![Clutching the ball on a quarterback run, junior Joseph Federer hustles on the field, attempting to score a touchdown. As a child, Federer grew up watching football. “An NFL player who inspires me is [quarterback] Kyler Murray. He is a very accurate quarterback and can also make tremendous plays with his feet,” Federer said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DSC_0358-1.jpg)
![Dressed in spirit gear, senior Hope Green is handed the golden football, representing her title as the Homecoming Queen. Homecoming week has always been Green’s favorite week of the year. “I didn’t tell anyone to vote for me. I’m just not that person. If I was going to be on [homecoming court], I’d want [people] to vote for me because they genuinely liked me as a person, and liked who I am. It meant a lot to know that I’ve made somewhat of an impression on people and that people appreciate me,” Green said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DSC_0927.jpg)
![Celebrating the 2021 Fall Pep Assembly, seniors Esha Franics and Maya Malhorta dress in spirit colors red, white and blue. The duo worked on planning the Homecoming assembly, parade and Powder Puff game. “Im more in charge of the parade and the floats. Esha is more in charge of the pep assembly and Powder Puff,” senior Maya Malhorta said. “There’s a lot of things to do behind the scenes, especially picking [main] theme and planning all of the spirit day themes, but it is a lot of fun. I picked disco [for the class theme] because I think it would be the most fun. I am disappointed the teachers didn’t get rock; I was hoping they would.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Esha-and-Maya.jpg)
![Checking in with the Parkway West Superfan, Activities Director Jeff Taggart talks with kids during lunch. Taggart looked forward to building connections with students and becoming a part of the school community. [I just want] to be involved, in the cafeteria, at lunchtime, at different sporting events or activities.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DSC_5077.jpg)
![Right foot in and arms wrapping around her teammates, freshman Hayden Oakley mentally prepares to race. Oakley ran in the freshman race in the Stan Nelson Invitational at the Northwest Early Childhood Center, Sept. 10. “Before [the race,] I was a little nervous because it was only the second [meet,] it was bigger, and there were a lot of people there. When we went into the huddle, that helped motivate and calm me down. [Also,] it was nice because it just made me feel more confident about the race,” Oakley said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Hayden-Oakley.jpg)
![Staff Sergeant and U.S. Army recruiter Krystal Currin presents her recruitment station outside the cafeteria. Currin, who usually works in the IT field, has been in the Army for 12 years and hopes to retire in eight. “Im here to provide information [and] open up more career opportunities [for] students,” Currin said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/66B1385B-8077-4490-9528-4BA22BFBF752-300x225.jpeg)
UPDATE: AS OF SEPT. 22, 2022 THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM HAS DECIDED THAT THE HOMECOMING PARADE WILL ALLOW CANDY ON THE WEST HIGH CAMPUS THIS YEAR. Homecoming...
![Construction tools stand throughout the partially-finished entrance to the Fine Arts wing. The entrance will be a glass display case featuring students’ artwork. “[I’m excited about] everything being so fresh and new. For art teachers, I would say our department is very clean. [The new department] is going to be ready to organize and allow for procedures to be a lot more accessible [and] manageable,” Art Department Leader Katy Mangrich said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/unnamed.jpg)
![Explaining how to request high school transcripts for the college application, college counselor Chris Lorenz leads a senior class meeting for English teacher Diana Lurkins’ AP Literature class. West High transitioned the counseling department to create a single college counselor, following in the footsteps of the other four Parkway high schools. “I love working with high school [students], coming of age, moving from being a child to an adult. I’m helping individuals through that transition, which encompasses an understanding of themselves and their passions are as they leave high school and go off to do bigger and better things,” Lorenz said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/lorenz-900x600.jpg)
![English teacher Erin Fluchel places Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five” back on her bookshelf. While some staff members were concerned it might cause legal troubles because it contains a sketch of a naked woman’s chest, the district ultimately determined it was not offensive. “Some of these pieces are really powerful, important pieces of dystopian literature that deserve to stay. I think [the book] provides students with a different perspective that kids should be able to access,” Fluchel said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BookBansFeaturePhoto-900x600.jpg)
Entranced in an internet rabbit hole, 10-year-old Alan Song perused the pages of Wikipedia, exploring atomic orbitals, a chemistry topic he had...
![Clutching the ball on a quarterback run, junior Joseph Federer hustles on the field, attempting to score a touchdown. As a child, Federer grew up watching football. “An NFL player who inspires me is [quarterback] Kyler Murray. He is a very accurate quarterback and can also make tremendous plays with his feet,” Federer said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DSC_0358-1-900x600.jpg)
![Knees bent, freshman James Callahan lifts the ball for a fast pass during the 2021 Young Men’s National Championship in Virginia Beach. Despite his high skill level, it is difficult for Callahan to find opportunities to play with other boys. “I can’t play in any tournaments in St. Louis. To get practice with other boys, I’d have to fly out to California or Pennsylvania. You have to spend $400 to pay for the practice, and you pay for a plane ticket. We don’t even know if they’re giving us rooms, [or if] we also have to get the hotel and transportation,” Callahan said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/unnamed-22.jpg)
![Dressed in spirit gear, senior Hope Green is handed the golden football, representing her title as the Homecoming Queen. Homecoming week has always been Green’s favorite week of the year. “I didn’t tell anyone to vote for me. I’m just not that person. If I was going to be on [homecoming court], I’d want [people] to vote for me because they genuinely liked me as a person, and liked who I am. It meant a lot to know that I’ve made somewhat of an impression on people and that people appreciate me,” Green said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DSC_0927-900x600.jpg)
![Celebrating the 2021 Fall Pep Assembly, seniors Esha Franics and Maya Malhorta dress in spirit colors red, white and blue. The duo worked on planning the Homecoming assembly, parade and Powder Puff game. “Im more in charge of the parade and the floats. Esha is more in charge of the pep assembly and Powder Puff,” senior Maya Malhorta said. “There’s a lot of things to do behind the scenes, especially picking [main] theme and planning all of the spirit day themes, but it is a lot of fun. I picked disco [for the class theme] because I think it would be the most fun. I am disappointed the teachers didn’t get rock; I was hoping they would.”](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Esha-and-Maya-900x578.jpg)
![Recent changes to Title XI of the Missouri Revised Statutes bring back questions about corporal punishment in schools. As a toddler, now-sophomore Sadie Burgess attended Eufaula, a school district with an opt-in corporal punishment system allowing parents to determine if teachers could physically discipline their children. “I dont agree with [corporal punishment]. Its a very harsh way to punish kids; some kids have behavioral issues that not everyone understands. Solving those issues with violence isnt the answer,” Burgess said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Punishment-6.png)
Years ago, corporal punishment was standard practice in classrooms worldwide. After a period of resentment against corporal punishment, a public...
![“The [Mid-Autumn Festival] is a harvest time, like Thanksgiving for Americans. During this time, the moon just so happens to be the brightest. If you go and look at the Chinese calendar, youll be able to find out what period of time it is. We all get together as a family reunion, we feast, watch the Moon and eat mooncakes. My favorite is probably the lotus seed [paste] with the salty egg in the middle or red bean [paste], but the others are okay. If the moon is there, well get together and go outside [to] watch the Moon. Its cool because [the moon is] glowy [and] it feels like the sun at dusk. Thats how bright it is. [The Mid-Autumn Festival] has given me a reason to look forward to the fall. Whenever [I] look at something for a long time [I start] daydreaming, [and when I look at the moon I] have this very weird feeling. It feels very at peace just by yourself. I feel a similar feeling would be standing out in the rain. So its a really beautiful moment to reflect. And you have fun with your family. I would say its a great period of time to have fun and remember what we have,” sophomore Sofia Wu said.](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DSC_0001-copy-900x599.jpg)
![“The most influential people in my life would have to be my mom and dad. They have been through so much and helped me through so much. They inspire me every day, and I can not thank them enough. I don’t know what I would do without them. They taught me how to be a better person and how to survive in this world. When my grandma died, it left a big dent in my life, [making] me feel sad and upset. I felt like I couldn’t do anything. [So] I turned to my parents to help me get through it, and they talked to me and helped me. They are two of the most hard-working people I have ever met. They started a new business, and seeing them get through all of the bumps in the road and grow the business inspired me to persevere through everything.”
- Eva Frazer, 9](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/image1-14-675x900.jpg)
![“Swimming has impacted my life because I am just in my happy place when I am at the pool. I could just be sitting on the wall, and I would be having fun hanging out with my teammates. I loved swimming [alongside] my school friends and meeting new people in different grades in high school swim. My favorite part of swimming is the feeling I get while diving in at a meet because my adrenaline is pumping, and all I focus on is how fast I can go to beat the person next to me. One thing that I have been working to achieve is my 100-meter individual medley. It is a few days after I get home from Florida, so I will not get to practice beforehand, which is scary. I have worked hard this season to train for this race.” — Ava Sticht, 9](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image2-6-900x630.jpg)
![“My biggest inspiration would have to be my father. His work ethic is amazing, and he never gives himself a break. He pushes himself to go further than he normally could. He always gives his best and tries to make my siblings and I lives as easy as possible. I admire him a lot because he is a contractor, which means he has a good amount of work to do. Whenever he works a little less on some days, he tries to push even harder the next [day] to make up for it. I try to teach my younger siblings to work just as hard and set a good example myself. I try to keep his lessons with me every day and apply them to my daily life. He is someone that I have looked up to for a long time, and he taught me to appreciate the smallest things in life.” – Tyler Grissom, 9](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image1-11-900x600.jpg)
![“The most stressful thing going on in my life is grades. Teachers put a lot of pressure on me, and they constantly challenge me with homework. I do track currently, and I did cross country during the fall and swimming during the winter. So just all of that can be stressful. There’s a lot of pressure on me from my parents because I feel like they compare everything I do to my [older sister]. Lexi was the first child, [she] was like their norm, and I have a completely different learning strategy than her. She gets things done five months ahead of time. Her room is always tidy and clean, and shes just on top of it all the time. I am the complete opposite. I do things at the last minute, right before its due. I dont keep [my room] clean until I have to. Like my life is unorganized but organized in my way. I’m happy I have my friends and family to help me with all the stress.”
— Sydney Etchason, 9](https://PWestPathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image1-6-900x600.jpg)
According to junior Joseph Federer, leadership and fast thinking are two of the many traits of a successful quarterback. Since transferring from...
Years ago, corporal punishment was standard practice in classrooms worldwide. After a period of resentment against corporal punishment, a public...
You are walking through the halls, and your phone buzzes. It’s BeReal time. Everyone freezes in their tracks and begins to get real with their...
