The Student News Site of Ankeny High School

The Talon
These are the classes that will not be offered next year to Ankeny High students. Associate Principal Wade Grinhaug works with teachers and heads of departments to design class schedules and will inform them if classes are at risk of not running. He says building a schedule is very complex. There are around 1,400 students at AHS and the scheduling requests average around 6.5 per semester. Grinhaug estimates that there are over 30,000 requests total. To help Grinhaug sort through all of this information he uses Scheduling Wizard on Infinite Campus to build the schedules. It is a computer algorithm that analyzes all of the requests and recommends the times to offer each class to reduce conflicts. Infographic made by Lilyan McCracken using Google Drawings
Class changes coming to AHS
March 7, 2024
The student financial aid process can be an intimidating experience for students and parents alike. Knowing where to start and having steps and/or a plan for tackling the process can make it much easier. Infographic made by Josie Babcock using Canva
FAFSA frenzy
March 7, 2024
On Tuesday, Jan. 30, Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) mentors led sophomore Hawk Times through an introductory presentation. Participants created collectively a list of norms they will revisit each month with a new MVP lesson.
Mentors in Violence Prevention launches at Ankeny High
February 29, 2024
AHS junior Ryan Tomlinson scrolls through Instagram. Since the 1990s, mental health disorders have risen as a leading cause of health loss, reports National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). In the United States and globally, more people than ever before are suffering from mental and emotional disorders, and are dying to suicide. The cause of these trends has been linked to many different factors, including the lack of access to mental health aid, increased substance abuse, and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to numerous studies conducted across the globe, the use of social media has been a major leading cause of societys decline in mental health, reports the Center for Disease Control.
The social dilemma
February 28, 2024
House File 2082 will remove gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act and list gender dysphoria as a disability. A hearing will be held at noon today, Jan. 31, at the Iowa Capitol about the bill.
A proposed bill will remove gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act
January 31, 2024
Charlie Christensen, Griffin Nye, Ava Sarenpa, and Rose McGill talk all things Michael Jackson.
The Gray Room Podcast
April 25, 2024
Album cover of “WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU” by Future and Metro Boomin. Album cover from Epic / Freebandz / Republic / Boominati Worldwide
“WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU” Review
April 25, 2024
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is currently playing in theatres. The movie is PG-13 and runs an hour and 55 minutes. Movie poster from Warner Bros. Pictures
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” Review
April 7, 2024
Talon reporter Levi Foster discusses the top National Football League (NFL) prospects of the 2024 NFL draft. Graphic made by Levi Foster using Canva
Top NFL Prospects
April 4, 2024
On this episode of The Gray Room, Griffin and I talk about student suggestions.
The Gray Room Podcast
April 1, 2024
Charlie Christensen, Griffin Nye, Ava Sarenpa, and Rose McGill talk all things Michael Jackson.
The Gray Room Podcast
April 25, 2024
Album cover of “WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU” by Future and Metro Boomin. Album cover from Epic / Freebandz / Republic / Boominati Worldwide
“WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU” Review
April 25, 2024
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is currently playing in theatres. The movie is PG-13 and runs an hour and 55 minutes. Movie poster from Warner Bros. Pictures
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” Review
April 7, 2024
Talon reporter Levi Foster discusses the top National Football League (NFL) prospects of the 2024 NFL draft. Graphic made by Levi Foster using Canva
Top NFL Prospects
April 4, 2024
On this episode of The Gray Room, Griffin and I talk about student suggestions.
The Gray Room Podcast
April 1, 2024
Talon reporter Levi Foster discusses the top National Football League (NFL) prospects of the 2024 NFL draft. Graphic made by Levi Foster using Canva
Top NFL Prospects
April 4, 2024
A Taylor Swift-themed poster with logos to represent Swifts and Travis Kelce’s collective passions. Made by Ava Tomlinson using Canva
Touchdowns and love songs
March 29, 2024
On March 7th, the Ankeny Hawks took on Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the semifinal round of the State Tournament. Cedar Rapids came out on top with a score of 51-63.
Hawks close out an impressive season in Semifinal matchup against Cedar Rapids Kennedy
March 10, 2024
On Tuesday, Mar. 6, the Ankeny Hawks took on Dubuque Senior at Wells Fargo Arena. Senior Lio Aguirre (21), senior Cade Pederson (33), and sophomore Rio Aguirre (35) prepare for the tipoff.
Ankeny defeats Dubuque Senior in quarterfinal showdown
March 7, 2024
The Hawks advance to State with a 64-41 victory over Centennial.
Hawks beat Centennial to advance to State
February 28, 2024
Sophomore Max Allison stands at 7-feet tall next to 6-foot tall junior Ryan Tomlinson.
A tall tale
April 25, 2024
A Taylor Swift-themed poster with logos to represent Swifts and Travis Kelce’s collective passions. Made by Ava Tomlinson using Canva
Touchdowns and love songs
March 29, 2024
It is parachute day in P.E.O.P.E.L. P.E. class. Students who want to make a difference, make new and true friends, or to try a different physical education credit can take P.E.O.P.E.L. P.E. and/or join Circle of Friends. The next Circle of Friends event will be kickball from 4-5 p.m. at Miracle League Park in Ankney
P.E.O.P.E.L. P.E.
March 6, 2024
Karin Cowger spending time with former exchange student, Elora, while on vacation in Berlin, Germany.
Embracing roots: Exploring the German heritage of an English teacher
February 8, 2024
TCA Titans runner Mathew Edwards (left) and Ankeny Hawks runner Ethan Zuber (right) leading the Boys Gold race at the 2023 Rim Rock Invitational meet. Zuber took first place.
State champion and Gatorade Player of the Year
February 2, 2024
On this episode of The Gray Room, Griffin and I talk about student suggestions.
The Gray Room Podcast
April 1, 2024
Griffin and I talk about a new album that was just released called The Slow Rush.
The Gray Room Podcast
March 29, 2024
On this episode of The Gray Room, Griffin and I talk about student suggestions.
The Gray Room Podcast
March 18, 2024
On Tuesday, Mar. 6, the Ankeny Hawks took on Dubuque Senior at Wells Fargo Arena. Senior Lio Aguirre (21), senior Cade Pederson (33), and sophomore Rio Aguirre (35) prepare for the tipoff.
Ankeny defeats Dubuque Senior in quarterfinal showdown
March 7, 2024
On this episode of The Gray Room, Griffin and I talk about student suggestions.
The Gray Room Podcast
March 4, 2024
This months theme was to include a rose(s) in your work. Art by Jason Dennis
February Literary Magazine
February 26, 2024
Graphic made by Lydia Gerety using Canva
January Literary Magazine
January 22, 2024
Art by Jason Dennis
December Literary Magazine
December 19, 2023
Art by Owain Hernandez
November Literary Magazine
November 21, 2023
This is the debut of The Talons literary magazine. With a new theme each month, our October theme is: horror. Get ready for some eerie poetry and some haunting tales that will send shivers down your spine. These words will invade your nightmares, and just in time for the spooky Halloween season. Art by Eos Gustafson
October Literary Magazine
October 13, 2023
Upcoming Events
  • 4/24 Boys Tennis @ Southeast Polk
  • 4/24 Special Olympics @ AHS
  • 4/25 Girls Tennis @ Ankeny Tennis Center
  • 4/25 Boys Tennis @ Ankeny Tennis Center
  • 4/25 Boys Track @ Drake
  • 4/25 Boys Soccer @ AHS
  • 4/26 Festival of Bands @ Southeast Polk
  • 4/26 Girls Track @ Drake
  • 4/26 Boys Track @ Drake
  • 4/26 Girls Soccer @ TBK Bank Sports Complex
  • 4/27 Boys Soccer @ Northview
  • 4/27 Girls Soccer @ TBK Bank Sports Complex
  • 4/27 Girls Track @ Drake
  • 4/27 Boys Track @ Drake

The Talon

The Talon

The Gray Room Podcast

Charlie Christensen, Griffin Nye, Rose McGill, and Ava Sarenpa • April 25, 2024

Album cover of “WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU” by Future and Metro Boomin. Album cover from Epic / Freebandz / Republic / Boominati Worldwide

“WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU” Review

Nolan McNulty, Staff Reporter • April 25, 2024

Weeks after releasing “WE DON’T TRUST YOU,” Future and Metro Boomin are back to take over the hip-hop game again. Their first of two albums took the internet by storm and caused a lot of stir...

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is currently playing in theatres. The movie is PG-13 and runs an hour and 55 minutes. Movie poster from Warner Bros. Pictures

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” Review

Nolan McNulty, Staff Reporter • April 7, 2024

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” was released on March 29, 2024. This comes three years after the previous installment in the Monsterverse franchise, “Godzilla vs. Kong,” which came out on March...

Talon reporter Levi Foster discusses the top National Football League (NFL) prospects of the 2024 NFL draft. Graphic made by Levi Foster using Canva

Top NFL Prospects

Levi Foster, Staff Reporter • April 4, 2024

With the 2024 NFL Draft coming up later this month, scouts and coaches have some tough choices to make about who they want on their team next season. After watching film and the results from the draft...

The Gray Room Podcast

Charlie Christensen and Griffin Nye • April 1, 2024

The Gray Room Podcast

Charlie Christensen and Griffin Nye • March 29, 2024

A Taylor Swift-themed poster with logos to represent Swifts and Travis Kelce’s collective passions. Made by Ava Tomlinson using Canva

Touchdowns and love songs

Ryan Tomlinson, Staff Reporter • March 29, 2024

With half of the world's attention focused on the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl 58 victory, the other half is focused on the relationship between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.  Kelce, the tight end...

Album cover of WE DONT TRUST YOU by Future and Metro Boomin. Album cover from Epic / Freebandz / Republic / Boominati Worldwide

“WE DON’T TRUST YOU” Review

Nolan McNulty, Staff Reporter • March 27, 2024

Future and Metro Boomin return to the music industry with their new collaboration album “WE DON’T TRUST YOU.” This is Future’s first album since 2022’s “I NEVER LIKED YOU,” and the next album...

The March Madness tournament is famously known as one of the most difficult, lucky (or unlucky depending on how you do), yet fun events across all sports. The chances of filling out a perfect bracket are one in 9.2 quintillion. Graphic made by Ryan Tomlinson using Canva

The ultimate March Madness guide

Ryan Tomlinson, Staff Reporter • March 20, 2024

March Madness is the biggest college basketball tournament that takes place in the third week of March and highlights the best 68 teams in the  National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). There...

The Gray Room Podcast

Charlie Christensen and Griffin Nye • March 18, 2024

Music lovers around Iowa join together to celebrate the reopening of the Val Air Ballroom venue on Feb. 25. Those in attendance witnessed a record-breaking event with Iowa musician Jon Locker playing a guitar through 81 amps.

Val Air Ballroom is back in business

Rose McGill, Staff Reporter • March 6, 2024

After closing down for roughly two years, the Val Air Ballroom located in Des Moines, Iowa is back in business. On Feb. 25, the ballroom hosted their reopening which gathered people from all around Iowa...

Anxiety is highly prevalent among high schoolers and young people with around 31.9 percent of adolescents aged 13-18 experiencing an anxiety disorder, according to Mental Health America (MHA) from a 2022 youth data report. Graphic by Sylvia Bartlett using Canva

Ankeny student support services lend a hand with mental health concerns

Sylvia Bartlett, Staff Reporter • March 5, 2024

Sixteen percent of teens aged 12-17 experienced a major depressive episode, and three in five teens received no mental health treatment for their episodes or illnesses, states Mental Health America (MHA)...

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