High school conference honor choir – Front: Emme Hardisty, Emily Garcia, Annabelle Reynolds, Taylin Woolheater, Maddy Lutz, Mary Fett; Back: Atlas Yates, Devon McMunn, Easton Berthow, Nick Turner and Jaysen Stagg.

Middle school conference honor choir – Front: John Holman; Back: Kaylee Michaelson, Evynn Stagg, Nella Rivas, Baylee Walker, Isabelle Davidson and Ava Thorn

HONOR CHOIRS PERFROM AT CONFERENCE HONOR CHOIR FESTIVAL

By Holliday Mertens, freshman, staff writer

On March 4, middle school and high school students went to I-35 to perform for the Conference Honor Choir festival. Mr. Helm, director for the choir students, said, “It was an awesome time for our schools to get together and make music.” The middle school students who went to the festival were Kaylee Michaelson, Nella Rivas, Evynn Stagg, Ava Thorn, Baylee Walker, Isabelle Davidson and John Holman. The high school students who attended were Easton Berhow, Mary Fett, Emily Garcia, Emme Hardisty, Maddy Lutz, Devon McMunn, Annabelle Reynolds, Jaysen Stagg, Nick Turner, Taylon Woolheater and Atlas Yates. Here’s how the festival went.

According to Emme Hardisty, “It’s good to be prepared…make sure to sing out and be confident.”

The festival consisted of many schools and many different students. It was an all-day event, with the festival itself happening at the end of the day. The middle school and high school choirs were joint for the event. Songs that were performed included “He’ll Make a Way,” a Christian song, and “Can You Hear.” A job well done, Panthers!

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: MASON CARSTENS 

By Bjoërg Skovgaard, sophomore, staff writer

Mason Carstens is a senior at Panorama High School. During his high school years, Mason has been involved in golf and baseball. His plans after high school are to attend DMACC and weld and farm. He wants to achieve these goals by working hard and not letting the little things drag him down. His favorite teacher and coach who impacted him the most is Mr. Osbahr because he has been the most helpful through high school, and Mason can relate to a lot of things. If he could go back and tell his younger self something, it would be that you don’t need to take everything so seriously, and his advice to underclassmen is if you listen, it’s a lot easier to get through high school. His most challenging task as a senior was making his poker table.

If he could describe his last four years in three words, it would be “whole lotta fun.” In later years, when Mason would look back on this year, he will remember the support from everyone and the good times walking around during lunch. Mason looks up to his parents because they raised him right, and he wants to do the same for his kids in the future. One of Mason’s accomplishments that he’s proud of is getting close to God. His favorite quote is “God is great” by Kobe Bryant.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: TORI HECKMAN 

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

Tori Heckman is among the graduating seniors at Panorama High School. She grew up in Guthrie Center. She then moved to Panora in sixth grade. Tori is involved in Dance Team and FFA. Her favorite teacher is the FFA director, Mr. Hameister, because he is easygoing. The coach who impacted her the most was one of the Dance Team coaches, Mikeely Denger. Tori says Mikeely taught her to persevere through Dance Team even when it gets tough. Tori says the most challenging thing about being a senior is getting through certain classes. She says her high school years are described as fun, fast and memorable. Tori says her advice to underclassmen is to always turn your homework in on time and filled out. Her biggest accomplishment is getting grand champion for her meat rabbits last year and reserve grand champion and champion for her fancy rabbits at the county fair for FFA. Tori’s biggest challenge throughout her high school career was trying to juggle her activities while working two jobs. She imagines herself in 10 years working in Veterinary Technology. Tori likes to do many things, including hanging out with family and friends, along with watching her favorite TV show, “That 70’s Show.” She also says her favorite meal is lasagna and her go-to song is “Lovely” by Billie Eilish featuring Khalid. Tori looks up to her dad because he has shown her how to be strong during difficult times and push through. She says her biggest fear is failing. When she looks back on her school years, she says she will mostly remember making new friends and the irreplaceable memories. 

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: JAIDYN SELLERS

By Jadyn Lawrence, freshman, staff writer

Jaidyn Sellers has described her last four years of high school as challenging, memorable and fun. Throughout her high school years, she has been involved in basketball, volleyball, track and softball at Panorama. The biggest challenge Jaidyn has faced during high school is managing her homework with sports. When the stressful times in school come up, Jaidyn knows she can count on Ms. J because she is super funny but still pushes her to do her best in everything. Jaidyn’s current plan after high school is to attend The University of Iowa, pursue a degree in criminology and play softball.

Jaidyn grew up in Panora. Mrs. Kylee Boettcher has been the most impactful coach for Jaidyn because she has been a huge role model for her high school career. She taught her how to be strong and stand up for what she believes. If Jaidyn could go back and tell her younger self something, it would be to not be afraid to meet new people. She wants to tell all the younger classmen to take DMACC classes while it’s free, because it will help you in the long term. When Jaidyn Sellers walks out of Panorama High School’s doors for the last time, her athletic, respectful and humble self will be greatly missed.

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SPRING BREAK ATHLETICS

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

Panorama Community Schools had its annual spring/Easter break. Earlier in the year than usual, Easter fell on March 31, which provided Panorama students and teachers an earlier break to have time for themselves and their families and friends. With Thursday through Monday being off, the school has a five-day break. However, that was not the case with sports and other activities.

Sports such as track and field, soccer and golf still commenced during Easter break. On Thursday, the first day off, boys and girls track and field traveled to Ogden for a meet. On Friday, boys and girls soccer traveled to Stuart for games. On Monday, girls and boys golf traveled to I-35 for a meet. Way to work, Panthers! Hopefully, everyone had a good break and a happy Easter.

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NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

National Honor Society is a program offered to students who are enrolled at Panorama High School. Requirements to be eligible to apply for NHS are: 3.5 cumulative grade point average at the end of third term for sophomores and juniors, an application essay, candidate form, two letters of recommendation, and at least 10 community service hours in the 2023-2024 school year. This program allows students to add another activity into their schedule and can impact their academics in their future, as the National Honor Society can add an appealing addition to college applications. Through this program, many scholarships are offered to those planning on attending college. This is a good way to increase the amount of time you are participating in community service projects. Students who participate in this program can improve their leadership and social skills as well, as many conferences are held throughout the year. This program can help shape people into who they want to be and can improve their chances for succeeding in the future.

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JAIL TOUR

By Miyah Small, eighth grader, staff writer

Students from Panorama recently toured of the new jail facility in Guthrie Center. There were about 20 students who went on the tour, which was led by Sheriff Marty Arganbright. The tour lasted about an hour and a half. Students were shown the new jail, the courthouse and the old jail area. A demonstration of a taser was done for the class. Students also got to listen to an inmate speak about his past and what he will change in his future. At the end of the visit, the students received sheriff badge stickers.

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ALL-STATE SPEECH PARTICIPANT FROM PANORAMA

By Bjoërg Skovgaard, sophomore, staff writer 

On March 25, Individual Speech All-State was held at UNI. Panorama High School was lucky enough to get a contestant, Avery Bahrenfuss, a senior who received all ones from the judges at state. Her speech category was storytelling and she has been practicing since early February for her big moment. Avery said the best part of going to all-state was being able to go and receive recognition and perform one last time. She has been doing speech all four years of high school in both large groups and individually. For Avery, it was fascinating and honorable to be able to go again, and she felt grateful for everything. At the meeting, Avery said that the atmosphere was “very joyful, fun and exciting.”

In storytelling, participants sit on a stool, act out a five-minute story, and act out gestures and shifts in posture and vocal changes. Avery’s story was Amelia Bedelia, and her favorite part about the story was when Amelia Bedelia put the lightbulbs outside in the yard. She chose the story because it reminds her of her childhood and growing up. The judge enjoyed her story, and it reminded him of his childhood. He thought each character was different and enjoyed the performance overall. Avery also enjoyed the overall experience and thought she did well on her character voices throughout the story, though she wished she had practiced more in the past to get more opportunities like this.

The reason Avery does speech is that she gets to become a better communicator and public speaker by performing and, of course, watching musical theater. She enjoyed making the judge smile and challenging herself to do something difficult. As a senior who has competed in speech all four years, her advice for underclassmen doing speech is, “It is an activity that strengthens your speaking and communication skills. It is something you will use throughout your life and career. It’s very fun and very enjoyable. You make many friends along the way and will cherish every memory you make.”

Xavier Clark, Landon Clark and Devon Gall

PANORAMA SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAMS 

By Aden Rochholz, sophomore, staff writer

The Panorama Special Olympics team is part of many events. They bowled on Oct. 16, they will play basketball in the winter, and run track in the spring. The bowling was in Adel and the competitors were Landon Clark and Xavier Clark. Devon Gall practiced with them but wasn’t able to attend. Our Special Olympics team practiced in an alternate P.E. class. The Special Olympics happens once a year. Thank you for the support.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: HANNAH KHARRAZI 

By Jessy Randol, freshman, staff writer

Hannah Kharrazi is a senior at Panorama High School. She has been active in soccer throughout her years. Hannah grew up in Oklahoma. One of her biggest challenges in high school has been getting to school on time. If she could describe her past four years, it would be exciting, wholesome and breathtaking. Her most challenging task as a senior has been the realization that this is actually it, and that she is graduating this year.

Hannah would describe herself as hungry, kind and athletic. One thing many people do not know about Hannah is that she is half fluent in Arabic and is currently learning French. Her favorite food is chicken alfredo. If she had to choose one person she looked up to the most throughout the years, it would be her brother because he has been a role model for her since day one. In her free time, Hannah enjoys driving around, eating and binge-watching TV shows. We wish Hannah luck in the next chapter of her life.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: CAMDEN LOMBARD 

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

Camden Lombard is a senior at Panorama High School. He has been involved in golf. He grew up in Ankeny. The achievement he is most proud of is getting into college, and his future plans are to go to SWCC for criminal justice to become a U.S. Marshall. Some of Camden’s biggest challenges during his senior year, and his entire high school career, include teachers and classes. He says his favorite teacher is Mrs. Randel because she has been there for him and helped him. Camden’s favorite coaches are Mr. Little because he is a go-getter and is there for him, along with Mr. Dahlhauser because he is straightforward with him and helps him have healthier habits. The person who Camden looks up to the most is his dad. Even though he is not Camden’s real dad, he has been more of a father figure and has shown Camden many life skills. 

Camden has a few favorite things. His favorite meal is either crawfish pie or his dad’s chicken alfredo. Camden’s favorite song is “California Girls,” and his favorite T.V. show is “On Patrol Live.” Camden says he would like to visit Rome or Italy in the future. He would also like his future to include living on a ranch in the South with a family, along with his dream job as being a federal agent. Something that people may not know about Camden is that he races cars. Camden describes himself as tall, funny and quiet. His advice for underclassmen is to “be less noisy.” If he could go back and tell his younger self anything, it would be to not give up. Give it up for Camden Lombard.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: NATALIE DONOVAN 

By Peyton Walker, sophomore, staff writer

 Natalie Donovan, a senior at Panorama High School, grew up at Lake Panorama. In her four years of high school, she’s been involved in volleyball, basketball cheer, track and girls wrestling. In her high school years, her biggest accomplishment was joining wrestling her senior year and becoming a conference champion. The coach who impacted her most was Mr. Wagner because he’s positive and tries to make everything fun. Her favorite teachers are Mrs. Walker, and Mrs. Sloss because she feels as though she can talk to them about anything. “They are like my school moms,” Natalie said.

Natalie’s advice for younger classmen is to stay out of drama, but she wishes she could tell her younger self not to compare herself to others and to try her best. Natalie’s plan after school is to go to DMACC in Ankeny and live with her friends. Her description of the last four years is crazy, memorable and tough, but her favorite thing to do in her free time is to hang out with her friends. The people she looks up to most are her parents because they work hard and are supportive of everything she wants to do. The biggest memories she will have about high school are school activities, track, wrestling and dances. 

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FFA PLANT SALE 

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

Panorama FFA will start its annual plant sale the week before Mother’s Day this spring. First, FFA purchases the plants as seeds or plugs from a couple of different suppliers. Where they get them from depends on plant availability and types. After receiving the seeds or plugs, they are planted in a variety of pots and containers, depending on how they plan to sell them. People have a wide variety of plants to choose from. 

Mr. Hameister, Panorama’s FFA advisor and ag instructor, says the main outcome of this sale is the FFA Annual Bedding, VegetableVegatable, and Hanging Basket Sale Fundraiser. During the Greenhouse Production unit of Panorama Schools horticulture 2 class, students spend time taking care of the plants after school hours and on the weekends. Along with some FFA members, students work together to get these plants ready for the sale. FFA members can use this as a part of their SAE projects. 

Be sure to check out this sale in the weeks to come and support our FFA.

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ISASP TESTING 

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

During the week of March 17-23, Panorama schools had Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) testing. This test is used to understand the school’s learning outcomes of students. Things recorded in the testing include student proficiency and growth. Grades 3-11 take the statewide tests.

For Panorama, the week of ISASPs looked a little different than the normal schedule. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and for some students, Thursday mornings started off with ISASP testing. Once they were finished for the day, students returned to their regular classes. On Monday, the reading test was taken. On Tuesday, the math was taken, and on Wednesday, the language arts test was taken. For eighth and 10th graders, the science test was taken Thursday morning. Students were also provided snacks and drinks during their testing. Great job to the students for persevering through these annual tests.

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WHY HANDS-ON LEARNING IS BETTER 

By Peyton Walker, sophomore, staff writer

Some people may think hands-on learning isn’t learning and that it doesn’t teach students anything, but they’re wrong. Hands-on learning helps students engage in activities better and helps them know what they should be doing and how. It helps develop problem-solving skills and critical-thinking skills. It helps students with social skills among their group. It helps with knowing how to do things. 

Almost 90% of what teachers instruct is through hands-on learning. That number should be 100%. I know from experience that hands-on learning helped me more than any other kind. There are just a few reasons for using anything else but hands-on learning. These are just some of the reasons to use hands-on learning. Thank you for reading, and I hope you take this into consideration. 

Information for this article was taken from https://www.structural-learning.com/post/hands-on-learning#:~:text=Hands%2Don%20learning%20increases%20student,motivation%20and%20enjoyment%20in%20learning.

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IMPORTANT HABITS FOR HIGH SCHOOL 

By Isabelle Peasley, freshman

Note-taking, goal-setting and studying are three crucial habits to having a successful high school experience. Many students struggle with finding good study habits or having skills in certain subjects. With the combination of these habits, and a positive attitude, students will be able to keep their grades up and develop skills that are useful not only in high school but also for the rest of their lives. 

The first important habit to have for high school is note-taking. Although this may sound silly, taking notes is beneficial. When writing down what is discussed in class, students will remember what is being taught. By doing this, students have the ability to go back into their notes to remember what they are learning about. Also, students will find it easier to learn stuff when they are engaged and writing it down. This habit applies to the world outside of high school as well. When students graduate and go to college, they will find note-taking to be important. Even after college, note-taking can still benefit you. For example, when people get phone calls about work or other important things, they write them down.

Secondly, goal-setting is a great habit to get into while in high school. The definition of “goal-setting” is described as “the process of taking active steps to achieve your desired outcome.” When students put their minds to something and take the time to do better, they have a higher chance of succeeding and reaching their goals. Even setting small goals for oneself can give short-term motivation. The more motivated students are, the more work they get done. Goal-setting is a part of everyday life. People set goals for their jobs, their health, their grades, and many other things. Goals help beat procrastination, create motivation, improve focus and make life easier.

Lastly, students should study. This may sound like a simple thing to do, but many students struggle in learning how to study effectively. With a combination of the other two habits and some discipline, studying will be easier and more effective. Research shows that studying can give students joy from their success and achievements. When they take time to study and go over what they are learning, they will understand the topics better and improve their overall grades. 

These three habits are important for high school students to learn in order to be successful later in life. Even though it will take some time and discipline, it will be worth putting the work in. Learning these habits while in high school may not be easy at first, but anything in life that’s worth doing usually requires hard work. All in all, note-taking, goal-setting and studying are good habits that students will find beneficial if they take time to develop them.

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JOBS FOR TEENS 

By Lillie Greenlee, freshman, staff writer

Getting a job as a teen is important. Having a job can help kids save up for their futures. It’s also nice so they can have experience in whatever they’re doing. It’s better for kids to have a job when they’re younger so they won’t just be starting out when they get out of high school. It’s also nice to have money for things such as college and even just for fun. Teens can learn how to manage their time and their money. 

There are many jobs for teens to do. For example, they could work at a restaurant, a gas station, or a town store. There are many different jobs they could do at those places. These jobs can help them get experience, skills and money for the future. It’s probably also nice for the people who are hiring to know that the people they’re hiring have experience in different things.

To conclude, it’s important for teens to find a job for many reasons. 

FCA MARCH MADNESS AND LARGE GROUP HUDDLE

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

On March 10, FCA hosted its own March Madness huddle in the Panorama High School gym. Kids from ages sixth grade through 12th grade could participate in this. There were a few competitions that took place, along with the event itself being an open gym for kids. A guest speaker, Hudson Fields, came to visit with the kids. Hudson is a coach for Drake University’s football team. With the basketball and speaker, a fun time with memories made took place in the high school gym that day.

On March 12, Panorama’s FCA group also hosted an FCA large group huddle. Three huddles have already happened this past 2023-2024 school year. The March huddle makes it the fourth huddle this year. Tell everyone you know to spread the word about the huddle and enlarge the crowd that shows up.

This past FCA huddle on the 12th was led by Maddy Lutz. Her message talked about pressure and how to focus on God. With a great devotion and ending prayer, Maddy started everyone’s morning right. The next large group FCA huddle is on April 16. The huddle is being led by FCA member Arilyan Steenblock. All students are welcome to attend the event.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: ALLIE OLESEN

By Addie Astley, sophomore, staff writer

Allie Olesen is a senior at Panorama High School. After high school, she is planning on getting her real estate license. Her goals for high school are to take real estate classes, work and have fun. Over her high school years, she is most proud of how she has grown and matured the past few years. Her biggest challenge through her years is balancing work with other things that make her life busy. Most challenging as a senior, this year has been accepting that she is a senior. She says it has been very surreal, and while she is ready, she also is not. She describes herself to be independent, stubborn and talkative.

Her favorite teacher is Ms. J. In her own words, she says, “She isn’t only a great teacher but a great person. I absolutely would not have made it through junior year without her.” One thing she will remember most is the senior sunrise. It was very fulfilling for her to watch the sunrise on the hill with her classmates whom she made many memories with. Lastly, her advice to underclassmen is to turn your homework in on time. 

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: HUNTER DISHMAN

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

Senior Hunter Dishman grew up in Linden. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing and hanging out with friends. Throughout his high school career, the biggest challenges Hunter faced were doing his homework and having a good attitude. Advice he would give to underclassmen and his younger self would be to do your homework and don’t suck at school. Hunter was most impacted by his dad and Coach King because they both pushed him to be better. During high school, Hunter participated in football, baseball and fishing. One thing he will miss the most is being in the sports. He will be constantly working toward his goals after high school but hasn’t made a final decision on what he will be doing.

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TEACHER FEATURE: MRS. KYLEE BOETTCHER

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

Mrs. Kylee Boettcher has been teaching at Panorama for 17 years. Throughout her years, she has had many coaching jobs and opportunities. Places where she had been an assistant coach, or even head coach, were Guthrie Center High School, Buena Vista University, Albert City-Truesdale, Cherokee (Washington) High School, and Waukee Middle School. It wasn’t until 2007 when she started working at Panorama as the varsity head coach for softball, and then three more years from 2020-2023. In 2009, she then added girls junior high basketball coach to her schedule. After 10 years, she took on the head varsity girls basketball coaching position at Panorama. Boettcher balances her encouragement and pushing while coaching. The teams she coaches have a team mantra that are their main core values and goals. This team mantra isn’t just game expectations, but they are practice, classroom and within your community expectations. These values then create a bond within the team and everyone else around them. She builds her team to hold each other accountable for the values they set.

Mrs. Boettcher and the teams she coaches take each game one at a time. They start by watching film on each opponent, then they think about what the team needs to work on in preparation for that game. Then, as a coach, she designs drills to prepare the team members for their opponents. With drill work and regular practice routines, this allows the players to practice what they will be doing in game and build confidence as well.

This 2023-2024 season was special to Mrs. Boettcher for many reasons. This was her younger self’s dream, to play and coach the Panorama Girls Basketball team to a state championship. The team, student section and our community’s support made this even better for her. Tyme, her daughter, was able to share this season with her as an athlete on the court.

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EXTRACURRICULAR BENEFITS

By Addie Astley, sophomore, staff writer

Is doing extracurricular activities healthy for a high school student? Yes, doing extracurricular activities is important for a high school student. It has shown to increase academic performance and prepare students for college or their future. Performing in after-school activities can show students their interests and what they are good at. It helps students express themselves in a positive way to show people who they are.

Sports, performing arts or school clubs are great ways for students to be more included in the school community. Doing activities can help students find new friends, feel like they belong, and help them with skills they will need in the real world. Being involved in extracurricular can also help students attend school on a more regular schedule, as well as help them focus more in school and be more engaged. Engaging in these activities can improve a student’s behavior not only in school but out of school. Being involved in something is important, and every student should join something that interests them.

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OUTLOOK ON THE 2024 GIRLS TRACK SEASON

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

Track season is officially off to a start this 2024 school year. Coaches Greg Thompson and Rachel Osbahr were interviewed on their outlook on the season. Coach Thompson says, so far, the track season is going well. He says the weather has been good, and the athletes have been working hard. Thompson says the track team should have about 20 girls competing along with three managers. He hopes the track girls goal this year is to finish in the top three on the state podium. Both coaches express that the girls can compete in maybe all of the competitions at meets this year and head to state.

Coach Osbahr says her goal this season is not only to have multiple events qualify at state but also to have every athlete achieve a personal goal of getting her personal best in her events by the end of the season. Osbahr says the girls team has strong talent returning this year. She says there are also newcomers filling in for the team members who are no longer in track. Coach Osbahr says even though she might not always be at practices or meets with her new-coming baby, she will try to be at all of the meets and practices she can, cheering the girls on every step of the way. Meets are starting to come up in later dates of March, and practices have already begun. Let track season commence.

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STATE INDIVIDUAL SPEECH RESULTS

By Holliday Mertens, freshman, staff writer

Individual State Speech happened on Saturday, March 9 at ADM High School in Adel. Congratulations to Emme Hardsity, Anna Thompson, Taylin Woolheater, Riley Gibson and Avery Bahrenfuss for making it to State with their fantastic performances. Our students made it to State with Solo Musical Theater (Emme, Taylin), Story Telling (Anna, Avery), Acting (Riley), After Dinner Speaking (Anna) and Poetry (Riley, Taylin). Congrats, Panthers!

As for performances, Emme’s SMT performance got an overall rating of 2 (2-2-2), Anna’s Story Telling, Taylin’s SMT, Riley’s Acting, Avery’s Story Telling, and Riley’s Poetry all got a 1 (1-1-1). Anna’s After Dinner performance also got an overall score of 1, but with a full score of 1-1-2. Similar to Emme, Taylin’s Poetry got a 2-2-1, giving her an average score of 2. Finally, a huge congratulations to Avery Bahrenfuss for being selected to be a performer at All-State. Make sure to go cheer her on at UNI in Cedar Falls, Monday, March 25. Go, Panthers!

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 SPRING SPORTS

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

Since spring is starting soon, Panorama Schools have been getting ready for this season’s sports, which consist of track, soccer, golf and trap shooting. Practices have gotten a kick-start this week. The Panthers will be working hard in their sports to reach their goals for this season. Trap shooting is a newer sport, available for those in sixth to 12th grade.

With more sports coming up, students are encouraged to try new things. Being involved in sports can be good ways to gain opportunities for yourself and learn valuable lessons. Athletes at Panorama are preparing for summer sports with softball and baseball open fields and throwing practices starting as well.

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HABITS OF SUCCESS

By Jadyn Lawrence, freshman, staff writer

What is the definition of success? According to the dictionary, it is “ the accomplishment of an aim or purpose,” but not everyone sees success similarly. Some people may define success as graduating from high school, and, to another person, it may be getting up out of bed.

Success can be a challenging, emotional and exciting topic for high school students. Difficult challenges will come up as students grow up and move on with their lives. Developing some of the following skills will allow teens to have a successful future and help them throughout their adulthood.

Firstly, communication is an important skill to help a person become successful. Communication will be used every day in life. Examples include telling your boss you will be late to work, presenting a presentation in college, talking to your friends, or making plans. However, communication does not always have to be through talking. It can also be through calling someone, sending an email, mailing a letter, or texting. All of these tasks will make achieving a person’s goals easier and accomplishing them faster. Communicating will also allow people to interact and build new relationships. Another example of communication is asking a teacher for help on something you need. Some are better than others, but learning how to communicate can also boost a student’s confidence. Every student uses different ways to communicate. Overall, communication is a key skill to achieve success.

Secondly, prioritizing is a key skill to lead to success. Prioritizing becomes important when it comes to getting things done. Some people make to-do lists of the goals they would like to accomplish before they have fun or do less important things. Many students in high school tend to struggle with this task. It is easy to get distracted by your phone or take a nap instead of doing your homework because you don’t feel like doing it. When this happens, most of the time the assignment or project ends up not getting done, being turned in late, or being quickly put on paper and turned in. Prioritizing is a huge skill to develop for success.

Lastly, a crucial habit for success is active listening. When you learn something from people, most of the time they know what they are teaching you. Teachers, friends and family are examples of active listeners. Success does not come naturally. For example, most D1 athletes were not naturally good at the sport. They put hours, days, months and years into practicing and learning new skills. These players used active listening when taking advice from coaches and other people on how to improve and become better. High school students will develop this skill. Some will develop it sooner than others, and that’s OK. Active listening will make achieving goals and accomplishments a lot less stressful.

In conclusion, everyone defines success differently. Even so, the same skills and hard work still have to be done to succeed. Communication, prioritizing and active listening are examples of skills that will lead a person to success. To get anywhere in life, hard work, dedication and success are the ways to get things accomplished. To sum it up, learning skills to be more successful will benefit you and help you become a better person.

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2024-25 MASTER CALENDAR

By Marlee Herring, eighth grader, staff writer

The school calendar for the 2024 – 2025 school year is now published. School next year will begin on Aug. 23. No-school days on the calendar include Labor Day weekend for the County Fair, fall break in November, and winter break, which runs Dec. 23 to Jan. 3. Several months also include a no-school day on a Friday for either teacher comp or staff professional development. As well as every Friday, there will be early outs. New this year is that Panorama students and staff will get a full week of spring break occurring March 17-21. The calendar can be found on the school website.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: HANIA BOBLETT

By Brayden Meinecke, sophomore, staff writer

Hania Boblett is a junior at Panorama High School, graduating early. She participated in many sports such as football cheer, wrestling cheer, golf, power tumbling and trampoline. In school, her favorite teacher was Mrs. Kastner because she was pushing her to be her best. After high school, Hania plans to go to Iowa Western and then become an EMT afterward.

When Hania has free time, she likes to sleep or watch TV. Her favorite show is “Ginny and Georgia.” Hania is busy doing sports such as tumbling. She competed in the Junior Olympics this year for the sport. Hania’s coach, Rona Crook, is her biggest inspiration because she taught her many life lessons. Hania looks up to Simone Biles the most because whenever she fails, she gets right back up and tries again. Hania said all she wanted to be remembered for was always being positive.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: GABRIELLE MORTENSEN

By Jadyn Lawrence, freshman, staff writer

Gabrielle Mortensen said her last four years have been “overwhelming, exciting and beautiful.” During Gabrielle’s high school years, she has been involved in basketball cheer. One huge challenge she faced during high school was trying not to get stressed about little things. When those tough times came around, she knew she could go to Mr. Little for encouragement and help. Her current plan after high school is to go to DMACC to become a kindergarten teacher.

Gabrielle grew up in Carroll. She has looked up to her mom because she has been there for her. A fun fact about Gabi is her right arm is shorter than her left because she broke it. If she could give any advice to underclassmen, it would be to not be a bump on a log, and if something interests you, for example, a class or club, don’t be afraid and join. Overall, when the day comes for Gabrielle to walk out the doors of Panorama High School, her smart, kind and hardworking self will be deeply missed.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: RILEIGH PIERCE

By Hailey Hellman, freshman, staff writer

Rileigh Pierce is a senior at Panorama Secondary School. She plans to get an adult job and move out. Rileigh does wrestling and enjoys it. Therefore, the person she looks up to is her wrestling coach Dan Wagner. He helped her improve her skills and was a mentor for her. Rileigh grew up in Panora, but when she gets farther in life, she wishes to leave Iowa.

Her advice to underclassmen is to ask for help when you need it. Rileigh’s most challenging part of high school was passing math class. She believes in 10 years she will be living with three dogs and no children. Rileigh says her biggest accomplishment was being one of the girls in the first girls wrestling program at Panorama. After Rileigh graduates, her determined and persistent energy will be missed.

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GREENE COUNTY CAREER ACADEMY CULINARY STUDENTS

By Bjoërg Skovgaard, sophomore, staff writer 

Chef D’s culinary student Michael Martinez created his own rice dish recently. Michael is a senior from Panorama High School and comes to the Career Academy every morning to make new and exciting dishes. He made the rice dish by starting with jasmine rice and adding regular tomatoes, a celery stick and shallot onions. He also created his own herb oil by using olive oil, fresh garlic, thyme, rosemary and cilantro. Michael shared it with his class. They all loved it and enjoyed the food together.

Michael also recently prepared chicken marsala with Chef D in the class. He started by prepping the fresh herbs including garlic, parsley and rosemary. He then prepared the sauce with white wine and chicken broth. He cooked the seasoned chicken in a separate pan with olive oil, butter and mushrooms, which were cooked until they were golden and smaller in size. Just before plating the food, Michael added the chicken back to the pan to combine it with the sauce. Everything was so good. We hope Michael will keep on making these delicious dishes.

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OUTLOOK ON THE 2024 GIRLS TRACK SEASON

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

Track season is officially off to a start this 2024 school year. Coaches Greg Thompson and Rachel Osbahr were asked about their outlook on the season. Coach Thompson says so far, the track season is going well. He says the weather has been good, and the athletes have been working hard. Thompson says the track team should have about 20 girls competing, along with three managers. He hopes the track girls goal this year is to finish in the top three on the state podium. Both coaches express that the girls can compete in maybe all of the competitions at meets this year and head to state.

Coach Osbahr says her goal this season is not only to have multiple events qualify for state but also to have all athletes achieve a personal goal of getting their personal best in their events by the end of the season. Osbahr says the girls team has strong talent returning this year. She says there are also newcomers filling in for the team members who are no longer in track. Coach Osbahr says even though she might not always be at practices or meets with her new-coming baby, she will try to be at all of the meets and practices that she can, cheering the girls on every step of the way. Meets are starting to come up in later dates of March, and practices have already begun. Let track season commence!

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SPREAD THE WORD

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, and Marlee Herring, eighth grader, staff writers

On March 6, middle and high school students at Panorama Community Schools attended an assembly for “Spread the Word to End the Word.” This assembly went over why we don’t say and do things that negatively impact people around us because of their intellectual or physical abilities. There were three speakers, Buffy Louk, Riley Gibson and Vanessa Phillips. Each one of them shared information and experiences.

During this assembly, Buffy Louk shared why spreading the word to end the “R” word is so important to her and her family. Mrs. Louk has a daughter, Katelyn, who was born with a disability. When Katelyn was born, she was not given a long life expectancy, but she is happy and now 27 and living in a group home. Every time she hears a student or peer say the word, it cuts at her feelings.

Riley Gibson, senior, read the poem “Hi there” by Matty Angel. This poem was written by a girl who had been diagnosed with autism at a young age. She wrote this poem to spread awareness of the struggles people with disabilities face.

Hi there.

Hi there…

Yes… You

I know you probably don’t want to hear this… But…

However… I have to say it anyway.

Raising me won’t be easy…

It may never stop also…

Loving me at times might be hard,

Yes… people will probably be mean and nasty…

Sometimes you and I may hear things rather harsh,

Especially when I do things you and others won’t understand…

BUT! I will do things you will understand too! …

Though… possibly at times unexpected and strange.

There will be tears also,

Also screams, anger and fear.

I may even get violent for unexplained reasons…

And you may wish to see into my head.

Also… I’m sorry if I’m unable to communicate…

In a way that you may understand

But I promise with all my heart… I am here.

It may seem I am locked in my own world,

But I’m in yours too, believe me it’s true.

And… yes, I will get older.

Yes. I will age and grow up too…

A lot of what was hard before this time may still be hard in the future.

Please… If it becomes too much, please… please seek help.

Don’t abandon me, give up on me, or leave me to the dark.

After reading the poem, Vanessa Phillips first shared the definition of a disability. Having dealt with a disability for 50 years, with nobody knowing. She shared how anyone can have disabilities that we don’t know about. So treat everyone with respect, kindness and compassion. Kindness has many benefits that can greatly impact our world.                           

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SENATOR JONI ERNST VISITS PANORAMA HIGH SCHOOL

By Bjoërg Skovgaard, sophomore, staff writer 

Last week at Panorama High School, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst visited to talk about her military experience and how she became a senator. She is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. She talked about what she did in the military (both the good and bad parts), why she decided to become a senator, and what she does for Iowa. She taught the students a little about agriculture and how it’s important to her and her family. Joni also honored our veterans at the school — Tim Ashworth and Dan Wagner. All of the students listened carefully and were excited to ask questions after her speech.

Some students asked her about her favorite color while others asked more political questions like what she thought about different social groups. She gave some good and well-thought-out answers to all the questions and the students had fun learning more about her and her experiences and opinions.

Front row: Avery Bahrenfuss and Riley Gibson; Back row: Anna Thompson, Emme Hardisty and Taylin Woolheater

INDIVIDUAL SPEECH: ON TO STATE

By Holliday Mertens, freshman, staff writer

Congratulations to the 2024 Panorama Individual Speech team for making it to State. Everyone who competed in District Speech made it to State. That is a huge accomplishment. The students going to State are Riley Gibson (Poetry and Acting), Anna Thompson (After Dinner and Storytelling), Taylin Woolheater (Solo Musical Theatre and Poetry), Emme Hardisty (Solo Musical Theatre), and Avery Bahrenfuss (Storytelling). Congratulations to all of these students.

Every single one of these students got a score of 1, which qualifies them for State. The State Speech competition will be held at ADM High School in Adel on Saturday, March 9. Make sure to go and cheer on our students. Once again, congratulations to everyone who made it to State. Go, Panthers!

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PANORAMA PEP BUS

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

The Panorama girls basketball team qualified for the state tournament for the third consecutive year. By beating Denver High School, the girls advanced to play on Wednesday, Feb. 28 against Grundy Center High School. Our Lady Panthers beat Grundy Center, 59-49, and advanced to play Westwood on Friday March 1. Once again, they won, 39-36, and advanced to the Class 2A Championship on Saturday, March 2 where they took on Dike-New Hartford.

One great thing about basketball games is the fans coming out to support the players. Sometimes, though, since Wells Fargo Arena is so far away, people, especially younger kids, might not be able to go to support. However, this has now been made possible.

Panorama Community Schools provided a “Pep Bus” to allow students to ride to the game and support the players as a community. Sponsored by the Panorama Booster Club, students were able to ride the bus and attend the game for free. The bus was allowed for students in sixth through 12th grade. The Pep Bus brought a lot of supporters to the game. The student section was packed with kids ready to cheer on the Panthers. Many thanks to all those who made the pep bus accessible to many students.

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PEN PALS

By Marlee Herring, eighth grader, staff writer

 This year, seventh and eighth grade students had the opportunity to have pen pals from Denmark. They first received letters in November. They sent replies back in December and just received more this week. We are taking the time to do this during Mrs. Dorhout’s language arts class, and they are being sent to Rikke Thunberg Perdersen’s class in a suburb of Copenhagen Denmark. These letters are a great way to learn more about people from another country and get to know cultures outside of our own.

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100 YEARS OF AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

By Miyah Small, eighth grader, staff writer

The American Heart Association was founded in 1924 by six cardiologists. Since then, it has grown into the nation’s largest voluntary organization devoted to fighting heart disease and stroke. More than 35 million people volunteer and support this program along with nearly 3,000 staff members. The AHA has invested approximately $5 billion in research, which is more than any other organization other than the federal government. AHA is the largest not-for-profit funding source for heart health.

Recently, Panorama Student Council hosted a district wide fundraiser celebrating the 100th year of the American Heart Association. Students who registered to fundraise had opportunities to do more than just raise money. They could learn hands-only CPR and stroke warning signs. The district raised 75% of the goal that was set. Great job to everyone who fundraised and thank you to everyone who donated. If you missed a chance to donate and would like to, go to https://www.heart.org/en/ to learn more about how to donate.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: RYAN COGIL

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

Senior, Ryan Cogil, grew up on a farm near Jamaica. The activities he has been involved in are football, basketball, soccer, track and field, NHS, FFA, FCA, TSA and Boy Scouts. Out of all of the accomplishments Ryan has earned, he says becoming an Eagle Scout is the greatest. Throughout high school, the biggest challenge for Ryan was being involved in so many activities.

Mr. Dahlhauser was Ryan’s favorite teacher and coach who had impacted him the most. In 10 years, he sees himself working on farm equipment. Ryan plans to attend Northeast Iowa Community College in the John Deere Ag Tech Program. Good luck in your future endeavors, Ryan.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: DONOVIN DELP 

By Maggie McCarthy, sophomore, staff writer

Donovin Delp is a senior at Panorama High School. Donovin has been involved in All-Iowa Honor Dance Team, Dance Team Studio Dance, and “The Nutcracker” for one year. His most challenging task as a senior is trying to figure out what he wants to do after high school. He plans to attend the University of Iowa and major in nursing. If he could describe his last four years in three words, it would be bittersweet, ever-changing and fast.

Donovin’s favorite teacher was Mrs. Perez because she asked her students about their accomplishments, and they would try to say them in Spanish. They would bond by talking about her life in Spain and how different the cultures are compared to each other. If he could go back and tell his younger self anything, it would be to not care so much about the little things because they don’t matter in the long run. Donovin would like to be remembered as someone who is not afraid to go after his dreams. Lastly, his advice for the underclassmen is to not take things for granted because time flies by.

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END OF TERM 3 APPROACHING

By Marlee Herring, eighth grader, staff writer

On March 14, term 3 will be ending. This means that any missing assignments or late work need to be turned in. Even if you think you turned everything in, you might have missing work. Make sure you check Infinite Campus and Google Classroom. It is also important to study for any upcoming end-of-term tests.

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WEIRD IOWA WEATHER

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

Iowa is a state with strange weather patterns. One day, it could be 50 degrees with sunshine, while the next day is 20 degrees with a chance of snow. February is a month that usually consists of snow and cold weather. However, this was not the case in Guthrie County. With strange temps and weather patterns, Iowans don’t know what to expect.

Feb. 25 through March 2 was an interesting week of weather. Sunday and Monday had temperatures up to the mid-50s and 60s, and even low 70s. Monday, however, consisted of strong winds to blow the temperature back down. Tuesday through Saturday was sunny, with temps ranging between 50s to 30s, and even 20s. This crazy weather has thrown most everyone for a loop. What a weird-weather state we live in.

Marlee Herring, Anabel Pudenz, Grace Tripple, Libby Miller and Olivia Beaudet

MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH COUNTS

By Marlee Herring, eighth grader, staff writer

On Tuesday, Feb. 19, five middle school students went to the DMACC campus in Ankeny to participate in 2024 Math Counts, a competition between students that tests their mathematical abilities in various subjects like algebra and geometry. Students first compete individually and then compete as a team.

At this year’s competition, there were about 250 students from schools around Iowa.

Coached by Carla Church, the team is still awaiting final results. Participating students included Grace Tripple, Olivia Beaudet, Libby Miller, Anabel Pudenz and Marlee Herring. They tried their best even though there were lots of large schools they were competing against.

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3 SUCCESSFUL SKILLS OR HABITS

By Hailey Hellman, freshman, staff writer

Have you ever wondered how a high school student could be successful? It takes various skills and habits to be a successful person, but success can be different in everybody’s eyes. No matter who you are or what you do in life, there are ways to be successful. Being successful is one of the best ways you can feel good about yourself. It also makes you feel like you have done something good for yourself.

Firstly, one of the most important skills to have is good communication. We all need to be able to communicate with our peers to complete something. Communication does not only have to be talking in person. Sending emails, texting or calling on the phone can work, too. Good communication can lead to confidence and help with many things including being afraid to speak up. For example, many students can have poor communication or excellent communication with their teachers. It is more difficult for some people to let their teachers know when they need help. Having good communication will benefit your overall teamwork skills. The more you communicate and show transparency with others, the more they will open up to you. This creates a stronger working or personal relationship.

Secondly, time management is another important skill to have because if you do not know what time it is, many things can go wrong. You could be late to important events, and then start to rush yourself. Being on time for important things is important, but so is being able to realize how long it will take you to get something done, such as knowing how long it will take you to finish an assignment that is due in a week. Most people would work on it slowly till it is finished, although others would put it off until the last minute. Managing your time in work and school is just as important as managing your time in your personal life like hanging out with your friends and family or enjoying your hobbies. Happy people are much more successful than unhappy people. Also, time management will help get your tasks done completely and efficiently. The more efficient you can be in your work, the more time you can have for yourself.

Finally, the last skill is prioritizing. In order to get everything important in your life done, you need to prioritize. You can do this by setting goals for what needs to be done first. For example, a common one is getting your homework done before you sit down to look at your phone. Many people struggle with this because sometimes the more important things are not as fun as doing what you want. Although phones can have negative effects, they also have many things to help you prioritize like calendars, reminders and notes apps. If you want to succeed, you have to make sure you are spending your time wisely. Having priorities can help you to be more organized and have less stress overall.

In conclusion, success has a different meaning for everybody. It does not matter who you are or what you want to pursue in life. Success is the only way to get where you want to go. It is more than just a character trait, because if you want to be successful and feel like a better person, you have to work for it. Overall, learning to be a successful person will give you many benefits in life.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: AVERY BAHRENFUSS

By Taylin Woolheater, sophomore, staff writer

During Avery Bahrenfuss’ free time, she spends time with her friends and enjoys volunteering. Her favorite shows include “Outer Banks,” “Friends” and “Modern Family.” Avery says her biggest accomplishment at Panorama was performing at the Individual All-State Speech Festival in 2022. Her biggest challenge throughout her high school years has been balancing school work with the activities she has participated in. During Bahrenfuss’ high school career, she participated in cross country, basketball, track and field, softball, speech, drama, FCA, student council and Panther Pride Service Organization. Avery’s advice for underclassmen is to make the most of your high school experience because it goes by fast. If she could talk to her younger self, she would tell herself not to be afraid to try new things, to take risks, and to take every opportunity possible. Avery’s favorite teacher is Mrs. Perez, who has not only helped her in Spanish but has taught her many valuable life lessons. Bahrenfuss would describe her last four years as exciting, challenging and unforgettable. The most challenging senior task for Avery has been preparing for life after high school.

In 10 years, Avery sees herself as a graduate of college and working in a hospital with infants. Avery’s plans after high school include going to college to earn her BSN and become a nurse. If she could travel anywhere in the world, she would go to The Bahamas.

Avery’s biggest fear is failure. Bahrenfuss will remember all of the great memories she made with her friends along the way. She plans to achieve her goals by persevering through the challenges she faces. Bahrenfuss’ favorite inspiring quote is, “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens” – Mandy Hale. Avery looks up to her grandma. She says, “She has faced many challenges, and I aspire to be as strong as her.” Bahrenfuss is courageous, bubbly and determined, and she wants to be remembered as a kind, honest and supportive person who made a difference.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: COLBY WALTZ

By Aden Rochholz, sophomore, staff writer

Colby Waltz is a senior at Panorama High School. He grew up in Bagley. Throughout high school, Colby wrestled, ran track and played football. His favorite teacher is Mr. Osbahr because he teaches his classes in an interesting way. If Colby had three words to describe his last three years at Panorama, they would be, “Way too long.” Colby’s advice for underclassmen is, “Stop being so loud.”

If Colby could go anywhere in the world, he would go to Florida. He looks up to his father because of his outstanding work ethic. Another person Colby looks up to is Coach Johnston. Colby’s favorite meal is lasagna, and his favorite song is “Unchained” by Van Halen. The thing Colby will remember most about this year is spending time with his good friend, Will.

We wish Colby a bright and successful future after he graduates from Panorama.

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KINDNESS MATTERS

By Addie Astley, sophomore, staff writer

Why is it important to be kind to everyone? A little bit of kindness can go a long way, and it shouldn’t matter if you know the person or not. People are rude to others without even knowing the people or their background. They judge their appearances, voices, styles, insecurities, and things they can’t even control. Being kind to everyone is something everyone can work on to feel better about themselves.

Doing even the littlest of kindness can make someone feel better about themselves. All it takes is a second. Compliments are something that can go a long way with people and can be as simple as saying you like their sweatshirt. Something small like smiling at someone can also let them know you are welcoming them. Being kind can make other people’s days, but it also can make your day. So treat others the way you want to be treated.

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TEACHER FEATURE: MR. GARRETT JOHNSTON

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

Mr. Garrett Johnston has been teaching at Panorama for five years. However, becoming a teacher wasn’t always the dream job for him. Throughout his years of schooling, he ventured through many majors including biology, business, exercise science, elementary education and special education. While in college, Mr. Johnston played football at Upper Iowa. He eventually became one of the coaches for our school’s football team. He wanted to get back to the sport that had taught him so much about life. Along with football coaching, he also is one of the wrestling coaches. This led him to his greatest memory here, being able to coach Wyatt Appleseth in the final match at State.

When asked what his “ideal” day would be, Mr. Johnston said it would be hanging out with family and friends, which is what he does in his free time, as well as working out. Teaching has many hardships and challenges that come along with it. When faced with challenges, Mr. Johnston does his best to understand the situation and circumstances and then tries to find a positive solution for both parties. He finds that developing a productive plan that benefits both staff and students to maximize their success is the most challenging part of his job. The most rewarding part of his job is knowing he played a vital role in a kid’s success. Throughout his years of teaching and coaching, he has learned a lot about what it takes to be a teacher and a better role model, which has shaped him into a better person. Mr. Johnston is looking forward to next year’s coaching opportunities.

PHOTO: Male staff headshot

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GREENE COUNTY CAREER ACADEMY CULINARY STUDENTS

By Bjoërg Skovgaard, sophomore, staff writer

Junior Afton Poldberg from Panorama High School joined with Chef D and the Greene County Career Academy culinary students and made chicken piccata recently in class. They had a lot of fun with the group effort as they prepared the white wine caper butter sauce and homemade noodles. Afton thought the chicken piccata was really interesting because it was fun to learn and use a white wine sauce.

Afton Poldberg also partnered with the Ram Bistro by using some of their apples to make homemade pastry turnovers. Both dishes were delicious and well made. The apple pastries were easy to make, as you only had to cut the apples, cover them in cinnamon sugar, stuff them into a puff pastry, and pop them in the oven. She says, “Chef D is an incredible cook and makes the classroom a fun learning environment. I’m glad I’ve had Chef D as a teacher. She has helped me increase my vocabulary and how to stay patient in a stressful situation. I could not have done it without her.” Afton really loved making both dishes and would highly recommend the culinary class to other students.