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April Absurdity Go to page 5 to view a bracket of students' favorite aspects of school!
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With the school year slowly coming to an end, FFA students are attending the State Convention. State Convention is a wonderful opportunity for our students to create connections with others and for our students to be appreciated. This year, the State Convention takes place in Columbus, Ohio, at the Ohio Expo Center on May 1 and 2. The FFA State Convention recognized and awarded many of our outstanding students. The students attended five different sessions on Thursday and Friday, which motivated them and taught them skills to develop their professionalism and leadership. There were also expos where colleges and businesses recruit students to work or study with them. A popular award within our group is the State Degree. The students who received the State Degree award are juniors Natalia Alencastro, Olivia Beck, Courtney Wiemken, Genevieve Galvin, and Ava Genter; seniors Caitie Girdham, Tobin King, Olivia Miller, and Noelle Fox. Natalia Alencastro, Courtney Wiemken, and Olivia Beck also received their gold officer books. “[I’m most excited to be] getting my Gold Rated Officer Book, a Reporter scrapbook, and my State FFA Degree,” Olivia Beck shared. The list of awards our students earned does not end there. Genevieve Galvin was recognized as a Charitable Giver, Noelle Fox and Courtney Wiemken received their Gold Medal Chapters, and Ava Genter accepted her Accounting Proficiency Award this year. The State Convention will also have a choir and band performance that select students get to be part of. This year, Katie Moore was selected to participate in the FFA band and perform on May 2, the last night of the convention. Congratulations to everyone for their accomplishments!
Showing Appreciation
Edition #94 | Issue 8 | May 2025
Double duty is upon us for the week of May 5-9. Student and staff appreciation weeks are being celebrated within Pettisville Junior High and High School. Bring your leis on Monday to celebrate Tropical Day. With snow cones at Picnic at the Park, you will feel like you're on a tropical getaway. Dress like a Celebrity Day paired with celebrity trivia during academic assist will be the agenda for Tuesday. Wednesday’s dress up day is Favorite Sports Team, and during AA students will be playing minute-to-win-it games. Raid your parents' closet on Thursday; it is Dress Like Your Parents/Millennial Day. A Guess the Teacher’s Baby Photo challenge will be during academic assist on Thursday. Friday will be the best by far, as students are to dress like camp counselors and will enjoy a day of special classes chosen by teachers. Ms. Litogot and Mrs. Meller are starting off strong with Kitchen Chemistry in Ms. Litogot’s classroom. Students in this class will be making brownies and ice cream “with a twist.” Bring your tools as Mr. Mendoza teaches lawnmower maintenance in the Ag shop. Cleaning lawn mower decks; sharpening blades; changing oil, spark plugs and filters will have staff lawnmowers and students all ready for the spring mowing season. Grilling 101 will also be held in the Ag shop by Mrs. Leatherman and Mrs. Short. The single period session will be learning all about different grilling methods, the difference between cooking burgers on a traditional grill and a Blackstone griddle, and eating delicious burgers. Bring your favorite book and mug as Mrs. Planson and Mrs. Dixon host the reading cafe in Mrs. Planson’s room. This single-period session will provide hot chocolate, tea, and a variety of coffee in a cozy space to curl up and read a good book. Don’t worry, if you don't have anything to read, Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. Planson have plenty of good reads to recommend. Bump, set, BOOM! Mrs. Horning and Mrs. Hastings will share their expertise on volleyball in the varsity gym. The double periods will be split into two sessions: competitive volleyball during first and second period is meant for more intense and competitive players, and third and fourth period will be casual and more for-fun players. Sport Card collecting, held by Mr. Clark and Mr. Horning and located in room 150 during first, second, and third period, will be filled with cards, shared experiences, and advice on sports memorabilia and collecting. Boots are going to be handy for Mr. Rufenacht and Mrs. Wagenhouser’s backcountry camping. This double period session will focus on learning camping basics, survival skills, and making food to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Take some deep breaths during Wellness and Stress Hacks, put on by Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Richer. Double sessions will give students multiple strategies to reduce stress and lead a healthier life. There will be a special guest, Mr. McClellan, who is a certified yoga instructor. He will lead a session of relaxing yoga. Mrs. Lammers and Mrs. Carper will host Illuminated Pages and Crafting in the library. Discarded library books will be used to make take-home crafts with watercolor and ink on book pages. Going, going, gone! Watching Game 6 of the 1975 World Series and eating hotdogs will be the main event of Mr. Switzer’s “Pudge and Hot Dogs” double-period class. Learning how to score a baseball/softball game will also be part of the class. Chicken wings and smoked sides are on the menu for Mr. Meyers’s smoking class. Learning how to prepare and smoke different foods such as chicken wings, sides, and appetizers. The combination of food, yard games, and the outdoors will be the perfect bite. Want to learn how to play Euchre? How about Dutch Blitz, or even Play 9? Mr. Bishop has the perfect class for you! Card Games will be held in room 220 with Mr. Bishop. “I’m excited to do smoking with Mr. Meyer because I want to learn how to smoke and also I like eating food,” senior Brady Wilburn said. “I’m excited to dress up during the week and also picnic at the park.”
Pettisville High School's
by Jack Leppelmeier
by Shiloh Adkins
Easter Excitement See page 6 to read about what students want in their Easter baskets!
Checking a box off their bingo assignment, juniors Olivia Beck and Genevieve Galvin pose take a photo with two state troopers.
State Awards
PET ECHOES
If you chose Mrs. Phipps, you’re correct! Thank you to Mrs. Phipps for her time at Pettisville!
Staff Waterbottle
Pet Echoes Friday, May 2, 2025
Click to reveal which staff member uses this waterbottle!
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Check out how these items fared in a tournament bracket voted on by students! by Caden Bishop
Best Subject
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Best Writing Utensil
Best School Lunch
Enjoying the dance, Ziva Kidston, Hollis Schwartz, Myleigh Rice, Ellory Miller, and Lydia Clark pause to smile for a photo.
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Pettisville Schools had its annual Sweetheart Dance on Friday, April 25. Elementary girls and their special guests showed up with their dancing shoes on, ready to party. The dance was held in the cafeteria and lasted from 6:30 to 8:00. The cafeteria was decorated for the theme, “I love you to the moon and back,” with glow-in-the-dark moons and stars and an exquisite entrance with a photo booth. “The decorations were amazing and pretty,” sixth-grader Addi Wells said. Along with an elaborate atmosphere, snacks were provided during the dance, which consisted of everything from Fruit by the Foot to cookies. Bracelet making and other fun crafts were also offered. “My favorite craft to do was making bracelets,” said sixth grader Emma Bashor. Thanks to Mrs. Aeschliman and the volunteers that made it happen; the dance was the perfect night for girls to share with their guests.
What is...Nationals? by Kyle Galvin
A Sweet Night by Sam Hastings
On April 25 through April 28, the Pettisville Nerd Herd took a trip to the NAQT National Quiz Tournament in Chicago. The students who attended the National Quiz Tournament were Emily VanDenBerghe (12), Caroline Sterken (11), Macy Hoylman (11), Gavin Sifuentes (11), and Keegan Bird (9). The quiz team made it to the National Quiz Tournament by qualifying at the Hicksville Tournament back in November. The team made it to the playoffs at the tournament with a record of 6-4 on the first day. On the second day, the team went 1-2 for playoffs, finishing with a record of 7-6. The Top scorer from Pettisville was Keegan Bird with about 320 points and an average of 28.19 points per game. Senior Emily VanDenBerghe finished out her high school career as Pettisville's third highest scorer in history. “My favorite part about nationals was getting to participate in such a high level of quiz and getting to put into practice all the topics I have studied. I also got to see the city and try a bunch of different foods with my friends,” Emily said. “[My favorite part about nationals was] the people. It was really fun with that group. I think I did pretty well, especially in geology. I think we did really good [as a team] because I've heard that we haven’t done that good in a while,” Keegan said. “My favorite part about nationals was qualifying for the playoffs on the second day with our 6-4 record. It was a really cool last minute victory because it was the last game that we played for us to qualify,” Caroline added. The quiz team did many different things in Chicago: they toured Wrigley Field, went to the mall, participated in practice rounds, and stayed at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare where they competed against other teams.
The quiz team sits in the third base dugout of Wrigley Field during their tour.
Quotes out of Context “I’m micropipetting!” “It is raining little icicles.” “I love some good mold…it builds character.” “I am one with the dolphins.” “Don’t talk to me, talk to the math.” “God only made a few perfect heads, the rest he covered with hair.” “You will go through life many, many times.” -Mrs. Meller “I’m gonna buy your IQ for $10."
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"[My favorite subject is] gym, and we have been playing baseball." -Camden Rodriguez, 3rd grade
Hunting Easter by Kobe Hoylman
Peeps, chocolate, stuffed animals? When you picture the perfect Easter basket, what does it contain? Ranging from sports apparel to candy, here are just a few of what Pettisville Elementary students would be overjoyed to find in their baskets on the magical morning of Easter. Some kids knew exactly what they wanted to find in their baskets. “Oh, that one's easy,” Ty Aeschliman (3) said. “I want to find a Cooper Flagg basketball jersey in mine.” But for others it seemed that there was an overwhelming desire for the same thing. “Any kind of candy,” Molly Bishop (4) said. “Probably chocolate, Hershey’s if I got to choose,” was Emery Boulton’s (6) response. There was one group of fifth grade boys that really had to put their heads together to come up with their best answer. Nolan Beiber mentioned a car, but they all agreed there was no way that a car would fit in an average-sized Easter basket. The best idea came from Jayden Wyse (5), “Basketball cards!” “Oh, yeah,” Thad Jimenez (5) said. “Or baseball cards or football cards.” The whole table of boys was in agreement that this was the greatest possible solution and then talked about different sports cards for the next five minutes. It can officially be said that if you are shopping for a fifth grade boy, the solution is a package of sports cards. For anybody else, though, it is safe to pick up any kind of candy that will fit in an Easter basket.
"Track for me has been going well. I love running with my team and being a part of this amazing team. I love my whole team, and they have made track so fun." -Ashalyn Rice, sophomore
Jaxon Wyse (8), Ryan Bishop (10), Brycen Bostelman (10), and Jack Leppelmeier (11) meet during Board Game Club to play a game of Fleet.
Sophomore Ben Nagel donates blood at the Red Cross Drive hosted by Student Council.
Presenting to the Bird Perch, junior Gavin Sifuentes explains his science fair research project.
Enduring the rain at the Patrick Henry Invite, junior Caleb Parks launches for the long jump.
Grant Boyers (7) slides into third base in a JH baseball game against Montpelier.
Blackbird Snapshots
Enjoying the Daddy Daughter Dance, a group of girls forms a dance line and enjoys their time together.
Practicing for the spring Operetta, Kirstyn Rychener (6) and Landri Rufenacht (6) call to memory their lines and blocking.
Glowing in his fluorescent shirt, Jaden Wyse (5) poses after sending a bowling ball down the alley during Lil' Gents Night.
Blackbird Sports Broadcast by Creighton Aeschliman & Shiloh Adkins
Name: Shaun Fish Date of Birth: April 25, 2007 Parents: Ryan and Kimberly Fish Siblings: Keilah, Sarah Extracurricular activities: Youth group Plans after high school: Take a few years off, make money, travel, then go to college. What advice do you have for the incoming freshman? Make sure you work hard. Once you fail one class in a year it’s pretty much over. What is the most creative excuse you’ve ever used to get out of a homework assignment? I forgot my Chromebook. What was your biggest childhood fear? Nonfiction books What song are you secretly obsessed with? “Where You Belong” by Matt Hansen
With the spring sports season kicking off with a bang, two athletes have shown their strengths on the field and have devotedly represented Pettisville’s sports program. Both senior softball player Kelsey Bennett and junior baseball player Creighton Aeschliman have put in the hard work and determination to play their best and fight for the win. “My personal strengths [are that]... I’m a good leader (on and off the field), I feel like I do a good job of communicating well to my teammates, and I also feel like…I’m better defensively,” Kelsey said. Even though this is Kelsey’s eighth and final year of softball, she has not stopped putting in the effort and working to improve every aspect of her game. “This season I have worked a lot on my hitting during the off-season,” she explained. “I went to Mark Nofziger and was able to work on my hitting skills.” Starting batter in the rotation, Kelsey is also the team’s catcher. A month into the season, she helps to lead the team and shows her willingness to come to practice to work hard. “[My advice for upcoming athletes would be to] know the time and place. I definitely like to have a lot of fun, but there are times to lock in, and especially coming in freshman year, there’s a lot to learn,” Kelsey advised. Along with Kelsey Bennett, Creighton Aeschliman has shown his skill and fortitude on the field as well. He has been playing ball since early elementary and is currently the team’s catcher. “What are my strengths? I’d say hitting for contact, leadership, and just baseball IQ,” Creighton stated. This April, Creighton has been one of the leaders for Pettisville’s varsity team in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, and runs. Yet, he still strives to improve his skill and hone his technique every day at practice. “I would say...my hitting has gotten much better this season, compared to other seasons. That just comes with getting more experience and being older and playing against kids my own age,” Creighton said. “I would also say my overall defensive and catching abilities, with my arm strength, [have] definitely gotten a lot better since I was a freshman.” Both Creighton and Kelsey have worked hard this April to support their teams and to get ready for tournaments in May.
Athletes of the Month by Ella Myers
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