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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
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...

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QUICK NEWS

Chemical accomplishments. Paula Irwin presents at the National Science Teacher Association conference. (Courtesy of Paula Irwin.)
Paula Irwin sparks inspiration at National Science Teacher Association conference
Rylie Keagy and Addisen McDonald April 8, 2025

Chemistry teacher Paula Irwin recently attended and presented at the National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) conference, held March 26–29 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....

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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...

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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...

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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.

A message reading "AI artificial intelligence", a keyboard, and robot hands are seen in this illustration taken January 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
A.I.: Replacing humans and removing creativity
Tanner Lamark, Guest Reporter • April 9, 2025

Technology today is developing at an alarming rate. One new piece of technology that is being pushed into everyone’s face is artificial intelligence or A.I. for short. Many...

A company logo of fashion brand Shein is seen on a rail of clothing on its Christmas bus as part of a nationwide promotional tour in Liverpool, Britain, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Shein: is it worth it?
Audrey Douglas, Guest Reporter • April 7, 2025

 In October 2008, the Shein clothing brand was founded.  Shein has over 600,000 different products to choose from.  Not a lot of people even know how to order stuff online...

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...

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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

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Photo of the Week
Today's Weather


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April 9
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April 10
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April 11
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Mountain Echo Pulse

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Mattie Baker
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