February 24, 2015 - Pella Christian High School

Issue No. 4
a student publication of Pella Christian High School
300 Eagle Lane, Pella, IA 50219
February 24, 2015
L-S, Tokyo send sophomores to join PC student body
by Kathryn Van Tuyl
katvant17@pceagles.org
At the beginning of the semester,
PC gained four new students in the
sophomore class: Hinako Yasui and
Chelsea Wakamiya, both transferring
from Tokyo, Japan, and Emma Schnell
and Jamie Leavens, both transferring
from Lynnville Sully.
Yasui has really liked PC so far this
semester, enjoying the variety of classes
not offered at her school in Japan. She
has always wanted to attend a school in
the U.S. and was given the opportunity
to study abroad for 3 months here at Pella
Christian.
“I love it here! Everyone is friendly and
is willing to help me anytime,” said Yasui.
Wakamiya was given the chance to
attend a school in Australia, Canada, or
here at Pella Christian, and decided upon
Pella Christian because of its high level of
education. She also has lived in Chicago
and wanted to learn more about the U.S.
“One of my favorite things at PC is that
many people know each other even if they
are in different grades,” said Wakamiya.
“This made it easier to get used to PC
because everyone here is so friendly.”
Schnell also likes all her classes,
teachers, and how everyone has been very
welcoming. She likes being able to use
the iPads for homework and being able to
take them home every night.
“I transferred because my parents value
the Christian education my brother gets
(at Newton Christian Grade School), and
I liked the sense of adventure that came
with the move,” said Schnell.
Leavens, although she lives in Kellogg,
made a transfer from Lynnville Sully
High. She transferred because she wanted
a change, and figured she might enjoy it
here more.
“I’m really enjoying it here and I like
how nice everyone is,” said Leavens.
New sophomore students Hinako Yasui, Emma Schnell, Jamie Leavens, and Chelsea
Wakamiya joined Pella Christian at the semester. Two have transferred from Lynnvill
Sully and two from Japan.
State of Iowa decision may impact 2015-16 school calendar
by Lauren Peters
laupet15@pceagles.org
Would students and families rather get
out earlier for summer break or have the
school year start a couple weeks later?
There may soon be a date change for the
beginning of the 2015-2016 school year,
because the state of Iowa has implemented
changes to a law that will now not allow
schools to start before or in the week
containing September 1.
The change to this guideline will alter
PC’s traditional school calendar, PC
principal Darryl De Ruiter said. “Ending
our semester at Christmas and adding
Winterim in January forces us to start earlier
in order to have two balanced semesters,”
he said. “If we start the school year later,
the semesters will be off balance.” This
would force students to take their exams
in Janurary after winter break. Students in
fall sports would also be affected becuase
practices start in early August.
To become exempt from this law, schools
must prove in a waiver that a later start to
their year will cause “significant negative
educational impact.” Before the new law,
schools had an easier time obtaining a
waiver, but now the state is holding a
higher standard to the requirements.
De Ruiter does not believe a state law
should “blanket” every school. “Each
school district in Iowa should be able
to decide what works best for them,” he
said. “We hope the law is repealed by
the current legislative session or that we
receive a waiver allowing us to start on
August 20 for the 2015-2016 school year.
We currently do not have an alternate
schedule if the law stays in place.”
Mock Trial participants research toxic chemical case
Led by coach Lisa Lensing, members of the Mock Trial team prepare for the their
competition in Marshalltown on March 5.
by Cara Theune
cartheu16@pceagles.org
The mock trial team has started a new
year and a new case. Led by parent coach
Lisa Lensing, approximately 20 students
have dived into new roles and studied the
case of a family pressing charges against
a company for illegally dumping toxic
chemicals into a river which runs through
their property.
Allegedly the water has brought liver
cancer to the mother who drank water
from it, autism to the daughter who played
in it, and general sickness to the family
as they breathed in chemicals from the
evaporating creek water. Students study
the case and their various roles on Fridays
and Mondays after school.
Students enjoy mock trial for a variety
of reasons. Sophomore Andrea Carballo
appreciates her coach. “I really enjoy
having Lisa Lensing as our leader, and I
had a great experience last year in mock
trial,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun, and you
learn a lot about the court during this time.”
Junior Maria Bandstra provided another
reason for participating in mock trial.
“I wanted to find a way to intellectually
challenge myself a bit more. I figured this
was a great way, and I enjoy all the time
spent with this team; we have an amazing
group of students.”
This team is well noted for their energy
and excitement. The biggest challenge
facing the team is scheduling. Coach
Lisa Lensing pointed out, “Since we are
a small school, every member of our two
teams is involved in other activities, and it
is impossible for us all to be present at the
same time.”
Yet the students meet the challenge,
working around various schedules to
present the best case possible. Team
members are looking forward to
competing in Marshalltown on March 5
and are optimistic about their chances.
Page 2 Eagle’s Cry
February 24, 2015
Three large group entries earn I ratings at State competition
PC’s forensics team made it to State with four out of
five large group events, involving a total of 27 students,
who performed on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Cedar Rapids
Washington High School. Three of the four groups received I ratings at State.
One Act also received a non-performing All State
honor for their selection “The Diviners,” a story about a
preacher who ends up in a small town where he meets a
gentle yet disturbed boy who has trauma after the loss of
his mother in a drowning.
Forensics coach Marlo Van Peursem appreciated the
opportunity to attend the All State Festival at ISU on
Feb. 21. “Going to All-State allows students to celebrate
the theatre arts,” he said. “We get to see a lot of quality
theatre, and underclassmen can get a lot of creative ideas
to use next year.” Reader’s Theatre earned a I for their performance of
“Cinderella Confidential,” a comedy with a twist in the
story of Cinderella. Senior Emma Farwell was excited
about their rating. “We all have worked so hard, so it
definitely felt like it paid off coming in to practice at 7:00
in the morning,” she said.
Choral Readers also earned a I for their skit about
AIDS, how it can be passed on to others, and how it affects people who care for those who have it. Students
felt that they learned a lot both about the topic and about
teamwork. “I definitely learned a lot more about AIDS,”
said freshman Katie Larson. “I learned how to work with
a team. We shared our ideas and gave constructive criticism towards each other.
Assistant forensics coach Lisa Van Gilst was very happy
with her performers. “I felt that Reader’s Theater and Choral Reading performed extremely well,” she said. “Both
groups received straight one from all three judges and had
wonderful critiques given. I’m very proud of how well it
went and they should be very proud of themselves, too.”
Individual forensics has also begun practicing for their
district competition scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, at
Tri-County High School. Six individuals will be competing in six categories, ranging from prose and poetry to
public address and musical theater.
Van Gilst sees several benefits in the individual forensic experience in that it allows students to shine on their
own while preparing them for skills needed in college
and later in life. “It makes you more comfortable speaking in front of others,” she said.
by Danielle Nardini
dannar15@pceagles.org
Most Christians have heard of Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Ash Wednesday is sort of a kick-off for Lent. It is usually
celebrated by fasting and using ashes to draw the shape of
a cross on one’s forehead to remind them of Jesus’ sacrifice. Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday to Easter, a period of
about 40 days, which began on February 18 this year.
Many Christians prepare themselves for Easter and the
celebration of Christ’s sacrifice by giving up something
important to them. Usually it is a food item, but some
give up things like the Internet or video games.
Around 6% of students at PC say that they observe Ash
Wednesday, Lent, or both. Freshman Thomas Dykstra and
his sister, senior Julia Dykstra, observe both at their church.
“I reflect on what Jesus did for me,” said Thomas Dykstra.
The most common way students observe Ash Wednesday is by attending a service at their church. “We usually
have an Ash Wednesday service at church, and the sermons are usually related to Lent,” said junior Paige Beyer.
Freshman Bethany Wilson fasts during Lent, while
senior Jayden Van Sant’s family observes Lent together.
“During Lent, our family usually fasts, either from food
or something we do everyday, like video games or TV,”
said Van Sant.
Sophomore Colin Stravers gave up soda for Lent last
year. “It was difficult because pop is everywhere, and I
usually drink it pretty often. But when I compared that
struggle to many other struggles it was nothing, so it was
pretty humbling,” said Stravers.
Students share ways to observe Lent
New custodian hired
by Kathryn Van Tuyl
katvant17@pceagles.org
New janitor Todd McQueen joined the PC staff at the
semester in place of longtime custodian of seven years,
Glenn Zylstra, who has recently moved to Kenosha,
Wisconsin, where his wife Nancy now works as head of
surgery in a medical center.
Before McQueen joined the PC staff, he served in the
U.S. Navy and worked for Vermeer Corporation.
“I like the atmosphere and the care taken to give the
students a first rate atmosphere and facility to learn and
praise God,” said McQueen.
The One Act performance of “The Diviners” received
a 1 rating at the State Competition in Cedar Rapids
as well as an All State non-performance award. The
Reader’s Theater and Choral Readers also received I
ratings at State.
Eagles for Life group
organizes diaper drive
by Cara Theune
cartheu16@pceagles.org
Nearly 3,000 diapers were recently collected and donated to Pathways of Pella by PC students in a first-ever
school diaper drive led by the newly formed group Eagles
for Life. Beginning last fall, Eagles for Life was started
to further educate students about abortion and the issues
surrounding it. Katie Beekhuizen, wife of science teacher
Greg Beekhuizen, leads the group.
“The Pro-Life Movement in America is gaining more
and more younger people, and so our goal is to get students as passionate about fighting for the life of the unborn as the adults are,” she said. “We thought starting an
Eagles for Life group at school would help spread the
word and allow more young people an outlet to share and
live out their passion for life.”
The group meets about once every quarter to accommodate the busy schedules of high school students. They
strive to make meeting dates flexible and encourage as
many students to join as possible. One member, freshman Thomas Dykstra, commented, “I joined this group
because at the beginning of the year I was looking for different ways to get involved at PCHS. Being in this group
has really shown me how large of an issue abortion is in
America, and how awareness is crucial.”
After all the hard work, Eagles for Life saw their labors pay off. All dollars and diapers raised from the diaper drive were donated to Pathways of Pella, a safe and
free place that provides resources to men and women in
need of help in pregnancy and other areas. All donations
were part of their diaper giveaway that allowed parents to
come to Pathways and pick up a free package of diapers
and wipes without question.
Dahm Dental
invisalign®
Car Tr oubles?
We Fix Ever ything!
wire orthodontics
90 Tr uman Road• Pella, IA 50219
(641)628-9223
PellaCarCare.com
O SKALO O SA CHIROPRACTIC
CLINIC
TERRYL L. WOLFSWINKEL, D.C.
*OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT*
PHONE: 641-672-2540
211 NORTH J STREET
OSKALOOSA, IA 52577
Start
s m i li n g
m o re!
C a l l f or y our f re e c on sul ta t i on .
We o f f e r 5 % TR I P f o r o rt h o d o n t i c s an d i n v i s al i g n s e rv i c e s .
2 0 1 8 Was h i n g t o n S t .
Pe l l a, I o w a 5 0 2 1 9
641-628-2468
Page 3 Eagle’s Cry
February 24, 2015
Homecoming 2015: victory
for seniors, Eagles basketball
by Michaela Chapman
miccha15@pceagles.org
PC students participated in Homecoming activities throughout the week
of January 19-23. Activities included themed decorations done by each
grade, competitions during lunch, and dress up days.
On Friday, students had morning classes and then went to a chapel led by a
praise team from Faith CRC and guidance counselor Dan Van Kooten as the
featured speaker. Chapel was followed by class competitions and lip syncs.
To end the day, the Homecoming King (Tyler De Bruin) and Queen (Tessa
Howerzyl) were crowned. The seniors won the annual spirit jug, which is
determined by adding up all the points from competitions during the week.
That evening the Eagles took on the Newton Cardinals, with the girls winning 41-37 an,d the boys winning 62-59.
Homecoming Court: (front) Jonathan Beltman, Lauren Peters, Christa
Veenstra, Jon Larson. (back) Jayden Van Sant, Rayla Wilson, Queen Tessa
Howerzyl, King Tyler De Bruin, Emily Van Gorp, Jake De Ruiter.
De Vries Electric inc.
one progressive drive
Pella
628-1416
823 Franklin Street, Pella
(641) 628-9225
700 Main Street Suite 201
Pella, Iowa 50219
Ph: 641.628.2383
Fax: 641.628.9082
Web: kreykeslaw.com
Our mission is service that exceeds expectations
Page 4 Eagle’s Cry
February 24, 2015
From the Editors
by Danielle Nardini & Jessi Vos
dannar15@pceagles.org
jesvos15@pceagles.org
Danielle: This time of year is really depressing. But
this year is going to be funky. I took a quiz on Buzzfeed,
and it told me that my anthem this year is “Funkytown”
by Lipps, Inc. In case anyone cares.
Jessi: I actually love this time of year. I never want the
snow to melt. On a different note, I am so busy. Have you
done all of your scholarships yet?
Danielle: Um no. BUT snow days are great because I
got my essays for Dollars for Scholars started. Juniors:
just a warning, Dollars for Scholars is so much work.
Jessi: Another warning: senior year is not the “easy
year” that everyone makes it out to be. It’s the most work
through all of high school. Danielle, I literally just played
outside and drank hot chocolate on our snow days. I’m
such a child.
Danielle: I think I’ve played in the snow twice this
year. If you can count sitting on an inner tube and judging everyone else as “playing”.
Jessi: I was probably the one being judged...
Danielle: Of course not. I would never judge you. (I
was so judging you. LOL.)
Jessi: At least I don’t dance to Britney Spears during
class.
Danielle: DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE. And stop
correcting my punctuation. Just curious, is anyone actually reading this? If you are, say something.
Jessi: If you are reading this, you deserve a cookie or
something.
Danielle: Yes indeed. I really hope something happens
soon that is interesting enough for us to talk about. We
had one good column at the beginning of the year and
it’s just been downhill from there. Do you think anyone
would notice if we just printed the same column over and
over?
Jessi: I mean, it’s still good. It’s just becoming a bit
pointless. But if we talk about interesting, controversial
things worthy of an editorial, people might get upset.
Danielle: Ugh, I know. So let’s just discuss meaningless things for the rest of the year! But seriously, if you
are still reading this, come find us and we’ll buy you a
cookie. Jessi: You might. I probably won’t. I have to save
money for college. Talk to you next issue!
Unimpressed Reviews
by Michael Vander Wal
micvand16@pceagles.org
Before we start I’d like to preface that this isn’t exactly
a review… Just me expressing my rage. Enjoy.
So the NFL football season has come to an end on one
of the most depressing games of the year (at least for me),
with Mr. Russell Wilson throwing the game winning interception in the end zone… Fabulous. Now before everyone assumes I’m going to go on about how that was an
awful call, I’m not. This isn’t about the call of the game,
this is about a much more controversial call. Deflategate.
First of all I will say that I despise the Patriots, so if
some of my biases comes out, my apologies for you
cheatriot, I mean Patriot fans. Anyway, if you’re unaware,
basically the Patriots supposedly deflated 11-12 balls in
the AFC championship game against the great and powerful Indianapolis Colts, obviously the best team in the
league. (If you’re unaware, I might be a Colts fan.) Now
I’m not bitter just because the Patriots may have deflated
the balls against the best team in the league (because let’s
be serious, the Colts were going to lose anyway), I’m
bitter because this isn’t the first time the Patriots have
cheated in the Belicheck-Brady era. The only difference
Editors: Danielle Nardini and Jessi Vos
Journalists:
Seniors: Michaela Chapman, Julia Dykstra,
Lauren Peters, Jackson Schelhaas,
Zack Shen, Jon Larson
Sophomore: Kathryn Van Tuyl
Juniors: Anna Burg, Cara Theune
Web editor: Michael Vander Wal
Advisor: Noreen Vander Wal
The Eagle’s Cry is a publication of the PCHS Advanced Journalism class and is intended to provide an
educational experience for those in the class as well as
information and entertainment for the community. The
news and opinions stated in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Pella Christian High School Society or its administration.
Letters to the editor may be addressed to Eagle’s
Cry, 300 Eagle Lane, Pella, IA, 50219. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for content and length.
Anyone wishing to subscribe to the Eagle’s Cry
should send a name and address along with $5.00 to
PCHS, 300 Eagle Lane, Pella, IA 50219.
Eagle’s Cry content can also be viewed on the Pella
Christian high homepage (pceagles.org) under the
programs/publications tab or at pceaglescry.org.
is that the first time the Pats cheated was regular season;
THIS WAS THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP! THIS ISN’T
REGULAR SEASON!
That’s the one thing that I think a lot of people are
under emphasizing. It’s one thing to cheat in a regular
season game, but to cheat in one of the most important
games of the year is on a whole new level. And what is
Roger Goodell and the NFL doing? Barely anything. I
mean come on Goodell.
Another thing that enrages me to no end is Robert
Craft’s, owner of the Patriots, comment on the deal. “If
the Wells investigation is not able to definitively determine that our organization tampered with the air pressure
on the footballs, I would expect and hope that the league
would apologize to our entire team and, in particular,
coach Belichick and Tom Brady for what they have had
to endure this past week.”
…………. REALLY? You expect an apology even
though your team has a history of cheating… And this
ladies and gentleman is the topping on the cake of my
hate of the New England Patriots. Even if they didn’t do
this, they deserve no apology.
That is all.
Foreign Affairs
by Jessica Vos
jesvos15@pceagles.org
population: 1.3 billion
capital: Beijing
state language: Standard Chinese, Mandarin
common religion: Buddhist, folk religion
popular sport: ping-pong
food: steamed rice
fun fact: China has the highest population of any
country in the world.
(information from cia.gov, travel.nationalgeographic.com)
students: Ziqi (Zack) Shen, Yadi Xu, Yuqing (Lisa)
Huang, Hanxi Tang, Yanbing (Jin Jin) Zhou, Yixuan
(Tony) Zou
Of the many countries represented at PC, it is clear
that Chinese students face some of the biggest changes
in their move from China to America. From food to air
quality, the differences are quite apparent.
“Our Chinese students come from a culture very different from the U.S. It is a great opportunity for us
Staff
to learn from their different perspectives and still realize
ultimately we are all the same,” said PCHS Global Representative Trixanna Wang.
Chinese students at PC are involved in a variety of
activities, from drill team to peer tutoring to managing
sports teams.
“I love many things about being here. One of them
might be art class,” said senior Tony Zou. “I like the feeling of creating and drawing, and that it doesn’t have to be
ruled by principles.”
Attending school here comes with a few challenges.
Many of the students agree that it is difficult to feel included.
“The challenges are communicating and understanding in religion classes,” said junior Yadi Xu. “People
have different interests here. Therefore, when people talk
about something, I have no idea what they are talking
about. Also, because I read the Bible in English, it is difficult to understand words.”
Despite these difficulties, students enjoy Pella and are
glad they came here.
“Here are so many nice and friendly people; I really
enjoy it,” said sophomore Jin Jin Zhou.
The ISP staff feels that it is important for students at
PC to take every opportunity to learn from the Chinese
students, appreciating that this is a unique opportunity to
get to know people from a different culture.
“I hope as students here listen to stories from the Chinese students that they are more aware of the opportunities they have in a free country,” said ISP Coordinator
Cindy Nikkel.
Corrections:
Senior Emily Van Gorp was incorrectly identified
in the last issue as Rachel Van Gorp in the Tulip Court
photo.
Senior Annie Matherly was said to have worked in
Jaarsma Bakery. She currently works at Vander Ploeg
Bakery.
Junior Mitchell Eekhoff was identified as a senior,
when he is in fact a junior.
The Eagle’s Cry apologizes for the errors.
Page 5 Eagle’s Cry
February 24, 2015
Casual Corner
by Lauren Peters
laupet15@pceagles.org
For this Eagle’s Cry, we turned to the students
at PC to tell us their favorite fashion trends of the
season. Students responded to the question, “What
are some current fashion trends that you like to see/
wear?” While most of the guys at PC said, “Anything that’s swag,” the girls had more to say about
the topic.
1.
The most popular trend from the survey was
sweaters, especially ones that are over-sized or fuzzy.
By looking at the temperature outside, it is easy to see
why this article of clothing is so sought after. It keeps
one toasty while being effortless and comfortable.
2.
Next is combat boots. Personally I do not
own a pair, but love how people have been styling
them into their outfits. These boots are practical for
Iowa weather without losing the cute factor.
3. The beauty of scarves is that they are versatile
Freshman
Raeann Fopma
and can be worn throughout the year. However, the
best part about winter scarves is that they are pretty
much a blanket around the neck, and it’s socially
acceptable.
4. Skinny jeans are a staple. They go with anything. And they’re usually blue. Since there’s not
much more to say about jeans, here is a fun fact: the
first pair of blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis in
1871. Thanks Mr. Davis.
5.
Flannels are super fun. Some people mentioned that they like to wear them tied around their
waist with a plain t-shirt, while others go for the
more traditional style of wearing it like a shirt. Flannels are an efficient way to create a laid back look
without compromising fashion.
Other fashion trends mentioned were beanies,
statement necklaces, vans, leather jackets, and
vests. So next time you stumble across a new trend
while shopping don’t be afraid to try it! It may just
Senior Miranda Nikkel
become the next big thing at PC!
Senior Laura
Nicholson
BLAST
PAST
FROM THE by Anna Burg
annburg16@pceagles.org
Science teacher Audra Faber graduated in 1985 from
Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa. Faber was
involved in choir, band, basketball, volleyball, and track
during her high school years.
Her favorite class is no surprise: biology. “I liked learning about how living things worked,” said Faber.
“I also loved sewing and cooking with my Consumer
Science teacher, Dr. Vande Voort,” said Faber.
She also enjoyed making friendships with people from
other towns and going to different athletic competitions.
Faber’s least favorite things in high school included
having to ride on the bus when student drivers were driving, since “they didn’t always make the safest driving decisions,” she said. “Having third floor classes in August
with no air conditioning wasn’t much fun either.”
One of her favorite memories in high school is homecoming activities.
“We had a challenge course which involved getting a
certain number of people over a balance beam without
touching the beam, that was difficult,” said Faber. “And
scaling the gym wall up to the balcony to finish it.”
When she was in high school, computers were just being introduced. Back then, the only computer class offered was a programming class.
“Keyboarding was a required class for high school students, so I learned to type on a manual typewriter,” said
Faber.
Her advice for students: “Work hard, and make the
most of your education.”
140 or Less:
Caleb Van Zee @calebvanzee_ “That heart dropping moment when you accidentally get a diet Mountain Dew from
the machine instead.”
Rachel Ver Meer @rachelvermeer “Todo es increíble” has been stuck in my head for way too long. #spanishprobs”
David Kacmarynski @davkacm17 “Is there a weight limit for yoga pants? Because if there is I am at it. #dontfit
#stillsexytho”
Tristen Meinders @TristenMeinders “3 days home from school and I’ve watched:1 season of friends, 4 episodes of
kardashians, 5 ABC movies, and done 0 homework #noshame”
Amanda Harrill @amanda_harrill “Anyone else’s favorite part of the Super Bowl was the fighting at the end?”
Keith Anderson @_Mr_Anderson “Just wondering if the guy that squirts water in NFL players’ mouths has “rehydration specialist” listed on his LinkedIn profile?”
Ryan Van Kooten @Ryanvk24 “#fbf to when I fell out of my chair during physics class.”
Jason Holwerda @JasonHolwerda “HUGE team win tonight! Love the effort these guys give day in and day out!
#GetWithUs”
Kendall Van Woerkom @krachelle21 “Cars wanna go to Selma with abby & I on Sunday?” “I don’t know that’s
kind of a long drive” - @turnyourCarson #purewit”
by Julia Dykstra
juldyk15@pceagles.org
Page 6 Eagle’s Cry
February 24 , 2015
Terrorism Worldwide
by Danielle Nardini
dannar15@pceagles.org
In current news, the only information Americans are presented
concerning Muslims is connected to terrorism. In the interest of being fair and accurate, we sat down with Banin, a senior international
student from Afghanistan. Banin is a Muslim, and we wanted to get
her perspective on current terrorist activities.
Eagle’s Cry: Do you feel that Islam is an inherently evil religion?
Banin: Islam is a religion of peace. We greet each other by saying
“Salam,” which means “Peace be with you.” We have many verses
in the Koran that say “be peaceful.” God does not give us the right to
kill others or do evil things.
EC: Do you feel misrepresented by the media?
Banin: They don’t reflect the positives and negatives, they focus
more on the negatives, like ISIS and other terrorist groups. The media should show the good culture of Muslims and what they believe.
They do not show all the facts.
EC: How do Muslims view their extremist counterparts?
Banin: We don’t call them Muslims, because most of them don’t
know how to read the Koran or the other Muslim books. Their teachers taught them wrong. They are uneducated. What they do is against
all of our beliefs. ISIS and Taliban even call each other non-Muslim.
They don’t agree with each other, but they are both wrong. They are
not motivated by religion, but power.
EC: There was an article in the Des Moines Register that said that
the recent burning of a Jordanian journalist will prompt other Muslims to take a stand against radicals. Do you agree with this?
Banin: I totally agree with this. What ISIS does is completely
against our beliefs. We hate them. In my country, there was a demonstration against ISIS, and many other Muslims have stood up to ISIS
and told them they are wrong and not acting like Muslims should.
eur
o
by Cara Theune
cartheu16@pceagles.org
Terrorism can be found in many places around this world, and Asia
is no exception. From The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to Jemaah Islamiya (JI), many terrorist
groups threaten this part of the world.
➤ February 3, 2015, Japan: ISIS had captured two Japanese men,
Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto, a Japanese reporter. Initially ISIS
had demanded $200 million for the safe release of both Yukawa and
Goto. After Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refused the demands, ISIS
released a video showing Yukawa’s beheaded corpse. Next they demanded an exchange of Goto for Sajida al-Rishawi, a captured ISIS
member. After Prime Minister Abe refused again, ISIS released their
video showing the decapitation of Kenji Goto. Prime Minister Abe
assured ISIS, “To the terrorists, we will never, never forgive them for
this act.” (cnn.com)
➤ February 1, 2013, Poso, China: Twelve pipe bombs were discovered hidden in a roadside ditch. Authorities quickly defused the
bombs, but not without noting similarities to explosives created by
the Eastern Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT), a local terrorist network.
(state.gov)
➤ September 23, 2013, North Cotabato, Philippians: Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters attacked a Mlang village in North Citabato. More than twenty civilians were held against their will and two
reported deaths occurred. More than two thousand villagers were displaced and struggled to find new homes. (state.gov)
north america
a
rica
e
m
a
uth
so
au
str
a
a
by Julia Dykstra
juldyk15@pceagles.org
➤ January 20, 2015, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Special prosecutor Alberto Nisman was found dead under suspicious circumstances.
Nisman was working to uncover a suspected cover-up that President Cristina Fernandez supposedly orchestrated involving the 1994
bombing of a Jewish community center. The blast killed 85 people
due to a bomb planted by a suspected group of Iranians. Nisman recently accused President Cristina Fernandez of showing the Iranian
group a secret back channel to insure the group could plant the bomb
in the community center, and he had drafted a warrant for her arrest.
Not long after his accusation, Nisman was found dead in the bathroom of his thirteenth-floor flat in Buenos Aires. A 22-calibre handgun and bullet casing lay next to his body. No gunpowder residue was
found on his hands, so authorities ruled out the possibility of suicide.
Nisman was preparing to present his findings to a congressional committee and was worried about his safety. About a week before his
death Nisman stated, “I could end up dead because of this.” This
statement given to a local reporter has caused authorities to look into
a potential homicide. (cnn.com)
➤ June 3, 2013, Argentina: Recently, the terrorist-sponsoring
country of Iran began to increase its presence in Latin America.
These Islamic terrorists are seeking to team up with drug trafficking
groups. While they are not a threat as of now, many predict that both
Hezbollah and Al Qaeda groups will increase their presence in the
tri-border area of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. US government
researchers believe that this area is an ideal smuggling border due
to the weak law enforcement. One of the most significant busts of
Hezbollah involvement in Latin America was in 2008. Operation Titan, as it was called, exposed an international cocaine-smuggling and
money-laundering ring that gave its profits to the Hezbollah terrorist
group. (cnn.com)
asi
by Jon Larson
jonlar15@pceagles.org
Terrorism in Africa is on the move. Because many African countries lack strong
governments, terrorist cells can move from
region to region with little resistance. These
cells strip people of education, religion, and
government so that they can enforce their
own religions or government on the people.
➤ February 2, 2015, Maidugri, Nigeria:
Terrorist group Boko Haram attacks the city
of Maidugri, the center of Nigeria’s terrorist defense operations. They know that if
they can successfully take over the city, they
would have control over all their enemies’
counter-attack forces. The army successfully prevented Boko Haram from entering
afric
by Michael Vander Wal
micvand16@pceagles.org
➤ October 22, 2014, Ottawa, Ontario: A
terrorist killed a soldier who was guarding a
war memorial. He then injured three while
firing shots in Canada’s Parliament building.
(cnn.com)
➤ April 19, 2013, Boston, MA: A couple
of Muslim extremists detonated two bombs
in the crowds of the Boston Marathon, killing 3 and injuring 264. (boston.com)
➤ November 5, 2009, Fort Hood, TX: A
Muslim extremist shot and killed 13 people
while injuring 32 in a military base while
screaming praises to Allah. (washingtonpost.com)
➤ September 11, 2001, New York City,
Washington D.C., and Shanksville, PA: Two
commercial airplanes hijacked by Muslim
extremists crashed into the World Trade
Center. This event killed 2752 people while
injuring 251. On the same day, a commercial
airplane crashed into the pentagon killing
184 people and injuring 53. A fourth plane,
commandeered by terrorists crashed into a
field in Pennsylvania killing all 44 people on
board. (cnn.com)
allegiance to militant groups. Another gunman attacked a kosher grocery store, taking
five people hostage, killing two. Since then,
France has raised its terror threat level and
stepped up security. (time.com)
➤ March 11, 2004, Madrid, Spain: Over
190 people were killed and as many as 1800
others were injured when ten bombs were
detonated at a commuter station. The bombs
were linked with cell phones and left in backpacks. (cnn.com)
➤ July 7, 2005, London, England: Another major terrorist attack took place in London
when suicide bombers attacked a doubledecker bus and three London Underground
trains, killing 52 people and injured over 700
others. These attacks were the first suicide
bombings in Western Europe. (cnn.com)
pe
Since the 9/11 attacks of 2001, terrorism has been present in Americans’ minds. The media has been very interested
in reporting on attacks that occur in Western society and the Mideast, but in underdeveloped countries, attacks do not
always become news. Terrorism occurs on almost every continent and has increased in frequency in recent years. It is
important to stay informed on these international events, no matter where they occur.
by Jaxon Schelhaas
jacsch15@pceagles.org
Terrorism continues to spread throughout
the world, especially in Europe where Belgium, Germany, and France have begun to
arrest terror suspects.
➤ January 16, 2014, Europe: Thirteen
people were detained after two men who
were thought to be planning an attack were
shot dead by the police in Verviers, Belgium.
The authorities in France reported twelve detentions, and officers in Berlin detained five
suspects, three of whom were released, on
suspicion of helping Turkish fighters to reach
Syria. (newyorktimes.com)
➤ January 7-10, 2014, Paris, France: In
what has been known as the Charlie Hebdo
shooting, 10 employees of the satirical newspaper and two police officers were killed
along with the two gunmen, who professed
the city during this attack, but a week before,
could not prevent them from taking the city
of Monguno and its strategic military barracks. (cnn.com)
➤ January 3, 2015, Baga, Nigeria: Terrorist group Boko Haram attacks the city of
Baga in the largest known massacre by the
terrorist group. An estimate of 2,000 people
were killed, while over 30,000 people were
displaced in the attacks as they fled for their
lives. Boko Haram’s mission was to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria. (cnn.com)
➤ December 2, 2014, Kormey, Kenya:
Terrorist group Al-Shabaab raided a quarry
lia
in Kenya, separating non-Muslim workers
from Muslim workers. They executed the
non-Muslims by way of firearms and beheadings. At least 36 bodies were found in
the quarry. Al-Shabaab was quick to claim
this attack and said they were a response to
a police raid on multiple mosques in the port
city of Mombasa after explosives were found
in one. (cnn.com)
➤ April 16, 2014, Nigeria: Boko Haram
abduct 230 girls from a public school. Of
those, only 43 have escaped. Boko Haram
kidnaps girls because their version of the
Sharia law says women should be at home
raising children and looking after their husbands, not going to school to get an education. Because of Boko Haram’s view, they
have been known to forcibly marry the girls
to make them practice their laws. (cnn.com)
➤ September 21, 2013, Nairobi, Kenya:
Dozens of gunmen siege the Westgate Mall,
killing at least 67 people and injuring many
more. Survivors reported the attackers acting
very calm, taking turns praying, and talking
on their cell phones during the attack. The
attack lasted three days before President Kenyatta declared, “the operation is now over,”
in a live televised address. (theguardian.com)
by Michaela Chapman
miccha15@pceagles.org
➤ December 15, 2014, Sydney, Australia: Man Haron Monis, a
self proclaimed Muslim sheikh, took 17 people hostage inside of a
cafe. Monis forced the hostages to hold a jihadist black flag against
the window of the cafe. After many hours of being held hostage police fatally shot Monis. Two hostages died and four people were injured. (abcnews.go.com)
➤ September 23, 2014, Endeavour Hills, Australia: Eighteen-yearold Numan Haider was requested to report to the Endeavour Hills
police station on account of some concerning behavior. Upon his arrival, Haider stabbed two officers that were on their way out to greet
him. Haider was later found carrying an Islamic flag and two knives.
(heraldsun.com)
Page 8 Eagle’s Cry February 24, 2015
Musicians selected to perform in Honor Band, Choir
by Lauren Peters
laupet15@pceagles.org
Little Hawkeye Confrence Honor Band
and SC-ICDA Honor Choir, held Fed. 5
and 9, respectively, are unique opportunitites for students to further explore their
passion for music or singing.
Insturmentalists were selcted for the
LHC Honor Band by their director based
on the needed instrumentation. In early
January students received their music and
practiced on their own.
On Feb. 9, all participating students
rehearsed at PC, the host school, and
performed that evening at 7. Participants
for the 2015 honor band included juniors
Paige Beyer, Kathryn Gronenboom, Joel
Larson, and Ryan Starkey. Seniors included Rayla Wilson, Marina Shannon, Alicia
Munoz, Morgan Anderson, and Jayden
Van Sant.
This year, the guest band directors were
Paul Bloomquist from Iowa Central Community College and Dr. Mitch Lutch from
Central College. PC band director Shannon Dykstra said, “This was a great oppertunity for students to experience awesome
conductors and collaborate with other band
students in Little Hawkeye Confrence.”
SC-ICDA Honor Choir is sponsored
each year by the Iowa Choral Association’s South-Central District. Choral directors nominate students to participate
in the event. This year students practiced
at Newton High School with honor choir
director Dr. Greg Grove from Wesleyan
College. The performance took place at
Newton High School at 7 p.m.
The SC-ICDA Honor Choir performed on Feb. 9 at the Newton High School. Dr. Greg
Grove from Wesleyan College served as the guest conductor.
PC students included seniors Jacob
Brouwer, Grant Fynaardt, Jordan Vande
Kamp, Jenna Vander Pol, Christa Veenstra,
Brant Vermeer, Rachel Ver Meer, and Jessi
Vos. “The honor choir provides an inter-
esting experience to sing with tons of other
kids and work together,” said Brouwer. “It
was a little crazy to learn all the music we
needed to know in such a short amount of
time, but in the end it was all worth it.”
Presidents’ Day observance originated as two separate holidays
by Jessica Vos
jesvos15@pceagles.org
Although rather brief, America has a rich history. One
of the most important parts of this history is the nation’s
presidents. Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third
Monday of February, landing on the 16th this year.
Presidents’ Day began with celebrating Lincoln’s birthday (February 12) and Washington’s birthday (February 22) separately, established in 1885. However, this
changed in recent decades.
“In 1971, a law was passed to create Monday holidays
in a more uniform way, allowing US workers to have
more 3-day weekends throughout the year,” said government teacher Larry Eggink.
Attempts were made in the early 2000s to once again
separate the presidents’ birthdays into two separate holidays. However, these failed overall.
Today, many schools do not hold classes on Presidents’
Day, PC included. Public schools are required to teach
about the accomplishments of presidents leading up to
that third Monday.
“I don’t spend extra time to celebrate Presidents Day; I
spend a great deal of time teaching about presidents in US
History all year long,” said history teacher Dan Vermeer.
Presidents’ Day is also a day on which many reenactments are held. Overall, it is a day for patriotic remembrance amongst Americans.
“I enjoy the presidents because they stand as a symbol
for our country. Often, the people of the United States have
rallied around our president and completed some pretty
amazing things,” said sophomore David Kacmarynski.
Yoga pants fashion trend raises dress code questions
by Julia Dykstra
juldyk15@pceagles.org
Yoga pants are a current fashion trend for U.S. women.
The typically black, stretchy pants can also be classified
as leggings. Many name-brand stores such as Victoria Secret, Aerie, and Hollister are known for also carrying a
variety of styles, colors, and patterns of the trendy pants.
Women usually dress yoga pants up with riding boots and
a fancy top, or dress them down with a baggy sweatshirt
and tennis shoes.
When PC students returned from Winterim, a couple of
teachers mentioned to students that yoga pants were now
against the dress code. According to several teachers, the
topic came up in a faculty meeting, but there was no official change in policy. This led to some confusion among
the student body.
The PC handbook dress code policy currently states,
“Not permitted are . . . pants or shorts that are too tight.”
This rule may be applied to any pair of pants, including
yoga pants. Due to their elasticity, yoga pants can some-
Culvers of Pella is a
proud supporter of PCHS!
1512 Washington
641-620-1557
times be tighter than jeans. Therefore, a teacher or faculty
member could give a dress code violation if someone’s
yoga pants are in violation of this policy.
Some students feel that the handbook directly prohibits
yoga pants while others think no rules specifically address
yoga pants. Some girls have quit wearing yoga pants to
school out of fear of getting a dress code violation, while
others have stopped wearing them for personal reasons.
“I think the handbook should specifically state that
yoga pants are prohibited in order for someone to get a
detention,” senior Rayla Wilson stated. “I think modesty
is important as Christians, so whoever came up with prohibiting yoga pants had good intentions in mind.”
Other girls continue to wear the pants because they are
comfortable, stylish, or various other reasons.
“Girls don’t wear yoga pants or leggings so boys will
stare at them,” said senior Ashley Ambroson. “I know this
is a problem within the whole modesty debate. We wear
them for a few reasons: they are comfortable, feel as nice
as sweatpants, which are also prohibited, and look less
trashy than wearing sweatpants.”
While opinions differ on the recent debate over yoga
pants, it is essentially up to the staff where to draw the
line.
“I think teachers can use their own discretion on detentions, but many times it is not consistent for every person,
and that is when it is a problem,” said senior Jacob Diehl.
PC is not the only school debating the acceptability of
yoga pants. Devils Lake High School, located in North
Dakota, recently banned yoga pants as a way to prevent
distractions to teachers and students.
“They should be focusing more on [bullying] and not
dumb stuff like yoga pants,” Devils Lake senior Taylor
Gilbertson told CNN. “We should be able to wear whatever we want.”
Some students at PC concur with Gilbertson’s statement. “I don’t think this should be a debate, because there
are plenty of other things our minds could be focused on
rather than if that girl should be wearing yoga pants or
not,” said Ambroson.
Roland & Dieleman C.P.A.s
2010 Washington Street • Pella
Grocery • 628-9995
eagles
Meat Dept • 628-9614
STORE HOURS: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Monday through Saturday
Closed Sunday
BRUCE VEENSTRA
641-660-0856
KYLE VEENSTRA
641-660-4946
808 4th Avenue
Grinnell, IA 50112
612 4th St.
Sully, IA 50251
641-236-6558641-594-4286
Roger Duven
Justin Hillman
Funeral Directors
VEENSTRA
CONSTRUCTION, INC
1765-210th Street
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
Industrial - Commercial - Residential Agricultural Wiring - Electric Motor Sales &
Service
Service Is Our Specialty
call: 641-628-3816
615 West First Street
Pella, IA 50219
Phone: 641.628.2540
Recorded Announcement:
641.628.9400
www.vandykduven.com
Page 9 Eagle’s Cry
February 24, 2015
Internships, trips, classes provide unique options for Winterim
by Danielle Nardini
dannar15@pceagles.org
Winterim is the period of time between Christmas break
and the start of the new semester during which students
take unusual classes, go on trips, or do internships. From
Jan. 5-13, students had the oppoutunity to intern at places
such as Pella Corp., Vermeer Corp., Nick’s Greenhouse,
Co-Line, Skiff Medical Center, and Pella Regional Health
Center. More than 50 area businesses provided valuable
experiences for PC interns. Students also went on trips
to Nicaragua, Haiti, Florida, and London. “The Florida
trip was a really good experience,” said senior JennaVan
Der Pol. “I learned a lot, and I have a better appreciation for the people I went with.” Students participated in
classes such as “Roll With It,” a cooking class taught by
family and consumer science teacher Jan Blunck, and a
community service class taught by science teacher Audra
Faber. “Mrs. Faber’s community service class was a great
oppourtunity to get out and help others,” said freshman
Laura De Zwarte.
Small cast begins rehearsals for The Mousetrap
by Zack Shen
zacshen15@pceagles.org
Even though it is still freezing outside, the PCHS theatre
department can’t wait to embrace the spring. Inspired by a
Winterim trip to Britain, director Marlo Van Peursem plans
to present The Mousetrap for the spring play on March 2728. The play auditions were held on February 9.
“I’ve always wanted to do this murder mystery,” said
Van Peursem. “It is a classic piece by Agatha Christie. 109 South Street
P.O. Box 47
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 628-4167
(800) 223-5512
Running boards, mud flaps,
grill guards, snow plows, & trailer repair
Serving eastern Iowa since 1979
Across the street from Pella Motors
on SE 14th, Pella
Then when we went to London for Winterim it was one of
the plays the group went to see.”
The Mousetrap is a murder mystery that opened in the
West End of London in 1952 and has been running continuously since then. It has by far the longest initial run of
any play in history. It is also the longest running show of
the modern era. The play is also known for its twist ending.
Five guests are trapped during a snowstorm in a guest
manor run by a newlywed couple. A police detective
Tim Yoder D.V.M.
Glenda Van Wyk D.V.M.
650 Hwy T14
641-628-4040
7 2 3 M a in St re e t
Pe lla , Io wa 5 0 2 1 9
641-628-4100
snowskis in and announces there has been a murder nearby and that they have reason to believe one of the guests
in the manor is the murderer. “The detective probes the
background of everyone present and suspicions abound,”
said Van Peursem
“I’m very excited to be a part of this cast. Agatha
Christie is my favorite author, and a murder mystery will
be a fun challenge,” said senior Jessi Vos, one of the eight
cast members.
Nicholas R. Smith, D.D.S., M.S.
715 Main Street • Pella, Iowa 50219 •641.628.9195
40
Page 10 Eagle’s Cry
February 24, 2015
PC wrestlers find outlet on Pella High team Vermeer
by Jon Larson
jonlar15@pceagles.org
This year was unique in PC’s sports history. From late November to late February,
four PC guys have been lifting weights,
learning new tactical moves, building endurance, and competing in PC’s first ever
wrestling team with Pella High. The PC
representation on the 28-member team
consists of seniors Jacob Diehl and Edaordo Amañiera, and sophomores Sam
Fredrickson and Ezekiel Smith.
Wrestling is an individual and a team
sport, much like swimming. On Thursdays,
the team wrestles in meets to affect their
team scores, while Saturday meets are for
more individual standings. Practices started
in late November, with meets beginning in
the first weeks of December. Feb. 21 was
the last meet of the regular season.
Though wrestling has many similarities
to other sports, it is also different in several ways. One is that it is much more a
mental sport than it appears to be. “It’s
just you and another person battling,” said
Diehl. “There are many sports where it is
you and your teammates, but wrestling is
one on one. It is a very mental and emo-
homeroom
leads 2015
intramural
competition
Senior Jacob Diehl works to defeat opponent. Diehl was one of four PC wrestlers
who competed on the Pella High team this winter.
tional sport - you have to know yourself.”
Diehl also says that wrestling is a hard
sport to take shortcuts in or cut corners. “If
you want to be the best, you really have to
work hard - it really shows in wrestling.”
As the first year in wrestling for PC, it
seems to have gone very well. Diehl commented that the Pella High guys have been
very accepting of them being on the team.
Time will tell if PC’s involvement in wrestling will continue to grow or not, but by
the looks of things, it is off to a good start.
Tournament road begins with double win for PC girls
Senior Morgan Anderson takes the shot while senior Tessa Howerzyl and sophomore
Natalie Vos box out the defenders.
by Michael Vander Wal
micvand16@pceagles.org
The girl’s basketball regular season
ended at Des Moines Chrisitan in the late
days of February, finishing with a record
of 11-10 going into tournaments. The
team played their first tournament game
against Collins-Maxwell-Baxter on Feb.
14, winning 53-33. They played West
Marshall on Tuesday, Feb. 17, winning
46-43, extending their hopes of a state
tournament appearance. They again faced
DM Christian in the regional semi-final
match on Friday, Feb. 20.
“Making it to the state tournament has
been our goal this entire season,” said senior
Tessa Howerzyl. “We knew we had a tough
schedule to get there, but that was our motivation. We wanted to prove that we could
compete with even the toughest teams.”
The season has not been with out its
challenges however. Early on, Howerzyl
sprained her ankle. “It was tough to sit
out,” said Howerzyl “but I think it pushed
other players to step up into new roles that
they aren’t as comfortable in and in the
end, actually strengthened our team.”
Nevertheless the team remained in good
➤ Vermeer Gladiators: 280
➤ Beekhuizen Blitz: 134
➤ Noble Matadors: 132
➤ Monsma Sawstoppers: 87
➤ Van Voorst Maestros: 78
➤ Anderson Bears: 45
➤ Hessing Infinity: 30
➤ Renaud Ravens: 14
➤ Faber Rattlers: 10
➤ Blunck Badgers: 8
➤ Van Peursem Drama: 2
➤ Rietema: 0
spirit. “The team worked and competed
hard and in good spirit,” said head coach
Kevin Van Maanen. “The team chemistry
grew throughout the season.”
705 Main St. • Pella, Iowa 50219
641-628-3737
300 SE 14th St. Pella 641-628-3115
PPI
is proud
to support
the Pella
christian
Eagles!
by Michaela Chapman
miccha15@pceagles.org
PC students participate in IM’s 3 days
a week. The year started off with volleyball in the gym and ultimate frisbee
on the football field. Vermeer’s senior
homeroom took the championship in volleyball for the second consecutive year
against Noble (sophomores) and beat out
Beekhuizen (freshman) to win ultimate
frisbee as well. The students then transitioned into pickle ball, which is played in
pairs from each homeroom. Vermeer took
the championship in this as well giving
them the first place spot in IM’s points at
this point in the year. Standing at the end
of first semester are as follows:
www.vanmaanencpa.com
“Committed to personal care
and quality service.”
We put the ‘S’ in delicious!
711 Franklin St., Pella
628-2293
Jeff Van Maanen, CPA
David Sietstra, CPA
Melanie Meyer, CPA
Brett Nikkel, CPA
Page 11 Eagle’s Cry February 24, 2015
Bowlers season
Boys basketball moves into postseason
marked by growth
by Zack Shen
zacshen15@pceagles.org
The basketball season has wrapped up and post-season
play has begun. The current record for the team is 137. PCHS basketball head coach Larry Hessing has led
the team through challenges and obstacles, but confessed
that he is having a lot of fun so far, too.
“Our players and coaches enjoy the challenge of the
excellent teams we are playing and working hard to see
how well we can play against them,” said Hessing.
The home game that the team played with Des Moines
Christian on Jan. 17 was the most legendary game of the
season. The Eagles won by one point, with sophomore David Kacmarynski’s free throw ending an epic come back.
Hessing agrees that the DM Christian game was a
memorable one. “We needed a “three” at the end of regulation to force overtime. Then in overtime, we got a steal
with a few seconds left and a free throw with one second
left to win by one point,” said Hessing.
The team did meet some challenges, including a second loss to Pella High. But the team remains positive.
“This team enjoys working together to become the best
we can be. Everyone seems to understand and accept
their role on the team and works hard at it,” said Hessing.
Due to their winning record, the team is hoping to advance to the State tournament. The teams the Eagles are
facing during the tournament will be challenging. The
Eagles received a bye on the first round of the tournament,
so that the winner of Albia vs Mid-Prairie was the Eagles’
first opponent on Feb. 19. The winner of that game plays
tonight for the district championship in Oskaloosa at 7 pm.
and will advance to the state tournament.
by Anna Burg
annburg16@pceagles.org
The PC’s bowling team has wrapped up another season. Their last meet was the state qualifying meet at
Washington on Tuesday, Feb. 17. This season the team
has competed against Knoxville, Newton, Oskaloosa,
Norwalk, and Creston.
“My favorite team to bowl against is Norwalk cause
they stretch and have to run if they do bad,” said junior
Holly Milby.
Even though they may not have the best record this
season, the team still enjoyed their time together.
“We’ve been pretty consistent in our scores all season
long,” said coach Rod Blunck. “We’ve learned a lot together and it’s been a lot of fun watching [everyone’s]
growth.”
Coach Blunck values his players’ individual achievements over the team’s overall achievements at meets.
The team was made up of ten girls and nineteen boys
this year.
“Anna Burg, Holly Milby and Abbie Vander Molen
currently have the highest averages for the girls. Caleb
VanZee, Max Kolb and Brandon Rozendaal are carrying
the high averages for the boys,” said coach Blunck.
Senior Jason Holwerda shoots a layup during a game
against Pella on Dec. 19. PC lost the contest 76-80.
Shine prepares
for spring show
Junior captain Paige Beyer,
senior Alexandra Krizsan,
and sophomore Yanbing
Zhou perform with the Shine
drill team on Feb. 3 during
the halftime of the boys basketball game. Shine has performed a pom routine and
a co-ed routine at two other
boys basketball games.
Currently the team is
preparing for their Spring
Show to close out their season, set for Saturday, March
7. That day will include a
workshop for grade school
girls, who will also perform
that evening.
invisalign® preferred provider
New patients
always
welcome!
Dr. Eric R. Recker
Dr. Mark W. Recker
Dr. Leigh H. Rasmussen
Dr. Joel A. Weiler
2114 Washington Street
Pella, Iowa 50219
(641) 628-1604
www.reckerdentalcare.com
®
Phone 641-628-3330
Fax 641-628-9796
818 Main Street
Pella, Iowa 50219
826 Main Street
Pella, Iowa 50219
641-628-7311
Senior Grant Fynaardt and sophomore Zach Jansen
bowl during their Pella meet.
118 SE 9th ST Pella
Store: 641-628-1590
Pharmacy: 641-628-1280
Page 12 Eagle’s Cry
February 24, 2015
75th anniversary looks
back at … the 1980s
by Danielle Nardini
dannar15@pceagles.org
This year, PCHS is recognizing its 75th
Anniversary. In celebration, each month
the 75th Anniversary Committee gathers
facts about each decade. The following
facts were gathered about the 1980s:
• In the 80s, entire hallways were decorated by each class with their homecoming theme.
• “Hat, Tie, and Shades Day” was popular for Spirit Week. Either the girls or the
guys started with ties and then, if they
talked to a member of the opposite sex,
they lost their tie to them. Many guys lost
their ties before the first bell rang.
• Senior class trips were two days long.
They left on Thursday mornings and returned on Saturday evenings. St. Louis
and Chicago were popular spots.
• Many students were members of FCA
(Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and
Forensics.
• Joann Nikkel became school secretary
in February of 1980. She served as a fulltime secretary for 20 years and then as a
part-time secretary for another 13 years.
During her time at PCHS, she saw many
changes in technology- from having to use
a manual typewriter and rotary dial phone
to a computer and a speed dial phone.
• The 1980 girls track team had 3 state
champions: Lana Vande Kamp in the 800
and 1500 meter run, and Brenda Zylstra,
Patti Monsma, Donna De Cook, and Lana
Vande Kamp in the distance medley.
• The 1980 baseball team was the first to
qualify for the state tournament in school
history.
• The 1983-1984 school year was noted
for academic excellence as PCHS was
ranked in the 99th percentile in all four
classes levels on the ITED tests.
• The volleyball program was started in
1983. They did not have any games that
year, and just spent time learning fundamentals and scrimmaging with Oskaloosa. Their first official season began in
the fall of 1984. They finished that season
with 4 wins and 11 losses.
• The 1983-1984 girls basketball team
qualified for the state tournament. It
marked the first time the girls had qualified since 1952. They played hard, but lost
in the first round.
• Shorts were allowed to be worn in
school for the first time in 1985.
• In 1985, Spanish was phased in and
German was phased out. Mr. Van Stryland
taught both.
• Eleven Vietnamese students, who had
suffered untold hardships at the hands of
the communists, studied at PCHS during the 1985-1986 school year. Two took
classes for credit and the other nine audited classes to improve their English.
The following year, PCHS had ten ESL
students.
• Girls and boys tennis officially began
with the 1985-1986 school year. Penne
Fox was the girls coach and Doug Stursma coached the boys.
• In 1987, PCHS had an enrollment of
287 students and a staff of 21 teachers.
The school drew students from about a
thirty-five mile radius, with students attending from Oskaloosa, Sully, Cedar,
Tracy, New Sharon, and Prairie City as
well as from Pella.
How often do you eat breakfast each week?
Never 16%
Always 44%
1-2 times 11%
2-3 times 7%
3-4 times 7%
4-5 times 15%
senior Ashley Ambroson: “I usually just eat
a banana or clementine, so I’ll have weeks
where I eat one every
morning, then other
weeks where I don’t
eat any breakfast at all.
Occasionally I splurge
and get Casey’s breakfast pizza too.”
senior Andrea
De
Bruin: “I eat breakfast
every day, even if it’s
not a lot, because otherwise I get super hungry during the morning
class periods. Eating
breakfast makes me
feel more awake and
energized for the day!”
sophomore Levi
Jungling :“I eat breakfast every morning because when I wake up
I’m hungry. And when
I’m not hungry my
mom usually makes me
eat something anyway.”
junior McKinley
Zula: “The main reason why I don’t normally eat breakfast in
the morning is because
I don’t have the time.”
PELLA FAMILY DENTISTRY
911 Broadway St. • Pella, Iowa 50219
Appliances • Furniture • Floor Covering
641-628-4870
888-681-5148
bruxdec.com
Duane Bruxvoort
Dot Bruxvoort
Micah Vermeer, D.D.S.
Meagan Scott D.D.S.
Paul O’Kane D. D. S.
OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT
2300 Washington St • Pella, Iowa 50219
Telephone: (641) 628-2671
www.Pellafamilydentistry.com
Specia l th a nks
to these supporters
of PCHS publications!
 LDJ Manufacturing
 Leighton State Bank
Schuring, Uitermarkt, Sims,
McCleish, Ver Meer, P.C.
 Allen Family Dentistry
 Ducts in a Row
 Garden Chapel Funeral Home
 John W. Lanser & Sons, Ltd.
 Pella Pets
 Pella Rental and Sales, Inc.
 Royal Amsterdam Hotel
 Sports Page
 Dutch Meadows Garden Center
 Town Crier
 Pella Regional Health Center
Home Realty
Visit our
website
for virtual
tours and
interior
photos.
1212 Washington St.
Pella, Iowa 50219
Mary Van Wyk
Realtor
Office: 641-628-4282
Cell Phone: 780-1466
Fax: 641-628-8541
Home: 641-628-4005
www.pellahomerealty.com
“There’s no place like home.”