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
  • February 6Breakfast 02/06/25 - Egg and Cheese Croissant
  • February 6Lunch 02/06/25 - Tacos
  • February 6Announcements for 02/06/25
  • February 5Breakfast 02/05/25 - Biscuit with Country Gravy
  • February 5Lunch 02/05/25 - General Tso's Chicken with Rice
  • February 5Announcements for 02/05/25
  • February 4Breakfast 02/04/25 - Assorted Bagels with Cream Cheese
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo

Gym classes plan to bring archery back to the school as a way to form a competitive team in the future.
Gym classes bring archery back to school
Rylie Keagy, Reporter • February 5, 2025

Physical education classes are planning to bring back archery. In the old B building basement, there was an archery range when teacher Thomas...

Juniors Camile Krug and Samarra Wertz
practice "Kiss the Girl" during rehearsal, but take a minor break to pose for the camera.
Drama to start The Little Mermaid production
Adrielle McNeal, Reporter • January 27, 2025

On Jan. 13, the drama department held their first rehearsal consisting of 121 students, including cast and crew. The directors, crew and staff...

Selling Out. Betsy Giansante and Regina Schobel's class created and sold diamond art right before Christmas break. The class created keychains, bookmarks, coasters and prints.
Emotional Support classes create diamond art
Rylie Keagy, Reporter • January 23, 2025

Betsy Giansante and Regina Schobel’s class began diamond art as a craft and calming exercise, but once they had enough pieces of art, the class...

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.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Least favorite fashion trends
Least favorite fashion trends
Rylan Cagle and Noah DiVentura February 4, 2025

"In My First Gen Era." On Saturday, Nov. 9, Gallery-Price (center) traveled to Pittsburgh with her students for lunch at Red Robin and a matinee performance of "Beauty and the Beast" at the Byham Theater with students from Altoona, Clairton and McKeesport high schools. The day before, Altoona students had a First-Generation College Student Celebration Day with the theme “In My First Gen Era,” inspired by Taylor Swift. (Courtesy of Gallery-Price)
Upward Bound program adviser bounds in a new direction
Melissa Krainer, Reporter • January 31, 2025

Since September of 2023, Upward Bound adviser Kelly Gallery-Price has helped point first-generation college...

TikTok ban affects students
TikTok ban affects students
Gracie Gioiosa, Reporter • January 30, 2025

On Jan.18, for about 14 hours, TikTok went dark for the roughly 170 million Americans who use the popular...

Winner. Junior Aly Sipes wins an award at a speech league competition. Students who enjoy Introduction to Public Speaking are encouraged to join the speech league. (Courtesy of Addisen McDonald)
Introduction to Public Speaking class teaches life lessons
Mack Callan, Reporter • January 27, 2025

Heather Tippett - Wertz teaches Introduction to Public Speaking, an elective available to juniors and...

Cyber education. Since its inception in 2009, the ACA has grown from five students to over 500 students enrolled in the secondary program. The Stevens faculty and staff expanded the program to give students an optimal non-traditional education experience. "We wanted to keep our students in our district and provide them the same education that they would get as if they were in the building," McGinnis said. "The kids that are in our program get an AAHS diploma and get to participate in all of the senior activities. I take great pride in getting an AAHS diploma. To me, that means something, and I try to invite our students to feel the same." (Courtesy of Julie Schreiber)
Alternative education program evolves
Melissa Krainer, Reporter • January 16, 2025

Unexpected. Eye-opening. Challenging. Rewarding.  Five minutes from Altoona Area High School, nestled...

View All
The swim team does their final cheer together after the meet. Seniors gave speeches following the meet, creating emotion.
Swim team participates in final home meet
Adrielle McNeal, Reporter • February 5, 2025

On Jan. 27, the swim team competed against Hollidaysburg high school as their final home meet. The girls lost 100 - 56, as well as the boys 74 - 65  "Considering this...

Coaches reunite. The Lady Lion's coaches over the years returned to the field house to celebrate 1,000 wins.
Lady Lions hold alumni game to celebrate 1,000 wins
Cevin Dively, Reporter • January 31, 2025

On Friday, Jan. 24, the Lady Lions took on Chambersburg in the field house. This game celebrated 1,000 wins over the course of decades. Former...

View All
Mountain Echo Voices

Welcome to the Opinion Section of the Mountain Echo.  Look below for the voices of the students at AAHS.

Weekly Cookie. At Cumbl, the flavors change every single week. This week was Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks, Jammy Heart, Red Velvet Cupcake, Valentine Confetti, Lemon Glaze and Dirt Cake. (Courtesy of Emma Hovan)
Crumbl cookie ranking
Andie Kephart, Reporter • February 3, 2025

On Feb. 7, Crumbl is opening a new location in Altoona. In light of this occasion, I've decided to rank their cookies, best to worst. But first, let me tell you a little about...

Fire damage! The fires have caused over $250 billion worth of damage. This raises concerns for the 2028 Olympics
California should not host the 2028 Olympics
Emma Hovan, Reporter • February 3, 2025

As I watch the situation unfold in Los Angeles, Ca, I am increasingly convinced the 2028 Summer Olympics should be moved to another city in the United States. The current...

How long. The stage during the second act of “Hadestown.” The second act begins with Persephone and the workers singing “Our Lady of the Underground.”
Best Broadway musicals
Madison Aboud, Associate Editor • January 30, 2025

With musical season upon us at the high school, everyone has a newfound excitement for Broadway. Well, at least I do.  Since I was young, I’ve always adored Broadway....

View All
Chills and thrills. "Episode Thirteen" by Craig DiLouie tells the story of a team of ghost hunters who stumble upon a real haunted house. The novel was DiLouie's 2023 release.
January Book of the Month
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • January 23, 2025

“Fade to Black” is a reality show following a group of professional ghost hunters: Matt, Claire, Kevin, Jake and Jessica. When ratings for the show dip during its first...

Editorial Cartoon
Editorial Cartoon
Mattie Baker, Associate Editor • January 31, 2025

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
American users have had access to TikTok since its 2016 release. In the US, over 167 million people use the app.
A TikTok ban should not take place
Editorial Board January 30, 2025

Among the acts taken by President Donald Trump on his first day in office was signing an executive order which extended the deadline for the...

Today's Weather


  • 12 AM
    33 °
  • 1 AM
    32 °
  • 2 AM
    31 °
  • 3 AM
    31 °
  • 4 AM
    31 °
  • 5 AM
    31 °
  • 6 AM
    30 °
  • 7 AM
    29 °
  • 8 AM
    28 °
  • 9 AM
    28 °
  • 10 AM
    29 °
  • 11 AM
    29 °
  • 12 PM
    30 °
  • 1 PM
    31 °
  • 2 PM
    31 °
  • 3 PM
    31 °
  • 4 PM
    30 °
  • 5 PM
    30 °
  • 6 PM
    29 °
  • 7 PM
    27 °
  • 8 PM
    25 °
  • 9 PM
    24 °
  • 10 PM
    23 °
  • 11 PM
    22 °
February 6
45°/ 27°
Patchy rain nearby
February 7
32°/ 20°
Sunny
February 8
28°/ 23°
Moderate or heavy snow showers
Featured Staff Members
Charlie Kephart
Charlie Kephart
Editor in Chief
Rylie Keagy
Rylie Keagy
Reporter
Emma Hovan
Emma Hovan
Reporter
Activate Search
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School