Kneeling on the floor at the Early Childhood Center, freshman Will Nunnelee holds a crayon to paper. Nunnelee listened intently as the young student described the butterfly to him. “I drew him a butterfly while he told me about it. He seemed very interested,” Nunnelee said.
Preschool pals
Child Development visits the Parkway Early Childhood Center
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MultimediaAthletes of West - Noor Hacking -
![Standing in front of the camera and next to Fox 2 News' Ty Hawkins, senior and varsity football player JaMont Brooks represents the varsity football team. As captain and outside linebacker, Brooks was one of four students selected to be interviewed live for the broadcast. “Overall, it was just a crazy experience being on the news. Even when I get older, I’ll tell my kids or grandkids I was on the news. My mom sent me a picture of me on the news [saying] ‘Oh my gosh, that’s my son.’ The Parkway West community felt amazing this morning. Everybody showed up at 6 [a.m.] and [will] show up 6 [p.m.] tonight too. Any time I go into a game, I go up there with the mentality that we’re going to try our best, and even the times we struggle, [I’ll] keep my head up,” Brooks said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC8122-Enhanced-NR-1200x799.jpg)
MultimediaWaking up to spirit -
MultimediaPhoning in -
![Blue lights shining brightly, senior Riley Creely beatboxes into the microphone. Creely and the group began the performance in front of the blue lights, sparking interest from the audience. “The pep rally performance was fun. I got to beatbox for the first half of the song, which was hype. I liked to look into the student section [while I performed],” Creely said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_5085-Enhanced-NR-1200x799.jpg)
MultimediaA day of spirit and energy -
MultimediaAthletes of West: Junior Ethan Bain -
![Leaping through the air, senior Tyler Watts celebrates his first goal of the season, which put the Longhorns up 1-0 against the Lafayette Lancers. Watts decided to play soccer for West for his last year of high school and secured a spot on the varsity roster. “[Playing soccer for West] is something I had always dreamed of, but hadn’t really had a good opportunity to do until now. It’s [really] fun being out [on the field], and I’m glad I decided to join the team. It’s just all about having fun with the boys and enjoying what time we have left together,” Watts said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_1951-1200x855.jpg)
MultimediaBoys soccer season starts strong -
![Sophomore Natalie House pitches the ball during an intrasquad scrimmage for Red and Blue Night on Aug. 22. House played catcher for the varsity softball team. “I started [playing] softball when I was five. My brother played baseball, and I wanted to start sports like him. Scrimmaging against our own team is always kind of difficult because we all know each other's [weaknesses],” House said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC7191-1-1-1200x844.jpg)
MultimediaRed and Blue Night: An everlasting tradition -
MultimediaAthletes of West: Junior Kate Hardy -
![Blending harmonies with dynamic control, senior Spencer Rahm takes the stage as part of the jazz choir's spring performance. Jazz Coffee House took place on April 22, marking the culmination of months of preparation by West High’s musicians. “To me, [choir] is an opportunity every day to get to sing with my friends and work on our songs that we have concerts for. [Seeing] the results after working together with people is really rewarding. Jazz Coffee House concert was a reflection and a result of all the hard work we've put in the last three months,” Rahm said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0214-3-1200x800.jpg)
MultimediaBrews and grooves -
MultimediaWhat success looks like -
![After a thrilling point, senior Katie Byergo and junior Elle Lanferseick high-five each other on Oct. 8. With teamwork and camaraderie, Byergo worked together in the game against Lafayette High School. “[Byergo’s] is really positive with a good spirit,” Lanferseick said. “I set her [the ball] and she hits it [or] gets the kill.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_9349-1-e1761159125735-1200x791.jpg)
ShowcaseSmashing records -
![Focused on providing exceptional service, sophomore Darsh Mahapatra carefully cleans the door of a customer’s car. Mahapatra has always believed his customers deserve nothing less than the best. “[If] they’re trusting us with their car and our service, then I am convinced that they deserve our 100 percent effort and beyond,” Mahapatra said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_0018-1200x800.jpg)
ShowcaseDriven to succeed -
![Sophomore Aleix Pi de Cabanyes Navarro (left) finishes up a soccer game while junior Ava Muench (right) warms up for cross country practice. The two came to Parkway West High School as exchange students for the 2025-2026 school year. “The goal for the [exchange] program is to provide opportunities for both Parkway students and our international exchange students to learn about other cultures, build connections and become confident, capable, curious and caring — Parkway’s Four C’s — in the process,” Exchange Program Lead Lauren Farrelly said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Feature-Photo-1200x800.png)
ShowcaseWorlds apart -
![Leaning on the podium, superintendent Melissa Schneider speaks to Parkway journalism students during a press conference. Schneider joined Parkway in July after working in the Thompson School District in Colorado. “My plan [to bond with students] is to get things on my calendar as much as possible. For example, being in [classes] is very special to me. I am trying to be opportunistic [meeting] kids [and] being in [the school] buildings. I have all the sports schedules and the fine arts schedules on my calendar, so that when I'm available, I can get to them,” Schneider said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_5425-1200x943.jpeg)
ShowcaseThe welfare of the people: does Missouri’s cell phone policy value the state’s motto? -
![Gazing across the stage, sophomore Alexis Monteleone performs in the school theater. The Monteleone family’s band “Monte and the Machine” has been releasing music since 2012, but Alexis started her own solo career in 2024 with the release of her first single, Crying Skies. “My whole family is very musical, [and I especially] love writing [songs with them],” Monteleone said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC7463-1200x798.jpg)
ShowcaseHarmonies, hurdles and high school -
ShowcasePowder Puff, Powder Play -
ShowcaseConnecting for change: Making West High a better place -
![Shifting global trade, President Donald Trump’s tariffs are raising concerns about economic stability for the U.S. and other countries alike. “[The tariffs are] going to pose a distinct challenge to the U.S. economy and a challenge to the global economy on the whole because it's going to greatly upset who trades with who and where resources and products are going to come from,” social studies teacher Melvin Trotier said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MDB_3456-1200x800.jpg)
ShowcaseThe cost of ‘America First’ -
ShowcaseCrowned: A look at your 2025 Prom King and Queen -
![Pitching the ball on Apr. 14, senior Henry Wild and his team play against Belleville East. Wild was named scholar athlete of the year by St. Louis Post-Dispatch after maintaining a high cumulative GPA and staying involved with athletics for all of high school. “It’s an amazing honor. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to represent my school [and] what [it] stands for,” Wild said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/unnamed-6-1200x714.jpg)
ShowcaseDriven to excel
About the Contributors
Emily Early, Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 12
Years on staff: 4
What is your favorite piece of literature? “Turtles all the way down” by John Green.
Who is your hero? My parents, always.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Realistically, avocado toast, but I really want to say blueberries.
Payton Dean, Opinions Editor
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 11
Years on staff: 3
What is your favorite candy? Jolly Ranchers.
Who is your favorite musician? Taylor Swift.
What is your dream job? Neurologist.