September Pelladium

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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 of the Constitution of the United States of America

How’s Your Health?

Lending a Helping Hand

Check inside to see what’s on the cutting edge of H1N1, health care reform and how your health stacks up. p. 6-7

Mark Goodrich’s Construction Trades class builds homes for Habitat forHumanity p. 3

Stadium renovated, open for play

NEWS BRIEFS

t'JWF TUVEFOU UFBDIFST have joined the staff. They JODMVEF 5FEEZ $MBSL BSU with Julie Stratton and Jim Emmert; Jordan Edgerly, math with Matt Schulte; 5BNNZ 1FUFS POF IBMG UJNF 4QBOJTI XJUI 1BMPNB 4PSJB Amy Ripperger, one-half time language arts with Gina Linn, one-half time Spanish with Melissa Walker; and, John Roloff, instrumental music with Dick Redman BOE +BTPO 1FOUJDP

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t1BSFOU 5FBDIFS $POGFSFODFT will be held at the high school Oct. 1 from 4-8 p.m. t'PSNFS $FOUSBM $PMMFHF volleyball coach Megan Clayberg is the new assistant volleyball coach. t6OPïDJBM FOSPMMNFOU GPS 1FMMB $PNNVOJUZ )JHI School is 693 students, the most ever, while enrollment for the district is at 2234, a 29 student increase. tJ8PSL A JT CFJOH VTFE JO the district schools, a switch from Microsoft program. t" OFX DPNQVUFS UP DPOUSPM heating and cooling system was installed in the high school’s maintenance room. The computer was installed to regulate temperature in the school during non-school hours in order to increase FïDJFODZ BOE TBWJOHT t,FMTFZ 7BO 5BTFMM LW QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

SENIORS BRETT BOGAARD and Andy VanderBroek rush into the end zone to congratulate senior Richie Bales after a touchdown in the first home varsity game on the new field against Oskaloosa on Sept. 4. “Richie’s touchdown established positive momentum for the team and helped to direct us towards a win,â€? said Bogaard. ɨF -JUUMF %VUDI XPO t1IPUP CZ .BEJTPO 7BOEFS 8FMM

Five join high school staff

Jessica Williams Language Arts

NAME: Jessica Williams POSITION: English 10, English 10 honors instructor EXPERIENCE: 8 years. Previously taught at Carlisle and PCM. BACKGROUND: Graduated from PCM High, Central FAMILY: Married. One child. Expecting a second child in December. ABOUT HER: She loves teaching English and is very passionate about writing and literature. SHE SAYS: “I’m still trying to get the hang of being a mom and working away from home. Once I’m home at night, he comes first. My work has to wait until he’s in bed, so I’ve had some late nights since coming back to work.�

Teresa Thompson Counselor

Anna Arkema Family & Consumer Sciences

NAME: Teresa Thompson POSITION:Guidance counselor EXPERIENCE: 3 years at Newton High School BACKGROUND: Graduated from Pella Christian High, Central, Drake (master’s) FAMILY: Married. Two children. ABOUT HER: She loves being with her family. They spend their time swimming, visiting parks and walking on bike trails. SHE SAYS: “I love my job. I want to be a good influence or role model for students. I’m passionate about helping students figure out what they want to do for their futures or choosing which career route is best for them.�

Jennifer Van Wyk

STAFF CHANGES.

New law promotes physical activity, wellness in schools

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Guidance Administrative Assistant

NAME: Anna Arkema POSITION: Family & Consumer Science, half days EXPERIENCE: 5 years, Pella Middle School BACKGROUND: Graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School, Iowa State FAMILY: Married. One child. ABOUT HER: She spends a lot of time with her son Evan and enjoys outside activities, such as walking, running and gardening. SHE SAYS: “I really enjoy it so far. It’s fun seeing students who I’ve taught before and where they are now and to see how they’ve changed.�

espite delays that prevented completion of the renovations, the reviews are in after six football games in a renovated stadium. Improved seating, press boxes, concession stand and bathrooms were included in the renovations. The overall cost of all of the renovations, which also includes the bathrooms at the baseball/softball fields and all of the new lights comes to a little under $2 million. The money is coming from sales tax revenues in Marion County. “We chose to do this renovation now because we thought now would be a good time. Construction costs are down now and we needed to replace the track,� said athletic director Bill Van Horn. The new turf for the football stadium has many benefits opposed to using normal grass. Unlike the grass field, the new one can’t be overused so the usage can be more than doubled, allowing additional usage by both the football team and marching band before repair. The soccer team will also be able to use the field, making the stadium a multipurpose factility. The turf also saves money as it doesn’t need water or chemicals for upkeep and requires less maintenence. “I think the new field is pretty sweet to play on and I’m glad our first football game was a win on it. I’m excited to play soccer on it too because we can play on it in any kind of weather. It should be more competitive because the ball can roll faster and we should have a big home field advantage,� said junior Alex De Jong. The track and press boxes should be completed this fall and the total renovation should be finished by May into next summer. “I really liked cheering at the new stadium but I can’t wait until the new track is completed for us to cheer on,� said junior Jessica Van Wyk. t,FMTFZ 7BO 5BTFMM LW QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

Melissa Brown Special Education Associate

NAME: Jennifer Van Wyk POSITION: Guidance Administrative Assistant EXPERIENCE: 9 years at Pella Corp., DMACC BACKGROUND: Graduated from Pella Community High School FAMILY: Married. Three children. NAME: Melissa Brown POSITION: Special Education Associate EXPERIENCE: 3 years, Bush & Associates BACKGROUND: Graduated from Pella Community High School, William Jewell FAMILY: Married. Two children.

Jill Roberts moved from her medica center associate position to the media director job. Susan Wheeler, study hall associate, has added a part-time media center associate position.

O +VMZ B MBX XBT QBTTFE SFRVJSJOH TUVEFOUT JO *PXB UP IBWF BU MFBTU NJOVUFT of physical activity each week. Ongoing debates about childhood obesity have prompted this law into effect. iɨF TQJSJU PG UIF MBX JT ANPWFNFOU JT JNQPSUBOU w TBJE Curriculum Director Lowell Ernst. According to this law, physical activity is defined as “any movement, manipulation, or exertion of the body that can lead to improved levels of physical fitness and quality of life.â€? From a student’s standpoint, the biggest change is the DPOUSBDU 4UVEFOUT UBLJOH UXJDF B XFFL ZFBS SPVOE 1 & XJMM be required to fill out a contract explaining that they do additional physical activity throughout the week for a total PG NJOVUFT 4UVEFOUT XIP BSF UBLJOH 1 & GPS B TFNFTUFS will also be expected to fill out a contract explaining that they are involved in physical activity in the semester that UIFZ BSF OPU FOSPMMFE JO 1 & 4UVEFOUT BSF TUJMM SFRVJSFE UP UBLF 1 & FWFO JG UIFZ BSF JOWPMWFE JO FYUSBDVSSJDVMBS activities year round. Additional activities will include band, drill team, show choir or any sports. The contracts will be monitored by parents as well as the principal. “We already have so many requirements in school. When you get home, it’s your time to relax, and you shouldn’t have to worry about doing extra exercise,â€? said freshman Holly Reimer. !!/&8 -"8 1BHF

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The district spent $4 million on equipment and property upgrades, prominently affecting high students

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!"!#$!%&'() Math teacher Doug Cutler and his wife Lynn welcomed a son to their family Sept. 10. Garion Charles was born at 9:17 a.m. He weighed 7 lbs., 15.5 oz. and was 20.5 inches tall. Siblings include Hannah, Emily, Abigail, Rhea and Olivia.

An inside look on a life outside the high school, featuring World War II veteran Gary Gezel, former Pella Community School district student

While terms such as the Battle of the Bulge and the occupation of Nuremberg are just associations of a history textbook, to 89-year-old Gary Gezel, these words were once his reality. As a member of the 168th Combat team, Gezel fixed up a Packard for Ike, crossed the Rhine on a pontoon and dug trenches in Algiers. Before World War II, Gezel lived just seven miles out of Pella, where he went to work at a Dodge Plymouth dealership. On April 8, 1941, at the age of 21, Gezel received the ominous government letter informing him that he was being drafted. Within a few weeks, Gezel reported to Fort Des Moines but was shipped out half a day later to Camp Claiborne in Louisiana. “At the time I was a part of the 34th Division, in Claiborne we were thrown into basic training. Everyday-PT (physical training), reading maps, PT, learning how to live under combat conditions, PT. We were there for a few months, until Pearl Harbor. Within three days, we had gotten rid of all of our excess items and were sent to Fort Dix, NJ,� said Gezel. Four days later, Gezel found himself standing at the Port of New York, also known to the army as the Port of Embarcation. After 15 days on the Duchess of Athol, Gezel had crossed the Atlantic to a country he could

neither imagine or forget. “Ireland—so beautiful. We hardly saw the sun for the three months we were there, but what a place to be,� said Gezel. When Gezel left for Europe, he prepared himself for the effects of war, but he never expected to find love as well. “Well, I had volunteered for a leave to London. On the way back, I had found out my company had moved to Scotland. The train I was taking to bring me to the nearest port was packed tight. While sitting in the aisle, I lent my duffel bag as a seat to a pretty young thing in the air force. Who would have thought that she would end up to be my wife?� said Gezel. For the next four years Gezel traveled from Africa, where he worked primarily as a mechanic, to being battered by the Germans’ 88 guns in the last three weeks of the Battle of the Bulge. He traveled from Czechoslovakia to Nuremberg and finally Marseilles, France, where Gezel would finally have the chance to return to Pella as a veteran of WWII. “When we sailed out of Marseilles, what a moment! We reached the American soil, and finally, the war was over. No more bombs, no more guns; all I wanted to do was see my family and live my life, away from war,� said Gezel. t.FHBO $BSE NDQFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

District spends $4 million on equipment, property upgrades Last spring, as doors closed behind students full of summer ambitions, school administrators and maintenance staff began their three-month process of what could be coined as an ‘education reformation’. Indeed, alterations within the high school and about district grounds were evident to students as they returned. According to Superintendent Mark Wittmer, the district spent some $4 million on equipment and property upgrades, prominently affecting high school students. Whereas at least half of this investment was consumed by the construction of the renovated stadium, another mentionable chunk was expended on another functional improvement: the installation of upgraded media units in every classroom of every school. “This technology was installed in Madison Elementary when it was built; it was part of the plan. We purchased them for the high school (and other schools) to get the same kind of capability as we have over there,� said Technology Director Jeff Anderson, who was in charge of the selection and purchase of the equipment. Statistically speaking, the district installed 44 units, each consisting of a ceiling-mounted projector, an EPSON document camera for projecting printed material, a VCR/ DVD combo player and a storage cart. Of these, 28 sets were purchased for the high school alone. According to Anderson’s bookkeeping, the units cost the school roughly $2,350, including labor. The arithmetic

812 University 641-628-5285 www.central.edu

Sept. 22 became an important date for history teacher Dak Rasmussen and his wife Leigh when Margrethe Anne was born at 10:39 a.m. She weighed 7 lbs., 2 oz. and was 19.25 inches tall. Her siblings include Will and Nora.

NEW LAW FROM PAGE 1

Another aspect of the law includes nutrition and school lunches. According to the Healthy Kids Act, schools will be required to “adopt rules establishing content standards for foods and beverages sold or provided on the school grounds.� What deciding factors will attribute to what stays and what goes on the lunch menu? “It’s going to come down to percent of fat content,� said Ernst. Final decisions will be made next month concerning how this law will affect the 2010-2011 school year. t+PDFMZO 7BO %ZLF KWD QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

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places the total cost of the district-wide investment somewhere around $103,400. The school also upgraded it’s network and operating system from Apple’s 10.4 Tiger software to Apple’s 10.5 Leopard system.

“We purchased them (document projectors) for the high school ... to get the same kind of capability as we have over there (Madison).� Technology Director Jeff Anderson Renovations were also made to the many district buildings over the summer hiatus. Maintenance Director Chris Wimmer said that in the high school, computers were installed to enhance the “old, old� ventilation equipment. By operating automatically, these computers will effectively reduce the energy needed to run the ventilation system. Also completed was the fullscale remodeling of rooms 601,111 and 109. However, despite the enhancements made behind the scenes, students returned to school, only to find themselves

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still slightly discontented over some characteristics of the building. “Those leaks were still there,� said senior John Klein. “We’ve had those trash cans there forever, and whenever it rains hard it still leaks.� Klein references a roof leak which sometimes affects the platform in the stairwell nearest the lunchroom. Whereas the leak is not an impediment to learning, it is a reoccurring nuisance. Wimmer assured that the leak has been recognized, but said it will require much more than a patch to repair. “Finding that single leak would be like finding a needle in a haystack. We have almost 35,000 square feet of roof in this district. Twenty-five percent of them are in need of repair right now,� Wimmer said. “To make those repairs immediately would cost $300,000.� It is worthy to be noted that $300,000, a figure estimated to not only fix one leak, but to re-roof 25% of the district, isn’t that far off of the $103,400 spent solely on the luxury of the media units. With these statistics in mind, some consider the budgeting of this year’s renovations to be rather uncanny. “Education is important, and getting those projectors is pretty sweet, but honestly, I don’t think that some teachers necessarily need them,� said senior Lisa Vander Meiden. “Those leaks are disgusting.� t/BUIBO ,PPLFS OL QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

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With fall comes football season and that means the pregame ritual of tailgating. Full sized hot dogs and hamburgers can be an hassle and inconvenient. Instead, try these bite-sized puff pastry cheeseburgers. Thaw the frozen puff pastry for around 40 minutes and the meatballs until room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or line your baking sheet or muffin tin. Unfold the pastry sheets, press into a 9x9 inch square and cut into nine squares (about 3x3 inch). Place one meatball into

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the center of each square with cheese directly on top. Fold the puff pastry over the meatball and cheese and press to seal. The bundles can be placed on a baking sheet, but they will stay upright better if baked in a muffin tin. Place in the oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. They are best served with your favorite condiment, such as ketchup or mustard. The puff pastry cheeseburgers can be assembled up to one day in advance, then covered and refrigerated until they are ready to bake the day of the next big game. Enjoy!

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SENIORS RAYMOND MORALES, Pat Nunnikhoven, Tommy Van Haaften, and Jon Elsloo align one of the wood supports for the Habitat for Humanity house being constructed in the 100 block of Prairie Street. “I’m FYDJUFE UP HFU UIJT IPVTF EPOF BOE TIPX FWFSZPOF BU TDIPPM XIBU * EJE GPS IPNFXPSL w TBJE /VOOJLIPWFO t1IPUP by Jakub Martisovits

Construction Trades helps build Habitat for Humanity house While most students take courses within the confines of a classroom, the Construction Trades class goes off school property. The class takes two class periods instead of one due to its nature and is offered twice daily, for either periods 5-6 or periods 7-8. The curriculum is simply to assist building a house. To accomplish this goal, the class has partnered with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds houses for low-income families around the world. On a typical day, 13 seniors drive over to the building site, which is located just behind Concrete Closet in Pella. The class starts with a safety briefing, which reviews the previous day’s work and outlines the work ahead. Then the class begins construction on the house under the supervision of the industrial technology teacher Mark Goodrich. “I’ve always liked working with my hands and doing construction work. It’s just a bunch of fun,� said senior Clint Reeves. However, the involvement isn’t limited to just the Construction Trades class. Special needs students from the high school help out twice a week. While people work, it is not uncommon for passerby to stop and visit, either to satisfy their curiosity or to offer additional help. On Saturdays, volunteers from Habitat for Humanity give their time and effort to continue building on the house. Besides helping the community, the students acquire skills (using power tools, reading and understanding blueprints, communication) and real world experience. “It gets me out of school. It’s something I like doing, and it’s something that I can apply to my future,� said senior Jon Elsloo. “We’re in school, but we’re not in school, and I can work on my tan too,� smiled Goodrich. t+BLVC .BSUJTPWJUT KN QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

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The author of “And Then There Were None� adapted the book to better fit a stage performance.

Fall play combines murder, mystery for Halloween show ! This year’s fall play, but cannot get back to the

JUNIOR JARED BRIGGS and sophomore Tukker Bogaard perform this year’s Marching Dutch show, “States of Mind,� with their fellow trumpets at IBMGUJNF EVSJOH UIF IPNFDPNJOH HBNF PO 4FQU t1IPUP CZ .BEJTPO 7BOEFS 8FMM

Renovated facilities creates opportunities as ...

State marching band competition returns to Pella Oct. 17 Due to renovated facilities, state marching band contest will return to Pella Oct. 17 after a six-year absence. According to Superintendent Mark Wittmer, the reason for the six-year absence was because activities had to be limited on the field. The field had to be redone, which included reseeding, irrigation and tilling. Concerns existed over damage to the field when it was wet. One of the major reasons for this event to return to Pella was the renovations of the stadium. “It really helps us in eliminating travel expenses as well as making it easier for us to go to Ankeny in the same night. It is far more convenient as it allows the local community to see us perform on our own field. This will also help us generate funds for our band through admissions and concessions,� said Band Director Dick Redman. The Marching Dutch will seek its 34th consecutive I rating at this year’s contest. Approximately 15 to 17 bands

will perform their shows throughout the day. That evening the band will travel to Ankeny to compete at the Mid Iowa Band Championships. “This new field gives us a great opportunity as we did not have a great performance facility for the band in past years.� said Redman. t.JDIBFM (F (mg.pelladium@gmail.com)

“And Then There Were None� combines muder and mystery. It will be performed Oct. 30-31 in the high school auditorium. Director Suzi Jones said she chose the play because she liked the idea of a murder mystery. “I hope that the play will appeal to a wide audience, and many people enjoy Agatha Christie,� said Jones. The play centers around eight people invited to visit a mansion on Soldier Island. When they arrive, they are informed that their hosts are currently away. Eventually, they realize they’ve been tricked into visiting the island,

mainland. One by one, they are murdered, each trying to figure out who the murderer is throughout the play. “Agatha Christie wrote both the book and the stage play. She chose to end the stage play in a different way than the book, so if people (who’ve read the book) think they know the ending, they don’t,� said Jones. Senior Liz Core (Emily Brent) said she liked this play choice. “I think it’s a great choicebecause it’s eerie and a great alternative to “trick or treating,� said Core. t&SJD .PPSF (em.pelladium@gmail.com)

CAST: Vera-Nicole Stafford; Lombard-Ben Palmer; BloreJacob Martin; Rogers-Jake Anderson; Mrs.Rogers-&NJMZ (BUFT Wargrave-LukeVande Haar; Emily Brent-Liz Core; ArmstrongMegan Card; Marston-Chelsea Byers; Narracott-5PSJ (FOTDI McKenzie-"EBN (SPNPULB Director-Suzi Jones

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Junior Ben Palmer, TFOJPS &NJMZ (BUFT KVOJPST .FHBO $BSE BOE +BLF Anderson work hard during rehersal. “Play practice is really entertaining because we are all working on mastering our British accents,� said Card t1IPUP CZ ,FMMZ "OEFSTPO

Van Zomeren finds joy in one-of-a-kind hobby  Freshman

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Nadine Van Zomeren possesses a rare talent; she plays the harp.  Her passion for playing the harp started four years ago when she was introduced to the stringed instrument. “My director for Pella Children’s Choir played the harp, and I thought it was cool, so I started taking lessons,� said Van Zomeren. Prior to taking harp lessons, Van Zomeren found her musical interest in playing the piano, which

she has played for eight years. Her knowledge of piano came as an advantage when she started with the harp. “The harp is very similar to piano because they both have keys for every note, but the harp requires more skill,� said Van Zomeren. For now, playing the harp is just a hobby that Van Zomeren pursues during her free time. At home it is something her whole family can enjoy. “My sister (freshman

Avis Van Zomeren) and I play together. She plays the piano or string bass while I play the harp,� said Van Zomeren. Just like there are acoustic and electric guitars, different styles of harps exist, including concert, pop and rock. Van Zomeren plays the classic concert harp, but someday hopes to play either the rock or pop harp, which produce varying sounds. “The harp is unique and a lot of fun to play. If you

play in the middle of the strings it sounds like a harp, but when you play lower on the strings, it sounds more like a guitar,� said Van Zomeren. This interest will continue to be a part of Van Zomeren’s life as her musical talent and passion grows. “I keep learning more and more about it, and it’s amazing how much a harp can do,� said Van Zomeren. t.PSHBO "OEFSTPO (mapelladium@gmail.com)

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The new bleachers in the stadium added an estimated 900 seats to the home and visitor stands.

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New seating arrangement brings frustration to football specatators

JUNIOR SPENCER BOEYINK DODGES Chariton defenders as he returns the ball during the homecoming game Sept. 18. The Dutch won 40-7. “The homecoming game was a good way for us to bounce back from the MPTT UP $FOUFSWJMMF 8F QMBZFE BT B UFBN BOE JU SFBMMZ TIPXFE PVU PO UIF ĂŤFME w TBJE #PFZJOL t1IPUP CZ )BOOBI Vollmar

FCA sponsors Fifth Quarter

After the first home football game Sept. 5 FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) sponsored The Fifth Quarter. It took place on the new turf football field after the game against Oskaloosa and lasted until 11 p.m. The event offered a variety of games, it was all free, and it was held as an alternative to going to the school dance. “I thought it was a great idea, and we played a lot of fun games. I think Aaron Reasland makes things really fun and is a good leader for us,� said sophomore Brannon Johnson. “I was really glad there was something other than the dance to go to after the game, and I thought it was a bunch of fun,� said junior Jordan Bossard. Although The Fifth Quarter had a large turnout, FCA isn’t planning to have another event this year other than the regular Wednesday meetings. t,FMTFZ 7BO 5BTFMM LW QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

Name: Senior Heidi Schulte Background: 4th year, Varsity runner Personal Record: 16:44 as of 9/24/2009 Reaction: “It has been such a blessing to be a part of this team.We are truly learning to be ‘unbreakable,’ and united in our teamwork and interaction.� Varsity Finishes: Southeast Polk: Boys 2nd, Girls 4th Pella Invite: Boys 1st,, Girls 6th Grinnell: Boys 3rd, Girls 3rd Ballard: Boys 1st,, Girls 2nd DM Roosevelt: Boys 8th, Girls 11th Ranked in 3-A: Boys 2nd, Girls 7th

With a new football stadium and extra of a nuisance. seats for fans, one would think spectators “I really didn’t enjoy the younger kids would be content. Even with the extra seats running up and down the bleachers and state-of-the-art facilities, the stadium is screaming. Even at halftime, no one could receiving criticism. Not for the shiny new hear the band because the younger kids bleachers though, but for the people sitting were being obnoxious and immature. The in them. seniors even had to S e a t i n g yell and tell them to be “It just wasn’t safe. Instead arrangements, what quiet,� said junior Kelsi most students dread Rempe. of telling the kids to run in the classroom, The new bleacher system around... we felt the best has now made an consists of three new and safest soltion was to appearance in the sections on the student have specified seating in the stadium. As extra section side of the bleachers have been bleachers. High school stands.� added to each side students regained their of the stadium, spot in the bleachers, as Athletic Director the elementary students new young faces have also been Bill Van Horn sit to the back of the added, primarily high schoolers. Rules elementary and were sent out in the first middle school edition of the Jefferson students. Intermediate Newsletter, with one rule When reminiscing about elementary stating ‘Students using the concession stand years, most fail to remember the outcome or restrooms must return to the bleachers of football games. Rather, they probably as soon as possible.’ The elementary/middle get flashbacks of running around gleefully school students have the choice to sit with with their peers, with no care in the world their parents, or in the assigned seating area. as to who won the game. The underlying “I think it’s hard for my daughter to question is, why should the seating see the game, which is a negative, but the arrangements come into play now? positive is that the game is less disruptive. “Because we have new construction However, I don’t think the exact seating going on in the north side of the football arrangement they have now is the best,� field where all the kids congregated, there said Susan Wheeler, mother of sixth grader isn’t grass so we weren’t sure if it would be Mallory Wheeler. muddy, it just wasn’t safe. Instead of telling Since many believe the seating the kids to run around and have a free-for- arrangements are currently inefficient, the all, we felt the safest and best solution was question of changing the arrangements is to have specified seating in the stands,� said common. Athletic Director Bill Van Horn. “For right now, we will leave it as it is, After the first home game in the although in the future there might be some redesigned stadium, many students feel that changes with students in the bleachers,� this option, although safer, is much more said Van Horn. t.BEFMJOF .FZFS (mm.pelladium@gmail.com)

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Pathways leads to uni-sex environment for local pregnancy center Changes have been developing over the past six months for Pella’s local Pregnancy Care Center. Starting this past July, the center has officially renamed their offered programs as Pathways to Pella, with means to encourage a more balanced unisex environment within the center. “As soon as a guy sees the word pregnancy, he writes off the idea of ever coming here for help. Men are just as likely to receive STIs (sexually transmitted infections) as women are; STIs are not selective of the person they infect. By changing the name to Pathways, we are hoping to create a friendlier environment to men who may need counseling or testing,� said Pathways Director, Marilyn VanMersbergen.

While the center’s legal name still remains the Pregnancy Care Center of Pella, VanMersbergen believes that the reformed program’s name will influence more youth to feel a sense of security and a heightened comfortability in relation to the offered services. “Our goal is to demonstrate the love of Christ by offering spiritual, physical and emotional support to those within our community. We offer a a wide range of services, from free pregnancy and STI testing to providing options and counseling to those that are in that

kind of situation. All of this is free and confidential. The number one priority for our center and staff is to be there for the people that need the support and stability of a safe haven,� said VanMersbergen. To contact the Pregnancy Care Center of Pella, their services can be reached by phone {641-628-4827} or by email {pccpella@pccpella.org}. t.FHBO $BSE (mcpelladium@gmail.com)

Poll: Will changing the program’s name to Pathways create a friendlier environment towards both sexes?

JUNIOR JON JAARSMA CONTENDS with conjestion problems during the school day. With H1N1 scares in Iowa, students and staff having been trying to promote ways TO prevent the spread of the flu. Even with this extra encouragement since the beginning of the school year, the average number of students gone per day is 14. “I can’t stand being sick any more than I can stand being around people who are. All I want is for this whole H1N1 JOĂŹVFO[B UP CF PWFS w TBJE +BBSTNB t1IPUP CZ .FHBO $BSE

Students Absent Due to Illness

Quick Facts

Three Quick Tips:

*55 students surveyed

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Take time to get a flu vaccine. A vaccine for H1N1 is expected to become available in upcoming months. Take everyday preventive actions. Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and make sure to wash hands as often as possible. The CDC also emphasizes that while sick, people need to limit contact with others and reduce the risk of infecting them. Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them. If a person were to contract the seasonal or H1N1 flu an antiviral drug would treat them. Antiviral drugs work effectively because they fight against flu strains by keeping flu viruses from multiplying in your body. t+FTTJDB 4BMQPS (js.pelladium@gmail.com)

t.FHBO $BSE (mcpelladiumgmail.cm) t4IBVO 7BO 8FFMEFO

Spread of H1N1 influences need for local preparation Swine Flu. Novel Influenza A. H1N1. As many names as this particular strain of flu carries, it has also brought many more questions and concerns. During the summer it seemed this new strain of flu had taken a break, but with cases becoming more prevalent in recent weeks, caution has been raised. “I think everyone is just trying to be prepared. Right now has been calm. This strain is more powerful with the same symptoms, so people are just worried and trying to prevent,� said school nurse Brenda Versteeg. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), H1N1 is a contagious virus that is spread from person-to-person contact. The IDPH also stresses that a person cannot get H1N1 from eating pork or pork products. The symptoms of H1N1 are the same as symptoms from a regular seasonal flu. A few symptoms include: fever, cough, body aches, and tiredness. There is much concern about H1N1 because the virus is new, meaning no one has immunity. This causes fear because

H1N1 also holds the risk, as does regular seasonal flu, of severe illness and on occasions death. “Wash your hands more than you need to, and if you have a fever stay home. Don’t come back until your fever has broken for 24 hours. Just try and do the same actions as with any communicable disease,� said Versteeg. According to the CDC, 165 H1N1 cases have been confirmed in Iowa. Before schools went back into session the CDC outlined guidence for all public and private schools to help stop the spread of H1N1. The CDC reasoned that about 55 million students and 7 million staff attend the more than 130,000 public and private schools in the United States each day, and if actions were taken in schools one-fifth of the country’s population could be protected from flu. “We do have a plan in place in case of epidemic proportion, but I don’t see us needing to use it,� said Versteeg. t+FTTJDB 4BMQPS (js.pelladium.com)

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The district has implemented many changes affecting everyone differently. From renovated stadiums to remodeled classrooms, the school has taken new approaches for the current year. Moreover, changes that inarguably affect the majority of students and faculty are the changes in the lunchroom. From an aesthetic standpoint the lunchroom has not changed; however, the contents and procedures have changed. Many observers might have noticed one key change - new scanners in the check-out line. SENIORS KATLYN BOKHOVEN and MEGAN LANGENFELD “One of the reasons we got the experiment with the newly available sides at the salad bar. As of this year, scanners was to eliminate the need to the salad bar has added more vegetarian options, with items such as black punch in kids’ lunch card numbers. beans. “I enjoy the new variety. Salad bar was already such a great alternative I got carpal tunnel from having to all of the cheesy, greasy stuff you get in hot lunch and ala carte. I think it to enter so many numbers! The is great that the school is promoting a healthier environment with actions, scanners are also hooked up through JOTUFBE PG KVTU UFMMJOH VT XIBU XF TIPVME FBU w TBJE #PLIPWFO t1IPUP CZ a server to the computers at Jefferson Megan Card which makes work a lot easier,â€? said food service worker Teresa Houser. In order to improve the lunchroom from a nutritional standpoint, other changes were necessary. As many have noticed, 2% milk has been eliminated from the cafeteria. “Last year during lunch, I would always drink 2%, because that is the only kind of milk I like. Now I have to buy a water withe every lunch I purchase, which can get expensive over a year. Additionally, more vegetarian options, such as black beans, are now on the salad bar line. This will also be the last year candy bars are offered. Plans are to add healthier JUNIOR LUKE VANDE HAAR CONTEMPLATES the end of the ‘sweets’, such as additional fruit types candy bar. As of next year, no kind of candy bar will be offered. “I really once candy bars are phased-out. don’t mind too much, I never got them during lunch anyway. I don’t “Change is good, and we’re think it will make any difference next year to the the students,â€? said trying to accommodate to what the 7BOEF )BBS t1IPUP CZ .FHBO $BSE students want and ask for while still being healthy,â€? said Houser. t$BSPMJOF 1IJMMJQT (cp.pelladium@gmail.com)

1% “I think any variety is a good thing. 1% gives us all a healthy alternative, and I support the school’s deision to purchase it.� - Junior Katie

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7

Respond Student and Faculty Respond to Health Care reform

Freshman Response

“I think the whole reform is a good idea. It won’t take away from the private insurance companies. I am supportive of a universal health care plan for those that can’t afford it.The negative effect would be higher taxes for the rich, and I don’t think that should be too much of a problem.� - Mitch Shepperd

Sophomore Response

“Great system for people below the poverty line. I see no reason to complain about any of it, plus Obama is da man.� - Brody Van Berkum

Junior Response “I believe that reform is a good theory on paper, but I don’t see any way that we could make it work fairly for everyone. I think wealthier families will be penalized for mistakes made by people below the poverty line.� - Jacob Martin Senior Response

“I don’t really understand what is going on. From the article, it all seems like a good idea, to give the poor health care, too. I think that there are so many opinions, like on the news and online about it, that I don’t know what to believe anymore.� - Ashly Robertson

Faculty Response

“What comes to mind, as a teacher, are the kids that could suffer from not having the appropriate medical care because nothing in our society has changed. I think it is sad that we allow people to get sick and die from a disease that could be cured. Being such a dominant force in the world, I think America’s number one priority should be the well-being of its people.� - math teacher Dennis Linn t.FHBO $BSE NDQFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

Obama administration proposes universal health care reform A pivotal point of the Obama administration is the inclusion of universal health care for all United States citizens. Multiple plans have come from both the White House and Congress, both offering a different path and varying degree of change to the current health care system. The Obama health care plan has three main points: providing health care for all citizens, technologically modernizing the health care industry and promoting illness prevention. Under the plan health insurance would be mandated for all citizens, even if they cannot afford the plan. The plan would would also ban insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, imposing limits on the amount of lifetime coverage and dropping people when they get sick. The main concerns about the Obama plan is that the government would offer either a public option plan or pay for a substantial amount of citizens’ private insurance plans. Republicans and conservative Democrats have argued that this will bankrupt the national government.

However, it has been argued that due to widespread coverage and the accessibility to the plan that overall costs for both private and public health care would go down due to large numbers of consumers. Health care costs could also potentially go down due to citizens being more willing to get minor health problems checked because they are insured. This would ensure that minor problems do not become major ones that patients can’t pay, which would then be forced on the state. Similar bills have been proposed by Congress. The main difference between the Obama administration’s plan and the congressional bills is the dropping of a federal plan and added penalties against citizens who don’t sign up for health insurance. Both Republicans and Democrats have a need for health care reform but neither side has came to an agreement; however, talks to pass a bill have almost come to a conclusion. Experts on the Hill project that a bill will most likely be passed in the next two to three months. t"OESFX 4BHFST (sagers.pelladium@gmail.com)

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60% of Americans believe the new health care plan needs a “complete overhaul�

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Yes

Do you like the new plan for universal health care?

“If everyone is getting more health care, more people will have better health overall and not as many problems.� - Junior Cody Lutgen “ I think it will make peoples’ lives easier because it’s more convenient than what we have now.� - Sophomore Caitie Hones !"# $%&'(# &$# )%*+,-# # ./# 010&,0.,/# $*# /1/23*'/# .+$# 3*+# 4%**)/# &5# 3*+# 60'$# &$78# Junior Beau Vander Sluis !"#$%&'((#)&*)+,-)../0$1+23+/$.,%(+4

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No “People would abuse the system because the don’t have to pay for it. People don’t have the responsibility for it.� -Sophomore Daniel Tiskevics “It’s going to raise taxes and lower quality.� - Freshman Megan Esloo “Obama needs to limi who he’s trying to provide for because he’s going to put us further into debt.� - Junior Ryan Van Norden

Two million dollars worth of cold steel and rubber now stands upon the foundations of the old stadium. Anyone can see just by looking at the renovations that obvious change has happened. The new stands, track, turf and concessions are all much needed updates to the old stadium, which had issues with seating and upkeep. While the money allocated to the renovations is worthwhile, the staff of the Pelladium has noticed other areas in the school that need financial attention. Two million dollars is not an easy amount of money to spend, especially on one area of the school that not every student will be utilizing. We as a staff feel that even though the money was well placed in this instance, funds that the school receives  should be put to use in basic areas that both need them and can benefit a broad spectrum of students. One such place that members of the staff have noticed problems in the school is the roofs. While it may seem like such a small problem the roofs have leaked for years. While problems like this may seem small the staff feels that if left alone these small problems can become larger ones, costing the administration more money if left alone. All people within the school could also benefit from an improvement to the air conditioning systems. The hot days of the beginning and end of summer affect students and faculty for weeks at the beginning and end of the school year. The improved comfort would lead to a better learning environment and a better working environment for those within the school. While prominent areas like the stadium need large amounts of money the smaller, less known areas of the school deserve attention as well. The Pelladium staff ecourages the school administration to be vigilant when looking at projects that can benefit the entire school.

“I believe the government should stay out of it from a federal level. I think there’s good programs such as Hawkeye that could be expanded.� - FCS Teacher Anna Arkema “Absolutely not. We’re a captialistic society. You take care of yourself.� - Physical Education teacher Margene VanHorn t+PDFMZO 7BO %ZLF

Health Care Reform: Agree/Disagree? (40 students surveyed)

75 % - No ##

15% - Yes #####!!!!!!!!!!10%

- Unsure

Pelladium Staff 2009-2010 Executive Editors: Andrea Huffman, Caroline Phillips, Andrew Sagers Page Editors/Reporters: Morgan Anderson, Megan Card, Liz Core, Michael Ge, Andrea Huffman, Nathan Kooker, Eric Moore, Caroline Phillips, Andrew Sagers, Addie Smith, Kelsey Van Tassel, Ranier Worstell Photographers: Ben Muller Cartoonists: Michael Ge, Eric Moore Reporters: Heidi Gritters, Jakub Martisovits, Madeline Meyer, Ben Muller, Jessica Salpor, Jocelyn Van Dyke, Shaun Van Weelden, Alexis Zwank. 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 QSPWJEF BO PQFO GPSVN UP TUVEFOUT BOE SFBEFST t-FUUFST UP UIF &EJUPST BSF XFMDPNF BOE FODPVSBHFE ɨFTF MFUUFST NVTU CF TJHOFE BOE TIPVME JO OP XBZ CF MJCFMPVT JSSFTQPOTJCMF 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 MJNJUBUJPOT -FUUFST NBZ CF CSPVHIU UP 3PPN PS TFOU UP 1FMMB $PNNVOJUZ )JHI 4DIPPM #PY 1FMMB *" tɨF 1FMMBEJVN XJMM TUSJWF UP EFMJWFS JOGPSNBUJPO JO B GBJS BOE USVUIGVM NBOOFS ɨF 1FMMBEJVN XJMM GVODUJPO JO BDDPSE XJUI BMM BQQMJDBCMF MBXT CPUI JO SFHBSE UP UIF SJHIUT BOE SFTUSJDUJPOT PG KPVSOBMJTN tɨF WJFXT FYQSFTTFE JO 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 JTTVF DPOUBJOJOH UIF FSSPST tɨF 1FMMBEJVN JT B NFNCFS PG UIF *PXB )JHI 4DIPPM 1SFTT "TTPDJBUJPO

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Number of viewers during any moment of Obama’s education speech: 184,000

Liz Core (lcpelladium@gmail.com)

Like a Parachute Some of the best advice I have ever received was given to me by a stranger. He was an older guy with graying facial hair, faded baseball cap and clothes that he probably wore the night before. As like any encounter between middle-aged adult and any student above the age of 14, the infamous question was asked of me, “So, you know where you’re going to school yet?” And there it is: the question of all questions, the golden ticket of ice breakers … the college question. Of course, being accustomed to hearing that calm interrogation daily (yet nevertheless, completely ill-prepared), I opened my mouth to blurt out my usual response, “Not yet, but I’m narrowing down my options, you know, taking a look at the pros and cons of some places around the Midwest, weighing my options … you know … ahem” when something about this particular situation struck me as a great opportunity. I have no idea who this guy is, I probably will never see him again in my life. Why not give him the ugly truth? So I did. “I have absolutely no idea. In fact, I’ve changed my mind over a dozen times within the hour. I’m thinking about just not going.” I know, I know. Crazy, right? But the desperation of the moment gave a little added bravado to my answer. In all actuality, those words were a bit doctored up for the sake of my point. My selective memory makes me into much more of a savvy conversationalist than I am. But truly, I don’t know where I’m going to college, and I really don’t know if formal education is the right way to turn. In that moment, in that conversation with that stranger, I was

completely honest. The words he said back to me will probably guide me through the next year or so free of any personal anxiety about my future. “Don’t go then,” said the graying facial hair guy. “You’re young, and you have time to learn. I went to college when I wasn’t ready yet, and I don’t remember a darn thing about those classes. If you go to college when you’re not ready, all it is is four years of stress, confusion and debt.” Since then, taking some time off after high school doesn’t strike me as such a frightening alternative. I always thought that college was just what happened after graduation. I’d have some fun for four years, get married, get a job, have children, do life the normal way. Up until recently I didn’t realize that there is actually life outside of the mainstream. If you don’t go to college, you aren’t going to automatically drop out of society, work in the food service industry for life and live in your parents’ basement. You can live without those four years under your belt, and you can learn without a degree. What you need is a justifiable cause to live for and a motivation that draws you to a goal to make your life worth it. You need to make a name for yourself that people will see outside of the realm of credit card numbers and bank statements. College isn’t for everybody. But then again, it is for a lot of people. I want to learn and be educated, to experience the life of dorms and outdoor classes. What I don’t want to do is go just because I feel like I have to. I want to go because I feel like I need to in order to accomplish the vision for my life. So, uh, know what your plans after high school are?

"#$%$&% ! Nathan Kooker (nk.pelladium@gmail.com)

Reading is Dangerous Camaraderie. It’s one of those few characteristics scientists use to discern even the hairiest of humans from the orangutans. While monkeys tend to mate more than they mingle, our social lives are exhausted trying to seem important to others. We want to be valued by every single person we come across. We want to win friends. The thing about this human phenomenon that captivates me is the sheer simplicity of it. It’s almost random who we connect with; we just respect and appreciate those who respect and appreciate us. Meeting someone can be as effortless as turning on our ears and taking interest in who they are and what they do. We don’t do it though. Isn’t that crazy? Based on my own social ways and some observations of others, I can deduce that we long to gain friends, but we really don’t care to be them. Unfortunately, it’s apparent that trend has returned to our student community as we begin another year. One of my peers was sitting next to me in class, reading her yearbook, when I told her to flip to my picture. She searched and searched, but had to accept defeat, unable to produce my last name. I feigned a state insult and scrutinized her playfully, turning to the girl on my other side, in whom I had faith. Contestant Two also struggled. Feeling depressingly unpopular, I let the situation go, but it was awkward and one that lingered. On top of it all, though I was unwilling to say it, I, myself, had honestly not known either of their names until last year. Here’s my sermon. This school is far too small for us to remain unacquainted with any given individual. Because we desire people to value us, it is only our duty to

value them. We need to create this ‘network’ of apathy, if you know what I’m saying. We can’t graduate from this place with an entire year’s worth of West-Civ. wisdom and only a vague idea of the name of the person sitting next to us. Leasing out some property on our Facebook profiles isn’t going to cut it anymore. That little blue number doesn’t represent relationships. Envision those foreign faces we see in the halls. Think of those unfamiliar names we hear on the intercom between every period. And this new freshman class, that’s a frontier of its own. They all have something interesting about them, and they all are ready to be in your fan club, if you’re ready to be in theirs. Think you can sneak your way through the next couple of years unnoticed? Don’t try. Someday long from now, those of us who are living and haven’t retreated into social isolation will return to this place, shake each other’s hands, and gawk over someone’s Ph.D’s and plastic surgery. Knowing who these people are is imperative to our participation in this prattle. I’m Nathan, and I am probably twice as much of a social duck as any of you are. I suppose I conjured up this little lecture out of the renovations needed to be done on my own disposition. So, let’s do it together. Look up over the brim of this paper and scout out some lucky being who you have yet to fraternize. Crack those knuckles, straighten out your pants and push aside all of those premeditated judgments you’ve been holding to your target. This planet has been coined as “a small world,” but let’s make it a little bit smaller.

Obama’s student address and its controversy Reaction: Action ! A back-to-school speech was given by President Barack Obama on Sept. 8. This marked the beginning of the first day of school for many students. Consequently, Obama’s address was directed towards the students of America, attempting to inspire them to take responsibility of their education and succeed no matter their circumstances. However, this speech was received poorly throughout much of the nation, particularly by parents and school administrators. Instances of parents pulling their children out of school to avoid exposure to the speech were reported. Also, many school administrators banned their school districts from showing the speech live in classes. Superintendent Mark Wittmer, in an e-mail sent to district teachers, “suggested” that the brodcast not be shown live. However, he did not discourage its use in “regular curriculum.”

“I think it’s stupid because we have the right to know what President Obama is talking about, especially when it pertains to us.” Freshman Jake Weseman

“It is stupid to have it banned because he’s the president of the United States, and it should be allowed in schools simply because he’s the president.” Sophomore Hanna Martin

“He’s the president, and he can say what he wants. Students should be able to hear what he has to say and it should be allowed to be shown in schools, especially when it is directed towards them.” Junior Chris Bandstra

“The speech was directed towards school children, so I don’t believe the school administrators should decide whether or not to show it. I think that it’s a parental decision whether their children should see it or not.” Senior Olivia Schouten

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ROCKING OUT ON THE AIR GUITAR, graduates of ‘09 Eric Greving and Tom Butler with senior Ranier Worstell form the local band, A Rainy Day for Jupiter. Although each of the band members live in different towns, they send each other either music or lyric over e-mail. Then, they are able to combine the two into a song the next time they meet. The band recently released their debut album, Posters to People. Worstell describes their TPVOE BT CFJOH iBDPVTUJD XJUI B UPVDI PG QSPHSFTTJWF w t1IPUP CZ /BEZB ,IBQPDILJOB

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a Britney Spears concert ticket was handed to me for free, I took it. Before attending this concert, I wouldn’t have considered myself a Britney fan. But now, days later, I still can’t get over $0"1+Britney Spears how awesome “The Circusâ€? was. The show was full of acrobats, aerialists, $0&*1+The Circus professional dancers, hula-hoopers, $0%.1+September 11, 2009 rings of fire, magic tricks, and, of course, a clown. $0%'%1+Wells Fargo Arena The concert started with a few circus acts that captivated the audience. Britney was then lowered from the ceiling surrounded by aerialists. For two hours she danced around the stage, but the performance never slowed, and the audience was entertained the whole time. The show was filled with props and circus acts that kept it moving. At one point, a magician made Britney disappear, only to return a few moments later on the other side of the stage wearing a completely different costume. Throughout the show, Britney changed at least nine times. Many of these costumes changes were quick, taking a mere 15 seconds. Her costumes were extravagant, with over 10,000 hand-placed authentic Swarovski crystals. She wore leotards, skin-tight leggings and a few tutus. Part of the set included an enormous 360° LED video screen that provided close-ups of the stage and showed videos that enhanced the show. To give you some idea of how insane this performance was, there were 35 semi-trucks used to transport the 300,000 pounds in stage and tour material. 225 crew members on tour with her. Britney is accompanied by 44 other performers on stage; each one had to undergo 500 hours of rehearsal in order to perform, according to from www.britneyspears.com. My only problem with the show was that Britney was lip-syncing most of the time. However, under the circumstances, there was no way she could have actually sung and put on a show like that at the same time. She did make a shout out to Iowa and sang the song “Everytimeâ€? with her actual voice.  Britney ended her show with some of her oldies. After performing “Toxic,â€? she sang it, the song that made the whole show, the song that made her famous, “Baby One More Time.â€? When the song started, I jumped to my feet and starting singing along with much enthusiasm. This was it the moment I had been waiting for. That night, I walked out of the Wells Fargo Arena with a newfound admiration for Britney Spears. t.PSHBO "OEFSTPO NBQFMMBJVN!HNBJM DPN

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!!!Bitingly honest lyrics accompany peaceful

guitar melodies on the debut album “Posters to Peopleâ€? by local band, A Rainy Day for Jupiter. The band, composed of senior Ranier Worstell and ‘09 graduates Eric $0"1 Ranier Worstell, Greving and Tom Butler, features an array of songs composed strictly of guitars. Eric Greving, Tom Butler The CD as a whole is a great debut album $0&*1+ A local band with an alluring, unplugged sound. Though ("21+ Buy their debut Butler is the only singer, he does an impressive on vocals by using a wide array of singing CD, “Posters to Peopleâ€? for job techniques. Overall, the vocals tend to be $10 melodically haunting and beautifully eerie. The lyrics of the songs are catchy, deep and meaningful. With words like, “I’ll be your Dante and travel through this hell, I’ll give up everything to save you from yourself,â€? it’s hard not to find yourself singing along and secretly wishing they were written about you. The melodies are peaceful and tranquil. However, the recording of the instrumentals is sometimes lacking, with the singer’s voice barely audible over the acoustic guitars. Though the lyrics of the songs don’t disappoint, the variety of them may. The majority of the songs tend to waver on the side of melancholy ballads. So, if you’re looking for a pick-me-up, you may not want to pick up this CD because the introspective and despondent words may make you sadder than you were before. Overall, “Posters to Peopleâ€? is an eloquent debut album. It has a lot to offer: enticing lyrics, serene instrumentals and an overall uniquely raw sound. If you’re looking for something peaceful to listen to while studying, just relaxing or even sleeping, give A Rainy Day for Jupiter a try. t"OESFB )VĂŞNBO BI QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN)

Toms Shoes are recognized worldwide for supporting children in Third World countries with a free pair of shoes for every pair that is sold. An American traveler by the name of Blake Mycoskie was visiting Argentina when he noticed many of the $0&*1+Toms Shoes had nothing to cover their feet. $0%'%1+tomsshoes.com children Wanting to help, Blake started Toms Shoes $031+ If you buy shoes and later that year had 10,000 shoes to from Tom, he’ll send a pair deliver in his next visit. Modeled after a popular style of foot wear in Argentina, the to someone in need. trend has recently taken off in both America and Europe. The shoes are very sleek and stylish, made of mostly cloth with a rubber and leather sole. You can choose from many colors and types of fabric that range all the way from burlap to cloth with quotes written on them. I got my pair of Toms for Christmas last year and have been very content with them so far. I find that they work very well with just about any outfit, and the great things about wearing them for summer is how cool they keep your feet, and the ability you have to slip them on and off to go barefoot. My favorite part about my Toms is how comfortable and snug they fit on my feet. While most might think they have a lack of support, I have found no problem with walking and standing in them for long days at the state fair and out and about with friends. On the contrary, they might lack warmth needed for the upcoming winter months, and the shoes are anything but waterproof. This and the $40-50 price tag might mean Toms Shoes are not for you. In my opinion, the price is well worth the cause. Over 140,000 shoes have been delivered from the start of Toms Shoes and they plan on another 300,000 within 2009. Although I wouldn’t suggest wearing Toms in rain or snow, they are my footwear of choice nearly every day. It is the well-designed style, fit, and vision that leads me to give. t#FO .VMMFS CN QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

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Dating Gurus and The Bromance Chronicles are new to the Pelladium!

"#$%&'()*+ !!

The Bromance Chronicles Just recently, we, the Bros, have decided to reveal our secret existence to the world. Every month, we will bring a few lucky persons into our world, where they will embark on an adventure unlike anything they will have ever seen. This month, we chose freshman Sam Palmer, along with our good bud senior Andrew Sagers. As the four of us met, for our adventure, suddenly appeared Bear Grylls from the forest, babbling in Gaelic. He told of a fantastic treasure hidden deep within the tangled wild of the forests around Lake Red Rock. As we embarked on our journey for treasure, we crossed an ominous bridge. Upon the bridge were three sullen travelers headed in the opposite direction, those who have fallen before us. The sight made us even more determined, and we vowed not to turn back on our quest. Venturing further and further into the unknown, we came across a crude, decrepit shack built upon an ancient Native American burial ground. There, we conversed with the wise spirits of the dead, including Sitting Bull, Geronimo, and Abe Lincoln. Using the knowledge that they had gleaned from their time in the afterlife, the great

pantheon of tribal leaders imparted upon us the wisdom of UIF BODJFOUT JO UIF GPSN PG BOJNBM TQJSJU HVJEFT 4BHFST XBT a bunny rabbit). Armed with nothing but our spirit guides and our trusty walking sticks, we plunged further into the abyss. Unfortunately, Ranier lost his walking stick playing fetch with his Husky animal spirit, and we found out Ben’s animal spirit was half blind and walked into several trees. Due to the ineptitude of our spirit guides, it was left to Sam Palmer to be the man of the hour. Taking his place as trailblazer against the darkening night, young Palmer proved to be exceptionally strong in both body and spirit, not only guiding us through the nigh-impenetrable but also carrying an incapacitated Ben through a portion of the night. Before we had realized, night had descended upon our motley-looking group. We suddenly remembered a solemn warning given to us by dead spirits we had encountered previously: if we failed to make it back across the bridge before nightfall, our spirits would forever be trapped in the forest, doomed to wander its hallowed paths for eternity.

So, we sprinted as fast as our legs could carry us, even abandoning our sticks as we struggled to make our way back to the bridge before it was too late. With no time to spare, we crossed the bridge and returned to the world of humans. While we hadn’t found the treasure we’d been promised, the four of us exchanged glances and found we had discovered the greatest gift of all: bromance. And so, forever changed, we made our way to civilization. Exhausted by our endeavors, we gazed with disgust at the gluttonies of modern society, their dependence upon machines instead of man’s own ingenuity, and we vowed to never succumb to the decadence of technology. Unfortunately, after about a week-and-a-half, the four of us found ourselves living, once more, in the lethargic haze of modern life. Perhaps another venture into the unknown is called for. Nah, who are we kidding? Nature is overrated. t3BOJFS 8PSTUFMM SX QFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

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"!"#$%"&! Make a Comeback

Some of you loyal readers may remember that the coveted “How To� columnists formally wrote their last column in May 2009. After weeks of the Pelladium staff begging them to return to their former positions, they decided to put on their thinking caps and make a comeback. So, if any of you readers out there feel like you have passed your prime and need to pull a Britney Spears, all you need to do is listen to our advice. t DO SOME REFLECTING on your past. You’ll never realize how awesome you can become until you realize how dumb you’ve been in the past. Once you’ve taken note of all of your embarrassing mistakes and failings, do the complete opposite. t FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE of Mary Kate and Ashley. Re-enact the comeback scene that appears in every one of their movies, and go shopping. Dance around in crazy outfits to some pop-rock music with your best friends and before you know it, you’ll be fabulous. t MAKE SURE TO ANNOUNCE your self-revival to all of your friends, family and peers. Making this statement will give you the vote of self confidence you need and the motivation to carry out your task. Be sure that when you announce yourself, that your words are chosen carefully. For example, you could say “I’m bringing sexy back� or something else that would get people excited for your epic return. t MAKE FRIENDS with people who are obviously less cooler than you are in order to make yourself look like the leader of the pack. It also helps if these people look alike, and if you refer to them as your “people.� t-J[ $PSF MDQFMMBEJVN!HNBJM DPN

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Dear Dating Gurus, There’s this cute girl in my Spanish class. We share occasional laughs, but they’re always at my expense. What can I do to get her attention? I just want her to like me! --Muy Triste en Espaùol Dear Triste, If you want to make a good impression on your back-to-school beau, try these timeless flirting tips to ensure your irresistibility: 1) Flex those pecs. There’s nothing we girls love more than a beast! 2) Your scent is just as crucial as your physique. Don’t be afraid to break out the Old Spice, but overdoing is to be avoided at all costs. 3) Do your research. Facebook is an excellent resource, so get to know your gal. She love love loves 3OH!3? Well, now, so do you. She’s a fan of fresh baked cookies? You’re a master chef. Once she sees how charming and devoted you are, she’ll be yours in no time. Best of luck! --The Dating Gurus

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!"#$%&%' Homecoming spirit erupts 67"6786

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The senior class took first place for Homecoming, winning the spirit shoe and jug.

Dress-up days, the coronation of royalty, class competitions, a football victory over Chariton, the Homecoming dance and more. Students joined together and “Grounded the Chargers,� Sept. 14-18.

≈SENIOR JORDAN YOUNGMAN dances to the new spirit cheer “chigga-chigga� with the Jefferson Intermediate students. “I thought it was cool to see all the little kids pumped up about the game. I don’t think people realize how much fan support is to the team, so it was nice to be able to spend time with them. Doing the same thing at five different TDIPPMT UIPVHI HPU SFBMMZ PME BGUFS BXIJMF w TBJE :PVOHNBO t1IPUP CZ Madison Vander Well

≈NEWLY-CROWNED Homecoming Queen Chelsea Byers and King Jared Gerber give the annual homecoming address after being crowned Sept. 14. To become Homecoming King and Queen, sophomores, juniors and seniors voted on the senior class to narrrow the field to six candidates. After that, the entire student body voted to choose the royalty. “Being Homecoming king was awesome and a blast. It was so sweet! When I found out, I felt very proud and privileged because it’s a big honor to be chosen by the student body. I also had a lot of fun going to all the different schools for the pep SBMMJFT w TBJE (FSCFS t1IPUP CZ .PMMZ /FJM

All Dressed Up

Students and staff participated in dress up days during Homecoming Week. Four winners appear below.

≈SOPHOMORE PAYNE PLEIMA focuses as he putts through the mini-golf course on class competition day. “Since we only had four people compared to five, it was difficult to win. We lost but TUJMM IBE B HPPE UJNF w TBJE 1MFJNB t1IPUP CZ .BEJTPO 7BOEFS 8FMM

!Senior Todd Wegter ‘70s, ‘80s Day !Senior Chase Kooyman When in Rome Day

!Junior Nathan Kooker Cinema Magic Day

!Sophomore Kim Korver Cinema Magic Day

≈SENIORS AMANDA DUNKIN AND NATHAN BUCHHEIT watch the pep rally at Jefferson Intermediate School with his younger sister, fifth grader Ciara. As captains of the cross country team, Dunkin and Buchheit joined the pep rally tour, which included the senior leaders of the football team, cheerleaders and mascot, drill teamBroadway and captains of the 722 cross country, volleyball and debate teams. “I enjoyed getting to see all the Pella, IAyounger 50210 little kids because I remember when they came when I was and it XBT B CMBTU w TBJE #VDIIFJU t1IPUP CZ .BEJTPO 7BOEFS 8FMM 641-628-4827

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