Piqua City Schools

Seventh graders selected as March Students of the Month are Micheala Davis, Grace lawson, Alex Christian, Taylor Arnett, Aaron Shannon, Kayla Schrubb, Aidan Grantham, Ryley Burch-Burns, Joling Hsiang, Tyler Calhoun, and Abby Soliday. Teija Davis, Daijah collier, Laycea Tidwell, Helena Creager, Tynaisha Gibson, Kim McCullough, David Wysong, Abby Helman, Layne Patrizio, Devon Magoteaux, Gabby Collins, Kevin Conner, and Makayla Carnes. Congratulations to these deserving students.

The Piqua Junior High Builders Club, under the leadership of Mr. Andy Johnson, recently held their election of officers.  Those students elected to office are Olivia Barhorst - President, Sarah Grunkemeyer - Vice President, Caitlin Cromes - Secretary, and Hannah Went - Treasurer.  Builders Club is the junior high version of Kiwanis, a community service-based organization.  Look for the Builders Club to be very active this year at PJHS.

Piqua Junior High is proud to once again offer Muse Machine Assemblies to our students.  Thanks to the efforts of Muse Machine advisor Mrs. Vickie Miller, a kick-off assembly was held on Friday September 18^th that featured Doktor Kaboom. Doktor Kaboom performed an original interactive Science Comedy show; creatively blending the theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration.  Doktor Kaboom keeps his crowds riveted with interest and rolling laughter.  The intention of the kick-off program was for students to have a sidesplitting journey of increasingly spectacular (and often successful) science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate and entertain.

Muse machine sponsored this educational event and will be sponsoring two more: Rhythm in Shoes will present "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" and the Dayton Opera will present "Can You Hear Me Now?" - A Cell Phone Opera.

On behalf of the students and staff of Piqua Junior High School, I would like to welcome you to our website.  Piqua Junior High School offers a solid core curriculum designed to prepare students for a successful high school experience.  In addition, PJHS provides a wide range of athletic teams as well as clubs for student participation.  Everyone at the junior high school looks forward to working with parents and students to make the two years at Piqua Junior High School very successful.  If you have questions, please call me at 778-2997.

Jeff Clark, Principal

To provide a safe, academically challenging and quality learning environment which will enable all students to realize their highest potential as respectful and responsible members of society.

Three Buckeye Charter buses left the Piqua Junior High School parking lot the evening of May 11, 2010 heading for Washington D.C.  Carrying 135 students, staff, and parent chaperones, the buses traveled through the night arriving in the Washinton D.C. area around 6:00 a.m.  After enjoying a wonderful breakfast buffet at Magill's Resturant, the group boarded the buses to travel to the first stop, the FDR Memorial.  People standing in bread lines during the Depression was just one of the highlights of President Roosevelts four terms as President that were created for the students to view. 

Following that, the group then traveled again by motorcoach to the Capital building.  After visiting the Exhibition Hall, the group then saw a short movie about the structuring of the builiding and the location of the different branches of government within the Capital. Following the movie was a guided tour of different parts of the Capital Building.  A boxed lunch was awaiting the group as we again boarded the buses.  The next stop was the  U.S. Marine Corp Museum.  Exhibits from the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as events of 9/11 were there for the students to see.

The groups next stop for the day was the Mt. Vernon Estate, home of George Washington.  Different groups were able to see many different parts of the estate, including an interactive movie about his defeat of the British.  Dinner was at Old Country Buffet.  Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Manassas, VA. was the groups final stop arriving about 8:00 p.m.  Thursday sounds like an extremely busy day.  Stay turned for more updates.

Pictures available next week.

After a much needed good nights sleep, the group was treated to a breakfast buffet at the hotel before beginning a very busy day.  Heavy traffic into Washington D.C. slowed down the start of the day, but when the group arrived at Arlington Cemetery it didn't take long to hit the ground running.  After stopping to see the Kennedy Family Graves, it was on to the Changing of the Guard and the Wreath Laying Ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Since PJHS wasn't selected as the school to actually present the wreath at that location, a single file, silent march to the original Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was held, and our wreath was placed there.

Upon leaving the cemetery, the group walked to the nearby subway station.  After a short subway ride, the group rode up the third longest escalator in the world back to ground level.  Next was a quick trip to the Iwo Jima Memorial.  On the way to lunch at the ESPN Zone in downtown D.C. at least one of the motorcoaches were able to see either President Obama's or Vice-President Biden's motorcade.  The afternoon was spent visiting the Washington Monument (traveling up 500 feet by elevator to the observatory deck), the World War II, Lincoln, Vietnam, Nurses, and Korean and Jefferson Memorials.

Concluding the evening was dinner at a local resturant and back to the hotel for a final time. 

An early morning departure time from the hotel meant an early rise and shine for a tired group of students and chaperones. A hearty breakfast however was just the ticket to get everyone ready for the final day of the Washington D.C. adventure. A much easier trip into D.C. the group was able to get into the Holocaust Exhibit a little early Friday morning, therefore allowing ample time for everyone to see this emotionally moving exhibit.

Following a boxed lunch picnic it was on to see the White House. While the group wasn't able to actually go into the White House, photo opts from behind the black wrought iron fences were possible. It was then on to the National Archives where the group was able to view the actual Bill of Rights, Constitution, and Declaration of Independance. Following that, the rest of the afternoon individual groups could select their own touring options consisting of the American History, Natural History, or Air & Space Museums. Since there was a little extra time, a trip to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was added to the trip. From the rooftop terrace was an amazing view of the entire Washington D.C. area just past the Patomic River. It was then on to dinner and a little bit souvenir shopping.

The groups last two stops were the heart wrenching Pentagon 9-11 Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial where the closing ceremony was held. Tour Guide Kraig MacWhinney of K & K Tours, reminded the group one final time the main theme of this trip "Freedom is never free". While standing in the dark on a hillside overlooking Washington D.C., he played for the group the Lee Greenwood song "God Bless the USA" and gave everyone the chance to reflect on everything they had seen and learned over the past three days.

By 10:45 p.m., the buses were again loaded with 135 students, staff, and parent chaperones heading back to good old Piqua.

The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, and a variety of other Dr. Seuss characters were on hand at Piqua Junior High School on Thursday evening, April 29.  Seventh and eighth graders performed their version of Seussical, Jr. that evening and then again Friday morning, April 30 for their fellow students.  Lead parts belonged to Devan Parshall, Danny Rudy, Jacob Newbright, Olivia Barhorst, and Caitlin Cromes.  Mrs. Beth Fair, PJHS music teacher, was the director.

New members

The evening of March 11, 2010, Piqua Junior High School was proud in induct 36 students into the National Junior Honor Society.  Selection into National Junior Honor Society requires meeting the five criteria of Scholarship, Character, Citizenship, Service, and Leadership.

            Following the Pledge to the Flag, Mr. Clark welcomed all quests in attendance.  The Induction Ceremony was then conducted by NJHS members Emily Wenrick, Mykaila Ingle, Teija Davis, Haley Huebner, and Hayley Ryan.  Students inducted were seventh graders Carrie Beck, Kasey Boettiger, Clayton Brown, Kailey Byers, Michaela Davis, Amanda Ellis, Logan Ernst, Jessica Ford, Brendan Fries, Noah Gertner, Ashley Gregory, Kendall Grunkemeyer, Dillan Gump, Luke Hanes, Victoria Henderson, Ashlynne Hutson, Kenton Kiser, Alexis Klopfenstein, Grace Lawson, Alaina Mikolajewski, Dylan Runge, Cecily Stewart, Grady Stewart, Reganne Tate, Hannah Went, Shauntell Whitfield, Rebekah Wiles, Braden Wise, Hannah Wise, and Ryan Wolfe.  Eighth graders inducted were Courtney Bensman, Abby Berger, Connor Brown, Jarod Haney, Christin Libbee, and Heidi Strevell.

Jessica Ellis, senior and National Honor Society President, and Stephen Hutson, senior and National Honor Society Treasurer, were the guest speakers.  Following closing remarks by Mr. Gearhardt, NJHS Advisor, a reception for all members was held in the PJHS commons.

            We congratulate all our members and wish them continued success.

Mrs. Mindy Fulks, seventh grade writing teacher, has taken over the advisors position of the PJHS Student Leadership.  Recently applications to join Student Leadership were made available for all students.  After the completed application and a letter of recommendation from a staff member were received by Mrs. Fulks, the difficult task of making the final selections began.  Students chosen for the 2009-2010 PJHS Student Leadership are seventh graders Carrie Beck, Clayton Brown, Dontea Brown, Kasey Boettiger, Ty Collier, Alex Fielder, Noah Gertner, Kendall Grunkemeyer, Morgen Grunkemeyer, Dillan Gump, Luke Hanes, Victoria Henderson, Rayven Leonard, Kenny Lyons, Kirstin Malone, TJ Michael, Braygen Saine, Erik Vondenhuevel, Courtney Welch, Hannah Went, Shauntel Whitfield, and Ryan Wolfe.  Courtney Bensman, Sarah Dankworth, Kayla Harshman, Tyler Hill, Haley Huebner, BobbyJo Hunt, Shania Lee, Bailey Manning, Jacob Newbright, Morgan O-Neal, Devon Parshall, Haley Ryan, Aaron Shroyer, and Chelsea Smith were selected as eighth grade members.  Mrs. Fulks and her Student Leadership team have already been brainstorming about many different leadership building activities for this school year.   

On February 3, 2010, Piqua Junior High School students were able to experience the unique opportunity of seeing leash-trained cats up-close and without bars.  The Cat Ambassador Program travels to area schools and brings a cheetah and several of their other small cat ambassadors.  Cats are considered one of the most magnificent animals, and yet they are disappearing today.  Through the help of the Cincinnati Zoo naturalists, our students learned about these endangered predators and what is currently being done to meet the challenges to their survival.  Thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Diane Fox, she was able to receive a grant from the Piqua Community Foundation to fund this assembly.

Please refer to recent press releases posted on the "About Our District" page.