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
Parkway is hiring substitute teachers through Kelly Education to combat the sub shortage.

Where’s my substitute teacher?

Lia Emry, Staff Writer • February 24, 2023

Today, it is not uncommon to see staff members or principals watching a class while their usual teachers are out. The daily scramble to find enough substitute teachers often leaves students and administrators...

Senior Gael Crane and sophomore Will Gonsior write “the time is always right to do what is right” in German for their Black History Month door decoration. Gonsior took German because of his interest in the country’s culture and history. “Germany has a very rich history, and I love studying history. A lot of our culture and our ideas can be traced back to Germany, especially language,” Gonsior said.

German program comes to an end

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief • February 8, 2023

“Guten Morgen, Studenten!” German teacher Christie Staszcuk’s face fills the SMARTBoard screen as she Zooms in from Parkway Central, with the only four students in West’s combined AP German...

In an article for The Atlantic on Dec. 6, 2022, just one week after ChatGPT’s release date, Canadian author Stephen Marche proclaimed that “the college essay is dead” and that “no one is prepared for how AI will transform academia.” Since then, the news has seen an enormous influx of different people—everyone from professors and computer scientists to average citizens—giving their input on what artificial intelligence means for academia and for the world.

Is this “the death of academia?”

Samir Shaik, Multimedia Editor-in-Chief • February 7, 2023

As the keyboard clicks and the screen flickers to life, a sense of anticipation fills the air. The hum of the computer and the soft whir of the fans provide a background soundtrack to the task at hand....

Airplanes tend to delay or cancel flights due to freezing temperatures, snow, ice or thunderstorms. A severe snowstorm caused flight shortages on Dec. 21-26, impacting travelers like English ASC teacher Kristen Witt. “It was out of [everyone’s] control how the weather would turn out. They were doing the best they could [do], and the agent at the gate did a great job of keeping everybody informed about what was going on and kept us calm,” Witt said.

Taking on the Storm

Esta Kamau, Features/Humans of West Editor • January 27, 2023

Passengers pull hefty suitcases behind them, rushing to their terminals at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Suddenly, the intercom rings and announces unfortunate news of canceled flights,...

After hearing that the King of Hearts dance got canceled, Student Body President senior Esha Francis immediately turned her car around and returned to school in search of a solution. After staying in constant communication with the rest of the LoCo Executive Board, Francis met with Principal John McCabe to reinstate the dance. “This year, McCabe and our student council have been more in touch than in previous years. I feel like there's a greater trust there. He told us that he knows that we can do it and that we're capable. We've put things together last minute for our school before, and he knew that we could do it. McCabe and I have a good professional relationship, we have a better connection, and we're on the same page about a lot of things, so I don't always have to go to the local sponsors to get things done. It's great that I have a direct connection to him - we can get things done within a day,” Francis said.

Save the last dance

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief • January 20, 2023

On Monday, Jan. 9, freshmen parents received an email from the administration notifying them that the King of Hearts (KOH) dance would be canceled. KOH, a biennial winter dance thrown by Longhorn Council...

A graphic created to visualize mental wellness. Students throughout the Parkway School District met with the Board of Education concerning mental health issues facing teens.

Is mental health getting the recognition it deserves?

Achyuta Ambal, Staff Writer • January 18, 2023

The clock ticked in deafening silence after Deputy Superintendent Tiffany Holman-Besse, a board member, made her opening statement. Fifteen participants mulled the question: “How does poor mental health...

Cutting into a celebratory cookie cake, the secretary of the Indian Club and junior Swati Kumar kicks off the first meeting. Club board members introduced themselves and reviewed what future meetings would look like. “[I am] excited to see how far we could take this club. Indian culture is overlooked many times, so being a part of educating and celebrating it with others [is] so fun,” Kumar said.

Calling all clubs!

Lily West, Staff Writer • January 12, 2023

Whether you are building gingerbread houses with German Club, volunteering for NHS or playing sports with Leisure Club, there’s something for everyone. Clubs, while beneficial for college resumes, are...

While students use social media to connect virtually to others and access information, social media platforms use algorithms to personalize the information presented to users. “I like that recommendations make it a lot easier to find content that interests me,” junior Michael Emerson said. “But it also frightens me because sometimes it makes it hard to get off the scrolling and clicking cycle and makes me feel like I‘m glued to my phone.”

Algorithms of students’ digital world

Raj Jaladi, Newsletter Editor/Data Analyst • January 10, 2023

Ever wonder who is creating the “For You” page on TikTok, “Home Tweets” on Twitter or “Suggested Reels” on Instagram — all tailored and personalized just for you? The mastermind behind all...

Senior Khushi Chauhan and Sophomore Samir Shaik help each other pour a cup of chai. At Indian Club’s first meeting, they dived into the history of chai and how it became a part of Indian culture. “The meeting was chaotic, but we were prepared. We had a presentation, and in the end, everything came together. In America, where everything is so westernized, it’s important to connect back to your culture. I love planning these meetings for people to learn and enjoy,” said Chauhan.

Indian Club in Motion

Nidhi Pejathaya, Staff Writer • January 5, 2023

Pulling up a slideshow and setting down a tray of samosas, junior and Indian Club founder Puneeta Ganga prepares to present their lesson on chai as people slowly pour into the room.  They spent their...

Art teacher Katy Mangrich and journalism adviser Debra Klevens analyze the “Survivor” competitors together. Mangrich won the competition a couple times in the past by picking the correct contestant that she believed would win. “[Winning] was exciting. I’ve picked a couple people for Klevens when she was not available for pick day, and she’s won on my picks too. I’d say I’m pretty good at making picks, whether it’s luck or whether I have good intuition,” Mangrich said.

Forming work tribes through “Survivor”

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief • December 9, 2022

English, art and special education staff await anxiously every Wednesday night, eyes glowing from the TV screen light, ears listening as names are read. This night’s elimination announcement would determine...

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