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

Maci Quam after participating and winning the Miss Iowa Dance Team competition. Photo credit to Maci Quam.

Maci Quam’s road to success as Miss Dance Team Iowa

Cassi Paustian, Infographic Manager November 28, 2023

Maci Quam, Pleasant Valley Platinum captain, has danced almost her whole life and been a staple of Pleasant Valley’s dance program all four years of high school. Competing and succeeding in individual...

Two of 186,606 female doctors in 1999 helping treat a patient.

Female empowerment: women making gains in the medical field

Gabi Ragins, Multimedia Manager November 28, 2023

In 1999, there were approximately 186,606 female doctors compared to 611,028 male doctors. While those numbers are respective to the gender inequality of that time, the statistics still show similar inequalities...

Propaganda can promote political campaigns. Sometimes, these are posters supporting a political figure. Photo credit to Adobe Spark.

Evolution of propaganda changes the political atmosphere

Grace Schmidt, Student Life Editor November 28, 2023

Propaganda has been an unavoidable tool used to express political ideas and sway voters throughout history. Although the purpose of propaganda remains the same, the technology used to spread propaganda...

St. John Vianney group poses for a photo as NCYC in Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov 18, 2023. Photo credit to Kevin Kwak.

Pleasant Valley students travel to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis

Luke Allaman, "Failed It" Video Editor November 28, 2023

The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is hosted every two years in Indianapolis. This year, several Pleasant Valley students traveled to the event, representing St. John Vianney Catholic Church. NCYC...

Ava Neitzel posed with a Santa Claus decoration during the 2013 holiday season. Santa is just one of many factors that bring excitement to the season. Photo credit to Ava Neitzel

The most wonderful time of the year: Christmas anticipation generates intense excitement

Henry Gannaway, Copy Editor November 28, 2023

The fireplace blazing, presents piled under a tree, snow on the ground, food cooking on the stove and an entire family spending time together generate a world of peace and warmth inside of a house. This...

Senior EJ Novak poses in front of a Roman temple at Ephesus during his year studying abroad in Turkey.
Photo credit to EJ Novak

Pleasant Valley senior EJ Novak participates in foreign exchange program; spends a year in Turkey

Henry Gannaway, Copy Editor November 27, 2023

While most students wait until college before participating in foreign exchange programs, there are ways for high school students to take advantage of travel opportunities. Senior Elijah (EJ) Novak optimized...

Adam Bullock prepares to take on the ¨Blazin Challenge¨ to fulfill his fantasy punishment.

Fantasy football’s high stakes: Exploring the extreme intensity of punishments

Alex Lokenvitz, Sports Information Manager November 27, 2023

Fantasy football can be a rollercoaster of emotions for those who partake in managing an imaginary team. Many people do not understand the reason why grown men can be so obsessed with a game, but sometimes...

Kate Terrell receives her Wall of Honor recognition at the annual National Honors Society ceremony. She owns Wallaces Garden Center and has served as a role model in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Local business owner serves as a role model for female leaders

Armaan Bhagwat, Photo Manager November 24, 2023

By inspiring the next generation of women in business and providing local services for the community, Kate Nelson Terrell is defying social standards.   On Nov. 9, Terrell, President and General Manager...

The majority of people using sports betting applications end up losing their money.

Underage sports betting at PVHS poses danger to students

Johnny Ziegelbein and Alex Lokenvitz November 21, 2023

Gambling at a young age increases the chances of addiction Beneath the surface of PVHS’s vibrant academic community lies an emerging concern that has the potential to harm students: underage sports...

Senior and first time voter Owen Stoltz votes in the 2023 election. Although important to local politics, voter turnout is much lower in elections without national races.

Differences in turnout for national and local elections reveal political priorities of voters

Owen Stoltz, Copy Editor November 15, 2023

It is November again, which means one thing: election season. Whether people love it or hate it, voters make their way to the polls annually to uphold their civic duty by casting ballots for the candidates...

Nathan Musal, Kyle Almgren and Achinteya Jayaram participated in the 2023 Iowa Economics Challenge.
Photo credit to Rita Brown

Competitive PVHS students set their sights on finance careers

Johnny Ziegelbein, PV Only Editor November 10, 2023

At PVHS, a large number of students are considering a future in business, which offers a variety of professions and opportunities. However, a select subset of students have their sights on the world of...

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