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 Zeina Daboul and Kayvon Rezaei give an impromptu performance of “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen in English teacher Andria Benmuvhar’s AP English Literature and Composition class. Benmuvhar’s sub plans instructed the class to audibly react to the dramatic final scene as two students read the parts aloud, but halfway through the scene Daboul and Rezaei decided to instead act. “I felt like the energy of the classroom really made me want to stand up and act it out face to face. The emotion in the play is based on [Nora and Torvald] interacting with each other, [so] it seemed more true to the play and a lot more fun,” Rezaei said. “[‘A Doll’s House’] is a very entertaining play so [when] we were told to audibly react to it, the whole class’s emotions were so authentic and raw. It made it more suiting for us to perform in a more authentic way toward each other.”

Photo of the Week – March 18

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief
March 18, 2022
Surrounded by a cooler, a basket and a piano bench, freshman Matt Willock holds a NASCAR tire filled with his school supplies. As a part of spirit week, students were encouraged on Wednesday to bring in “anything but a backpack,” to carry their belongings around in for the day. “I feel like the whole NASCAR tire idea was like a statement of my personality. [My dad] was the one that originally kind of gave me the idea to do it. It's been sitting in my room for a little bit and we were looking for stuff to use,” Willock said. “I feel like since this was kind of the first time [for ‘anything but a backpack day’], we were working out what's good to bring, but I feel like if we do it next year, it'll be a lot better. There'll be a lot more variety to what people bring.”

Photo of the Week – March 11

Mira Nalbandian, Managing Editor-in-Chief
March 11, 2022
Attending French Club’s Mardi Gras party, juniors Nicolle Emert, Katie Jauss and Jame Wild dance to a French song. Prior to the party, club members signed up to bring food and the activities also included listening to music and completed word searches. “[The party] was just everyone hanging out and having fun,” Emert said. “I never really travel outside of the United States, so this was kind of like a glimpse into my future because I plan on traveling. Exposing myself to [the French] culture before I can see it in real life is really cool.”

Photo of the Week – March 4

Leah Schroeder, Managing Editor-in-Chief
March 4, 2022
Supporting her team from the sidelines at the 47th Annual Girls State Meet on Feb. 18, sophomore Alli VanValkenburgh holds the swim and dive flag proudly in the air. The team won the 400 free relay, securing 1st place in the state. “I was super proud,” VanValkenburgh said. “My sister [Megan] had just swam the last event of her high school career and it was [beyond] fun to watch. It has [also] been super fun watching everyone improve and grow this season.”

Photo of the Week – Feb. 25

Katie Wallace, Staff Writer
February 25, 2022
Junior Cameron Chandler dances to “Congratulations” by Post Malone and Quavo for poms senior night Feb. 17. In order to calm their nerves, the poms team had a group huddle and boosted each other’s confidence before the performance. “This is by far one of my favorite years on the team yet, we are closer than we have ever been. We just build each other up and support each other everyday. Leaving this season will not be easy,” Chandler said. “Performing for senior night was really special. We all love Claire [LeDuc] so much and just wanted to do so well for her. I think we worked the most on this dance than any other one because of how special this was for her. We each share a different bond with her that is just really special. We still have two more performances and a competition and it's already extremely hard to think about her not dancing with us next year after becoming so close these past three years.”

Photo of the Week – Feb. 17

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief
February 17, 2022
Posing in a picture with her family, senior Megan VanValkenburghsigns her National Letter of Intent to be a part of the swim and dive team at Butler University next fall. VanValkenburg committed and signed in December, but signing day at school occurred on February eighth. “All of the support from everyone on signing day made [committing] feel very real now. I feel like every little step I have taken in this process has led to that moment,” Vanvalkenburg said. “I have always loved the campus and location of the school, but [the girls on the women's swim and dive team at Butler] made me feel a part of their team on my visit, that’s when I knew I wanted to spend my next four years there.”

Photo of the Week- Feb. 11

Tre Bell, Staff Writer
February 11, 2022
During Ac lab time, sophomore Raj Jaladi plays a game of chess in the library. Jaladi joined the chess club before winter break and has learned different strategies from his peers and YouTube videos. “I think it challenges my intellectual ability and there is a lot to learn. A lot of games there is just an objective to [achieve] but in chess there are variations and it’s an endless ocean,” Jaladi said. “I’ve been playing a lot, maybe too much actually. I’ve made friends with a lot of people in the club and I learned a lot by playing against them.”

Photo of the Week – Feb. 4

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief
February 4, 2022
Starting at her grid paper, freshman Nola Becquette tries to recreate a spread from another school’s yearbook using Cheez Its, graham cracker, Airheads, Twizzlers, Hershey kisses and Kit Kats. After watching the Pica King video, students applied the skills they learned before getting on to computers to create their own designs. “I definitely got an understanding because before then I didn’t know how to [create a spread]. But now that I have more experience, I finally feel like I can get the hang of it,” Becquette said.

Photo of the Week – Jan. 28

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief
January 28, 2022
During an experiment in his honors Force and Motion class, freshman Jacksen McNeal pushes the car across the table. Physics teacher Amy Van Matre-Woodward taught how to calculate velocity and used toy cars as practice for students. “I enjoyed this activity because it was a [creative] way to practice finding velocity. I [also] just liked playing with the cars,” McNeal said.

Photo of the Week – Jan. 21

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief
January 21, 2022
Juniors Dossan Bell and Brayden Gilmore participate in a mock trial. The trial took place as part of the final exam in Nancy Sachtleben's seventh hour Crime and Law class. "My favorite thing about Mock trials was finding the little cracks in the defendant or prosecutor’s statements," Dossan said. "I like this because I was able to totally unwind the opposite sides statement and by doing this I made a statement have no value and disproved it."

Photo of the Week – Jan. 14

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer
January 14, 2022
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