Skip to Main Content
Can we help you find something?
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

Altoona Area High School
1404 Sixth Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
  • April 4Breakfast 04/04/25 - Pancakes with Bacon
  • April 4Lunch 04/04/25 - Cheesy Breadsticks with Sauce
  • April 4Announcements for 04/04/25
  • April 3Breakfast 04/03/25 - Egg and Cheese Bagel
  • April 3Lunch 04/03/25 - Beef and Cheese Nachos
  • April 3Announcements for 04/03/25
  • April 2Breakfast 04/02/25 - Western Scramble
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

"First you pound ze fish flat with a mallet". Seniors Gavin Harkins and Trevor Wilson play their roles as the Chef and Sebastian. Sebastian watches as the Chef prepares the fish.
From fins to footsteps: Drama members use show previews to prepare for final shows
Adrielle McNeal, Reporter • April 3, 2025

On March 31-April 2, the drama club performed previews for fourth and eighth grade classes, as well as high school students, in order to prepare...

Hard at work. A student works on a project during his class time at the GACTC. Students from the high school have the opportunity to attend the GACTC to explore their interests outside of the high school setting. (Photo Courtesy of Adrian Pacifico)
GACTC holds job interviews for seniors
Charlie Kephart, Editor in Chief • March 28, 2025

In recent weeks, students at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center (GACTC) have been practicing job interviewing and resume skills....

A group of students stand outside the student store waiting for it to open. These seven students waited until the door opened five minutes into the period.
Student store policies changed
Haven Femea, Reporter • March 25, 2025

The student store currently operates before school, during first period, fourth period and eighth period. On Feb. 3 student council adviser...

View All

QUICK NEWS

Chicken Nugget Review
Chicken Nugget Review
Rylie Keagy, Addisen McDonald, Noah DiVentura, and Rylan Cagle April 2, 2025

Continue Reading
Students visited the Christmas market a few years ago and emerged in cultural experiences. (Courtesy of Veronica Skomra)
Foreign Language Club to attend field trips this spring
Cevin Dively, Reporter • March 28, 2025

Foreign Language Club (FLC) has several field trips planned throughout the month of April. Their cultural...

The future of medicine. Biomedical science students line up for a photo at Allegheny General Hospital. Classes are invited yearly to observe surgeries. (Courtesy of Rebecca Skebeck)
Biomedical science students attend heart surgery
Lincoln Frank, Associate Editor • March 26, 2025

On March 11, students from biomedical science classes had the opportunity to witness open heart surgery...

Stellar performance. Esworthy earned a medal for their placement at the LHHSSL Regional Tournament. The senior was thrilled when they found out. "I competed in [the dramatic interpretation] category, because it's similar to the poetry I've written in the past, and it entailed a lot of emotional topics, which was super fun to perform," Esworthy said. (Courtesy Julie  Storm)
Storming to the top: Alex Esworthy intertwines poetry, theater in Speech League tournament
Melissa Krainer, Reporter • March 26, 2025

Drama. Expression. Creativity. The Speech League team combines all of these elements in an environment...

Vietnamese student navigates new country mid-year
Vietnamese student navigates new country mid-year
Mack Callan, Reporter • March 25, 2025

In the beginning of March, sophomore Huyen Nquyen moved from Vietnam to the United States. She started...

View All
Serving Skylar. Sophomore Skylar Irwin serves the ball. This is Irwins second year on the team. (Coursey of Charlie Kephart)
Athletes superstitions: how they affect the game
Emma Hovan, Reporter • April 3, 2025

Athlete superstitions are a part of sports culture, where beliefs and rituals often intertwine with performance. For many athletes, these superstitions provide a sense of...

View All
Mountain Echo Voices – Opinion/Editorial

Welcome to the Opinion Section of the Mountain Echo.  These opinions do not represent the opinions of the school or school district but those of the students.

Students in the drama club practice for the upcoming spring musical. Drama club is one of several clubs you can join in high school.
Extracurricular activities prove to be helpful in long run
Diego Gil, Guest Reporter • April 4, 2025

With so many different clubs, sports and programs offered in school, it can be difficult to evaluate what exactly will help in the long run.  With every club being marketed...

Freshman Deklan Barr wrestles his opponent. Wrestling is one of several sports that students can join. (Photo Courtesy of Andie Kephart)
Student athletes receive benefits from sports
Maxwell Coon, Guest Reporter • April 2, 2025

 Every student should play a sport because it is very beneficial for the future.  Sports can help with being on time, responsibility, good grades, being able to balance...

"Addison Rae Pandora ME 2021 02 (cropped)" by TheOfficialPandora is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Addison Rae’s new single: authentic or trying too hard?
Celestine Gibson, Guest Reporter • March 31, 2025

Starting out by making simple dancing videos on TikTok, Addison Rae has since catapulted into fame and stardom as she begins to discover herself and her style. While some...

View All
Neon nostalgia. "Mister Magic" explores what happens to the things that get left in the past. The novel was Kiersten White's 2023 release.
March Book of the Month
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • March 23, 2025

Mister Magic, the elusive cloaked figure of the kid’s show with the same name, has plagued the memories of the rest of the cast for years. These other cast members, called...

Editorial Cartoon
Editorial Cartoon
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • March 28, 2025

A person pays using their cell phone with the instant electronic payment mode known as PIX, at a store in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 1, 2024. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
Letter to the Editor: Cell Phones
Dante Diehl, Contributor • February 25, 2025

This is a letter on why kids should have phones on our person in school, and I will go through three...

Podcast Corner
Left out. Especially after people have begun to drift from a group they were close with, finding a new crowd can be difficult. Being open-minded to having new connections can easily combat this by assuring that people can make friends after a falling out.
High school experience hindered by lack of opportunity for interaction
Editorial Board March 28, 2025

Throughout the school year, many students find themselves grouped in with the same students almost all day. Not only this, but being around the...

"The Lighthouse" is available for streaming on Max. The movie ran for 110 minutes.
Last night’s movie [6]
Emmalee Martyak and Mattie Baker March 28, 2025

———————————————————————-
Photo of the Week
Today's Weather


  • 7 AM
    47 °
  • 8 AM
    49 °
  • 9 AM
    50 °
  • 10 AM
    49 °
  • 11 AM
    51 °
  • 12 PM
    52 °
  • 1 PM
    52 °
  • 2 PM
    53 °
  • 3 PM
    55 °
  • 4 PM
    56 °
  • 5 PM
    57 °
  • 6 PM
    58 °
  • 7 PM
    59 °
  • 8 PM
    58 °
  • 9 PM
    57 °
  • 10 PM
    58 °
  • 11 PM
    57 °
  • 12 AM
    56 °
  • 1 AM
    53 °
  • 2 AM
    50 °
  • 3 AM
    48 °
  • 4 AM
    46 °
  • 5 AM
    45 °
  • 6 AM
    44 °
  • 7 AM
    43 °
April 5
59°/ 45°
Moderate rain
April 6
44°/ 35°
Heavy rain
April 7
45°/ 31°
Moderate rain
Mountain Echo Pulse

What activity are you most excited for this spring?

Sorry, there was an error loading this poll.

Story Tip Line – Share Your Ideas
Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.
0 of 600 max characters
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Featured Staff Members
Charlie Kephart
Charlie Kephart
Editor in Chief
Madison Aboud
Madison Aboud
Associate Editor
Rylan Cagle
Rylan Cagle
Reporter
Rylie Keagy
Rylie Keagy
Reporter
Activate Search
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School