Volume 3, Issue 10: November 23, 2019

Welcome to The Mt. Lion Roar where you can read about some of the things happening in the Altoona Area School District. With nearly 8,000 students, AASD is the area's top choice for Academics, Arts and Athletics.

An Act of Thanksgiving

Twenty-nine students with Patriotic Student Alliance served over 125 meals to veterans at the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home on Wednesday, November 20th.

BIKES FOR KIDS

Through the generosity of Urban Air Adventure Park Altoona, Bruno and Lena DeGol Foundation, Reliance Bank and Alan Hancock Agency. 239 third grade students from Ebner Elementary, Juniata Elementary and The STEAM Learning Center at Penn Lincoln Elementary received a free bike and helmet at an assembly on November 18.  Students prepared for the assembly by reading Think BIg, Work Hard, Be Kind, No Excuses and writing an essay on the four principles and how they will use them to work toward what they want to be when they grow up. Three lucky students were to win a bike at that assembly. After learning that all students would receive a bike, students (and teachers) were brought to tears!! Bikes for Kids was founded in 1997 with Meadowlark Lemon, star of Harlem Globetrotters. In 1998, 125 bicycles were given to undeserved children in San Diego. Today, more than 54,000 bikes will be given to children To see photos from the assembly to Bikes for Kids Photos

Disney Spirit Spectacular Parade The AAHS Senior Cheerleaders traveled on Thursday, November 21 to perform in the Disney Spirit Spectacular Parade These young ladies will represent AAHS at the fourth annual Varsity Spirit Spectacular at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. They were invited after attending a Universal Cheers Association (UCA) Cheer Camp this past summer. The cheerleaders will perform in an exclusive pre-parade performance through Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park before hundreds of park attendees. In addition to the opportunity to perform at the park, the girls will get the chance to meet other cheer squads form across the nation as well as visit the parks in sunny Orlando, Florida!

Students attending Tinker Tuesday at Baker Elementary this week walked away with pretty cool creative projects! The mini Makerspace gives students and parents the place to work together to create all kinds of projects. Students at the William P. Kimmel Alternative Schoo l are engaging in hands-on science projects that require creative problem solving and innovative thinking. After building a rubber band airplane from scratch this student is investigating aerodynamic principles through test flights and trial and error. Problem solving and multiple revisions of the design were stressed as fundamental principles required to produce a working model.

Friends of Rachel Club Welcomes New Students The AAJHS Friends of Rachel (F.O.R.) Club Welcoming Committee members prepared gift bags this week to welcome new students to the junior high school. The bags include school supplies, a tip sheet, and a small treat. Welcoming Committee members hope to be a friendly face and a first friend to potential new students.

AASD Adult Education Volunteer Spotlight Retired professor Valerie Stratton has graciously given of her time to tutor international adult students with learning the English language. AASD Adult Education Volunteer Spotlight

Engineering Physics

Students in Mr. Borst's Engineering Physics class designed and tested boats built from cardboard as part of a recent unit on Fluid Physics. AAHS Students Learn About Buoyancy

Sounds of the Season

Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission is conducting a study on recreation and parks within the Altoona Area School District. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 6:30 p.m. at the Bavarian Hall. Learn about the project and provide your thoughts and ideas.

The Litwits

The AAJHS Litwits recently competed at the IU08 Interscholastic Reading Competition. The team competed as two teams; one team of eight and one team of nine. Of the seventeen members, ten are 7th graders. Although the team did not earn a ribbon at the competition this year, each of the two teams read 40 books which is an accomplishment in and of its own.

AAHS Cross Country Annual Banquet

Mackenzie Kelley, grade 10 and Brayden Henninger, grade 12 received The Angie Gioiosa Most Valuable Runners (MVR).

Big A Award Girls XC Winners include : Mack Kelley -MVR; Karenna Kauffman - Most Improved; Avery Reid- Lady Lion Harrier Award; Gianna Marasco- Most Consistent; and Most Promising- Reese Wilber.

AASD Quick Links District Calendar School Board Meetings AASD Website AASD Athletic Schedules

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