tuesday, february 11, 2009
volume 21, issue 5 Inaugural memoir
Buy local A glance at the importance of supporting local businesses, keeping money local and embracing the local culture. pp. 6-7
Junior Andrew Sagers sheds light on Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration. He attended with the organization People to People. p. 4
Making weight A look into the lives of wrestlers as they attempt to stay healthy while cutting weight. p. 11
Winter weather affects school activity Midwest winters are notorious for running the gamut from freezing rains to polar snowstorms. Residents have no choice but to comply with the weather, in a true display of ecological possibilism. School functions are just as susceptible to nature’s limitations. Severe weather conditions abridged the choir’s plans while selected students were attending the Dorian Honor festival at Luther College Jan. 11. The group decided to return to Pella early, fearing the snow which had begun to fall in northern Iowa would create dangerous road conditions. “Between Decorah and Cedar Rapids we were wondering, ‘Can we really make it home?’� said Choir Director Michelle Chaplin, who drove the students. “We stopped at a gas station to get (some opinions) on the weather, and even the truck drivers weren’t confident. Our minds were made up when we saw the flashing sign over the road that said ‘Blizzard Conditions.’� The group resorted to spending the night in Cedar Rapids hotel, and proceeded to continue home the following morning. When heavy snowfall or ice cover impedes the safe operation of bus services, administrators must surrender. Although, Schools have adapted to harsh winter weather with the renowned “snow day.�
Freeing them from the daily grind, snow days have created their own unique place within the emotions of students. “I love snow days because as soon as I wake up I see that we don’t have school, and I just go back to sleep. Sleep is good,â€? said sophomore Mitchell Van Zante. However, students who enjoy those few relaxing days in winter have to endure making them up consecutively in the summer. Iowa Code 2001 section 279.10 states that “school shall continue for at least one hundred eighty daysâ€? in order to complete a legal scholastic year. However, seniors, who finish their schooling May 20, are exempt from this code given that the number of snow days stays with in reasonable parameters. “I really like snow days,â€? said senior Carley De Jong, “but I really don’t want to get so many that (the seniors) have to come back to school‌still, I like to make fun of (underclassmen) because they have to make them up.â€? This year’s snow days have so far totaled three and the last day of school is calculated to be June 2. More snow is looming, however. DryDay.com, an online long-term weather forecast service predicts at least eight more days in the next month where chances of precipitation rank above a 50 percent risk. s.ATHAN +OOKER NK PELLADIUM GMAIL COM
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT. Junior Alex Maasdam plays his soprano saxophone during Excellence in Electives Night Jan. 23. Seventeen teachers and their students PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENING THAT DREW A PACKED HOUSE FOR THE lRST EVER EVENT s0HOTO by Ben Muller
Engineering program to be implemented next year As more and more students begin to enter college and other professional programs, high schools, such as this one, are beginning to place a greater emphasis on programs and classes that will aid students in their college studies. One such program is an engineering program, a set of specific classes over four years that would better prepare the student to study engineering in college. The program would consist of four classes to be taken over a student’s high school years. Freshmen would enter the program and take “Principles of Engineering,� as sophomores, they would take “Introduction to Engineering and Design.� Juniors would study “Digital Electronics,� while seniors would take “Civil Engineering and Architecture.� The first course would be taught by science teacher Jeff Siewert, the second by technology teacher Mark Goodrich. At this point, no staff has been assigned to instruct the final two courses. “If (the program) is approved, the first course, Principles of Engineering, would be available in the fall of 2009, followed by Introduction to Engineering and Design in 2010. The final two courses, Digital Electronics and Civil Engineering, would be available in 2011,� said Curriculum Director Lowell Ernst. All grade levels can participate, but the program will
news briefs ....
!"District Speech was held in Ottumwa Jan. 24. Five groups advanced to state with “I� ratings. The teams competed at state in Pella Feb. 7. Complete coverage will appear in the March Pelladium. !"The Central College Honor
be designed to be took one course per year for each year in high school. Students will also receive college credit, through Iowa State University, although they must keep a “B� average in the class, and additionally pass a certification test. The program, although specifically targeted at those wanting to be engineers, could be of great help to all students. “The program is officially targeted toward 80% of the student body. It prepares students to become efficient problem solvers and logical thinkers. These are skills in high demand in businesses and industry. Students can move from these courses into programs that prepare them for high tech careers. (The high school) sees this as a way to offer rigorous programming at an early level of high school that moves students to additional challenging courses,� said Ernst. While the goal is to have these classes ready at the start of the ‘09-’10 school year, obstacles, including funding and up-to-date technology, are still holding back implication of the program. Additional staff may also be needed after the first two years. “Funding is the main obstacle that exists,� said Ernst. “We have been approved a $50,000 grant from the Iowa
Band was held Jan. 29. Participants included freshmen Amanda Lauritsen and Jessica Salpor, sophomores Sarah Ferguson and Jon Jaarsma, juniors Hannah Axt, Erin Van Hal, Emily Gates, Lisa Vander Meiden, Stephanie Jensen and
Alex Maasdam, and, seniors Stewart Beyer, Nick Wills and Mollie Kingma. !"AcaPella show choir received a “I� rating at state contest Feb. 2. Dutch Divas received a “II.� !"Central College’s Singfest Vocal Festival will be held at Central
Department of Economic Development, Des Moines Area Community College and the Kim Family Foundation. The rest of the money will come from a coalition of businesses that has Pella Corporation at the hub. Private funding is the only way to make this work.â€? However, in a time of recession, funding from the businesses may not happen; if the money for the program cannot be obtained, the program could be delayed. Additionally, the school needs to make sure that the technology infrastructure will be able to support the many demands of the classes. Still, Ernst is optimistic that the program will happen and be available for incoming students. The program could even help draw additional students to the school, as it is offered at only 70 high schools statewide. “Our high school has a reputation for excellence, and we want to maintain that by offering up-to-date programs that align with the job market. (The program) will increase the students’ exposure to promising careers in math and science, while helping them see the relevance of technology in society,â€? said Ernst. s-ICHAEL 3UPLEE MS PELLADIUM GMAIL COM Â
College Feb. 12. Participants include sophomores Lynae Toom, Luke Vande Haar and Callie Deaton, juniors Maggie-Anne Landon, Morgan Anderson, Drew Senn, Mackenzie Van Zante and Emily Lyng, and, seniors
Hannah Maakestad, Carley De Jong, Josh Dale and Hannah Harthoorn. !"Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Feb. 19 at the high school. s-ICHAEL 3UPLEE MS PELLADIUM GMAIL COM