Howland Jr. High School

Our Howland Junior High Challenge 24 team recently competed in a county-wide tournament and did an outstanding job representing our district!

Team members included Sean Johnson, Joey Kaszowski, Logan Nicholas, Mason Pegg and Krosbie Shipman.

Sean Johnson stepped up from the alternate pool and competed in two rounds. Great job rising to the challenge! Joey Kaszowski and Krosbie Shipman advanced to the semifinals, showcasing excellent math skills.

In the 7th and 8th grade division:
🥈 Mason Pegg earned 2nd place
🥉 Logan Nicholas earned 3rd place

We are proud of all of our participants for representing Howland Junior High so well!

Our junior high students recently traveled to Trumbull Career & Technical Center to tour the campus and learn about the many program opportunities available as they begin thinking about their high school pathways. A big thank you to TCTC for welcoming our students and providing such a great opportunity to learn and explore their future options!

#FutureReady #HighSchoolPathways #StudentOpportunities

Reminder: There is no school on Monday, March 16 due to a staff Professional Development Day. Students will return to school on Tuesday!

Students in Mrs. Johns' Health & Wellness classes recently wrapped up their Safety and First Aid unit with hands-on CPR training. Throughout the chapter, students practiced essential lifesaving skills!

March is National Music In Our Schools Month and we are excited to celebrate the incredible talents of our students and staff all month long! From kindergarten music classes to middle and high school bands, choirs, jazz ensembles and live performances, our students are showcasing their hard work, dedication and love of music.

Throughout March, families and community members can:
🎼 Attend live performances
🎶 Watch featured performances on our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@htb8947)

Check out the full March calendar of events and celebrate with us!

Congratulations to our Howland Junior High February Students of the Month Nominees: Bryce Montecalvo, Destiny Monroe, Sutton Thorn, Xavier Eckrote, Gianni Minnetti, Jacob Davis, Ava Eastman and Hannah Richards! We are proud of these students for their hard work, leadership and dedication! A special thank you to Arby's for treating our nominees to lunch! 🧡🎉

Our students, Vocal Music Teacher Mr. Semrau, High School Principal Mr. Simko and Superintendent Kevin Spicher were invited to present at the Warren Chamber “Good Evening Howland” event held Thursday evening at Salvatore’s, highlighting the Township, our schools and other Howland businesses and organizations! Board of Education President Jeff Pegg and Vice President Brianne Perry were also in attendance.

Superintendent Spicher spoke about the success of Howland students and the strong partnerships with the township, local businesses and community organizations that support our schools.

The Howland High School Student Chamber Choir performed a beautiful selection and the Howland Schools alma mater for those in attendance.

Our Junior High Prep Bowl team placed 2nd overall out of 17 teams at the Trumbull ESC Prep Bowl on Saturday. What an outstanding accomplishment! Congratulations Mason Pegg, Lincoln Perry, Anthony Restaino, Hawk Blakeley, Harrison Huffman, Joseph Kaszowski, Braxton Ross, and Prep Club Advisor Mrs. Haddle!

The 2026–2027 Howland Local Schools calendar is now available. Families can review important dates, including the start of school, breaks and scheduled days off.

We are grateful for the kindness shown to our staff! 7 Brew Coffee in Niles donated and delivered beverages to our teachers as a gesture of appreciation. We even had enough left to surprise a few students and celebrate our Weekly ROAR (Responsibility, Ownership, Acceptance, and Respect) reward winners.

Mrs. Johns’ Health class is diving into a nutrition unit focused on understanding how our bodies work and how to make healthy choices. Students explored BMI as one informational tool and participated in the “BMI String Challenge” to learn about healthy ranges, personal wellness, and how numbers don’t define a person!

📢 Special Board of Education Meeting Notice📢

The Howland Local School District Board of Education will hold a special meeting on:

📅 Wednesday, February 4, 2026
⏰ 6:00 p.m.
📍 Howland Schools Administration Building

Purpose of the meeting:
• Review the Board vision
• Share and gather goals
• Strategic planning
• Discussion related to the 2026–2027 school year

No action will be taken during this meeting.

Our 7th-grade art students are diving into one-point perspective by designing and drawing their own interior gallery spaces. Students are planning layouts and filling their galleries with at least three artworks that reflect personal objects, places, or experiences, all while identifying and applying characteristics from three major art movements. 🎨

Ms. Van Gilder’s 8th grade art students are getting creative with a paper-mâché mask project! 🎭Students are researching the cultural history of traditional masks, then using paper-mâché techniques to design and build their own. Each finished mask showcases varied textures, values, and strong craftsmanship. This project blends art history, cultural studies, and hands-on design into a meaningful and impressive work of art.

Our junior high Art Club has been busy creating and exploring new techniques!

In December, students painted winter landscapes using acrylics, learning color mixing, layering, and brushwork to capture depth, atmosphere, and the cool beauty of snowy scenes.

In January, the club switched mediums and got hands-on with ceramic tile projects featuring Valentine’s themes. Students used a pointillist technique, carefully applying small dots of glaze to create detailed, vibrant designs.

We’re excited to share that four 8th-grade artworks from Ms. Van Gilder’s art class have been selected for the 2026 Northeast Ohio Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition at Youngstown State University.

👏 Congratulations to our student artists: Kylie Barnes, Nemysys Seamon, Noah Killingsworth and Brandon Alexi

🖼 Exhibition Dates: January 7–24, 2026
🏆 Awards Ceremony: Saturday, January 24 | 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Ford Theater, Bliss Hall, Youngstown State University
📌 Address: 547 Wick Ave., Youngstown, OH 44503

We’re proud to celebrate our talented junior high artists whose work has been selected for the Area Student Art Exhibit at the Trumbull Art Gallery (TAG) in downtown Warren! This year, 16 students from Ms. Van Gilder’s art classes will represent our school in a professional gallery setting!

🎨Congratulations to our featured artists: Aliona Robinson, Petrina Brant, Paxtyn Cuesta, Kylie Barnes, Nemysys Seamon, Ciarra Kascak, Kaitlyn Rodgers, Lilah Sybelnik, Noah Killingsworth, Brandon Alexi, Peyton Moore, Fiona Perkins, Ava Eastman, Mia Leasure, Connor Fitzpatrick and Madelyn Stein.

🖼 Exhibition Dates: January 17 – February 20, 2026
🎉 Opening Reception: Saturday, January 17 | 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Location: Trumbull Art Gallery (TAG), 158 North Park Ave., Warren, OH

⏰ Gallery Hours (Public Viewing):
• Thursday & Friday: 12–4 PM
• Saturday: 11 AM–3 PM

Students in Mrs. Whittaker’s math class conducted a hands-on simulation as part of a probability lesson. Through active participation and real-time data collection, students explored how probability works in action! 📊🎲

Students in Janet Castner’s 8th grade Earth Science class explored Alfred Wegener’s theory of Continental Drift by modeling his original thought process. Using fossil evidence and magnetic clues, they worked to reconstruct the supercontinent Pangaea. Through step-by-step directions, matching symbols across continents, and comparing articles to their models, students strengthened their understanding of historical scientific reasoning and built critical thinking skills. 📚