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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

Seniors have a wide variety of colleges to pick from as they search for the school that is right for them.

Senior struggles with college applications during the era of COVID-19

Bri Davis, Staff Writer December 7, 2020

“It feels like you're taking your pants off in front of a whole crowd.” That is how senior Amina Aser describes her college applications process. The fear of being vulnerable to those close to you...

Freshmen Katie Wallace and Cora Tiemeier spend a windy day outside at O’Day Park in O'Fallon, Mo. Nov. 15. Wallace has been spending time with her friends outside and masked, finding new activities and rediscovering old ones. “When I went to have a picnic with my friend, we went on the playground too, even though we're in high school. Just think outside of the box,” Wallace said.

Safely spending time with friends: winter edition

Ellie West, Staff Writer December 1, 2020

With December approaching, dropping temperatures are posing a new challenge to students who are having socially distant get-togethers with their friends. Rain, cold fronts and temperatures falling well...

Freshman Paige Schnarr, equipped with her Longhorns mask, documents her bus ride to school. Bus riders sat one person per row and alternated between the left and right seats to maintain distance. “I was doing well with online learning, but for me, if I’m not in the classroom, then I feel like I don’t get as much done,” Schnarr said.

A look into students’ decision to stay home or return to school

Emily Early, Editor-in-Chief November 24, 2020

The decision all students had to make: stay home or return to school. Whether behind a screen or behind a mask, for the first time in recent history, students have had a say in the environment from which...

Parkway West theatre department head Amie Gossett forms a district master class to take the place of in-person classes.

Parkway district master class replaces in-person theatre programs

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief November 23, 2020

While sports are being phased back into school, clubs and programs have not had the same treatment. Theatre, however, found a way to combine all Parkway schools’ departments into one master class. “West...

Theater teacher Amie Gossett instructs her Foundations of Acting students on how to stand away from the camera when they perform. The students in the back were critiquing the performances that the online students gave to the class. “I’m going to run the class as I would run it if I were in-person completely. Things worked out very well last quarter virtually for theater classes, which was more than I had ever expected, so I am just going to improve on that model,” Gossett said.

A behind the scenes look at teaching a hybrid schedule

Emma Iswarienko, Staff Writer November 18, 2020

Dividing their screens and spacing out their desks are only a few of the changes that teachers are making. No matter how many years of teaching experience they have, teachers are as new to the in-person...

The WPO fundraiser Google Form included descriptions such as “celebrate Christmas in an elegant way” and “expressing your spirit of Christmas.”

WPO fundraiser sparks questions about inclusivity

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief November 17, 2020

The West Parent Organization (WPO) sent an email Nov. 2 to students and parents announcing their new holiday wreath fundraiser running through Nov. 15. This email included a digital order form of products...

During a home game against Clayton Oct. 22, freshman Josh Seager kicks the ball away from the goal. Seager and his team played in honor of breast cancer awareness month. "The highlight of the game was honoring those affected by cancer, and even winning the game," Seager said.

Athletes honor those affected by breast cancer

Sara Albarcha, Staff Writer November 11, 2020
“The highlight of the event was playing for those affected by cancer and winning the game,” Seager said. “I played for my mom’s friend who died because of breast cancer, it was a good way to honor her.”
History teacher Zaven Nalbandian stands outside of a polling place at the St. Louis County Government Center. Nalbandian experienced socially distant lines, mask wearers and a comfortable and tolerant feeling in the air. “I stood in the rain for the chance to once again exercise my right. I was feeling nostalgic as I thought back to that Tuesday in November in 1988 when I walked into the gym at Francis Howell North High School and punched the card," Nalbandian said. "St. Louis County is still using those old voting stands that look like ‘80s suitcases, but there are no more punch cards. I did get to keep the pen they gave me."

Despite a pandemic, students and teachers exercise their right to vote

Thomas Bruns, Opinions/A&E editor November 2, 2020

As the 2020 election season comes to a close, students and faculty alike are preparing to vote on Nov. 3. This is seniors’ first time at the ballot, and for teachers, their first time voting during a...

Parkway Nurses come together to chair a fundraiser for the Parkway Food Pantry, creating a cookbook they plan on selling in December.

Parkway nurses ‘eggspress’ their interest in food pantry by creating cookbook fundraiser

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief October 23, 2020

‘Pandemic Pound Cake’ is one of the many recipes submitted by Parkway staff for the “Parkway Pandemic Cookbook.” This district-wide project is a ‘legend in the baking,’ led by Green...

The senior hallway has been unoccupied by students since March.

An inside look at teaching during a pandemic

Zoe DeYoung, Staff Writer October 21, 2020

Before we left school March 13 of last school year, we were told to empty our lockers and bring all of our textbooks home.  Some felt this was an overreaction by administration, but many minds were...