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The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
Altoona Area High School
1404 Sixth Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
  • April 17Breakfast 04/17/25 - Egg and Cheese Bagel
  • April 17Lunch 04/17/25 - Soft Tacos
  • April 17Announcements for 04/17/25
  • April 16Breakfast 04/16/25 - Western Scramble
  • April 16Lunch 04/16/25 - Mashed Potato Bowl
  • April 16Announcements for 04/16/25
  • April 15Breakfast 04/15/25 - Sausage, Egg and Cheese Muffin
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
The Student News Site of Altoona Area High School

Mountain Echo
All content by Cider Ayala
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[Photo] Cyber school provides diverse learning opportunities

May 21, 2024
Congratulations! Cossitor sent out a virtual invitation to a group in the Band app, explaining that all students in it had received enough hours to become members. When first sending out the invite, Cossitor included an error with the date, but he promptly fixed it. Courtesy of Benjamin Cossitor

Annual Thespian induction planned to honor new members

Cider Ayala, Associate Editor
April 26, 2024
Crazy cats. Senior Thomas Ford sits down surrounded by cats at the Second Chance Strays Cat Rescue and Lounge while feeding them treats. The lounge is meant to give the cats another chance to find a home and receive the care they need.

[Photo] The love of pets

Madison Aboud, Associate Editor
April 19, 2024
Reaching the Stars Junior Ava Cabell shows off her pottery project of a standing tiki. Cabell's project is one of the tallest pieces that pottery teacher Eric Hoover has ever seen in his class.

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Changing with Cider: Overcoming phobias

Cider Ayala, Associate Editor
February 29, 2024
Wafting. Reporter Charlie Kephart holds the honey mustard sauce while Gracie Gioiosa wafts it. Reporter Cider Ayala tagged along to help try the Subway Sidekicks.

[Photo] Subway Sidekicks: Are they really worth it?

Gracie Gioiosa and Charlie Kephart
February 29, 2024
Focusing Junior Ava Cabell sits at her computer in the broadcasting room. She works on an animation to include in upcoming edits.

Getting Ahead Stevenson sits in his first period class where he works on his English 10 class. Assignments for the online class are often posted at the beginning of the week, and Stevenson is able to get them done early in the week so he can worry about other assignments.

Program gives students credit recovery opportunities

Cider Ayala, Associate Editor
February 21, 2024
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[Photo] Online restrictions limit learning experiences for secondary students

Editorial Board
January 31, 2024
Introductions Art teacher Eric Hoover stands in front of the class on the first day of the second semester. He is showing students how to use a heat gun to expand a work of paper mache while also explaining other procedures in the class.

Joel Gilbert teaches his seventh period driver's education class. Adam Watt offers behind-the-wheel experience for any students who have a license or permit and have a pass from Gilbert.

[Photo] Schools should mandate driver’s education courses

Editorial Board
December 19, 2023
Cossitor posts the callbacks list on the Band app. All students in the Drama club have access to the group which is updated with announcements throughout the year about the club’s productions and other events.

Musical callbacks released

Cider Ayala, Associate Editor
December 11, 2023
William Himmelwright works in the attendance office daily.

[Photo] Community service benefits Altoona

Brandon Auker, Reporter
December 1, 2023
Frighteningly Fun. Junior Dominic Zlupko demonstrates the tone of his assignment for his AP Language and Composition class with a terrified facial expression. Anthony DeRubis created excitement for his AP students as they were assigned to write an essay by using information from sources that resemble an off-putting restaurant which mimics the settings of the popular Five Nights at Freddy's franchise. "It’s very different from any other English class I’ve had. Basing work off of a fun concept is a refreshing change, and it fuels me to work on the assignment," Zlupko said.

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Changing with Cider: trying poetry

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
May 17, 2023
Sign Up Permission slips for the field trip lay on gym teachers' desks. All teachers want the permission slips back as soon as possible.

Canoe Creek field trip upcoming for gym classes

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
May 12, 2023
Order Up! Lenhart signs the different drink orders and has club members figure out if it's theirs or not. Lenhart talked if someone was having trouble figuring out their orders, but most were able to figure it out themselves.

Sign Language Club visits Penn Lincoln with purpose

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
May 11, 2023
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Changing with Cider: loving exercise

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
May 5, 2023
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Changing with Cider: opening my window

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
April 20, 2023
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Changing with Cider: Choosing college

Bryana Ayala, Associate Editor
March 31, 2023
Lined Up Students line up by the opened bathrooms on the first floor of the B building during lunch. Policies require limited numbers of students in the restrooms.

[Photo] New bathroom regulations are unjust and unnecessary

Editorial Board, Reporter
March 28, 2023
Giving Information A field trip paper is given to each student who joins the APPLES festival. Another paper was given out for each students individual event with more information.

APPLES festival to come

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
March 9, 2023
Chatting Junior Alexander Hamel and Freshman Camile Krug talk before the play begins. They discussed different things regarding the play and their lives.

Mishler Theatre field trip

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
March 8, 2023
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Changing with Cider: Accomplishments

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
March 8, 2023
Openly faithful. Senior Danielle Bardelang shows off her faith based tattoo and bracelets. Although she will not force her faith on anyone, she is open about her faith.

[Photo] Editorial: Schools need to be religiously neutral

Editorial Board, Reporter
March 1, 2023
Fulfilling Meal A tray full of junior high school food sits on the table. Some students have debated on whether or not the junior high or high school food is better.

Not all a piece of cake: Reimer discusses reasoning behind lunch

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
February 13, 2023
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Changing with Cider: Valentine’s Day

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
February 9, 2023
Laid back and relaxed. A students lounges in the student commons area to complete homework. Some have debated on whether or not pajamas should be allowed at school.

[Photo] Pajama pants are acceptable for student attire at school

Editorial Board, Reporter
January 31, 2023
An introduction

Changing with Cider: an introduction

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
January 20, 2023
Andrew Sackett plays the base while the rest of the members practice themselves.

Holiday Concert

Abigail Shearer and Bryana Ayala
January 10, 2023
Sticky Mess A student is surrounded by sticky notes listing personal worries. Disorganization can cause stress in students as it overstimulates people and causes them to focus on the wrong things.

Tips and Tricks: Self Management

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
January 5, 2023
Thorough Looking A student looks up the diagnosis criteria of Anorexia Nervosa. One of the best ways to self-refer is by looking up the diagnosis criteria for disorders and applying them to oneself.

Self-diagnosis is harmful practice

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
December 9, 2022
Buzzing A bee sits atop of a flower while a tennis game takes place in the area. There are more than 200,000 species of bees with around 450 species in Pennsylvania alone.

Bees need to be protected

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
November 18, 2022
Every Voice Matters A sticker spreads positivity about Sign Language. Lenhart is planning on using stickers as a way to gain more interest for the club by passing them out to students.

Sign Language Club plans for upcoming meeting on Nov. 17

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
November 15, 2022
Glistening Hands show off gems embedded in class rings. One ring was from 1977 and the other was from 1964.

Don’t waste money buying class rings

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
November 15, 2022
Spooky Skeletons Phone showcases "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on Disney+. The movie is a part of a current collection on the streaming website with other Halloween movies.

Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” remains holiday classic

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
October 21, 2022
Hateful Numbers Some students struggle with self image and appearance. Around 4 percent of teens and adolescents will struggle with an eating disorder in their lives.

Eating disorder criteria is harmful

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
October 7, 2022
Planning Ahead. Notebook shows different advantages and disadvantages of a full-year school system. The debate has arguments both in favor and against full-year school.

Change to year-round system could help students

Bryana Ayala, Reporter
September 27, 2022
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