March 29, 2011 | Volume 23, Issue 7
Magic the Gathering: A sport of the mind, p. 5
Sleep
Pelladium investigates your nightlife, pp. 6-7
Habitat for Humanity project done, construction trades makes house calls
Teachers use sabbatical opportunities The fact that they’re the teachers does not mean they’re exempt from learning. A new sabbatical program available to teachers this year is aimed at inspiring them to learn new education techniques and spark innovation in the classroom. Conceived in October by the administrative team, the tri-part program offers faculty a selection of paid-leave opportunities focusing on the improvement of their teaching methods. Options include an up to five-day sabbatical for off-campus study, a half-day “DIY” period designed for self-evaluation and reflection, and a half-day “Fed-Ex” period allotted specifically for brainstorming innovative education strategies. Each of these paid leave days requires prior approval by administrators, but does not subtract from teachers’ vacation time. See Sabbatical, p. 2
Reviewed: Michael Moore’s High School Newspaper
DRILL. Senior Ryan Lanke tightens a screw to secure a piece of sheetrock in the ceiling of science teacher Jeff Siewart’s basement. •Photo by Adam Gromotka.
Construction trades has only been around for a few years, but already it is taking big steps to becoming a true hands-on course. Each year since its start, students have built a Habitat for Humanity home; the project starts in September and usually lasts until February. Now that this year’s house is complete, they’re on to their next experience - home renovation. Nine seniors, along with instructor Mark Goodrich, are finishing teacher Jeff Siewert’s basement. The students are framing walls, completing the ceiling and putting up dry wall. “I chose the students for the project because I thought it would be a good experience for them. Renovation is very different than starting from scratch to build a house; it creates a whole new set of problems for them to solve,” said Siewert. The course has a variety of projects scheduled for the remainder of the year, including shingling a roof, building a catwalk for storage above the middle school wrestling room and learning how to read blueprints. “I always say that this is one class where the answers aren’t in the back of the book,” said Goodrich. The two-semester course is held during the last two periods of the day. Therefore, the students only work for about seven-anda-half hours per week, but they may work more if the extra time is warranted. For example, they took a day of school off when
the time came to pour concrete for one of the Habitat homes. Students taking the course receive seven DMACC credits and are a third of the way to a DMACC construction degree after the course is completed. “If I end up deciding to do something with construction, this class has definitely given me a good base of hands-on knowledge for it. All of the things I’ve learned will also help me know how to fix problems in a house of my own someday,” said senior Josh Vande Noord. The students complete smaller tasks for people within the community after the Habitat house is completed every year. Anyone can schedule the students to work for them; all they ask is that working materials are provided and that a small donation be given towards the program to buy more tools and other equipment needed for their construction work. They don’t charge for their labor. “I think the students are doing great. Their quality of work is very good, and they move quickly. Based on that and their innovative perspective, I would definitely hire them to do more work for me,” said Siewert. Though the students are completely booked through this school year, Goodrich said that they’re looking for new projects for next year. If interested, prospective employers can call the school and ask for Goodrich. •Kelsey Van Tassell (kvt.pelladium@gmail.com)
Illegal dumping presents rising problem for district Illegal dumping - the disposal of waste in a nonpermitted area, dumping items ranging in size from a garbage bag full of everyday items to a dresser and or excess carpet waste. The district spends roughly $3,000 a month on garbage removal. On top of that, district maintenance manager Chris Wimmer will have to tend to the excess garbage locals drop off in the school dumpsters, costing the school an extra $20. This happens at least twice a week. “Most of the garbage is ours, yes, but twice a week we get something that is not ours. Whether it be carpet, microwaves, dressers, tables, beds or refrigerators, it’s always something that will cost the person to have thrown away,” said Wimmer. Dumping items that do not belong to the school is illegal. If an illegal dumper is caught, the state can prosecute under the S.C Litter Control Act and the S.C. Solid Waste Policy and Management Act of 1991. A person convicted can be either fined, ordered to repair any damage, and or given a jail sentence. “The high school has security cameras, which is helping a little; in the future we will have district-wide security cameras on all the dumping areas, which will help a lot,” said Wimmer. Business manager Jon Miller prepares a strategic financial plan yearly. The district budgets for regular garbage pick-up. “We set aside $36,000 annually .... Nothing in that is
specifically in there for the extra cost of the stuff people throw away in our dumpsters,” said Miller. Taxpayers, such as student dean Mark Core, are the ones who ultimately pay the price of illegal dumping. “... people should be responsible for themselves and how they treat themselves is a part of that. Dumping their garbage into our school garbage is a lack of respect to themselves and regard to the taxpayers,” said Core. The perpetrators are unidentified, but Wimmer has his suspicions. “It is probably locals, people who have to drive out of country to get rid of the garbage, but don’t want to,” said Wimmer. If this is an illegal problem, then some wonder as to why the school doesn’t step in and go to the police. According to the law, without the visual evidence, there is nothing the police can do. “You’d have to be able to identify that they were throwing away in the garbage was illegal. You need to be able to place an item with a person. Let’s say I dumped something in your garbage; the police would have to be able to know that that is what as mine, and it was not something of yours belongings. Charges are not automatic; it’s not like things get automatically charged. It takes time. Just like with any broken law, not everything gets charged,” said Pella Police Lt. David Beukelman. Someday, the district hopes this problem will be eliminated.
•Photo illustration by Micah Zeimetz
“Right now, all we can do it go back and look at security cameras at the high school and hope that we get lucky. Sometimes we do; sometimes we don’t. Someday, the plan is to have district cameras and stop this problem,” said Wimmer.
•Whittney Reinier (wr.pelladium@gmail.com)
Page Editor: Kelsey Van Tasell
March 29, 2011
Athletic, band director successors chosen
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ew faces will be joining the staff next year are newly hired athletic director Dale Otte and band director Ben Thompson. West Des Moines native Otte will be taking athletic director Bill Van Horn’s position. His salary will be $77,375. Otte, currently the Saydel activities director, was formerly a business teacher and basketball/soccer coach at Valley High School. While there, he led teams to six winning seasons and developed student-athletes by leading and organizing practices and team activities. Both experiences have given him a great connection with students. At other schools Otte has coached or helped coach a sport. Here, he will not. “[I think I’m going to] focus on the athletic program as a whole. Being the athletic director for the entire district is time-consuming, and I do not think I will have enough time to help coach,” said Otte. Marching band students will see a new face, Charles City native Ben Thompson, replacing current band director Dick Redman. His salary is undetermined, but he will not make less than $41,195. Thompson will direct the high school concert band and Jazz II, co-direct sixth grade band and give band lessons to students in grades 5-12. He will also be the assistant marching band director. Thompson grew up in Iowa, but is now currently the 9-12 band director at Charles H. Milby High School, Houston, Tex. Growing a band from zero to 78 members and recovering stolen band instruments have been two of Thompson’s accomplishments in Houston. •New Athletic Director Dale Thompson has had experience with working Otte with band students; his first job was at Rockford Junior/Senior High School. “I have been working with students since 2001, when I first started giving saxophone lessons. I worked with students throughout college and in my first two gigs as a band director. I started teaching at the Rudd-RockfordMarble CSD in 2006; [I taught] the 5-12 band. In 2008, I took the position of head band director at Charles H. Milby High School. Now, I get to be part of the Pella band team,” said Thompson. Thompson plays the saxophone. He will primarily be giving lessons to woodwind players, but he teaches other • New Band Director Ben instruments. “My primary instrument is the saxophone; I have been Thompson playing it for almost 17 years. I also play the clarinet, flute and euphonium on a regular basis. It sounds like my primary lesson responsibility will be the woodwind family, but I have given lessons on all instruments throughout my career,” said Thompson. Thompson, currently living in Houston, thinks adjusting to life in Pella will be a drastic change. “[I think that] it will take a bit of adjustment living in Pella. I am currently living in Houston, which is the fourth largest city in America. I will be leaving a city of about 6.1 million to living in a city of about 10,000. It will take a little of time to get reacclimated to small town living, but I look forward to not having to deal with rush hour from three to seven p.m.,” said Thompson. Thompson hopes that he measure up his abilities to the abilities of band students. “…the tradition of the Pella bands are second to none in the state of Iowa. [Since] there are such high expectations, I am excited for the challenge of pushing myself to be the best band director/teacher that I can be to help my students be the best they can be,” said Thompson. Principal Eric Nelson commented on the new hires. “I think that both will be great additions to the staff. Each brings a set of unique talents and skills for both programs,” said Nelson. •Kayla Da (kd.pelladium@gmail.com)
Briefly Speaking ... •The National Honor Society raised roughly $2,000 for the American Cancer Society during their Daffodil Days fundraiser. •The student council spring charity drive raised $501 for the Schools for Schools organization. •Senior class announcement/cap and gown order delivery will be April 1. •Little Hawkeye Conference Art Day is April 13. •The spring improv show is April 14, 15 and 16 in the high school aduitorium. •Junior/senior prom will be April 9 at the Pella Opera House from 9 p.m. to midnight. The theme is “Casino Night.” After prom will be held at the high school from 12-4 a.m. •The strength and conditioning female of the year is senior Brooke Fessler; the male award was split between seniors, Garrett Swank and Jesse Blauw. •Jocelyn VanDyke (jvd.pelladium@ gmail.com)
SPEAK! Junior Kelly Anderson practices her poetry for All-State speech March 28. Other qualifiers were senior Jake Anderson, spontaneous speaking and review; junior Marielle Gaiser, poetry; sophomore Evan Jones, review; senior Eric Moore, storytelling, and junior Jessica Saplor, spontaneous speaking. “We’e all working hard and getting excited for our performances. We were lucky that so many of us made it to state,” said Anderson. •Photo by Jessica Salpor
Sabatical (continued from page 1) French teacher Beth Glasnapp is one of nine teachers who have utilized the program thus far, and one of just two to jump at the sabbatical option. She spent two days in February researching and a third observing an educational method called “structured learning” at East Union High School, Afton. “Structured learning involves several pieces that make the classroom more student-centered. The piece missing here is collaboration,” said Glasnapp, noting that encouraging group work has long been a district goal. “I have already begun to implement [structured learning techniques]. It was worth taking the time off to work on.” According to Glasnapp, time off is precisely what incites reservations from some teachers who find it difficult to miss consecutive days of school. Assistant principal Jon Muller points out that vantguard education is equally as vital as teaching time. “It’s all about innovating. Schools are trying to build in innovation time with more and more things like teacher in-services. Those cut away time in
the classroom. [With these sabbatical opportunities] we are trying to minimize the loss of both contact time and innovation time,” Muller said. Questions have been raised as to whether or not teachers’ research on education during the school months instead of the during the summer warrants the $120 daily expense of hiring a substitute. Muller’s response to this is two-fold. “First, teachers get better ideas when school is at the forefront of their mind, not during the summer. We want [these ideas] to hit the ground quick,” Muller said. “As for the cost, money is set aside for things like this in a separate account. If we get good things out of this program, we feel that it’s a good investment of money and time. ” The Feb. 9 “Brain Day” crossdiscipline learning experience was a product of biology teacher Cathy Hones’ and psychology teacher Karen Ryals’ collaboration during a half-day “Fed-Ex” opportunity they were granted. •Nathan Kooker (nk.pelladium@gmail.com)
Page Editor: Maddy Scholten
March 29, 2011
Prom budget undergos change, student council adjusts
Tuxes, gowns, candid photos. These are the elements that embody prom night, but people often forget the price tag for the event. This year’s junior prom planning committee learned the cost behind the special evening. Planning for prom began in September. Each year, junior class representatives and other juniors interested in planning prom unite and form the junior prom planning committee. This committee meets with Assistant Principal Jon Muller and parents of juniors throughout the year. This year, aside from the DJ and location, the committee has made all decisions concerning prom. “Organizing and buying everything was fun, but sort of crazy. There were a lot of small details that were easy to overlook,” said junior Alli Balk. This year’s planning process differed from past years, less parent involvement was one of the main differences During January, the committee met and decided and ordered which decorations were going to be purchased for prom. “Whenever I was helping plan prom three years ago, the students were not really interested in the process. They picked out the theme, but besides that, the parents did everything. We picked everything out and made the orders. Maybe it was just those parents, but we did a lot. This year the students have really handled everything and us parents are more present for guidance,” said parent Teresa Pleima. Another large difference in planning was a smaller budget of $1,500 due to new interpretation of an Iowa Department of Education code. The committee was surprised to learn that money was not being saved for them. “Prom is a special event during every school year. Past budgets ranged anywhere from $3,500 to $4,500. These budgets were mainly collected from class dues during registration each year, but for two years now, we have had to stop collecting class dues because of new litigation,” said Principal Eric Nelson. Students were never directly told that money was not being saved for them. This year’s budget was perceived differently by those who were involved in planning. “My first thoughts when I heard this year’s budgets were, ‘Oh my goodness! How are we going to pull this off!’ I knew what we had spent the last time around and it seemed like a challenge. In 2008,
$ $
Prom BudgetPast years: $4,500 This year: $1,500 we spent $1,300 on decorations for the ballroom alone,” said Pleima. The students had a different reaction to the budget. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect, or how much previous classes got to spend. After looking at decorations and their prices, I realized that the extra money the previous classes had to spend would have been nice. However, I think everything is turning out. We just had to be more careful about how we spent the money. We tried saving money by asking for donations, making some of our own decorations, buying things in bulk for discount and coupons. We got thrifty,” said Balk. Parents answered the request for donations, adding an additional $1,000 to the budget that will be used for senior expenses next year. “This is the first year that the litigation affected anyone. This year’s senior class had two years of dues saved, so they didn’t feel as big of an effect. This junior class only had one year saved, so it was a bit more difficult. Future classes will have to ask for donations and find new ways to fund their prom. Overall, the experience [planning prom] has gone well. It’s my first year helping, so I’m figuring things out along the way, but I know we will have a very successful prom experience. The junior sponsors and prom planning committee have been great and I know the kids made the most of the budget,” said Muller. This year’s prom date is April 9. The theme for the decorations is Casino Night. Though budgets were hindered, student council members made do with the funds provided. “I’m not worried about the decorations looking poorly because of lack of funding. Student council has done a great job,” said junior Madeline Meyer. •Jessica Salpor (js.pelladium@gmail.com)
•PERFORM. Sophomore Holly Reimer expresses herself through dance. Aside from dancing, Reimer participates in acting and modeling. To read more about Reimer and her talents, visit www.pelladium.com. • Photos by Pelladium staff.
Page Editor: Jocelyn Van Dyke
March 29, 2011
Daughters adjust as fathers serve country Almost 7,000 miles separate the Shrout day-to-day activities become difficult, but and Bossard daughters from their fathers. so do more important times as well. Like thousands of other Americans, these “Holidays are really hard, especially two families must make Christmas. It adjustments to their was just weird everyday lives while because [my their loved ones serve dad] tried to in Afghanistan. Senior Skype us in the Elizabeth “Schatzie” morning, and and freshman Erika the connections Shrout, daughters were really bad, of Greg Shrout, and so we weren’t senior Jordan Bossard, able to see him daughter of Russ that morning. Bossard, have certainly Christmas is had to make their share usually spent of adjustments. with just our “With my dad being immediate gone, things are different family, and it because we don’t have was the first family meals as often. Christmas that It’s different, but not he wasn’t there,” horrible,” said Jordan. said Jordan. •Russ and Jordan Bossard “Schatzie” also commented on the To make up for lost time together, both changes that have taken place during her families send care packages to remind father’s absence, noting that their house is their fathers of their love. a lot cleaner. “Every two weeks my mom will “We just have to work harder since my send care packages to my dad. She puts dad is gone,” added Erika. in candies, movies and tools,” said Both fathers have been deployed for “Schatzie.” nearly a year and with their service, comes It turns out that the little things in life an abundance of sacrifice. Not only do the are missed the most.
“My dad and I are more alike than college. We went back to how things used my mom and I, so I miss talking to him to be. No one had to work as much, so we about stuff. I also miss the family fun , like just tried to stay home and enjoy our time watching movies together and shopping together,” said Jordan. with my dad,” said “Schatzie.” For the Shrouts, Greg has his leave in Erika agreed May and will that the day to be coming day occurrences home in time are missed. for “Schatzie’s” “I miss waking graduation. up and going The family downstairs and plans not to seeing my dad go anywhere, reading his book and instead to and drinking stay home and coffee early in the spend their morning,” said time relaxing Erika. together. Jordan misses “I look the company of forward to her father as well. getting back “My dad likes to the way our to make really bad •Erika, Greg and Elizabeth “Schatzie” Shrout family used to jokes. I miss his lame humor,” said Jordan. be,” said Erika. Fortunately, both fathers have been “Schatzie” echoed this. allowed a certain amount of time to come “[I am looking forward to] just doing home on leave. For the Bossards, this time the normal things we did before my dad came Jan. 13-29 when Russ came back to left, basically so my mom’s not lonely spend time with his family. anymore, and I have him around and “[When he was home] we didn’t do a know that he’s safe,” said “Schatzie.” whole lot. We just stayed around home, •Jocelyn Van Dyke (jvd.pelladium@gmail.com) and my older sister came home from
Dual enrollment provides opportunity for all students Over 3,189 Iowa home schooled children are now a part of Iowa’s dual enrollment program. For Iowa’s K-12 students, this allows them to participate in the same classes as regularly enrolled students, while also taking classes at home. For the 30,000 home schoolers in Iowa, the number of dually enrolled students are progressing. Elizabeth Calhoun, a member of the Iowa Department of Education and creator of the the CPI (Competent Private Instruction) handbook, is working towards improving Iowa school systems. According to the handbook, dual enrolled students spend part of the day at public school in order to gain the necessary credits to graduate with their class. They must complete state required courses that include physical education, U.S. history, and U.S government, as well as necessary credits in math and English classes. However, students cannot dual enroll in any school of their choice- they must attend one that is in their district.
“We have 686 full-time students and 28 dual-enrolled students at PHS. A dual-enrolled student is allowed to take any classes as long as they have met the prerequisite. Once you’re in high school, you can do your whole home schooling program though credited courses at home. We [the public school] help to provide a better education. They can take any class they want. It’s their choice,” said Nelson. Many families also chose dual enrollment as a way to get their children involved in extracurricular activities. From sports to music, the opportunities are endless. “We have chosen to dual enroll so that our children can be involved in athletics and other extracurricular activities, as well as taking standardized tests and taking college credit courses. One of the main benefits of home schooling is that they get one-on-one attention in their subjects with their teacher (the parent). They also get to learn at their best pace,” said math teacher Matt Schulte. •Haley Sytsma (hs.pelladium@gmail.com)
PERFORM! Student council hosted a teacher talent show as a finale to their spring charity drive which raised money for the Schools for Schools organization. In total, $501 was raised. The history department (Mark Solomon, Jerod Garland, Bryant Hancock and Dak Rasmussen with Mark Core) performed a skit titled “Are the Horses Ready?” Concluding the event, Principal Eric Nelson, assistant principal Jon Muller, and Core each received a pie to the face. For the full story, visit Pelladium.com. •Photo by Blake Lanser
Boat’s Home Furnishings 620 Franklin St. Pella, IA 50219 628-2040 Brom Auto Service & Sales, Inc. 819 Broadway St. Pella, IA 50219 628-1700 Community 1st Credit Union 500 Main St. Pella, IA 50219 628-2022
Page Editor: Madeline Meyer
March 29, 2011
Dawson fights back
Brazilian jiujitsu, Muatahai kickboxing and taekwondo. What may sound like a lot for one person to handle, the three self defense techniques have become a part of senior Devon Dawson’s life. Devon has been participating in these forms of self defense and fighting since he was six. Around that age, Devon was being bothered by two older students on his school bus. On one occasion, the two students went as far as to physically abuse Devon. “My parents wanted me to try out taekwondo so I could learn some self defense. It also helped that I was a big Power Rangers fan,” said Devon. Devon instantly became enamored with the sport and after about a year of regular lessons at the Des Moines Jiu-Jitsu academy, his dad began going to jiujitsu classes as well. In the last two years, Devon has moved on from just taekwondo to the more difficult Muatahai kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. This year, he also began doing wrestling workouts to learn even more take-downs. This commitment to so many different classes has five-to-six weekly trips to Des Moines. “It’s a challenge... But, doing something you really enjoy helps ease the travel time. Out of all the classes
I take, jiu-jitsu is my favorite because of how even the playing field is. A 120-pound girl could potentially flip me, but I could take down a 300-pound guy. It is all about leverage,” said Devon. Devon’s brother, freshman Bryce, began attending just two years ago. All three of the Dawson’s classes are held at the same time. Occasionally, fights during these classes lead to some awkward family moments. “Once or twice, my brother came pretty close to choking me out. I began shaking and trembling. [The experience] wasn’t too much fun.” said Devon. Devon’s work has led to some rewards as well. Devon competed in three different tournaments March 19 at Des Moines North High School. He came home with first place medals in the teenage and beginner divisions, and third in the intermediate class. “It felt good to win, but I was extremely worn out because I had more matches then anyone else there,” said Devon. Many professional fighters have trained at the Des Moines Jiu-Jitsu facility, including T.J. Brown, Kevin Burns, Rick Glenn and Johnny Case.. Devon says that people like these have helped encourage him to fight harder and possibly try out Mix Martial Arts at a higher level at some point in time. “I’m not sure if I actually want to go into MMA,” said Devon, “but I definitely know all of the moves that are used.” •Nick Dorman (nd.pelladium@gmail.com)
FASTER! FASTER! Junior Bailey Vande Weerd leads off the 4x8 at the state indoor track meet March 22. The Lady Dutch finished fifth in their heat. “The UNI meet was a good meet to see what we could improve on to accomplish our goals for the rest of the season,” said Vande Weerd. •Photo by Kenn Krpan
Apostolopoulos living the dream
Jock Talk
Senior Lisa Houser, soccer
Senior Nick Shepperd, tennis “[Coach Nick] Seipel really has a love for the game, and it shows when he coaches us. He has a great sense of humor, which helps us to deal with the stress and pressure of playing a tennis match. He knows how to inspire us as players. It’ll be a great season with Seipel...but we will still miss Coach Burch.”
At least five former team members did not go out for soccer. How is the team going to handle this? “This year we are moving up to a more competitive division and facing stronger competition, so our main goal is to work hard at practices and rebuild team chemistry since we will be short a few girls because of track.... If we just stay focused and work hard, I think we can achieve great things.”
Leighton State Bank 900 Washington St. PO Box 6 Pella, IA 50219 628-1566
Pella Nail Salon 604 Liberty St. Suite 129 Pella, IA 50219 628-1104
Recker Dental Care 2114 Washington St. Pella, IA 50219 628-1604
Silver Lining 733 Franklin St. Pella, IA 50219 628-3650
Midtown Tire Company 109 E. Oskaloosa St. Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1072
Pella Pets Veterinary Clinic 411 Oskaloosa St. Pella, IA 50219 620-8880
Red Rock Chiropractic Center, P.C. 1400 Fifield Rd. Pella, IA 50219 628-9991
Sports Page Grill 1111 W. 16th St. Pella, IA 50219 620-1149
MidWestOne Bank 700 Main St. Suite 100 Pella, IA 50219 628-4356
Precision Pulley, Inc. 300 S.E. 14th St. Pella, IA 50219 628-3115
Royal Amsterdam Hotel 705 East First St. Pella, IA 50219 620-8400
Sports Page Sporting Goods 1562 Washington St. Pella, IA 50219 628-4999
Junior Grant Gustafson, track
How will the team overcome the loss of a great senior class? “We are going to have to pick up slack in some of the distance events and field events since we lose a lot in the sprints. Also, it will give the underclassmen more opportunities.”
Stravers True Value/ Radio Shack/ U.S. Cellular 818 Main St. Pella, IA 50219 628-3330 TD&T Financial Group, P.C., CPAs 606 Franklin St. Pella, IA 50219 628-9411 TK Concrete 1608 Fifield Rd. Pella, IA 50219 628-4590
Tri-County Vet 650 Hwy T-14 Pella, IA 50219 628-4040 TRIUMPH Martial Arts 308 S.E. 97th St. Pella, IA 50219 (866) 648-8480 Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home 615 West First St. Pella, IA 50219 628-2540
March 29, 2011
Page Editors: Megan Card, Jessica Salpor
Dream Analysis: Interpreting what the subconscious is trying to tell the dreamer
Freshman Tristan Miedema I have this dream about a waterpark. I save a boy from drowning, and the girl lost her dad. I’ve been to the same waterpark in two dreams! It stormed and the service desk people wouldn’t help me. INTERPRETATION: Water Park: To dream that you are in a water park, indicates that you are expressing an emotional high point. You are feeling emotionally satisfied and fulfilled. Drowning: To dream that you rescue someone from drowning, indicates that you have successfully acknowledged certain emotions and characteristics that are symbolized by the drowning victim. Helping: To dream that you are helping someone, indicates your willingness to compromise your beliefs toward a greater accomplishment. It also represents your efforts to combine your talents or energies to achieve a mutual goal.
•Graphics by Marielle Gaiser
Later start gives teenagers advantage over academics Hitting the snooze button and stumbling out of bed 15 minutes later, arriving with just a few seconds to spare and struggling to stay awake as the teacher rambles off the day’s lesson. All are a part of the daily morning routine of a high school student. What causes this struggle every morning? The answer is simplesleep. On average, teens need about nine-and-a-half hours of sleep each night. With extracurricular activities, work, studies and more, attaining this requirement of sleep can become difficult for many teens. Sleep is like food for the brain. While sleeping, the brain sorts and stores information, replaces chemicals and solves problems. A University of Chicago study concluded that sleep helps the mind learn complicated tasks. Sleep can lower stress levels, keep the heart healthy, lower the risk of depression, and help control weight. According to a Brown University study, high school students who got C’s, D’s, and F’s reported going to bed 40 minutes later than their peers who received A’s and B’s. So, what happens if one deprives
themselves of necessary sleep? Some consequences include limits in learning and listening abilities, aggressive behavior and decline of health. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsiness and fatigue cause more than 100,000 traffic accidents each year, with young drivers being at the wheel in more than half of these crashes. Some schools across the nation have taken matters into their own hands. Tired students have led high schools to reconsider morning start times. University of Minnesota researchers reported the results of a study of high school students whose school district had switched from a 7:15 a.m. start time to an 8:40 a.m. start. Compared with students whose schools had earlier start times, students with the later start time reported getting more sleep on school nights, being less sleepy during the day, getting higher grades and experiencing fewer depressive feelings and behaviors. This idea of setting back start times has not fully caught on, but remains a possibility for many schools. In the meantime, helpful hints to getting a good night’s rest follow.
1. Before going to bed, turn off all electronics, such as phones, iPods, and televisions. This gets rid of distractions that could potentially effect amounts of sleep, because having the t.v. on can stimulate brain activity. 2. Keeping your room dark and cool also helps with getting better sleep. The average American sleeps best at a temperature of around 65 degrees. 3. Keeping a regular schedule of sleep is an important strategy in achieving adequate amounts of sleep. Many high school students’ bedtimes fluctuate due to activities and homework, but good time management and low stress levels can help to attain this consistency. This may mean cutting back on Facebook or “Jersey Shore” time, but the refreshed and energized feelings from a good night of sleep will be well worth it. In the long run, sleep hygiene is an essential part of developmen, and should be taken account of more often. While small sacrifices may have to be made at first, the benefits are invaluable to becoming a productive adult. •Maddy Scholten (maddys.pelladium@gmail.com)
Self-Assessment (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) This scale can be used to determine your level of daytime sleepiness. If you score a 10 or higher, you may want to consider seeing a sleep specialist. Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation. •0= would never doze or sleep •1= slight chance of dozing or sleeping •2= moderate chance of dozing or sleeping •3= high chance of dozing or sleeping Situation ~Sitting and reading ~Watching television ~Sitting inactive in a public place ~Riding in a car for an hour without a break ~Lying down to rest in the afternoon ~Sitting and talking to someone ~Sitting quietly after lunch ~In a car, while stopped in traffic
Epworth Assessment according to http://www.pellahealth.org/ services/sleep.php
RESPONSE: “It’s kinda confusing yet funny at the same time. I don’t see how it relates to my life, but it is interesting to know what my dreams may mean.”
Sophomore Gabi Meirick When I was about three, I kept having a dream that Spiderman turned bad. Yes, this was before Spiderman had actually turned bad. My cousins and I were in this really big city, the same city Spiderman was in. People were running everywhere. My cousin hid in a food stand, and then Spiderman opened the doors and found her.
Junior Jenn Jansen My brother and I went to the jungle and came back home with blue and orange bugs. Then we found out they were poisonous, so we decided they needed to die. The orange one died when my mom hit it against a navy chair with a glass cup. The blue one got swatted at with a book by my uncle and then flew towards me.
INTERPRETATION: Spiders: (spiderman) The spider is symbolic of feminine power or an overbearing mother figure in your life. It represents some ensnaring and controlling force.
INTERPRETATION: Brother: To see your brother in your dream, symbolizes some aspect of your relationship with him. It can also serve to remind you that someone in your waking life has certain characteristics or behaviors similar to your brother.
“I’m Being Chased!”: Chase dreams are one of several common dream themes, stemming from feelings of anxiety in your waking life. Flee and flight is an instinctive response to a physical threat in the environment. Hiding: To dream that you are hiding, suggests that you are keeping some secret or withholding some information. You may not be facing up to a situation or dealing with some issue. RESPONSE: “Wow, I didn’t know dreams had so much meaning in life. Considering the fact that I was very young and didn’t really think about the problems in my life, I think the connection I may have had to these theories is that my mom was a big influence in my life since she took care of me everyday.”
Poison: To see poison in your dream, denotes that you need to get rid of something in your life that is causing you much sickness and distress. Bug: To see a bug in your dream, suggests that you are worried about something. It is symbolic of your anxieties and/or fears. RESPONSE: “I have a really pessimistic subconscious. I don’t think there’s any strong influence in my life that would suggest strong worry, anxiety, or destruction in my dreams represented by the bugs.”
Senior Ebbi Joseph I once had a dream where I was on top of a tower. When I looked down, all I saw was fog. Then for some reason, I decided that it was a good idea to jump off the tower. Next thing I knew I was on the ground in some city, and everyone there knew me. INTERPRETATION: Tower: To see a tower in your dream, signifies high hopes and aspirations. If you are looking down from a tower, then it indicates that you have a perceived superiority over others. Fog: To dream that you are going through a thick fog, symbolizes confusion, mystery, troubles, scandal, uncertainty and worries. You may not be seeing things the way they really are. Jumping: To dream that you are jumping, indicates that you need to take a risk and go for it. You will overcome your obstacles and find progress toward your goals. RESPONSE: “I guess it does make sense because there have been times where I have had uncertainty. It seems like something that might happen in the future, but I guess I won’t know till then. Most people know me in the high school too, so it might explain that part.”
Dream Interpretations according to What’s in YOUR dream? An A to Z Dream Dictionary by Michael Vigo •Jessica Salpor (js.pelladium@gmail.com)
Sleep Disorder Center facilitates subject as they snooze It seems contradictory that a person can be utterly exhausted and yet unable to sleep, but that is precisely what distinguishes insomnia from any other symptom. According to the National Sleep Foundation, nine percent of Americans report suffering from insomnia on a regular nightly basis, though only one percent of these cases ever presented this problem to a licensed physician. Sleep disorders, which number in the thousands, are thriving among adults and teens, but few people ever take advantage of the available sleep clinics to diagnose their disorder and find the appropriate treatment. Even the Pella Regional Health Center offers its own Sleep Disorder Center, which is manned primarily by technicians, while two supervising physicians receive and interpret results from tests. Although one-third of Americans reported some type of sleep problems to the NSF, the Sleep Disorder Center hasn’t seen any significant jump in patient care. According to Lisa Opfer, R.P.S.G.T., who works as manager of the sleep center, a common misconception is that people who go to the center have insomnia, but the two major disorders presented are sleep apnea and narcolepsy. “A lot of people think that insomnia is a disorder, but in actuality, it is just a symptom. Many times it is just an underlining symptom to a more serious issue, like sleep apnea o r narcolepsy. Sleep disorders like these shouldn’t be attached to stigmas that something is
terribly wrong with you, they just mean that your quality of sleep is not meeting the needs of your daily routine. Sleep hygiene is a must for teens and adults,” said Opfer. Trouble sleeping isn’t an uncommon occurrence. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, at least 40 million Americans suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders. It is not normal to feel sleepy during the day, to have problems getting to sleep at night, or to wake up feeling unrefreshed. While tracking symptoms and sleep patterns, and making changes to daytime habits and nighttime routine can help set sleep back on track, sleep clinics can be a first step to getting life back under control. A sleep clinic study can be expensive, but a majority of insurance policies will pay for it if a patient’s main doctor refers them to the clinic. Once there, the patient will fill out a detailed history of sleep patterns, problems and use of medication, alcohol and tobacco. Many sleep clinic studies require overnight visits, where 40 electrodes are attached to the head, eyes, chin and chest. These electrodes collect information about brain waves, eye movement, muscle tension and breathing patterns while a person sleeps. The full extent of the overnight visit(s) is determined by the particular study, so some people will wake up
naturally while others are awoken at preselected times. Something to keep in mind is that the sleep clinic with not cure a disorder, it will only diagnose or confirm it. “We have a night staff that works 12 hour shifts three times a week. Each study lasts about six to eight hours, and produces about 800-1,000 pages. The recorded observations are then analyzed by the technical staff, and passed on to the two certified specialists, who formally diagnose the disorder,” said Opfer. Loud snoring, gasping during sleep and uncontrollable sleep attacks are all considered symptoms of a sleeping disorder, and should be addressed to a physician if they persist or become normal habits. These disorders are just as apparent and threatening in teenagers as they are in adults, so attention to how much sleep a person gets the night before a major test or during the weekend should be a must to maintaining a regular schedule. “Not getting eight or more hours of sleep a night can affect memory, learning capacity and everyday function. For teens, who shoot themselves up with caffeine and no sleep, they can feel the effects physically and emotionally. They are prone to mood swings and lack of focus throughout the day, and their sleep cycle can be thrown off for days, weeks or even months,” said Opfer. •Megan Card (mcpelladium@gmail.com) •Graphic by Micah Zeimetz (mz.pelladium@gmail.com)
Page Editor: Benji McElroy
March 29, 2011
Alternative News
Editorial Cartoon
More to Libya than gas prices
•Eric Moore (em.pelladium@gmail.com)
Staff Editorial Bedtime impacts everyday life “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” This famous quote by Benjamin Franklin has certainly lost its meaning in today’s world, as students stay up late cramming for tests, surfing the internet or even gaming. Many students are almost looking for reasons to refrain. Sleep is a vital process for survival. It powers our every day actions, allowing the brain to remember connections formed throughout the day. Without this much-needed resting time, the brain doesn’t work properly. After a single night of lost sleep, a person will be cranky; after losing two nights of sleep, a normal person will have troubles thinking and completing simple tasks, and after just five nights of lost sleep, hallucinations may even occur. Children and teens need about 10 hours of sleep per night, adults age 25-55 require eight hours and people 65 and older only require about six hours. The majority of Americans fall short of these expectations. The typical American gets between six-and-a-half to seven hours nightly. Making an effort to get more sleep is not a difficult task, and it even improves daily functioning. Take the time to better yourself by getting more sleep. You may just get the results you’ve always dreamed about. (The Pelladium staff voted in favor of this editorial, 22-0)
Sleep is a vital process for survival. It powers our everyday actions...
As the Egyptians struggle to overthrow their government, other countries in the Middle East are taking up arms against their authoritarian governments as well. Libya, situated in northern Africa, is one country that is following suit and stirring up a rebellion. In 1969, current dictator Muammar Gadhafi assumed leadership of Libya at the age of 27. Due to uprisings in Libya, two governments currently claim to be the official government of the country. The east side of the nation is led by the National Transitional Council with their leader being Mustafa Muhammed “Americans shouldn’t take Abd al Jalil, the opposition to sides in the matter because Gadhafi. fighting over there will Gadhafi has been ordering cost lots of money that his government to stop the we could use in our own protests through violence and country.” acts of cruelty. The protestors Junior Mitchel Nunnikhoven have been peaceful, yet Gadhafi does not hesitate to shoot down his own people. Correspondents say that if the United Nations doesn’t impose a no-fly zone around Libya, the rebellion could be easily crushed because Gadhafi would not hesitate to bomb his own country. The fundamental rights of the Libyan people are being challenged, and they are rising against it. Social media is the epicenter for the uprising, as many contribute the vastness of information of the Internet to contribute to the rebellion. The United Nations is taking steps to protect the rights of the Libyan people, but the process is slow. The crisis is taking its toll on the United States, namely because of the crude oil supply situated in Libya. Libya supplies 44,000 barrels of oil a day to the United States, less than 1% of the nations supply. However, the oil that Libya supplies is very lightweight and less sulfuric then Saudi “I think that [Gadhafi] Arabian oil. should be killed and if According to the this is preventing us from Associated Press on March getting oil for the U.S. then 8, 1.6 million barrels a day something needs to be of crude oil production done.” have been shut down. Due to Libya’s absence from the Freshman Kylie Roslien market, many experts are fearing that the civil unrest will spread to Saudi Arabia. The price of oil is not caused because of Libya dropping out in particular. The rise in price is because many fear that unrest will spread to other areas and additional oil producing countries will stop cranking out the oil. The United States and other United Nations countries are, without a doubt, working around the clock to make a difference in the Libyan crisis, yet action has not been taken. While people sit around debating, people are being killed. It would be “easy” to target Gaddaffi and kill the oppressor directly, but it’s much more complicated than that. The American people have to understand that if we intervene, the effects of the intervention could be devastating and would put the nations security in jeopardy The crisis is deeper than just how oil prices are rising. The crisis is a revolution of the Libyan people. We live in a nation crafted on the foundations of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for every “I think that when a leader single person. As Americans, we should recognize this starts to kill their own revolution as our own and people, it’s hard to not support it wholeheartedly, respond, but I do worry because it wasn’t too long ago about being involved in when we were fighting for the many places without a same cause. clear mission.” •Madeline Meyer English Teacher Suzi Jones (mm.pelladium@gmail.com)
Correction! In the March 1 edition of the Pelladium, it was stated that Seth Vander Horst was the only Pella High swimmer to anticipate swimming in college. 2002 graduate Jon Landon and 2004 graduate Emily Bensink both swam at the University of Iowa.
Pelladium Staff Executive Editors: Megan Card, Nathan Kooker, Eric Moore, Kelsey Van Tasell Page Editors/Reporters: Tiffany Carter, Michael Ge, Benji McElroy, Madeline Meyer, Taylor Rennich, Jessica Salpor, Maddy Scholten, Jocelyn Van Dyke Visuals: Marielle Gaiser, Eric Moore, Jillian Sagers, Mitch Shepperd, Micah Zeimetz Reporters: Kayla Da, Nick Dorman, Mark Dykstra, Adam Gromotka, Evan Jones, Sarah Muller, Jack Parisee, Shaun Sokol, Haley Sytsma, Whittney Reinier 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 Editors are welcome 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 errors, libelous content or length due to the space limitations. Letters may be brought to Room 201 or sent to Pella Community High School, Box 486, 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 not necessarily those of the Pella Community High School Administration or the Pella Community Schools 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 errors. •The Pelladium is a member of the Iowa High School Press Association.
Page Editor: Eric Moore
Brink of Sagacity Eric Moore (em.pelladium@gmail.com)
If I could for a moment, divert your attention from that Charlie Sheen tweet and invite you to consider an idea. Look at the computer, cell phone or television closest to you and attempt to convince yourself that you and the machine are one. You have a great number of things in common, and, when combined, are capable of great power and efficiency. It sounds a little bizarre, right? According to furturist Ray Kurzweil, it’s perfectly logical, or it will be by 2050. In his book “The Singularity is Near,” which has prestigiously received praise from Bill Gates, he describes a world in which human and machine work in harmony to essentially do anything, at rates faster than are currently imaginable. After reading a bit about his concepts in Time and being sufficiently freaked out, I decided to visit the official website of the book. Though the general message of the future he predicts is optimistic, it’s simultaneously chilling. Singularity is described as “an era in which our intelligence will become increasingly non-biological and trillions of times more powerful than it is today.”Okay, that sounds pretty beneficial right? We’ll be getting more stuff done. I scrolled down and continued reading. “In this new world, there will be no clear distinction between human and machine, real reality and virtual reality”. At this point, my head’s already spinning a bit. What does this mean morally, socially, culturally? This almost sounds cult-like, and I can definitely discriminate between a woman and a toaster oven. So, I read a bit further. “We will be able to assume different bodies and take on a range of personae at will. In practical terms, human aging and illness will be reversed; pollution will be stopped; world hunger and poverty will be solved. Nanotechnology will make it possible to create virtually any physical product using inexpensive information processes and will ultimately turn even death into a soluble problem.” Now, I’m completely bewildered. If things such as aging and death are no lon-
ger “problems”, then the mysterious answers of the universe searched for by man for centuries become even more unclear. If we can’t die, are we really alive? If we can’t tell what is reality and what is not, is the mental health of the masses at risk? How will individuality still exist if we can change bodies? There are superfluous implications to the possibility of this “new world,” and literally thousands of different directions this column could go from here, but what I’m choosing to tackle is that the core of these predictions seems to indicate a lack of tangible problems for humanity. But if there are no problems, there are no solutions, because there isn’t a need for them. Then things like motivation, competition and progression go out the window as well. It’s like a story with no conflict; it has no point. His theories show a steady and continual growth in progression of intelligence and information, but in a world where we can do anything, will we have a drive to do anything? Maybe, if we’re robots. Of course, before all of these changes occur, the human part of me (at least, I’m fairly certain I am still human) is telling me that the negative qualities of humanity: greed, hate, contempt, will prevent true peace from ever happening. The things we don’t like about our kind are also the things that make our lives interesting, the things that make us want to change and improve. We can keep solving obstacles of life, but I doubt we can ever reach a point when there is nothing left to fix. At the same time this thought crosses my mind, the “what if” part of my brain is considering the possibility that maybe technology is already a huge part of who we are. Maybe we’re already on the same playing field. And, maybe a complete equilibrium of all things is possible, if the machines we are apparently destined to become decide to cleanse us of our unfavorable human qualities. Wait, now this is sounding like the holocaust. Maybe I need a break before my brain explodes. What’s Charlie Sheen up to?
Letter to the Editor
Seniors Allen Johnson and Lynae Toom enjoy the day during adaptive p.e.’s trip to Simpson College.
March 29, 2011
Reading Is Dangerous Nathan Kooker (nk.pelladium@gmail.com)
America is fat. I’m sure this statement is one not foreign to your ears. We’ve grown accustomed with the years to the shocking statistics that span like stretch marks across headlines and newsreels. In 2007, Forbes declared that over 74% of the population is overweight. In 2003, the CDC reported obesity-related medical expenditures had exceeded the $75 billion mark. And if a February study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention holds water, even our dogs are putting on the pounds. The bedrock beneath us is straining to bear our weight, and while some have come to accept their place in this super-sized nation, others refuse to let such a preventable affliction consume the whole of America. At the forefront of this resistance are lean leaders and celebrities like Michelle Obama and Jillian Michaels, renowned for their advocacy of weight-loss programs and healthy lifestyles. Iowa legislators are joining the pound-shedding initiative as well, having proposed bills already this year that will further reduce calorie levels in school lunches and ban the use of federal food stamps for the purchase of junk food on the state level. Their efforts are certainly justified; if this country continues to let its buttons bulge, the social and economic costs of obesity will soon become simply unendurable. Yet, those who so ardently push for Americans’ weight loss seem to be making a very basic assumption: with healthconsciousness, a person can determine his own weight. I used to see it the same way. In fact, I am a quintessential specimen of such “weight sovereignty,” as my own dieting allowed me to slough off one-and-a-half chins during my middle school years. However, I am beginning to discover as of late that America’s ballooning pant size may not result from a personal choice, but a societal one.
A few weekends ago, I hungrily opened the expired condiment cupboard in my kitchen, mistaking it for what was once a stocked refrigerator. Abandoned by my parents, I was forced to try my hand at grocery shopping. Initially, I intended was to purchase the staples necessary for a well-balanced meal, but after gawking at the outrageous prices of milk, chicken and fresh produce, I turned instead to microwave dinner and two liters of generic soft-drink. Combined, they rang up at $3.57. In one outing, and for less than four dollars, I purchased 1900 mg of sodium and 1340 calories. I was taking my first steps toward obesity, but food is food, and I would have been a wastrel to pay more than I had to for the same sated stomach. Throughout the past few weeks, I’ve caught myself making many similar practical choices in my daily routine. I eat cheap with the dollar menu and drive my car religiously as well, for walking even short distances is to sacrifice unredeemable minutes. Such rationality is the essence of the American way. This society upholds comfort and efficiency as its most precious commodities. Health? Well, that takes the backseat. We are socialized to believe that fiscal responsibility, effective time management and minimal exertion are among the most logical of American virtues. Those green kooks who spend ludicrous sums on organic vegetables and dedicate hours of their free time to running in circles and lifting weights – it is they whom society shuns for their absurdity. The system under which we live is precisely designed to provoke unhealthy living. Fat people don’t constitute the worst of Americans, but the best. They are compliant and reasonable, not deviant or ignorant. So, let’s lift a little weight off the shoulders of the obese. •Graphic by Eric Moore (em.pelladium@gmail.com)
Editor’s Note: The following letter was first printed in the March 17 Pella Chronicle and is reprinted with permission from the Waits family. I want to take the opportunity to congratulate the parents, teachers and others who have been positive role models to the wonderful group of students who are in the Pella Community Schools. But, mostly, I want to commend and compliment the students themselves for their exemplary and compassionate behavior. Our grandson is a special needs young man who has been a student in the special education department of Pella Community since pre-school and will graduate with the senior class this spring. He is not only accepted by his peers, but he is encouraged, befriended, and given assistance by them. There is a very unique group of students, known as “peer helpers,” who unselfishly give of their time to attend to needs of these special students in some classes, such as P.E., Industrial Tech., and choir, and on class outings. These charitable young men and women, as well as the whole student body, are always patient, kind and friendly to our grandson and display a mature and moral character beyond their years. So many times we hear and/or see only the negative when it comes to young people, but I am humbled by them. When I think back to “the good old days,” I remember a time when young people weren’t so willing to accept another person’s differences. Because of our lack of compassion, the special needs persons probably remember their school years as the most painful rather than the happiest time of their lives. Today I salute you, the students of Pella Community Schools, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being who you are and for making our grandson’s school years truly the happiest of his life. Joan Waits Senior Allen Johnson’s grandmother
Page Editor: Tiffany Carter March 29, 2011
Listen. “Jam” Celebrity socialite Kim Kardashian has slowly been working her way through different media careers. Finally, she has presented us with her latest piece of work, “Jam.” What? A song just Her debut single premiered March 2 on “On Air as bad as “Friday” with Ryan Seacrest” and went on sale on iTunes that same day. Her first performance of the song was in a by Rebecca Black Las Vegas nightclub, Tao, on New Year’s Eve, where the crowd supposedly sang along by the end. Why? You’ll at How Kardashian was able to hold the attention of the nightclub for so long is a mystery to me. least be giving Getting through the entire song was a challenge, but I to a good cause managed to listen to all four minutes and 16 seconds. The monotony was torturous. Not only was there no range, there was no singing. During the entire song, if it even qualifies as one, it sounded as though Kardashian was having a conversation with someone expressing her happiness while on the dance floor. There lacked any substance or creativity at all lyrically, every line being a cliché or overused expression. Repetition is one of the most bothersome aspects of the song. Just the word “Yeah” was used over 30 times, “turn it up” over 40 times and “they playin’ my jam” over 20 times. The overuse of these words was ridiculous and the main reason I was so tempted to exit my browser and never again experience the agonizing autotuned lyrics. The sole reason I have granted a star to this song is because all proceeds from the single will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Kardashian may not be able to sing, but at least she has a heart. Yes, if you buy the song, you will be donating money to a good cause, but to save your ears and sanity, I recommend just donating directly. If this is what music is coming to, then I believe the intellect of listeners will decline along with the quality of songwriting. Sorry, Kardashian fans, but I’m thinking Kim should just stick to doing... wait, what does she do exactly? •Tiffany Carter (tc.pelladium@gmail.com)
At a glance...
•Graphic by Marielle Gaiser
Click. High School Newspaper
Before filming Academy-Award winning movies or writing best selling books, Michael Moore was a journalist. His impressive resume included writing for the student newspaper, “The Michigan Times,” being an editor for “Mother Jones” magazine and founder of “The Michigan Voice” magazine. His recent extension to his own journalistic resume is simply entitled, Who? Jounalist, “High School Newspaper.” director and best selling This new venture is an extension of writer Michael Moore his personal website he has dedicated to high school journalism. Moore appointed his 17-yearold niece, Molly, as editor of the website. The Why? International stories are entirely submitted by high school students all around the United States and topics are discussed internationally. It has been stated that his “High by student bloggers School Newspaper” website will be an open forum to discuss issues and happenings around the world. He also is stressing that high school students, who have been turned down by their own schools in trying to get their stories published, will have an opportunity to submit their stories for Moore to publish. The first section of the website that catches the eye is the large photo accompanying the “Topic of the Week.” This part of his publication consists of an open-ended question, usually thought-provoking and current event-related. An example would be, “What do you think about the revolution in Egypt?” The responses, however, are what make up this section. Instead of pointless one or two sentenced parroting, the comments are paragraphs of insightful input. Student blogging is also an essential part of this website. Here there are numerous blogs written by young people dealing with a variety of issues. The blogging section has interesting matters, such as calling out the government for grievous situations, covering protests and uprisings or just raising a question on why someone spray painted “Bong hits for [a teacher]” on their school’s walls. This section has substantially the largest wealth of words on the entire website, which is good for checking out the different notions of others. This is my favorite part of this web publication as it has fascinating blogs that seem to call out personally. Although there are more edgy topics of discussion, it’s probably better that it gets reported in favor of stories that are found on any tabloid. Michael Moore has really made a statement in attempting to ignite the flames of students who are being suppressed by older authoritative figures. The recent protests in the Middle East and Wisconsin really show how much of an effect youth have on their society even though it is run by older folks. Another example close to home would be the rallying of younger voters that led to an eventual victory with Obama elected President of the United States. As an admirer of revolutionaries and a journalist myself, Moore has really inspired me with his new experimental website that invests in the representation of my generation. •Michael Ge (mg.pelladium@gmail.com)
At a glance...
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Silver Lining 733 Franklin St. Pella, IA 50219 628-3650 Sports Page Grill 1111 W. 16th St. Pella, IA 50219 620-1149 Sports Page Sporting Goods 1562 Washington St. Pella, IA 50219 628-4999
Stravers True Value/ Radio Shack/ U.S. Cellular 818 Main St. Pella, IA 50219 628-3330 Subway 714 Liberty St. 412 E. Oskaloosa St. Pella, IA 50219 628-8923 628-3054
TD&T Financial Group, P.C., CPA’s 606 Franklin St. Pella, IA 50219 628-9411
Taco John’s 911 West 16th St. Pella, IA 50219 628-8818
Tri-County Vet 650 Hwy T-14 Pella, IA 50219 628-4040
TK Concrete 1608 Fifield Rd. Pella, IA 50219 628-4590
Visit. Mystical Rose
Through hard work and miracles, the Mystical Rose Catholic book store opened Dec. 8. This small yet At a glance... homey store feels open and welcoming upon entering. The store carries hundreds of books, Bibles and holy reminders, such as crosses and rosaries. A small Where? Located collection of videos adorns the right wall, which includes “The Passion of the Christ.” Browsing through off of the square the selection is easy; the store’s contents are neatly at 621 Franklin St. organized by sections that include audio, children’s and Spanish. Books range widely from pamphlets that have simple, daily prayers and their meanings, to thick Who? Owned by novels that delve deep into faith life. From devotional the Worstell family prayer books to self-experience stories, these books create a safe haven for the spiritual life of all. The books aren’t the only food for the soul. CD’s of Christian artists sit on the wall underneath the videos. Not only does the soul eat its fill, but the body does also. Snack and food seasonings sit near the back of the store, enticingly calling out to be bought and eaten. With the environment feeling warm and peaceful, it is open to any who wish to splurge in the spiritual aspect of life. The service is accommodating and friendly without ever having the feeling of the attendant breathing down one’s back. The shop owner, Cecil Worstell, has a wealth of knowledge and is willing to share incredible stories. She will answer any question and comply with any whim voiced aloud. She encourages all to come, whether a person’s religion is Catholic or not. Worstell highly recommends books such as “The Divine Mercy” by Saint Faustina and “Unplanned” by Abby Johnson. Another recommendation is “The Theology of the Body” by Brian Butler, which targets teens who have questions about love in their lives. Customers have come from all over, such as Grinnell, Oskaloosa, and Knoxville. Visit this religious hotspot to experience and learn about the Catholic faith. •Jillian Sagers (jsag.pelladium@gmail.com) •Graphic by Jillian Sagers
TRIUMPH Martial Arts 308 SE 9th St. PO Box 41 Pella, IA 50219 866-648-8480 Ulrich FordLincoln-Mercury 1130 West 16th St. Pella, IA 50219 628-2184 Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home 615 West 1st. St. Pella, IA 50219 628-2540
Vander Ploeg Bakery 711 Franklin St. Pella, IA 50219 628-2293 Dr. Gregory Vannucci, D.D.S, P.C. 2601 Washington St. Pella, IA 50219 628-2011 Vermeer Sales and Service 661 Hwy. T-14 Pella, IA 50219 628-2000
Work Systems Rehab & Fitness 308 SE 9th St. Pella, IA 50219 621-0230
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Page Editor: Michael Ge
March 29, 2011
Fish & Sheps • Mitch Shepperd I’m a prom virgin. This means that, last year, I wasn’t a manipulative sophomore girl who suckered some pedestrian upperclassman into taking me. So, here I am, forced to embark on this journey despite lacking a proper sensei or, at the very least, a manual. I’d hate to leave any future generations in this predicament, so here’s a survival guide to prom preparation. Say it with me: “dresses.” Now say it to yourself in a flustered, high-pitched voice because you’ll have your date constantly nagging you about their dress. Whenever she is discussing some sort of neckline or how the dress accents her skin tone, just make eye contact with her and say a knock-knock joke to yourself while she’s blabbing. It’s a surefire and battle-tested strategy. Do not, under any circumstances, let her get a long dress that looks like something from the 17th Century. After all, there’s a reason you can’t picture Queen Elizabeth bumpin’ and grindin’ in your head: it’s impossible in that type of dress. If you don’t want to be stuck being a human pillar all night, then persuade her to get something from at least the 20th century. When it comes to tuxes, there is really only one rule to live by: don’t get pinstripes. Unless you want to risk being called Katt Williams all night, then stay above the influence. Just because Derek Jeter can pull it off doesn’t mean that you can, too. While you’re avoiding pinstripes at all costs, leave the planning to the womenfolk. There’s no reason to bother
with the eating arrangements when chicks were put on this earth for these very things. If you do feel like interfering in the planning, you’ll just end up looking like you don’t trust them to make any important decisions (even though you rightfully don’t), and it’ll turn into a fullon equal rights protest. If you’ve ever eaten with formally dressed people, then you’re probably aware of the two distinct categories people can fall into. The first category is the people who are openly reckless with their food. Wearing a tux or dress won’t stop them from slinging their fork around like a lasso. The worst part of being around people who are channeling their inner-Evil Knievel is that they’re more likely to friendly fire you with food than to get food on themselves. The other people are the ones who eat like they’re walking a tightrope. While these people won’t splatter gravy on your tie, they will be too preoccupied with treating their spoon like high grade uranium to contribute to conversation. So, before prom night, be sure to scout each person in your group to see how they eat. That way you can sit by the slow-and-steadies while conversing with the Chernobyls from across the table. The handful of weeks leading up to prom can seem daunting, but with some ingenious strategizing you’ll avoid having to endure some sleepless nights. In closing, I’d just like to say that if your date has an olive green dress that you should definitely rent a brown tux with a maroon tie. It’ll look lovely.
High School Hazard • Jillian Sagers
It’s recommended everyone get six to eight hours of shut eye. Sometimes, a lack of sleep can lead to a difficult time getting through the school day. However, there are a few more options to earn a few winks of sleep. You can make this work. Adam: Last night, I got seven hours of sleep, and I couldn’t feel more refreshed.
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Jake: I’m running on nothing but four hours of sleep and a five minute cat nap I took while driving to school. It’s been a rough week.
than normal attire, we should cover a few hints for getting enough sleep during the school week. J: You definitely want to go to bed early. Odds are, the show you’re trying to watch at one in the morning, will be on the Internet. A: Yeah, and if you can’t manage to fall asleep, find clever times during the day to catch a few “z’s”. I find that napping during lunch, while my friends are trying to talk to me or even while filling out scholarships, can do wonders.
A: Despite how impressive it is that you managed to drive to school while sleeping, it’s pretty dangerous.
J.:It might be a good idea to learn to sleep with your eyes open, too.
J: That’s true. I need to find a way to get more sleep during school. One of these days, I’m going to wake up and find my glasses missing, as well as a few other pieces of clothing.
A: Definitely. Can you think of anything else we should include? J. Zzzzz....
A: Before that happens, or our readers manage to imagine you in less
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• Adam Gromotka (apg.pelladium@gmail.com) • Jake Anderson (ja.pelladium@gmail.com)
Page Editor: Taylor Rennich
March 29, 2011
a d n e s s
SPEAK. 2011-2012 president, junior Mitchell Klyn, and 2010-2011 president, senior Chris Mitchell, speak at the FFA banquet March 8. FFA had a successful season, with two students advancing to the state level: sophomore Shelby Williams in diversified livestock proficiency and freshman Landon Van Dyke in vegetable production. As a whole, FFA was the top team in the SC District Soils, and placed 7th in the state. “As the president of the FFA, it was my job at the banquet to make sure things continued to move smoothly, and everything went great,” said Mitchell.
VISIT. Eighth graders Jessica De Waard and Mandy Nossaman read Pella High publications during their visit to the high school March 8. Gifted and Talented students followed high school students to their classes for the day. “I liked coming to the high school very much; I was super pumped. My favorite part of the day was [playing] basketball with Tiffany. I am very much looking forward to high school. I think it will be a blast!” said Nossaman. •Photo by Tiffany Carter
DEFEND. Seniors Lindsay Willemsen and MacKenzie Anthony take part in a self defense excersice during p.e. class Army recruiters came March 22 to teach the classes. “I loved the self defense; it was a fun change from what we are used to doing every day. I think it was very helpful, because it opened our eyes to realize that we aren’t invincible. Being a senior and preparing for college, its nice to know how to defend yourself just in case. My favorite part was learning the roll over technique where you were in control and could protect yourself,” said Anthony. •Photo by Jocelyn Van Dyke
EXECUTE. Choir students perform the song “We Are the World” during a Cabaret performance March 5. Two performances took place during the night, both of which sold out as 1,000 people attended Cabaret. Each show lasted approximately an hour-and-a-half, with a dinner included at each show. This year oversold previous years by 150 people. “Some people say we’re not rappers. We’re rappers. The success of the rap really reflects the success of Cabaret as a whole. Being my senior year, the show was really one for my internal memory. It was truly a snapshot of my choir career,” said senior Jake Anderson. •Photo by Marielle Gaiser
DRIVE. Junior Zach Vander Hoek (left) prepares to take a shot as junior Brennan Mejia (right) goes up for a basket during the intramural basketball game, March 8. “Playing basketball for a chance competitively again was awesome, and it was fun whooping on the seniors. But the best part was having Jon Muller and Eric Nelson as the referees, so for a change I could yell at them,” said Mejia. •Photos by Taylor Carter
ENTERTAIN. Students and faculty had a one hour early out for a teacher talent show March 9. The money collected from the talent show went to Schools for Schools, a foundation that provides children in Uganda the opportunity to receive an education. Freshmen Nathan Clayberg, Greg Frommelt, Aaron Van Maanen and Jack Parisee brought back the freshmen improv. group for the talent show. “It was a pretty good performance for us. It was cool to perform in front of the whole school because we’ve never done that before, which made us more nervous. We always like to play up Aaron’s size, becuase it’s a joke for our improv. team,” said Parisee. •Photo by Molly Neil