Agueda Iglesias Johnston Middle School
Pirate Parent Newsletter
January 2008
A Product of the Journalism Class
PRINCIPAL’S NEW YEAR ADDRESS
Dear Parents,
Mr. Christopher Anderson, Principal
•
•
•
Dates To Remember
January 16: PTO Mtg. 6:30pm
January 17: 2nd qtr. grades
January 21: Flex. Day
Index
Page 1
•
Letter From the Principal
Page 2
•
•
The Commemoration
MSA Bulletin
Page 3
•
Solving the Rubik’s Cube
Page 4
•
•
Education Update
Kulu Natibu Promotes Health
Page 5
•
Expectations of an 8th grader
Page 6
•
Approved Snack List
Page 7
•
Umatac Mayor’s Office Lends a
Hand at AIJMS
•
Expectations. . . (continued)
Page 8 and 9
•
Acceptable Student Usage Policies
Page 10
•
Pirate Faces of 2007
Page 11
•
Unleashing the Pirate
Pride III
•
The Journalism Student
Page 12
•
•
Note From the Nurse
Survey Says . . .
Page 13
•
Sports
Page 14 and 15
•
Counselor’s Corner
Page 16
•
Project Menhalom
Page 17
•
Accreditation
Page 18
•
Current Bell Schedule
Buenas Yan Hafa Adai! On behalf of all the faculty
and staff, we wish you a HAPPY and PROSPEROUS NEW
YEAR. We are so excited to have our PIRATES back in
school as we begin the second semester. The teachers have
administered their 2nd quarter final exams and are calculating
student grades. The 2nd quarter officially ended on Friday,
January 11, 2008 and report cards will be ready for distribution
by Monday, January 28, 2008.
AIJMS remains committed to providing you and your
child with the best educational experience possible. First semester was a success with many wonderful accomplishments
and 2nd semester will be even more exciting. Please make it a
point to visit our website at www.aijms.net to review important
information and announcements.
SY 07-08 marks the second year of Positive Behavioral
Intervention Supports (PBIS). This program is intended to
nurture positive behavior in students by reinforcing School
Wide Expected Behaviors referred to as the “Big Nine” Please
review the article by Carmen Garrido, the School Level Facilitator for more details.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 budget for AIJMS was submitted to Mrs. Flores, the Acting Associate Superintendent,
Secondary for approval. Village meetings were held at GWHS
on January 03, 2008 for community input. Based on the feedback from all stakeholders, the budget was finalized. You can
review the budget on the school website.
The full self study visit by the Western Association of
Schools and Colleges (WASC) scheduled for March 9, 2008 is
fast approaching. Currently, the school community is finalizing the report in preparation for the visit. Please review the
article by Ray Alicto, the Accreditation Chairperson for more
details on how you can support this initiative.
In closing, I want to assure you that the faculty, staff,
and administration of the school are dedicated to working with
you to promote a positive school climate where all children
feel safe and excited about school. Thank you for your continued partnership in making AIJMS the best middle school on
island.
Remembering Tan Agueda Iglesias Johnston:
The Commemoration Ceremony
Mylisha Alcantara
On December 14, 2007 Agueda Johnston Middle School held their commemoration
ceremony remembering the great Tan Agueda. Students did a great job in answering questions
during the pep rally. We showed Tan Agueda's family members how knowledgeable we were
about Tan Agueda.
We had many honored guests including BJ Cruz,
mayors, and vice mayors. It shows
how great our school
really is.
All performers
were fantastic and put on a show
that we could never
forget. The Kulu Natibu Dance
Squad and Siñot
Santiago's cultural dance students
performed Christmas
and cultural dances. Not only did
they do a fantastic
job, but they also put everyone in
the dancing
mood. Ms. Tara Leon Guererro's
hip-hop class performed and surprised everyone
with their great
moves. Other great performances
were done by the
2007-2008 Marching Band and the
recitation of a poem
done by Siñot Aguon’s Chamorro
class. All performers
were awesome.
The commemoration ceremony had great stage
decorations. Canopies
and chairs were organized, and the
bust was adorned with lovely flowers. In other words, the commemoration ceremony was beautiful. It was decorated in a way that I will never forget. Speeches about Tan Agueda were given
and information about her was spread throughout the school. Tan Agueda born in 1892, had
seven children and her husband's name was William G. Johnston. She started the first girl
scouts on Guam and will also be remembered as a patriot and an educator.
Micronesian Student Association
BULLETIN
NOVEMBER 2007- Thank you to those who donated to the Micronesian Student Association's
" Canned Food & Non-Perishable Items Drive".
With your donation, MSA members were able to prepare 25 beautifully hand wrapped food
bags.
The gift bags were given out to our families who could benefit from the extra assistance during
this past holiday season.
Also, we were able to donate 3 boxes of canned goods to Kamalen Karidat, a non profit organization that helps feed the hungry on Guam.
JANUARY- MSA is selling coupon booklets for McDonalds Food Items, valued at $10.00
selling for ONLY $5.00. For more information please call Therese Flores at 472-6785 ext. 5009
FEBRUARY- 2/02/08 beginning at 7:15 a.m., MSA will be picking up trash along Rte. 8 Maite
(from Townhouse furniture to 671 Motorsports). This beautification event is sponsored by
Deloitte & Touche in collaboration with the Adopt- A- Roadside Program.
Page 2
Solving the Rubik’s Cube
Joshua Ilustre
Rubik’s Cube Solution
upload.wikimedia.org
content.answers.com
First of all, you will not be able to solve a Rubik's Cube immediately after reading this page only once. It
takes a lot of work to learn this method thoroughly. The time it takes to learn depends on your devotion. If you
are serious about learning how to solve a cube, I suggest that you don't start learning until you know that you will
have a lot of spare time in the near future to work on it. Another thing I'd like to say is that this solution won't
break any world records. If you learn this solution thoroughly, your best time might be around a minute or a minute and a half. Once you get this method down pretty good, and you want to work on your solving time, I suggest
you learn shortcuts. It will really help a lot.
Axioms To Keep In Mind:
•
The cube consists of 21 individually moving parts. These include 1 triple-axis, 12 edge pieces, and 8 corner
pieces.
•
•
•
•
A center square will always remain a center square no matter how you turn the cube.
An edge piece will always remain an edge piece no matter how you turn the cube.
A corner piece will always remain a corner piece no matter how you turn the cube.
Center pieces never change their position in relation to each other. They only twist around in place, even
though it looks like they change places.
• An edge piece has two stickers on it. Those two stickers will always stay next to each other. If you want to
move one of the colors to another position, the other has to come too. The same idea goes for corner pieces.
Peeling off the stickers is not the solution (in fact if you start to peel off some of the stickers but never finish
putting the rest in their places, you are most likely going to cause an impossible combination and make the cube
unsolvable). Even if you do finish replacing the stickers, you make solving the cube more difficult and awkward to
a person who actually knows how to solve it since the colors are not in the same place in relation to each other.
Rubik's Cube Solution: Step 1: Solving One Side
Solving the top row is the hardest part of the solution, believe it or not. Keep in mind that when you solve
the one side, you have to solve the adjoining row at the same time. That means that if you decided to solve the
blue face first, it would have to look something like the above picture. Notice how the red and green squares are
all lined up nicely in the top row. Up to the challenge? Here we go...
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Don't Panic
Pick a color of the six (I will be using blue in most of the examples, so whenever I say blue, I
really mean top color).
Find a sticker of that color that is in the center of the face. This will be your top.
Move the corresponding edge and corner pieces of that color next to the center cube while making
sure the top outside row colors line up (May the thinking juices flow).
For more tips to solving the cube read the next issue of the Pirate Newsletter
Page 3
Education Update Announcement for Agueda I. Johnston
Middle School
January 21 – Flexible make-up day. (NO CLASSES)
January 11 – End of Second Quarter. 3rd Quarter Schedules will be distributed.
January 14 – Start of 3rd Quarter
January 09– Guam Education Policy Board Meeting at Agueda Iglesias Johnston Middle School Dining Hall
A and B Honor roll recipients were given their certificates in December and their award pins are forthcoming.
SAT 10 results from the feeder schools (PC Lujan, Price and Ordot Elementary Schools) have been received at AIJMS and
copies can be provided upon request.
AIJMS is implementing unannounced evacuation and lockdown exercises throughout the year. Gates will be closed and visitors are not allowed on campus. Gates will reopen once the exercise is complete.
As of January 2007, school Verification Requests will no longer be accepted over the phone. Parents must make the request in
person at the Main Office. Processing time for verifications is now five working days.
Parents/Guardians: If you have any new information for your child’s demographics (ie. Home address, Mailing Address, telephone/emergency numbers, guardianship documents, court documents) please come in and see Marcie Aguigui in the
Counseling Office to update information and fill out new emergency card forms. Student Verifications will be easier to
obtain if information is updated prior to requests.
School phone numbers have changed, please take note of the new numbers: 472-6785; 472-6947 and 472-5053.
Parents, please be aware that only urgent/emergency messages will be relayed to students during instructional time. Parents are
also urged to make transportation arrangements beforehand.
Kulu Makes a Difference in Saipan
As part of the Health and Wellness initiative in Saipan, 5 dancers from the Kulu Natibu Dance
Squad were recipients of an all expense paid off island trip from December 17-24. In Saipan, Jonathan Ayuyu, Tianna Borja, Frankie Guthertz, Brandon Salas, Marina Tenorio, and Siñot Santiago
spoke to various principals from all over the CNMI. Their mission was to promote health and wellness through cultural dance. The delegation conducted many a workshop at Dandan Elementary
School for 5 days straight and were guest perfomers at the DARE annual concert, the Diabetes Foundation Seminar and the Mayor’s Council Japanese Reception.
As a result of their efforts, the Rota Public School System has invited the 5 Squad Members to
facilitate dance workshops and promote cultural dance on the island from March 04-08. Once again,
these wonderfully talented children will represent the best that Agueda Iglesias Johnston Middle
School has to offer. We are proud of your accomplishments Kulu Natibu!
Page 4
The Expectations of an Eighth Grader
By: James Losongco
As an eighth grader I expect a lot of things this year. I expect to receive straight A’s on my report cards, to ace all of my tests, to graduate
from middle school, transitioning to high school, and to end my last year of
middle school with lots of fun memories.
My first expectation this year is to get straight A’s. To do this I
need to finish all my assignments on time, do my homework, take down
notes and participate in class. I do many of these things because I care about my grades and I
really want to have a good education. But many other eighth graders do not do this; other eighth
graders do not have such good expectations for themselves. Most eighth graders have the attitude to relax and chill and don’t do anything. They would rather watch TV, play video games,
or other things instead of finishing their assignments or doing their homework. Doing this will
bring your grades down and give you a lower opportunity of graduating. Then you would be
stuck in middle school for another year while the rest of your friends go off to high school. The
lack of parental support is usually the cause of this problem. If parents would just take time to
help their child with homework, assignments, or projects less students would have difficulties
with school. Also, parents need to talk to their children about college, wrk, supporting a family,
goals, and succeeding throughout life. If parents were involved in their child’s life, their child
would have a better chance of succeeding in life.
Another expectation is acing tests. To do this you need to study! Studying can be very
useful for a test. Studying can also be very fun. It is very easy to make fun games to help you
study. But in order to get the right information to study, you need to have the proper book. In
almost all of my classes I don’t have a book to bring home. The only class where I have a book
at home is Pre Algebra. But what about the other subjects? I have no book to take home for
them. How am I supposed to study? Studying at school is good, but studying at home is even
better. At school you have many distractions, classmates, noise, your surroundings, and even
the place where you’re studying at. But at home, you have your own quiet room where you can
lock the door and block out the outside world. So that’s why it’s important to have a textbook at
home. But if we only have books at school, we have to endure the many distractions. Taking
down notes can be useful, but having a textbook at home is better. At school we only have a
limited time to copy everything we need to study and usually we don’t have enough time.
That’s why we need enough textbooks to go to every student’s home.
My most important expectation this year is to get out of middle school and transition to high school. Graduating this year is a big thing for me. I really want to move on and
succeed. I would die if I had to repeat eighth grade. That’s why I try my hardest to get great
scores on all of my assignments and tests. I take every opportunity I have to get a higher grade.
Because when I move onto high school, I really don’t want to get stuck in a low class. In high
school I want to take Freshman English, Algebra, Chemistry, and the other high classes. I want
to receive enough credits to graduate from high school and move onto college. In order to do
that, I have to have high scores in high classes. To do that I have to impress the people in high
school with the great reputation I have in middle school. One little flaw could ruin all of my expectations for high school. That’s why it’s important for all eighth graders to get their lazy butts
moving.
Page 5
Approved Snack List
for the
Guam Public School System
The following is the approved snack list
obtained from the GPSS Food & Nutrition
Services Management Division:
Criteria:
No more than 30% calories from fat per
serving
No more than 10 calories from saturated
fat per serving
No more than 40% sugar by weight per
serving (excludes fruits and vegetables)
No more tan 480 mg. sodium per serving
Supply at least 5% of the daily value, per
serving or per 100 calories, of at least one
of these eight essential nutrients: iron,
calcium, protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C,
niacin, thiamine, or riboflavin
Snack List:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22. Marukiyo’s Rice Crackers, Mini Wheats, Nabisco
Teddy Grahams, 30 g
23. Nabisco 100 Calories Packs Thin Crisp Baked
Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Cheese Nips
24. Nature Valley Granola Bars in Oats & Honey, 42
g
25. Nature Valley Granola Bars: Fruit & Nut
26. Nilla Wafers, 1 oz
27. Nutrigrain Cereal Bars, 37 g
28. Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Pretzels, 1.0 oz
29. Quaker Fruit & Oatmeal Bar in Apple Crisp,
cherry Cobbler, Strawberry, Strawberry Cheesecake, & Very Berry, 1.3 oz
30. Quaker Fruit & Oatmeal Bites in Apple Crisp, 2
oz & Strawberry, 1.3 oz
31. Quaker Iced Strawberry Toastables, 50 g
32. Rold Gold Brand Pretzels Honey Braided Twists,
1 oz
33. Seneca Applesauce w/Cinnamon, 113 g
34. Snak club Fancy Trail Mix, 3.25 g
35. Snak club Oriental Mix, 3.0 g
Baked (1 oz.) Frito Lay Potato Chips, Cheddar & Sour 36. Snak Club Yogurt Nut Mix, 3.25 g
Cream Ruffles, Doritos Cool Ranch, KC Masterpiece 37. Spaans: Oat Bran n Raisins
38. Sunkist Fruit & Grain Bars: Lemon, Strawberry,
BBQ, Regular Potato Chips, Regular Ruffles Brand
Apple
Potato Chips, Sour Cream & Onion, 1oz
39. Super Pretzel: WITHOUT the salt added within
Cheez It Baked Snack Cracker - Spongebob, 1.1 oz
the package
Cheez It Reduced Fat Crackers, 30g
40.
Western Family “Fruit on the Go” - Diced
Chex Mix Brand Snack Mix Trad., 30 g
Peaches
Cinnamon Life Cereal Bowls, .94 oz
Corn Nuts: BBQ, Nacho, Origonial, Ranch (48 g), 1.7 41. Western Family Trail Mix, Original (1/4 cup)
42. Western Trail Mix: Tropical Fruit & Nut
oz
43. Yoplait Yogurt
Danimals Low Fat Yogurt Flavors, 4 oz
Dannon Blended Non fat Yogurt Flavor, 6 oz
Diamond Bakery Hawaiian animal cookies, 2.5 oz
Dole Fruit Bowls, Tropical Fruit, 113 g
Elf Grahams Choco Chip Snacks, 1 oz
Fig Newtons, 31 g
Go-gurt varieties (Yoplait), 63.8 g
Guam USA Dried Mango
Honey Maid Crackers (Nabisco), 29 g
Keebler Sunshine Animal Crackers, 29 g
Kellogg’s Pop Tarts, 52 g
Kellog’s Spcial K Bars, 23 g
Kraft Handi-Snacks Premium Breadsticks n Cheez,
1.09 oz
Kraft handi-Snacks Ritz Crackers n Cheez, .95 oz
Life Cereal Bowls, .94 oz
Page 6
Umatac Mayor’s Office
assists AIJMS for beautfication
The Pirate Community at Agueda Iglesias Johnston Middle School would like to extend their deepest appreciation
to the fine people of the Umatac Mayor’s Office in beautifying our school. It is people like you that make us
thankful for this place we call our school!
continued from page 5
As eighth graders we need to set the example for the sixth and seventh graders. We need to
show them that when they are eighth grade they can graduate. We need to show them that
eighth grade is a big deal and that high school is a big deal. And if we get bad grades and flunk,
that would not give a very good sign to the younger grades. That is why eighth graders need to
put down the remote control and pick up the pencil. We need to overcome all the challenges we
face together and use teamwork!
My very last expectation this year is to leave Agueda Johnston Middle School with great
and fun memories. I want to have fun this year and end this year in good terms. That’s why we
need to stop fighting and put our differences aside in order to end this year off right. Another
great idea for having fun is joining the many clubs we have in school. There are many clubs like
the Filipino Student Association, the Micronesian Student Association, the Close Up Organization, Academic Challenge Bowl Group, Kulu Natibu, and Band. If you ever have an opportunity to join any of these groups you should take it. All of these organizations are full of fun and
excitement. Many of these organizations also go off island so you can experience the thrill of
travel. For instance, Close Up will be going to Washington D.C., Kulu Natibu will be going to
Saipan, and the Filipino Student Association will be going to the Philippines. All of these clubs
are open for anyone to join. You don’t have to be Micronesian, Filipino, or Chamorro to join
because all of these clubs welcome everyone to join so you may learn more about the different
cultures of our world. So if you don’t have anything to do, or if you’re bored just take advantage of joining one of the organizations of our school. Or you could just make your own club.
Every eighth grader has different expectations this year. Some may want to become the
most popular student, others may want to become the best athlete of this year, but we should all
have this important expectation: to succeed throughout our lives, overcome all the challenges
we meet, and to set a good example for the younger generations. We are the future of our island
and if we meet all of these expectations, we are sure to have a bright future for us, our children,
and our island!
Page 7
Acceptable Student Usage Policy For Computers And The Internet At Agueda Johnston Middle
School
As we begin to use computers and the Internet at Agueda Johnston Middle school, we must all realize
that there are risks involved. Risks to the student, risks to the educational process, and risks to the
equipment we use. With this document we intend to explain the rules and limits that will allow students
to benefit from this new and exciting technology, but at the same time protect the student, protect the
educational process, and protect the equipment.
Education is Priority One!
Curriculum related work and class work take priority over all other uses for computers. Recreational
reading and appropriate teen-interest browsing may be permissible from time to time, but because this is
a limited resource, priority should be given to school work that supports our academic curriculum.
Chat rooms and email
The staff and faculty at AIJMS have made a procedural decision to ban students from emailing and
chatting with school computers except in very special situations and with prior approval from an administrator. We believe it is healthy for
students to interact with others and to share ideas, but our students should not need a computer to develop those skills while at school with
their peers. We believe computers should be put to more educational and edifying purposes, and with hundreds of students who communicate in many languages, it would be difficult if not impossible for our teaching staff to effectively monitor communication with outsiders.
. Unacceptable Uses
The following uses of AIJMS computer equipment and network are considered unacceptable:
1. Personal Safety
a. Posting personal contact information about yourself or other people. Personal contact information includes your address,
telephone, school, activities, etc.
b. Meeting with people you may have encountered online.
c. You will promptly disclose to your teacher or other school personnel any message you receive that is inappropriate or
makes you feel uncomfortable.
2. Illegal Activities
a. Unauthorized access to the AIJMS or the GPSS network or to any other computer system beyond your authorized access.
This includes attempting to log in through another person's account/password or access/tampering with another person's files.
These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing".
b. Deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy data by spreading computer viruses or by any other means.
c. Using the AIJMS network to engage in any illegal act, such as arranging for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engag-
Page 8
3. Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
a. Do not plagiarize work that you find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting
them as your own. If you use an Internet article in an assignment, you must cite the author and/or the website.
b. You will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when you inappropriately reproduce a
work that is protected by a copyright. If you have questions, ask a teacher or school personnel.
4. Inappropriate Access to Material
a. You will not use the AIJMS network to access material that is obscene (pornographic), that advocates illegal acts, or
that advocates violence or discrimination towards other people (hate literature). A special exception may be made if the
purpose of your access is to conduct research with the approval of both your teacher and a parent.
b. If you mistakenly access or receive nude pictures or images of graphic violence you should quickly scroll past the pictures or close the window and then tell your teacher or the nearest adult. This will protect you against a claim that you
have intentionally violated this Policy.
c. Any additional material your parents deem inappropriate for you to access should also be considered off limits at
AIJMS. AIJMS fully expects you to follow your parent's instructions.
5. Search and Seizure.
a. You should expect only limited privacy in the contents of your personal computer files. The situation is similar to the
rights you have in the privacy of your locker.
b. Routine maintenance and monitoring of the AIJMS network may lead to discovery that you have violated this Policy or
the law.
c. An individual search of your computer files will be conducted, if there is reasonable suspicion that you have violated
this Policy or the law. The investigation will be reasonable and related to the suspected violation.
d. Your parents have the right at any time to request to see the contents of your files.
Page 9
PIRATE FACES
of 2007
Page 10
Unleashing the Pirate Pride III
Tiara Babauta
Ahoy Pirates! On November 30, 2007, we held the annual talent show for our school. It
was held by the Close-up Organization in the dining hall. Although it was cramped, we all anticipated the acts to come on. Students gathered up the courage to show their true talents in
front of the student body. There were many students performing their admirable acts and each
with their own spunk. The talent show started with a pep rally to get the crowd going. The emcees introduced the many acts. Kulu Natibu performed their Christmas numbers. Their dances
brought smiles to our faces. Many students sung their hearts out. Some students even got the
crowd to sing along. Pirates showed what they could play on their instruments. There were
dance performances that made everyone want to get up and join along in the fun. There were
students from every grade level. You could see signs being held up proudly to support the talented performers. The crowd screamed their lungs out, cheering for each and every performance. Even though some thought the talent show was short, we all enjoyed the acts that performed. Great job to all the pirate performers. Go Pirates!
The Journalism Student
Patrick Quichocho
The life of being a Journalist in Mr. Santiago’s class was hard, but benefitting. We (the
Journalism class and I) learned a lot through hardship and despair. We learned how to rebound
from our mistakes made in the past and towards the future. Throughout 1st semester, it was like
the Journalism class was having a winter that never ended. The Journalism class got through
because of hard work, perseverance, determination and much more.
Speaking of work! Let me tell you some of our best and worst assignments. In the beginning, Mr. Santiago assigned the class numerous tasks by which was to be only two paragraphs long. These tasks were bombarded on us like nothing. Through this, the Journalism class
learned about hard work and perseverance. You could say that the first two weeks were kind of
like initiation into Journalism. The following three weeks were all about 124 different words
that both Mr. Santiago and the Journalism class selected from the dictionary. We had to memorize the spelling, and meaning that we would later be tested on. This taught us more of perseverance and determination. We eventually got tested and were out of that gutter in the mean time.
Towards the end of 1st quarter, we made, edited, and memorized speeches that we later
recited to the class. Few of the speeches are as follows: The Persuasive Speech, The Demonstrative Speech, Mirror, Mirror on The Wall Speech, Dream School Speech that we also had to
make models of and various poems by which we had to turn in on time. All of these speeches
taught us about our imagination and punctuality. Although all these tasks of a Journalist is undoubtedly difficult, it taught us a lot about ourselves and people around us. Most of all, it taught
us how we can use the school ESLRS and not just have it to be an official school. I think that is
what a Journalist student’s life is all about.
Page 11
Nurse Asks Parents for Help
Betty Diaz, school nurse, urges parents to ensure that their children develop a better understanding of hygiene in school. Nurse Diaz offers the following helpful reminders:
1. Fingernails should be cut regularly
2. Nightly flossing is a must to prevent expensive dental bills and avoid halitosis
3. Shower at least twice daily
4. Wash hands 20-30 times a day
5. Observe preventative measures when coughing or sneezing in class
6. Keep a properly working thermometer at home always
7. Wash shoes at least twice a month
8. Choose a reliable deodorant for school
9. Schedule yearly physicals complete with TB tests
Nurse Diaz hopes that with the basics in mind, our students will become more cognizant of
how to keep healthy, clean and safe.
Survey Says. . .
Best Gum:
Trident Sugarless Guam
Best Actor/Comedian:
Jim Carrey
Best Place to Hangout:
Micronesia Mall
Best Line Dance:
The Electric Slide
Best Chatting Website:
MySpace
Best Hotel/Resort:
Pacific Islands Club
Best Basketball Player:
Michael Jordan
Best FM Radio Station:
Hit Radio 100
Best Shrek the Third Character:
Donkey
Best Pizza Restaurant:
Pizza Hut
Best Movie Series:
Harry Potter
Best Surfing Brand:
Billabong
Best Shoe Brand:
Nike
Best Movie:
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Best Motorola Phone:
Krazr
Best Wii Video Game:
Guitar Hero 3
Best Cellular Phone Brand:
Motorola
Best Fast Food Restaurant:
McDonald’s
Best NBA Team:
L.A. Lakers
Best Field Trip Destination:
PIC Waterpark
Best Soda:
Sprite
Best Scion Car Model:
Scion TC
Best Chamorro Food:
Chicken Kelaguen
Best Fruit:
Grapes
Best Song:
Low
Best Holiday:
Christmas
Best Cereal:
Frosted Flakes
Best Clothing Store:
DNA Evolution
Best Car Company:
Toyota
Best Tea Brand:
King Car
The above survey was conducted by several students from the Journalism Class. They not only developed and
administered their surveys, but also aggregated their data to yield the Best of 2007.
Page 12
From the Desk of the Athletic Director
Ahoy Pirates!
2nd Quarter Sports has finally ended and a job well done to all our athletes. First, our Girl’s Volleyball “A” Team finished in 2nd Place and our
“B” Red and “B” White Volleyball Team finished in 3rd Place. Second, our
Boy’s Soccer Team came in 3rd Place overall with Scott Spindel scoring a
whopping 31 goals to lead the Pirates and the league scoring for the
season. Great job to all the coaches you did an awesome job with the
athletes.
Kneeling (L-R) Geo Quichocho, Ohren Ohry, Brendan Valenzuela, Ross Awa, Scott Spindel, Manuel Bondoc III. Standing (L-R) Coach Kirk Spindel, Gerald Francisco, Jacob
Einloth, Brandon Franquez, Allander Ebeo, Krayne Bell, Dominic
Ungacta, Jordan Valenzuela, Aaron Manglona, Jaymon Medina,
Chavez Gumabon and Coach Brett Maluwelmeng. Not pictured
Aaron Tydingco, Chad Faustino, Christoper Reyes, and Franklin
Castro.
Gooooooooooooo
P-I-R-A-T-E-S!
Go Pirates!
3rd Quarter Sports has just started with Boy’s Basketball and Girl’s Soccer conducting
try-outs after school from 3:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Students must have a sports physical on file with the AD to try out. Participation will be based on 2nd Quarter grades
with no “U” or “F” and a GPA of 70%. If you have any questions see the Athletic
Director. Please come out and support out athletes during their games.
If you are interested in participating in Basketball Intramurals, please see Mr. Kirk
Spindel in Room 23 to sign-up. Forms will be passed out on Monday, January 14,
2008.
Sports information provided by the Athletic Director, Annette Spindel.
Page 13
Counseling
Corner
Please have your child see his or her grade-level
counselor or call to inquire about the applications
or schedules for COUNSELING PROGRAMS.
**SEE NEXT PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION**
Hafa Adai Parents!
———————————————————————————How Counselors Handle Student Referrals
Please feel free to contact school any time between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday. The Counseling Office is located in The
Main Office. If you would like t meet in person, please call
us first to arrange for an appointment at 472-6785/6947.
Counselors work with students on many issues.
These may include personal/social (friends & family), educational (middle/high school & college info.),
and career guidance. Referrals may come from parents, teachers, staff, administrators, and students.
Third quarter begins Jan. 14, and grades for second quarter will be available in early February. If you did
not receive your child’s first quarter grades, then please
stop by the Main Office for a copy.
Counselors realize that parent/child relationships
are of great importance, however, due to student/counselor confidentiality, counselors cannot
share what they learn in sessions without the student’s permission (unless the student is being hurt
by someone else, plans to hurt himself/herself,
plans to hurt someone else, or a court order to release information).
First quarter retention notices were sent home in
December, 2007, requiring a parent signature. Please
keep in mind that those students with a Grade Point
Averages (GPA) below 60% at the end of the school year
will be considered for possible retention. Unsure of your
child’s GPA? Please contact your child’s counselor as soon
as possible.
Tips for Helping Your Child Succeed in School
1. Ensure your child is ready for school (Go to bed
early, eat breakfast)
GUIDANCE COUNSELORS
DEBRA MARIANO-6th grade (ext. 5013)
JOVITA YOUNG-7th grade (ext. 5014)
LINDSEY DWIGGINS-8th grade (ext. 5011)
COMPUTER OPERATOR/COUNSELING SECRETARY
MARCIE AGUIGUI (ext. 5006/5008)
2. Communicate with teachers & give the school information about your child that may be helpful.
Upcoming AIJMS Events
3. Attend conferences, meetings & other activities
through the school year.
4. Check your child’s bag for letters from school
5. Ask your child about his/her day at school
6. Check homework assignments & assist when needed
7. Provide an adequate study atmosphere and study
material at home. (a desk/table and quiet room)
8. Hug your child every day.
Page 14
January - VARO Presentations on Bullying
February - VARO Presentations on Juvenile Violence
Peer Mediation/Conflict Resolution Skits
IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL PARENTS: Counseling
program presentations on various topics such as bullying, juvenile violence, gun safety, drugs, sexual
assault, conflict resolution, etc. will be ongoing
throughout the school year. If you do not wish to
have your child participate in any of these presentations, please contact your child’s counselor or the
principal (Mr. Christopher Anderson).
Youth Crime Watch Update
YCW meetings are held every Monday in Room 4 right when lunch starts. If there is no school on
Monday, meetings are held the next day. New members are always welcomed! Please bring your lunch and
drinks. Special thanks to the following YCW members & Student Aides who represented AIJMS with
Ms. Mariano at Inafa’ Maolek’s Peace Stock Conference on Dec. 14th at the Marriott Hotel: Samantha
Garcia, Menelene Muna, Jaychok Jain, Lily Borja, McVerlynn Gaamow, Stevie Arca, Brichell Piyebulmal,
Jenntte Jain, and Hebert Fukuda. Special thanks to the Department of Youth Affairs and Parents who
sponsored our students so that they could attend this fun-filled and important annual event!
AIJMS YCW MEMBERS
6th grade: Thaddeus Abay, Reheamarie Arthur, Kaila Garrido*, Sinceria Ikea*, Jenntte Jain*, Janalynn San Nicolas,
Miando Sipia, and Donnevan Soulik
7th grade: Lily Borja*, Lackleen Efini*, McVerlynn Gaamow*(Treasurer), Robby Gebhart, Jaychok Jain*, Christelyn
Lopez, Marchelle Manabat(Vice President), Menelene Muna*(President), Rachel Nayor, Jaylene Pangelinan, Kaylani
Pangelinan, Alaisha Pocaigue, Joysee Raymond(Public Relations Officer), Eleanor Reyo*, Merlou Sally, Aubrienne San
Nicolas, Matteo San Nicolas*, Misae Sipia(Public Relations Officer), Robert Taimanglo, Keomi Tamam*, and Tefiny
Thing8th grade: Lehuanani Blas*, Heather Castro*,
COUNSELING PROGRAMS
Kimberly Chinel, Mark Jackson*, Bremity Lakjohn*(Secretary), Yolanda Meno*, Holi Tainatongo,
YOUTH CRIME WATCH/PEER MEDIATION The mission of the
Marina Tenorio*, Lorain Tio, and Shaylene Valentine
program is to create a crime-free, drug-free environment
*Indicates students trained in Peer Mediation by
Inafa’ Maolek in November 2007. Special Thanks through a youth-led movement. Some members are trained by
to Inafa’ Maolek’s Young University Mediators Inafa’ Maolek in Peer Mediation/Conflict Resolution.
(YUMs) Aislinn Rengil, Mariana Santos, Allan Fe- EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH (ETS) is offered through the
jeran, Casey Cadag, and Pat Wolff (Director)! University of Guam. ETS assists eligible students in attaining a
Also, special thanks to all parents that attended college education, developing communication and career exploration, high school preparation, tutoring, and much more.
the Certificate Ceremony on November 14th.
YOUTH FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATION is a community based
Congratulations to Student Aides who are not in youth program run by the Prevention and Training branch of the
YCW but volunteered to be trained in Peer Media- Department of Mental Health. It consists of middle and high
tion: Desha Balajadia, Brichell Piyebulmal, Paul Mani- school students throughout Guam. Their goals are to teach teens
busan, Kristen Manspit, Carlo Ongklungel, Stevie various life skills and to help them maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
Arca, Christopher Reyes, Charmane Baes, Samantha BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GUAM offers a schoolbased program. Mentors will visit our campus once a week during
Garcia, Herbert Fukuda, and Kala Perez.
lunch to meet with student participants. The volunteers will visit
AIJMS once a week to spend the lunch hour with the student
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING
participants reading, working on schoolwork, playing games,
STUDENTS WHO WERE ACCEPTED INTO THE
sports, etc.
ETS PROGRAM WITH UOG!
6th grade-Melpina Johnny, Desiree Ruiz, Eddie Santos, and
ISLAND GIRL POWER is a program that helps girls maintain
Robinson Welly
their self-esteem and confidence in order to decrease pregnancy,
7th grade-Lily Borja, George Cabrera, Christelyn Lopez, substance abuse, and suicide. FREE programs, classes, activities
and projects help encourage physical and mental health.
Jaeana Medina, Rachel Nayor, Joseph
COMMUNITY SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT CENTRAL of the
Pangelinan, Jasmyn Petros, Jeremy Pingul,
Christopher Reyes, Justin San Nicolas, and
Department of Youth Affairs offers programs and services FREE
Edward Suarez
of charge at Toto Gardens, Building 23. Some programs and services included are as follows: tutoring, arts and crafts, learning
8th grade-Manuel Bondoc, Rachel Cabrera, Kaeleen Cruz,
centers, fitness, movies, computer games, mentoring, jumpstart,
Chavez Gumabon, Rey-Lynn Leon Guerrero,
Ryan Leon Guerrero, Jaymon Medina, Alexis
case management, aftercare, school shadowing, and home visits.
Rosalin, Alfred Torres, and Frank Ulechong
SANCTUARY INCORPORATED offers a variety of FREE weekly
group sessions at their Chalan Pago location. Youth groups include: Anger Management, Tobacco Cessation, Pathways and Na’
Homlo (drug and alcohol prevention), Wellsprings (domestic violence), and Self-Esteem. Adult groups include Parent Support,
Anger Management and Parenting Skills.
Page 15
Project Menhalom
Hafa Adai Pirates! For openers, I would like to wish everyone a safe and prosperous New Year. Good things are coming to Agueda
Johnston Middle School (AJMS), the home of the Pirates. A grant entitled “Project Menhalom” was awarded to the Guam Public
School System (GPSS) middle schools in July 2006. The grant promotes a “system’s change and the development and implementation
of positive behavior supports at the school and system levels” for all students (Project Menhalom Grant, p. 1, 2006).
Prior to the grant, the Pirates community was already at the forefront in the development and implementation of character education as a result of Public Law 26-44. This law, passed by the 26th Guam Legislature in 2001, required GPSS to establish a
non-sectarian character education curriculum that promotes character building and academic excellence for all students. In
compliance with the law, AJMS integrated character education during its Home Base period. It also embraces the grant in the
establishment of a school-wide system of supports that include proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create a positive school environment.
After much anticipation, I am pleased to announce that AIJMS has welcomed Project Menhalom into its community. The good
news is that part of the grant provides the school with its very own School Level Facilitator and that would be me, Ms. Carmen
Garrido. As your School Level Facilitator, I am responsible for overseeing the implementation of the grant goals. This is quite
a huge project that requires eighty percent participation from AIJMS stakeholders. Stakeholders include parents, guardians,
faculty, support staff, administrators, our district mayor, and all individuals within and outside of the school community that
contribute to student success. One of my many functions is to provide awareness to the stakeholders concerning the basic
framework of the grant.
The grant’s basic framework contains two basic components, namely PBIS and SWIS. Positive Behavior Interventions and
Supports (PBIS) is a systemic approach that addresses the social and academic needs of all students at all time and in all settings. This can be done by (1) establishing a curriculum that teaches and promotes positive social behavior, (2) developing an
“acknowledgement” system that reinforces positive social behavior, and (3) implementing a data collection system (SchoolWide Information System, SWIS) that tracks student behavior, as well as provide school officials with valuable information that
will improve the decision making process.
Another good thing that has taken place in the home of the Pirates is the adoption of behavior expectations that includes the
“Big Nine.” Your school-wide expected behaviors are “Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible.” Three positive behavioral prompts are listed under each of the school-wide expected behaviors, thus the name “Big Nine” (refer to the sample listed
below). For your information, the school, through the support of the grant’s School Climate Cadre, will be sending surveys to
parents and guardians to get their input concerning positive behaviors in the home environment. At this time, I encourage you
to read and think about the types of positive behaviors that you would like your children to practice at home.
AIJMS School-Wide Behavior Expectations
Be Safe
Socialize and play safely
Stay within permitted areas.
Tell an adult if you or anyone else is in danger!
Be Respectful
Speak appropriately and respectfully to others, staff and students.
Keeps hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
Respect school property and the property of others.
Be Responsible
Come to school prepared. Come on time. And come EVERY day!
Stay on task in class.
Wear your school uniform proudly.
Again, PBIS is a systemic approach that addresses social and academic needs of all students at all times and in all settings. I
know that my letter can be overwhelming; however, rest assured that I will guide you through the process. More importantly, I
really need your help to successfully ensure that the goals of the grant are in place at your school. You are welcome to contact
me at the home of the Pirates at 472-6785, extension 5092, to discuss ways to help and encourage our students to practice positive social skills that contribute to their academic success.
Sincerely,
Ms. Carmen Garrido
AIJMS School Level Facilitator
Page 16
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which a facility's or institution's services and operations are examined by a third-party accrediting agency to determine if applicable
standards are met. Should the facility meet the accrediting agency's standards, the facility receives accredited status from the accrediting agency.
The accreditation process is a perpetual cycle of assessment, planning, implementing, monitoring, and reassessment (self-study, visit, and followup). Prior to the visit the school clarifies or
redefines its expected schoolwide learning results and begins the formal process that assesses
the actual student program with respect to the criteria.
The task of the self-study focuses on evaluating the school against the criteria and assessing the
degree to which all students are achieving the expected school-wide learning results. This is
what is happening at Agueda I. Johnston Middle School.
We would like to welcome and thank our parents as one of the stakeholders in this educational
community. Please read the report and provide AIJMS any feedback you may have. The report
can be downloaded from the school’s website at www.aijms.net.
Through the completion of our accreditation process AIJMS will have accomplished:
The involvement and collaboration of stakeholders in the self study.
The clarification of the school’s purpose and the expected schoolwide learning results
The assessment of the actual student program and its impact on the student learning with
respect to the criteria and the expected schoolwide learning results
The development of a schoolwide action plan that integrates subject area/program and support plans to address identified growth needs
The development and implementation of an accountability system for monitoring the accomplishment of the action plan.
GUAM PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM VISION STATEMENT
Our school community prepares for life, promotes excellence, and provides support.
AGUEDA I. JOHNSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT
Nurturing values through Education, Respect, Scholarship, and Cooperation.
MISSION STATEMENT
Agueda Johnston Middle School Students will:
•
Acquire knowledge and positive attitude
•
Become life long learners
•
Be responsible citizens
Page 17
PTO Executive Officers
AGUEDA IGLESIAS
JOHNSTON MIDDLE
SCHOOL
President:
8th Grade
7th Grade
6th Grade:
Treasurer:
Secretary:
Phone: 472-6785
Fax: 477-2248
website: www.aijms.net
Geraldine Francisco
Vice President: Angelica San Nicolas
Vice President: Arlene Tedtaotao
Therese Siguenza
Maria Perez
Christine Chargualaf
CURRENT BELL SCHEDULE
TIME
FLIP-FLOP
SCHEDULE
Mon/Wed/Fri
8:25 a.m.
8:30 a.m.— 8:50 a.m.
8:53 a.m. – 9:38 a.m.
9:41 a.m. – 10:26 a.m.
MINS.
Tues/Thurs
1st
Warning Bell
Home Base
7th
46
2nd
6th
46
10:26 a.m. – 10:38 a.m.
BREAK
5
11
10:41 a.m. – 11:26 a.m.
3rd
5th
46
11:29 a.m. – 12:14 p.m.
4th
4th
46
12:14 p.m. – 1:01 p.m.
LUNCH
58
1:04 p.m. – 1:49 p.m.
5th
3rd
46
1:52 p.m. – 2:37 p.m.
6th
2nd
46
2:37 p.m. – 2:42 p.m.
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
BREAK
7th
11
1st
46
Page 18