Eyes glued to his sheet music, senior Andrew Gillies accompanies the Jazz Band as the pianist. During the annual Winter Jazz Concert, Gillies was chosen to improvise a solo during the song, “T.J. Boogie.” ¨I love concerts [because of] how the audience reacts, and just the stage lights [shining on me],¨ Gillies said.
From practice to performance
Orchestra, band, jazz band and jazz choir take their preparation to the stage
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MultimediaServing up support -
MultimediaAthletes of West: Senior Gavin Hamlin -
MultimediaSenioritis: One day we won't -
Multimedia2025 Senior send-off map -
MultimediaAthletes of West: Junior Leyton Usry -
MultimediaCollege Bound Ep. 1: Senior Siena Snyder, University of Michigan -
MultimediaBehind the lens -
MultimediaRallying together: A day of school spirit -
MultimediaBest of Homecoming spirit week 2024 -
MultimediaSpreading paw-sitivity -
ShowcaseA legacy of leadership and excellence in sports -
![Some of the most deadly instances of gun violence have occurred in schools, communities and other ‘safe spaces’ for students. These uncontrolled settings give way to the need for gun regulation, including background and mental health checks. “Gun control comes about with more laws, but there are a lot of guns out there that people could obtain illegally. What is a solution that would get the illegal guns off the street? We have yet to find [one],” social studies teacher Nancy Sachtlaben said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSC_5122-1200x800.jpg)
ShowcaseLives on the line: Gun violence’s impact on America -
![Within the U.S., the busiest shopping period of the year is Cyber Week, the time from Thanksgiving through Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year, shoppers spent $13.3 billion on Cyber Monday, which is a 7.3% year-over-year increase from 2023. “When I was younger, I would always be out with my mom getting Christmas gifts or just shopping in general. Now, as she has gotten older, I've noticed [that almost] every day, I'll open the front door and there's three packages that my mom has ordered. Part of that is she just doesn't always have the time to go to a store for 30 minutes to an hour, but the other part is when she gets bored, she has easy access to [shopping],” junior Grace Garetson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSC_0249.JPG-1200x801.jpg)
ShowcaseSeason of giving, season of getting -
![Complex global supply chains supply the goods for everyday luxuries, such as the coffee at West High’s Blue Brew. Low tariffs enabled much of the prosperity of modern history. “Higher tariffs lead to higher costs. A tariff is a tax on an imported good, and someone has to pay for that tax, and typically that [will] end up impacting consumers,” economics teacher Rachel Money said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Flag-1.png)
ShowcaseSpread the wealth -
ShowcaseAnd the winner is… -
![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. (Courtesy of Christina Block)](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/462488499_2973926416100522_5057718068659607183_n-1200x925.jpg)
ShowcaseThe long run -
![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)
ShowcaseHaunting highlights -
![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)
ShowcaseActivity across ages: Generational differences in political engagement -
ShowcaseLet’s talk politics -
ShowcaseFall favorites: Essentials for the perfect season
About the Contributors
Natalie House, CJ1 Writer
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 9
Years on staff: 1
Who is your favorite musician? Adele.
What gets you up in the morning? Knowing that I have softball at the end of the day.
What's an unpopular opinion that you have? I don't like blueberries.
Cindy Phung, Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: they/she
Grade: 12
Years on staff: 4
Who is your favorite musician? Billie Eilish.
What gets you up in the morning? Besides a cup of coffee, I look forward to eating good food with friends and sleeping again.
What's an unpopular opinion that you have? AI will take over and Cutelli will be its right hand man.
Kamori Berry, Yearbook Contributor
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 11
Years on staff: 3
Who is your favorite musician? SZA.
What gets you up in the morning? Knowing that I get a chance to start over.
What's an unpopular opinion that you have? Glee is underrated.
Laney Thomas, Yearbook Contributor
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 10
Years on staff: 2
Who is your favorite musician? Any 80's rock band.
What gets you up in the morning? Getting to see my dog.
What's an unpopular opinion that you have? None.
Charlie Brady, CJ1 Writer
Pronouns: he/him
Grade: 9
Years on staff: 1
Who is your favorite musician? Either Tyler, the Creator or Kanye West.
What gets you up in the morning? Music and my great friends.
What's an unpopular opinion that you have? Crocs are the superior footwear.
Sage Kelly • Nov 24, 2024 at 9:38 am
More to add to photography prodigy Charlie Brady’s repertoire. Truly the GOAT.