The Mountain Lion's Pulse

October 2024

NOTE FROM MR. HATCH

Parents, Guardians, and Community Members-

I hope you all have had a positive start to the school year. As October begins, our students and staff have settled into their routines and are engaged in the daily grind of classes and activities. So much emphasis is placed on results: wins and losses, passing and failing, proficient and non-proficient. We often lose sight of the value of the process. Whether in the classroom or the field of competition, experiencing adversity and demonstrating resiliency is as important as the outcome of the quiz, test, game, or competition. Being challenged is essential for growth. Let’s constantly be reminded that as our children develop, they will likely fail from time to time, and not only is that o.k., it’s a good thing. Let’s continue to emphasize the value of showing up, giving maximum effort, and supporting one another. When that happens, regardless of the outcome, our students WIN.

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more

important than the outcome.” — Arthur Ashe

Sincerely,

Brad Hatch

Superintendent of Schools

bhatch@altoonasd.com

814-946-8350

ELEMENTARY

We are quickly approaching the end of the first marking period at the end of October! Don’t forget to check your child’s progress on Skyward. It is always a good reminder to talk with your child about having a positive attitude and strong work ethic when it comes to their school work. Please contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the progress of your child.

We hope to see you at the Title I Parent and Family Engagement event, Monster Math. Come dressed in your Halloween costume to have fun participating in the Goblin Games, Clever Craziness, and Mummy Math Walk. There will also be strategies that you can take home to help with improving reading skills. You will have fun with the spooky challenges and even participate in some trick-or-treating! Look for an invitation with the date/time from your elementary school soon!

October is Fire Prevention Month, and AASD continues to partner with our local Fire Departments to educate children on the importance of fire safety. Firefighters will show students a video on the various things that can be done to prevent a fire, what we can do when there is a fire, and how to plan escape routes prior to a fire that can lead to safety.

SECONDARY

Conferences

Just a reminder that Secondary Conferences are approaching. They are a great opportunity to meet with teachers and get an update on your learner's progress in each of their classes.

Conferences for the Junior High School will be held on Tuesday, October 8th, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday, October 11th, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For the High School, conferences will take place on Thursday, October 10th, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday, October 11th, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

AAJHS Drama

The AAJHS Drama Club is off to a fantastic start with almost 120 members officially registered to participate this school year! Rehearsals for the club's fall show are now underway...We were thrilled to have had close to 80 students audition for "The Wizard of Oz" in early September. Show dates will be Thursday, November 21st @ 7:00 P.M., Friday, November 22nd @ 7:00 P.M. and Saturday, November 23rd @ 1:00 P.M. Tickets will be sold at the door ($5 Children & Students / $10 Adults) and doors will open approximately 45 minutes before each show with all performances taking place in the junior high school auditorium. Mark your calendars - we hope to see you there!

PICTURED (Left to Right) are cast members of The Wizard of Oz:

Charlotte White (Dorothy), Hailey Hamilton (Narrator/Green), and Abigail Burchfield (Wicked Witch)

AAHS Drama

The high school drama students are hard at work preparing the fall play, Trap for our performances November 8 and 9 at 7pm in the AAHS Auditorium! We are also very excited to be making plans for our Thespians to attend the state ThesFest conference in January followed by a Disney-filled spring! We can't wait to dive into our spring musical, The Little Mermaid in April and then a Fine Arts Dept. trip to Disney World!

In Stephen Gregg's Trap, the play reports about an incomprehensible event: every person in the audience of a high school play falls unconscious—every person but one. Using interviews with witnesses, loved ones, first responders, and the investigators pursuing the case, a theatre ensemble brings the story of the strange event to life, documentary-style. But as the strands weave together into an increasingly dangerous web, it becomes clear that this phenomenon might not be entirely in the past. Unnerving, exhilarating, and wildly inventive, you've never walked into anything quite like Trap.

Tickets will be available online starting in October at altoonaasd.booktix.com. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults (plus online processing fees). Tickets are reserved seating and will be available in advance in the AAHS Student Store, in the AAHS Auditorium Ticket Booth after school the week of the show, and at the door 45 minutes prior to each performance.

COUNSELING

The school counselors hope that everyone has had an excellent start to the 2024-2025 school year. We encourage all parents and guardians to log into Skyward periodically to keep up to date with the grades and attendance of your student.

It’s always a good time for students to think about what they may like to do after graduating high school, no matter what grade they are entering. All district students utilize the Smart Futures program which can be accessed here. Elementary counselors will be working with all elementary students throughout the school year in developing their career paths.

The Post High School Opportunity Fair is returning this fall to the Altoona Area High School Field House! It will be held: Tuesday October 8, 2024 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. This time is for students and parents to attend. On Wednesday October 9, 2024 from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm, students from across the county as well as AAHS students have an opportunity to attend this session. Our Opportunity Fair will include trade and technical schools, colleges and universities, military, local employers, and other programs, giving students and parents the ability to explore the many options available to pursue after high school.

We are pleased to announce the Rachel’s Challenge Program will be visiting AAHS on Wednesday,

October 16, 2024. They will be giving presentations and training during the day. That night, we are

excited to host a community event where Rachel’s Challenge will give a community presentation in the AAHS auditorium at 6:00 pm. This evening event is not recommended for children under sixth grade. All community members are invited, including other school districts. For more information please visit: https://rachelschallenge.org/our-story/

Below are upcoming dates for SAT and ACT testing dates. More test dates and information about the SAT can be learned by going to http://sat.org/. For more ACT test dates and information please go to act.org.

SAT:

Test Date: November 2, 2024

Regular Registration Deadline: October 18, 2024

Late Registration Deadline: October 22, 2024 (Late Fee Applies)

Test Date: December 7, 2024

Regulate Registration Deadline: November 22, 2024

Late Registration Deadline: November 26, 2024 (Late Fee Applies)

ACT:

Test Date: December 14, 2024

Regulate Registration Deadline: November 8, 2024

Late Registration Deadline: November 22, 2024 (Late Fee Applies)

For additional information please visit the Counselor page on the AAHS website.

FINE ARTS

AAHS Marching Band:

The AAHS Marching Band will be performing at the home football games on Friday, October 4 (Homecoming) and Friday, October 18 (Senior Night).

The AAHS and the AAJHS Marching Bands, Majorettes, and Silks will present their annual Bandarama Concert on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 7pm in the HS Auditorium. Tickets are $4 and are available at the door. Please join us for this exciting evening of music.

AAHS Advanced Jazz Ensemble:

The AAHS Advanced Jazz Ensemble will be sharing a concert with the Blair Concert Chorale on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 7:30 at the First Lutheran Church in Altoona. Please contact Blair Concert Chorale for ticket information.

AAJHS Marching Band:

The AAJHS Marching Band will be performing at their home football games on Wednesday, October 2, Tuesday, October 8, and Thursday October 24, 2024.

AASD Fine Arts Boosters Basket Bingo:

The AASD Fine Arts Boosters will be holding a Basket Bingo on Saturday, October 12, 2024 in the AAHS Fieldhouse. Tickets are $20 (includes 12 games, a drink voucher, and a snack voucher) and are available from any secondary music student or director. Doors open at 12:30pm and bingo begins at 2:00pm. For more information please contact AASD FAB President Amanda Kessling at aasdfabpresident@gmail.com.