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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

These top six companies control 90% of the media in the United States.

The Big Six’s big media game

Mira Nalbandian, Managing Editor-in-Chief May 9, 2022

Just 37 years ago, there were 50 companies in charge of most American media. Now, 90% of the media in the United States is controlled by just six corporations: AT&T, CBS, Comcast, Disney, Newscorp...

Staff Sergeant and U.S. Army recruiter Krystal Currin presents her recruitment station outside the cafeteria. Currin, who usually works in the IT field, has been in the Army for 12 years and hopes to retire in eight. “I'm here to provide information [and] open up more career opportunities [for] students,” Currin said.

The Pros and Cons of Military Recruitment in High Schools

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief April 29, 2022

If you have been to school for the past few weeks, you have probably noticed the military recruitment tables propped up just outside the cafeteria doors. Passed in 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act...

Junior Madi Michajliczenko poses with yellow and blue light shining on her, representative of her family’s history in Ukraine. When her family immigrated, they decided to assimilate, causing Michajliczenko to know little about her past culture in Ukraine.

Lost to assimilation

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief April 19, 2022

M-i-c-h-a-j-l-i-c-z-e-n-k-o. I spent time learning to print each letter and its order before I knew what my last name meant. It took me longer than others. After all, a typical last name doesn’t have...

Parkway needs to work with students to promote sustainability within schools.

Sustainability in Parkway

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer March 30, 2022

The world produces 400 million tons of plastic each year, while nine out of 10 people worldwide are breathing polluted air. As the climate changes, it grows more and more important for students and staff...

Taking on the role of Jeffrey Dahmer, senior Andy Volz participates in Crime and Law’s speed dating with a serial killer. Students in the class received the background of a famous serial killer and took turns convincing students on why they should date them, not knowing who they are. “Speed dating with a serial killer was really fun,” Volz said. “It was hilarious to see people’s reactions to what you were saying. It also boosted my confidence talking to so many people trying to get them to date me.”

Best of West: Top five classes to take before graduating

Drew Boone, Staff Writer March 16, 2022

With many unique and diverse classes to choose from every year, narrowing down the electives to take can be difficult. While many people choose electives based on their interests, the classes showcased...

President Joe Biden and  Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds fail to address educational issues in the 2022 State of the Union Address and the Republican rebuttal respectively.

The State of our Schools

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief March 4, 2022

Wednesday night, I happened upon social studies teacher Zaven Nalbandian’s secret surprise extra credit assignment to analyze both the State of the Union address and the Republican Party’s rebuttal....

This year’s Student Press Freedom Day is Feb. 24. Unmute yourself is the Student Press Law center's theme for this event.

Journalism in a “Hazelwood state” on Student Press Freedom Day

Mira Nalbandian and Tanvi Kulkarni February 24, 2022

The Pathfinder student newspaper began in 1968—the year Parkway West opened its doors to the students of West County. Throughout our history, the paper has written about plenty of controversial topics....

According to the American Library Association, these are the top 10 most challenged books in the United States.

Banning to burning: book bans reveal a darker agenda

Mira Nalbandian, Managing Editor-in-Chief February 15, 2022

St. Louis area school districts have once again made local headlines. As Rockwood parents descended into states of madness over the inclusion of books such as “Stamped” in their children’s curriculum,...

Media plays a significant role in creating, shaping and reflecting society's prejudices.

Prejudice in the media

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer December 17, 2021

The United States, along with various other countries, has seen an uptick in hate crimes in recent years. The most recent data published by the FBI reported 7,314 hate crimes in 2019. This is the highest...

Mental illnesses used casually as adjectives create negative stigmas about mental health.

Not your adjective

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief December 14, 2021

Pencil moving across paper, I finish my worksheets in class. My teacher continues drawling on, filling a long class period with presentations and puns. My table partner turns to their friend quietly saying,...