Volume 3, Issue 23: March 29, 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.
AASD Students to begin
Online and At-Home Learning
Beginning Monday, March 30 Altoona Area students will be able to get "back to class" not in the traditional sense, but, through online learning activities, prepared lessons and videos. Teachers will be reaching out to students with prepared coursework that will enhance and enrich what students were studying prior to the school closure. Students, be sure to check your email and Google classrooms for more information.

If you need to email a teacher, all teacher emails can be found on the AASD website.

Elementary grade level lessons will be available on the AASD website. Parents who prefer hard copy packets of elementary lessons will be able to pick up packets at designated times and locations: AT-Home Learning Message .
A Message from the Technology Department
The Technology Department is prepared to assist with issues that may occur with student devices; however, there are two things we are asking for your assistance with to help our students while learning online.

First, please have your student keep his/her Chromebook charged. The Technology Department has already experienced issues with Chromebooks that were left uncharged for a long period of time. By keeping the Chromebook charged, issues logging on to the Chromebook should be minimal.

Second, have your child email his/her teacher with any Chromebook issues he/she is having. The teacher will be able to send a message directly to the Technology Department for help. Provide as much detail as possible to the teacher so the problem can be diagnosed and your child’s Chromebook can be fixed as quickly as possible. Also, provide a phone number to the teacher where you can be reached in case the issue cannot be fixed remotely and a technician needs to get in touch with you.

Thank you for your help while we move forward with this new learning experience.
AASD School Counselors
The AASD School Counselors have some simple ideas for things to do while the school closure continues.
The Quest to be a Stronger Reader
Baker's fifth graders previously completed a unit of the Reading Workshop- Celebrating Fantasy and Our Quest to Be Ever Stronger Readers. Students were encouraged to dress like their favorite fantasy characters. They were given dragon names based on their first initial and birthday month. Students created warrior shields in which they explained the story elements of their favorite fantasy books read throughout the unit. They also created dragon poems, stories, and 3-D models. The celebration ended with dragon themed snacks. The students really enjoyed reading these novels and are eager to continue reading the rest of the books in the series.
Free Box Lunches Available
4,265 Lunches Served !!
March 17 - March 27
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.

To read the latest news or to just catch up on things that have happened, check out the Mt. Echo.