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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

Prom Queen Grace Boleyn and Prom King Divij Riat posed for a picture at the dance, after celebrating to Miley Cyrus's "Party in the U.S.A.", as requested by Riat.

The Golden Gala: Where popular vote turned personal, creating special opportunities for PV’s Prom Royalty

Estelle Treiber, News Editor May 20, 2025

As the school year ends, students enjoy their spring activities, warm weather and most recently, the Prom dance. A special event for most, the Prom was made unforgettable when Pleasant Valley’s 2025...

The importance and benefits of gardening are often overlooked. From mental health, exercise, and more, gardening can benefit people.

Gardening creates a plethora of benefits for people beyond the natural beauty

Ava Sauser, Student Life Editor May 20, 2025

Gardening is oftentimes related with making environments and yards look visually appealing. However, gardening has a plethora of benefits beyond what the eye can see.  The physical action of gardening...

Forever 21 files for bankruptcy due to a rapidly growing and changing market ruled by bigger fast fashion brands such as Shein and Temu.

Forever 21 was too slow for fast fashion

Amelia Noguera, Copy Editor May 20, 2025

Known as a  symbol of fast trendy fashion, Forever 21 is closing its doors due to the rapidly changing retail market. Its fall is not a signal of the end of fashion, on the contrary, it shows how online...

Audience members' view of the annual District Band Night at Vibrant Arena.
Photo Credit to Drew Anderson.

Celebrating a legacy of music: PV hosts annual District Band Night

Amelia Noguera, Copy Editor May 19, 2025

On Monday, April 28, the PV Music Department hosted its annual District Band Night at Vibrant Arena in Moline. The evening showcased performances from all bands in the Pleasant Valley Community School...

Pope Francis, a long-established leader in peace, died on Easter, 2025.

The Good Pope: Jorge Mario Bergoglio

Clark Lechtenberg, Multimedia Manager May 19, 2025

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known across the world as Pope Francis, died April 21, 2025 at the age of 88. To many, he was the best pope of all time. But why? While popes before him were very ceremonial and...

Senior Kira Pielak poses for a picture before receiving her award from the current Governor, Kim Reynolds.
Photo Credit: Kira Pielak

Celebrating Excellence: The Governor’s Scholar award celebrates 2 PV students for their success within the 4 years of high school

Emily Thoreson, Business Manager May 13, 2025

Since 2003, the Governor’s Scholar award, with the assistance from the Iowa Farm Bureau, has been awarded to students across the state of Iowa as recognition for their academic excellence within their...

Students chose various education topics that they believed to be relevant to improve student life at Pleasant Valley High School.

AP Language and Composition education symposium provides much needed student advocacy in education

Ishika Desai, Opinion Editor April 30, 2025

At Pleasant Valley High School, AP Language and Composition teachers have been recognized for challenging their students to engage in rhetoric and real-world conversations. In the spring, they have incorporated...

Many students feel immense stress and pressure regarding college and paying tuition. Setting reminders and doing research does not always eliminate the stress.

Increasing college prices are intimidating prospective students, leaving students unsure how to navigate their futures

Ava Sauser, Student Life Editor April 28, 2025

The cost of college has become a hard pill to swallow for many prospective college applicants. Anxiety over payments has become stressful enough that students are pursuing other options or taking on more...

Passengers waiting to board a Spirit flight with destination to Miami at Chicago O’Hare airport.

Flight fees soar to heights higher than the planes themselves

Amelia Noguera, Copy Editor April 25, 2025

Airline base prices may seem cheap, but  after adding bags and picking seats, the cost quickly skyrockets. Airlines around the world are increasingly turning to ancillary fees, which are an extra charge...

Students at PVHS attend the QCTS Ugadi program to celebrate the holiday and indulge in their culture.

QCTS brings Telugu heritage to life at annual Ugadi celebrations

Ishika Desai, Opinion Editor April 20, 2025

Vibrant colors and lively music were commonplace at the Quad Cities Telugu Sangham’s annual Ugadi program. One of the many initiatives of the QCTS is  to create an Indian cultural conclave, and the...

The image represents the animals Colossal plans to de-extinct while suggesting that dinosaurs and things of science fiction could potentially follow suit. Since Colossal's announcement, the Internet has wrapped themselves up in the idea that one day they might be able to visit Jurassic Park themselves.

Dire Wolf “de-extinction” catalyzes discourse concerning the ethics of genetic modification and the desire to turn science fiction into reality.

Reid Yoder, Photo Manager April 14, 2025

Last week, Colossal Laboratories & Biosciences announced that they had genetically recreated a “dire wolf,” a carnivorous mammal that went extinct over 10,000 years ago. This revelation has since...

Graphic includes maps from the American Meteorological Study showing the before and after location of the center of Tornado Alley, and behind that an image of southern tornado destruction.

Climate change brings Tornado Alley eastward as destruction follows

Estelle Treiber, News Editor April 14, 2025

In the United States, tornadoes have historically called “Tornado Alley” home, but as storm season approaches in the great plains, Americans are left wondering if their homes will be the next unexpected...

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