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

Senior Izzy Steele hits the links in Florida with her family instead of staying home for the holidays last winter. Photo credit to: Izzy Steele

Family and holiday traditions are substituted for vacations

Cole Halupnik, Copy Editor January 3, 2024

Winter break is near, and students have a variety of traditions or activities that they do over the holidays. Many people gather with extended family to celebrate holidays, but some choose to use the break...

The Bettendorf YMCA is a place where people can come to exercise and participate in fitness activities.

Gym culture among teens: the new found popularity in weight-lifting

Alex Blunk, Classroom Manager January 3, 2024

In recent years, teens have been drawn to the gym like insects to a light and have created a new and young presence in gyms across the country. The popularity of gyms across the country has skyrocketed...

Social media apps such as Instagram can have a negative affect on students attention spans.

Growing pressure on students leaves them afraid to make mistakes

Alex Blunk, Classroom Manager January 3, 2024

Students' lives have continued to become increasingly busy. Students fill their schedules with difficult classes, extracurricular activities and outside learning opportunities. Many are overworked and...

 A shirt distributed by drug prevention programs speaking out against drug and alcohol abuse.

The effectiveness of rehab and drug prevention programs on teens

Shelby Brown, Copy Editor January 3, 2024

Teenagers are commonly associated with risky and dangerous behavior. Curiosity is the common cause of irrational actions and attempts to use and abuse things like drugs and alcohol. Schools attempt to...

The millions of Christmas lights in the U.S. are posing a danger to human health and appending on to the global warming crisis. Photo credit to: Canva

Christmas lights disrupting the environment and human health with light pollution

Timothy Ku and Reetham Gubba December 22, 2023

Hundreds of years ago, Norsemen set up burning logs in their homes to celebrate their winter holiday Yule. This tradition quickly spread to the rest of Europe, and the Christians drew inspiration from...

Privacy is a human right: Why is it not given to child stars

Ariana Assadi, Design Editor December 21, 2023

Since children have first been allowed to act, the paparazzi have followed them around their entire lives. As they grow up, we see the devastating effects of a lack of privacy. The laws regarding child...

By using pictures of fruits or vegetables in their advertising, fast food restaurants will often put out enticing signs like this to make them appear to be a healthier option than their competitors. Photo credit to: Alaina Melchert

Fast Food Restaurants prioritize quantity over quality

Ariana Assadi, Design Editor December 21, 2023

As cities expand, people have seen an increase in the number of chain restaurants. But with this increase in fast food, there has been a significant decrease in the quality of food.  Many people live...

Artificial intelligence is able to make art pieces that follow a specific description. However, artificial intelligence learns from art by artists who are not compensated by the artificial intelligence or the apps that use artificial intelligence. Photo credit to: Adobe Spark

Artificial intelligence devalues the purpose of art

Grace Schmidt, Student Life Editor December 20, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take an estimated 25 million jobs, ranging from communications and sales jobs to surgical jobs and even art careers like writers and artists.As the use of AI expands,...

Gaming consoles and accessories are highly prevalent in American households.

Video games have a rising impact on teens health, finances and future success

Johnny Ziegelbein, PV Only Editor December 20, 2023

Reaching mainstream popularity in the 1980s, video games have taken a huge prevalence in today’s society. With around 90% of American teenagers playing video games, the gaming industry poses issues to...

Junior Inez Ruhara prior to moving to PV from Kenya. Photo Credit to Inez Ruhara

Calls for reparations grow stronger in light of modern effects of colonization

Prerna Vanga, Assistant Editor-In-Chief December 18, 2023

Last Wednesday, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley addressed the international conversation of reparations for former British colonies. Barbados is one of the 58 sovereign countries that was once ruled...

Video posted on TikTok where multiple teen boys go into a public bathroom and proceed to scream as loud as they can.

Teenage trends continue to reach new heights of absurdity

Aedan Burkhart, Photo Manager December 18, 2023

As the collective intelligence of teenagers takes a nosedive over the past few years, TikTok and Instagram trends seem to get more and more dangerous.    It is no secret that teenagers tend...

The debate over the four team college football playoff intensified with the selection committee choosing Alabama over undefeated Florida State.

SIDE BY SIDE: College football playoff controversy highlights need for an expanded playoff

Owen Stoltz and Luke Allaman December 13, 2023

For the first nine years of the College Football Playoff (CFP), the selection committee has had it easy. Every year the day after Championship Weekend, where conference champions were decided for all...

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