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.

Pictured Front row left to right: Elizabeth Lopez, Clint Isom and Mason Crees; Back row left to right: Grace Tripple, Miyah Small, Norah Grove and Julianna Schroeder

LEGO LEAGUE COMPETITION 

By Taylin Woolheater | sophomore, staff writer

Panorama LEGO League competed at Johnston Regional’s FIRST LEGO League Competition. FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams are preparing all season to compete and perform at regional tournaments. At regionals, judges will give valuable feedback to the competitors about their robots, codes and overall inventions. The final challenge of the team’s work takes place at the Robot Game table. Students race for a personal best score and the opportunity to compete at a local championship. Panorama’s team, Panther1, received 245 points at the Robot Game table, becoming the second-highest score for a Panorama team. Congratulations to Elizabeth Lopez, Clint Isom, Mason Crees, Grace Tripple, Miyah Small, Norah Grove and Julianna Schroeder on the fifth and eighth-grade team.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: SETH SHAFFER 

By Aden Rochholz | sophomore, staff writer

 Seth Shaffer is a senior at Panorama High School who grew up in Woodbine. Seth moved to Panora in 2015. Seth has been in the band since he was in sixth grade. Seth’s advice for lower classmen is that they should “quit messing around the whole class period.” His favorite teacher is Mrs. Randel because she would help him with any problems he had. Seth’s parents have had a great impact on his life. Seth wants to be in a nice, calm home with a dog. Seth will remember spending quality time with his friends in 10 years. Seth’s favorite quote is: “Life is like a box of chocolates” by Forest Gump. As a senior, Seth’s biggest challenge is getting through the year. We wish Seth a bright future after he graduates from Panorama.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: JOSEPH PERRIGO 

By Jadyn Lawrence | freshman, staff writer

Joseph Perrigo is a senior at Panorama. Throughout his four years of high school, he has been involved in baseball, trapshooting and FFA. Joseph describes his high school experience as entertaining, interesting and exhausting. His favorite teacher is Mrs. Perez because even though he was not the best at Spanish, he learned a lot and enjoyed her class. His biggest challenge in high school was trying to schedule classes. If Joseph could go back and tell his younger self something, it would be hard work that would eventually pay off. After high school, Joseph plans on going to college for an agricultural business degree, while helping out on the family farm. He plans to achieve these goals by working hard and being dedicated. In Joseph’s free time, he likes to hang out with friends and fix many different things. When he looks back on his school years, he will remember most working in the school shop. Overall, Panorama wishes great luck on Joseph Perrigo’s new chapters in life.

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ACT PREPARATION INFORMATION 

By Taylin Woolheater | sophomore, staff writer

Students at Panorama have the opportunity to apply for ACT testing. The testing will occur on April 13 with a March 8 registration deadline, June 8 with a May 3 registration deadline, and July 13 with a June 7 registration deadline. Iowa colleges and universities do not require SAT or ACT scores for admissions, however, merit scholarships often do. There are printable ACT practice tests and online practice tests available for test-takers. To register, talk with Chris Webner.

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TEACHER FEATURE: MR. BRIAN BAHRENFUSS

By Maddy Carstens | junior, staff writer

Mr. Brian Bahrenfuss is a high school teacher at Panorama High School. He came to live in Panora in 2001, the same year he began his teaching career. Brian grew up, however, in Sheldon. He has been teaching for a total of 23 years. He says he was inspired to become a teacher by the teachers he had when he was a student.

Mr. Bahrenfuss teaches history classes, such as American Government, U.S. History, and World History. He says that his favorite class to teach is U.S. History because he likes to study the struggles our nation faced after the Civil War, also known as Reconstruction. Mr. Bahrenfuss also enjoys teaching history classes because it helps others understand how the world has developed over time. Mr. Bahrenfuss not only teaches but also coaches. He teaches high school boys baseball. He also attends the different school functions held at Panorama. He says some of his favorite activities held at Panorama High School are baseball games, speech competitions, homecoming and the Iron Games. He says he enjoys the students and staff he is able to work with at the school. Give it up for Mr. Brian Bahrenfuss.

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PANORAMA DANCE TEAM CLINIC 

By Maddy Carstens | junior, staff writer

The Panorama Dance Team has hosted an annual dance clinic in previous years. This event is for the younger generation of dancers at Panorama Community Schools. Every year has a specific theme tied to the clinic. This year, the theme is “Snow Day!” So, everyone, get your dancin’ pants on!

The choreography is being taught on Jan. 26, a no-school day. At 8 a.m., students preschool through kindergarten, and fifth through 12th will be learning the main dances. Then, from 10 a.m. to noon, first grade through 12th grade will be learning more dances. Finally, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., fifth grade through 12th grade will learn their final performances. Once all the kids have learned the dances for their certain age group, they will perform twice. The first time will be at the Panorama Dance Team’s “Show of Shows” performance at Panorama High School. The next and final performance will be at the boys basketball halftime on Jan. 29. “Snow Day!” is upon us in this annual tradition.

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SNOW DAYS FOR PANORAMA

By Bryce Dawes and Aden Rochholz | sophomores, staff writers

Panorama had the first two snow days of the school year when classes were canceled on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. About 7 inches of snow fell in Panora. Other schools around Iowa also received snow and were canceled as a result. These snow days occurred at the end of the second term, which caused some hassle, but the school figured everything out.

School at Panorama was canceled because the weather conditions made it difficult to drive. If school had not been canceled, the roads may have been a hazard to students driving to school or riding a school bus to school. The school has snow days for the safety of the students and workers who go to the school.

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SNOWCOMING WRAP UP

By Jessy Randol | freshman, staff writer

The week of Jan. 8 was our 12th year of the annual Snowcoming at Panorama. This year, all of the donations received during the week will be headed to Tori’s Angels, Team Gafkjen, Alpha-1, United with Liberty: Childhood Cancer, School Food Pantry, and Perry Schools. During the week, dress-up days were held for each charity.

On Monday, students wore pink to support Team Gafkjen. On Tuesday, students were supposed to wear yellow for United with Liberty: Childhood Cancer, but school was canceled due to inclement weather. On Wednesday, students were also supposed to wear white for the School Food Pantry, but, once again, school was canceled. During the entire week, students collected money, toilet paper, shampoo, women’s and men’s deodorant, bar soap, laundry soap, and tissues for the School Food Pantry. On Thursday, students wore blue for Tori’s Angels. Many community members supported this in the stands at the girls and boys varsity basketball games at Nodaway Valley. Panorama came home that night with two big victories. The girls had a close game of 56-43, and the boys won with a score of 84-60. On Thursday, the high school student council members went around during lunch to collect money for the winter formal tickets. Then on Friday, students were going to wear purple for Alpha-1, but it ended up that all activities had been canceled for the day due to weather. Lastly, students collected money at the winter formal. The students’ payments to get into the formal will all be included in these donations. Overall, $537 was raised, not including Venmo or extra donations from the day of the formal. The support throughout the week was appreciated. Go, Panthers!

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: ISAAC MONRROY-NUNEZ 

By Jadyn Lawrence and Jessy Randol | freshmen, staff writers

Isaac Monrroy-Nunez is a senior at Panorama. He has been active in wrestling and football during his high school career. During his four years of high school, Isaac’s favorite teacher has been Mrs. Lindstrom because she is “a fun and vibrant teacher.” His biggest challenge has been math. With that, Isaac struggled to get to class as a senior because he was “unmotivated.” Isaac describes his last four years as “interesting.” When he looks back on this school year, he would remember homecoming the most. During high school, Coach Johnston has been the most impactful to Isaac.

If Isaac could give any advice to underclassmen, it would be to have fun. Through all the ups and downs of high school, Isaac wishes he would have told himself to trust the process. When he looks back at his senior year, Isaac is going to remember homecoming the most.

Isaac grew up in Guthrie Center and Panora. After high school, he plans on working. In Isaac’s free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, and his favorite food is Chinese. Something not many people know about him is “he is Batman.” In 10 years, Isaac sees himself living very comfortably. Overall, Isaac will be remembered as a funny, energetic, social and good person. All of us from Panorama wish Isaac the best with his next chapters in life.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: MICHAEL MARTINEZ 

By Mason Halling | junior, staff writer

Michael Martinez is a senior at Panorama. He plans to get a degree in culinary arts. He is currently taking classes with Iowa Central Community College to achieve this goal. His most challenging task as a senior has been his college class. If he could go back and tell his younger self something, it’d be, “Just be you and do not care what others think of you.” He doesn’t have a favorite teacher; he thinks they all are great. His advice to underclassmen is “Do your work and keep up.” His go-to song is “Amen” by King and Country.

In the next ten years, Michael sees himself living in his own place and he wants to visit the state of Texas. His greatest accomplishment is almost being done with the start of his life. He has participated in yearbook, golf, football, baseball, and basketball. Michael said that though there’s been pain and suffering through his high school years, he’s still grateful. When he looks back on this school year in later years, he will remember that he did it!  Good luck to Michael as he pursues his dreams!

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TEACHER FEATURE: MR. RANDY MILLER

By Jadyn Lawrence | freshman, staff writer

Mr. Randy Miller is one of many teachers at Panorama Secondary School. He started teaching at Panorama in 2007. Mr. Miller decided to accept the job to teach at Panorama because it gave him a chance to be closer to his wife’s family. Ron Swartzendruber (Mr. Miller’s old teacher) inspired Miller to teach not only because his class was fun but also very engaging. Mr. Miller’s favorite part about teaching is that it is something new every day and never gets boring. Miller is also a middle school football and basketball coach at Panorama.

Mr. Miller grew up in Kalona (by Iowa City). After he graduated high school, he went to Central College in Pella. There he double majored in elementary education and exercise science. Some of Miller’s favorite hobbies are puzzles, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and watching sports. Mr. Miller’s ideal Christmas break would look like sleeping in till 10 a.m., spending time with family, and eating lots of food. As of right now, Mr. Miller does not have any plans for after teaching and plans to teach for many more years. Overall, Panorama Secondary School is truly grateful that we have Mr. Miller in our community and cannot wait for more years to come.