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Cheer Superlatives Visit page 12 to read about the cheerleaders of the month!
Current unofficial floor plan for Blackbird Center, rendered by G5 Architecture
As soon as this fall, Pettisville Schools will start in on a large project that will both construct and update facilities, prioritizing safety and providing new opportunities for students and community members. This undertaking, named The Unity Project, due to all the individuals and organizations who have come together to make it possible, will encompass several areas of the school and surrounding area. When complete, it will include updates to the library, new facilities at the outdoor athletic fields, and an outdoor classroom/field house to accommodate growing STEM, Ag, Art, and Music programs at Pettisville. “It started with a bunch of ‘what-if’s,” said superintendent Josh Clark, a member of the project’s campaign cabinet. “Being here for a while now, you notice what we have and what we don’t have. We’re in need of essentially playing catch up to other school districts.” Safety concerns are a driving factor in parts of the project. Changes to the library area will help to reduce these concerns. “In assessing the library, especially after an incident a few years ago, that illuminated some vulnerabilities we may have,” said Clark. To combat this, the project will include moveable shelving and features that would allow the library to be better protected in the event of a lockdown. Discussions also include closing off the mezzanine to limit points of entry into the library. In addition to added safety, the library will be updated to reflect the students it serves, and will hopefully be utilized by more junior high and high school students, as well as students participating in CCP. Another piece of the project will include facilities in outdoor athletic spaces. “We need outdoor facilities,” stated Clark. “We’re told all the time how beautiful our facilities are, how nice our playing surfaces are, but we’re still missing those few things.” These facilities will be constructed at the south fields, the soccer field, the track, and the baseball field. Each will feature ADA-compliant restrooms, concessions, a press booth, and storage areas. They will also serve as storm shelters in the event of severe weather, giving spectators peace of mind while enjoying outdoor sporting events. The last piece and most recent addition to the Unity Project is the Blackbird Center. This comprehensive building will serve a variety of classes, clubs, and groups, and will affect each student. It will include an outdoor lab environment for experiments and engineering projects; an area for pottery and ceramics with a wood fired kiln; a space for outdoor concerts and performances; a STEAM room; a kitchen; and a multipurpose room with a basketball court and batting cages. “Basically if you can dream it, you can do it inside the Blackbird Center,” Clark stated. “I don’t see the lights going off there all day. It’s going to be used continuously during the day by teachers, students before school, after school by some of our youth programming.” Thanks to donors and the Pettisville community, the project is over 50% funded. After the failed 2020 levy, fundraising took some creativity. Organizations have also shown their support, including Pettisville Schools, the Pettisville School Foundation, the FFA Alumni, Athletic Boosters, and Music Boosters. The proposed design of the Blackbird Center leaves many options open for additions in the future, meaning the possibilities are endless, and there will always be room for Pettisville programs to continue to grow. For more information on the Unity Project, visit its website at pettisvilleunityproject.org.
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by Keren Maldonado
Currently in Clubs... See page 7 to read about Valentine's activities.
Into the Real World
Edition #94 | Issue 6 | February 28, 2025
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Pettisville High School's
New Sports Check out Pettisville's newest sport additions on page 4.
On February 20, the Pettisville junior and senior classes got to experience what adults’ work and lifestyle choices are like through a variety of activities. The junior class got the opportunity to shadow someone working in an area of their interest. Some students went to the Fulton County Health Center as they were interested in medicine. Some juniors shadowed people in professions such as design, agriculture, and technology. Mrs. Wagenhauser also helped set up some students in schools if they were interested in education. One of these students was junior Katie Moore, who shadowed a Kindergarten teacher at Fayette Elementary School. “The most interesting part was seeing how the kids all think so differently and react to situations differently. You have to get creative so all of your students are engaging and learning,” Katie said. According to Mr. Wagner, job shadowing offers students a firsthand, in-depth look at a profession, helping them gain valuable insights beyond what they might assume. This experience allows students to weigh the pros and cons of a career, helping them determine whether it aligns with their interests and goals. “A goal of ours here at Pettisville High School is to do our absolute best to help prepare our students for future college and career paths,” Mr. Wagner said. Even if they decide a particular career isn’t the right fit after experiencing it in the job shadow, that knowledge is just as valuable in guiding their future choices. Each junior will be required to write a reflection essay on what they learned during their job shadowing experience. Meanwhile, the senior class took the day off to go to Pettisville Missionary Church for a program called Real Money, Real World, which is a youth-focused financial literacy program from the Ohio State University Extension Office. It is an interactive spending simulation that provides the opportunity to make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those made by adults. Seniors learned about budget management and then got to practice these skills in a hands-on decision-making spending simulation. The students then did a post-session evaluation of the spending choices made during the simulation. “I learned how to budget and how to start saving money young. And I learned that life is really expensive,” senior CJ Ridley said. The upperclassmen spent last Thursday learning about financial choices and careers that will help them make important choices later in life.
Unifying Pettisville by Macy Hoylman
PET ECHOES
Pet Echoes Friday, February 28, 2025
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Deciding her fate, senior Abbi Opdycke rolls the dice to determine the number of children she has at Real Money, Real World.
All County Snow Day by Emily VanDenBerghe
High School All County Band was scheduled to take place on the weekend of February 14, 15, and 16. On Valentine's Day, all of the high schools in the county merged into one giant band in the Pettisville theater as the schools' best instrumentalists learned advanced arrangements to play for the concert. Due to snow storms, the concert was canceled, leaving the high school students feeling disappointed. However, all enjoyed the day of practice that was not canceled under the direction of Mr. Waters, the band director at Bowling Green State University.
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Seniors Shiloh Adkins and Noelle Fox work on their senior mural tiles.
ACT & More by Caden Bishop
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On February 25, 2025, Pettisville Junior High and High School students participated in various beneficial activities. While the juniors took the ACT test, other students in grades 7-12 rotated through sessions, or took practice tests of their own. Seniors started the day with a presentation from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) regarding mental health. Next was Deputy Schlosser with Peace Officer Training. This was a presentation that discussed the roles and duties of peace officers, different types of encounters with police, and how to positively handle a traffic stop. Seniors then created a senior mural with Mr. Delphia. They were given a flat, square piece of clay, and carved designs of their choice into them. The tiles will eventually be displayed in the school. Juniors took the ACT, which consists of four parts. After the test, they relaxed and enjoyed pizza in the junior high gym. Students will get to see their results on a later date, and a high score could translate to scholarship opportunities for college. Sophomores took the pre-ACT, a shortened version of the ACT. This will provide feedback as they get ready to take the real ACT. Freshmen practiced the state end-of-course exams in math to prepare for the real test in April. These also provided feedback on where they can improve. Junior high students welcomed the Fulton County Health Department, who developed their team building and conflict resolution skills. “We learned ways to manage stress,” said eighth grader Zander Hogrefe. “Today was fun," 7th grader Theo Jiminez said. "I really enjoyed the team building exercise.” After an Amazing Shake practice, they ended the morning with the NAMI presentation.
Introducing: Archery by Ella Myers
Reaching for another coloring page, Parker Hamilton, Kindergartener, celebrates the one hundredth day of school dressed up in her dino gear.
After conquering the first 99 days of school, the 100th was one to remember. Kindergarteners and first graders of Pettisville spent a day integrating games into their normal schedule. These activities were centered around dinosaurs and allowed the students to learn more about dinos and paleontology. Kindergarteners also had the chance to read in the driver's seat of their very own truck. Some may even have found a new interest in the sport of mini golf after having the chance to play some putt putt with friends. Maybe the thought of being an archaeologist crossed their minds while they dug for dinosaur bones. Either way, it was a day full of fun and learning. “I liked Dino land because we got snacks and played games,” said first grader Wayne Schrock.
Lillian Borer (8) shows off her target full of bullseyes.
As of this year, two new athletic opportunities are available to the students at Pettisville schools. Archery, coached by Pettisville graduate Madeleine (Wixom) Wolfe, was brought to this community in November, while springtime junior high softball and baseball are open to all students wanting to get a headstart on summer recreation. Before Pettisville had an archery program added to the schedule, most PHS students joined the team at Fayette schools. Now, while practices are still being held at Fayette, this exciting new opportunity allows these members to represent the Pettisville community instead. This program is a part of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). “Pettisville recently obtained NASP archery equipment for gym class. Through NASP, the kids have been learning the sport of archery in gym class. Since Pettisville now has NASP in the gym curriculum, this has allowed us to form a team and work on the process of making it an official sport at Pettisville,” Coach Wolfe explained. “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to bring this incredible program to Pettisville and for the wonderful support and encouragement we have received from the administration, staff, and community.” Now, with the season fully underway, the PHS archers begin to prepare themselves for tournaments that span from April to June. These tournaments allow students to qualify for state, national, and world competitions. “[The most unique thing about archery is] that it’s all individual and you don’t have to worry about what anybody else on your team is doing because you just have to worry about your own scores,” freshman and two-year archer Natalie Moden said. While archery season is more than halfway finished, the new junior high softball and baseball season is just beginning. “We are bringing it back just because we want to help get our junior high kids ready for high school,” Director of summer recreation AD Mendoza explained. “More practice times, more games, more experience. We really just want to continue to build our youth program so that ultimately, our high school program can be stronger also.” Pettisville principal Adam Wagner coaches the boys’ team while the girls are coached by Delaney Nofziger. Competitions for these groups begin in March. ”[The most important part of baseball is] playing as a team and communication,” seventh grader Landon Clark said, excited and preparing for this new season. Both programs are a fresh way to get more kids involved in Pettisville’s extracurricular activities.
Evelyn Coleman, Kindergartener, snacks on kettle corn during the one hundredth day of school celebration.
Celebrating 100's by Kobe Hoylman
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JH Jig by Sophia Loar
The FFA put on a spirit week and a Kiss the Lamb fundraiser to celebrate National FFA Week. The FFA was raising money for the Noah House in Pettisville, which shelters those in need. The first residents to live there moved in in 2008. By donating money, students nominated Mr. Meyer, Mr. Rufenacht, and Ms. Enderle to kiss a lamb. The assembly also had many different games including a relay race and a doughnut on a string contest. The 7th graders won the overall games contest while the freshmen came in second place.
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Quotes out of Context “If I had to marry someone it would be Chat GPT because he never leaves me on read.” “If they’re not selling Dr. Pepper, it’s not worth it.” “I can’t do dimensions.” “Your hands are a lot bigger than Coach J’s.” “Euchre is like drinking. You can’t do it Tuesdays at 2 p.m.” “The turtles can lull you into a trance.” “I’m so glad I keep getting little trinkets.”
Celebrating FFA by Sam Hastings
Deputy Schlosser attempts to catch a donut on string.
Competing in the barrel racing competition, sophomore Kaleb Wyse propels himself on the bouncy horse.
Bringing up the rear of the competition, Mr. Wagner completes the obstacle course in an inflatable pig suit.
As Valentine's Day came to a close, the junior high students eagerly participated in their much-anticipated annual dance. The students engaged in various activities, including dancing, singing, jumping along to popular songs, and slow dancing. They enjoyed the evening with friends, gathered in groups, and danced as couples. The majority of students noted that they had a memorable time at the event. “[W]e did like a dance circle and Kole did the worm and me and Kynzie spun each other around,” said Grace Hockenberry, a seventh grader. She also emphasized that “...it was a lot of fun!” Many students slow danced to the songs played, adding to the romantic Valentine’s Day vibe. But the romantic atmosphere wasn't the only one present. “[An] unexpected moment was when Kendall [Sears, senior] jumped in the middle of the junior high circle and started dancing,” says Madison Miller, another eighth grade dance attendee.
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Proposed facilities at the soccer field will include restroom, concessions, storage, and a press booth for increased safety, comfort, and inclusivity.
Guess the Teacher Can you guess which teacher uses this waterbottle? Click the picture below to reveal the correct asnwer!
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Unifying...
If you guessed Sra. Richer, you’re correct! Stop by her classroom whenever you need a verb conjugated, or wonder how to say smurf in Spanish.
FFA, FCCLA, & Field Trips by Jack Leppelmeier
Shiloh Whitmire and Regean Westrick (2) learn about rabbits from junior Genevieve Galvin on animal day.
“The best moment of my basketball season was beating Wauseon at the buzzer.” -Lincoln Aeschliman, part of the BBC Champion 8th Grade basketball team,
“I like to dress up for spirit weeks because you only live once, and it's a lot of fun!” -Rylee Brown, 6th grade
From FFA week to FCCLA Flowers and Pop cans, to Journalism taking a trip to WTOL, Pettisville’s clubs have been nothing shy of busy. National Blue and Corn Gold covered the halls as FFA week kicked off on February 18. Activities included a spirit week for K-12 students, a pancake breakfast on Wednesday , as well as Baby Animal Day and a K-12 assembly on Friday. During this assembly, Mr. Meyer and Mr. Rufenacht were picked to kiss a lamb. Students donated money to each staff member of their choice throughout the week. The money raised during this competition will be donated to the Noah House that is located in Pettisville, helping families in need. In other FFA news, students are receiving state degrees and proficiency awards from the state. Three students have also received gold officer books: Natalia Alencastro (Gold Secretary), Courtney Weimken (Gold Treasurer), and Olivia Beck (Gold Reporter). Field trips were on the agenda for multiple Pettisville clubs. Agribusiness traveled to Arcbold to tour Truland Equipment, while FFA did a service project for Sunshine Communities in Maumee, and Journalism and Current Events classes toured WTOL 11. The STEAM room has been bustling with students and projects. Electricity and robotics students have been involved with group projects, including a giant marble race and prosthetic hands. Drone classes just concluded a presentation from an Ohio State University student to deepen their understanding of projects drones are used for and the opportunities available with them. Chess Club is hosting an in-house tournament with the first round starting the first week of March. Love was in the air as FCCLA members handed out Crush cans and flowers during the week of Valentine’s Day week. Students also will collect pop and can tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. The money raised from the pop tabs will help to fund services at the Ronald McDonald House. FCCLA has also taken the responsibility of hosting the senior citizens at the Bird Perch during the month of February. Spanish Club is packing their bags for the Costa Rica trip on March 8. The six students and Mrs. Richer will travel throughout the country of Costa Rica during spring break. Fundraisers of the Cinco De Mayo dinner of last year and Chili dinner of this December have prepared them for the adventure this March. Caps were out Friday as Caps for California was hosted by NHS on February 28. Kindergarteners through seniors wore a hat to class for just $1, and the proceeds will be donated to the organizations helping restore southern California from the recent wildfires. NHS members also plan to be reading to elementary students, helping the after school education program with tutoring younger students, and also serving at the FFA banquet at the end of the March.
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Enjoying a chilly recess, Benson Zimmerman (5) prepares to launch the football.
Struggling in a game of Tug of War, the senior class pulls out a win against the freshman class.
Forming the tunnel on the court, students cheer on Josh Morris (10) before the team battles Fayette.
During baby animal day in the Ag Shop, Ava Genter (11) talks about pigs to a group of preschoolers.
While energetically participating in the Cotton Eye Joe, Locke Boulton (8), Ali Genter (8), and Jazlene Hernandez (7) enjoy the JH Dance.
Blackbird Snapshots
Caite Wixom (9) and the homecoming court play The Shoe Game at the HOCO Pep Assembly.
Visting the financial advice table, Connor Elliott and Shiloh Adkins (12) work through their budgets at Real Money, Real World.
Huddling together during a cold recess, Evelyn Dymarkowski, Estella Sifuentes, and Harper Thompson (3) grin for the camera.
Name: CJ Ridley Date of Birth: November 2, 2006 Parents: Chris and Vanessa Ridley Siblings: Cassi, Capri and Cecily Extracurricular activities: Church, work, FCA Plans after high school: Go to film school What advice do you have for the incoming freshman? Don’t let people tell you who you are. Be who you were made to be. What is the most creative excuse you’ve ever used to get out of a homework assignment? I’ve always pleaded guilty. What trend or fad are you most embarrassed about being a part of? I’m not ashamed of anything I’m a part of. What was your biggest childhood fear? Space What song are you secretly obsessed with? “Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan
Name: Rylan Warner Date of Birth: September 9, 2006 Parents: Debra and Bart Warner Siblings: Evan Warner Extracurricular activities: Noteworthy, Baseball, Soccer, FCCLA Plans after high school: Go to college for exercise science and play baseball What advice do you have for the incoming freshman? Don’t be dumb and work hard. What is the most creative excuse you’ve ever used to get out of a homework assignment? I was in the hospital. What trend or fad are you most embarrassed about being a part of? Getting highlights in my hair What was your biggest childhood fear? The dark What song are you secretly obsessed with? “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
Name: Justin Sierra Date of Birth: April 7, 2006 Parents: John Sierra, Kelly Goodman Siblings: Sienna, Jase Plans after high school: Work full time and go to college. What advice do you have for the incoming freshman? Keep a steady pace and don’t burn out. What trend or fad are you most embarrassed about being a part of? Mullet What song are you secretly obsessed with? “22” by Taylor Swift
Name: Miley Harris Date of Birth: April 10, 2007 Parents: Leslie and Issac Weber Siblings: Morgan, Molly, and Jace Extracurricular activities: School and club volleyball, track Plans after high school: Go to college What advice do you have for the incoming freshman? Mr. Bishop is the best, and respect seniority. What is the most creative excuse you’ve ever used to get out of a homework assignment? Show up late or don’t show up at all What trend or fad are you most embarrassed about being a part of? The side part What was your biggest childhood fear? Spiders What song are you secretly obsessed with? “500 lbs” Lil tecca
Kindergarten Q&A Valentine's Day-themed commentary from Creighton and the kindergartners...
Name: Brady Wilburn Date of Birth: March 3, 2007 Parents: Steve and Gloria Wilburn Siblings: Tyler, Esther, Regina, Lola Extracurricular activities: Soccer, FCCLA, Cross Country Plans after high school: Attend college What advice do you have for the incoming freshman? Don’t be annoying and loud What is the most creative excuse you’ve ever used to get out of a homework assignment? My grandma fell down the stairs What trend or fad are you most embarrassed about being a part of? Having a middle part freshman year What was your biggest childhood fear? Killer clowns What song are you secretly obsessed with? “Sparks” By Coldplay
Blackbird Sports Broadcast by Creighton Aeschliman & Shiloh Adkins
Madelyn Westrick
Kali Delgado
Ella Myers
Instead of an athlete of the month for this issue, our team decided it was time to honor our cheerleaders. This year, the cheer team hosted another successful mini cheer camp teaching over eighty girls cheerleading skills. They also painted signs for each senior involved in basketball or cheer, and led our student section in cheers at every boys' game. Carissa Beck, the JV and Varsity cheer coach, is very proud of these three individuals, specifically saying: “All three of these girls did fantastic jobs at being Cheer Coaches during our Mini Cheer Camp. I was so impressed with the way they held the girls' attention, gave clear instructions, were firm but fun with the girls, were encouraging, and were great teachers!” Here are the cheer superlatives as voted on by the cheerleaders. Thank you, Pettisville Cheer Team! Most Likely to Lose Her Voice- Kali Delgado Kali Delgado has been a part of Pettisville Cheerleading since seventh grade, and even as one of the youngest members of the Varsity team, she’s proven she belongs there. When her teammate sophomore Alissa VanDenBerghe was asked why she chose Kali as most likely to lose her voice, she said, “Honestly, she's always been the loudest on the team, and she's super supportive of everyone on the team.” Coach Beck also noted, “Kali has really stepped up this year, taking the lead on calling out cheers and strengthening her cheer motions.” The consensus among her teammates is clear—Kali’s the one they can always hear on the sidelines, and no one’s more likely to lose their voice. Most Dedicated- Ella Myers Ella Myers has been part of Pettisville Cheerleading since eighth grade, and her dedication to the team is clear. Junior Olivia Beck mentioned that Ella has shown commitment by “practicing at home, and she catches on quickly.” Coach Beck shared, “This title doesn’t surprise me at all. Ella has gone above and beyond, practicing at home to perfect her cheers and motions. She consistently commits to attending both practices and games, and she rarely misses.” Most Energetic- Madelyn Westrick Madelyn Westrick is the only senior on this year's cheer team. She’s been part of Pettisville cheer since seventh grade, and it’s clear she’s made a lasting impact. Voted most energetic by her JV and Varsity teammates, Madelyn’s leadership shines through in everything she does. Coach Beck said, “Madelyn has really stepped into the role of team leader, not just for Varsity, but for JV too. She’s taken charge in so many ways—whether it’s teaching cheers, dances, or spotting areas where the team can improve.” Katie Moore added, “Madelyn is great at slowing down the cheers with the JV and showing them how to bring energy and spirit to the crowd.”
Athlete of the Month by Kendall Sears
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TO OUR 2024-2025 PET ECHOES SPONSORS
THANK YOU
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