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New Band Uniforms
PELLADIUM P. 11
P. 2
THE PELLA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL NEWS PUBLICATION
01.28.2014
Volume 26
Issue Five
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PAGE EDITOR: Gregory Frommelt
Band prepares for new look The symbolic green and white uniforms have been with the Marching Dutch through all of its successes. They marched through nine years worth of shows in sleet, rain and extreme heat, saw nine Tulip Time parades, and even traveled to a few bowl games, and now, they are reaching retirement. With signs of wear and tear appearing along with new different uniform trends, the necessity for new uniforms has been on the minds of members and directors of the Marching Dutch. The purpose of uniforms is only to make the whole band look the same, right? Wrong. The uniforms serve other purposes in addition to contributing to the overall look of the band. That’s why the process of designing and picking the right uniform is not an easy one. About three years ago, the band directors began researching trending styles and taking note of the uniforms at national competitions. According to Director of Bands Jason Pen- SNAZZY>>> The Marching Dutch hope to unveil new their new uniforms in the near future, however lack of funds has tico, uniforms play a role in how the put exactly when into question. “The new uniforms will band is perceived. give the band a better sense of pride” said freshmen band “Just as clothing trends change, member Nathan Boldt. it’s the same thing with uniforms, whether it be band uniforms or sports uniforms. If you are wearing uniforms that are older as far as design, then that does have a negative effect on how you’re perceived, whether it be from a judge or audience members,” said Pentico. The way the jackets and pants fit and are tailored can also affect scores at competitions and create a negative connotation and lower scores from a judge, even if the band marches very well. The uniform will include with white hats and white shoulders, then progressively change to darker shades of green in a tiered approach. “The concept of the uniform going from light to dark has to do with perception visually on what is seen from the audience standpoint. It will make us look much taller, and it will have a reverse triangle look, which makes us seem very broad and strong at the top and very slender as you move down towards the foot,” said Pentico. After three years of research, sketches and fundraising, the time has come for the decision to purchase these new uniforms. However, a major setback has hindered Pentico from making the final order, lack of funds. Even with past fundraising from students, the annual craft show in November, and donations from alumni, the still unraised amount is a major deciding factor between having the uniforms by this Tulip Time or next year’s band season, as each uniform costs $430. “Right now, the fundraising is not moving as quickly as I had hoped it would, so I’m a little bit leery of ordering uniforms with us having to still make more money for me to feel comfortable,” said Pentico. As of now, the current uniforms will be pre-sold to individuals but kept at the high school until the decision is made regarding the arrival of the new ones. When the decision is made, 210 uniforms will be ordered, enough for potential growth. “They’re going to be a great uniform for our students to use over the next several years. I think the new uniforms are going to have a really positive affect on all students that participate in the band program. We’re still accepting donations and would certainly appreciate any support,” said Pentico. •Megan Kooker (mkooker@pelladium.com)
Current
01. 28 . 2014
Orchestra students share talents with community
While some students are content with participating in orchestra with other high schoolers, a select few exceed the expectations given to them by participating in a community orchestra filled with Central College students and community members who have been musicians for 10, 20, even 30 years. These students must practice individually more, meet with the orchestra outside of school, and give up their time to further their musical talents. These students are juniors Hannah Smart and Daniel Thompson and freshman Bellara Huang. “When I was a freshman, Mrs. [Katherine] Bendon [5-12 grade orchestra director] said that it would be a good opportunity for me to gain experience with a more advanced ensemble. I really enjoy being able to be a part of a more advanced group and playing much more advanced music. I love the opportunity to improve my abilities with more challenging music,” said Thompson. Students meet with the other members every Monday evening for two hours with optional practices on Tuesdays. Practicing outside of the group practices are mandatory due to the difficulty of the music and the small group size. “The music is difficult and requires a lot more practice time outside of school. It’s also important to know the music really well because in a smaller group like the community orchestra, it becomes more obvious if you make a mistake,” said Smart. The amount of practice needed takes time away from students, making participation in the community orchestra a big commitment. “One thing challenging [about participating in the orchestra] is how time consuming it may be. Rehearsals can be as long as two-and-a-half hours when we have an upcoming concert,” said Huang. Giving up time to practice, taking time to learn the music and preparing for concerts and performances may be stressful, but the students are advancing and becoming better musicians because of it. “The orchestra has been a great opportunity for me to gain some extra experience on my violin. Even though it can be a lot of work at times, being able to make great music is a wonderful feeling,” said Thompson. •Christina Gualtieri (cgualtieri@pelladium.com)
NASA opportunity exists for students An opportunity to take advantage of further study in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) area is here. In March, four students will be given an experience they will never forget. Chemistry teacher Erin Yoder will be taking students to the Johnston Space Center in Houston, Texas for an experience at NASA. Students will compete in an engineering simulation to build a settlement in space. “Students are challenged beyond what happens in the school day, and they are enthusiastic with what their future can hold,” said Yoder. To be eligible for participating, a student needs an interest in a STEM career. Also, the student should be involved in some sort of science class. Each student will pay $435 to go on this four day trip. Students will not only be competing in an engineering simulation, but will be given a day to spend at the beach and go on a ferry ride in Texas. “I think it is a very unique opportunity, and people should take advantage of it because it is great for a STEM career,” Yoder said. Sophomore Alex Bragg was one of the students who went on the trip last year. “I thought the NASA trip was very eye-opening and an enjoyable experience. It gave me a small piece of what an engineer’s world is like. You have fun, work hard and don’t sleep for 24 hours. It was a good time,” said Bragg. •Aletta Verhey (averhey@pelladium.com)
01.28 . 2014
Current
Page Editor: Derrick Akers
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New CNA class thrives in first semester The ultimate goal for teachers is to prepare their students for their career after high school. A handful of students here already have a career path paved for their future. These students enrolled, and completed with honors, the class of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). During the fall semester, 15 students enrolled in this class. The course involves attending classes for nursing theory, lab and clinicals. The CNA class completed was a 75 hour class, focusing on geriatric (elderly) persons. Teacher Kay Landon, a certified nursing assistant herself, said, “I teach the fundamentals of nursing skills. The students then practice those skills in lab. Once the students have successfully demonstrated the lab skills, we partner with a local long-term care facility to gain real life practical experience in performing the skills and caring for elder persons.” One hundred percent of the students enrolled in the CNA class passed the state certification test and became certified by the state of Iowa to
gain employment in the care of the elderly. “I think we all passed the state testing because we have a great teacher who spent many hours after class going through skills and information we would need to know for the test,” said senior Taelor Rempe, a student in the class. Rempe, along many other seniors and even juniors who took the class, are able to work in retirement home with the certification. “With the certification, a student is able to get a job working as a CNA in a elderly care facility. In addition, successful completion of this class is required for admissions into most the nursing programs in the state of Iowa and nationally,” said Landon. Students have put in many hours of work into passing the state certification test, but in Landon’s eyes, it is all worth it. “My ultimate goal is to prepare the student to take the state certification test, both written and demonstration of the skills learned,” said Landon. •Jack Sytsma (jsytsma@pelladium.com) >>>Senior Taelor Rempe takes classmate Tanner Phelps’s
blood pressure while senior Alex Boots oversees the operation. •Photo by Ashley Kirkland
ALiCE training prepares teachers for emergencies ALiCE training began at the high school Jan 3. ALiCE stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate. ALiCE is training for disasters within schools and other businesses, mainly centered around attacks with deadly weapons. This first day of training was designed as an introduction for teachers and faculty. This training is designed to inform teachers and administration on how to better protect students in the event of a lifeand-death situation. Complying with state and federal safety standards now means more than a “lockdown” policy. Training teachers on how to protect students from attackers is the largest part of ALiCE training. ALiCE is not designed to be a sequential checklist of what to do in an attack situation. Instead, it is important guidelines to consider on a case-by-case basis. ALiCE training is designed to help teachers make more informed decisions on what to do in
case of attack. “ALiCE is the best option right now, because it is more than just fighting back,” said principal Eric Nelson. The first option with ALiCE is to leave in the event of attack. If leaving is not an option, locking down the classroom is the school’s standard response. For many teachers, the training meant planning out what to do in a variety of disaster situations. The options are different for each teacher, depending on where they are in the school. Administration has decided not to have any practice runs involving students, but more training for staff and administration will take place in the future. They will be shown where to hide students, evacuation routes, and how to fight back in the event in the attack. •Claire Anderson (canderson@pelldium.com)
Band sets sights on Orlando trip
A new topic of discussion is buzzing through the hallways of the high school, one that only appears every four years. It comes the time when the Pella Marching Dutch band participants, under the direction of Jason Pentico, Ben Thompson, and Kim Benson, are informed of where the 2014 band trip will occur. After a 24-hour bus ride, students will finally reach their destination: Orlando, Fla. “We’ll participate in two parades: the Florida Citrus Parade and a parade at the Magic Kingdom at Disney. Students will get to enjoy both the Disney properties and Universal Studio properties,” said Pentico. As this opportunity only comes around once during a student’s high school career, Pentico believes this experience will highly impact students. “I think the experience of being able to march at a televised parade is awesome for the students,” said Pentico. “ To be part of something like this is pretty special. It is also a nice reward for our members.” Not only are band directors excited for the trip, students are, also. “I am looking forward to getting to know the people I don’t know as well, and performing for people who haven’t seen us before,” said sophomore Shanae Dehaan-Burch. Because the Pella Marching Dutch receives the honor of being one of the 12-15 high school bands throughout the nation participating, there are challenges that students and families face. “Based off of how many students are planning to go, right now, the approximate cost for one student is $1,300,” said Pentico. However, he also adds that there are several fundraisers offered to the students. Along with challenges, other preparations will be made. “We will make sure that everyone that is a part of marching band will have a copy of the parade music in August. We will probably spend some time right before we leave over winter break at the fieldhouse at Central College,” said Pentico. In conclusion, Pentico and band directors believe this opportunity will be extraordinary for the students. “I think it’s going to be a great trip, and the students will have a great time. It will be a very unique experience for students to participate in something on national television,” said Pentico. •Bellara Huang (bhuang@pelladium.com)
877-462-3687 www.central.edu
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Current
Page Editor: Jack Parisee
1. 28 . 2014
Research + Dissection = Brain Day
Psychology and anatomy students, under the direction of Karen Ryals and Cathy Hones, spent Jan. 22 involved in Brain Day activities. Far left, seniors Alex Donelson and Derrick Underwood complete the research portion of the event, focusing on anatomical and psychological effects of brain damage. Center, 14 sheep brains awaited the students as they moved into the dissection portion of the day. Right, seniors Samantha Blatt and Becky Visser work on the brain dissection. According to Hones, the day went well. “Brain Day went just fine. It was short day though, but the students still got something out of it,” said Hones. •Photo by Elisabeth Jansen and Halle Van Vark
Seniors weigh options
Senior year is filled with choices, including which college to attend and a major. The search for a school starts halfway through high school, but really intensifies as the decision becomes more and more real with deadlines nearing. The process begins with college visits. Some students are destined for a single college from the start and only require one visit instead of a plethora of trips. “I only went on one before deciding on Iowa State University. As soon as I started the tour, I knew it was the place for me,” said senior Sydney Swanson. Other students find themselves in a larger quandary, with many options for a location to attend college. This question makes for much more traveling around the state. “I have visited three colleges and have travelled five hours up to Orange City for the farthest,” said senior Regan Nelson. With Nelson’s many options, she has applied for many different colleges. “I have applied for five colleges. Each application took probably 30-45 minutes to fill out and think through things,” said Nelson. Once accepted, students then apply for scholarships, a time-consuming process. “Some scholarships have essays, and I will have to write for about 12 of them. Some are local, and some are from the colleges. I also will interview for some scholarships and also have began writing essays to those interviews as well. When they are all done, it will be multiple hours to fill them all out, but in the end, I hope the time will all pay off,” said Nelson. •Derrick Akers (dakers@pelladium.com)
Cube offers live coverage High School Cube is a feature that Pella athletics is now using that allows the public to view live or replayed games such as basketball and wrestling. “I like it. My grandparents that live in Nebraska can watch my games over it, so that’s pretty cool,” said varsity basketball player Seth Johnson, junior. High School Cube benefits those who can’t make it to the game. “More people can watch our kids play if they can’t physically be here. We still want them to physically be here if we can, but I definitely don’t see it taking the place of people coming,” said Otte. Otte also has high hopes for the future of Pella’s High School Cube. “Eventually, we can do broadcasts play-by-play, which would be really really cool; right now, I’m just trying to get the game on there and letting people watch it,” said Otte. “I think it’s a great way for family and friends who aren’t able to watch it. However, it also may cause less people to come to the game and cheer on the team. I don’t think a lot of people know about it, and I think we should try to get the word out about High School Cube,” said varsity basketball player Katie Vander Molen, freshman. •Natalie Meyer Visit the Pella High School Cube page by going to the link on the school website, http:// www.highschoolcube.com/schools/pella-high-school-pella-iowa under Athletics.
Golfing across the Atlantic ...
Elliott heads for St. Andrews Receiving All-Conference in both his freshman and sophomore year, winning sectional and district golf tournaments, one of the top 20 in the state last year, participating in various summer golf tournaments, All-state golf. All are achievements of junior Corey Elliott, who soon will take the next step in his golfing career. Elliott was unanimously nominated and selected by the The North American High School Championship to play golf in a tournament in Scotland from June 29 to July 5. The tournament held in the birthplace of golf, St. Andrews. The trip includes a visit to the British Golf Museum and tours of the courses Elliott will compete on. As this is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, Elliott is looking forward to this experience.
“Just the thought of walking on the same courses as Tiger Woods and other famous golfers is exciting,” said Elliott. Golf coach Bob Fessler strongly supports and encourages this experience for Elliott. Fessler believes that the trip will not only benefit Elliott’s skills, it will impact the whole team. “This experience should be a great one for Corey. The impact on the Pella team will be up to Corey when he returns. I envision that this will help Corey be a stronger leader with a strong sense of purpose for his teammates,” said Fessler. Elliott said he is looking forward to meeting new people and playing golf in Scotland. •Bellara Huang (bhuang@pelladium.com)
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01. 28 . 2014
Sports
PAGE EDITOR: Garret Jansen
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McKinstrey named to coach Shrine Bowl; Clayberg earns spot on south squad Head Varsity Football coach Jay McKinstrey will coach in the annual Shrine Game, a game that features the best seniors in the state of Iowa. McKinstrey said he is honored to have been selected to coach. “The Iowa Football Coaches Association chooses the coaches…. First, it is very humbling but it means we have had great players and coaches at Pella High, and I am very grateful to be considered for this coaching position. I think it is an opportunity to invest in the God’s kingdom and help advance it,” said McKinstrey. Although it is an honor, hard work goes into this process. “Selecting the teams and numbers, getting the dorms and rooms, room assignments, practice schedules, contacting the kids, administrative work, and many others jobs go into this,” said McKinstrey. The selection process is not easy, especially with the sheer quantity of high school seniors. “The head coach selects his five assistants below Highway 30. We meet as a staff and go through the school’s nominations, and we select 46 players,” said McKinstrey. Despite the game, McKinstrey wants to stay focused on the upcoming season as well. “Although this is a great opportunity and a great cause, I want to stay focused on our kids as well. I want to devote a lot of time and energy because we are very excited for the upcoming year,” said McKinstrey. All of these athletes come from different offensive and defensive styles, so the coaches need to find a common ground. “We will meet as coaches, and we have assigned coaches for offense and defense; we try to keep it basic since the kids come from different systems,” said McKinstrey. McKinstrey won’t be the only Pella participant in this game. Senior Nathan Clayberg will be playing. “I am really excited about this, especially with the way the season ended with injuries and things for me. It will be really cool to have one more chance to play for him. He is a great coach and an even better man, and he has helped make my football experience at Pella special. It really is just a huge honor to be recognized. It will be an awesome opportunity to get to play with such quality players, but also it is very meaningful to represent Pella on the football field one last time,” said Clayberg. Clayberg wants to make this the best experience possible. “I am going to just have a good time, work hard, play as well as I can, and let the rest work itself out,” said Clayberg. •Garret Jansen (gjansen@pelladium.com)
>>Junior Isaac Naaktgeboren blocks DCG’s Austin Rix earlier in the season. Naaktgeboren averages 18.9 points, 1.9 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 10.2 rebounds per game. He had a career high 31 points against PCM. •Photo by Elisabeth Jansen
Naaktgeboren improves on 2013 numbers, leads Little Dutch in ‘14 endeavors Standing at 6’4”, 176 lbs., junior Isaac Naaktgeboren proved himself worthy of a varsity jersey as a sophomore. He has continued into his junior year with stats outpacing his 2013 output. He had a career high 31 points against PCM on Jan. 18. Naaktgeboren didn’t reach this skill level overnight; he has progressed over time. “I did things to make myself better. First when I was younger, I would shoot a ton of hoops. Now, I play a lot of pick up games. Recently what I have done is gone to workouts in Pleasant Hill and also in Ames,” said Naaktgeboren. Naaktgeboren has also played AAU basketball since fourth grade, giving basketball the edge over other sports such as football. “I chose basketball over other sports because I thought I could excel in it. Also, I just have fun no matter when or where I am playing,” said Naaktgeboren. Naaktgeboren dreams didn’t start in fourth grade, however; he went to several camps ran by several local basketball enthusiasts.
“I would say my first basketball memory was playing basketball at the Community Center when I was in first grade,” said Naaktgeboren. His dreams won’t stop just at the high school level either. Naaktgeboren has been contacted by several colleges. “After my sophomore year I got contacted by Central College, the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and the University of Sioux Falls,” he said. Naaktgeboren hopes to draw attention from bigger schools this season and hopefully gain a scholarship. He does have one more season to prove himself and will work hard to improve his game to get to that level. Spectators can catch Naaktgeboren in any of the remaining Little Dutch basketball games. •Andrew Pavlat (apavlat@pelladium.com) Naaktgeboren Numbers Points Per Game Rebounds Assists
2013 13.3 9.7 1.8
2014 (as of Jan. 23) 18.9 10.2 1.9
Booster Club aids athletic endeavors Students undertake athletic endeavors, and very few understand how much goes into the preparation and execution of a successful season. Perhaps one of the organizations overlooked most is the Pella Athletic Booster Club (PABC). The name is most likely familiar; however, what they do may still be shrouded in mystery. The PABC, a nonprofit organization, was formed to assist and support athletic activities in the district. Members believe that athletics aid students in developing leadership skills, character, strong values and teamwork. “We probably have close to 250 members; that includes businesses that have given money to support us,” said Booster Club Board member Charma Vander Wert. In the past the Booster Club has supported Dollars for Scholars scholarships, support for a strength and conditioning trainer and many other improvements to athletic facilities.
These contributions are made possible from the money being raised through membership fees, an annual golf outing, donations and concessions. The Booster Club, which meets the second Wednesday of every month, purchases the “extras” for athletics. “It is independent from the school. The reason we do that is because the school and the taxpayer money pays for what is needed. Anything above and beyond that, the Booster Club supplements the cost,” said Vander Wert. “We discuss if there are any requests from the athletic department, middle school or high school, and you bring them to the board to vote on whether it is needed. It is coordinated largely by the athletic directors. We look for ways we can improve concessions and form different committees and promotions,” said Vander Wert. •Gregory Frommelt (gregory.frommelt@ pelladim.com)
2114 Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1604
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PAGE EDITORS: Ben Konfrst & Greg Frommelt
Technology affect teenager’s way of life, thinking
Technology. Unarguably amongst the top components that make up a high schooler’s life, it can be found everywhere. When asked, “What does the fox say?” an overwhelming number of high school students will answer according to Ylvis’ hit song they saw on YouTube. Talk of the latest relationship status on Facebook buzzes through the halls, and seeing girls snapping daily pictures with their “BFF” in front of their lockers seems to be a regular occurrence. All of this combined, not to mention a laptop hung on each student’s shoulder, is merely a glimpse of the emerging truth. Technology and social media account for an enormous slice of the modern teenager’s life. A study conducted by Harris Interactive, a program that documents a national prevalence rate of video game use, reported that people ages eight to 18 spend an average of 44.5 hours per week in front of screens. However, contrary to popular belief of older generations, most teenagers are not oblivious to the fact that it is being used an excessive amount, and in some circumstances, technology can be a negative thing. Some students even openly admitted to texting, Snapchatting, and perusing social media simultaneously, and others confess to checking their phones every few minutes. Sophomore Lydia Den Adel is aware of her regular usage. “I use technology excessively. I feel like I’m always on my phone, and when I don’t have my phone, I feel naked and out of place,” said Den Adel. Students’ realization of being “glued” to their phones and computers does not stop there. Just as older generations point out, teenagers notice negative effects, too. “We don’t know how to talk to people. Most high schooler’s can’t even make eye contact,” said Den Adel. Studies have begun to show negative long term effects of social media, some resulting in introvertedness, becoming distracted easily, and even serious emotional conditions. However, freshman Paloma Mate-Kodjo attempts to find her way around these negative effects. “I try to limit the amount of time I spend online so I don’t become introverted,” said Mate-Kodjo. However, what many students agree older generations do not take into account is the many ways use of social media and technology contribute to success of today. Older generations are doubtful of today’s teens to be successful future leaders. “I think every generation has said the same thing of every younger generation. There is a certain amount of change that occurs that makes older generations uncomfortable,” said sophomore Duncan Brumwell. With the dramatic growth and presence of technology in highschoolers’ lives today, the influence it has in student’s lives is virtually unavoidable. It seems to be no longer a choice, but an inevitable way of life. “To be successful today, you need to remain up-to-date with technology trends,” said Brumwell. •Megan Kooker (mkooker@pelladium.com)
In Focus
95%
of teens use the internet.
Being a student in Pella creates a busy schedule as it is, but most students manage to fit a job into their hectic schedules. It’s even crazier when a student participates in an extracurricular activity. Some people don’t have much time to spend time with their friends or family, even in their free time, due to projects, homework, jobs and extracurriculars. Senior Dakota Schnell works 15 to 20 hours a week at Fareway, but during football season, he works about six hours a week. He usually works on Saturdays because that’s the only day he is available. “Working a job can get busy, but I like being busy. I like my schedule now because I can sleep Saturday and wake up and go to work,” said Schnell. Junior Lori VanHeukelom works 25 hours or more at Dairy Queen every weekend and at least two nights during the week. “It’s not hard to balance my schedule out because my boss works with my hours I can work. It’s easy, and I get enough hours to have a good paycheck,” said VanHeukelom. Some students go from practice for a sport straight to their show choir practice, meaning they don’t get home to relax or hang out with friends until later that evening. Having a busy schedule can cause stress, both good and bad. Once a person has adapted to a new schedule when school starts, they may no longer have the stress they once had. Junior Travis Baker works at Pella Motors cleaning after closing; he also works at Culver’s. He goes to football after school and works afterward for a couple hours three days a week. He cleans the shop on Saturday mornings as well. “My schedule gets crazy because I have show choir after football and don’t get to clean until nine, which means I get done around 11 at night. Then, I have homework until around midnight to one in the morning,” said Baker. •Aletta Verhey (averhey@pelladium.com)
of teens now have a cell phone, and almost half (47%) of them own smartphones. That translates into 37% of all teens who have smartphones, up from just 23% in 2011.
of teens have a tablet computer, a level comparable to the general adult population.
Commentary:
Teenagers dictate Digital Age
Generation Divulged Adults notice changes in teens negatively affect the workplace. “Social media is a big distraction in the workplace,” said Versteeg. “It is a distraction more so in younger generations, but all generations are being distracted by technology.” Negative discussion may occur regarding teens of this generation. “I think that students of this generation often carry a fairly high level of stress and in Pella there are high expectations,” said Craig Zuithoff, youth ministry leader at Third Reformed Church. “You can find yourself spending a lot of time striving to expectations that others, or they, have for themselves that sometimes gets in the way of figuring out what you really want to do and who you are becoming.” Zuithoff believes that technology is not solely negative. “This generation can be really creative. I think that's partially due to social media giving everyone a voice to say something and create something that will be seen by others,” said Zuithoff. •Aaron Van Maanen (avanmaanen@pelladium.com)
Students live double lives: school and work
78%
23%
The 21st century has been heavily criticized over use of technology and the lack of social skills, among numerous other topics. Everyone seems to have an opinion about how much better “the olden days” were. However, senior Alex Boots has enjoyed being a part of this generation. “I don’t have anything against our generation. We are who we are,” said Boots. “Imagine the world if all generations were the same. There would be no originality.” The teenagers of this generation are in search of jobs, following the path of previous generations. Many different reasons exist for this generation’s teenagers to be employed. Justin Versteeg, Pella Pizza Ranch manager, observed the situation. “We find the younger generations’ motivation consists of things like gas money or movies, more wants than needs,” said Versteeg. “They can eventually lose that motivation, where we can find the older generation never losing the motivation.” Technology is one of the stigmas of this generation and has been found to
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01. 28 . 2014
93%
of teens have a computer or have access to one at home. Source: PewInternet.org
For those fortunate enough to remember the days before Facebook or Instagram, one might recall growing up in a world where something was cool for about 10 minutes then it was over, on to the next big fad. But today, it seems like trends last about a minute-and-a-half and it’s over, about as long as it takes to create a new web page or download a song. With the expidation of sending and receiving information, culture has begun to spin on an axle at speeds never before experienced. What used to have longevity and last for weeks is over before it even begins. Whether or not we’ve all noticed it, we’re among one of the biggest revolutions in human history, The Digital Age. Much like the industrial revolution, this new time period based upon technology and cyber space is changing every aspect of our lives. The world before the technology invasion based upon in person communication and the world after, where it has become necessary to have at least five gadgets going at once, although sometimes it’s not the brightest move to handle all of them while driving. The Twenty-first century generation now depends on iPads and Kindles to cure everyday boredom, opposed to ‘kick the can’. A snapshot of societal culture now includes a pedestrian on a phone call through ear headphones while on their iPhone, opposed to denim and a cigarette. Senior Alex Moore has noticed the change throughout his life. “Things are just different because of [technology]. It’s changed the way we interact, the way we inform and are informed,” described Moore. When Moore hits on the idea of how our culture is now informed, he provides a really key point in understanding how our culture has changed. Fifty years ago, information was spread in a completely different manner. There were no Twitter alerts, no Facebook updates, no instant gratification of receiving current events through online media. Now that there is, the internet has become a public forum for all of society to use. Teenagers, as well as a growingly large number of adults, have created digital and certainly viable representations of themselves. With the combination of profiles on social networking and the plethora of websites on the internet, people no longer exist only in our tangible world, but also within the screens of our computers. Researchers say the lure of these technologies, while it affects adults, too, is particularly powerful for young people. The risk, they say, is that developing brains can become more easily habituated than adult brains to constantly switching task and less able to sustain attention. However good or bad, it is important to realize that the new generation of teenagers is inherently so different than any before. In many ways, teenagers have represented the leading edge of mobile connectivity and the patterns of their technology use often signal future changes in the adult population. •Jack Parisee (jparsiee@pelladium.com)
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PAGE EDITOR: Claire Anderson
Opinion
01. 28 . 2014
The Bottom Line •A column by Christina Gualtieri
“New year, new me”. This little catchphrase has been passed around students and people in general as 2014 made its grand entrance. Many people have made resolutions to break a bad habit or begin a good one, sticking with it through the entire year. I honestly like the idea of resolutions. It’s great to want to change something in your life for the better! I really admire those who stick with their goals. So many times, however, Americans forget about their goal or toss it aside. Just a few weeks ago these people were adamant about change and starting something great in their life, but now they act indifferent towards it, blowing it off, causing most people to break their New Year’s resolutions. My question is, why don’t people stick with their resolutions? I think there are several reasons. The first one we live in a lazy society. I’m not talking about “sitting on the Lazy Boy, eating fries and collecting dust” type of lazy. I’m talking about a lazy mind set, wanting to take the easy way out whenever possible. Not every American has this mind set of course, but I know some do. Whether their resolution is to lose 10 pounds, spend less time online, or save more money, Americans are too lazy to change. It is hard to make a plan to meet your resolution and stick with it, and bad habits creep in soon after it is made. It’s easier to not make an effort to change and to take the easy way out. Another reason is society is afraid of change. The norm is comfortable, and the outcome
North Korea
in Crisis
Commentary by Jake Dorman (jdorman@pelladium.com) I am not qualified to write about something as important and appalling as what is going on in North Korea. I can only begin to dip into the well of emotions that surround the country that has veiled itself from the world. Even in my arrogance, I doubt I possess the ability to put things that leave the world speechless into words. I hope that no one who reads this was previously ignorant to the situation in North Korea, but I believe most are oblivious to its severity. Much of population has been brainwashed to follow propaganda-induced delusions in order to assure complete obedience. They live their lives under constant surveillance. Malnourished and afraid, these people see no way out. Those who fight back against Kim Jong-un’s police force get thrown into labor camps. Those who try to escape the country are summarily imprisoned or executed. Those who do escape do so at a price. The government will round up any escapees family and execute them to deter future escape attempts. The true darkness of this country exists in the gated cement labor camps that are located all across North Korea. Inside these camps, the government perpetrates atrocious acts that violate every basic human right. People are literally worked to death. Men, women and child alike have their lives morphed into an endless string of beatings and hard labor. Women are regularly raped, and those who become pregnant are executed. Some women still manage to have children, but they are then taken by the guards and effectively brainwashed. They don’t understand love, compassion, happiness or hope. The only aspiration they have is to receive food. Children who have escaped these camps and North Korea say that the only semblance of happiness they ever learned to feel is when they were rewarded with extra food for snitching on other prisoners. It is one thing for a country to take away a person‘s home, a person’s family, a persons life, but they are stripping people of their humanity. Kim Jong-un treats his citizens like livestock and toys. When I learned what is happening in North Korea, I literally begun to shake in anger. How can there be people in this world, humans just like me and you, who murder, rape and torture for no other reason than preserving their power. When Hitler committed crimes against humanity in the Holocaust, he did so with an end goal in mind. Kim Jongun commits these same horrendous atrocities for almost no reason at all. This is a man who fed his own uncle to wild dogs for not clapping hard enough in his honor. All he cares about is staying in power, and he will never stop doing what he is doing. I refuse to sit idly while the world turns a blind eye to what is going on in North Korea. Unfortunately, in today’s United States it has become commonplace to disassociate ourselves from the rest of the world. Has it truly come to the point that we’ve decided humanity only exists between the confines of California and Maine? Those who say the affairs of North Korea aren’t America’s problem are correct. It isn’t an American problem. It is a human problem. I am three things: I am the name I was given, then I am an American, and first and foremost, I am a human. Many citizens in this country are complacent to live their materialistic and self-involved lives, but I can’t do the same. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that a man who is not willing to die for something is not fit to live. These words echo in my head, reverberating through my brain as I struggle to grasp the concept. Death frightens me, but my anger outweighs my fear. How can I justify not doing anything when I sit in my safe little world where my hardest decision is which college to attend, when there are people being tortured and worked to death halfway across the world? If we don’t stand up for what is good and righteous, then none of us are truly fit to live.
of it is known. Change is scary and old habits die hard. It’s easier to do the same thing over and over than it is to change because it’s new. It’s different. It is unknown. The old, bad habits are hard to break because they’re safe. Not necessarily physically safer (unless your resolution is to go skydiving or swim with sharks), but mentally. The old habits are known and may even be done subconsciously (such as eating when you’re bored or biting your nails) and making an effort to stop is difficult and scary. Some will also quit and forget about their goal if they break it once or mess up. Instead of trying harder and committing to it, people blow it off and say “I’ll do better next time” when in reality, they will do the same thing. This cycle repeats itself until the resolution is forgotten about in a few weeks. Of course, some people just don’t commit to their goals or care enough about them to do a substantial amount of change. They forget about them or get too busy doing other things and going on with their life to care much about their resolution. They were never committed to it and took a first step of action, it was all talk. Some people don’t even make new year’s resolutions anymore because they know that within a matter of a few weeks, it will be broken and old habits will replace their current mind set of change. Me? I just didn’t make any because I know I would break them.
Staff Editorial Lazy, entitled, internet obsessed kids. They fear for the future with us leading the way. Being a teenager today means being constantly told that we are not the people that we should be. We are victims of the technological age, and it has made us into people that our elders seem to look down on. But, are we really as bad as they say? Are we truly these lazy kids we’re told we are? Some view the modern teen’s technological dependence as a bad thing, but we realize that this is both a strength and a weakness. In an ever-advancing world, technology is clearly instrumental to our future. With technology, the world’s knowledge is truly at our fingertips and how we use this knowledge determines how we see the world. News is more available than ever - it no longer means picking up the daily paper or watching the evening news broadcast- we have access to world events as they happen. This is a tool no other generation has been given, and it’s making us more informed than teenagers in the past. Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Vine: all of these drain time; this is undeniable. But they do serve a key purpose - keeping us connected. However superficial, these tools give us a sense of community, creating a social group all its own, completely of our own choosing. We don’t see this as replacing real life communication, but simply expanding it. In this technology-based world, we are creating a digital image for ourselves, which will become a tool for our futures. But, it is important for us to think about how we represent ourselves. Being responsible with technology seems to be the biggest issue facing teenagers today. It seems so easy and “cool” to tweet about your “crazy weekend” and your support of marijuana legalization. But, in our connected world, employers look at the social networking of prospective employees. Whether you believe this is right or not, it is the truth, and it should be considered with every post. If teens are guilty of anything in this technological age, it is being too open on what we don’t seem to realize are public forums. The teenagers of today are the leaders of tomorrow. We believe that we are prepared to take on this role, in time. In the increasingly technology-based world, it is the youth of today who are most prepared for the future. Our parents seem to say that we aren’t living in the real world, but the future is in the world that the youth lives in. Our parents could never survive in the future based in electronics and communication avenues they don’t understand. Are we lazy for spending so much of our time on our phones and laptops? Or are we simply aware and accepting that our best tool is the technology our elders hate so much?
Pelladium staff voted 13-0 in favor of this editorial
If you could go to the Sochi Olympics free, would you go despite the threats of terrorism? “Yes, I would because I would want to cheer on my country. Also, I would like to enjoy the experience of the Olympics.” - Freshman Jake Van Gorp “Yes, I would still go because the tickets were free, and it sounds like fun.” - Sophomore Paige Miller “Yes, I would because the hockey players are beautiful, and I would love to see live Olympic hockey.” - Junior Emma Johnson “No, I don’t like leaving the country because it’s a long flight ... the flight changes ... the food is bad.” - Junior Logan Heerema
01. 28 . 2014
OPINION
Page Editor: Christina Gualtlieri
The Other Side
The Lit t le
Guy
•A column by Derrick Akers
My heart was recently ripped to shreds when I watched my beloved Kansas City Chiefs choke away yet another game that easily could have been won. This wasn’t just any game, though; this was their first playoff game in four years. This season was something new for me. The Chiefs had a team capable of winning a playoff game and for the first two quarters against the Indianapolis Colts, it seemed likely. In normal Chiefs fashion, they slowly let the Colts back into the game, and the next thing I knew, the Chiefs lost. To be honest, this was one of the most disappointing moments I have ever experienced. For the past 17 years, I have supported the Chiefs through highs and lows. Okay, through the lows, lowers and last year, the lowest, finishing the season 2-14 and down a linebacker. The team produced seven Pro Bowl players but still couldn’t win. This season was different, though. The Chiefs gave their fans hope, starting 9-0, and finishing 11-5. The team was set for a deep playoff run, and through the first half, it seemed promising. They couldn’t hold on to the slight 38-10 lead, because, well, they are the Chiefs. The problem was, I sat in front of the TV at halftime and predicted the loss, which came just an hour later. The next day, I turned to ESPN to see a NFL player and a show host arguing about whether or not the Chiefs’ season was a success. One argued that without a Super Bowl, every season is a failure. This concept makes no sense; the Chiefs were 2-14 and mourning the loss of a teammate just one year ago.
What is a teenager’s biggest challenge? •Aletta Verhey (averhey@pelladium.com)
•A column by Greg Frommelt
In the 2013 season they improved their record by nine games, the third biggest oneseason turnaround and found themselves in a wild card playoff game. After the anger passed, I realized how great the turnaround really was. The team gave the Chiefs Nation something to cheer for, bringing a fan base together. However, the media looks at the season as a failure because it did not result in a championship. Nevermind the crazy start, the great turnaround, or even the injuries in the playoff game. Simply put, no win means no success. The Chiefs are being held to a standard that seemed impossible in years past. The media loves to do this, comparing two things to each other that are completely different. The players on the 2013-2014 team have never won. The veteran players who have been on the team since 2006 had been in two playoff games; both were losses. The whole concept of winning was new in Kansas City, so cut the team some slack. The Chiefs aren’t the Patriots or the Peyton Manning-led Broncos. They are a young team put under a ton of pressure and simply couldn’t execute, typical of a young team. Maybe I’m biased, but this season was a success. No questions asked. A star was born in Jamaal Charles, a consistent quarterback was finally found in Alex Smith and, apparently, the Chiefs have a defense. This is the start of a dynasty. With Andy Reid at the helm, the team will have a cool headed coach who can deal with adversity with ease. Even though this season ended in typical choking Kansas City fashion, this sets the stage for many great seasons to follow.
Freshman Caleb Vitullo “Keeping grades up.”
9
“If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence a person’s life in a positive light, and that’s what I want to do. That’s what it’s all about.” -Tiger Woods Role models. Sports figures, actors and actresses, humanitarians and politicians. You name it, there are role models amongst all of them. A role model in its simplest definition is a person who others look up to and attempt to live like in some way. At first as I began to write this column I thought I would end up going into a sermon on how the role models of today’s society are failing in their responsibility to serve as positive role models for citizens everywhere who worship them. However, I decided to steer it in a different, perhaps not-so-cliché way. Look at what I said earlier about what I thought this column would end up being about. I said that the role models are failing at their responsibility to serve as positive role models. The key word in that idea is responsibility. The question to ask is that is it truly the responsibility of a person in a role model’s position to be a positive one? There is no easy answer to this question. As is often the case in controversial subjects like these, people fail to look to the other side of the argument and put themselves in these role models shoes. For example, two years ago Johnny Manziel was a nearly unknown college freshmen. The thing that changed him is that he just so happened to have an amazing talent at being able to make football plays. Fast forwarding to today he is among the most famous and most scrutinized role models in sports. A plethora (for lack of a better word)
Sophomore Carter Terpstra “Trying to stand up to everyone’s expectations”
of complaints have been raised about the demeanor and the actions of Manziel. He has been ridiculed by the mass media and by millions. I was one of them. He made me mad and the thought that kept crossing my mind was that if I was in that situation, I would do so much more good than he has. Back to our question: Manziel did not come to college to be a role model for kids across the country. He was not recruited to be some beacon of hope to millions. He was brought there to play football, and that is what he has done. Did he ask for the responsibility of being a role model to millions? Certainly not. The fact remains that it was thrust upon him regardless of what he wanted. I cannot say that it is fair. I cannot say that it is right. But, I will say that it has become his, and all other people in positions of great fame who looked up to, to be as positive role models as they can. To leave the task up to celebrities and sports stars would not be right. The famous may have an influence over millions, but they do not have nearly as strong of an influence on people as the people physically next to them. Each one of us has influence whether we want it or not. Not only in the idea of the younger humans looking up to us for guidance, but our peers all around us. The people you surround yourself with will determine how you act and feel. They will. Perhaps the greatest tasks that young teenagers face is the ability to discern the people to look up to and to surround themselves with because that is who they will become. It is not always easy.
Junior McKenna Rozenberg “Staying out of trouble.”
Senior Shaylynn Reed “Peer pressure, depression and drugs.”
Pelladium Staff
Executive Editors: Sarah Muller, Greg Frommelt, Ben Konfrst, Derrick Akers, Jake Dorman Page Editors/Reporters: Jack Parisee, Megan Kooker, Christina Gualtieri, Claire Anderson, Garret Jansen, Frommelt, Muller, Konfrst, Akers, Dorman Reporters: Joshua Da, Corey Elliott, Belleara Huang, Natalie Meyer, Andrew Pavlat, Jack Systma, Aaron VanMaanen, Aletta Verhey Business Manager/Social Media Manager: Marissa Borgerding, Jason Mingboupha Cover Page: Ben Konfrst Adviser: Ann Visser The Pelladium is a monthly tabloid produced by the high school journalism department to serve as an informative, educational and entertaining communications media and to provide an open forum to students and readers. •Letters to the editor are welcomed and encouraged. These letters must be signed and should, in no way, be libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters must have verified facts and should deal with issues. The Pelladium reserves the right to edit grammatical editors, libelous content or length due to space limitations. Letters may be brought to Room 201 or sent to Pella Community High School, Box 468, Pella, IA 50219. •The Pelladium will strive to deliver information in a fair and truthful manner. The Pelladium will function in accord with all applicable laws, both in regard to the rights and restrictions of journalism. •The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual writer and are not those necessarily of the Pella Community Schools administration or the Board of Education. •The Pelladium will make retractions in the event of errors made in the content of printed stories. Retractions will be printed in the issue immediately following the issue containing the error. •The Pelladium is a member of the Iowa High School Press Association
Entertainment 10 “Tie”riffic Tuesday PAGE EDITOR: Megan Kooker
Students do not wear uniforms. Everyone gets the freedom (to an extent) to choose what they want to wear everyday. For the common male, this consists of a t-shirt and sweatpants. This year, Tuesdays have a whole new meaning to students because “Tie Tuesday” has been introduced. The event is self-explanatory, where students dress up for the day, wearing ties. Freshman Kobe Diers has been promoting “Tie Tuesday” all year, and the event is growing in popularity. “I love Tie Tuesday and am very proud to be one of the core founders of this new tradition. I believe that this movement can have a major impact on the school, the town and even the country,” said Diers. Many teachers and staff members also participate in “Tie Tuesday,” including Assistant Principal Jon Muller. “It is great to see so many fine dressed young men at Pella High. Looking forward to future Tie Tuesday events,” said Muller. Senior Brady Heerema has
01.28.2014
participated in past “Tie Tuesdays.” “It’s a great thing in which some people clean up and dress nice for one day of school,” said Heerema. “It’s something that really should be the mainstream with the school.” Senior Tom Palmer is a strong believer of “Tie Tuesday” as well. “Tie Tuesday is an amazing opportunity for students and faculty to express themselves in an unusual way,” said Palmer. The event is not exclusive for just male students. Female students are planning to participate and wear ties on Tuesdays as well. Senior Anna Van Roekel is excited to be a part of the “Tie Tuesday” tradition. “I think Tie Tuesday is just a creative way to have a good time during school,” said Van Roekel. “It’s an excuse to dress in your best attire! It’s really quite ‘tie’riffic!” •Aaron Van Maanen (avanmaanen@pelladium.com)
>>>Senior Brady Heerema
>>>Math teacher Matt Schulte
REVIEW TIME
Xbox One: One for the ages
The Christmas season has ended and the gifts that excited us so much just a month ago have transitioned back into the boring everyday objects that they are. Some gifts continue to give even after the trees and decorations have been taken down. Thanks to saving money and the kindness of Santa Claus, I was able to buy one of the new generation consoles, The Xbox One. Over the past two years there have been three new generation consoles released: the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One, and the WiiU. To many, those names just look like the random numbers and capitalization of someone who has a poor understanding of the English Language, but in reality these devices represent the peak of multi-media innovation. I know many people who opted for the Nintendo or Sony next-gen console, but I had to stick with the Xbox One. The Xbox One utilizes many new ways of merging a gaming console with your television. It is now possible to run your satellite or cable television connection through your Xbox. Its voice recognition software make this design even better. Now, if you wanted to watch TV, all you’d have to do is say, “Xbox watch TV” and it will do the work for you. How responsive is this voice control? It can usually pick up on a voice across the room, though this can be a negative. If you have any friends who are obnoxious (as I have a few) then they will make it their sole purpose in life to scream out “Xbox turn off!” despite people using it or not. The voice command is so intricate that I still am discovering new uses for it. In fact, while writing this review my first thought was to say “Xbox write my article” but after two hours of waiting I decided it most likely wasn’t going to print anything. The only downside is the overwhelming cost of the console itself. At the moment, an Xbox One is going to run you over $500. It is constantly updating and improving even after you purchase it, which makes the cost more reasonable, but this still makes it at least a $100 more expensive than the second-most costly console, the PS4. What it lacks in affordability it makes up for in playability. It is very easy to pick up the controller and figure out how to maneuver through the system. If you have the money to pay for the console, then the Xbox one is your best bet for a new console. All in all, I would give the Xbox one 4 and a half out of 5 stars. It still needs improvement, but it could go down as one of the better gaming consoles in history. •Jake Dorman (jdorman@pelladium.com)
The old, the young, the crazy, the critics: you will all love the movie “Frozen,” directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee. “Frozen” was also awarded with Best Animated Feature Film at the Golden Globes. You can’t seem to go wrong with the amazing music, thanks to actress Idina Menzel, who is also known for her portrayal of Elphaba in the musical, “Wicked.” “Let It Go” and “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” are both hits that make you want to sing along with it. Josh Gad and Kristen Bell also contribute to making the characters really come to life, Gad comedically and Bell powerfully. Two sisters, Anna and Elsa, are both born into the royal family in the kingdom of Arrendale. Elsa, first-born, and therefore future queen, has a power over snow and ice that seems to be a little too hard to control. The sisters’ parents are killed in a storm while traveling by ship, which leaves the two sisters to fend for themselves. After a series of events, Elsa is exiled from Arrendale, and Anna takes it upon herself to go find her, since the kingdom is trapped in an eternal winter due to Elsa’s abilities. They meet many fun characters along the way, as well as many fearful ones, which makes for an excellent story. For those who don’t approve of animated Disney movies; you will now. Somehow, Buck and Lee have woven in many themes, such as thrilling and funny, without making it sound choppy or cheesy at all. Laughs, squeals, and gasps are all a part of watching “Frozen.” “Frozen” also teaches life lessons, including freedom, and letting go of your past and participating in the present and future. It teaches a person that you can still laugh in the direst of times, but that there still are dire times. It’s a learning experience for everybody, especially kids. On this incredible journey of watching this movie, viewers will experience emotions that will make them want to experience it over and over again. If you really need something to do while babysitting, maybe you would just like to feel that giggle erupt, or if you just want to find out if Elsa’s powers is a gift or a curse, watch “Frozen!” •Natalie Meyer (nmeyer@pelladium.com)
Gold Sponsors - Pella High School Publications Boat’s Home Furnishings, 620 Franklin Street Brom Auto Service & Sales, 202 Main Street Dr. Gregory Vannucci, 2601 Washington Street G & B Concrete & Foundation Repair, 2174
Coolidge Street Great Clips, 1586 Washington Street Iowa Bike & Fitness, 814 Main Street Jansen’s Decorating & Kitchens, 614 Franklin Street Klyn Law Office, Vincent S. Klyn, 729 Main Street Leighton Processed Meats, 227 Otley Street, Leighton Midtown Tire, 109 East Oskaloosa Street
Pella Orthodontics, Dr. Kim Wass, 715 Main Street Pella Pets & Veterinary Clinic, 411 Oskaloosa Street Precision Pulley & Idler Inc., 300 SE 14th Street Royal Amsterdam Hotel, 705 East 1st Street Tri-County Veterinary Clinic, 650 Hwy. T14 Triumph Martial Arts 308 SE 9th Street Ulrich Motor, 1130 West 16th Street Van Hemert Chiropractic Center, 1310 East Washington Street
Van Sant Collision Repair, 80 Truman Road Wiskus Group, 821 Franklin Street Van Gorp Corporation, 1410 West Washington Street
Entertainment
01.28 . 2014
PAGE EDITOR: JR Dorman
11
Social Media All-Stars (as determined by the Pelladium Staff )
Teenagers everywhere have their own type of music, whether it’s top 40 or country, maybe even some heavy metal. However, it’s time to throw back to the veterans of Billboard’s top songs for a little recognition. Collecting data from multiple sources, here is a compiled list of the top songs in the 70’s and 80’s:
TOP 5 INSTAGRAMMERS
TOP 5 TWEETERS
1. Junior Ashley Kirkland
1. Sophomore Payton Belloma
1. “Bohemian Rhapsody” -Queen
2. Junior Hannah Pickett
2. Senior Ethan Butler
2. Sophomore Kenzie Nossaman
2. “Let it Be” -The Beatles
3. Senior Tom Palmer
3. Sophomore Elyse Sadler
3. Freshman Jennifer Van Haaften
3. “Piano Man” -Billy Joel
4. Freshman Jarod Martens
4. Freshman Jordan Rempe
4. Freshman Ben Tysseling
5. Sophomore Molly Howard
5. Junior Seth Johnson
4. “Dancing Queen” -ABBA
TOP 5 VINERS 1. Sophomore Sarah Peterson
5. Senior Sami Wassenaar
•Natalie Meyer (nmeyer@pelladium.com)
Josh Draws
5. “Billy Jean” -Michael Jackson 6. “More Than a Feeling” -Boston
with Josh Da
7. “Living on a Prayer” -Bon Jovi
My New Year’s resolution is to work smarter, not harder, enjoy a healthy school life balance and to ensure that my ouput has meaningful impact on the world.
8. “Go Your Own Way” -Fleetwood Mac 9. “Wake Me Up Before You Go, Go” -Wham!
So you’re dropping out of school?
10. “Pinball Wizard” -The Who Honorable Mentions: - “You Make My Dreams” -Hall and Oates - “Take on Me” -Aha - “Walk this Way” -Aerosmith •Sarah Muller (smuller@pelladium.com)
TWItTEN BY Top Tweets for January
1.
Abby Fyfe - @AbsFyfe Watch out for those buses today everyone! #oneyear
6.
2.
7.
Cody De Kruyff - @Code_Red54 The last time there was an accurate weather forecast was when God told Noah it was going to rain. #sotrue
3.
Jennifer Van Haaften - @jennifer_beth99 Middle schoolers go through boyfriends like I go through oreos.
Logan Heerema - @logan_heerema My life will be put on pause until next football season Mandy Nossaman - @manderssssssss I wish I could’ve told Mr. Linn it was a sum day today!! I just now realized it. Happy 1/13/14 everyone :) #sumday
8.
Courtney Gritman - @CGritman I just sneezed so hard that my retainer hit my cat in the face. Ooooooops.
9.
4. Olivia Gaiser - @OliviaGaiser
Devin McCain - @DevinMcCain I can fit a whole box of Oreos in my purse:) You know what that means! Party time, all the time!
5. Zach Corwin - @Joshcuniningham69
Hannah Pickett - @pickett_hannah If I were dating myself, I’d surprise myself with Starbucks everyday. It would be so adorable.
My grandpa’s got his iPhone, iPad, and Mac and I’m just over here with my calculator like #heyguys… “I enjoy symphonies” “base drops” (SIC)
10.
•Jack Systsma (Jsystsma@pelladium.com)
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PAGE EDITOR :Sarah Muller
Picture This
01.28.2013
While fashion bloggers start confessing what’s hot and what’s not on the red carpet for award season, we are releasing our personal list for Pella High. Prepare your pens and papers to write down these notes to start off 2014 right. •British Music. “The British are coming” and sweeping America with their quality music. With One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Adele, Ellie Goulding and so many more, it has to be more than the accent to nail spots all over Billboard’s Top 100. Sophomores Sydney Cummings, Sarah Peterson and Ally Canfield attended a One Direction concert this summer. “I like One Direction for many reasons. One would be because I like their music. Their music is really fun to listen to, and some of their songs you can definitely dance to! Another reason why I like One Direction would be because of their looks. I mean, have you seen Harry Styles? I like One Direction because they’re honestly not your typical boy band! They don’t wear the same clothes or have choreographed dance moves! At their concert they just did so much random stuff, and it was so much fun to watch! All five boys seem really nice and in concert, they’re even better,” said Peterson. •Photo Submitted
•Public Display of Affection is strictly against school rules; however, society is not too accepting of the action either. Love birds can do what they please in private, but attempt to keep it PG for the rest of humankind trying to go throughout their day. This photo of sophomore Isaak Webb and juniors Devin McCain and Nicci VanWyk models students’ feelings on PDA. “I don’t like walking down the hallway seeing people all over each other. I am single, and I don’t want to mingle, so please respect me,” said Webb.
•Fake glasses may look smart, but what is smart about cluttering one’s face? If there is no purpose for the extra pair of eyes, then what’s the point in having them? However, if you do use real glasses, then flaunt being the real deal. “Glasses are for those who are blind. They are not for those who can see the objects in front of them. I am blind; please be sensitive,” said senior Faith Van Wyngarden.
•Instagram assists the current selfie nation. As the photo version of Twitter, people are hooked on hashtag days that include: Selfie Sunday, Man Candy Monday, Transformation Tuesday, Woman Crush Wednesday and Throwback Thursday. Junior Colin Jones posts this picture with senior Aaron VanMaanen after a football game. “It gives me a chance to literally see what Pella High is up to. It might as well be called Insta-stalking,” said Jones. •Photo Submitted
•Selfie (n): a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website. This definition was added to Webster’s Dictionary in 2013. While this term sounds “so last year,” selfie nation has taken over all social media and the craze seems to thrive on. “I think selfies are so big right now because people are obsessed with themselves, therefore, taking pictures of themselves constantly,” said Blommers. •Photo Submitted
•Mixed Animal Print. While animal print itself is being picked off shelves everywhere, it’s not too smart to bring two wild animals together. A zebra and leopard might not get along in the same outfit. It’s best to steer clear of that catastrophe. “Wearing multiple animal prints is gross. There is way to much going on in one outfit, and it looks as if you just came out of a circus, and no one wants that,” said junior Ashley Kirkland.