The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The state of Iowa threatens the rights of transgender individuals.

Gender reaffirming ban legislation threatens LGBTQ+ rights

Sumika Thapa, Feature Editor May 24, 2023

In the past year, the rights of the LGBTQ+ community have faced numerous attacks from GOP politicians, with the passing of the "Don't say gay" law. These laws and numerous accounts of discrimination force...

Karl Lagerfeld was unworthy of the ode given to him at this years MET Gala.

A Tendentious Theme: Karl Lagerfeld and the Met Gala

Sumika Thapa , Feature Editor May 22, 2023

The Met Gala stands as the single event synonymous with stature and prestige far removed from the realities of the common man. The luxurious ambiance of the occasion created by Ana Wintour’s handpicked...

Senior Leila Assadi is an involved member of the PV community.

Committed to Excellence: Senior Leila Assadi leaves her mark

Sumika Thapa, Feature Editor May 22, 2023

“Committed to excellence” is the motto all Pleasant Valley High School students strive to live by. Senior Leila Assadi has taken this one step further by embodying the motto. As President of the Positive...

Drake Hanson created his photography account, 23media, that has become very well known at Pleasant Valley High School for his photography at school events.

23media feature

Brooklyn Gowan, PV Only Editor May 21, 2023

The social media account 23media_ has become a well known name among the halls of Pleasant Valley High School. Because of his impressive photography skills at sporting and other school events, senior Drake...

The inaugural Spartan Spotlighters production came to a close on April 30 to much acclaim. They performed “The Wizard of Oz”, and featured disabled students between seventh and 12th grades.

Spartan Spotlighters take audiences ‘Over the Rainbow’ with remarkable performance

Jae Jepsen , Copy Editor May 17, 2023

On April 29, the Spartan Spotlighters took the final bow of their inaugural show, and did it to a standing ovation. The house was packed with actors’ loved ones and other visitors alike, and the sense...

Farming has been part of senior Cale Claussens life for as long as he can remember. Earning his FFA degree was a meaningful accomplishment for his entire family.
Photo credit to Mark Mess.

Dedicated senior shapes his future in agriculture through FFA degree

Kushi Maridu, Co-Editor-in-Chief May 8, 2023

High school is a time of exploration, preparing many students for the future educational journey and for the rest of their life. For one dedicated PV senior, Cale Claussen, his four years in high school...

Pleasant Valley Junior High teachers and students participated in a basketball game to raise money for Zach and his family. They sold Zach’s Army shirts as part of the fundraiser.

Zach’s Army: The abundance of support shown from the community

Brooklyn Gowan, PV only editor May 2, 2023

Zach Maxwell, a current student at Pleasant Valley Junior High, has faced life-altering battles after being diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer this year. Earlier this year, Zach had  his arm amputated...

On March 21, many schools across Iowa received threats through phone calls which resulted in many of the districts going on lockdown.

Swatting calls: False threats to Iowa schools

Brooklyn Gonwan , PV Only Editor May 2, 2023

On March 21, 2023, around 30 schools across Iowa received “swatting calls.” These schools received a call between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m, sending the schools into lockdowns.  A “swatting call”...

North Scott Director of Curriculum and Instruction Bernadette Burstkern will be taking over Mike Zimmer’s job as Director of Secondary Education in the fall.

Brustkern to take over as PV Director of Secondary Education

Jae Jepsen, Copy Editor May 2, 2023

Students don’t often recognize the hard work of administrators. While teachers are familiar and accessible, admins tend to take a backseat role in the running of the district. But as Director of Secondary...

A tribute to a fallen dance legend

A tribute to a fallen dance legend

Sarah Abdullah, Social Media May 2, 2023

Generally known as the long-time judge on “Dancing With the Stars” and “Strictly Come Dancing”, Len Goodman embodied the essence of what an educated, sophisticated and dedicated dancer aspires...

The Pleasant Valley Sparkles, one of their very special programs, giving the opportunity to cheer under the Friday night lights.

Inclusivity and innovation to reach excellence in the Pleasant Valley community

Grace Sherman, Student Life Editor May 1, 2023

The PV school district takes pride in its motto, "Not for students, but for all students." To promote equal opportunity, the PV district strives to offer many different opportunities for each student —...

Though commonly recognized today as beautiful handwriting, calligraphy has a rich and significant cultural history.

Calligraphy: The origins of beautiful handwriting

Leila Assadi, Lead editor April 24, 2023

Calligraphy is a visual art form of writing known for its intricate designs and letter execution. Though it was recently taken over by TikTok as merely an aesthetic way to take notes and organize weekly...

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