The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

14 students from Parkway West High School were nominated the Glory of Missouri awards.

Meet the glories of Missouri

Katie Wallace, Triya Gudipati, and Serena Liu March 15, 2023

In the early 1920s, 14 virtues were engraved on the Missouri House Chamber walls: knowledge, liberty, equality, law, justice, fraternity, education, progress, honor, truth, virtue, temperance, enterprise...

Parkway West students stand with their awards at the DECA State Career Development Conference. Twelve students returned as winners of the event. “It was a great experience since I was able to meet new people and spend time with my friends away from schools. Looking back, I’m happy I joined DECA and was able to go to the state competition,” junior Max Brophy said.

DECA students return from state victorious

Grace Loethen and Emily Early March 14, 2023

Stepping off the bus, 12 students return from their DECA State Career Development Conference. The state-wide competition took place Monday-Wednesday in Kansas City, Mo. Students who won will move on to...

The Blue Brains Robotics Team and supporters pose together after winning State and qualifying for Worlds. Teammates hold Second place Skills, Tournament Champion and Excellence Award trophies as the competition comes to an end. “It was such an amazing experience to not only double qualify for Worlds, but to do it with my teammates who are some of my favorite people in the world. I’m really glad I get to continue competing for my senior year,” Senior, Notebook Writer and Drive Team Member Katherine Hanses said.

From state to world: Blue Brains Robotics team emerges victorious

Ashlyn Gillespie and Elizabeth Franklin March 13, 2023

West High became the 2023 Missouri VEX Robotics High School State Champion this past Saturday. Through a series of 2v2 competitions in Jefferson City, Mo., the team won the State tournament, qualifying...

Fully running through “Pippin” for the first time, sophomore Jack Mullen performs the opening number alongside his castmates to kick off tech week. Having been diagnosed with COVID-19 one week before the show, theater teacher and Director Amie Gossett relied on her students to step up to help the show run smoothly in her absence. “As a whole, this has been a very collaborative experience for all the kids. They’ve learned to take responsibility [while] pushing themselves to keep the show going. [They learned] to believe themselves in stepping outside of their comfort zone and to push for what they want,” Gossett said.

Turmoil to triumph: the Parkway West Dramatics Company puts on a fiery show in “no time at all”

Triya Gudipati, Staff Writer March 9, 2023

From a COVID-19 diagnosis to a broken wrist, the weeks before “Pippin” brought confusion, chaos and worry to the show’s cast and crew. So, how did the theater department transform turmoil into triumph? “Pippin,”...

NHS members wear red to support and promote blood donations. NHS sponsor and English teacher Erin Fluchel helped student members organize the event. “[Donating blood] is a really small thing that can make a big difference. It can impact people that you dont necessarily know. You dont see the immediate impact, but it can be really powerful,” Fluchel said.

NHS hosts blood drive to aid St. Louis community

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor in Chief March 6, 2023

People’s rationale for donating blood varies: they think it’s the right thing to do, as a means to get out of class, their parents made the suggestion or they have seen the direct impacts. ImpactLife...

During the upcoming spring spirit week, Longhorn Council challenges students to “Stop the bop.” To fundraise for the CHADS Coalition, they will play a song every day during passing periods and for five minutes before the school day begins; to stop the song, students must reach a fundraising goal. “I’m really excited for ‘Stop the bop,’” sophomore Cindy Phung said. “It’s a crazy, new idea and sounds fun. I can’t wait, but I’m worried that I’ll maybe be annoyed when it happens.”

“Stop the Bop” rocks West

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief March 3, 2023

Five days. Five passing periods. $1,000. “Stop the bop” has reached Parkway West High School.  During spring spirit week, Longhorn Council (LoCo) has decided to embrace a new form of fundraising...

Following a district announcement that Latin A and B will be removed from course registration at the middle school, teachers and students with ties to the language have been disappointed. However, some Latin students are taking strides to promote enrollment to rising freshmen. “Even if [the administration] is making these decisions based on numbers, there is a human element that should be considered. How does this affect other teachers? How does this affect families? How does it affect your financial bottom line? As Parkway moves towards a student choice schedule, we need to allow all possible options: including Latin,” Latin teacher Tom Herpel said.

The loss of a language

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief March 2, 2023

What causes a language to die? Is it when people stop speaking it? Reading it? Writing it? Historians have long regarded Latin as a dead language because it no longer has native speakers. However, they...

Read Across America Day aims to inspire and encourage kids to read more and help develop their reading habits at a young age. However, it is not only meant for kids; the holiday encourages reading at all ages. To promote reading at the high school level, the library has started a new tradition that challenges students to read books from each of the fifty states. “Hopefully [this] gets more people involved in reading — maybe finding a new author or a new book that they enjoy or reading something that they wouldnt have originally picked but takes them somewhere new to explore,” school librarian Lauren Reusch said.

Oh, the places you’ll read!

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief March 1, 2023

March is a month for celebrating books. Schools and libraries across the country recognize the importance of books and the skills of readers. In addition, students are encouraged to read in honor of Theodor...

Parkway is hiring substitute teachers through Kelly Education to combat the sub shortage.

Where’s my substitute teacher?

Lia Emry, Staff Writer February 24, 2023

Today, it is not uncommon to see staff members or principals watching a class while their usual teachers are out. The daily scramble to find enough substitute teachers often leaves students and administrators...

Senior Gael Crane and sophomore Will Gonsior write “the time is always right to do what is right” in German for their Black History Month door decoration. Gonsior took German because of his interest in the country’s culture and history. “Germany has a very rich history, and I love studying history. A lot of our culture and our ideas can be traced back to Germany, especially language,” Gonsior said.

German program comes to an end

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief February 8, 2023

“Guten Morgen, Studenten!” German teacher Christie Staszcuk’s face fills the SMARTBoard screen as she Zooms in from Parkway Central, with the only four students in West’s combined AP German...

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