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.