![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)
Hope Green, 9
Who did you ask?
Green: “Ryan Feng (Fenger Banger), and he’s a freshman.”
How did you ask?
“Originally, I just pulled him aside at a friend’s house and asked him, but then I decided to do it with a poster because it’d be more fun. I knew Ryan did debate, so I asked friends that do debate and watched some videos since I knew nothing about it. I got a lot of options, but since he does policy debate, I chose the one that worked with what he did.”
How did you feel before asking?
“I felt a little nervous, but then I realized that I’ve known him since kindergarten, so I was excited.”
How did you feel afterwards?
“I felt good! I got more excited and comfortable for the dance.”
How did he react?
“He was so sweet about it; he said thank you and took the time to actually read the poster and then said it was great.”
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
“It’s so important that you’re comfortable with who you’re going with. That gives you more confidence to ask.”
Esha Francis, 9
Who did you ask?
Francis: “I asked Carson Mills, and he’s a freshman.”
How did you ask?
“Some of my friends and I went to his house and knocked on the door, and he knocked back and said ‘hi.’ I said ‘Merry Christmas’ while holding up the poster because I was scared, and it was so funny.”
How did you feel before asking?
“I didn’t want to ask because I [originally] didn’t want to go to KOH.”
How did you feel afterwards?
“After I asked, I was doubtful because now I actually have to commit to going, but then I was like ‘it might be fun?’ It wasn’t that bad since [Carson and I] are friends.”
How did he react?
“He was awkward like always.”
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
“Don’t give in to peer pressure.”
Caroline Bergh, 10
Who did you ask?
Bergh: “I asked Drew Boone, and he’s a sophomore.”
How did you ask?
“I made a poster with the look of sunset colors with a line saying ‘Are you sunset on going to KOH with me?’ I put battery-powered twinkle lights on the poster, and I took him to our spot where we watch sunsets together.”
How did you feel before asking?
“I felt good. He’s my boyfriend, so I knew he’d say yes.”
How did you feel afterwards?
“I felt really good and excited after.”
How did he react?
“He thought the poster was really cool. He was like ‘Wait, did you actually make all of this? That’s better than I could ever do.’”
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
“You need to make sure you’re confident and be excited and optimistic; it won’t go as bad as you think.”
Claire LeDuc, 10
Who did you ask?
LeDuc: “I asked Noah Wagner, and he’s a junior.”
How did you ask?
“I asked with a poster, and it said ‘I Noah girl who wants to take you to KOH.”
How did you feel before asking?
“I was kind of nervous because when I was about halfway through the poster, Noah and his friends decided to come and walk into my basement while my friends and I were making all of our posters. But [his friends] made Noah stay outside because they knew, so they all came in while Noah sat outside in the cold.”
How did you feel afterwards?
“I felt pretty good. I’m glad that I [asked]; I felt very accomplished afterwards.”
How did he react?
“I think he knew it was coming, but he seemed happy so that’s good. I think he was getting a little suspicious because he was sitting outside for quite a while.”
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
“I think it’s important to ask someone that you’re comfortable around and that you want to be around the whole night.”
Ellie Moriarity, 10
Who did you ask?
Moriarity: “I asked Nick Turner; he’s a junior.”
How did you ask?
“My friend [junior] Bella [Allgeyer] gave me the idea. I wanted to do something creative; I just didn’t know what, so I asked her. I’m taller than he is, and that’s kind of a joke with our friends, so we thought that would be perfect.”
How did you feel before asking?
“I was excited. I knew he’d say yes.”
How did you feel afterwards?
“I was just happy that I had a date, and I got excited about the night itself.”
How did he react?
“He was excited. We talked about [going together] before I even asked him, so he knew it was coming. I think it’s smart to make sure you know they’ll say yes.”
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
“Do it in a chill way. The classic sign is good, but if that’s not you, then a text works too. Make sure the person you’re asking won’t be caught off guard because that can put them in an uncomfortable situation.”
Maya Loy, 11
Who did you ask?
Loy: “I asked Mitch Gale, and he’s a junior.”
How did you ask?
“I made a t-shirt and wrote ‘KOH’ on it with a Sharpie and put it on my dog, Snow. I put her in the car and went with my two friends, Maddie Brueggenjohann and Haley Keller. My dog was very excited because she never gets to go in the car, and she really loves Mitch and guys for some reason. She was super excited, and then I went up to the door with my dog. His dogs were barking, and [our dogs] got to meet.”
How did you feel before asking?
“I was pretty excited because I knew he probably wouldn’t expect me to ask with my dog, and I knew that he would be excited too. I wasn’t nervous at all because I knew he’d have a good reaction.”
How did you feel afterwards?
“I was happy and glad that it went well. I was just feeling excited about the dance because after I knew for sure we were going, we get to figure out everything like dresses, groups and everything else.”
How did he react?
“At first, he just thought I brought my dog to his house, so he was really confused. He saw that it said ‘KOH,’ so he was just excited and smiled.”
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
“It’s important to make sure that you’re comfortable with the person before you ask them because you want to make sure you both have fun at the dance. Don’t worry about how you ask someone at all because it doesn’t matter how you ask as long as you both know you’ll have fun with each other and know it’ll be a good time.”
Ava Pfeil, 12
Who did you ask?
Pfeil: “I asked Andrew Lurkins, and he’s a senior.”
How did you ask?
“My poster says ‘KOH 20:20 and then God said… ‘Go with Ava.’’ To prepare for it, I knew I wanted to do something really crazy since it would be the only time I would ask someone to a dance, and Andrew and I have always been really close, so I knew he could take a joke. I went all out getting ready for it; not only did I dress like Jesus, but I also set up spotlights that made my white robe glow and had ‘holy choir’ music playing in the background to add to the craziness. Originally, I was going to get a goat and say ‘Will you goat to KOH with me?’ but when I went to pick up the goat, the owner changed their mind at the last minute and didn’t want me to do it, so I had to think up something else just as wild.”
How did you feel before asking?
“Right before asking, I was mainly just excited to see Andrew’s reaction because I was already so far gone that I wasn’t even embarrassed or nervous.”
How did you feel afterwards?
“Andrew invited me inside, and I met his whole family, extended family included, wearing my Jesus costume. I was just thinking that they probably thought I was a lunatic the whole time. For the most part, I felt pretty proud of myself since it went just the way I wanted it to.”
How did he react?
“He was just in shock and confused but eventually started laughing about it. He said that as he was walking up to the door, he didn’t recognize me at all, and he thought I was a crazy person that was going to try to break in when he opened the door.”
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
“I think the most important thing is to go all out and have fun with it because I think in most girls’ cases, it’s the only time that we’ll be asking someone to a dance instead of getting asked. We have to show the boys how it’s done.”
B Antonenko, 12
Who did you ask?
Antonenko: “I asked Hasan Rizvi; he’s also a senior.”
How did you ask?
“I asked with a ‘Mandalorian’ themed poster because we watched the first season together and because he really loves ‘Star Wars.’”
How did you feel before asking?
“I was excited to see his smile and hoped that he would like it.”
How did you feel afterwards?
“I felt pretty good; he thought [my poster] was cool and wanted to keep it.”
How did he react?
“He was smiling and said yes.”
What do you think is the most important thing in asking someone to KOH?
“Make sure your sign is about something they are interested in or at least funny.”
Dillon • Jan 27, 2020 at 5:29 pm
How inspiring and motivating!! Thanks a bunch.