"Queen of the Cookies" Talks of Life Beyond the BarThe Snack Bar is an undeniable hot spot at PDS, offering a haven of filling breakfast sandwiches, soft bagels, nutritional Naked smoothies, and the famous fresh baked cookies. Students line up every day to satisfy their cravings, but it is more than just the food that draws these crowds. For many, the delicious snacks are just an added bonus to the treat of conversing with the woman who operates the register. Irene Handeland grew up on a farm in southern Norway. As a child, she spent most of her time outside playing stickball with her older brothers, ice skating on nearby ponds, and skiing during the winter. Irene remembers having “to help out milking the cows. I did not like it then but looking back on it ... I think it was kind of neat.” After years of attending the local high school and business school, Irene began work as a secretary for a large company in Kristiansand, Norway, where she met her husband. He is Norwegian as well, but lived in America and had been visiting his family when they met. The two got married in 1971, and she moved to America shortly after. read more » |
Classes will begin on WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7th
Number of Students Taking AP Exams Increases; Stress Heightens ConsequentlyThe number of high school students taking Advanced Placement (AP) tests and courses has reached a record number in the last few years (Wall Street Journal). With the increasing competitiveness of college admissions and the pressure on students to perform at higher levels, it seems no wonder that students are choosing to showcase their talent with college-level classes. This certainly seems to be what is taking place at PDS. According to preliminary numbers from the College Counseling Office, 195 students are signed up to take 367 AP exams this year. Both the number of students and the number of tests ordered are up from last year, where 185 students sat for 332 exams. Two defining characteristics of AP classes are “more rigor and a faster pace,” said Director of College Counseling Sarah Graham. “However, this does not mean that non-AP classes do not have those qualities. In fact, [the College Counseling Office] works really hard to make sure that colleges know that every PDS class is very challenging.” Students use AP classes to show colleges their strengths in particular subjects and that they are taking extra steps to choose challenging high school curricula. There are three main ways to take an AP exam at PDS: enrolling in the AP class, working in an outside study group, or participating in an independent study class. Though most PDS students do choose the advantage of the AP class curriculum, there are a variety of reasons behind these decisions. Most students see the AP class as a natural progression in a course sequence, as well as a chance to highlight their academic strength. However, it seems that now, more than ever, students are taking into account how courses will look on a transcript. Ms. Graham said, “I think that there is a lot of pressure on students because of the college admissions process. The important thing to keep in mind is that there are a lot of different ways to challenge oneself. I encourage students to look at ways to individually challenge themselves, but also recognize that they don’t have to be doing everything.” read more » |
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OPINIONS Setting a Standard for U.S. Foreign Intervention George Washington was a wise man. In his 1796 Farewell Address, he set a course for future American foreign policy: do not get involved in the affairs of other countries. This policy made sense at the time; however, not even George Washington could have foreseen the massive changes that were to come. During World War II, the world would witness the kind of havoc that humanity is capable of wreaking upon itself with 20th century technology. With these realizations in mind, Washington’s principle needs to be revised. read more » STYLES Former PDS Student Stars in Seventeen Magazine’s Style Council Fashion has not always been former PDS student Adriana Van Manen’s focus. In middle school, she self-identified as a tomboy. She owned only one skirt, which she wore to graduation at the end of the year. “It was so ugly—one of those floor length khaki skirts from Old Navy or something—but no one could believe I was even wearing a skirt to begin with,” she said. Flash forward a couple of years, and Van Manen is turning heads in her amazingly creative outfits. Her unique eye for design has made her a style icon within the PDS community. read more » 
FEATURES Students Reveal Their Peculiar Phobias Many people have at least one ‘phobia,’ or intense fear. Phobias can be rational or irrational and their severity may vary. One person may be terrified of bugs but can still stand to be around them, while spiders can turn another (such as myself) into a screaming, blubbering mess. read more » ARTS Animated Film Rango Entertains, Pays Homage to Film Greats What do you get when you combine Star Wars, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, True Grit, Hunter S. Thompson, and Clint Eastwood? The perplexing and brilliant film Rango. The design of the title character alone is a shout-out to Thompson and Fear and Loathing. This is no surprise, given Johnny Depp’s friendship with the late author. read more » 
SPORTS Fantasy Sports Capture Interest of Several PDS Faculty Members With the development and expansion of technology, the Internet has come to offer an ever-expanding source of entertainment. One such source is a game that has dramatically increased in popularity over the past several years: fantasy sports. This online game, offered by web giants such as ESPN, CBS, and Yahoo, creates a virtual world where you can create your very own “fantasy team” comprised of real-world superstars. When the real players do well, their success is reflected in the fantasy league standings. read more » |
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