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

Mountain Echo

Online newspaper of Altoona Area High School in Altoona, Pennsylvania
  • December 5Breakfast 12/05/24 - Bacon, Egg and Cheese Croissant
  • December 5Lunch 12/05/24 - Walking Taco
  • December 5Announcements for 12/05/24
  • December 4Breakfast 12/04/24 - Cheese Omelette with Toast
  • December 4Lunch 12/04/24 - Pasta with Meat Sauce
  • December 4Announcements for 12/04/24
  • December 3Breakfast 12/03/24 - Egg and Cheese Bagel
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

Students can get information about the club via Google Classroom. More information will be available on the morning announcements.
Cancer-focused club created
Gracie Gioiosa, Reporter • December 5, 2024

In the United States, cancer rates are increasing, especially among young people. This steady incline has resulted in the majority of Americans...

Hard at work. Poultry in Motion junior player Adelyn Himmelwright goes to grab senior Mya Mielnik's flag during the semi-finals. Poultry in Motion took home the championship title for the 2024 Turkey Bowl.
Ready to run: 2024 Turkey Bowl takes place
Charlie Kephart, Mattie Baker, Emmalee Martyak, Madison Aboud, Andie Kephart, and Emma Hovan November 26, 2024

On Nov. 26, the annual Turkey Bowl took place. Eleven teams, consisting of juniors and seniors, played to win. Each team consisted of a minimum...

Sophomore Georgia Zlupko stands with her logo she designed for the PSPA design contest. Zlupko received an honorable mention.
Georgia Zlupko named Honorable Mention in PSPA design contest
Rylie Keagy, Reporter • November 26, 2024

Sophomore Georgia Zlupko entered the Pennsylvania Scholastic Press Association (PSPA) Design Contest during the 2023-2024 school year for teacher...

View All

Story Tip Line

Have a story idea? Want to pass along a tip or information to the Mountain Echo? Use this form.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.
Elected. Rep. Schmitt was re-elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Legislative District 79, representing portions of Blair County. (Courtesy of the candidate's campaign website)
AAHS Alumnus Louis Schmitt re-elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Melissa Krainer, Reporter • December 5, 2024

New Inductees. Students pose for a group picture on the night of the National Art Honor Society induction. National Honor Art Society induction was on Oct. 8. (Courtesy of Kathryn Curry)
National Art Honor Society holds induction
Cevin Dively, Reporter • December 5, 2024

On Oct. 8, the National Art Honor Society held their induction ceremony for the 2024-2025 school year....

Samara Wertz and Owen Carmel high five at the end of their performance,  “The Song That Goes Like This” from “Spamalot.”
Altoona takes on Talent
Rylie Keagy, Reporter • November 26, 2024

The Fine Arts Department hosted the student talent show on Nov. 15, 2024 at 7 p.m. There were 12 groups...

Camille Krug raises her glass to her mouth as she drinks what is within it. Playing Norma Pike in protest for her dead fiancé.
Can I tell you a secret: Drama club performs “Trap”
Adrielle McNeal, Reporter • November 25, 2024

On Nov. 7-8, the drama club presented their fall play,  “Trap.”  The show had twists and turns,...

Banning books. Every year, the number of novels on banned book lists increase. (Made with Canva).
The price society pays
Madison Aboud, Associate Editor • November 25, 2024

The story begins in 1637. Thomas Morton has just written “The New English Canaan.” The Puritan government...

Lights Ignite! Community members gather around the towering evergreen during the Winterfest Tree Lighting ceremony. The event will be held at 5 p.m., the day after Thanksgiving. (Photo courtesy of Melanie Ramsey)
Winterfest parade brings community together
Emma Hovan, Reporter • November 23, 2024

The holiday season begins with a cherished tradition: the Winterfest Parade. Taking place the Sunday...

View All
Runner-up. Freshman Sarah Glenny wins silver in middle school girls state championship meet. This was her first year wrestling. (Photo Courtesy of Sarah Glenny)
Girls’ wrestling added to winter sports schedule
Noah DiVentura November 21, 2024

After years of limited participation, Altoona welcomed girls to join the wrestling team. “There were 22 girls that showed up for a meeting in the spring to show interest,”...

Senior volleyball players, coaches and parents take time for a photo at senior night.
Girls’ volleyball makes it to playoffs
Adrielle McNeal, Reporter • November 8, 2024

On Oct. 29 the girls' varsity volleyball team traveled to State College to compete in playoffs. The team went into the game with their heads...

View All
Mountain Echo Voices
Seasonal sips. Starbucks offers new and old drinks for the holidays. The coffee chain kept their drinks from years prior, and added a new cranberry flavored refresher to the menu.
‘Tis the season at Starbucks
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • December 5, 2024

Starbucks released their holiday menu on Nov. 7, and as you may or may not have noticed, not much has changed. The only new addition in terms of drinks is their Cran-Merry...

When green meets pink. "Wicked" is currently being shown in theaters, but NBC has confirmed that, following its run in theaters, it will be available to stream on Peacock. The film ran for two hours and 40 minutes.
Wicked: No wonder it’s so popular
Emmalee Martyak, Associate Editor • December 5, 2024

On Nov. 22, Universal Studios released the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, “Wicked,” prequel to the 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz.” The film stars Ariana Grande...

Tyler, The Creators new album "Chromakopia's" cover art. (Courtesy of Tyler, The Creator)
Why Chromakopia is a Must Listen
Rylan Cagle, Reporter • November 21, 2024

Tyler, The Creator’s latest album, “Chromakopia”, is nothing short of a masterpiece, and is a must-listen for fans of experimental hip-hop and amazing storytelling....

View All
Cult classic. Rachel Harrison's "Black Sheep" is centered around the return of a woman to her family's religious cult. It was Harrison's fifth addition to the horror genre, with her sixth and most recent book being "So Thirsty".
November Book of the Month
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • November 23, 2024

“Black Sheep” is author Rachel Harrison’s fifth book release, following her debut novel “The Return” and fan favorites “Such Sharp Teeth” and “Cackle”. Since...

Mattie Baker
Editorial Cartoon
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • November 25, 2024

Lamar Franklin hides his phone behind his Chromebook.  Chemistry teacher Teresa Rubine would never allow a cell phone in class according to school policy but allowed this photo.
Letter to the Editor: Phones
Kari Wombacher, Contributor • December 1, 2024
Out of time. In recent years, teachers have been given more responsibilities that take away from their work time. This work time is essential, and being deprived of It largely contributes to the high turn over rate of Altoona teachers.
Teachers’ work time interrupted by unnecessary busy work
Editorial Board November 25, 2024

Out of their eight periods, most teachers teach students for six periods of the day, have a preparation period and have a principal’s assignment....

Today's Weather


  • 3 AM
    23 °
  • 4 AM
    23 °
  • 5 AM
    23 °
  • 6 AM
    23 °
  • 7 AM
    23 °
  • 8 AM
    23 °
  • 9 AM
    24 °
  • 10 AM
    25 °
  • 11 AM
    25 °
  • 12 PM
    26 °
  • 1 PM
    27 °
  • 2 PM
    28 °
  • 3 PM
    28 °
  • 4 PM
    28 °
  • 5 PM
    27 °
  • 6 PM
    26 °
  • 7 PM
    26 °
  • 8 PM
    25 °
  • 9 PM
    25 °
  • 10 PM
    25 °
  • 11 PM
    24 °
  • 12 AM
    24 °
  • 1 AM
    24 °
  • 2 AM
    23 °
  • 3 AM
    23 °
December 6
29°/ 22°
Cloudy
December 7
30°/ 22°
Partly Cloudy
December 8
48°/ 28°
Sunny
Photo of the Week
Mountain Echo Pulse

What is there more of?

Loading...

Sorry, there was an error loading this poll.

Featured Staff Members
Charlie Kephart
Charlie Kephart
Editor in Chief
Activate Search
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School