![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)
![Junior TJ Polack plays his saxophone solo at halftime for the 2024 marching band show, ‘Coloring Book.’ This year, Polack was one of two soloists in the marching band. “[Polack] is very hard on himself. [His saxophone solo] sounds amazing [and] everyone [cheers] for him; [still], somehow, he thinks it’s a bad performance and he's down. What he does is not easy. It takes a lot of confidence as a person [and] a lot of musical skill to be expressive, and he's doing an amazing job,” drum major and senior Dominic Perez said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/462488499_2973926416100522_5057718068659607183_n-1200x925.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)
![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)
![Despite the numerous health and ethical concerns of energy drinks, popular influencers still flood their social media platforms with numerous posts, and drinks sell out as energy drink companies continue dropping new flavors. The energy drink industry, worth an estimated $99 billion, has maintained a large growth rate, yet is no stranger to controversy. “[The] curiosity of teens needs to be considered. Showing them other alternatives that are safer — like a small cup of coffee — or having them research and discover on their own [would be safer,]" health teacher Jessica Wheeler said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC0038-2-1200x800.jpg)
![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)
![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)
![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)
![“Hitting that ball hard is just pure satisfaction. I’m on the varsity tennis team, and it’s funny because I actually got pressured into joining, but we actually [had] a really good season. I’ve been playing for three years now. My favorite part is definitely going to other schools and meeting other girls. Tennis is really fun and it's a good stress reliever, but something that [stresses me out] is definitely tests [at school]. When things [start to] stress me out, I just tell myself that [I] can get there because everyone will move on and [will] get there [too].” Alisha Yin, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/alishayin-copy-1200x800.jpg)
!["Becoming a teacher evolved over time. I wanted to be a writer or in theater, [so] I got degrees in English and theater and wrote plays. Every important job involved working with kids. After college, I [worked on] shows with kids, and [everything] I loved came together. That's when I thought [becoming a teacher]. I went back to school [for] a master’s in education. [Being] 5-foot-2, I was a little scared to teach high school, thinking students [might] think I was younger than them, [so] I got a job at the middle [school] and loved [it]. I always wanted to teach high school, and [now I’ve finally done it]. I see [my students’] great writing, and it inspires me. I've written so much myself but haven't sent much out [yet]. I think I'll [focus on that] after I retire. This is my second year at Parkway West and my first [time] teaching high school, and it’s something I've always wanted to do. I love being [here].” – Marcy Rademeyer, English](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/KhanY_RademeyerM3-Yusra-Khan.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)
Arden Dickson, 9
Pathfinder: Who did you ask?
Dickson: Zane Alshekhlee, and he’s a sophomore.
How did you ask?
I made him a poster with a pun from the musical we’re working on. It was a joke about the character that I play. It said, “Bee the Barfeé to my Olive” because in the show, those characters have a thing. I originally planned to give it to him in front of the cast at rehearsal, but I ran into him in the hall and I had it with me, so I decided to just ask him to [King of Hearts] (KOH) there.
How did you feel before asking?
I was really excited because I wanted to see his reaction.
How did you feel afterwards?
Afterwards, I was really happy because not only did he say yes, but he thought the pun was hilarious.
How did he react?
He was kind of embarrassed because everyone was watching, but he liked it otherwise.
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
Honestly, the way you ask doesn’t have to be super over the top or completely eccentric. I really think the most important thing to asking someone to KOH is the sentiment and the genuine act of asking.
Ale Calvo, 9
Pathfinder: Who did you ask?
Calvo: His name is Josh Gansen, and he’s a freshman.
How did you ask?
Over the summer he and I went to Six Flags together, and we went into the Justice League ride, the one with all the superheroes. I came up with the plan to be Superman and Supergirl for Halloween because I thought it would be fun. So we were, and everyone ended up liking our costumes so much I just had to come up with something of the same theme to ask him. That’s why it has all the pictures of us in the costumes [on the poster] and why everything is Superman-themed.
How did you feel before asking?
I did it with a friend so I wasn’t as nervous, we were more excited.
How did you feel afterwards?
It was great. He loved it, and it was super exciting because it took a while to make the poster, but it was worth it.
How did he react?
He was surprised, but I could tell he really loved it.
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
You have to make sure you’re asking someone you’re comfortable with. If you’re asking someone only to have a date, it takes all the fun out of it. It’s totally okay to just go with your friends.
McKenna Bendle, 10
Pathfinder: Who did you ask?
Bendle: Chris Atkinson, and he’s a sophomore.
How did you ask?
We both love “The Office,” so I thought maybe that’d be a good way to go. One of his favorite characters is Dwight, so I knew I wanted to incorporate him somehow. I eventually came to the decision of “nothing would BEET going with you to KOH,” but I didn’t really anticipate that I was dressing up as [Dwight] until my mom mentioned it as a joke, which completely convinced me. When I asked [sophomore] Lydia Roseman if she thought it was a good idea (for the sign and dressing up), she loved it and said she had a shirt I could borrow. I borrowed pants from [SLUH sophomore] Blake Obert, bought a cheap wig from Amazon and wore Lydia’s shirt. The wig was super long when I first got it and didn’t have a middle part, so I asked Lydia if she’d help me get ready. I [went] over [to her house] and then sat in her bathtub while she chopped off a lot of the hair to make it look like Dwight. She drove me to his house, and I texted him and told him to come to the front door. When he opened the door, he didn’t even recognize me.”
How did you feel before asking?
I was so excited. I wasn’t even nervous or worried or anything. I knew he’d love it.
How did you feel afterwards?
Really cold, but I also felt good. I was happy I got to see him, and happy that he loved it.
How did he react?
He didn’t even recognize me; he wasn’t wearing his contacts. But he thought I chopped all my hair off, and it took him a second to even see who I was because he couldn’t see my face.
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
Definitely would be confidence and to just present yourself as excited and happy to them. It’ll make both of you so much more ecstatic for KOH.
Natalie Hitchcock, 10
Pathfinder: Who did you ask?
Hitchcock: I asked Bailey Silva, and he is a junior.
How did you ask?
I first looked up some ideas on Google because Google has all the answers. Once I found an idea, I told my mom about it and she went out to buy supplies. Later that night, I made the poster and drove to his house and asked him if he’d be my KOH date! [My pun] was one of the cuter puns I found online. I thought it’d be a good idea because I knew he’d appreciate it and not think it’s too over the top.
How did you feel before asking?
I felt calm because I knew he would say yes and I was excited because I know that we will have fun together at the dance.
How did you feel afterwards?
I felt happy to be going with him because he makes me happy! I knew that KOH was going to be a good experience.
How did he react?
I think he was a little surprised because he did not think I was asking him that night, but it was a pleasant surprise. I think he’s just as excited as I am!
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
I think the most important thing is just to ask someone you have fun with and that you enjoy spending time around because then your KOH experience will be enjoyable, and you’ll just have fun overall.
Caroline Judd, 10
Pathfinder: Who did you ask?
Judd: Sophomore Thomas Degroot, he goes to Marquette.
How did you ask?
I met Thomas through mutual friends, and we instantly clicked. He’s so fun to be around, and I can’t imagine how anyone wouldn’t like him. His birthday was a couple weeks ago, and he was having friends over for dinner and that’s when I asked him. I showed up a few minutes late with a sign that said “I know it’s your birthday, but make my wish come true, KOH?” He answered the door when I knocked, and I was standing there with the sign. His reaction was absolutely priceless.
How did you feel before asking?
I was so happy to be asking him and knew he’d be a fun date, so I wasn’t really nervous, but it was a little weird being the one to ask someone. I’d do it again though. It’s different, but I liked mixing it up.
How did you feel afterwards?
I’m so excited to go with him, and he’s noted how he’s going to, “tear up the dance floor,” with me. It’ll be so much fun. He’s getting a new suit, and we are going to match with our outfits. I couldn’t have asked a better person to be my date!
How did he react?
His reaction was absolutely hilarious and he seemed really excited, so that was encouraging. He’s such an easy person to be around which made it easier to ask him.
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
Definitely being yourself and doing something original and personal for the date. It’s the best when you can tell someone put time and effort into making a KOH proposal, even if it’s not “perfect.” The work put into it is what makes it special.
Gabby Leon, 11
Pathfinder: Who did you ask?
Leon: I asked junior Ben Lottes.
How did you ask?
For starters, the poster said “You’ve been BAMBOOzled, KOH?” only because he used to really like pandas and I wanted to relate it to that. He was hanging out with me and my cousins around 3 a.m., and his mom texted him to come home, so before he left, I said “I have a question,” and got the poster and asked him. He said yes, and we quickly took photos since he had to leave.
How did you feel before?
I was planning on doing it that day, but I was pretty nervous and considered backing out. But I was with my cousins so they made sure I did ask.
How did you feel afterwards?
Afterwards, I was just relieved that he said yes and that it went well.
How did he react?
I don’t think he was expecting it, so he was caught off guard.
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
I think the most important thing in asking someone to KOH is just making sure you’re certain you want to because it requires a lot of confidence! Just make sure you got a good poster, and puns are always funny.
Tess Allgeyer, 11
Pathfinder: Who did you ask?
Allgeyer: I asked Jonny Yazdi, and he’s a sophomore.
How did you ask?
I went to his house and I had a poster that said, “Out of all the fish in the sea, you’re a real catch… KOH with me?” Then I gave him a pack of Swedish Fish to go along with it, and he said yes. I chose that [pun] because he really likes fishing; it’s one of his favorite things to do. He loves talking about it as well, so I thought it was fitting.
How did you feel before asking?
I didn’t feel that weird. I wasn’t afraid he was going to say no, but the anticipation can always be a little awkward. But it was fun because I was excited to ask him.
How did you feel afterwards?
I felt great because I was thinking about how fun the dance is gonna be with him.
How did he react?
He said he really liked the poster. He wasn’t really surprised because I think he knew [the proposal] was happening, but he still smiled and checked out the artwork that I had on the poster.
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
I think the most important thing is to just be confident in asking. I’ve talked to a lot of people, and they said they were nervous about asking and getting rejected. I’ve seen few cases where someone says no to a proposal, so just asking and having fun with it is the best way to go.
Madie Grove, 12
Pathfinder: Who did you ask?
Grove: I a
sked Joe Breidecker; he’s a junior.
How did you ask?
It was just my 18th birthday on Friday, so I made a poster that says “make my birthday wish come true & be my date to KOH.” I gave him a Nothing Bundt Cakes jumbo red velvet cupcake with it.
How did you feel before asking?
I wasn’t nervous because he’s my boyfriend, and I knew he would love it! Even though it was a given we were going together, I still wanted to make asking him special because he did the same thing for me when he asked me to [Homecoming].
How did you feel afterwards?
Really happy! Joe was so excited and surprised, so to see his reaction made me feel happy.
How did he react?
He says he was really taken aback and surprised. He says it made his day and made him so happy.
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
To put thought into asking in a special way that is specific to either you or the person you’re asking so that [the proposal] is all about you two.
