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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

During a Crime and Law mock trial, senior Nadir Gheith acts as the defendant, Jack Percy who is on trial for the first-degree murder of Butch Burly. Officer Matthew Paubel removed Gheith's handcuffs at the start of the trial after escorting him to the pretend courtroom. “[The most challenging part of the mock trial] was seeing me lose because I hardly lose, and I needed to bounce back from that. [I lost] because the jury hates me. I don’t know what I did wrong, but they just didn’t like me,” Gheith said.

Photo of the Week – Nov. 11

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief November 14, 2022

Packaging four containers of curry per bag, senior and Parkway Food Pantry volunteer Kailey Hartle helps with the food pantry’s distribution every month. Hartle was grateful for the leadership skills she learned through working with the food pantry for a year. “It feels like I have the most direct impact. I am helping families that have enough food to make it through the month,” Hartle said.

Breakfast bars and baby wipes: The Pathfinder’s food drive begins

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief November 11, 2022

As the holiday of gratitude approaches, many people begin to ponder what they are thankful for: a roof overhead, food on the table and a warm place to hide from the harsh temperatures of winter. But what...

This photo illustration is inspired by the copious political attack ads plastered over all news and local stations in the St. Louis Metro area. These commercials exploit current event issues by using the biggest concerns to attract attention. "Marijuana is one [concern] in Missouri because they’re having a ballot issue. Illegal immigration and cutting taxes are the ones that Republicans use. The whole ‘[Republicans] being very right-wing and autocratic’ is [an issue ad] that you would see the Democrats doing. They’re all over the place depending on what the hot-button issue is," social studies department chair Jeffrey Chazen said.

They can’t be trusted

Elizabeth Franklin, Editor-in-Chief November 9, 2022

On televisions across St. Louis, the faces of Democratic Senate candidate Trudy Busch Valentine and Republican Senate candidate Eric Schmitt were familiar ones from August to November. One moment, Valentine...

Pattonville High School resumes the Crockpot Cook-off with Parkway West. An assortment of foods prepared by students and families of both schools will be displayed for people to sample. Whichever school earns the most votes wins the crockpot-shaped trophy. “There's a lot of good food, and people have a lot of good choices. Ultimately, being a West teacher, my allegiances are with West. I'm hoping we can be the ones to go into the other school and win the trophy,” Orchestra teacher Ed Sandheinrich said.

The Crockpot Cookoff is back

Esta Kamau, Features/Humans of West Editor November 4, 2022

The Crockpot Cook-off competition heats up as the orchestra program brings back its annual event on Nov. 5. After a two-year hiatus, the orchestra will reappear at Pattonville High School to compete for...

Climate activists Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland were arrested Oct. 14 after tossing a can of tomato soup at Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.” Plummer, at just 21 years old, attempted to glue her hand to the wall before telling onlookers that with the rising cost of oil, many families do not have enough money to heat soup.

Is art worth more than life?

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief November 2, 2022
A viral video shows two activists flinging tomato soup at Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.” Then, with the $81 million painting dripping red, the activists superglued themselves to the wall and asked the crowd, “Is art worth more than life?”
Senior Madeline Cohen and junior Audrey Ghosh sit at their desks in French class. Of the 12 students in the class, only four could attend, with many students reportedly attending appointments or suffering from a mysterious ailment. However, Cohen suggested an alternative theory to explain the absences.  “Senior skip day is a fun tradition that's been going on for years; I also think that it's hard for some students to skip because of their schedules or because of when the skip day is, including today. To my classmates who were actually sick, I would tell them they were lucky they were gone, and hopefully, they didn't miss too much school work,” Cohen said.

A sudden surge in senior class absences

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief November 2, 2022
This November, a hush falls over campus. Just days ago, classes were teeming with students dressed in Halloween costumes and exuding school spirit. Now, the same classes are silent and empty.
Seniors Abigail Wheeler and Grace Fotheringham hand candy to a princess at the varsity cheer trunk. Fotheringham helped decorate with streamers and loved interacting with kids and seeing their costumes. "I love kids, and it [was] a great way [for them] to get involved at West. It was such a cute idea," Fotheringham said.

Spooktacular Trunk or Treat trunks reviewed

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief October 31, 2022

One hundred elementary kids lined the faculty parking lot at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27. High school teams and clubs greeted cats, princesses, pirates, Ender Dragons and even Pennywise walking across...

The Supreme Court, college officials, educators and students in the United States are reconsidering the 57-year-old practice of affirmative action. Most universities included race as a factor in admission, but the practice fell under attack after the Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) organization first sued Harvard University in 2014. “Until America is transformed into a place where racial oppression is non-existent, affirmative action must continue to be used by colleges,” alumni and current Harvard student Mira Nalbandian said.

Affirmative Action: The line between equality and equity

Audrey Ghosh, Opinions Editor October 27, 2022

As the college application season continues, seniors all over the United States frantically perfect admission forms. Throughout this process, many students wonder how one controversial admission factor...

The idea of attending university following high school is so ingrained in our high schools, many do not receive a thorough explanation of alternate options.

Postsecondary pressures

Pathfinder Editorial Board October 26, 2022

College.  With early action application deadlines quickly approaching, it’s safe to say that college is a pressing thought on many senior students’ minds. Years of preparation — career quizzes,...

Ella Wheeler

Ella Wheeler

Julia Kiffer, CJ1 Writer October 25, 2022

“I'm motivated to be the best version of myself. I've done gymnastics for seven years, and I've done cheer for two years. [I cheer] six days a week [for the] Ice All Stars Frozen 4. Tumbling [makes me...