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
Powering through a tunnel of kickboards, senior Abbi VanValkenburgh celebrates the girls swim and dive team senior night. The tradition highlights each senior’s journey through their high school career. “The sophomores and freshmen line up and they smack us in the back. After we run through the tunnel, we wait for our coach to announce our advice to the team along with our thank yous,” VanValkenburgh said. “My advice for the team was not to take the team for granted. We need to make sure we appreciate every moment because our team is so unique and special.”

Photo of the Week – January 19

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
January 19, 2024
Dedicating his full attention, senior Brandon Paul competes his way to become the first place winner of the Ceramics Olympics using mini hands. Every year, the advanced ceramics class holds this competition in place of the final as a fun activity. “This year, [ceramics teacher Ashley] Drissel got two of these mini potters' wheels and decided to make this year's events challenging. We used a mini hand on the mini wheel, which meant you didn’t actually have much of any control over what you're doing,” Paul said. “The best technique would have to be trying to pull back some of the individual rubber fingers to have more control over the clay as you form it into something that it doesn’t want to be. It was a very strange experience, but I won, so I think I pulled through in the end.”

Photo of the Week – January 12

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
January 12, 2024
During the Sip and Study event after school on Jan. 4, senior Lizzie Duenez enjoys a cup of hot chocolate while on a break. The Sip and Study event provided an opportunity for freshman students to get help from Link Crew leaders, like Duenez, while preparing for their finals. “My role was to help out with Spanish and other classes if the students needed it,” Duenez said. “I connected with the freshmen because I knew their struggles. I was once a freshman myself and I didn’t know anything. It was a chill and relaxing time, especially with hot chocolate."

Photo of the Week – January 5

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
January 5, 2024
Focused intensely on her artwork, junior Jayana Shead works on a mural on the wall outside the classroom. American Sign Language 3 students studied techniques and meanings behind deaf artists' work in their De'VIA art unit and collaborated on a mural outside the classroom. "Often times, there are misconceptions about the capabilities of deaf people, so by creating this we are able to help people understand more clearly what deaf people are capable of," Shead said. "This mural is important because it represents the struggles and common misconceptions of ASL, and working on something like this that will last on the wall for years makes me happy because it's something that people will get to see every time they pass the hallway."

Photo of the Week – December 22

Mya Rangel
December 22, 2023
Shock sweeping across her face, sophomore Layla Stranquist faces her fear alongside her cheerleading teammates. The team participated in a reptile show as a way to deepen connections. “I was so scared at first, but then I actually wanted to hold the snake. It was a very weird experience,” Stranquist said. “Our coaches wanted us to do something different for team bonding and this activity helped get us out of our comfort zone.”

Photo of the Week – December 15

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
December 15, 2023
Tearing through teams of junior Longhorn basketball players, senior Chase Haun takes the court on December 1. Elementary and middle school players joined the high school team on the floor before the game. “We were playing our rivals, Parkway South, and all the youngins were there supporting us.” Haun said. “A lot of the community was there rooting for us. This might have been the most packed crowd I have ever seen in my basketball career.”

Photo of the Week – December 8

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
December 8, 2023
Laughing as he assembles the foundation, junior Jack Brau works to build the Latin Colosseum. The team stepped into roles that varied from an architect to an unskilled worker to complete the task. “The skilled craftsmen would go to the architect and ask what are the next steps to the construction,” Brau said. “The most difficult part was going back and forth between the architects in order to get a better understanding of how the next piece is built, but we were having a great time.”

Photo of the Week – December 1

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
December 1, 2023
Firing up the final touches, junior Jacob Burch finishes his triple decker s’more. Mr. Anderson’s chemistry class focused on chemical equations in lab experiments. “My favorite part was when we were able to experiment and have fun with the activity and do what we wanted with the ingredients that we were given,” Burch said. “I really enjoyed this experience because it was a fun way to learn a usually boring topic. That's what Mr. Anderson is good at. He uses labs in chemistry to reinforce the things we are learning, which is way better than sitting and listening to a lecture.”

Photo of the Week – November 10

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
November 10, 2023
Captivated by the flashing lasers, junior Sally Peters experiences science teacher Mr. Anderson’s 25th annual Halloween Show extravaganza on October 31. Mr. Anderson performed science experiments to entertain his students. “My favorite part was the lasers because I have never seen lasers like that before,” Peters said. “In the beginning, everybody was nervous because he told us how scary it would be, but we were impressed.”

Photo of the Week – November 3

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
November 3, 2023
Casting a spell, junior Gianna Lionelli freezes into position during the rehearsal of the school play, “Puffs” on October 25. Students ran through scenes of the show to polish their movements. “All of the people I work with are incredibly talented, who are great at thinking on their feet, so everyone is always ready to improv on stage when needed,” Lionelli said. “I love my character’s development. She’s in school trying to figure out who she is, which I think is very relatable for a lot of students. My favorite moment is when I realize I’m a Puff and come to terms with my true self.”

Photo of the Week – Oct. 27

Dana Zafarani, Photo of the Week Editor
October 27, 2023
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