of their teacher, Mrs. Shelly Reusch. To finalize their study, they had a week-long unit focusing on dogs. More extensive focus was on dogs’ breeds, traits, and ownership.
Pictured is Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Marston’s Golden Retriever, Eliza. She is four and a half years old and they all live in rural Aledo. Eliza is a member of the Muscatine Canine Activity Center at the Muscatine Humane Society in Muscatine, Iowa. Mrs. Marston and Eliza train on Wednesdays at the center in their advanced class under the instruction of Ms. Sharon Kaptiena.
Eliza is an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC). CGC is a Certification program to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. Dogs who pass the Ten-Step CGC Test receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.
This was Eliza’s third year visiting Mrs. Reusch’s 6th grade science class.
Pictured are a few students from AJH: Paige Whitehall, Chase Salmon, John Howell, Mrs. Reusch, Brittany Carter, Josh Hicks, Tristen Hamilton and Hannah Putnam; kneeling is Mrs. Marston with Eliza.
Mrs. Marston, Eliza and Mrs. Reusch. Eliza is wearing her AKC Canine Club scarf which was awarded to her upon receiving her certificate.
ALEDO CUSD #201 GEOGRAPHY CHALLENGE
21 students participated in the 2008 Geography Challenge at Aledo Junior High School on October 30, 2008. Moderator, Mr. Kyle Koresko, AJH Social Studies teacher, started off the competition while Mr. Dennis Runbom, AJH Social Studies teacher, along with Mr. Bill Fleuette, Apollo Elementary Principal, judged the Geography Challenge.
 |
Awards for the Challenge were Savings Bonds: 1st place $100; 2nd $75 and 3rd $50. Students in grades five through eighth who were competing: Zane Sackville, Mackenzie Clawson, Clint McDaniel, Kohlman Russell, Tanner Shull, Michele Struble, Collin Wicks, Gage Hank, Bayley Sackville, Jenna Ortberg, Alyssa House, Adam Lloyd, Trenton Higgins, Alec Fiser, Hannah Putnam, Brian Wagner, Ashton Klingaman, Ally Engle, Tomas Malone, Tyus Welter, Jake Ewing (Cody Blaser, absent due to illness).
TOP SIX WINNERS: MACKENZIE CLAWSON, JENNA ORTBERG, CLINT MCDANIEL, JAKE EWING, ALLYSA HOUSE & ALEC FISER.
 |
 |
The future competition is the Henderson, Mercer, Warren Counties Geography Challenge held at Aledo Junior High on November 17th at 7:00 p.m. The top three place-holders will be going on to the next challenge. Fourth through sixth place winners are alternates.
Calendar Note
Picture retakes are scheduled for November 6. Please mark your calendars!Dragon Dollar Winners
Congratulations to these Aug. /Sept. Dragon Dollar Drawing winners: Dalton Lower- Vitale's Pizza, McKayla Partlow-Got Milk Poster, Austin DeBorn-McDonald's Cheeseburger, Adam Huffstutler-AJH Tshirt, Drake Stirn-Dragon Banner, Trevor Anderson-Green Dragon Sweatshirt, Ethan Watson-YMCA Family Day Membership, and Jenna Rillie-Blessed by Nature Smoothie. Teachers award students at AJH who have exhibited exemplary behavior |
Congratulations to the Junior High for receiving an academic improvement award!