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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

Searching for the piece of art that she will respond to, Creative Writing student and senior Allainah Crawford looks at works from the AP Design and Photography class. “This project is ‘free range’ compared to some of the other ones,” English teacher Dan Barnes said. “With express the music, we have word count, [but] with this one, I just want my students to be inspired by art.”

Art responding to art: Creative Writing 2 and the art department’s curriculum collaboration

Zoe DeYoung, Staff Writer February 4, 2020

Ekphrasis—better described as art responding to art—is a practice that English teacher Dan Barnes knows well.  When Honors English 3 was offered as a class, Barnes taught ekphrastic response, having...

Senior Nayeon Ryu organizes a bin of donations. Donations were dropped off starting Jan. 21. “This is an important issue we are tackling because it isn’t normally talked about in high school,” Ryu said. “This is because many of us are privileged enough to have easy access to these products.”

Pathfinder editorial board holds period product drive to destigmatize periods and help end period poverty

Angie Jia, Staff Writer February 3, 2020

Increased awareness of period poverty has ignited discussions surrounding the Pink Tax and providing free menstrual hygiene products in public restrooms. In fact, a new bill in the Missouri House of Representatives...

Thirty minutes before the concert at the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) workshop conference, members of Symphonic Orchestra rehearse “Libertango” under the direction of orchestra teacher Ed Sandheinrich Jan. 24. Throughout the three-day workshop, performance groups were given half an hour to tune, warm up and wrap up the final details before their performance. “Everyone was awesome in their playing and their professional behavior. It was hard for me to go from point A to point B at the resort because, well, it's a crowded mess, but people kept stopping me to say how much they loved the performance,” Sandheinrich said.

Symphonic Orchestra performs at the prestigious state music conference

Nayeon Ryu, Video Editor January 31, 2020

Honored by the state of Missouri, 40 students and 40 instruments are packed into one bus for a three-hour drive to the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) workshop conference at Tan-Tar-A Estates...

Filling out the information on the registration form, seniors Fariha Hossain and Muneebah Qayyum register to vote at the voter registration drive. The Feminist Club, with the League of Women Voters held the event Wednesday, Jan. 29 and registered 73 students. “If you have an option to vote and support something, you should,” senior Fariha Hossain said. “You can use your voice to help people.”

Voter registration event breaks record

Ulaa Kuziez, News and Sports Editor January 30, 2020

The Feminist Club held its first ever voter registration drive event for students Wednesday, Jan. 29. The club partnered with the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis, who provided volunteers to help...

Outside of the cafeteria, junior Ulaa Kuziez hangs up a sign advertising the voter registration event organized by Feminist Club. Other methods of registering include online or at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), but Wednesday, Jan. 29, students will have the opportunity to register at school during both lunches. “By being registered to vote, [students] will be able to take part in the political process and make a difference,” Kuziez said. “It's important that students reclaim that power and use it for good.”

Feminist Club organizes voter registration drive

Mira Nalbandian, Managing Editor-in-Chief January 28, 2020

In a few months, registered voters will have the opportunity to take part in the primary presidential elections and the 2020 presidential election. The primaries will take place March 10 and the presidential...

Senior Umeera Farooq goes through college application papers with her parents at the dinner table. Farooq’s parents, who immigrated to America, struggled with assisting her through the application process. “My parents have not attended college, and I’m a first-generation college student,” Farooq said. “it’s gotten easier especially because I know now I’ve grown so I can help myself.”

The struggles of second-generation immigrants in the college application process

Sara Albarcha, Staff Writer January 27, 2020

Acronyms like ACT, SAT, FAFSA and CSS are overwhelming, especially for those whose parents are non-native English speakers. For seniors Umeera Farooq and Nayeon Ryu, this is a struggle they have dealt...

Sophomore Ella Roesch works on her laptop in the new seating area Blue Brew created. The seating is available to everyone in the building at all times. “We would like Blue Brew to become a more central part of West High,” Business teacher Holly Weber said.

Blue Brew renovates to create a more welcoming environment

Fatema Rehmani, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief January 23, 2020

Arriving to school by 6:30 a.m. every other day for his shifts, Blue Brew manager and junior Aaron Hall starts his mornings in the cafe.  Blue Brew is open Monday through Friday from 6:50 a.m. to 7:20...

Missouri law requires public schools to recite the Pledge of Allegiance once per school day, though individual students are not required to participate.

Students weigh reasons to stand or sit for the Pledge of Allegiance

Lydia Roseman, News and Sports Editor January 22, 2020

As 14-18 year olds, high schoolers have grown up in a time of growing political polarization according to a 2017 study by the Pew Research Center which says that “across 10 measures that Pew Research...

Member of the Thirst Project Club and junior Sarenna Wood designs wristbands for the club fundraisers. Wood said her favorite part of the club is the energy they have when talking about their projects. “Everyone just gets so excited and starts thinking of more ways to raise money and support for the project,” Wood said. “It’s a really great cause and I’m super proud to be a part of it.”

Thirst Project Club aims to make a difference by building a well

Hannah Choi, Staff Writer January 20, 2020

After an official Road Warrior from the Thirst Project headquarters came to talk to junior Salma Ahmed’s Biology class about their organization, a group of five junior women became inspired to start...

Junior Tiye’ Hyler, senior TJ Fleming, guidance counselor Jen Skalski and freshman Brian Campbell sit and listen to students talk during a restorative circle. In the library, African American students discuss with teachers and others about what it is like to be a black student at a predominantly white school. “It can be tricky because you don’t want to offend anyone, you want everyone to understand that you come with a good heart and your goal is to help them succeed,” Perez said.

ASAP shares their voice

Bri Davis, Staff Writer January 16, 2020

Inside the library, African American students sit, chatting amongst each other. Soon, they are told by the student officers of the African American Student Achievement Program (ASAP) that they will be...