![Blending together a concoction for a science experiment, science teacher Joel Anderson scares his students by bringing excitement and thrill into his classroom for his annual Halloween show. It took about six weeks for Anderson to set up his classroom for the show. “It’s pure terror. I came up with this idea a couple decades ago to do something fun for Halloween. So I pretend to be this mad scientist [that creates] a Frankenstein-like creature [with the class], learning a little bit of science along the way and [then ending] with a laser show. It’s just for fun; entertainment value,” Anderson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0021.JPG_-1200x800.jpg)
![Standing with girls cross country team mascot Pump the pumpkin, senior Sydney Etchason laughs with her teammates. Before the team’s senior night, Etchason undertook an odyssey to recover the pumpkin, which had been stolen by boys cross country. “We went through practice, and then a little birdie told me that it was in [senior] Emmett [Vernon's] car. I [offered Vernon] $50 to give us our pumpkin back, and we got Pump back,” Etchason said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0002-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Voter registration is open for November’s presidential election through Oct. 9. On Oct. 2, students at West High were able to receive assistance with online registration in the library. “When I went into the library to [register to] vote, [librarian] Lauren Reusch made completing my registration very easy and clear. It’s important to learn about voting and it’s important that schools help with voter registration, because it can be confusing for first-time voters,” senior Gianna Lionelli said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-03-at-1.53.06 PM-1200x795.png)
![Latin students pose for a group photo in front of historical ruins in Italy. From March 13 to March 23, the Latin department traversed cities in Italy to immerse students in an educational experience of a lifetime. “I enjoyed being able to learn about the different cultures. [The trip] encouraged me to see other people's lifestyle and learn more about different histories,” senior Suraiya Saroar said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PXL_20240318_092633493.jpg)
![From Jan. 22 through Feb. 1, Parkway West High is displaying a wide array of art pieces made by students ranging from elementary to high school. All classes were represented on the displays in both the art wing and the main foyer of the school. “[Art] benefits me because in the middle of a busy day. I can just relax and have some fun doing art and it makes me happy. I think it's important that you show art in the art show so that people can get inspired by it and be inspired to create their own pieces; it’s really impactful,” sophomore Dhiya Prasanna said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image1-1200x800.jpg)
![Sophomore Isaiah Meese smiles after his Eagle Scout Ceremony. Meese has participated in the scouting program since first grade, learning new aspects of life and growing a community of a second family. “I almost didn’t do [boy scouting], but I'm glad I eventually did start doing it. I regret that I wasn't [working towards Eagle Scout during COVID]. It might not always seem like the most rewarding thing, but if you put your time into it, there's a good chance you'll get quite a lot out of it: friends, new activities and hobbies, or just more experience,” Meese said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_1004-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior Justin Lutz arranges his collection of basketball sports cards. Lutz started his first hand at entrepreneurship with an online store on eBay, dealing and trading in the sports card market. “I was already collecting sports cards [before], so I knew a lot of these players and I understood the market. I ventured into other sports, but I really stayed with the ones that I knew the most, [like] basketball. It’s really important to focus on what you know because it's so much easier than starting completely from scratch in a market that you don't understand. Find something that you're interested in," Lutz said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Untitled-design-2.png)
![Standing in front of the American Sign Language program’s mural, junior Brooke Hoenecke signs with freshman Darren Young. Hoenecke began cadet teaching for ASL this year alongside working towards earning her seal of biliteracy. “I was in ASL class when I received the email [that I qualified for the seal]. I was jumping up and down with my teacher and the rest of the class. One of the reasons why I took cadet teaching this year was so that I could prepare for the Seal of Biliteracy and be immersed in ASL,” Hoenecke said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hoenecke.jpeg)
![Walking onto the field, freshman Erastus Adewusi wears a pink jersey in remembrance of cancer awareness month. With the number seven on his jersey, Adewusi reflects on his life in Nigeria before moving to America. “I [used to wake up] at 5:30 a.m. and school would end at 5 p.m. [versus] now,” Adewusi said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0029-1200x800.jpg)
![Business and personal finance teacher Evan Stern stands in front of his classroom. After facing hardships growing up, Stern learned how to deal with them with the help of role models like his dad. “We dealt with some trauma when I was in middle school, and my dad had to be responsible for all three of us while he was working full-time. I know he had to sacrifice a lot. I'm sure it was really hard for him, but looking back on it, he did a really good job . I didn't appreciate everything that he did at the time because I was so young. Now, I'm engaged and probably going to have kids of my own in the next couple of years so I [am starting] to look at things differently,” Stern said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Untitled-7-1200x900.jpg)
![Holding his two smiling daughters in his arms, Principal John McCabe celebrates earning his doctorate degree. He attended Maryville University for two years and reached his goal of achieving a Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership degree after months upon months of hard work and long nights. “I'm not going to lie, I'm glad I have another night of my life back when I'm not at school till very late,” McCabe said. “I can spend more time with my family and with my friends [who] are here at [West]. I'm really happy about that.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mccabefeature.png)
![Art teacher Katy Mangrich sits in her classroom, smiling for a picture. During her time in high school, Mangrich learned several lessons that she now passes on to her son. “The biggest life lesson that I learned is honesty. I wouldn't say I was the best teenager, but I learned very quickly in high school to always be forthcoming and honest with my parents because it always ended up serving me better in the long run. [My parents] might have been upset with me [and the mistake I made], but I wasn't going down the rabbit hole of a lie because that was just going to get me into more trouble,” Mangrich said. “I passed [that lesson] along to my nephew. Honesty is always your best approach; just don’t lie. I say that to my son all the time. There's no advantage to lying, [and] that's a huge takeaway [from] how my parents raised me.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-26-10.10.12-AM.png)
![Social studies teacher Aaron Bashirian smiles in front of his classroom. Bashirian didn’t know he wanted to be a teacher from early on, but he found the choice to be a good one. “I started [teaching] because there was an opportunity for me to experiment with it. Fortunately, [teaching] was a good choice. In 2012, I became a teacher at Parkway at the Alternative Discipline Center, which is where they send suspended kids to keep being educated if they choose. I spent six years there and then I got drafted to West, [where] I've been for about six years,” Bashirian said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-35-1200x800.jpg)
![English teacher Angela Frye stands behind her desk in her classroom. Frye went through a lot of personal struggles to get to where she is today, and with each step in her life, she carries her gratitude for those obstacles. “Everything happens for a reason. I believe in [the concept of] good energy, good karma, [from] being a good person. Those are things I don't take lightly. [Struggles] build character. You really appreciate everything you have when you have to work for everything you have,” Frye said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-8-1200x800.jpg)
![English teacher Leslie Lindsey smiles for a photo behind her desk. Growing up, Lindsey participated in many things outdoors, learning life skills that she still uses today. “I loved fishing and was never grossed out by it. I could get my hands dirty and spend time outside; even when it was cold, I didn't care. Fishing takes a lot of patience, and that is [now] a virtue of mine because I have great patience that translates into my classroom,” Lindsey said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6632-1-e1712758336310-1200x983.jpeg)
![Senior Sally Peters stands in the history hallway, contemplating her choices in the 2024 United States and Missouri elections on Nov. 5. As a member of Diplomacy Club, Peters has discussed key candidates and issues in contemporary American politics. “[As students], we're starting to become adults. We're realizing how much the policies that are enforced and the laws that make it through the House and Senate are starting to affect us. [Opportunities such as] AP [U.S.Government] and Diplomacy Club [make elections feel] a lot more real,” Diplomacy Club vice president and senior Nidhisha Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Flag-1-1.png)
![Eyes tracing his book, freshman Auggie Prsha works to translate a passage in Latin teacher Tom Herpel's classroom. Prsha decided to take Latin after hearing about the fun classroom activities, but he quickly began to see the effects of learning a foreign language in the world around him too. “Sometimes in English class, I can [recognize] some Latin words, and I notice Latin in other places [as well]. I enjoy the people [and] learning from Herpel,” Prsha said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/prsha.jpg)
![Senior Griffin Beno waits in the counseling hub. Students were allowed to visit counselors without an appointment on Aug. 15 and 16 to adjust their schedules, resulting in long wait times. “There [were] not as many [people at open hours last year], but I think that was because we didn't get the word out as well,” counselor Jen Wibbenmeyer said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-17-8.20.51-AM.png)
![Mounting school pressure can leave many students overworked and overstressed. Schools must give students the necessary resources to help assuage student mental health issues and prevent the development of serious crises. “The biggest thing [schools] can do [to protect student mental health] is offer more time [to do work], like a study hall, or offer more support from teachers so that students don't feel stressed out and can get help in areas that they need,” senior Bhavya Gupta said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/unnamed-4.jpg)
![Like many students, sophomore Medina Nanic experiences pressure to do well in school. Through continuous success and achievements, West has developed a high academic standard for students. “Because we’re seen as one [of] the better schools, we have higher standards than the [schools] who aren’t ranked as high. There’s a lot of pressure on students to do [well] and live up to those standards,” Nanic said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0029-2-1200x800.jpg)
![In the 1950s, the first recorded spikes in global temperatures were recorded, and ever since, Earth has been in the midst of a disastrous climate crisis, as rising temperatures wreak havoc on susceptible regions and destroy animal habitats worldwide. Junior Nidhi Pejathaya helped found West’s Sustainability Council to create a space where students can educate themselves about climate change and do their part to preserve the environment. “When you're going out of your way to recycle [or] reuse your clothes to save water, you're saving people. You're saving adults, you're saving families, you're saving children. You're saving a whole generation. Just because we don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening,” Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/new-editorial-feature-1200x800.jpg)
![Rested against a rainbow of colored pencils, a phone plays singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ single “Risk.” Abrams released the song as the lead single to her upcoming album “The Secret of Us.” “We had real, true fun writing this album. There were also the occasional tears. Audrey [Hobert] and I wrote ‘Risk’ on our couch at home,” Abrams wrote on Instagram.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0009-2-1200x800.jpg)
![2023 was defined by female vocalists such as Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Paramore’s Hayley Williams as their diversity and talent amongst their respective genres topped the musical charts. Williams took to Instagram to show her gratitude for having owned the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top 100 chart. “We know enough by now to know success doesn’t equal value. That being said, to experience the [No. 1] on this album, as this version of Paramore, is such a sweet and surreal moment to celebrate together,” Williams wrote.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-A-Musical-Recap-2.0-1.png)
![In perfect shooting form and with eyes on the rim, junior Tyler Kuehl is about to shoot his next basket in the last game of the season against Marquette High School. Kuehl has been playing basketball since he was 5. “Even though I played basketball all my life, the game-winning shots can be pressure, it's confidence. If you're going into that shot and not thinking that you're gonna make it, it's obviously not going in. And if you believe, [it will]. That's the only way you can succeed,” Kuehl said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/unnamed-32-1-1200x1200.png)
![“I’m the vice president of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), the co-president of the Women in Healthcare club, and [am also in] of ABC club, NHS first aid, the diplomacy club, and other volunteering activities [in my community.] My main goal in these clubs is to be actively engaged in the school and give back to the community. [Through these opportunities,] I’ve learned to be a better organizer and planner, especially with my roles in MSA and Women in Healthcare. I think these skills will be valuable towards the career path I choose. I’m particularly interested in the medical field, which is why I co-founded Women in Healthcare. As a freshman, I was the chief financial officer of the Muslim Student Association. This year, I’m the vice president. We’ve worked hard to improve the organization and make the club more fun and interactive for everyone. It’s been great to see the club grow, with a lot of new freshmen joining. Balancing all of these activities with my schoolwork can be challenging at times, but the whole team helps with the workload. A misconception others have about the MSA is that [there is minimum involvement.] One time I went to stamp the MSA flyers to get approved down at the office, and the woman was hesitant about it. She asked how many people actually come to our meetings, so I explained that we usually have 35 to 40 people. Parkway West includes lots of diversity and it [helps strengthen] our community.” – Yusra Khan, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1f5dbf90-8b69-452a-a610-22726c8a6ed9-1200x800.jpg)
![“Sports [can] teach you a lot of things, and playing on the team can teach you leadership. When you're working with a bunch of guys, you’ve got to know what's best for the team, and you've got to do whatever is best for the team. Commitment is a big part of sports. Some days, you don't want to show up to practice, [but] you have to do it because it's what's best for the team. You just [have] to be committed. You [gain] better relationships and you make a lot of friends when you play sports. You're spending at least two hours a day with those people, so you build really strong relationships with your teammates. If you put in the work, you're bound to get better.” - Henry Wild, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/4edc5735-3dad-4150-ac6f-3ee8ba65d2b5-1200x803.jpg)
![“I moved here halfway through my freshman year. [Many] things were a culture shock, and I'm still learning. It wasn't hard to get accustomed to, [just new]. There are some parts of my Indian culture that I like to [emphasize]. My best friend is also Indian, she's Hindu, and we both celebrate our holidays together. We have that sort of bonding, but we also celebrate Christmas and dress very Western. There are times, like during Eid, I want to dress a bit more traditional. My grandmother fell sick at the start of [quarantine]. I could only see her once before she passed away. When I got to see her, she was fine. Then, she started having pain when she was walking. I thought it was just because of [her] getting old. I didn't realize that she was going to be gone so fast. I didn't spend enough time with her. I [knew she was] getting sick, but I couldn't see her. It felt like there was nothing I could do in the moment. [A piece of advice I would give to others is] don't be so hard on yourself. Think about the moments you did have with them, rather than the time you didn't spend with them. That's what helped me get through it.” - Samaira Siddiqui, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/af49dba5-f605-40ba-ac47-d785ae5f7777-1200x801.jpg)
![“At one point, I would love to have people look up to me and [allow myself to] be really good at sports. One day [I’d like to] be as good as [my brother, senior] Lukas Peterson. A couple days ago, I had a football game and [freshman quarter-back] Tanner Hickert threw me a pass and I caught it at the 30 yard line and ran. [I] almost ran it in the end zone, but I stopped because I heard someone behind me. I really regret that because I could have scored, and if we [had] scored, we would have been only down by three. We still lost in the end, but I feel like if we scored, our [enthusiasm] would [have been] up more. I love football and winning is just a good feeling. Obviously, you don't want to lose, and I'm competitive, [but] football is just a great sport. Hopefully [in the future], I'll pursue it and play in college.” - Jack Peterson, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC0003-Tomas-Gumpel-1200x800.jpg)
![“In eighth grade, I took a video production class in which I learned the basics of video recording and photography. I just find it fascinating how, depending on how you look at things, or in a wide-angle position, it will look different to you. I also get inspired from seeing how great things look when you look at them from [different] perspectives. I couldn't help myself from just trying to find angles to make [where] if I were to take a picture, it would look really good. I think that's also how it started. The city can look pretty great if you take a look at it from an artistic view when taking pictures. If you find just the right angle in the city, you can make it look like it's a completely different place.” - Angel Olvera Galan, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/BradyC_OlveraGalanA1-Charles-Brady-1200x801.jpg)
As we enter the final weeks of 2016, the holidays return in full swing. Opportunities for the family get-togethers, outings, gift exchanges and recipe swaps exemplify December. The holiday season brings joy, but it is very easy to get overwhelmed with all the possibilities during the month. But fear not, with this this guide, you will have access to unique e activities, recipes and gift ideas to help you with this holiday season.
Activities
A classic Christmas outing is the Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park. A drive through the park is only $10 per vehicle. There are expansive light displays and it can be a great thing for the family to do together. If you don’t want to pay admission, it’s very easy to drive around area neighborhoods (Candy Cane Lane) and look at lights, as well. Regardless of what you choose, crank up the holiday tunes as you enjoy the lights!
In addition, ice skating is synonymous with winter and the holiday season, and there are many opportunities to skate outdoors this December, especially with the NHL Winter Classic being held in St. Louis. In historic Forest Park, Steinberg Ice Rink is easily the most well-known outdoor ice skating arena in St. Louis. Aside from the popular Steinberg and new for 2016, the St. Louis Blues and the City Arch Foundation are putting on the Arch Winterfest in downtown St. Louis. With the influx of ice rink fans from the NHL, the idea of an ice rink in front of the St. Louis Arch only makes sense. The event will be held in Luther Ely Smith Square from Dec. 27 till Jan. 8. Grab a hot cocoa, lace up your skates and bask in the winter scenery of downtown St. Louis.
With a little over two weeks of winter break, Netflix and being with your family may get a little mundane. The holiday season is the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone and see a show at the theater. The first tour of the new Broadway hit, “Finding Neverland,” based on the Disney classic “Peter Pan,” is coming to town on Dec. 6-18 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in the heart of Grand Center. Also, the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” is being put on by St. Louis Ballet preprofessional and professional companies. This performance is a classic rendition of Tchaikovsky’s show, complete with ballet and dancing nutcrackers. Each show is an artistic outing that the whole family can enjoy.
If you want an indoor activity, a holiday movie night can be great for friends and relatives to do together. Holiday classics such as “Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer” for the young at heart, “White Christmas” for musical loving individuals or “Elf” for comedy lovers are great options. Try curling up on the couch with your blankets and a plate of cookies while you watch, possibly even some holiday cake batter cookies.
When the holiday season rolls around, we all await the sweets that come with it. We all expect to ruin our meals with holiday cookies and candy canes, so why not bake some treats that can really bring people together? Now, who doesn’t love cookies? This recipe below is an easy option for those who love cake batter and cookies.
Senior Alex Rossi bakes Spritz cookie men with sprinkles in the tradition of Christmas.
Holiday cake batter cookies
Ingredients
1 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 and 1/4 cups yellow or vanilla boxed cake mix (I typically use vanilla cake mix – you just need the DRY mix)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) (2.5 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg at room temperature
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips (I used a blend of white and semi-sweet chocolate chips)
1/2 cup of sprinkles
Directions
In a large bowl, sift together flour, cake mix, and baking soda. Set aside.
Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and both sugars together on medium speed until smooth. Add the egg and mix on high until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to ensure that everything gets mixed. Add the vanilla and beat on high speed until combined. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low to medium speed until everything is combined. Add the chocolate chips and sprinkles. Mix on low until the add-ins are evenly mixed.
Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours. The dough is a little sticky, so chilling the dough is required in order to keep the cookies from spreading too much.
Once dough has been chilled, preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop rounded balls of the cold dough onto an ungreased baking sheet, use about ping pong ball sized amount of cookie dough per cookie. Press a few chocolate chips into the tops of the cookie dough balls.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until edges are slightly browned. The centers will still appear very soft, but the cookies will set as they cool. You can also press a few more chips and holiday sprinkles into the tops of the cookies as well.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 4 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Sit back, eat your cookies, and enjoy the holiday season!
Gifts
Everyone loves cookies during the holiday season, but it’s a little harder to find presents that everyone will enjoy. The most stressful part of the holidays can be finding unique and reasonably priced gifts to give. Whether you are shopping for your friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, parents, etc., this guide may give you ideas for a stocking stuffer this holiday season.
For Her
Any product from the store “LUSH” can be a perfect present for the holidays. LUSH is an all natural and cruelty-free brand that takes pride in their high-quality body products. LUSH bath bombs, a fusion of bath salts and bubble bath, are very popular on Instagram, and anyone would be inspired to snap a photo after receiving and using one. These orbs are filled with essential oils, fragrances, microglitter and coloring, and they leave your bath smelling like a photo worthy spa. Each bath bomb runs around $7, and may be a fun, easy gift for a secret Santa or gift exchange.
For Him
If you want an easy present for your boyfriend or brother, hats or beanies offer inexpensive yet high-quality gifts. Many local chains like Target or Urban Outfitters supply them and often don’t run over $25. Regardless of the price, the hat can be a perfect gift for the cold holiday season, in addition to a fun fashion statement.
I hope this guide eliminated some of the stress of the holiday season, as well as inspired you to get creative with the month. This is a time of joy and cheer, and every person should enjoy this it worry free. Go eat some cookies, watch a few movies, and go create holiday memories for many years to come.
