DE JONG, FULLER DYNAMIC DUO
SCARIEST MOMENTS
PELLADIUM P. 4
P. 10
THE PELLA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL NEWS PUBLICATION
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO..
&
RIGHT WRONG ISN’T ALWAYS
BLACK WHITE
10. 25. 2011 Volume 24, Issue 2
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NEWS Two gain technology insight
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PAGE EDITOR: JILLIAN SAGERS
Urbandale: 1st Overall, 89.6 points. Caption Awards: Drum Major, 1st; Cologuard, 1st ValleyFest: 1st, Class B. Caption Awards: Horn Line, 1st; Marching, 1st; Drumline, 1st; Colorguard, 1st State: Division I rating Ankeny: 1st, Class 3A; 1st, Overall. Caption Awards: Drumline, 1st; Colorguard, 1st •Photos by Blake Lanser; photo Illustration by Jace VerSteeg
10. 25. 2011
As technology becomes increasingly integrated in society and education, teachers, Mark Core, and Jerod Garland, have taken steps to better understand and utilize it by attending a September conference in Van Meter. The conference concentrated on how to use technology to enhance instruction in the classroom, and how to improve teacher’s methods. “On the surface, the main focus was technology, but the real purpose was to improve instruction and to be in a position to use technology to make that happen,” said Core. The day opened with a presentation by the Iowa Director of Education Jason Glass. He gave an overview of a new education reform plan unveiled Oct. 3. “[The state is] going to go to a merit-based pay plan for teachers. Right now, the pay scale is based on education and years of experience. They want to institute a plan where teachers demonstrate competence and are paid based on that,” said Core. The rest of the day consisted of various sessions focused on teaching methods and the implementation of technology in the classroom. The session that stood out the most to Garland concerned the use of a new site, Edmodo. com, which serves as a social networking site for students. The site serves as a forum for students to answer questions posted by the teacher. “I’ve really enjoyed reading response from students who are usually quiet in class. They can demonstrate some great thoughts [in Edmodo]” said Garland. The session that stood out most to Core was led by a high school teacher who works on maintaining a classic teaching method while incorporating technology. “He’s an old school social study teacher. His method is lecture, discussions, projects, and tests, but he uses technology as a way of broadening how he teaches. It keeps the old, but enhances it with technology,” said Core. Both teachers agreed that the meeting was only the beginning of technological use increasing in the classroom. “I think that as time goes on every teacher needs to be more open to how technology can improve how they teach and how students learn,” said Core. The two acknowledged that they need to continue to work on incorporating more technology in the classroom, but are taking the necessary steps to do so. “I think that I need to be using technology more than I have in the past, to engage students in ways that will get more interest than the traditional ways of teaching,” said Garland. •Alexander Ropes (ar.pelladium@gmail.com)
Martin protests Wall Street ‘cheats’ as part of Des Moines movement
T
he Occupy Wall Street movement, which pits the “99% vs. 1%,” has quickly spread from its Wall Street origins to streets across the country. Senior Alex Martin joined the Occupy movement as hundreds gathered in a Des Moines park to protest. The thought that people on Wall Street were “cheating” the system has always been understood by Martin, and is what pushed her to protest. “I guess what inspired me is that I work really hard. I work 30 hours a week, I pay my taxes and I go to school. Money plays too big a part in government decisions. I guess I’m sort-of a stickler for not cheating. Decisions shouldn’t be made on who gets the biggest pay off, they should be made on character and morals. You should be making laws to help the people and not because someone is paying you off to do things,” she said. Heading into the protest, Martin and the rest of the protesters emphasized to each other that they wanted protest to be done “peacefully and politely.” This included setting up committees for sanitation, food, and supplies as well as setting guidelines for smoking and trash. “We wanted to do it in a way that was respectful,” she said. The occupied park’s curfew complicated things though, as the protesters were supposed to leave by 11 p.m. The point of the movement is “to occupy, to stay and to protest until someone heard and took action,” though, so following the curfew was counterproductive to the protest’s message. By 10:30, police began showing up at the park and not only heard the movement’s message but also began taking action. “Cops started showing up, first two, and then, ten. Prisoner vans showed up, and suddenly it got very overpopulated with policemen and state troopers. We linked arms and sort of got in this box as tight as we could to resist arrest, and we communicated
through “people’s mic.” Cops started pulling people, but it wasn’t just pulling. They were kicking, hitting, and scratching and there was a wild amount of force used. Finally they started picking people up and then the people who were really committed started getting arrested,” she said. At that point, with the numbers dwindling, Martin decided that cooperating with the police was the best course of action. “There was nobody to my left, no one in front of me...and since we decided beforehand to be nice to the police, I stood up. [The officer said] ‘I appreciate you didn’t make us drag you, and if you want to walk to the sidewalk I won’t arrest you,” she said. Despite authorities raining on the protest’s proverbial parade, Martin feels like the movement’s message was sent loud and clear. “We made a really big impact. [The other Occupy members] went back the very next day and an email list was created. There were Facebook and Twitter groups and more and more people are joining [the groups], donating food supplies and donating to help those who were arrested and couldn’t make the bail money. The more momentum it gets, the more people it gets, the more the government can’t ignore it,” she said. Regardless of whether or not you stand with her on these issues, Martin thinks it’s important to let your voice be heard, especially through protesting. “There are a million people in the country and [people might say] ‘I’m just one, how could my voice have any say?’ Well, when you find people that agree with you, you amp up your voice. By exercising your right to protest, you let yourself be heard. If people become passionate, the government has no choice but to do something about it,” she said. •Benji McElroy (bme.pelladium@gmail.com)
10. 25. 2011
LIFE
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PAGE EDITOR: MADDY SCHOLTEN
Colorguard success continues with new leader Flags twirling through the air, girls dancing to the beat of the marching band. That’s colorguard. The use of batons, swing flags, airblades and mix of ballet, jazz, modern and contemporary dance help express the message through the beat, but they have to have a leader. New colorguard coach Rachael Lent knows just what goes into being a colorguard member. Lent understands the effort that goes into learning to express the message through motion and emotion while twirling the flag and moving the feet. A colorguard member is expected to have a continual good attitude, more than just a twist of a baton or a twirl of the flag. Coming each day with an attitude that will make them successful in the end is what makes a colorguard member. “There is a lot that goes into colorguard. Technique, precision and choreography, everything has a part in it. Everyone has a part in it; it’s a lot of hard work to be able to incorporate all of that while
marching. On the field, it’s just like a sport. We have teamwork and dedication,” said Lent. Lent was a colorguard member for three years of her high school career. As a Pella High graduate, she was one of “Dick’s Chicks,” never contemplating she would be the next coach to follow in his footsteps. “When I was in high school, I was in colorguard for three years, and I was the captain my senior year. After I graduated in 2006, I went onto cosmetology school and graduated from that in 2007. Then I moved back to Pella, because my family was here. I was then offered a teaching job at a dance studio. Then, once Dick Redman retired, Jason Pentico called me and asked me to coach the colorguard section,” said Lent. Working in the footsteps of someone who has impacted the colorguard community for so many years sounds overwhelming, but Lent manages to balance her time, making it manageable to work three separate jobs. “[I have three jobs] marching
band which is every morning, so that works perfectly. Then I work at the salon through the day and I teach dance in the evening. I work every day, so right now I am very busy. I really do enjoy it. The best reward is going from the first day to the last day and just seeing all of our hard work pay off in the end. We all get together and see everything as a whole from the beginning to the end,” said Lent. For many years, colorguard girls have given the marching band an extra spark. For Lent to come back and experience colorguard from a different perspective is an experience she is grateful to have. “[The students teach me] to see the positive, because after every performance they have a positive attitude and that helps me keep my encouragement level up. We always have fun with it,” said Lent. •Whittney Reinier (wr.pelladium@gmail.com)
>>Freshman Kody Beller and juniors Kjerstan Schut and Nathan Han get into character during the first night of full make-up rehearsal for the fall play, Sleepy Hollow, on Oct. 13. The play will be performed on Oct. 27, 28, and 29 in the auditorium, starting at 7 p.m. “Students should definitely come see the play. By doing so, they would be supporting their peers and seeing student talent being expressed in a fun and exciting way. We are doing minimal changes from the original. I have had a very good time being a part of the play because I got to meet new people, be involved in something I find enjoyable, and dressing up is fun,” said Schut. •Photo by Tiffany Carter.
Tulip Queen nominees dream of royalty Though Tulip Time is over seven months away, the 2012 Tulip Queen was chosen on Oct. 24 at the Queen’s Announcement Party. Check out pelladium.com to find out who made the court. •Sarah Muller (sm.pelladium@gmail.com) >>I would feel extremely honored as queen. It would be fun to be involved in the Tulip Time traditions that the queen and her court get to be a part of. Senior Jessica Boertje.
>>I would be so grateful to be able to represent my town. I would be honored to have such a memorable experience with other great girls. Senior Kelly Anderson.
Pella Christian finalists not included.
>>I would be so happy and honored. It would be a big accomplishment that all my hard work paid off. It would be a great experience to be a part of. Senior Alisha Maasdam.
>>If I made court/ queen, I would be excited. I would feel very honored to be chosen to represent our town. It’s an honor to make it this far anyway. Senior Kourtney DeVos.
>>I would be extremely happy if I made it, because I’ve wanted to be Tulip Queen since sixth grade when I moved here. It would be an honor. Senior Angie Nelson.
>>[I would feel] very honored to be queen. It’s a big deal to get on top 12 and to be considered to represent Pella. Senior Hanna Martin.
>>I would feel so honored and privileged to represent our town in that way. It would be exciting to get to know the other girls too. Senior Rachel Wilborn. >>It would be exciting. I’ve heard about what the courts in the past have done and ways they have served the community, and it’d be really awesome to be a part of that. Senior Sarah Van Maanen.
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PAGE EDITOR: WHITTNEY REINIER
LIFE
10. 25. 2011
Band before school, classes throughout the day, football after school. Through it all ...
DeJong, Fuller make it happen
The sound of a teacher talking, the sound of music, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees; all these are everyday sounds that most of us take for granted. For senior Austin Fuller, however, these sounds don’t exist. They •Photo by Nathan Clayberg haven’t since he was two months old. Fuller was not born deaf and was a healthy baby for the first few months of his young life. He was about two months old when he fell very ill and was admitted into Blank Children’s Hospital, Des Moines. Upon being admitted in to PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), it was discovered that he had an allergy to soy protein formula. Due to the sickness, his family was told that there was a 50/50 chance that the prescribed anti-biotic that was to be administered would keep him alive. The antibiotic worked, but killed all the cochlea hair cells in his ears, making him permanently deaf. This might have been a debilitating thing to some, but Fuller has not let it stop him from making the most of high school. He is very active in football and band. These activities require a lot of interactions, but communication coach Kristy DeJong is there to bridge the gap. Eleven years ago, DeJong started her work as an interpreter almost incidentally. While being interviewed for a job, it was discovered that she knew sign language, and her career took off at that point. DeJong has worked with Fuller since he was in seventh grade and has very much enjoyed her experience. “It has been very rewarding watching him grow and mature into a nice young man. It has also been fun to watch him grow and develop his athletic skills in football and to become more disciplined in marching band. I have enjoyed seeing him take pride in things. A challenging part has been to get Austin to realize that he can do things even though he is deaf, and that being deaf is not an excuse,” said DeJong. Fuller is very involved in many activities, including both football and band during the fall. This can make for some very long days for DeJong. "Marching band started about 6:45 (a.m.). After that, Austin has his academic school day, and I assist him in his classes. Football practice starts around 3:45 and lasts until about 6 (p.m.) When Austin has a game, I am expected to be there to make sure he understands his responsibilities on offense and defense. When he has band competitions, it means 12plus hours on Saturday. They generally meet at school to practice, and then pack things up and leave for the competitions, normally arriving home well after midnight. I make sure Austin knows when he needs to be where, and what parts of the show need the most work,” said DeJong. That is a lot of extra work to be sure, but it does not go unnoticed. “It helps a lot having Kristy around. In study hall, we just have time to talk about
anything. I have grown up a lot and have matured a lot. Also, I have learned to be more respectful,” said Fuller. Though her presence has been extremely helpful to many and has changed Fuller’s life in many ways, DeJong was nearly not permitted to work with him this year for his final year in high school. Due to a change in state licensing criteria, educational interpreters are required to pass the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA). The test consists of an hour of signing in front of the camera, and then the second hour is spent voicing what has been signed to you. Also, to top if off, it costs $275 to take the test. “The test is very difficult because they want you to sign in American Sign Language (ASL), which is not what we use in school. In school we use Signed Exact English, because most of these kids have cochlear implants so they can hear some. With Signed Exact English, we match word for word what the student is hearing. Also, they want you to voice what is being signed, which is very difficult for me because Austin uses his voice to talk back to me. He does not sign back to me, so I don't have the opportunity to read sign as much as some people, and this is very hard to practice unless you submerge yourself in the deaf culture,” said DeJong. DeJong wasn’t the only person in the experiencing difficulties with the new law. Of the 175 interpreter tests given since 2009, 75 percent have experienced failing scores, dropping the total of interpreters in Iowa’s schools by 21 percent. In Pella’s case, the state mandated that due to these complications, the school was forced to search for a different person. They interviewed only one person, who turned it down, making it possible for DeJong to spend a final year with Fuller. DeJong is still concerned about the effects the new laws may be having on kids throughout the state. “I just wish the state would think about what they are doing to these kids. There are many students in this same situation and some without anyone to help them. They don't realize the stress they put not only the kids through, but their families as well. It's just a bad situation that needs a lot of attention from people who know and understand what is going with these cochlear implant students,” said DeJong. Fuller is also thankful that DeJong is able to work with him his final year. “If I did not have Kristy, I would miss a lot of little things that are important. It would have been hard to work with someone new for only one year, because it takes time to get to know someone,” said Fuller. •Photo by Blake Lanser
•Nathan Clayberg (nc.pelladium@gmail.com)
Giant pumpkin - 481 pounds, to be exact - sprouts near Pella October is always full of fall spirit. Corn mazes, haunted houses and jack-o-lanterns are everywhere. This year, one Pella man decided to go above and beyond the normal 10-pound pumpkin and try for something better. Timber Ridge resident Dan Boelman has been growing giant pumpkins since he was 18. He first saw seeds for sale at a garden supply store and decided to try growing. “My family has always been interested in gardening, so I figured it’d be fun to try this,” said Boelman. Since that time, he tries every year for bigger and better pumpkins. This year Boelman grew his largest pumpkin ever, weighing in at 481 pounds.
Though this pumpkin did not win any awards, it is a personal best for Boelman, and he is excited to try for even bigger next year. Boelman’s family also helps with his hobby, making it a fun activity for the family. Boelman’s son Trevor, a seventh grader, helped with the watering this year while Dan was at work. His daughter Ashley, kindergartener, also helped him with weeding. “It’s awesome to have a family activity like this that we can all spend time on together.” said Boelman. Growing giant pumpkins is similar to growing regular pumpkins, but it takes
more focus and more supplies. A large garden is required because of the plants' sizes. Also, they must be watered on a daily basis, and watering must be done precisely or the plants may drown or become dehydrated, which can stunt or even stop their growth. After awhile, one pumpkin should be chosen that will continue growing; all others are removed to conserve water and plant energy. In Boelman’s case, the main vine of the plant died in mid August, which prevented him from growing to his full potential. Time and care must be put into every step of growing pumpkins. When done
Best around for all your nail needs! On the Molengracht 628-1104
•Photo by Tiffany Carter
right, fantastic results occur. Want to try growing giant pumpkins yourself? Email Boelman at dboelman@ gmail.com with questions or to receive giant pumpkin seeds free of charge. •Claire Anderson (ca.pelladium@gmail.com)
Scott Van Tassell Financial Advisor 809 Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1552 www.edwardjones.com
10.25.2011
SPORTS
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PAGE EDITOR: MADELINE MEYER
Fessler
Apostolopoulos returns from stint in Europe, still dreams of going pro
reaches
400
wins Volleyball Coach Bob Fessler reached a coaching milestone Oct. 1 when he achieved his 400th win. He was honored at the last home volleyball game Oct. 13. Fessler is in his ninth season of coaching for the Dutch. He formally coached at Walnut Ridge Academy in Waterloo for nine years and in Chicago at Wheaton Academy (Illinois) as a assistant coach for three years. “I never thought about how many wins I would get; I just got into coaching the sport I love,” said Fessler. He accomplished this major milestone during a tournament in Newton. The team was playing Knoxville and ended up winning 21- 16 and 21-14. “I didn’t know it right at the time. I knew I was close. I figured it out later,” said Fessler. “There are two big parts, I love coaching young people and the girls usually have good attitudes. Also, the camaraderie of the coaches,” said Fessler. “I think he relates well with the girls and creates a family atmosphere with the girls. He is very positive when it comes to coaching and in teaching also,” said athletic director Dale Otte. •Derrick Akers (da.pelladium@gmail.com)
By now, most high school students have readjusted their grade school goals. No longer do you hear students yearning to become presidents, astronauts and pro athletes. For sophomore Pauly Apostolopoulos, sticking with his boyhood dream of playing soccer professionally has started opening doors, and judging from the success of similarly driven former students turned professional athletes, Apostolopoulos’ dreams actually have a good chance of paying dividends in the future. Right now, Apostolopoulos was supposed to be playing overseas for the English club Derby County on a freshly signed three-year contract. Of course, everything hasn’t worked out like he thought it would. His dad, Takis, a former professional player in his own right, decided “last minute” to have Pauly return home for “one more year of school.” “I had no communication with my dad for 10 days [after the decision]. He thought I wasn’t ready to live on my own yet; he wanted me to take one more year of school, and he also wanted me to get a little bigger for next year. Sixteen is just a [better] year to start [playing professionally],” said Apostolopoulos. With the old plan essentially crumpled up and thrown away, Pauly’s new plan is to “definitely go back... and get a two-year contract.” In spite of his brief stay overseas, Apostolopoulos was still left with some impressions of how serious the game is taken over there. “[Soccer is] their life. It’s like an adult treating their job, not an extracurricular activity. It’s what they’ve done since they were little. They’re getting paid for it,” he said.
The dedication shown by Apostolopoulos’ future teammates and competitors has also inspired him despite the thousands of miles separating them. “[Since returning,] I feel like I’ve gotten way more passionate [about soccer]. I take it more seriously because, for the future, it’s what I’m living for,” he said. Paul Emerick, a 1998 Pella High graduate, plays rugby professionally overseas and between stints in Italy, Ireland and Wales, he has found that successfully playing a sport professionally demands the utmost commitment. “I think my dedication to training properly was a big part of my preparation to have success. I also became a student of the game, meaning I watched rugby not as a fan, but always with and analytical mindset. [Watching rugby analytically] helped me to understand and pick up the game faster,” said Emerick. Apostolopoulos is so dedicated to soccer that he’s neglecting a formal back-up plan in case soccer doesn’t work out. “As of now, I don’t have any back-up plans. I just want to have a career playing pro soccer, but if an injury happens, I’m taking online classes in case something would happen,” he said. Down the road, Apostolopoulos hopes to be supporting himself via soccer and to just be enjoying life. “In 10 years, I hope to have a contract for any team in Europe, really. As long as I’m happy, close with my family, and doing what I love, it’s perfect for me,” said Apostolopoulos. •Benji McElroy (bm.pelladium@gmail.com)
Cross country dominates LHC Conference meet
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Honorary all-conference awards went to Sydney Swanson (JV conference champion), Sarah Van Maanen(2nd), and Keegan Fitzimmons (JV conference champion). The boys have been ranked first in Class 3A all season long while the girls’ rankings have fluctated. The team is now fully immersed in post season. Districts were held Oct. 20 in Knoxville. Due to printing deadline, results were not available. The state meet will be held in Fort Dodge Oct. 29. •Photos by Tiffany Carter.
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>> Four for Four! Cross country teams left no questions unanswered as they claimed championships in the Little Hawkeye Conference girls’ varsity, boys’ varsity, girls’ JV, and boys’ JV portions of the conference cross country meet held Oct. 10 in Norwalk. All varsity girls and boys were all-conference. They are all pictured below. “The most rewarding thing is knowing that so many individuals feel they are an important part of a team. Any team is only as strong as the individuals who make it up. Each person brings unique strengths to the team, and everyone benefits from those strengths,” said Cutler
American Family InsuranceTerlouw Agency 604 Liberty Street, Suite 133 Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1518
Dr. Gregory Vannucci 2601 Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2011
Great Clips 1586 Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-8111
Klyn Law Office Vincent S. Klyn 729 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1707
Pella Orthodontics Dr Kim Wass 715 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-9195
Royal Amsterdam Hotel 705 East 1st Street Pella, IA 50219 641-620-8400
Boat’s Home Furnishings 620 Franklin Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2040
G & B Concrete 2174 Coolidge Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-8223
Iowa Bike & Fitness 814 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1373
Leighton Processed Meats 227 Otley Street Leighton, IA 50413 641-626-3211
Pella Pets Veterinary Clinic 411 Oskaloosa Street Pella, IA 50219 641-620-8880
Tri-County Veterinary Clinic 650 Hwy T-14 Pella, IA 50219 641-628-4040
Brom Auto Service & Sales 202 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1700
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Jansen’s Decorating & Kitchens 614 Franklin Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-4247
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PAGE EDITOR: TIFFANY CARTER,
IN FOCUS
RIGHT WRONG ISN’T ALWAYS
BLACK WHITE School’s involvement in social networking sites raises questions As far as gray areas go in school policy, social networking takes the lead. The area has been the subject of worldwide controversy, but the discussion at Pella has just begun. Where school litigation lies, and what an actual offense is, still remains in the gray area that encompasses many students’ lives. In the student handbook, it touches on the issue. “The use of [social networking sites] to threaten, harass, demean or cause a significant disruption to the educational environment is strictly prohibited,” it says. Assistant principal, Jon Muller backs up the handbook’s policy. “I guess, the rule of thumb that we’ve used is when the posting is taking place. If it’s taking place at the school, we’re going to get involved. If it’s taking place outside of school, we’ve got some judgements to make on whether it’s a violation of our policy or not,”said Muller. Guidance counselor, Teresa Thompson advises students to take another route. “In the past, I’ve told students, If the posting is bad enough, to go ahead and take it to the police as a harassment case,” said Thompson. Under the Iowa Code, Thompson’s strategy is perfectly viable. In the code, harassment is labeled as an aggravated misdemeanor and can be punished by up to 6 months of incarceration or fines, varying with severity. Violations of the school handbook’s rule include, offensive and harassing comments or posts,
use of vulgarities, threatening statements or hate pages. “We have the responsibility to protect our students and teachers. If something is posted by a student that is intended to harass or demean staff or students, we’re gonna get involved, no matter where the posting is taking place,” said Muller. On a student level, many believe school involvement with social networking issues is outstepping their boundaries. “I don’t think the school should be able to get involved at all. That’s our personal and social lives. I thought there was supposed to be separation between our lives on social networking sites and our lives at school. That’s the reason teachers and students aren’t able to be friends over Facebook,” said sophomore Brianna Buzick. The area has been in question for school officials since last year, as previous superintendent, Mark Wittmer, issued a staff wide notice and seminar over how teachers should use or not use social networking. In the memo, Wittmer condoned teachers using Facebook or Twitter to communicate with students about practices or activities. The school even initiated it’s own twitter page, with provides a daily update of announcements. However, Wittmer felt it was imprudent for students and teachers to be friends over the sites. He also advised teachers to exercise caution when posting statuses or comments. •Jack Parisee (jp.pelladium@gmail.com)
Mythbusters: A closer look at school policy vs. student thought Unspoken rule/myth no. 1: You are only allowed to miss school if you are sick. What school policy says: “If a student cannot report to school, it is the responsibility of the parent/ legal guardian go report that absence by 9:00 a.m. the day of the absence.” Explanation: If you are excused by your parents, it’s okay not to come to school. However, if students are absent for four non-related, non-medical school days in a quarter, and six in a semester, students will be considered to have “excessive absenteeism” Furthermore, if students are absent for ten days in one semester, they are placed on “academic probation” in which it is up to the teacher or administration if that student can receive credit for that class. Unspoken rule/myth no. 2: You can NEVER be late to class without getting a detention. What school policy says: “A tardy is defined as being 10 minutes late to class... three tardies in a class during a quarter will result in a detention, or six tardies accumulated in all classes in a quarter will receive detention.” Explanation: It’s okay to be late, just not excessively so. If a student is late to a class, they can’t be punished the first two times. Unspoken rule/myth no. 3: If you get in trouble for consumption/possession of alcohol and/or drugs, you are not allowed to participate scholastic extracurriculars for the rest of the year. What school policy says: “Any student who admits to or is found, after an investigation by school officials, have to have violated the Good Conduct Rule of consumption, possession, acquiring or delivering alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs will be ineligible for minimum of one event/performance to a maximum ineligibility of one calender year as determined by the good conduct committee.” Explanation: Students who violate the Good Conduct Rule are not ineligible for an entire year. If it is a students first offense, the student only misses 25% of the remainder of the season that person is in, and the rest of the 25% applies to the next activity the student will be in. According to the Honesty Provision in the handbook, if a student admits to the offense before being approached by a school employee, the punishment is reduced by 5%, and reduced 10% if the student admits to the offense and comes in on their own behalf. Typically, students are out for the year when the offense is committed again for the third time.
Unspoken rule/myth no. 4: Senior release is given to all seniors. What school policy says: “Senior’s Release is a PRIVILEGE granted to seniors who demonstrate exceptional attendance, academic performance, and character” Explanation: Not every student gets the right to senior release. Students who are not passing all their classes, considered to be excessively absent or tardy, suspended in or out of school or removed from class for inappropriate behavior, not in good standing in terms of behavior, or delinquent in paying any schoolrelated debts/fines are not eligible for senior release. The requirements for determining eligibility for senior release begins with the 2nd semester of junior year. Unspoken rule/myth no. 5: Lockers contain personal items and are not able to be searched unless an administrator obtains a search warrant. What school policy says: “All lockers are the property of Pella Community Schools and are subject to inspection by authorized school personnel at any time.” Explanation: Make sure everything in your locker is “school appropriate,” because lockers are able to be searched at ALL times. •Madeline Meyer (mm.pelladium@gmail. com)
10. 25. 2011
Tinker sets standard for students’ rights
“It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” This Court opinion, delivered by Justice Abe Fortas, set a new standard for students in schools by the Supreme Court’s decision, made on Feb. 24, 1969 in the case of Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent Community School District. In Dec. of 1965, Des Moines students and adults assembled, including Christopher Eckhardt, 16, John F. Tinker, 15, and Mary Beth Tinker, 13, and decided on wearing black armbands to object to the hostilities in Vietnam. After learning this plan to petition, the Des Moines schools’ principals adopted a policy that banned the wearing of armbands to school. After refusing to remove the armbands the three were suspended until they would comply to the policy. When their protest was scheduled to end and their armbands would be taken off, the students could return to school. “Unfortunately, in the past 40 plus years since the Tinker vs. Des Moines case, there have been other less known significant Supreme Court decisions that have diminished student’s rights. It’s a beacon; something we strive for but doesn’t seem to be maintained. If it comes down to either a safe, orderly school environment as opposed to students’ rights, courts rule in the school’s favor.... but if you go back 50 years, students have no rights. Schools had the same authority over you as your parents,” said government teacher and dean Mark Core. The decision made by the District Court, who found that the school’s policy and punishment was reasonable, was appealed, then reversed by the Supreme Court, who argued that the students were passively expressing an opinion, without disruptive petitioning or violating other students. “Why should school be different from daily life? Yes, we should have to follow and respect school rules, but we should still have Constitutional rights. Schools try to censor things, and maybe that’s taking away some of our freedom of speech, but if it will harm someone or pose a threat to the school, it makes sense,” said senior Daniel Tiskevics. From the decision of this case came a new standard that had hardly existed prior to the outcome: students carry their Constitutional rights with them into schools. But does this standard still apply? “Tinker doesn’t have the same effect and impact as it did in 1969. Since then, there’s been a slow, gradual decline. Because drugs, violence and terrorism started becoming more of an issue, schools are more security conscious. Schools don’t want an environment that is so oppressive it feels like prison, but it’s all about balance. If there was a point where there was such a disturbance that it got in the way of education, there would be a problem,” said Core. Many students agree. “Our freedom to express ourselves like with freedom of speech is somewhat restricted. If something happens in the school, certainly the school should take it into their hands, because they are responsible for what happens here, but they shouldn’t supply the punishment for what goes on outside of school,” said freshman Kaila Wimmer. While many students think that any policies that violate students’ Constitutional rights are unfair, many feel these restrictions are necessary. “I would say for the most part our rights stay in place even when we walk in the school building. Possibly freedom of speech [is restricted by school policy], but if there’s something that would distract from the learning process for other students, then a line should be drawn,” said senior Joella Gerber. Other students feel school policy should be modeled after national laws. “We shouldn’t necessarily have all of our freedoms like the right to bear arms. Stupid kids will do stupid things. We should have more strict punishments for kids who try to injure others, but as long as it goes along with the national laws, the school shouldn’t add extra limitations,” said junior Kyle VanWyk. The Supreme Court decision in the case of Tinker vs. Des Moines had a significant impact on school policy for students. While many debate whether or not this decision still determines and restricts the making of policy, students still need to be informed about their Constitutional rights. “Our school does a pretty good job and strikes a healthy balance between protecting student rights and keeping the school regulated, but no one is perfect. I just try to teach students to know more about all of their rights and be very aware of them, and also, encourage kids to talk to their parents about it,” said Core. •Tiffany Carter(tc.pelladium@gmail. •Graphic by Marielle Gaiser com)
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•Graphic by Blake Lanser
Limits in student rights raise questions “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The first amendment; just 45 words, is a vital part in solidifying the rights of American citizens. However, the rights of minors, especially in the classroom, can be suppressed in ways that rights of adults may not be. When students are in school, many decisions can be made by school officials that are outside conventional citizen rights. School’s purposes are to educate; interferences with this goal are deemed to be violations of the educational environment. These actions can, therefore, be suppressed by school leaders. However, in recent years, student rights have become more limited, taking away student power that cases like Tinker vs. Des Moines fought hard for. “Recently, courts have been straying away from student rights and siding with the schools. The safety of the students and school takes precedence. A common example is limits in dress code to protect the educational environment,” said assistant principal Jon Muller. The freedom of expression can directly be applied to dress code, as students often communicate through attire. Dress codes have generally been viewed as holding normal classroom procedures and promoting the educational process. In the school, clothing with provocative or vulgar meanings, chains, hats, spiked jewelry, sling tops and bedroom slippers are items deemed inappropriate and disruptive to the classroom. “No, [I don’t think we have all of our rights in school] because people get in trouble for things like the “I <3 Boobies” wristbands. Some don’t wear it to support breast cancer, but some do, so it’s still a violation of our rights. Clothing is of minor importance, so they shouldn’t be so strict about it,” said sophomore Jordan Stephenson. Limits in student rights also trickle over to policies about search and seizure. American citizens are protected by the exclusionary rule; no illegally obtained evidence (without a search warrant) may be used against a person. In order to maintain a safe environment, students, being on school property, can be subject to random searches of body, locker, desk, or automobiles based off of reasonable suspicion- a search warrant not being needed. Items found that are illegal, unauthorized or contraband can lead to disciplinary action and be grounds for reporting to law enforcement. “I agree with this policy to a certain extent, though it depends on the reasonable suspicion. I feel like it could be abused if teachers just assume a student is doing something wrong. I do think it helps to keep our school clean and safe, though,” said senior Staci Vriezelaar. Another prevalent topic of student rights is freedom of speech. Whereas citizens are guaranteed their right to hold opinion without interference, schools often take a different approach. This is exemplified by school’s Internet policies, as criticism and bullying becomes increasingly common in the cyber world. A decision by the Supreme Court, Reno v. ACLU, decided that Internet speech as the same constitutional protections as other written publications. Use of the school’s Internet is considered to be a privilege, and browsing is restricted, but the school often deals with situations that occur off school grounds as well. “The approach I try to take if something appears on the Internet that adversely effects a person is more of an educational purpose to dealing with the situation, not law enforcement,” said student dean, Mark Core. Substantial differences exist between the rights that are ensured by the Constitution and those enforced by schools, though the purpose of these restrictions are to promote the best educational experience possible. However, it is critical that students are aware of and practice their rights, whether it be on school grounds or in the community. “It’s important that students know their rights. Being educated is not a bad thing; it is very beneficial. Understanding the limits is a positive,” said Muller. •Maddy Scholten (maddys.pelladium@gmail.com)
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PAGE EDITOR: ALEX ROPES
IRREGARDLESS •BENJI MCELROY (BME.PELLADIUM@GMAIL.COM)
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ella, by most accounts, is a pretty solid place. That is, if you look at the fact that the elderly walking the streets probably won’t be mugging anyone anytime soon and those kids playing baseball in the nearest cul-de-sac probably won’t take a bat to your knees for wearing blue in their neighborhood. Then again, if you look at the fact that Pella has little to no variety then you might disagree. Pella is a melting pot of exactly one culture: middle class white people. It’s like a secluded island that has impressively not become increasingly cultured like the rest of the United States. Hell, I’m surprised I haven’t started carrying around a volleyball named Wilson who is not only Korean, but also happens to be Jewish… you know, just to compensate. While it might take hundreds of illegal immigrants to grab the attention of many places around the country, it would take just one to set the local rumor mill on fire because seeing anyone not of European descent is the equivalent of a U.F.O. sighting anywhere else. This town is like a bizarro NBA team because finding a black guy here is like finding a white guy on the Lakers. It’s not just the monotone nature of Pella’s collective skin that’s an issue, either. Families here operate like the calendar reads 1956, not 2011. The family narrative is expected to read something like a Brady Bunch episode. There’s the dad who dutifully works to put food on the table, the mom who bakes yummy apple pies and the kids whose biggest worry is whether or not they get the biggest piece of lasagna. Of course, don’t question this good old fashioned American way of life. This family structure has no flaws. Now, go do the dishes, woman! For a town that seemingly has enough churches to supply every resident with one, it somehow manages to have not one mosque or synagogue. Add god-fearing to the description of the typical Pella person. Oh, and don’t forget conservative, either. There are a few “radical left wingers” who might risk putting up Mitt Romney signs in their yard come election time, but don’t be surprised if Rick Perry’s name starts being plastered everywhere, like an obnoxious Facebook virus. I was shocked when evolution was taught in biology, and a S.W.A.T. team didn’t crash through the windows to
ransack the room for every book that dared to mention the e-word. Pella gives you just a little piece of the pie. Like one, fun-sized bite. So, go somewhere else and experience a little something called the “real world.” And no, this “Real World” doesn’t involve mentally unstable people being filmed for a few months. Plan a road trip straight out of a stereotypical, mediocre movie to escape the epitome of Small Town, America. That’s how straightlaced Pella is, even the most predictable of movie plots is shaking things up here. Just don’t visit Utah, Idaho, or Canada on your quest for culture because they’re like Pella Jr.’s (er, Sr.’s?). I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with middle-class white people. I’m not some kind of self-racist or something (or maybe I am). Pella’s lack of diversity only suits the middle-aged men who work in suits. For all of the kids growing up here, the lack of diversity is only going to create problems going forward. Can you imagine going somewhere and being a minority? If that thought doesn’t cause dozens of panic attacks, I don’t know what will. To avoid being sucked into the neverending black hole of wealthy white folks, I’ve made a conscious effort to wander outside of my friendly confines as much as possible, and guess what? It has does wonders for my naturally overly judgmental self. People with neck tats aren’t always going to shank you on sight, people who don’t go to church, well, religiously aren’t always heathens devoid of morals, and people who have one story houses don’t always need your sympathy and charity. Pella isn’t going to change. It’s right where everybody north of 40 wants it to be. It might be comforting to think your hours of watching ‘Lil Wayne music videos and Seth Rogen movies has made you quite the expert on the African American and Jewish communities respectively…but then again, it’s not that simple. A ton of people prefer the monotonous lifestyle that a small Midwestern town offers. It’s totally cool if you want to go to Central, graduate and settle down here, but at least give everything and everybody else a chance. Don’t keep your prejudices and stereotypes because the most culture in your schedule is when your mom dares to buy sushi from Hy-Vee.
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OPINION
10.25.2011
EVERYTHING’S NOT LOST
•ALEX ROPES (AR.PELLADIUM@GMAIL.COM)
or as long as I can remember, my of the current state of community service, I parents stressed what they call the do have to give credit to the programs and “Trifecta”; the three tools to getting schools that require it. While I believe many into college, academics, extracurriculars will only go through the motions to meet and community service. I have done fine their hour requirements, I firmly believe on the first two, but never focused on the that at least a few will see the larger picture. latter, though I still interpreted it as an I believe that those few will understand the integral part of getting into college. As I concept of service and will no longer see made my rounds to various colleges, as volunteerism as a requirement waiting to be expected, the Trifecta was stressed at each, filled, but a chance to do something that is and community service became a more important, despite how trivial it may seem. imminent thought. I write this column in response to a Community service is supposed to show government project assigned that calls for that prospective students five hours of my time are not self-serving each quarter. The snobs but actually assignment states care to give back that a student “... to the society and may do anything that If students are only individuals that raised reasonably pertains to volunteering to help get into them. Throughout my government, politics, college, or any other number years, I have observed i s s u e - a d v o c a c y, quite a large difference or community of reasons, then community between the concept betterment.” service morphs into a means to you can guess, AsI of community service an end. frequently discussed, chose community and the reality of what betterment, as did it truly entails though. the majority of my While I have, and classmates. still do, witness individuals who volunteer So, I am a hypocrite. I approached the solely because of good will, volunteerism project seeking to fulfill the five hour often stems from an obligation or requirement. I thought of various ideas, requirement. When community service just seeking an easy way to fulfill five becomes something that helps you get into hours, until myself and those in my group college, nearly anyone will do it to boost decided to volunteer at the local nursing their chances of getting into their dream home for five hours over the course of two school; that is where the true meaning is Sundays. My thoughts changed during the lost. days leading up to volunteering though, If individuals are only volunteering to as I started formulating the idea for this help get into college, or attain the rank column, and began to think about what of Eagle Scout, or any other plethora of it really meant to volunteer. Before long, I reasons, then community service no longer realized what had been evident all along -I stems from a desire to give back. It morphs was not volunteering out of good spirit, but into a means to an end. was, to be blunt, using the elderly to fulfill The reason colleges would like to see a requirement. community service on an application is I think it was then that I decided to because they want proof that the applicant volunteer not just to fulfill a requirement is a “good, caring and wholesome” person, (though that is happening along the way), which an applicant can lie about in an but to hopefully brighten the days of a few essay. Having community service on the residents. I’m not trying to proclaim myself application is supposed to be a definitive as a hero going against the grain, for I’ve way of showing character, but as I’ve only given five hours of my time. Nor am I already noted, community service no saying I will be at the nursing home every longer necessarily means that the individual chance I get, but I do plan on continuing is a wonderful, caring individual who loves to visit once my service requirement is to give back. It can often mean that they fulfilled. The people there deserve someone only understand how the system works, and to talk to that cares about what they have understand what they must do to achieve to say. They deserve someone who is there the optimal results. to listen, just because they want to, not Despite the negative image I have painted because they have to.
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The Constitution guarantees various rights to American citizens. What do you feel is your most important right? •Ben Konfrst (benk.pelladuim@gmail.com)
“Speech because it wouldn’t be fair if you couldn’t say what you want.”
“Religion because everyone has a right to believe in what they want and to express their beliefs.”
“Speech because if you have the freedom of speech, you can speak up for what you believe in.”
“Speech, so I can say whatever I want to say.”
Freshman Quentin Murphy
Sophomore Jackie Sunderman
Junior Diana Zabrodava
Senior Brett Renaud
OPINION Editorial Cartoon 10.25. 2011
PAGE EDITOR: JACK PARISEE
Alternative News
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Grades trump learning
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•Mitch Shepperd (mps.pelladium@gmail.com)
Staff Editorial
Student rights waived with accordance to location
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lthough many are uninformed of their granted rights and freedoms under the Constitution, by examining them, it may become noticeable that not all are upheld by school policy. We, as a staff, understand that this is with the best interests of the students and staff in mind, and these policies aim to protect the overall safety and regular school conduct and procedures. When considering whether a regulation is necessary, also consider the potential outcomes without these rules. Would the regular routine of class be disrupted? Would any student or staff member be potentially harmed? Would this significantly distract, offend or negatively influence others? If any of these questions deserve a yes, understand the viewpoint of a school administrator and the need to prevent any of these things from happening. Many issues, such as whether or not schools should get involved in out-of-school conflicts, clothing, searches and social network monitoring remain unsettled and are often disputed based on varying views on these topics. We believe that unless a major controversial decision occurs that would unnecessarily violate student rights, we should all, as students, trust the authority of policy makers and those who enforce them. It may seem as though school policy is too strict or that we do not still hold all of our Constitutional rights in the classroom, but these regulations are meant to ensure the safety of the students and productivity within the classroom. With the number of potential scenarios that could result from allowing us certain rights, a balance must be found. This balance would require a line to be drawn to separate rights students deserve, and those that if taken advantage of, could jeopardize a student or staff member’s safety or would cause significant disorder. School administrators seek to satisfy our best interests, and we encourage fellow students and staff to realize these intention of school administrators and trust their decision making and enforcement abilities. With this said, the staff also believes students should not blindly accept any regulations made by school administrators. By knowing their Constitutional rights, a student can better recognize when these rights are being violated. If a student questions the necessity of an adopted policy that restricts their freedoms, we encourage students to stand up for what they are granted as citizens, as all students are still citizens while within the school, and therefore, still retain their rights. The staff voted 20-1 in favor of this article
hat happened to wanting to learn? Back in the “good ol’ days” kids would wake up in the morning and trek miles to the town school house to get their educations. They didn’t see school as asomething they needed to do; it was something they wanted to do. Today, school is something the students are required to do. I believe that this is apparent in the students lack of enthusisasm and the disgust they seem to place with school. School has become a place of grades, not of learning. We have a lost the appreciation that even the younger students back in the day had for the importance of their education, not the appreciation for getting good grades. School has evolved from a place of learning to a place to get the best grades you can. This became apparent to me during the beginning of this school year, when I heard many people scheming on how they can get the best GPA. American schools have been falling behind for these reasons: everyone stresses over grades too much. Students no longer head to school to learn, but so they can get an A. It is not always the students’ fault for just wanting to get the grade. In our society many students feel they need a 4.0 GPA to get into a good college and continue in this world. Now, all of the greatest minds in our country are collabarating to solve the nationwide problem of our students falling behind in academics. The solution may not be as tough as they think. The fact is that we need students to stop wanting As, but wanting an education. This doesn’t mean that everyone gets an A, or that students no longer gets grades, what it means that we spend more time back on learning, and less time worrying about cramming for quizzes and forget the information. Teachers have fallen into the thought that their job is to help students get the good grade, whether in school or later on an ACT. Teachers need to get back to teaching; grades are second. Students need to start to learn that when they move on in life no one is going to care about what grade they got on your assignment in math, but what they will care about is that you learned what they needed to learn to become sucessful in life. The blame can fall everywhere in the spectrum of modern education. but somewhere between farm kids hiking through the snow and writing on chalk boards to us working on computers and ipads, we have lost an appreciation for true education. •Greg Frommelt (gfrommelt.pelladium@gmail.com)
America: You’re Fat!
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ver 290,000 Iowans participated in the Start Somewhere Walk, including 6,000 plus within the city of Pella. This walk was to call to attention the importance of physical activity. Although I believe that walking a mile won’t motivate couch potatoes everywhere to drastically change their lifestyle, the concept of the day is still important. America is fat. This is a simple fact. If you can go to the Iowa State Fair, see an overweight six year-old eating fried butter and turn the other cheek, then you are seriously oblivious to the crisis America has put itself in. Many are in denial of this crisis, whether it’s because they are blissfully ignorant or just refuse to admit that they can’t see the scale when they step onto it. With 66.7 percent of the United State’s population overweight, we are the world’s third most obese country. America is the king of processed foods, loading naturally healthy ingredients with high fructose corn syrup. Another thing that America is famous for are the Golden Arches of McDonald’s. At the time, the delicious McDouble might look good on your plate, but it looks terrible once it goes to your thighs. The American lifestyle has changed, whether everyone realizes it or not. The average diet lacks essential staples, such as fiber, and children learn to play video games before they learn how to say “mama.” The streets are eerily quiet because the neighborhood kids are inside, sitting on their ever-expanding backsides, instead of running around outside. For young adults, 14 percent have reported not being physically active at all. The recommended time for exercise is only 20 minutes a day. Americans are famously stereotyped for being lazy, and anyone can see why. By ignoring the balance between diet and exercise, we only hurt ourselves by raising the risks of heart disease and other afflictions. Young adults may complain they are too busy for exercise. Just make time. Twenty minutes of brisk walking or low impact aerobics a day is all it will take to lead to a healthier lifestyle. •Jillian Sagers (jsagpelladium@gmail.com)
Executive Editors: Tiffany Carter, Benji McElroy, Madeline Meyer, Maddy Scholten Page Editors/Reporters: Benji McElroy, Jillian Sagers, Maddy Scholten, Whittney Reinier, Madeline Meyer, Tiffany Carter, Blake Lanser, Haley Sytsma, Jack Parisee, Evan Jones, Mitch Shepperd, Marielle Gaiser Visuals: Blake Lanser,Marielle Gaiser, Jillian Sagers, Mitch Shepperd, Micah Zeimetz Reporters: Claire Anderson, Derrick Akers, Nathan Clayberg, Jake Dorman, Greg Frommelt, Elias Gross, Ben Konfrst, Alex Moore, Sarah Muller, Alex Ropes, Hallie VonBank 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.
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PAGE EDITOR: EVAN JONES
ENTERTAINMENT
10. 25. 2011
Albia haunted house offers affordable chills, thrills For the past six years, haunted houses have been a family tradition during Halloween. Being dubbed the “best house in Southern Iowa”, the Albia After Prom Haunted House has a lot to offer to those who love to be scared. Traveling 45 minutes to get there may seem like too much of a distance just to go to a haunted house, but anyone who’s ever been to Albia’s can say that it’s worth the drive. Costing only $5 per person, it’s one the cheapest ways to get scared during Halloween. Complete with a haunted maze AND a haunted barn to accompany the house, it’s twice the fun of a normal haunted house. With a more “kid friendly” environment, it’s fun for people of all ages. Having been a regular at the haunted house since fifth grade, I was expecting year to be just as entertaining as in the past. Accompanied by a middle school girl from Chariton and my very own father, I was elected to be the leader of the group. After about five minutes of being stuck with
the girl I was beginning to wonder why she didn’t join her friend through the “chicken chute” (an emergency escape route for those who are too scared). Seeing this girls’ reaction had to make the house workers feel like they did their job, even though the back of my shirt was a little stretched out from her constant grasping. The house was a maze in its own. Having to tackle the role of leadership this time around proved that my navigation skills are just as bad as I’ve always thought. After about five minutes of aimlessly walking around in an empty attic room, we had to be escorted by a surprisingly friendly clown. After crawling threw a few “snake” filled tunnels, it was on to the maze. Being one who’s not easily scared, the chainsaw guys here can still make me jump. The mazes that weaves around the beginning and the end of the house is the perfect hiding places for them to wait for their next victim.
The haunted barn, in my opinion, is the best part of the attraction. The strobe lights add to the eeriness and confuse visiters into walking right into the traps. In earlier yeras there has been themes to the barn, but this year it was a mix of different Halloween characters which was different than in the past. At the end of the barn, there’s even a surprise camera person waiting to take pictures for their website. For those who are looking for an affordable haunted house, Albia’s is one to look into. With all proceeds supporting the Albia High Junior/Senior Prom, it’s not only fun, it’s also beneficial to their students. For more information on dates/times visit the Albia After Prom Haunted House’s official website: http://albiaafterprom.webs.com/ •Haley Sytsma (hs.pelladium@gmail.com) See pelladium.com for a reveiw of Sleepy Hollow’s Haunted House.
Students recall horrific Halloween moments Halloween brings Scare-O-Meter
Junior Gabi Meirick: “My neighbors always go all out for Halloween, and one year they put out this tunnel of steam, which was pretty creepy. Allie DeMeulenaere and I were walking up to get candy and we thought someone was sitting by the basket. We were really scared to grab the candy. We finally did, but as we were walking back, my neighbor scared us! It was the year Allie and I were John McCain and Barack Obama.” Mildly Concerned
Assistant Principal Jon Muller: “When I was in high school, we went to a haunted
house in Cedar Falls. We were waiting in line in anticipation for the scary things we were about to see. There were people hiding in the bushes with masks on, and they scared us. It scared the living daylights out of me!” Mildly Concerned
Senior Sarah Van Maanen: “It was in seventh grade when Addy Van Vliet had a
Halloween party. They locked us in the barn and chased us with a chainsaw, and people grabbed our ankles! Kim Korver broke her hand punching Brennan Mejia.” Over Shoulder Paranoid
Junior Bailey Tripp: “My neighbor had this decoration on his porch, and it looked
like a headless body. There was a bowl of candy sitting there, and no one was there. As soon as I grabbed the candy, the headless body grabbed me. I only ended up with one piece of candy. I was probably in the fifth grade.”Cried Like a School Girl
Senior Haley Nickerson: “It was really scary living in southern Arizona in a small
town, which was 30 minutes out of town, close to the border. I went outside and saw a dark figure going out past our house, and then another one. My dad went outside and shined a flashlight outside the house, and there were a bunch of people outside. It was especially scary because it was during Halloween time.” Cried Like A School Girl
Sophomore Abby Fyfe: “I was five years old, and I went up to a house to ring the
doorbell to get some Halloween candy. There was a man sitting on the step with blood all over him! I later found out that the blood was really just ketchup, but it was still freaky at the time.” Pit Stains and Peed Your Pants
Senior Zach Hopkins: “My neighbor dressed up in a gorilla suit and crawled through
my window in my bedroom and scared me while I was sleeping. I was only eight years old at the time. All of a sudden, there is an ape scaring me in my room in the middle of the night.” Death •Madeline Meyer (mm.pelladium@gmail.com) •Graphics by Marielle Gaiser Ulrich Motor 1130 West 16th Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2184
Van Hemert Chiropractic Center 1310 East Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2099 Van Sant Collision Repair 80 Truman Road Pella, IA 50219 641-628-3206
Wiskus Group 821 Franklin Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1505
Van Gorp Corporation 1410 W. Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-9212
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endless movie picks
October brings the endless supply of horror movies. They’re everywhere ... on TV, in theatres and on Netflix’s instant queue. The idea that the only good movies for Halloween are of the horror genre is wrong. Of course, some horror movies are worth mentioning, but there is a whole other spectrum of Halloween movies. If you don’t think so, prepare to be enlightened. WARNING: ALL ARE RATED R
“Shaun of the Dead” - This movie may be one of the few that
can classify itself as a romantic zombie comedy, and it bares the title well. It successfully jumps from the three categories with surprising finesse.The film stars Simon Pegg as Shaun, a salesman with no direction in life. After zombies begin to appear in his quaint town, Shaun sketches up a plan to keep his friends and family safe, while maintaining his relationship with his girlfriend, Liz.
The Shining” - “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” That phrase itself is terrifying, and with Jack Nicholson bringing his A-game to the Overlook Hotel, this movie is one to remember. It’s also based on Stephen King’s novel, so you know it’s good. The film follows the story of Jack Torrence as he begins his work as the winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel. The previous caretaker got cabin fever and killed himself and his family, and now Jack is in for his turn of cabin fever. “Donnie Darko” - If you classify Shaun of the Dead as a romantic zombie comedy, you’d have to classify Donnie Darko as a nostalgic 1980s psychological time-traveling high school thriller. This is one of the best movies out there. Jake Gyllenhaal is astounding as Donnie Darko, the troubled teenager who sees Frank, a man in a demonesque, rabbit costume with a hypnotic voice. Frank tells Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, six hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds, Halloween day. Over the course of the movie, Donnie tries to figure out how to stop this while dealing with Frank’s incessant appearances. Definitely worth the watch. •Mitch Shepperd (mps.pelladium@gmail.com)
Green Supporters... Central Cellular, 1530 Washington Street, 641-628-9520 Dutch Meadows Landscaping, 100 1/2 Vermeer Road, 641-628-4450 Embellish, 605 Franklin Street, 641-628-1738 Git `n Go, 209 East Oskaloosa Street, 641-628-1420 Monarch’s, 705 East 1st Street, 641-628-1633 Odyssey Spas, 514 East Oskaloosa, P.O. Box 524, 641628-8292 Pella Concrete Contractor’s Inc., 669 Highway T-14, 641628-3753 Pella Implement Company, 655 Hwy. T-14, 641-628-2131 Plumb Supply Company, 208 South East 9th Street, 641620-1406
Sadler Sign & Design, 414 Liberty Street, 641-628-9889 Simple Treasures, 710 West First Street, 641-628-2662 STC Tire & Exhaust, 815 West 10th Street, 641-628-3153 TK Concrete, 1608 Fifield Road, 641-628-4590 Town Crier, LTD, 810 East 1st Street, 641-628-1130 Tulip City Agency, Ltd, 700 Washington Street, 641-6281270 Van Maanen, Sietstra and Meyer, P.C., 705 Main Street, 641-628-3737 Van Maanen Seed & Chemical, 2073 Eaton Avenue, Leighton IA, 641-626-3471 Van Haaften Plumbing and Heating Inc., 914 West 8th Street, 641-628-3621
10. 25. 2011
MENTAL HUG
11
PAGE EDITOR: MITCH SHEPPERD
Texting Blunders
•Maddy Scholten (maddys.pelladium@gmail.com)
Supposed to go: The friend of the girl I went to prom with last year Sent to: The person I went to prom with Message: hey ill be needing a date to winter formal... wanna go? ;) -senior Trevor Wood Supposed to go to: My best friend Sent to: My mother Message: If my mom asks you, I was at your house last night -senior Bailey Vande Weerd Problem: My phone auto-corrects the word “sit” Sent to: My friend Intended Message: Where are you sitting? Sent Message: Where are you *explict*ing? -junior Kyle Van Wyk Problem: My phone auto-corrected the word “situation”. Sent to: My friend Intended Message: I hate this situation! Sent Message: I hate this syphilis! -sophomore Samantha Blatt
Supposed to go to: My friend’s girlfriend Sent to: Me (sent by my friend) Message: Okay, goodnight baby! Love you -freshman Quinton Murphy
at
Dan-D
Farms The adventure began when Evan picked up Alex, junior Wade Pingel and senior Tukker Bogaard, and the foursome set off towards Dan-D Farms in Knoxville for an adventure in the corn maze. After paying their slightly overpriced admission, the group was eager to embark on what was sure to be a actionpacked, testosterone-filled adventure. Before leaving, they decided to check out a few of the slides offered, but quickly discovered that PCP pipe and metal are not the most comfortable materials. Cursing the frugality of the owners, the group limped off with their bruised tailbones into the great unknown, hoping to have better luck navigating the corn maze. The corn maze soon promised to live up to its
WhateverMan
Students’ Top 10 tweets from the past month 1. @6etnyre9 - Junior Michael Etnyre. The 6. @Alex_Ropes - senior Alex Ropes. world would be soo much better if people were more like dolphins #howsweet #thinkaboutit #iknowright #dolphins
My parents got my animal activist sister sheepskin boots for her birthday #mostawkwardbirthdaypresentever
2. @GrantBarrick10 - senior Grant
7. @ShepatitisM - junior Mitch Shepperd.
Barrick. I forgot how hot Kim Possible was...
3. @Aaron_VanMaanen - sophomore
Aaron VanMaanen. Today someone told me that they noticed I had facial hair. I’m going to chalk this down as one of the most glorious days of my life.
8. @Tyler_Holtrop - senior Tyler Holtrop.
Pregnant for a day. Awful #donteverwanttobe #pregnant
9. @Kollin_schaudt - junior Kollin 4. @caitie_hones - senior Caitie Hones. Schaudt. Going to be in a movie with Dan The water fountain tastes like varnish Worthington!! #toosoon? #gymreconstruction 10. @GustafsonGrant - senior Grant Gustafson. Freshman girls are the best. <3 5. @C_Nel14 - senior Sam Nelson. I’m in #hacked. Minneapolis...
expectations, and the group quickly got completely lost. Out of sheer boredom, it was not long until they realized the corn could be thrown up in the air for amusement. After a couple tosses in the air, one almost killing Evan, it was not long until one piece landed a little too close to two high schoolers (suspectedly from Knoxville), and what began as a peaceful adventure, turned into guerrilla warfare. The foursome sprinted away, as the two students began throwing back ears of corn. Tukker and Wade made up for Alex and Evan’s complete lack of upper body strength by returning fire long enough for the group to escape to safety. After resting for a few moments, the reality of the situation quickly set in, and the foursome realized the situation was dire. The group was stranded in a corn field with an enemy armed with intent to kill, and there was no one to hear them scream. Then, again, they were in Knoxville, so screaming wouldn’t have helped regardless. The four rapidly armed themselves with as much corn as their pockets could carry and warily continued through the maze, alert at the slightest sound. As they were finally about to let their guard down, they crossed paths with the enemy. You could cut the tension with a cornstalk as the two groups locked eyes, and seconds turned into an eternity. As soon as the enemy passed back into the maze, a barage of
•Micah Zeimetz
Ate some McDonalds to counteract the PE 4 Life Walk. #iwin
•Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com)
corn began to pelt the ground surrounding the Pella boys. They again sprinted for cover, but only after returning a successful volley that even Evan was able to take part in. The last encounter came quickly afterward. It now was evident that a full scale war was in effect. In an effort to maintain some shred of respect, Evan asked the boys during passing if they would like to form a truce, to which the smug punks responded, “Maybe.” Ten steps after passing them, an ear of corn cut through the stalks to the left of the group. As the bros raced for cover, ears of corn tore through the area around them, one almost pegging Tukker in the back of the head. Finally, they reached an opening in the maze, where Wade was able to return fire. The boys could only hope that his throws yielded a painful result, as the enemy was out of vision. Regardless, “The Corn Battle of the Maze” was over. However, the group was still lost in the maze. Luckily, Tukker and Ropes knew that following the moon would get them out safely, and they navigated them to the exit. Check out the www.pelladium.com for this month’s edition of Gal Pals on the Town. •Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com •Alexander Ropes (ar.pelladium@gmail.com)
High School Hazard •Jillian Sagers
Correction to school calender: Pella Nail Salon’s phone pumber is
(641) - 628 - 1104