In this podcast, seniors Kate Stewart and Cienna Pangan discuss the positive impact music can have on a student’s life.

The idea of music providing a unique therapy for students is becoming increasingly…

This story was originally published on Spartan Shield on January 12, 2020.

A forum discussing immigration was held by local Republicans on Monday Dec. 2 in Bettendorf, IA. The forum was intended to discuss policy change and honor “angel parents”, or parents whose children…

This story was originally published on Spartan Shield on January 6, 2020.

Despite the leap the 2010s brought for women’s rights, all it takes is one slap to make a woman feel like she is still a second-class citizen.

Alex Bozarjian was reporting at the Enmarket Savannah…

PV’s Spartan Assembly broke the news on Nov. 5 that the school had earned first place in this year’s Hunger Drive. Though this was no small achievement, many of these donations would have been absent…

Getting inked is a form of permanent personal expression like no other and with it comes its fair share of controversy. But as the number of American adults with tattoos inches closer and closer to 50…

Based off of the true story and novel “I Heard You Paint Houses,” Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” is a compelling narrative centered around family, sacrifice, and revenge, as Philly truck driver…

The United States democracy was founded to ensure the government would be representative of its constitutes. Democrats being able to buy their way into the election defeats the purpose of democracy and…

In recent years, there has been a shortage of real Christmas trees, leaving problems for consumers and retailers.

With the holiday season around the corner, many set out to buy their Christmas trees….

In a field traditionally dominated by male workers, it could be easy for women welders to go unappreciated and unrecognized. One woman, however, is proving how hard work and determination can come together…

The latest ALICE drill was an admission that the government has failed to protect students, prioritizing an AK-47 over a student’s life.

On Nov. 1, PV reserved 30 minutes of its schedule to present…

The ever popular brand, Victoria’s Secret recently cancelled their annual fashion show in response to low viewing numbers and backlash for their lack of body type representation.

Rather than attempting…

“Lose 10 pounds in a week”… “Tone your stomach in just one day.” From scrolling through Instagram to watching commercials on TV, students see such promises everywhere.

Celebrities and influencers…

“The Farewell,” the sophomore film from director Lulu Wang, is beautifully built on Wang’s own experiences and brought to life by perfectly painful acting performances.

The film centers around…

As the leaves change their colors and the winter chill sets in, students prepare for the impending holiday season with their families. But, as many teens and adults alike move towards celebrating traditions…

In celebration of Military Family Month, the Spartan Shield would like to recognize the seniors planning to join the U.S. Military in the fall of 2020. Known applicants include Anton Dahm, Maria Vaaler,…

Blockbuster films have been predominantly led by male heroes for decades, but as Marvel actresses dominate the box office and call for an all-female Marvel movie, this lengthy era of male dominance in…

The Pleasant Valley School District is no stranger to coming together to support members of the community facing immense hardships. And the recent cancer diagnosis of high school English teacher Tracy…

On any given day, almost half a million American children are in foster care hoping for the day they will see a brighter future and the local Scott County District Court is working to ensure every kid…

Congresswoman Katie Hill stepped down from Congress on Nov. 1 after allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a member of her staff and pornographic images were released by her soon to be ex husband.
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Social stigmas control how people treat certain topics and how they’re viewed. While birth control is something many women need for their health, the discussion of this subject among teenagers remains…

Hate entered the doors of the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018. One year later, anti-Semitism continues to spread.

But the state of Iowa is spreading a different message.

The…

This story was originally published on Spartan Shield on October 24, 2019.

This story was originally published on Spartan Shield on October 25, 2019.

The title of the most decorated athlete at the World Championships is no longer a tie. On September 28, Allyson Felix broke her tie with Usain Bolt for the most gold medals at a World Championship in Doha,…

As the saying goes, sometimes the littlest things end up making the biggest difference. Such is the case for one local man’s once small idea.

For years in the Quad Cities, Pete Pohlmann was a household…

While just 60 miles separate Pleasant Valley students from the University of Iowa, the generosity of Iowa native Carson King has been felt much closer to home.

What started as a plea for enough money…

Pleasant Valley alum, Samantha Pauly, has gained significant recognition for her theater work, from her title role in “Evita” in London, to her Chicago performance as Katherine Howard in “Six”,…

In a sport traditionally dominated by men, one female PV student is taking the wrestling world by storm.

Champion of the first ever girls’ state tournament in Iowa, Chloe Clemons just moved to the…

Pleasant Valley’s varsity teams typically garner plenty of attention, but the district’s Special Olympics athletes are now claiming some of that attention for themselves.

The school’s team is…

After being involved in the performing arts for well over a decade, one PV student took her years of training, a tiny nudge and a giant leap of faith to compete for a cause and a crown.

Decorated dancer…

Eleven minutes: the amount of time it might take an average person to shower, or pick out an outfit or jog a mile. For one local family, however, 11 minutes on the night of July 31 felt like a lifetime–and…

Heading back to school with fresh sneakers, state-of-the-art folders and a new backpack has taken on a different meaning this school year as many began classes with the thought of one of the worst epidemics…

For many performers, aspirations of performing on stage during a large-scale event are nothing more than dreams. For one dancer, however, this dream became a reality.  But her dance was for a greater…

While many high school students are spending their time outside of school kicking a ball around or getting coffee with friends, two PV students are piloting planes and practicing military-style leadership…

From movies to books, spoilers have been occurring in society for years. However, with the recent release of “Avengers: Endgame,” students at Pleasant Valley have heard this term more than ever.

…

When Jasmine Babers was 15 years old, she started a nonprofit magazine that had one main message: every girl has a story.

After seeing how a friend was callously bullied by her classmates, Babers knew…

Many seniors are making final preparations for their post-secondary journey this fall, and Pleasant Valley sophomore Priyanka Srinivasan has decided to embark on that journey herself.

As a 15-year-old,…

This year, Cody Elementary School began implementing a language program after school. The participants will begin learning a foreign language long before their peers, giving them an advantage in the future….

Although April is Autism Awareness month, a student at Pleasant Valley High School is making a year-round commitment to help those living with Autism.

ACEing Autism is a national organization with one…

For Pleasant Valley athletics, last year brought with it the end of an era.

With a combined eight years of tri-sport varsity play, Ellie and Carli Spelhaug competed in their last games together, seemingly…

Welcome to Culture over Coffee, the Spartan Shield’s podcast where we talk about pop culture, new trends, and other news outside of the PV school district over a cup of coffee.

Episode #3: Spartan…

A bill that would eliminate the requirement for Iowa schools to hire full-time nurses and librarians was introduced in the Iowa Legislator by Iowa Senate Republicans at the end of February.

Although…

In the dim lit theater, a young violinist in a teal gown emerged from the wings.

As the violinist and the orchestra behind her started playing, the sounds of Henri Vieuxtemps’ “Concerto No. 5 in…

Jake plays tennis, Ryan plays both baseball and basketball, and Sydney plays basketball.

The Drake Relays is one of the most prestigious track and field events in the country. Iowa’s finest track athletes dedicate countless hours to their training in the hopes that they will one day be invited…

When life-threatening cold weather made its way through the Quad Cities, many in the area without homes found warmth and hospitality when local volunteers banded together as a community.

When January’s…

As winter sports come to a close, the Platinum Dance Team finished their award-winning season on a high note by claiming second place in both jazz and pom at the 2019 State Championship, losing the first…

Social media has become increasingly popular and prevalent in the daily lives of teens. With society constantly innovating, this technology is now working its way into education.

There is an important…