The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
Dressed up as the varsity girls’ tennis coach Katelyn Arenos, senior Kate Johnson and junior Mireya David hand out candy at West High’s annual trunk or treat event. This year, the trunk or treat was moved inside as a result of adverse weather. “As a senior, I care less about Halloween now. Teachers will bring their kids and families [to West’s Trunk or Treat], but there were fewer [this year] because they just thought it was canceled [due to the] rain. [With] Halloween, I think you care less the older you get,” Johnson said.

Porches, parking lots, pumpkins and parties

Pathfinder Editorial Board • October 31, 2025

Buckets filled with candy and fake blood dripping from costumes, excited trick-or-treaters knock on every neighborhood door. A holiday for people of all ages, Halloween has trademark traditions, such as...

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.

The welfare of the people: does Missouri’s cell phone policy value the state’s motto?

Pathfinder Editorial Board • September 30, 2025

Since its adoption in 1822, the state motto "salus populi suprema lex esto,” has appeared boldly across the Seal of the State of Missouri. This Latin phrase is translated to “the welfare of the people...

The Longhorn Council’s Creative Coordinator and sophomore Emme Douglas takes part in the planning and organization of a LOCO activity, Trunk or Treat, on Oct. 29. “I'm a creative coordinator, so I do a lot with flyers and banners. I'm in charge of creating the spirit sashes and doing the footballs for powder puff and homecoming week,” Douglas said.

Connecting for change: Making West High a better place

Pathfinder Editorial Board • May 31, 2025

The fundamental principle of popular sovereignty states that the power of the government comes from the people一 the constituents of the United States. This principle also applies to student governments,...

Bright and colorful, the hallways are covered in posters and signs for Assistant Principal Appreciation Week. Soon, similar posters will be put up for Teacher Appreciation Week on May 5-9. West High teachers inspire many students and often play a role in developing personal goals and dreams. “I want to become a teacher, especially for little kids, because I remember my old elementary school teachers and how much they affected my life. I want to make a big impact on other kids' lives and make sure that they have a fun time in kindergarten while learning more,” senior Sidney Tyler said.

Action beyond appreciation

Pathfinder Editorial Board • April 30, 2025

Every May, the crinkling of wrapping paper and the clinking of coffee mugs fill the air, signaling the start of Teacher Appreciation Week. Across the school, students excitedly place handmade cards and...

Red, white and blue, the American flag holds the values of our democracy. The fight that we once endured has returned, as student journalists and senior correspondents across the country are losing their voices due to government control. “[Are] the White House and [the] government limiting free speech [and] freedom of the press? Yes [they are],” chief communications officer of the Parkway School District and former journalist Elisa Tomich said.

The fight for the first: Protecting journalists across the country

Parkway West Editorial Board • March 31, 2025

Thomas Jefferson once said, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Jefferson’s words still ring true 一 today, as press freedom in the...

A board in the Parkway West counseling department displays pennants of selective universities. With a wide range of students interested in attending, it’s important that these schools have clear priorities when deciding who to admit. “[Washington University] had the major that I wanted, psychology, philosophy, neuroscience. That's a holistic study of the brain, and [WashU is] the only college in the world that offers that. That's the main reason I wanted to go; I got into that program,” senior Dima Layth said.

Through the looking-glass

Pathfinder Editorial Board • February 28, 2025

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s UNC/Harvard decision to overturn the use of race-conscious affirmative action policies in college recruiting, many have bemoaned the end of what was seen as a panacea...

With drastic polarization characterizing the country's political environment, divide spills over into other aspects of daily life. Healthcare is defined by the World Health Organization as a fundamental human right; however, the topic has become more accepted as a point of debate rather than a matter of utmost importance. "Going to the doctor, getting a necessary procedure or giving aid to places that need it should be indisputable — regardless of party alignment," junior Ryan Shabani said.

Health isn’t a political tool, it’s a human right

Pathfinder Editorial Board • January 31, 2025

Health first — a phrase commonly integrated throughout schools, communities and even society as a whole. It serves as a constant reminder that wellness far outweighs other obligations: deadlines, plans,...

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.

Season of giving, season of getting

Pathfinder Editorial Board • December 20, 2024

Temperatures drop, snow begins to fall and colorful lights go up around residential neighborhoods: the holidays are here. This ‘season of giving,’ as it’s been affectionately named, arrives with...

President-elect Donald Trump has big plans to change the American education system, promising to dismantle the Department of Education and to restrict federal funding toward schools teaching about critical race theory or gender identity. In our increasingly polarized nation, we need public schools to create educated citizens with critical thinking skills and uncensored history knowledge.“It's almost disgusting how both Democrats and Republicans have politicized getting an education on different cultures and races' history in America. If the schools have the resources and the teachers to be teaching these classes, then they should be strongly encouraged, if not required to be learning this information in a non-political way,” senior Gianna Lionelli said.

Now what?

Pathfinder Editorial Board • November 30, 2024

On Nov. 5, America made its decision. Former President Donald Trump was re-elected for his second term of presidency and, to little surprise, a majority of Missouri counties sided with this ending. The...

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.

Activity across ages: Generational differences in political engagement

Pathfinder Editorial Board • October 31, 2024

A range of cultural icons stretching from Tupac Shakur to Greta Thunberg have commented on how younger generations are, in their eyes, more activist, more open to change and more willing to work to make...

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