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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

Juniors Laith Alhamid and Brooke Hoenecke smile at the camera, sitting behind a red table in the cafeteria as they sell candy canes. A sign beside them advertises the Candy Cane Exchange.

‘Tis the season

Serena Liu and Ruthvi Tadakamalla December 13, 2023
This week, Future Business Leaders of America is hosting their annual Candy Cane Exchange. For $1, students can purchase candy canes to be delivered to a recipient of their choice. Each candy cane can come with a complimentary note.
Sophomore Kanya Livingston and junior Ash Herring sit on chairs on stage. Herring extends an arm, pretending to drive a car.

Getting wild at West: Running With Scissors presents its first show of the year

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief December 8, 2023

Making their audience laugh, cheer and laugh some more, Running With Scissors presented their Wild West improv show on Friday. The theatre sold 108 tickets to the event. “Everyone on the team worked...

Sophomore Sravya Guda stands outside in a saree, lighting a firecracker at nighttime.

Festival of lights: Celebrating diversity within Diwali

Keira Lang and Zoya Hasan December 4, 2023

Once a year, the dark sky fills with the sound of laughter and the popping of firecrackers as family and friends come together to shine up the night with sparkling lights and indulge in a feast. The tradition,...

Triumphantly celebrating, senior Cameron Hickert is hefted into the air by fellow Mr. Longhorn contestants. Out of 15 contestants, Hickert took the first-place prize. “At the end of the day, I’m just glad I’m having fun with my friends,” Hickert said.

The finale: senior Cameron Hickert wins Mr. Longhorn 2023

Serena Liu and Elizabeth Franklin November 24, 2023

On Friday, Nov. 17, Mr. Longhorn tested 15 senior contestants across the categories of occupation, talent and formal wear, and senior Cameron Hickert came out on top.  In an effort to curry favor with...

Senior Emily McCarthy sits next to junior Zoe Gleason. She looks down at a paper with a list of names on it.

To the cinéma!

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief November 17, 2023

The lights dim. The screen turns on. A crowd of students sits at the edge of their red seats, waiting in anticipation. On Nov. 10, French students of all levels watched a screening of “April in France”...

Teaming up with seniors Chase Haun, Brock Sweet and Mitchell Seavey, senior Ben Gingrich performs a comedy act during Mr. Longhorn dress rehearsals on Nov. 16. Gingrich signed up after being encouraged by Longhorn Council’s recruiting efforts. “We've got a lot of talent out there, a lot of funny acts, a lot of impressive acts — it's gonna be a good show. My Sports Lit teacher Casey Holland encouraged me to do it and branch out and try something different from what I’d usually do,” Gingrich said. “Bring positive attitudes, and be ready to be wowed.”

Behind the scenes: A peek into the process of the Mr. Longhorn contestants

For the past few days, the senior contestants for the annual charity pageant Mr. Longhorn have rehearsed in the theater, practicing their acts, learning a group dance and mastering the art of swaggering...

Each year, senior boys compete in Mr. Longhorn, a talent show and pageant designed to raise money for charity. “It’s going to be a blast, it’s going to be a great time,” Haun said. “I think it's going to be exciting. I'm not too scared, as long as I don't mess up, it'll be great.”

The show must go on

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief November 16, 2023

On Friday, Nov. 17, 16 senior boys will take the stage to compete for the coveted title of Mr. Longhorn. To win the crown, participants must score the highest cumulatively in three categories: occupational...

a person holding skittles

Colorful chaos

Ruthvi Tadakamalla, Sports/Newsletter Editor November 13, 2023

In California, Assembly Bill 418 was recently passed to limit the consumption of dangerous ingredients such as brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and Red Dye No. 3. California Gov....

Tight end Travis Kelce helped carry the Chiefs to the Super Bowl by catching a touchdown in last year’s AFC Championship game. Kelce’s skills have opened up new opportunities for him this fall, such as dating Taylor Swift and starring in a new Pfizer ad. “If [Kelce] supports [vaccines], I think others will, people do tend to do what celebrities suggest,” English teacher Casey Holland said.

Taylor Swift fever

Will Gonsior, Opinions/A&E Editor November 2, 2023

The new face of Pfizer We’ve emerged from a cruel Missouri summer into cardigan season, and Pfizer is urging everyone to do “two things at once:” get a COVID-19 booster vaccine and a flu shot...

Seven cast members stand in a semi-circle on stage, placing their wands in the middle of their huddle.

Accio tickets! Lights, camera, “Puffs”!

Keira Lang and Zoya Hasan October 30, 2023

This month, the theater department put on a production titled “Puffs”, a spoof of the famous Harry Potter series through the eyes of the Hufflepuffs, utilizing a protagonist who wishes he was the hero...