Mr. Andrew C. Ruppert, Principal                                              email:  aruppert@boyertownasd.org.  

Scenically located four miles east of Boyertown on Route 73 in Gilbertsville, Boyertown Junior High School East Center has 905 students enrolled in grades 7, 8, and 9.  Our school is centered on meeting the needs of our students by providing relevant experiences through which they can learn and grow.  Parents and other community members are encouraged to participate with us in our educational and co-curricular programs.  

Parent involvement is critical to the success of junior high students.  Our parent group, the East Family Network (EFN) meets quarterly to support student activities, share ideas through roundtable discussions, coordinate parent volunteers, and to provide speakers on relevant topics.  Our 2007-2008 meetings are scheduled for the following dates: October 18, January 14, March 5, and April 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Library.  In addition the principal would like to invite all parents to a series of informal discussion sessions, the "Parent-Principal Coffee."  These will be held on the following Tuesday mornings: October 23, December 11, February 26 and April 22 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Library. Any time that questions arise, we encourage parents to call the main office at (610) 754-9550.

All students are grouped into interdisciplinary instructional teams.  Each team is comprised of four or five academic area teachers – language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science.  The team of teachers meets twice each cycle with our guidance counselors to discuss their students and how they can best meet each student’s needs.  Parents are encouraged to schedule a visit to a team meeting to help bridge the gap between home and school.    

Students are provided a strong, academically-oriented educational program.  Our program starts with a more structured seventh grade offering and gradually increases the number of elective choices that students make as they reach ninth grade.  A continuing focus is the alignment of curriculum, instructional and assessment with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards.  Our scores in state PSSA testing continue to be excellent. 

Our staff has developed a system of extensive support services for our students.  Instructional aides are available to assist students in study halls.  During our flex period, we have developed a plethora of remedial opportunities. Students can get help from either a teacher from their team or a subject area teacher. Besides the help at East during school hours, the district will continue to offer the "Math Hotline." The hotline is available Monday through Thursday evenings from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. Students can call the hotline at (610) 473-3720, (610) 473-3721, or (610) 473-3722 or come in to Room 17 at Junior High West for help or tutoring for their mathematics assignments.

Four computer labs are connected to the Internet and instruction in the appropriate use of the Internet is included in the seventh grade curriculum.  Junior High East provides an excellent educational opportunity for all students who attend.  Our faculty knows the importance of providing a positive learning environment.  Students are always encouraged to achieve to their fullest potential.  The staff sets the example for students by continually updating their knowledge through professional development workshops and graduate courses to keep themselves well informed on all the new issues in education.   Our annual "Career Week" brings in parents and members of the Boyertown Area business community to speak to students. 

 Students are urged to get involved in student activities, choosing from a broad selection of clubs, athletic teams, music groups, student government and student publications.  We try to combine the academic and co-curricular programs to help develop a well-rounded student. 

The staff works with students, parents, and local police officers to provide a safe school environment.  Respect for all is emphasized and modeled.  A corps of ninth grade students serves as mentors for our seventh grade students through the "Bear Ambassador" program.  Our Student Assistance Team works with the parents of students who are a risk for depression or drug/alcohol involvement.  Local police officers teach eighth grade students about avoiding drug/alcohol use in the DARE program.  Those skills are reinforced with seventh grade and ninth grade students through "Project ALERT" lessons in Fitness classes.  Our "AOK" program allows staff members to recognize and reward students for an Act of Kindness. We have earned our second consecutive "No Place for Hate" designation through the Anti-Defamation League this past school year. We look forward to continuing this program again this year.