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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

Standing next to the pool, sophomores Megan VanValkenburgh and Mallory Stirrat pose for a team picture. VanValkenburgh and Stirrat assisted the swim team in competing in meets over the summer against other neighborhood pools. “Ever since I was young, I’ve always helped out with Cedarmill, even if I wasn’t getting paid. My dad’s always been involved, so I’ve always been doing it alongside him,”

Sophomores Megan VanValkenburgh and Mallory Stirrat go from swimmers to coaches

Lilly Francis, Convergent media Writer August 26, 2019

After swimming summer league for Cedarmill Swim Club for 11 years, sophomores Megan VanValkenburgh and Mallory Stirrat took on the role of coaching for kids ages 4 to 12 involved in the program, teaching...

Pulling a handcart through the woods, sophomore Izzie Finlinson (middle) takes part in the women’s pull part of the journey. Many of the pioneers taking the trek lost or had to leave their husbands along the way, so they were the ones who had to pull the carts along the end of the trail. “This pull was a really emotional time for all of us because we were able to put ourselves in those women’s shoes during a time where they really struggled,” Finlinson said.

Sophomores Izzie Finlinson, Will Bonnett and Emily Voyles take the trek of their ancestors

Lilly Francis, Convergent Media Writer August 22, 2019

Hiking 15 miles through woods, over hills and across rivers all through torrential rain, sophomores Izzie Finlinson, Will Bonnett and Emily Voyles, alongside many of their peers, took part in a weekend...

Reviewing statistics, freshman Connor Gusky prepares for the next meeting of Sports Analytics Club. Gusky used his love for math and athletics to create a club that predicts the outcome of sporting events. "As a club, we come up with what we want to know and predict which team will win which game because of X, Y and Z," Gusky said. "I try to make it fun and not over complicated."

Freshman Connor Gusky merges sports and math to create Sports Analytics Club

Lydia Roseman, News and Sports Editor May 20, 2019

Whether it’s making brackets, dressing in team jerseys, placing bets or attending games and matches, sports fans support their teams in a variety of ways. For some, the love of the sport goes beyond...

Holding pro-life and pro-choice signs, students advocate for their stances on abortion rights.

Missouri abortion bill strikes up controversy

Sabrina Bohn and Lydia Roseman May 19, 2019

Students took to social media to voice their opinions in light of the Missouri General Assembly passing H.B. 126, a bill restricting abortion that Governor Mike Parson is expected to sign into law within...

Planting seedlings in a garden at school, freshman Maura Collins, along with Environment Club, plans to donate the produce to Parkway Food Pantry once it is grown. The club began this year with the help of English teacher Casey Holland and wants to spread awareness about the environment through gardening projects and information about being environmentally friendly. “I’m passionate about the environment because my mom always loved gardening, so I spent a lot of my childhood outside,” Collins said. “I want to specialize in sustainable urban planning, so I thought some exposure from the club might be good.”

The Environmental Club plants seeds for change

Lilly Rahm, Convergent Media Writer May 17, 2019

In an attempt to promote green living and a healthy lifestyle, the Environmental Club began planting vegetables to donate to the Parkway Schools Food Pantry. “After being at this school for two years,...

Directed by Ed Sandheinrich (not pictured), juniors Ronik Bhaskar, Dennis McMorrow and Daniel Yu play their instruments in Symphonic Orchestra. All levels of orchestra participate in the reflection by playing songs that they are able too that the seniors choose. “It’s different every day, a new adventure every day, and it keeps things fresh,” Sandheinrich said.

Seniors reflect on the time spent with their instruments during high school

Ross Harter, Staff Writer May 17, 2019

The Orchestra program is putting on one last ‘hurrah’ for the seniors by allowing them to pick the music for the Senior Reflection ceremony. “I think that the songs we are playing at Senior Reflection...

Lined up outside of the theatre on the first Friday of Ramadan, junior Mohammed Kuziez and freshmen Waleed Abdulla and Areeb Hasan get together to pray “Jummah” (Friday prayers). Muslims are also obligated to pray five times a day, as “salah” (prayer) is one of the five pillars of Islam. “I like to think that I hold my religion very close to me; it's something that I was brought up on for the past 17 years,” Kuziez said. “It's one of the things that our religion holds the closest, and [prayer is] a basic [element] of it.”

The journey of fasting through finals

Ridwan Oyebamiji and Fatema Rehmani May 16, 2019

As the time of sunset, “Maghrib,” grows closer, senior Farhan Hassan’s stomach growls at the thought of food; he looks forward to eating the dates and drinking the water in front of him. During...

Anthony Piccinni poses in his classroom with his class pet Kaa. Piccinni has been Kaa’s owner for 22 years and he has become a big part of Piccinni’s identity. “[Kaa] and I have done birthday parties, visited preschool classrooms and taught lessons in elementary schools,” Piccinni said. “Giving him away is hard, not because of a deep, emotional connection, but because he is a part of a significant aspect of my life that is coming to a close. I will miss being a classroom teacher, and he has been a part of the classroom and the experience.”

Anthony Piccinni basks in the idea of retirement

Sarah Lashly, COPY COACH May 16, 2019

Smiling in the science hallway, greeting students during passing periods and caring for his snake, science teacher Anthony Piccinni has decided to retire after this year since joining the staff in 2011. “[This...

Discussing ideas for lessons, junior Sabrina Bohn, sophomore Ulaa Kuziez and junior Kaitlyn Faber plan for upcoming Common Ground meetings. The trio plan to design the Common Ground curriculum for the 2019-2020 school year. “I hope, overall, that Common Ground more effectively reaches students and allows for a more comfortable place where we can discuss the issues that the school is facing,” Bohn said.

Common Ground undergoes second revamp

Zaven Nalbandian, STAFF WRITER May 14, 2019

Common Ground will be undergoing an overhaul starting in August, where multiple students from the  Superintendent’s Social Justice Leadership Advisory Council (SSJLAC) are planning to form a new club...

Seniors Gokul Venkatachalam, Kristina Humphrey and Luke Donovan pose with their plaques from the district tournament. Venkatachalam will go to nationals in the “Policy Debate” event and Humphrey and Donovan will compete in the “Duo Interpretation” event. “I’ve never been to the national tournament before,” Humphrey said. “I know it’s very competitive because you’re competing against a bunch of national qualifiers. I hope we can do well, and I doubt we’ll make the final stage, but we’re going to try as hard as we can.”

Debate team has emotional return to nationals

Peyton Gaskill, STAFF WRITER May 14, 2019

After a successful districts tournament, the speech and debate team will send six students to compete in three different events at the national tournament in Dallas this June. The events of last year have...