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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

Students (including members of the Pleasant Valley School District) attend a summer church camp, showing their dedication to their faith.

Religious diversity encourages respect and kindness within the student population

Sabrina Richards, A&E Editor April 30, 2025

Religion spans across all ages, races, genders and ethnicities. It brings people together on both a local and global scale. While not all people participate in a religion, for those who do, it can help...

Mentors and artists rehearse together in the black box for the last week before their opening night performance.
Photo Credit to Elise Hiatt

Mentoring opportunities encourage kind and inclusive communities for students

Sabrina Richards, A&E Editor April 25, 2025

On April 25 and 26, Pleasant Valley High School will present a production of “Anastasia” through the Spartan Spotlighters program. The program features students with special needs and gives them the...

Students posed before their ensembles performed at the Solo & Ensemble Festival on Saturday April 12, 2025. Top: PV chamber choir quartet. Bottom: PV band saxophone choir.
Photo Credit: PV Choir and PV Band

Pleasant Valley High School hosts 2025 4A IHSMA Solo & Ensemble Festival amidst a busy spring season

Estelle Treiber, Social Media Manager April 25, 2025

On Saturday April 12, 2025 the Pleasant Valley music departments hosted the annual 4A Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) Solo and Ensemble Festival, which featured over 350 musicians. In addition,...

Seniors get assigned random classmates as “targets”. This fun tradition requires strategy, teamwork and critical thinking skills.

Final game before graduation: Senior Assassin unites seniors before farewell

Raina Mishra, Copy Editor April 21, 2025

As the school year comes to an end and graduation approaches, seniors in schools across the country gather around for one of the most anticipated traditions of the school year: “Senior Assassin.”  “Senior...

PVHS seniors gather for a commitment ceremony during the first semester.
Photo Credit: Maggie Sommers

Increasing the stress levels: How the simple question of asking a student their college plans cause their stress levels to increase

Emily Thoreson, Business Manager April 10, 2025

At the young age of 18, high school students are asked to make a decision that could alter the rest of their lives. From the location of their future employer, their future spouse to even the location...

High school seniors experience outside pressure to apply for as many scholarships as possible, despite the demanding application processes.

Scholarship pressure for seniors incites emotional whirlwind without any promise of benefits

Mackenzie Fah, Copy Editor April 10, 2025

With the school year coming to a close, a majority of high school seniors are looking forward to their post secondary education. With these plans comes the pressure of applying for scholarships to possibly...

Spring brings warmer temps and higher UV days, giving people a chance to get back to tanning.

Tanning popularity continues despite harmful beauty standards and health risks

Grace Boleyn, P.V. Only Editor April 1, 2025

As the weather becomes warmer and it is easier to enjoy time outside, the opportunity to get a good tan is also on the rise. After a rough Iowa winter, the UV index is now reaching up to four or five....

PV’s Spartan Assembly launches a new diaper drive this March to help raise awareness for diaper need in the Quad Cities area.

Spartan Assembly’s diaper drive brings awareness to nationwide affordability crisis

Mackenzie Fah, Copy Editor March 11, 2025

This March, Pleasant Valley’s Spartan Assembly is facilitating their first diaper and hygiene drive to help those in need.  The need for diapers is often overlooked in the US, and the drive aims to...

Students fill the halls amidst the chaos of passing period.

Student overcrowding at PVHS results in chaotic and unmanageable hallways

Grace Boleyn, PV Only Editor March 10, 2025

Many students feel the halls are frequently a chaotic place, making getting from one place to another unnecessarily difficult.  Although the hallways have been an issue in the past, recently, many...

Students work in the nurses’ office to begin distributing donations received from the hygiene drive.

Cross-club collaboration brings feminine hygiene products to PVHS bathrooms

Ishika Desai, Opinion Editor March 6, 2025

Starting this school year, PVHS’ A Positive Place Club and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America  (FCCLA) partnered together to bring feminine hygiene products into girls’ restrooms. The...

Graphic depicting teenagers who are feeling sad and alone. Gen Z is experiencing more loneliness than other generations due to their shared generational experiences of advanced technology, the Covid-19 pandemic and a changing social climate.

Generational experiences fuel Gen Z’s loneliness crisis and struggle for genuine connections

Sabrina Richards, Arts and Entertainment Editor March 4, 2025

It is no secret that adolescence is a time of social turmoil, anxiety and insecurity. However, current generations are suffering more than typical due to the shared experience of the COVID-19 pandemic,...

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