December 2018/January 2019

December 2018 / January 2019 • Volume 58 • Issue 3 Pleasant Valley High School Bettendorf, Iowa

The Spartan Shield Pleasant Valley High School Bettendorf, Iowa

Letter from the Editors

by Lily Williams and Natalie Murphy Happy Holidays, Spartans!

Co Editors-in-Chief & News Editors Lily Williams Natalie Murphy

Graphic Designer Roger Pavey Jr.

Opinion Editor Hannah Lederman

Sports Editor Evin Ersan

We are happy to be back after the Thanksgiving season with our December/January issue! We hope you take the time this holiday season to recognize your friends, teachers and administrators at Pleasant Valley for the hard work they put in all year.

As your editors-in-chief, it is our responsibility to present the student body with matters relevant to our community. With the administration’s recent address of discriminatory comments and symbols in our high school, we compiled personal accounts written by minority students about their experiences within school. We hope, in addition to measures taken by administrators, these accounts from student voices will be a wakeup call for our behavior to improve as peers.

Reporters write about the touring children’s show and the 2018 Leading Tones in the Arts and Entertainment section. Student Life highlights safe weather driving and movements that defined 2018. Winter athletes are gearing up for another season as shown in the Sports section. Though this time of year celebrates different cultures and the spirit of giving, we also recognize National AIDS Awareness month and the impact it has on our community in the Seasonal section.

We would like to thank our advertisers, readers, adviser and staff for making this issue possible. We hope you are as proud of this publication as we are, and enjoy our articles.

Natalie & y l i L ~

Business Manager Angela Pandit

Student Life Editor Grace Halupnik

Senior Spotlight Editor Maddy Licea

A&E & Copy Editor Rece Vining

Seasonal & Copy Editor Lars Meseke-Wren Spartan Shield Adviser Maureen Dyer

COVER ART: Odin McDonald ‘19 captured the photo for this month’s cover using a Canon EOS Rebel SL2. He is an AP Studio Art student who plans to continue his hobby of photography.

3 News 4 Student Life 6 Arts & Entertainment 8 Senior Spotlights 10 Cover Story 16 Opinion 17 Sports 18 Seasonal 20 Winter activities 2

Spartan Shield Philosophy The Spartan Shield is written, edited, and published by the Pleasant Valley High School news magazine staff. The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the adviser, school administrators, or the district. Likewise, the advertisements in this magazine are not endorsed by the Pleasant Valley School District. The Spartan Shield will not publish material we believe to be libelous or inappropriate for a school publication. Our mission is to provide the Pleasant Valley student body with a quality news magazine, reach as many student readers as possible, learn all there is to know about journalism, and have a darn good time while doing it.

News Saving lives this holiday season

by Angela Pandit

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Although students receive plenty of gifts during the holiday season, many find ways to give back. Spartan Assembly hosts three blood drives, sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, throughout the school year. The drives are a way to give back to the community.

Spartan Assembly member and junior Prakruti Pancholi has been volunteering at blood drives for three years by assisting donors with requests for food, a drink or something as simple as a conversation while donation occurs.

For Pancholi, the blood drive is a great opportunity to impact her community. “Every donation saves three lives which means that each person, each

donation has the potential to change someone’s life,” she said.

During last year’s holiday season, a record breaking 114 students at PV had signed up to donate at the blood drive.

With some being deferred, 68 pints of blood were donated, saving more than 300 lives in the area. Through these donations, many patients were able to spend a longer time with their families during the holiday season.

Senior Kara Neuhaus has donated at every school blood drive since she turned 16. She first learned about the event and was persuaded into donating through promotion by the blood center and Spartan Assembly. “I donate because there’s no reason not to.

It doesn’t take long, it’s not hard, and it helps saves lives. There’s very little pain involved and it’s great to know afterwards that you’re helping others in need,” Neuhaus explained.

To donate blood, individuals must be 16 and older, weigh over 110 pounds, and meet other health condition criteria asked during the day of the drive.

Neuhaus encourages her peers to consider donating in at least one of the many Pleasant Valley hosted drives.

“There is and there will always be a need for blood. Each blood type is used in different medical situations helping different people so every donation is important,” she added.

The addition transition

by Grace Halupnik

High school students have awaited the opening of the new addition to PVHS since it began construction in spring of 2017, but as long as no further construction delays occur, “I am hoping students and some staff will be able to use the entire space Monday, November 19,” said Principal Mike Zimmer.

The transition into the new addition will bring with it many changes for PVHS. According to Zimmer, the objective of the construction project was to allow for growth in the school, so there will be many empty classrooms. Teachers Ms. Edgin, Mr. Sheets, Mr. Miller, Mr. Royer, Mr. Marotta, Ms. LaBarge, and Dr. Lundberg will be making the

move to the new wing. Teachers will keep their students informed on when classroom changes will occur.

There will also be a series of moves within the existing part of the school.

Mr. Landa will move from room 252 to 248, Ms. Paustian will move to 252, and Ms. Ancelet will move to Ms. Paustian’s room. This will allow Ms. Dyer to use room 167 as a computer lab for her publications and journalism classes.

Although there will be many changes within the high school, students have no need to be worried about navigation. “We will monitor passing time but creation of a main hall through the

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entire building should mitigate travel delays,” assured Zimmer.

Teachers are just as excited as students for the opening of the new addition.

English teacher Dr. Lundberg, who already has her boxes packed and is ready for her move, explained, “I am very excited to have a window. I get headaches from the artificial light so the natural lighting will be refreshing and it will be helpful to have a bigger classroom and more room to circulate.”

Student Life

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Student Life TWEET,

Cold weather collisions

by Lars Meseke-Wren

The arrival of winter brings many things: snow, ice, the same holiday music on every station and car accidents. According to USA Today, about 800 Americans die every year in collisions caused by the surge of cold weather. Given this sobering statistic, students should reflect on ways to stay safe during the holiday season.

USA Today says that from 2011-2015, Iowa was tied for the 10th most deadly state for winter driving. So what can students do to stay safe? Senior Morgan Hanson advises, “Driving under the speed limit, using your windshield wipers if it’s snowing.” These strategies are suggested by Hanson to help drivers stay safe.

Some students might scoff at this, saying that it does not apply to them.

Associate Principal Darren Erickson

TWEET

disagrees with this sentiment. He says that in any given school year he sees, “anywhere from 5-10 [accidents] relatively consistently.” He added that this number doesn’t include minor fender benders, which typically go to Deputy Weipert.

“You have a lot of congestion to get to Pleasant Valley,” Erickson said, “Obviously you have the road conditions especially after a new snow where it doesn’t look very deep but it’s slick.”

By driving carefully, obeying traffic laws, watching weather forecasts and planning accordingly, students can keep themselves and others safe. To parents, Erickson said, “Make sure your kids are getting up on time, leaving earlier. Communicate with them to slow down.”

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This month in tweets

Arts & Entertainment Hitting all the right notes

Winter Playlist

by Natalie Murphy

by Lily Williams and Natalie Murphy

1. Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms With surrounding Quad Cities high schools boasting impressive show choirs, PV stands its ground in being one of the only schools with an extracurricular jazz choir program. PV’s four ensembles consist of one choir with all treble voices and three other groups of male and female voices.

The program’s top ensemble, Leading Tones, is an a cappella group normally consiting of eight women voices and eight men. This year, the “all natural voices” are showing that a voice part does not limit the singer, as the group consists of nine men and seven women.

This type of arrangement may seem strange to someone who is not familiar with the voices within the group.

Leading Tones is comprised of a group of men with a wide range.

Senior Alex Jungers and sophomore Ben Curran are first year members in the ensemble and sing what would normally be considered the lower “fe-

male part.” This part is higher than what a typical high voice male would sing.

Though this voicing may be unusual to a PV student, it is similar to that of professional a cappella jazz groups. Leading Tones will be singing arrangements by popular groups such as The Real Group and Voces 8.

“I’m super excited for this season! It’s an interesting opportunity for me and I can’t wait to hear how we work.”

- Alex Jungers, ‘19

Groups which consist of an ensemble of men singing the “higher parts” with The Real Group having three men and two women and Voces 8 having six men and two women.

The Leading Tones look forward to a strong season and embracing the different makeup to work in their favor.

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2. The Good Side Troye Sivan 3. My Type Saint Motel 4. White Winter Hymnal Pentatonix 5. Ribs Lorde 6. All My Loving The Stairwells 7. Winter Khalid 8. Don’t Take the Money MTV Unplugged- Bleachers, Lorde 9. Worst Nites Foster the People 10. Cold December Night Michael Bublé

Arts & Entertainment One act(ion) of hope

by Roger Pavey Jr.

This year’s one act play, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, will be going to the IHSSA large group speech competition, which consists of performing for judges.

If selected to move on from regionals, the one act will also go to state competitions, and if that succeeds, the play will have the chance to compete at AllState speech.

In addition to the speech competition, the one act project is partaking in something quite unique. The show will be traveling to local hospitals as well as the Iowa City Children’s Hospital to preform.

In regards to Dahm’s plan of sharing this play with the community, “to see your story being told in a palpable way is an incredible feeling. And then, going beyond that and sharing that story with other people is beyond words.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is a story of hope. And I am so excited to work with my team of actors and technicians to share that story of hope with children and families who need to hear it the most.”

Because this is a traveling show, there are some complications with transporting set pieces, props, costumes, and miscellaneous materials— along with, of course, the cast.

Freshman Delaney Riley, who played the title character in the PVJH production Mary Poppins, portrays the White Witch of Narnia in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

When senior Sophia Dahm had the opportunity to direct this year’s one act, she jumped on the project. “In general, being a director provides you with an opportunity to tell a story you want to tell and to work with people that you handpicked to tell your story.”

“I’m super excited to play the antagonist in this show.

It’s really fun to branch out in the types of roles that I play, and I enjoy

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playing the White Witch surrounded by talented and driven people.”

While the show is small, the things it carries with it are special, and will bring happiness to many kids, both those involved in the production and those watching.

Senior Spotlights

Sheybonbon

KT Oreos

Name? Alex Sheybani Spirit animal? Raccoon First crush? Demi Lovato Weapon of choice in zombie apocalypse? Cade Snyder Biggest accomplishment? Surviving Sacco’s math class Dream job? Professional child Your freshman self in three words? Dis-gus-ting Advice to your middle school self? Stop being so cringey What’s your @? @alexsheybani Best lesson you’ve learned in high school? Don’t sleep in Kohn’s class

Name? Katie Oros Spirit animal? Perapa Chotiprasidhi First crush? Spencer Clark High school highlight? Surviving the parking lot when the football team leaves Best feature? The bags under my eyes If you could live anywhere, where would you live? The Wizarding world of Harry Potter Favorite teacher? Mr. George Craziest talent? Being mediocre at everything What would your last meal be? Mac and Cheese Favorite guilty pleasure? Spending money on overpriced caffeine

Vicko Mode

Nardog

Name? Victoria Parejko First crush? Jake Docherty Most embarrassing moment? RAP (Let’s leave it at that) Biggest pet peeve? Mouth noises Song that describes you? Sicko Mode...

Vicko Mode Dream job? Trophy wife #2... @KarahErickson Favorite quote? “Fake it till ya make it” Advice to your middle school self? Don’t date during high school In ten years, I’ll...? Live on the upper east side of NYC What’s your @? @Victoriaparejko

Name? Maddy Minard Spirit animal? Monkey First thing you would do as president?

Give national parks more funding Biggest pet peeve? Anyone who calls cross country spikes cleats Weapon of choice in zombie apocalypse? Invisibility cloak Favorite teacher? Mrs. Berger Plans after high school? Leave Iowa and never come back Dream job? Full time traveler In ten years, I’ll...? Be a park ranger living in a van What would your last meal be? My grandma’s mac + cheese, Texas Roadhouse buns, and key lime pie

Stiggy

T Dawg

Name? Ava Stigler High school highlight? Moving from Paris, France to Bettendorf, IA Craziest talent? Making general phrases into creative songs Plans after high school? Arguing with people Dream job? DJ or UN representative Biggest fear? Communication or spiders Best PV memory? Finishing AAT In ten years, I’ll...? Be on Fox news or The Daily Vine What’s your @? @Stiggyindatiggy The best place to be in the QC is...? TJ Maxx

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Name? Trevor Glaum Spirit animal? Squirrel First crush? Haley Moore If you could live anywhere, where would you live? Texas First thing you would do as president?

New budget Plans after high school? College If you were stranded on an island, what three things would you bring? Truck, guitar, and solar panel Favorite music lyric? “Take a back road” What would your last meal be? Steak and potatoes Favorite guilty pleasure? Netflix

Sponsors

Happy Holidays

from the Spartan Shield Staff

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Cover Story Harboring hate

by Spartan Shield Editorial Board We, the editorial staff of the Spartan Shield, believe each student within our walls deserves respect and acceptance from their classmates. At Pleasant Valley, the faculty works to create an environment full of inclusion and equal opportunity. Ultimately, however, the responsibility to create inclusion does not rest in our administrators or our teachers-- the responsibility is our own.

Hatred that has perhaps been lying dormant for years seems to be alive and well in our country. The Anti-Defamation League reported 4.2 million anti-Semitic posts on Twitter in 2017.

According to DoSomething.org, a hate crime is committed every hour in this country and half of those crimes are committed by people between the ages of 15-24. Like a contagious disease, hate spreads quickly and has even seeped into our school.

Acts of vandalism and hate speech have exposed the lack of unity within the walls of PV. The Shield staff is comprised of proud Spartans who truly believe our school’s diversity is part of what makes us great. We find these acts disgraceful to the fundamental values of excellence and inclusion cel-

ebrated at PV. We have witnessed students addressing this hate with disregarding jokes. Perhaps these students are using ignorance to mask the problem.

In the pages to follow, personal accounts written by a diverse group of students detail their experiences within the education system and among their peers.

of each other. The adults in our lives cannot change the future. We can.

Administration has taken a zero tolerance stance regarding hate crimes committed by students. We applaud Zimmer’s student address in response to the most recent display of hate.

The change, however, must start at the source. Students must begin to recognize and condemn the hate surrounding them. We must prioritize respect.

“I want to be crystal clear about my expectations for creating a safe and welcoming enviroment for all students...

I am asking the PV nation to act together to stop these senseless acts of bigotry, hate and disrespect now.”

-Mike Zimmer, Pleasant Valley High School Principal

As you are exposed to a perspective different from your own, we encourage you to take a walk in someone else’s shoes. We hope you will acknowledge what we have found to be a root of the problem: people would rather normalize hatred as something that will always exist rather than examine the effect it poses on society and take a stand towards true acceptance

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The objective of this cover story is not to provide a platform for hatred or to shock readers. It is to report on the hate festering within our building and educate through personal accounts from peers. We hope to bring awareness to the effects our actions pose on others and to incite change within the student body. It starts with us.

Cover Story Within our walls

by Grace Halupnik

Xenophobia is not solely a national issue. Recent incidents within PV have left students feeling offended and baffled when friends or peers made comments degrading a person’s culture or beliefs, even if things were said as a joke.

There have been numerous instances of vandalism in PV high school, symbols such as swastikas and other derogatory signs were found carved into lockers and desks. The upstairs boys bathroom was recently closed due to anti-semitic vandalism, although only one door was locked allowing boys to still enter from the other entrance way.

Although, these hateful acts are nothing new. Students confirm offensive vandalism has lined the walls in a majority of PVHS male bathrooms for years. Principal Mike Zimmer addressed the student body condemning this behavior and offering a $500 award for information on culprits.

Vandalism located on the toilet paper dispenser in the boys’ cafeteria bathroom. This phrase was a common chant at political rallies in Nazi Germany, meaning roughly “Hail Victory”.

Guilty parties will be reported to the Scott County Sheriffs Department as a possible hate crime.In response to these reports, Zimmer stated, “Teenagers want to be accepted so badly by their peer group that they’ll accept those kinds of comments, shrug them off, and laugh at them, when really they know they’re very hurtful. That

can’t happen. As a student body, we cannot accept that kind of language.”

care about others,” said math teacher Barb Pischke.

Zimmer also explained remorsefully that comments such as these completely undermine the Varsity Brands Spirit of Inclusion Award presented to PV in 2017. This award was given to honor PV’s unwavering commitment to inclusion as well as to commemorate the creation of the Spartan Sparkles.

She was told by administration in response to the recent events to have a conversation with her SSR students about the importance of acceptance and reporting inappropriate behavior.

The 2017 Spirit of Inclusion award in the hands of Associate Principal Darren Erickson Administration has taken additional measures to prevent further discriminatory comments in the classroom.

Zimmer stated he is prepared to move the entire study hall from the new commons back to the cafeteria if vandalism on furniture ensues.

He also sent an email where he “asked our staff and each classroom teacher to walk around their room and make sure they’re aware of what’s going on.

If they see (vandalism) on there...we’ll track down who sits there,” explained Zimmer.

Teachers agree that such behavior is intolerable. “It just makes me sad to think that people aren’t more accepting, sad to think that people think it’s funny, sad to think that people don’t

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Pischke also commented that it is hard to know if administration did enough in light of the recent events. “Is it ever enough can be the real question.

Would I like to see more opportunities where kids can learn about other cultures and countries? Yes, because often we make fun of things because we don’t understand them. As far as what (administration) was able to do at this time point in time, it was handled as best as it could have been.”

On the other hand, many students do not feel the situation was fully addressed. Junior Haley Humes explained, “The teachers in my fifth period didn’t talk about it so I didn’t even know this was an issue until Principal Zimmer made an annoucement.” She wished that her teachers had been more open in explaining the issue.

A swastika found scratched into a toilet paper dispenser in the boys’ cafeteria bathroom.

Many students and staff agree that there is room for improvement in the inclusion of others within our own walls.

Cover Story Personal Statements: The following personal statements come from students in different minority groups at Pleasant Valley High School.

Their accounts aim to provide a new perspective.

Entry 1: Alex Jungers For those who don’t know, a “faggot” is a bundle of sticks to be used in a pyre. This term also gained notoriety as an insult towards the LGBTQ+ community because of the practice of burning gays at the stake. It was never easy being a closeted homosexual as a child. As one of the very few boys in my grade who felt as I did, it seemed as though nobody quite understood the pressure I felt to behave “normally;” smile through “that’s so gay,” and laugh at “what a fag.” The response became so second nature to me that I found myself to be pushing myself away from embracing myself. When I eventually came out, I knew very well what was said when people thought no one was listening. I believed I would be treated worse; if straight boys could be so horrible to other straight boys, how would they react to a gay one? Funnily enough, that was not the case. Even after I came out, my experience with discrimination has never been confrontational. Whether or not they knew of my sexual orientation, these terms were never directed at me, but were still being used (through plain ignorance or otherwise) to belittle the LGBTQ+ community. I wish that people truly understood the power of their words. While yes, they can be used to mend friendships and broken hearts, they can also be used to spread hatred and foster ignorance.

Entry 2: Mariah Martinez

With the intersectionality of my identity, I’ve always experienced some kind of discrimination. My race, culture, age, feminist mindset and gender all play a part in experiencing injustice. Sexism is something that happens almost every day. As girls turn into women - trying to find themselves can be a struggle knowing what’s ahead. The relentless abuse from both genders on their character is draining in womanhood. I strongly believe that instead of competing with each other, woman should join forces to make their lives easier becoming by being one’s sister, friend or just a woman helping woman. Empowered women empower women.

Sexist comments based on one’s sexuality, femininity, and relationships are uncalled for. This judging eye determines a woman’s character and has truly changed mine. From changing the way I dress based on the fact I don’t want to be talked about, changing my hair, the way I talk and even my own friends are all effects of discrimination. Parents treat teenagers like children based on the belief that “kids” have no power but “are the future”. Instead, it should be known that no amount of future talk will change the fact “kids” can and will change the now. Race has always been a discrimination I’ve experienced. This country was built with no black people in mind, while people in power kept us slaves. This violence against Black Americans still affect us today. Black Americans are looked at as less than and with low expectations. It shocks people that I don’t act “ghetto” - that I “act white”. I don’t fit in with black people, but I’m “too black” to fit in with the whites.

I don’t speak Spanish so can’t fit in with the Mexicans. The stereotypical jokes and racist comments are a form of power, tearing each other down with words to prove dominance. This argument that all lives matter but the one dominating usually proclaims it. Culture is a big part in someone’s upbringing. I’ve been very in tune with many different cultures, educating myself on the history of the races I’m mixed with. Cultural appreciation is something I’ve grown to love. Yet, using someone’s religion or culture to discriminate against them has become the new normal in the news and political field. It is making people fearful to be themselves.

I am guilty of falling into the trap, too. I admit that I’m every bit of racist, sexist, and homophobic as anyone else - you can point the finger right back at me. At Pleasant Valley I’m known as the loud, energetic, weird one who is very opinionated. I believe strongly the first part of fixing a mistake is admitting it and now changing it. I believe as a school it has never changed and I don’t see a change happening anytime soon. Administration does not do anything about reported racial discrimination - at least not to the public eye or to the reporters knowledge. There are no minority teachers to look up to or have as role models. Bullying also gets swept under the rug, not wanting to ruin this perfect perception at Valley of the Pleasantness. It’s a perfect reality of the future in a small midwestern town and the world I will soon be adulting in. We all love to “talk the talk” and seem like we want change. But, will we “walk the walk”?

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Cover Story Entry 3: Marali Sanchez Carmona I moved to Louisiana when I was thirteen. It was a very small town and I didn’t know anyone, so culture shock hit me pretty hard from the beginning. Then I started school. I hated going through the same thing every time someone asked me where my accent was from. Their faces were always curious at first, eager to hear about some cool european country, but then disappointed when I said Mexico. They looked at each other and just said “Oh”. That, however, was always better than the follow-up question “But you’re legal, right?” or even worse, “She doesn’t look like that kind of Mexican.” They didn’t realize that telling me I didn’t look Mexican wasn’t a compliment. My 7th grade history teacher didn’t realize what she was telling me when she taught the class that immigrants were taking away their parents’ jobs.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, my classmates chanted “build that wall” and told me to go back where I came from. I never understood why anyone would want someone to feel ashamed of their culture, heritage, or religion, but I’ve never been prouder of where I come from.

Entry 4: Sam Rothbardt My experience at Pleasant Valley has been a good one. I have never felt like a minority in any way. I know there are very few Jewish students, but never have I felt that people don’t accept me for who I am.

Around the school, it is pretty well known who the Jewish kids are. People don’t stop and stare in the halls, but there is a general knowledge of who is and who is not Jewish. People ask questions a lot, too.

This is something that should happen more often. If people are unsure about anything about my religion, then they can ask. This should be encouraged more. Most of the time, instead of asking questions, people assume things or listen and believe the stereotypes. If more people asked questions, everyone would be more knowledgeable and open-minded. Even though I have never felt as if I was an outsider, some comments people say could make other people of my faith feel very uncomfortable. “Hey, Jew” might sound like nothing, but it gives a person a target. They could be only known for that one thing, instead of who they really are. These comments might not seem significant to the person saying them, but those people don’t understand how it feels. It doesn’t hurt, but it does stay in the affected person’s mind for awhile. Growing up Jewish has really shaped who I am today. The moral lessons and stories show great examples of how to lead in a community, be inclusive to all races, and to not take things for granted. All of these good qualities and more have and will continue to shape the person I am and will become.

Entry 5: Haleema Waheed

In 1988, Pleasant Valley High School had a total of 859 students. 834 of which were White (97%), 8 African American (0.93%), 7 Hispanic (0.81%), and 10 Asian (1.16%). Fast forwarding to the year 2016, PV has grown significantly with total number of 1336 students: 1105 of them White (82.71%) , 43 African American (3.2%), 56 Hispanic (4.19%) , 99 Asian (7.41%), 5 American Indian (0.37%), 1 Pacific Islander (0.075%), and 27 of mixed race (2.02%). With the population of minorities growing every single new academic year, students should become much more aware of the history about their peers-- not only for the sake of avoiding hurting one’s feelings, but to become much more respectful and mindful of the history of a group of people in general. There are many instances where people have asked me questions such as, “How do you feel about ISIS?” And while there are racist undertones in that question, a lot of it stems from ignorance and internalized racism. The main problem that seem to be witnessed throughout the halls of Pleasant Valley is the fact that, growing up in a white-dominant community, kids don’t often have the opportunity to learn about different cultures--including histories that are important pretraining to why racial slurs, are, well, slurs. It isn’t taught in the classrooms nor do many people have friends from such ethnicity to explain why it’s so wrong. Of course, this doesn’t excuse ignorance. While it may be great to implement such systems into classrooms, it isn’t the reality. Students should be encouraged to research on their own about the background of slurs and why it can be demeaning.

Entry 6: Christine Moose As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I don’t feel like I have ever been discriminated because of my beliefs. I feel like most of the time, the stem of discrimination comes from ignorance or having misconceptions. Last year in AP Lang we read a play, Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar, and it talked about a practice that is no longer part of our religion and also poking fun at things I hold close to me. It was frustrating that there was no opportunity to correct these misconceptions.

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Cover Story One nation, d i v i s i b l e

by Angela Pandit

The prior statements demonstrate that hate festering within the school, but it does not stop here. Recent hate crimes and discrimination have made xenophobia a topic of discussion throughout the nation.

The hatred of anyone or any foreign concept has left families broken and communities mourning. Looking at just a fraction of time in 2018, in the span of 72 hours, three hate crimes were committed across the country.

16 packages containing pipe bombs were sent to prominent party Democrats. Since the mailings, Cesar Sayoc has been arrested and charged under multiple accounts, facing life in prison.

The pipe bombs were sent to political figures like Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, and former CIA Director John Brennan.

In the same week, two people were shot and killed at a Kroger’s grocery

store in Kentucky. The white male shooter, Gregory A. Bush, killed Maurice Stallard and Vickie Jones, two black shoppers at the store.

The FBI stated that Bush had initially tried to enter First Baptist Church, a predominantly black church, but failed to do so. Minutes after the attempt, Stallard and Jones were shot in the store and parking lot of the Kroger’s.

“Insensitive comments are giving a green light to some students in our building to emulate and say that same horrible comments to their classmates.”

- Mike Zimmer Pleasant Valley Principal On Saturday of that same week, a mass shooting occurred at The Tree of Life, a Pittsburgh synagogue, where people gathered for service. Robert Bowers was identified as the shooter

who came into the synagogue yelling anti-semitic slurs and opening fire, killing 11 people and leaving six injured.

Bowers had frequently expressed his hatred towards Jewish people through the social media site Gab, later removed for the harmful effect it posed.

The xenophobic acts happening across the country are not just at the national level. The hate alive in our country has entered the halls of Pleasant Valley and began influencing our peers.

Principal Mike Zimmer commented on the influence national tensions have on students. “It appears to me that the reprehensible national dialogue regarding hateful, hurtful, and insensitive comments are giving a green light to some students in our building to emulate and say that same horrible comments to their classmates,” he stated.

The golden rule

A reflection by Hannah Lederman We, as peers, need to do a better job of how we treat each other. It all starts with respect and recognition.

Respecting one another for the good of the people and the advancement of the school’s standards.

Students need to recognize the detrimental effect certain behavior has on classmates. These hateful slurs and comments knock down the victim’s self esteem and force them to feel worthless and problematic.

A person might not understand how a comment could be offensive or why a joke should be taken negatively until they are in someone else’s shoes.

Many of these people feel like they are just making harmless jokes when

in reality they are acting as a bully. It starts with awareness of their actions and the influence they have on victim’s lives.

Stand up for respect and kindness towards one another. The strongest people are ones who refuse to watch others tear their classmates down.

When something is being said that violates a person’s identity, speak out against this speech. Most of the time victims do not feel comfortable standing up for themselves and speaking up for them could save someone’s life. The only way society can begin to move away from this hate is by calling it into light and educating people to change their behavior.

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Acting as bystander will only lessen one’s character. The bystander’s actions become equivalent to the person who initiated the “joke.” It is more important to be a respectful student standing up for good in the community rather than being fearful, silent and afraid to make a difference.

For those who cannot stand up for their self-happiness and security, it is up to the rest of the student body to speak up and make a difference. There is no excuse or joke one can make to reason with the cruel words being said. If we can overcome immaturity and constant torment, then progress a more inclusive society can be achieved.

Cover Story Invest to make a change

by Natalie Murphy

Though appreciation of fellow classmates can happen at any time, it can be seen in action in groups mobilized to increase the inclusion at Pleasant Valley.

Educational infographics show that students who are involved in extracurriculars are more likely to have no unexcused absences and are about 31% more likely to hold a 3.0 GPA or higher.

The activities offered by PVHS are ones that are not only helpful but aid in the building of individuals who appreciate others for their differences. The high school offers over 30 different extracurricular clubs with a diverse group of members in each.

Sophomore Emerson Peters finds herself involved in many clubs and activities. She is an executive member of Girls Learn International (GLI), a representative of Spartan Assembly and a member of Be the Change. She is also involved in various choir activities.

Some students can claim their favorite moments of high school from an experience in an extracurricular activity.

When submerging yourself into activities, the benefits are seen in the classroom as well.

Peters states, “I started meeting people that I never thought I’d cross paths with.” It is strides like these that help to be more aware of the students that make up the student body.

Be the Change is a club focused on the promotion of volunteering to create positive change.

Members are encouraged to find volunteer opportunities they are interested in, so many new projects will come to light throughout the year. Members fundraise, volunteer and donate to a wide array of organizations in the Quad Cities area. Students can witness the impact their projects make on community members.

The Spartan Shield Online and Print aims to provide the community of Pleasant Valley with unique angles of the latest news at the high school, in the area, and around the world. Students have the opportunity to submit writing pieces following the proper AP guidelines.

Whether a letter to the editors or an opinion piece, the Shield gives students the opportunity to be heard.

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This awareness has helped students, like Peters, appreciate the life and stuggles of others. “You cannot grasp what someone is going through or their background until you take the time to get to know them,” she stated.

Peters is thankful for the experiences she has had within extracurriculars, “This opportunity has really helped me appreciate others as they are because I am spending a lot of time with them and growing to love each person for their differences.”

Students have the opportunity inside Pleasant Valley to expand their impact on the community and inclusivity of the school.

Pleasant Valley’s UNITE club members are dedicated to honoring the words “toleration” and “respect.”

Students who believe in universal respect for all races, nationalities, religions, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical handicap, appearance and financial status are welcome to join. Members spread awareness to promote acceptance through monthly videos, handing out ribbons and other projects.

PV Pals is a student organization focused on creating social activities for students with special needs.

PV Pals encourages an environment of inclusion, awareness, and acceptance.

Members are invited to attend bonding events and form lifelong relationships.

Stop by the PV Bistro on Fridays to say hello.

Opinion Exclusiveness of Christmas

by Evin Ersan Christmas, the time of joy, gifts, self-reflection, family time and relaxation, has been celebrated since the 1800s.

The holiday has transformed from merely religious in nature to celebratory as well. This has outraged some as they believe religion should be the sole focus of Christmas. This is a downright falsehood. Christmas secularism should be encouraged, and people should have the freedom to celebrate the holiday in whatever way they fancy.

When the celebration began, Christmas was a purely religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. While the holiday has religious significance, over time it has branched out from just religious festivities to become one of the most secular holidays of all time.

One example of this shift is the viewpoint on the glorified figure of Christ-

mas, Santa Claus. Santa Claus was not a major figure when the holiday was founded, but he has become the face of Christmas.

The religious versus secular depiction of Christmas should not be an issue and the debate deviates from the main principles of Christmas. Freshman Cameron Caudill said, “I believe Christmas is a holiday for all. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter to me if Santa or Jesus is the cover of the holiday as long as people are grateful for what they have, give back to the community, and enjoy themselves.”

ting them enjoy the holiday in alternative manners.

Deanna Weinschenk, info tech and business teacher, said, “Family and giving are the true values of ChristmasYou get a sense of what is important to you and it’s a time to remember what you’re thankful for.”

Christmas is meant to be a time of celebration and people should not get bogged down in religion versus secular quarrels. The point of Christmas is a celebration of tolerance for others and their beliefs.

Christmas is more than just giving back to others. It prioritizes family, friends, gratefulness and happiness for the upcoming new year. Some people forget this is what Christmas is all about and will only focus on trying to keep others on the religious focus rather than let-

Different groups celebrate Christmas in different ways. Some celebrate it religiously, some celebrate secularly and others do not celebrate the holiday at all. Christmas is a secular holiday and people should be able to do what they like to celebrate, and it is time for people to accept it as a fact.

for pedestrians, bikers or motorcyclists, who have little to no protection in the event of an accident.

ly relevant, as parents are likely to pay all or part of any fines incurred under the current system.

Distracted driving

by Rece Vining

One of people’s biggest pet peeves is to wait at a green light, watching for when the driver in front of them to get off their phone. This is made exponentially worse when the texter is at the head of a long chain and then the green is missed altogether. Texting and driving is not only a pain in the neck; it has safety ramifications as well.

According to the DMV, 26% of auto accidents involve someone operating a phone, and texting while driving has been found to be more than 23 times more dangerous as non-distracted driving, according to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

These safety risks are especially high

If the law is modified to temporarily suspend the license of offenders, the punishment would hit much closer to home, and could not be reinstated with a thick wallet.

Currently the penalty for being caught operating a device while driving is a $100 fine but repeat offenses do not increase the fine. There is no penalty to one’s driving record if they are caught.

To teenagers, this last point is especial-

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An increase of the penalties is necessary as a preventative measure, since 46% of students admit to texting while driving, according to AAA. Bolstering the punishments will help make our roads safer and reduce risk for all who use our roads.

Sports Optimistic seasons ahead

by Maya McClain

While football, volleyball, cross country, and girls’ swimming seasons have come to an end, winter sports are just beginning.

Coming off of a 21-2 season last year, the girls basketball team is excited to get their season started again. Carli Spelhaug, now entering her 4th year as a varsity basketball player, said, “We have a lot of new faces on our team and it will be fun to see how this new team does. We are the underdogs this year so hopefully we can upset some teams.”

Head coach Steve Hillman is set to start his 11th season coaching the Pleasant Valley boys’ team. Coming off a successful 19-3 season last year, he hopes

to further improve this season. “The players have worked extremely hard this off season to improve as a team as well as improve their individual skills.

We are confident that we will make PV proud this season,” Hillman said.

er. She spoke for both the boys and girls team in expressing her excitement for the upcoming season. “I’m excited to be with the team again and have fun while working on our bowling skills,” she said.

The boys swim team is back and better than ever after last year’s successful season. Senior Kevin Burke shared his excitement stating, “Personally I’m really looking forward to this season knowing it’s my last year as a Spartan.

Our team this year is one of the most talented teams we’ve had in a while, which is a big confidence boost starting the season.”

PV wrestlers are excited and ready for the upcoming season. Senior Evan Kilstrom said, “I’m excited for wrestling to start. The wrestling team is very excited to start putting in the work in order to succeed this year. We have high aspirations and must work hard to achieve them.”

Senior Olivia Staver is coming back for her second and final year as a PV bowl-

Make sure to come out and support the Spartans this winter as they continue to make Spartan Nation proud at every event.

Superteams: good or bad?

by Rece Vining

Among basketball fans, concern is rising that “superteams” are taking over the NBA. The most recent example is the Golden State Warriors, who appeared in the last four NBA finals and won three. Before them, the Miami Heat did the same thing. With this amount of dominance occurring on a regular basis, the term “superteam” has been created to explain the success.

A superteam is commonly defined as a team who acquired two or more stars

on its roster through trades or free agency, rather than using drafted talent. The superteams generally end up being the teams with the biggest wallets, acquiring a core of superstars for a few seasons.

The practice has been met with mixed reviews. Some argue it takes away competition as lower-budget teams fall behind. Others disagree, citing increased viewership during NBA Finals games. “The NBA has become way too lopsided,” says Carter Cline, a varsity

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basketball player, adding, “The other 26 teams don’t stand a chance.”

The NBA is officially neutral on superteams, but they have put a “luxury tax” into effect that charges teams extra for exceeding a total salary amount; however, there are loopholes allowing teams to reduce or eliminate the fine.

Although some are unhappy with this shift in professional basketball, it remains one of the most popular American sports and appears to be here to stay.

Seasonal

Teenagers have a lot on their minds.

The topic of STDs usually is not one of them. Students are so focused on creating the perfect resume or receiving the most superior accolades that many important issues fly under the radar. But STDs are a serious topic that many do not think about until they are confronted with this life changing reality. Dr. Jonathan Kaplan has pointed

out that, “As of 2017, about 4 out of 10 high school students had had sex.

Ten million new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reported each year were among young people between the ages of 15 to 24 which raises the chances of getting HIV.”

dy, which follows the life of the band Queen, touches on the topic of AIDS. Freddie Mercury, the singer for the band, suffered from HIV. This movie allows the general public to view this illness through the eyes of a Hollywood star.

The National AIDS Trust said, “World AIDS Day is an opportunity to show solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV worldwide.” World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, can be a tool many use to help inform themselves on this disease. The Project of the Quad Cities, located in Moline, acts as a tool for students to becoming informed with and understanding how to deal with this disease.

Shayne McCartney, the parent of junior Morgan McCartney, said, “I did not view it negatively. I felt very sad because the audience did not know it was coming until the end. It specifically brought out emotions when he had to go to the doctor in disguise.”

The new movie Bohemian Rhapso-

It is common to feel depressed and embarrassed, but coming forward about this disease and using resources provided will help tremendously with the future.

Holiday happiness

by Lars Meseke-Wren When people think of Christmas, they generally think of a few things: movies, family and, of course, presents.

The National Retail Federation predicts that Americans will spend $465 billion on gifts this holiday season, which works out to about $700 per person.

According to Deloitte Insights, 78% of Americans plan to spend as much or more than they did last year.

that at this one time of year, you’re expected to read people’s minds and give them the perfect gift,” said Dr. Peter Christenson.

The encroaching nature of holiday shopping has made Christmas more commercialized than ever before.

“What is toxic about the holidays is

Sophomore Morgan Miller said the best part of gift giving is, “Seeing the happiness on other people’s faces.”

Historically, people have exchanged gifts as a sign of respect, love or admiration. With all the consumerism surrounding the holiday season, this sentiment sometimes gets drowned out.

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While some families may opt for traditional gift exchanges on Christmas or Christmas Eve, other families are more unconventional. Sophomore Connor Schlichte has one such family. “Usually during Christmas we put something on the bingo table,” Schlichte said, adding, “Don’t forget people who aren’t there.”

Overall, it’s important to slow down and take time to appreciate what you have. “It’s more important to give than to receive,” said Miller.

Seasonal Seasonal celebrations

by Evin Ersan

People of different ethnic groups, religions and beliefs are all preparing to celebrate the holiday season. These different cultures and religions celebrate the holidays in a variety of ways and ultimately show how the season is multicultural.

Mitchell Strobbe, a junior who practices Christianity, said, “We will exchange presents, spend time with family, and relax.” Christians attend church on Christmas Eve to give thanks through prayer and read the story of Jesus’ birth.

Sam Rothbardt, a junior who practices Judaism, shared how his family celebrates the holidays, “We just spend quality time with family and enjoy company. Most Jewish holidays are about appreciating what we have so that’s what we do.”

The Jewish community celebrates Hanukkah. Hanukkah is an eight day holiday that commemorates the rededication of 2nd temple in Jerusalem.

Adam El Zein, a junior who practices the Islamic faith, said, “Half of my family are Christians and I am a Muslim, so I celebrate the holidays with them and overall it’s super fun...It’s all about being accepting of others, remembering what we are grateful for and giving to people who are less fortunate than us.”

The Muslim community believes in the acceptance of all people and uses the holidays to give back to the community. They give money, food, clothes and other materials to the community.

Vishnu Challa, a freshman who practices Hinduism, said, “Usually for the New Year our Hindu community gets together at someones house and we

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celebrate. We eat a variety of great tasting foods and we all do the countdown till the New Year together.”

The Hindu community believes that family is one of the most important values of celebrating and will usually gather in large groups with relatives and friends. They celebrate with large quantities of food and enjoy themselves in the company of their friends and families over the holidays.

While the holidays look different for every faith, they each have values and traditions that they hold dear. The holiday season is an important time for many cultures and they should all be accepted.

Ruth Davidson

Delaney Riley

“Watching Christmas movies and eating Christmas cookies”

Jimmy Feeney

“My favorite tradition is decorating the tree with my family. We always get a real tree to put up, along with two fake trees. The real tree is dedicated to family importance”

Jared Jones “Sledding down the large hill in my backyard”

“Seeing all the fam”

What’s your favorite winter tradition?

Talia Sampson

“Drinking hot chocolate with my friends”

Abby Shamrell

“Drinking hot chocolate with vanilla, cinnamon and whipped cream.

Also, walking barefoot in the snow”

Amy Oberhart “Going Black Friday shopping in downtown Chicago”

Mackenzie Schmidt “I bake a bunch of cookies with my mom”