Ideas for Favorite Treats With a Fall Twist

by Allie Serres

As seasons change, so do our taste buds. Well, not really, but we start to crave those tasty fall foods like pumpkin pie and apple crisp, and although those are most people’s fall food favorites, there are so many more yummy things that you can indulge in.

    Everyone loves desserts, and chocolate chip cookies are delicious and quick to make. But, why not spice things up a bit and add a fall twist? Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are fast and fun while they add a little bit of autumn to your snack time.

    Something yummy that is a less common food is pumpkin pancakes. With pumpkin pancakes, there are so many different ways to branch off. For starters, you could just eat them plain and pile on the syrup, but you could also add chocolate chips and turn them into pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes. However, that’s not all you can do with pumpkin pancakes. Try making some really thin pumpkin pancakes, coating the tops with cream cheese frosting, and then rolling them up. Now, you no longer have pumpkin pancakes; they’re pumpkin rolls. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can add chocolate chips to your pumpkin rolls, as well.

    Alright, enough about pumpkin. Another fall favorite is apples. There is apple pie, apple bread, caramel apples, and so much more. But, nothing beats biting into a nice, crisp apple that is fresh from the tree. And, of course, if you aren't into just plain apples, there is the absolutely delicious and nutritious spiced apple sauce.

    With every season, there are new opportunities to try new foods, and every culture is different and has different seasonal recipes of its on. Branch out, try something new, and at the very least, make one of these fabulous fall foods for a friend.

PHS English Department Offers New Elective: Media Literacy

by Melanie Schaefer

    Along with a new school year comes new teachers, new students, and even a few new classes. If you’re interested in writing, you might find yourself drawn to the electives that the English department has to offer. Creative Writing and Writing for Publication are offered as early as freshman year while Speech & Drama is open to juniors and seniors. But, what many students don’t know is that this year a new English elective was offered: Media Literacy, which is a one semester elective taught by Mrs. Kies. To teach this class she surrendered her Creative Writing class to Mr. Statz, leaving Mrs. Keleher to teach Tech English.

   Media Literacy was introduced to the course list because there isn’t another class like it at PHS. The curriculum focuses on interpreting the media and how it affects us psychologically, emotionally, and even physically. Media is a huge driving force in our daily lives, though sometimes we don’t even realize it. There’s a name brand for everything imaginable. Take your clothing for instance. I can bet that the brand you’re wearing has been on TV or in magazines a time or two. Your favorite song? You probably heard it on the radio. Media is anywhere and everywhere.

  So far this year, students started filming their own documentary film about life at Platteville High School. They have also just finished filming Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) for the Msg 2 Teens competition that Fox 47 is currently holding.

   If you think that watching and reviewing movies is interesting, or if you enjoy filming your own movies, Media Literacy should definitely be a consideration when you’re picking out classes for the next school year.

Ready or Not, Here It Comes! One Senior Takes on College Applications

by Beth Gardiner

    “What are your plans after high school?” Every high school student has heard this question countless times. When responding, some are able to give a confident answer because they are pretty sure where their journey will take them after graduation. Others have no clue what the future holds. Then, there are students in the middle that have a general idea of what their post-high school plans will include but aren’t sure how it will all unfold. Senior year is the time for students to start taking advantage of opportunities and making choices for life after PHS.

    One of the biggest lessons I have learned in high school is that it is just fine to not have your whole life planned out. I have found freedom in this and instead, have learned that life is just about taking steps that grow and stretch me. Just like many other students, I have begun the process of applying for college.

    Leading up to senior year is a great time to stretch yourself and learn more about the things you enjoy doing. This is very helpful in deciding what your next step after graduation will be. If college is for you, junior year is the perfect time to start taking college visits and getting an idea of where you would like to go after high school. ACT testing becomes a part of junior year in preparing for applying to colleges. It is fine to be working on these things at the beginning of senior year, too. Every senior has a conference with Mrs. Foote where he or she discusses how the school helps in applying for colleges. It is a great time to ask questions and to figure out how you are doing academically.

    So, where is the senior journey at for me? I just started my applications to two colleges! It is a little surreal. High school has flown by, and I can’t believe how real college is becoming. I took one college visit in the summer and am excited to tour one more in October. I’m enjoying every minute with my friends at school as I keep working on those long application processes.

Voyage to France: PHS Students' Journey Over the Pond

by Pauline Justal

     In the summer of 2014, an opportunity was offered to some students taking French at PHS, such as Matt Schaefer (‘15) who said about his experience, “It was awesome.” The trip to France was a chance for students to learn about French language, culture, and history up front and in person. In addition they got to see their friends from Spring. These students are from Lycée/High School Baudelaire  and came to visit Wisconsin in May. This time the French students hosted the PHS students during their French trip for six days to give everyone the full experience of living for a few days in a true French environment. Even if they did not all have the same experience since every family is different, they all enjoyed learning ways of life in France. They visited pleasant places such as the Monet garden, many churches and cathedrals, the beaches of D day and when they got to Paris they visited almost everything talked about in Mrs. Peters’s class.They climbed up the Eiffel Tower, had a boat ride on the Seine and did an awesome bike ride. They were lucky to have incredibly good weather in Paris compared to the weather Parisiens are used to. It allowed everyone to have a great trip.

Week of September 19 to September 26

1. "Sprint to the Finish"-- PHS Cross Country girls kick it into gear at their dual meet with River Valley
2.  "Wow, These Seats Are So Nice!"--The student body enjoys the newly renovated auditorium at their first function in the venue. 
3. "Cool Stuff"--Special guest country sensation Tyler Barham's merchandise is sold after his performance.
4. "Catching Some Rays and Shakespeare"--AP English students smile for the camera on their visit to see Much Ado About Nothing at the American Players Theater. 
5. "Hard At Work"--Fall Play cast rehearses away.
6. "Feel Your Lunch Yet?"-- Members of the Marines stop in during lunch sections to let students test their strength at the pull-up bar.