OUTDOOR EDUCATION 

By Miyah Small, eighth-grader, staff writer

In sixth, seventh and eighth grade science, students receive the opportunity to participate in outdoor education. Many students enjoy this because they are able to get out of the classroom with their friends. Students go outside about two or three times each month depending on the weather. Students participated in the bird hike this winter. They observed different birds and noted their findings.

The students over the past three years have done many things in the outdoor classroom. Some of the things done across all three grades include restoring the prairie, replacing and adding new birdhouses, and water quality testing. Mr. Mark Dorhout, middle school science teacher at Panorama, says there are 19 birdhouses in the outdoor classroom. The current eighth graders each received a birdhouse and placed it in a location relevant to them, so there are about 50 more in addition to the 19 on the school property. One cool thing about the outdoor classroom is the fact that the Panorama Cross Country Course runs through part of the outdoor classroom. Information for this was from Mr. Dorhout.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: KEIRSTYN EGGER 

By Bjoërg Skovgaard, sophomore, staff writer

Panorama senior Keirstyn Egger grew up in Linden but was born in Missouri. She would describe her last four years of high school as crazy, interesting and funny. Keirstyn has been a part of soccer and wrestling in her high school career. She says the person who impacted her the most is her soccer coach Chris Carlson because, “He’s been my soccer coach since I was little and always believed and helped me be better.”

Her biggest challenge through her high school career was math because she struggled so much, but she’s proud of her accomplishment of getting all of her math credits. Keirstyn’s advice for the underclassmen would be to “keep your grades up because your GPA matters,” and if she could tell her younger self anything, it would be to try harder in school. Her favorite teacher is Mrs. Lindstrom because she is always in the best mood and encourages her. Keirstyn’s favorite quote is, “I may not be the best, but at least I’m not the worst” from her soccer team in 2023.

Her plans for the future are to attend DMACC for two years and then transfer to UNI or Iowa. She imagines herself living in Kentucky working as a police officer in 10 years. We wish you the best on your journey.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: KLAYTON BREMER 

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

Klayton Bremer, a senior, grew up on a family farm near Redfield. He had been involved in many activities throughout his high school years including football, soccer, track, basketball, baseball, golf, National Honor Society, FFA and FCA. He was also on the honor roll. Many accomplishments were made by Klayton, but he says being invited to play at the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star football game was his greatest. This accomplishment was the greatest because he was chosen for his football skills and his contributions to the community; only 90 players in the state were chosen.

During high school, college calculus with Ms. Jarnagin and taking college classes remotely were his biggest challenges. In his free time, he likes to spend time with family and friends, playing sports, gaming and working on the farm. He says all of his coaches impacted him in some way, shape or form, but Klayton says he will always remember the Perry week 0 game when he got a pick 6. He pointed up to Mr. Dahlhauser in the press box. Coach Kauzlarich had guided Klayton into college football. He plans on playing football in college, as a wide receiver or safety and earning a four-year degree.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: GRYFFIN BURCHFIELD 

By Aden Rochholz, sophomore, staff writer

Gryffin Burchfield is a senior at Panorama. After he graduates, Gryffin would like to go to Iowa State. He is from Texas, and he had his first year at Panorama when he was a junior. Gryffin has participated in track and cross country. He describes his high school years as eventful, fun and a struggle. Griffin’s favorite teacher is Mr. Bahrenfuss because he is polite to his students.

Gryffin wishes he would’ve started eating healthy earlier in his life, and he thinks underclassmen should avoid sugar and other unhealthy foods. His favorite show of all time is “Breaking Bad.” Gryffin says he has been greatly impacted by the boys track team coaches, Mr. Daulhauser and Mr. Wagner. He looks up to David Goggins because of his great work ethic. His favorite quote is, “You have to want it, you have to want it more than anything,” by David Goggins. Gryffin’s greatest fear is growing old. He would like to be remembered for being healthy and living a long time.

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STUDY HABITS 

By Lillie Greenlee, freshman, staff writer

There are many good and bad study habits that you should get into or out of. One of the good study habits would be studying as soon as possible. It’s not good to put off all your work. If you do the work as soon as you can, you won’t have to worry about it anymore. You also will get the peace of knowing you have all of your work done. So, getting your work done as soon as you can is really the best option.

Another good study habit is finding a place where you study best. This can improve the quality of your work and ensure that you’re in a comfortable setting.

While there are many good study habits, there are also multiple bad ones that you should try to avoid. A bad study habit would be simply copying someone else’s work. This is unethical and you aren’t learning anything when you copy. Then when you have to do something like a test, you will be a lot less prepared than you could have been.

Another bad study habit would be putting off your work until the last second. This is really just not good because you’ll be rushing through your work, it will probably be sloppy and you won’t do as well as you could have done.

All in all, you should try to get into the good study habits and get rid of the bad ones.

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 WHY TEACHERS SHOULD GET PAID MORE

By Addie Astley, sophomore, staff writer

Why should teachers get paid more? In my opinion, it’s because they deserve it. They work five days a week and are responsible for each kid they have in their classes every day. Teaching and working with every student from day to day has its positives but also has its negatives. Teachers feel a lot of stress, anger, anxiety and frustration. Teachers do so much for their students and for other teachers more than people realize. Teachers deserve higher pay because they work very hard for their students and are there for them all the time.

If teachers got paid more, I think there would be better education toward students. The teachers would feel like they are getting paid what they deserve. Teachers are overworked for their pay, and it should be equal. According to https://www.rand.org/news/press/2023, more than half of the teachers are unsatisfied with their pay. Teachers are so important to the education system and raising the pay even a little bit would help with bringing teachers in. Raising teacher pay is a need for the school and education system.

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WRESTLERS QUALIFY FOR STATE 

By Maddy Carstens, junior, and Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writers

Joel Cooper is one of the two Panorama wrestlers to make it to state wrestling this year. Qualifying at Ogden districts, Joel is excited to be wrestling at state. He says, “There is no stage bigger than Iowa State championships.” Joel says that after districts, he was not only thrilled to go to state in the first place, but he was also looking forward to the opportunity to wrestle at Wells Fargo Arena. To warm up, Joel stretches, drinks lots of water, and eats a snack to get himself ready to wrestle. Joel says the thing that he is most excited about is the opportunity to prove himself to everyone.

Joel says he wanted to wrestle in general because his older cousins wrestled, and six of them went to state a couple of times each. Joel’s wrestler that he looks up to is Dan Gable because he has a great work ethic that is “unmatched by anyone else.” Joel would like to thank Coaches Jason Kirtley, Garrett Johnston and Ben McDaniel for helping him in wrestling and going to state because they taught Joel everything he knows. Joel would also like to thank his mom and dad for being there for him and supporting him every step of the way. Joel’s advice to others about wrestling is to work harder than the day before. He says when times get tough, think about what they are working for. Give it up for wrestler and State Qualifier Joel Cooper!

Cayden Vanmeer has been wrestling for 13 years and qualified for the state wrestling tournament this year. He has a strong mindset, and he has expectations of winning. This was one of his greatest accomplishments, as well as his record of 43 wins and 3 losses. Before wrestling matches, Cayden spends time in the locker room to take his mind off the stress of the match. His go-to warm-up song is “Neighborhood Superstar” by NBA Youngboy. Throughout the years, his family and parents have been his biggest supporters. They have been by his side, whether he won or lost.

Throughout his wrestling career, there have been many challenges. But one of the greatest challenges has been showing up every day wanting to be better, and accepting that it will suck, but you have to do it to accomplish the goals you set. Cayden’s greatest memory during wrestling was going to the state tournament with Wyatt Appleseth and qualifying for state his senior year. Being one on one and knowing it’s you versus your opponent are his favorite parts of wrestling. Cayden will miss being with his teammates, coaches and, of course, being in the moment of wrestling.

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VALENTINES FOR PERRY

By Marlee Herring, eighth grader, staff writer

The Panorama School’s student-run GSA club sponsored a district-wide activity to provide handmade Valentines to the Perry School District. The activity was to show support for the victims of the recent school shooting there. The idea for the show of love was that of sophomore and GSA Vice President, Baylyn Herring.

On Feb. 1, the Panorama GSA had its monthly meeting and agreed to move forward with the idea. In 13 short days, with the overwhelming support of students and staff, that idea became a reality. Baylyn Herring, Vanessa Phillips and Cindy Christe delivered almost 2,000 valentines (896 to the elementary, 395 to the middle school, and 589 to the high school, as well as about 100 to St. Patrick’s Catholic School).

The Panorama GSA would like to thank everyone in the Panorama Community School District for all of the help and support.

“The GSA could not have done it without community and school support. Thank you for the hours, the materials, the donations, and most of all the love,” said Vanessa Phillips, Panorama GSA sponsor.

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Pictured: Mary Fett, Maddy Lutz, Clara Colby, Nick Turner, Easton Berhow, Jaysen Stagg, Atlas Yates, Taylin Woolheater and Emme Hardisty

SINGING VALENTINES

By Miyah Small, eighth grader, staff writer

For Valentine’s Day, Panorama Jazz Choir offered Singing Valentines. They were sold by the members of the choir at lunch to students. The purchase included a personalized note, a song sung by the jazz choir, and a bag of sweet treats. Each of these cost $5. On Valentine’s Day, the Jazz Choir went to each class and gave the treats and sang their song about love. These were a great way for students to spread cheer and love on Valentine’s Day.

Members of the ACGC FFA Chapter are shown at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Front row: Belle Fagan, Carley Fagan, Gracie Hodges, Irelyn Wirt, Lucy Knutter and Caydance Boals. Back row: Bo Arrasmith, Gavin Sloss, Jarrett McClain, Tucker Carroll, Weston Hambleton and Bryce Betts. Photo Courtesy of ACGC FFA

ACGC FFA MEMBERS ATTEND NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION AND EXPO

By BO ARRASMITH | ACGC FFA Reporter

On Wednesday, Nov. 1, 12 members departed for the National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Upon arrival in Indianapolis, members attended the CINCH World’s Toughest Rodeo. Along the way, members got the opportunity to visit the Indianapolis 500, Ozark Fisheries, Indiana Zoo, and Top Golf. Besides learning about different avenues of the agricultural industry, members attended one full day of the National Convention. Here, students got the opportunity to meet people from across the United States and U.S. territories through attending workshops and sessions. They also got the opportunity to tour the career and college fair. Members who had the opportunity to attend that did not accompany the rest of the group were Isabelle Rouse, who was in the National FFA Band, and James Hodges, who received his American FFA Degree.

The first convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri, with 33 delegates from 18 states in attendance. The organization grew quickly with the second National FFA Convention in November of 1929 playing host to 64 delegates representing 33 states. Some landmark decisions, many of which are still seen today, were made at those early get-togethers. National blue and corn gold were adopted as FFA’s official colors in 1929, and the third convention in 1930 saw the adoption of the FFA Creed written by E.M. Tiffany. Today, there are more than 65,000 members and guests who attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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KIRKHAM PLANS TO ATTEND U OF I, BECOME EDUCATOR

By MAX SILLS | Black and Gold Staff Writer

Being a senior is a special time in any student’s life. For Guthrie Center native Megan Kirkham, there are many memories that come with this year.

After high school, Kirkham will be attending the University of Iowa where she will major in elementary education. Her goal is to become a kindergarten teacher.

“I feel I’ve always worked well with children, and I think it’ll be fulfilling,” she said.

Kirkham said she chose the University of Iowa because it has been her goal to attend there since she was little.

While attending ACGC High School, Kirkham has participated in The Battle of the Books, FCCLA among other activities. She has several memories of her time in high school.

“One of the most memorable things that we did while in high school would have to be when the whole school got to play board games before Christmas Break,” she said. “I think that was my freshman year.”

Kirkham said she can think of two faculty members who have impacted her time at the high school — those being Mrs. Barb South and Mr. Bob Bolton.

“They both have been very supportive and easy to talk to. I have always felt welcome in their classroom,” she said.

Kirkham has a few thoughts about life after graduation.

“I am super excited to graduate, but, with that being said, I am a little bit nervous about what’s to come,” she said.

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STATE OFFICER VISITS ACGC FFA CHAPTER

By BO ARRASMITH | Chapter Reporter

The ACGC FFA Chapter welcomed Iowa FFA State Officer Collin Bauer to a chapter visit on Dec. 11. While at the high school, the officer discussed opportunities in FFA, and the students participated in leadership-building and teamwork activities. During a year of service to the organization, Iowa FFA officers serve as ambassadors for agriculture and the FFA. They travel to FFA chapters throughout the state to connect with members and talk about the many opportunities available to students enrolled in agricultural education. Agricultural education incorporates three aspects of learning. The classroom provides basic knowledge. FFA develops leadership and personal skills. A Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) provides hands-on learning while working or in an agricultural business. The Iowa FFA Association comprises 285 local chapters preparing more than 19,200 students for future career opportunities. FFA activities and award programs complement instruction in agricultural education by giving students practical experience in applying agricultural skills and knowledge gained in classes. Through agricultural education, FFA makes a positive difference in students’ lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

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CELEBRATING GUTHRIE COUNTY QUALITY MEATS’ FIRST YEAR

By ALIYAH PLAGMAN | Black & Gold Staff Writer

 A year ago, Guthrie County Quality Meats opened its doors to the public, providing a much needed meat locker in Guthrie County. Owner Grant Sheeder provided some insight into the business’s first year.

“Busy, very busy,” Sheeder said, “A lot of learning would be the best way to describe it.”

A few highlights Sheeder mentioned about Quality Meats first year was passing their sales goals and “having a good crew working with us.”

Most every new business faces struggles in the beginning. Sheeder said getting products in a timely manner has been a struggle for the locker, as well as transportation costs. Within the next year, the business plans to eliminate or improve any inefficiencies.

“More people power or better equipment would be the best way to do it,” Sheeder said.

Some new features Quality Meats plans to add to their business include expanding their home delivery service and putting their meats on the shelves of grocery stores and in restaurants, as well as adding more products to their selection.

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Photo by Eric Coop | Black & Gold Advisor

ACGC HOLDS SEND-OFF CEREMONY FOR WRESTLERS WHO QUALIFIED FOR STATE TOURNAMENT

 ACGC wrestlers Tegan Slaybaugh, Gavin Sloss, Ryder Cline, Michael Fuller, Carter Richter and Payton Jacobe are shown during their sendoff ceremony at ACGC High School in Guthrie Center Tuesday afternoon. The six boy wrestlers, which ties a school record, will compete in Des Moines at the state tournament starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14. 

Readers Theatre front row: Hadley Klein, Taylin Woolheater, Avery Bahrenfuss, Gracie Richter, Riley Gibson and Meredith Woodworth; back row: Noah Poldberg, Jaysen Stagg and Maddox Nunn.

STATE LARGE GROUP SPEECH 

By Holliday Mertens, freshman, staff writer

State Large Group Speech was to be held Saturday, Feb. 3 at Ankeny Centennial. Panorama’s very own Readers Theatre (Avery Bahrenfuss, Riley Gibson, Hadley Klein, Maddox Nunn, Noah Poldberg, Gracie Richter, Jaysen Stagg, Meredith Woodworth and Taylin Woolheater), Choral Reading (Piper Godwin, Emme Hardisty, Sabrina Huitt, Evelyn Hummel, Aubrey Lincoln, Anna Thompson and Nick Turner) and Musical Theatre (Emme Hardisty, Noah Poldberg, Jaysen Stagg, Anna Thompson and Taylin Woolheater) were supposed to compete to, hopefully, advance to All-State. However, only Choral Reading was able to perform. A bomb threat cut the competition short. All were evacuated immediately, and no one was harmed. The contest was moved to Monday, Feb. 5. On Saturday, Choral Reading, performed “Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, which earned a score of 1-2-1, bringing their overall score to 1.

On Monday, Musical Theatre performed selections from “Avenue Q” by Jeff Whitty, which received a score of 1-1-2, making their overall score a 1. Readers Theatre earned the highest score of 1-1-1 with “The Norse Mythology Ragnasplosion” by Don Zolidis. All-State competitors were announced on Tuesday. With that, congratulations to Readers Theatre for being selected as a non-performer at All-State. Congrats to Musical Theatre and Choral Reading for making it as far as they did. Go, Panthers!

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: GRACIE RICHTER 

By Jessy Randol, freshman, staff writer

Gracie Richter will graduate from the class of 2024 with the plan to go to college for medical school or a business major. During high school, Gracie has been active in track and large group speech. Gracie’s proudest accomplishment was getting her four steps down in hurdles. Throughout her time at Panorama, Mrs. King was her favorite teacher because she enjoyed how she taught and she is a kind person. Gracie’s biggest advice to younger classmates is to be respectful to your teachers. Throughout her high school career, her biggest challenge was stressing out about things that could easily be solved.

Gracie grew up in Adair. Her favorite meal is chicken alfredo. When Gracie has free time, she likes to watch “Grey’s Anatomy” or hang out with her friends. If Gracie only had three words to describe herself, they’d be as funny, hardworking and kind. Gracie looks up to her mom because she has taught her to discipline herself and she has sacrificed a lot to get Gracie everything she needs. Overall, we will all miss Gracie’s joyous and spunky personality in the student section. We wish her luck in all of her future activities.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: ASHTON STAUFFER 

By Hailey Hellman, freshman, staff writer

Ashton Stauffer is a senior at Panorama Schools. He is involved in basketball. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and Adel. Ashton’s biggest challenge all through high school was transferring schools for his senior year, having to leave behind all the people he knew in Adel and come to Panorama where he hardly knew anyone.

Ashton looks up to his mom and his dad because they have had a big impact on his life. Mr. Little is his favorite teacher because of his great jokes. If he could go back and tell his younger self something, it would be, “Cherish every moment.” Coach Peasley’s quote, “Dare to be great” is his favorite.

He would describe his last four years as fast, COVID and basketball. The most challenging task as a senior has been learning how to use his voice in basketball and communicate. He hasn’t chosen where he’s going to attend college but does have some schools in mind. He plans to achieve his goals through hard work and dedication. Overall, Ashton Stauffer wants to be remembered as a hard worker. In 10 years, he imagines himself settled down in either Iowa or Nebraska and just living life.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: MADDOX HAMMERSTROM 

By Jessy Randol, freshman, staff writer

Maddox Hammerstrom has been an active student at Panorama. He has participated in basketball, soccer, football, golf, track and band throughout his high school career. His plans after high school are to attend Northwestern to play basketball. Maddox plans to achieve his goals after high school by working hard and following God because he believes everything will work out from there. He would describe his last four years of school as hectic, fun and, overall, way too short. His most proud achievement is having the opportunity to play basketball in college because that has been his dream since he was younger.

Maddox grew up in Panora. He spends his free time either golfing or playing basketball. His most impactful coach throughout the years has been his basketball coach, Coach Peasley. The biggest advice he would give an underclassman is to work hard and, most importantly, have fun. As the years go on, he wants people to remember him for basketball. As you can see, Maddox sure does have a passion. If he could go back and tell his younger self something, he would say to not worry so much and chill out. Maddox is a well-known student athlete around the community of Panora, and we will miss him next year in all of our activities. We wish the best of luck to Maddox as he begins this next chapter of his life.

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Honor Band pictured: Mr. Shorey, Sabrina Huitt, Kaden Sanders and Emily Garcia

PANORAMA HONOR BAND

By Bjoerg Skovgaard, sophomore, staff writer

On Jan. 26, some of the Panorama band members went to the UNI Northern Festival of Bands for Honor band. Honor band is an opportunity for students to learn and experience musical challenges. “Honor bands are always a special trip, as it allows students to play with other students from other schools,” says Panorama band teacher Mr. Shorey. This music festival is a particularly special one for him since it was hosted by his alma mater. Mr. Shorey also mentions that he had participated in many other honor bands in high school, so he felt comfortable coaching these kids through a major festival, such as NFB. He recommends that underclassmen participate in the Honor Band since the focus of this honor band, in contrast to others such as All-State, is education in all areas of music performance. The kids were provided a chance to learn from composers on how they interpret their own music, worked with the UNI faculty in masterclasses, and heard many chamber ensemble concerts in between their rehearsals. It is a great experience for any high schooler, and it lets them see what’s out there for music after graduation.

For Mr. Shorey, the best part of the Honor Band is watching the kids in rehearsal and seeing their growth and becoming a completely different band and musicians. “In the student’s own personal development, they enjoyed getting to play with about 10 times more players than we have in our band here at Panorama. It was an opportunity for them to experiment more with dynamics and presented new challenges, such as coordinating with many players who are far away from themselves,” says Mr. Shorey. The only disadvantage was that the students needed to be more mentally prepared, and it can be difficult for kids to have only a little downtime. Even so, the students are already looking forward to next year, and that was a huge surprise for Mr. Shorey. Additionally, for Mr. Shorey, there is something special about taking select students who are dedicated to the program and giving them an opportunity to flourish. He believes that is what this trip was all about — watching these underclassmen mature into independent musicians.

This was as close to the ideal trip as Mr. Shorey could possibly imagine. At his alma mater, with highly dedicated students, learning all about band, and working with world-class musicians — you can’t have a better trip.

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PANORAMA’S GOT TALENT

By Miyah Small, eighth-grader, staff writer

The Panorama’s Got Talent is a talent show for the students of Panorama. The participants ranged from sixth grade to seniors. The students showcased their talents for the community. The acts could be anything such as singing, dancing, magic and more.

For this year, the show was on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. There were no judges; instead, the audience voted for their favorite act. The admission was free for all who wished to watch and cheer on the participants.

Results for the talent show were: Middle School division – first place: Evynn Stagg and Nella Rivas, who sang and danced; second place: Kaylee Michaelson, who also sang; and third place: Ava Thorn, who danced. High School division – first place Donovin Delp and Riley Gibson, who danced; second place: Lindy Nelson and Arilyan Steenblock, who sang and acted; and third place: Nevaeh Joynes, who sang. Thanks to all who participated in performing, cheering on the contestants and voting.

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LEARNING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST

By Marlee Herring, eighth-grader staff writer

Mrs. Dorhout’s eighth-grade language arts classes are learning about the holocaust. Students have been studying why the holocaust started, and what happened during and after World War II. The students have done a lot of research and activities during this time and have created many projects. Some of these include the seven steps to immigration during the war and creating a poster about a specific survivor of the holocaust. The students have been learning many different aspects of the war including why people got persecuted, what Hitler deemed the “perfect race,” why people couldn’t escape, and many more interesting topics.

The students have also been reading the play, “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Students are getting a firsthand account by reading a character’s part and being immersed in their story. They get a look into the life of a group of people hiding from the Nazis in an annex. Mrs. Dorhout has done a great job helping students understand both the tragedies and triumphs of these important historical events.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: ALIYAH FORTNER 

By Taylin Woolheater, sophomore, staff writer

During Aliyah’s free time, she enjoys reading, biking and training her dog. She grew up in Huxley, and her biggest challenge was moving to a new school and having to start all over again. If she could talk to her younger self, she would tell herself everything will be OK. She explains her high school years have been like a reality show. At Panorama, she has been involved in football cheer, wrestling cheer, basketball cheer, FFA and soccer. Aliyah’s biggest role model is her mom because she is the strongest person she knows, and every day she tries her hardest to emulate her and her wisdom. Over time, Coach Wesselmann has impacted Fortner the most, and Mr. Hameister is her favorite teacher at Panorama because he gives good advice and can help make difficult moments better. The most challenging senior task for her has been taking on a leadership role in football cheer and spearheading summer practices.

Aliyah plans to attend college for biology or nursing after high school. She plans to achieve her goals after high school by working hard and following God’s plan for her life. In 10 years, she imagines herself living somewhere warmer and having a job she loves. Her biggest accomplishments so far are obtaining her CNA certification and her pinning ceremony. When she looks back at this school year, she will mainly remember the special connections she has made through her school activities. Aliyah’s advice for underclassmen is to sign up for sports, activities and clubs because many wonderful friendships and relationships can be formed from them. She wants to be remembered for being kind and gracious toward others.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: LINDY NELSON 

By Hailey Hellman, freshman, staff writer

Lindy Nelson is a senior at Panorama this year. She plays basketball and softball. Also, she plans to go to college for softball and study business. Lindy found it difficult to stay on top of her classes, but, in the end, is proud of the person she is today. If she could tell the underclassmen anything, it would be to go to sporting events, spend time with your friends, and care about your grades. Most of all, she looks up to her dad for never giving up on her when others did.

Lindy describes herself as independent, hardworking and respectful. She loves chili, crackers and cheese. In her free time, she watches “Grey’s Anatomy” and hangs out with her friends. Her favorite quote is, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. Overall, Lindy wants to be remembered as the girl who is nice to everyone.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: RILEY GIBSON 

By Jessy Randol, freshman, staff writer

Riley Gibson has been involved in FFA, dance team, speech, drama and NHS. After high school, she plans to attend a four-year college to receive a marketing degree. Riley plans to achieve her four-year college degree by working really hard to help her in the future. Riley’s favorite teacher has been Mrs. Perez because she loved taking Spanish class with her and she found a way to make her laugh. The most impactful coach to Riley is Mikeely Denger because she has made long and tiring practice fun. Riley’s biggest challenge in high school was her junior year because there were many tough classes.

Riley grew up in Panora. If she could go back and tell her younger self something, it would be to make sure you get your work done immediately and to not procrastinate. Riley looks up to her dad because he seems to know the right answers to everything. In 10 years, Riley sees herself with a full-time job living in England. When she looks back at this school year in her later years, she will remember speech and her friends the most. Riley’s biggest and most proud accomplishment was when she was crowned the 2024 Guthrie County Fair Queen. We all can’t wait to see what remarkable things Riley will do in the future with her big dreams. Panorama will miss seeing her bright and spirited smiles around school.

THE PURPOSE BEHIND TATU

By Aden Rochholz, sophomore, staff writer

TATU was made to help educate kids about tobacco. TATU stands for Teens Against Tobacco Use. High schooler students who participate in TATU help fifth-grade students learn about the dangers of tobacco. TATU happens once a week for six weeks, and every session is 45 minutes.

TATU is important because students should learn about the dangers of tobacco early. It helps them learn how to avoid tobacco even with peer pressure. The students also learn about the negative effects of tobacco on the human body.

On Team Druivenga are Landon Kirtley, Cayden Iredale, Elah Molloy, Evelyn Hummel, Brayden Gaivan, Austin Wagner, Anna Thompson, Trey Boettcher and Ashton Kunce. On Team Coy are Joel Cooper, Sawyer Simmons, Faith Recker, Ava Thompson, Morgan Crees, Brayden Meinecke, Dylan Donovan and Aden Rochholz. Deanna Van Gundy, the school nurse, is in charge of this program at Panorama.

 IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR SCHOOL

By Lillie Greenlee, freshman, staff writer

There are many important skills and habits that help students be the most successful they can be. One skill is making sure you get all of your work done on time. Another skill is being able to make sure you have time for everything, so time management. Lastly, it’s important to get in the habit of studying.

Getting your work done on time is obviously vital for passing a class. Not only that, but actually putting in effort on your work is important for learning. If you’re just doing it to get it done, but not doing it right, you’re not really learning anything. For me, I feel on edge if I don’t have my work done, but that’s also because I’ve just always made sure to get it done. I feel so relieved when I get my work done because I don’t have to worry about it anymore. I feel so much better when I actually put effort into something. I feel proud, and I don’t feel nervous about turning it in. When I do something and don’t try, I have no expectations and no confidence. Personally, I like to feel proud of my work and to know that I actually tried.

The next skill really goes along with the first one, but it’s still very important. Time management is important for not only your school life but your home life as well. If you’re in a lot of sports, have a job, or are just busy, it can be difficult to have time for your school work, too. However, just because you’re busy, that doesn’t mean you should be excused from getting your work done. Whenever I have something going on, I try and get my homework done right after school. Really, I try to do that in general, though. You should set goals and have your priorities straight. Even if you are in sports, your school work should come first, because if you don’t do well on that, you can’t participate in sports anyway. If you’re an extremely busy person, a good idea would be to get a planner or a calendar of some sort. That way, you can see all of the things you need to do, and you can make sure you do all of them. Having a lot of work can be overwhelming, so this could really help. I would definitely say that if you can help it, do the things that are most important first, even if you don’t want to. You shouldn’t put things off, especially if they’re important. If you really don’t have time for schoolwork outside of school, you should try to get it done in school. For example, if you have a study hall or work time, you should use that time efficiently for work and not get distracted.

Lastly, a very important habit is studying. I know this is something a lot of people don’t like doing. However, it’s vital for doing well in school. People will complain about how they didn’t do well on a test, but they didn’t do anything to prepare for it. Plus, there are a lot of fun ways to study. It’s also not like you have to study for hours in one night. I would definitely suggest studying for a shorter amount of time multiple times than just for a long time only once. That takes a lot less time, and I feel more ready for a test when I just study multiple times.

In conclusion, there are multiple easy things you can do to help you do much better in high school. Getting your work done is important for your grades and well-being. Time management is very important to not be stressed and to make sure you have time for everything important. Lastly, it’s important to get in the habit of studying. All of these skills will help you become the best student you can be. They are easy once you get in the habit of doing all of them.

 PANORAMA DANCE TEAM’S “SNOW DAY” 

By Miyah Small, eighth grader, staff writer

The Panorama High School Dance Team hosted the annual winter dance clinic. There are many participants ranging from preschoolers to seniors on the dance team. The clinic has a different theme every year. There are many different styles of dance depending on the theme.

This year, the theme was “Snow Day.” With the theme being winter, one of the dances was choreographed to the song “Let it Go” from the movie “Frozen.” All of the participants received pom-poms to dance in the group finale with and a T-shirt to wear during performances. After the clinic was over, anyone who wished got some hot cocoa to make it feel like a real snow day. The dance routine was performed at the Show of Shows and halftime of the boys basketball game.

THE HISTORY OF YOUTUBE

By Holliday Mertens, freshman, staff writer

Did you know that YouTube started off as a dating website? It’s true! In April of 2005, YouTube was founded as a dating website where people would make videos introducing themselves. Under where you would sign in, the website said, “I’m a (male/female) seeking (everyone/males/females) between (18/99) and (18/99). The first video uploaded on YouTube was by one of its founders, titled, “Me at the zoo.” After YouTube being a dating website, its founders changed it to a website to upload any type of video for simple fun.

After a while, YouTube would become one of the biggest social media platforms in the world. YouTube started paying content creators, and videos would become more high-quality. Some big channels from the past and present include Smosh, PewDiePie, MrBeast, and more. The current most subscribed channel is Indian music company T-Series.

To summarize, YouTube has gone through major changes to become what it is today.

Information for this article was obtained from archive.org.

BON VOYAGE TO MRS. CHURCH 

By Marlee Herring, eighth grader, staff writer

Mrs. Carla Church is retiring from Panorama at the end of the school year after 10 years of service. She is the TAG teacher for elementary, middle and high school students. She pulls elementary students for acceleration in math and enrichment in English language arts and helps them expand their opportunities. In the middle school, she organizes teams for academic competitions like First Lego League, Battle of the Books, Mathcounts, and Knowledge Bowl. She also helps high school students with their schedules, as well as other various academic opportunities.

She says that she is proud of helping students accomplish things they previously didn’t think they could and challenging them to expand their minds to new things. She says when students do difficult things, they can be rewarded by the results.

She says she will miss the students and seeing them grow up during their time at Panorama. One thing she won’t miss is waking up early in the morning. After retirement, she plans to be a grandma but really doesn’t know what else will be in store for her. She knows she wants to travel to Europe to visit the foreign exchange students she has previously hosted.

We thank Mrs. Church for her commitment to Panorama students. Be sure to congratulate her and wish her luck on her next adventure.

Front row: Gracie Richter, Meredith Woodworth, Hadley Klein, Riley Gibson; Second row: Taylin Woolheater, Aubrey Lincoln, Emme Hardisty, Piper Godwin; Back row: Evie Hummel, Sabrina Huitt, Nick Turner, Anna Thompson and Jaysen Stagg. Not pictured: Noah Poldberg, Maddox Nunn, Avery Bahrenfuss.

PANORAMA SPEECH: ON TO STATE!

By Holliday Mertens, freshman, staff writer

Congratulations to Panorama Speech’s Reader’s Theater, Choral Reading, and Musical Theater for making it to State! Students moving to State in Reader’s Theater include Avery Bahrenfuss, Riley Gibson, Hadley Klein, Maddox Nunn, Noah Poldberg, Gracie Richter, Jaysen Stagg, Meredith Woodworth and Taylin Woolheater. Students competing in Choral Reading are Piper Godwin, Emme Hardisty, Sabrina Huitt, Evelyn Hummel, Aubrey Lincoln, Anna Thompson and Nick Turner. Finally, Musical Theater students are Emme Hardisty, Noah Poldberg, Jaysen Stagg, Anna Thompson and Taylin Woolheater. Also, a huge congratulations to coaches Mr. Helm, Ms. Wooldridge and Mrs. Gafkjen. State Speech will be on Feb. 3 at Ankeny Centennial.

The Musical Theater team sang three songs from “Avenue Q” by Jeff Whitty. Choral Reading read “Telltale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. Finally, our Reader’s Theater team read “The Norse Mythology Ragnasplosion” by Don Zolidis. Once again, congrats to everyone who made it to State Speech! Go, Panthers!

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Front row: Emma Johnson, Cora Fluharty, Reece David, Ella King, Taylor Fronapfel, Ella Carrico, Evelyn Hummel, Zach Hayden; Back row: Cody Kastner, Jaime Fronapfel, Bridget White, Alexis Olson, Danica Isom, Evan Johnson, Abby Zaruba and Sawyer Simmons.

PANORAMA FFA SUBDISTRICTS

By Maddy Carstens, junior, staff writer

This year, Panorama FFA members competed in the annual Subdistricts competition. Fifteen members went in person to compete in their group or singular competitions. Along with the 15 attending members, three other members submitted quizzes hoping to be awarded placings. The event was held on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Anita. Subdistricts are a string of competitions consisting of four different competition levels. Subdistricts are first, following Districts, then State. Sometimes, depending on the competition, the competitor(s) might even move on to National Convention, which is the highest competition. Each different competition has different dates. The next competition, Districts, is March 2 at Clarinda. The results are in for the subdistrict competitions.

Cody Kastner competed in individual Ag Sales, receiving a gold rating, along with being an alternate for districts. Danica Isom competed in Creed Speaking, receiving a bronze rating. Ella Carico, Taylor Fronapfel, Zach Hayden, Evelyn Hummel and Abby Zaruba competed in Parliamentary Procedure, receiving a bronze rating and moving on to districts. Alexis Olson, Bridget White, Cora Fluharty, Jamie Fronapfel, Ella King, Emma Johnson and Reece David competed in Conduct of Meetings, receiving a bronze rating. Sawyer Simmons competed in Arc Welding, receiving a gold rating and advancing to districts. The three members who submitted quizzes also received placings. Abby Zaruba took the Chapter quiz, receiving a gold rating and placing fifth. Sam Hansen took the Discovery quiz, receiving a gold rating and placing first. Malia Jacobson also took the Discovery quiz, receiving a silver rating and placing ninth.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: KAITLIN KENT 

By Hailey Hellman, freshman, staff writer

Kaitlin Kent’s plans after high school are to attend the University of Iowa or Northern Iowa to major in criminology. She participates in soccer, basketball, FCA, NHS, student council and Panther Pride Service Club. Her biggest advice to underclassmen is to remember that freshman grades do matter. The most challenging part of high school for Kaitlin was trying to juggle classes and activities.

Kaitlin grew up at Lake Panorama. She loves to watch “Gilmore Girls,” play with her dog, hang out with her boyfriend, and jet skiing. Coach Boettcher has made the biggest impact on Kaitlin. After she graduates from high school, she wants to look back and be remembered as a passionate woman.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: HANNAH HARDISTY 

By Mason Halling, junior, staff writer

Hannah Hardisty plans to go to college for childhood education and then become a kindergarten or first-grade teacher. She grew up in Panora and is the founder of GSA. She has participated in IYC Theater and Art Club. Her favorite teacher is Mrs. Perez, and if she could describe her last four years in three words, she would say “could’ve been worse.” In her free time, she plays video games, draws, writes and makes jewelry. In 10 years, she sees herself living with friends, being a teacher and, hopefully, still drawing.

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BEING A POSITIVE INFLUENCE

By Baylyn Herring, sophomore

Sometimes in our day-to-day lives, finding something positive can be a difficult thing to do. We all have stressful days and bad days, but sometimes we forget that other people have bad days, too. Too often, we think not about how we affect others but only how they affect us.

In order to be a kind, caring and positive person, we need to be able to put ourselves in other people’s shoes when they have hurt us and pause for a second before we say something hurtful and think. We need to think about all the things we do not know about. We do not know if they just lost a loved one or a pet. We do not know if they have had a stressful day and just failed their math test, or if money is tight at home. Whether you think you know or not, the likelihood is that you probably do not know what another person is going through.

You could be self-absorbed and choose to ignore the fact that you are most likely hurting someone who is already hurting. (People do not act harshly for no reason.) On the other hand, you could be a bigger person and react with kindness or, at the very least, ignore their harsh words.

When being a kind person, sometimes we need to look around and not be so focused inwardly that we forget that we are all human. We all have good and bad days, and we need to remember to be kind and gracious to our fellow human beings.

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HABITS OF SUCCESS 

By Jessy Randol, freshman, staff writer

Do you want to be successful in life? Most people would say yes. There are many different ways a person can be successful. Not all people have the same perspective of success. Success to one person may be getting a scholarship to college but, to another person, it may be getting food on the table for their family. The definition of success can vary from children all the way to adulthood.

Success is definitely a hot thought for teenagers looking into their own future. Teens know that the future is coming soon with increased difficulties, and they still want to be successful. Teens should learn to master some important skills in order to benefit them in their successful future.

The first skill one may need to obtain to be successful in high school is active listening. In order to learn anything in life, you need to learn from the wiser people who already have the knowledge. Active listening can be used with teachers, family, friends and coaches. There are a lot of things going on in high school that require learning a new skill. For example, in order to be successful in volleyball, you need to go to practice. People cannot just expect to be flawless the first time they do something. A person would need to listen to his or her coaches and other teammates to improve the ability to play the game successfully. Success does not come easy; it takes time and hard work.

Another skill that is needed to be successful in high school is communication. Communicating is such an important skill in life. A teenager may use this skill to ask a teacher for help, tell a coach you are hurt, or even telling your parents that you love them. High school students are not able to be absent without letting their own teachers know. If they don’t communicate with their teachers, they risk getting behind in work, which will perform negatively on the student.

Lastly, an important skill is time management. Time management is a huge skill for a teenager to obtain. Many teens are overloaded with things and don’t know how to manage everything properly. That causes them to break down. For example, young freshmen try to get involved in as many extracurricular activities as they can. They end up being in Student Council, FFA, NHS, volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, dance team and also have an outside job. All of these activities are on top of a packed schedule at school, which they have already spent eight hours at, with extra homework to do as well when they get home. This could go either really well for a teen or extremely bad. If teens do not know how to manage time wisely and efficiently, they could crash. Their grades could go down, lose positions and roles in their extracurriculars due to bad grades, lose a bond with friends or family, or even lose sleep. On the other hand, if teens know how to properly manage their time, this could be extremely beneficial. When students are applying to different colleges, this will help them out tremendously.

In conclusion, despite the different definitions of success, the skills of each one are the same. If they properly know how to listen, communicate and manage time, this will assist them in being successful. Gaining these skills will not only give teenagers success in high school but will also give them three important skills to bring to their adulthood.

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TEACHER FEATURE: MR. BRUCE DAHLHAUSER

By Miranda Laabs, sophomore, staff writer

Mr. Bruce Dahlhauser has been teaching at Panorama for seven years. His favorite part about teaching is that he continues to live out his passions. Another one of his favorite parts is that he can create a positive culture and build relationships with everyone in the district. Mr. Dahlhauser has been trusted with many positions, including running the strength and conditioning program through the school. His biggest drive for building up this program has been the positive impact of building strength within not just an individual, but as well as athletic departments and the community. Getting people to start, and stay consistent, has been one challenge for Mr. Dahlhauser. Building strength takes time and only happens if you are willing to put in effort and stay consistent.

When asked what his “ideal” day was, Mr. Dahlhauser had said starting the day with a workout and breakfast before the students come in to lift. Throughout the school day, it consists of tons of smiling faces and seeing kids who are excited about what they are doing. After the school day, Mr. Dahlhauser goes home to spend time with his family. One thing that Mr. Dahlhauser wished he could do more is spend time with other relatives. As a teacher and running extra programs through the school, he doesn’t get much time to see other family members.