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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

Local dog influencer @cooperpelly30 on Instagram smiling for a photo on his couch.
Photo Credit: Heidi Pellymonter

The evolution of pet treatment in America alters pet spending and bonds with owners

Ava Sauser, Student Life Editor April 11, 2025

Historically, people have treated their pets as any other animal, often leaving them outside or not forming a special bond with them. However, recently people have begun treating their pets as part of...

Graphic depicting two debating politicians with symbols showing the impact of money. Electoral candidates require funding for campaign success; however, their spending is not always evenly split and can impact election results.

Campaign finance: The growing influence of money in U.S. democracy

Sabrina Richards, Arts and Entertainment Editor April 11, 2025

On April 1, 2025, the state of Wisconsin held its nonpartisan 10-year election to replace  Supreme Court justice Ann Walsh Bradley, putting the liberal majority of the court at risk. The two candidates,...

Kanye West’s outfit is incredibly unfashionable based on his interview with DJ Akademiks.
Photo Credit: DJ Akademiks Interview

Controversial actions leave many increasingly disassociated with Kanye and his music

Clark Lechtenberg, Multimedia Manager April 11, 2025

In recent years, Kanye West has become quite the polarizing figure. Previously considered an acclaimed musician,  his controversial statements have caused listeners to become dissociated with his brand...

Being an agricultural state, Iowa is surrounded by vast fields of crops.

Iowa legislation neglects calls for accountability from pesticide companies amid rising cancer rates

Ishika Desai, Opinion Editor April 2, 2025

As cancer rates continuously rise, more and more Iowans are seeking accountability from pesticide companies for their role in the upward trend. Iowa’s legislation, however, is attempting to protect the...

PVHS students in the cafeteria during D lunch.

Rushed and hungry: Shortened school lunch duration affects students

Amelia Noguera, Copy Editor April 2, 2025

School is a pivotal point in shaping students' lives and minds, so school lunch programs play a significant role in supporting the nutrition of the minds. Still, students are often found hungry waiting...

A room in the school holds all the books teachers could need in order to do their jobs. In situations such as these, the state already has control and by diminishing the Department of Education it adds problems to schools and also affects those who struggle financially to pay for college.

Fearing the future: How the dismissal of the Department of Education affects students heading off to college

Emily Thoreson, Business Manager April 2, 2025

Instilling fear is an easy path for weak leaders to gain a following. For President Trump, it’s how he is garnering support for his agenda for the United States.  On March 20, 2025, President Donald...

Village in Casa Cunca, Peru holds a celebration in gratitude for humanitarian aid providing them with a new printer and water pump.
Photo Credit: Stacey Burkinshaw

U.S. Government decreases foreign aid funds raising global ethical and economic concerns

Sabrina Richards, A&E Editor April 1, 2025

On Feb. 23 2025, President Trump and his administration terminated 1,600 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) workers by placing them on administrative leave globally. The government also...

Vaccinations help protect students and families from spreading contagious viruses and infections at a rapid rate.

Recent Measles outbreak sparks concerns among Americans regarding the decline in vaccinations

Ishika Desai, Opinion Editor March 27, 2025

In 2025, the southern United States began experiencing a resurgence of Measles.  Seminole, Texas has experienced a surge in Measles cases, reporting a record high of 198 cases in the area. Unfortunately,...

Social media platforms allow the spread of numerous trends. Following these trends discourages individuality and encourages herd thinking.

Enforcing conformity: Social media trends shape teen identity

Amelia Noguera, Copy Editor March 14, 2025

Social media platforms have given users unprecedented access to one another, creating a digital world where trends spread in an instant. It is a place where users carefully curate what they want to share....

Classroom shows conflicting beliefs as students sit during the pledge of allegiance.

Students reserve their right to challenge tradition as patriotism dwindles in American classrooms

Mau Sanchez Carmona, Sports Editor March 11, 2025

Every morning, the pledge of Allegiance echoes through the classrooms of Pleasant Valley High School. Students rise from their seats, hand on chest, and declare their “allegiance to the flag.”  The...

High Schoolers often use language apps to learn a language, the most common being Duolingo.

Language learning apps lack of personalization and user inconsistency lead to counterintuitive experiences

Ava Sauser, Student Life Editor March 11, 2025

Many students and adults utilize language learning apps on a regular basis in hopes of learning a new language. However, many users solely maintain their streak and do not retain useful information about...

Books in stores and libraries are filled with different genres and stories. With BookTok’s emergence, however, more of these stories are being hidden among a sea of books.

Beyond the bookshelf: BookTok’s trend-driven culture undermines the complexity of literature

Ishika Desai, Opinion Editor March 10, 2025

Literature with figurative language, vivid imagery and craftful storytelling has recently become harder to find in bookstores with the emergence of sexual content in novels. The emergence of these novels...

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