Volume 3, Issue 24: April 5, 2020
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.
Yearbook Staff meets Deadline
Despite the fact high school students haven't been in school since March 12, the Horseshoe yearbook staff along with advisor Mrs. Wanda Vanish, stayed the course and committed to making the yearbook deadline. Senior students are assured to receive their 2020 Horseshoe Yearbook!

And as reported, the staff of the Mt. Echo have been continuing their efforts to provide stories for the student led online publication. Jocelyn Fetter, reporter, talks about how the yearbook staff completed the project.

Ten Thousand Bags
10,000 bags,that is the number of recycled grocery bags students in Mr. Mathias' class collected taking part in Giant Food Stores' Bags to Benches Program. In exchange for the 10,000 bags Giant Food Stores donated a recycled bench to the class.

"Our students wanted to make a lasting contribution to the construction of the new high school. This bench will be placed in the courtyard area and will be a tribute to the efforts of our students," said teacher Adam Mathias. "We want to thank everyone at the school for contributing bags and thank Jacob George, Martins Store 6292, for helping this become a reality."

The bench was delivered last week and AASD employees Mike McCloskey and Gary Butler assembled the bench and it's ready for its new home!

2020 Physics Rollercoaster Convention
The 2020 Physics Rollercoaster Convention was held March 11 at the AAHS Library. The rollercoaster project is the 3rd marking period benchmark for the Academic Physics class. This year's rollercoasters did not disappoint.

A wide-variety of styles and designs, each rollercoaster design had to meet specific guidelines including the number of features (twists, turns, loops, etc.), certain dimensions, and obtain all of its mechanical energy from its actual design. Additionally, the design had to carry a marble from start to finish without it falling off the track.

AAHS students from other classes visited the convention and were able to use a marble to test the rollercoasters and then submit an electronic vote for their favorite coaster.


AAJHS Livewire reporter Maddie Cowfer talks with nurses about how they are working with patients during the coronavirus outbreak.

Mountain Lion BackPack
A special thank you to Amber Smith and her amazing volunteer
crews that keep this program going!!
Free Box Lunches Available
A free box lunch to any student ages 2-18 will continued to be offered throughout the school closure. The lunches will be offered every week day, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. 

The Altoona Area Jr. High School will be the main distribution site for lunches. Lunches will be distributed from the AAJHS Field House Doors located on 7 th Avenue.

Thirty-two additional destination sites are offered, delivered by Student Transportation of America. Look for the white School Students vans.

For more information: Free Box Lunch Option for Students
Don't let the current school closure keep you from registering your student for Kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year. You can register your child online today.

Children must turn 5 years old on or before September 1, 2020 to be a candidate for Kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year. Register now so your child can participate in the transition events scheduled at each of the elementary schools.

AASD Tax Office Closed
As per of Governor Wolf’s COVID-19 direction to essential business operations the Altoona Area School District tax office is currently closed to the public; however, tax payments can still be mailed to the District tax office at 200 E. Crawford Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602

Additionally, the Altoona Area School District has extended the filing deadline for Occupational Flat Rate tax, Business Privilege and Mercantile tax returns until July 15, 2020.