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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

Counting out the steps to the beat, freshman May Trejo-Vasquez and her friends practice the dances for the Quineañera one more time. This was the last of the practices before the big day, and Trejo-Vasquez’s friends who were standing in the ceremony did their part. “All my friends are going to be able to come because most of them are standing in the quince and then the other [friends who are not standing in the ceremony] I’m just inviting, they’re all going to show up,” Trejo-Vasquez said.

COVID-19 Conundrum

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief April 7, 2021

With COVID-19 canceling virtually everything, Trejo-Vasquez was left with no choice but to postpone to March 2021. Her quince was held March 6, six months after her 15th birthday. Because of this, she...

Pro

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief March 31, 2021

The quarter system encourages curiosity and provides students opportunities to narrow their focus and delve deeper into fewer subjects. Having a reduced number of classes at once has helped me put more...

Con

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief March 31, 2021

As Parkway considered its reopening options in December, the district launched Thoughtexchange pages for students, parents and staff members to provide feedback regarding first semester. I read through...

Sitting on the corner of the garden wall, Trejo-Vasquez sits still once more for the photographer. This photo shoot was taken in November 2020 at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Antonio, Texas, and Trejo-Vasquez decided it was nothing like what she thought a photo shoot was like. “I was expecting it to just be quick and easy with no crowd, but it was the exact opposite,” Trejo-Vasquez said. It was a bit awkward because of how long I would have to hold a pose.”

The art of flexibility

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief March 31, 2021

A quinceañera, a coming of age ceremony for 15-year-old girls, signifies the passage of youth to becoming a woman. Traditional Mexican quinceañeras were about teaching the quinceañera her duties and...

Special Education Teacher Zack Jodlowski poses for a picture wearing his mask.

Zack Jodlowski

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer March 4, 2021

Born to Deaf parents with sign language as his first language, Zack Jodlowski is a Special Education teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department. Jodlowski was born hard-of-hearing, though he identifies...

Junior Jia Billadeau poses for a picture wearing her mask.

Jia Billadeau

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer March 4, 2021

With masks and social distancing becoming a norm in many aspects of life, the pandemic has altered the way that many students have had to communicate with each other. This is an issue that junior Jia Billadeau...

Junior Lilly Blanton poses for a picture wearing her mask.

Lilly Blanton

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer March 4, 2021

For some deaf, Deaf, or hard of hearing students, masks have become a hindrance on communication. For others, masks are little but an annoyance, a way to slow the spread of disease. Junior Lilly Blanton...

Freshman Lukas Coble poses for a picture wearing his mask.

Lukas Coble

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer March 4, 2021

Freshman Lukas Coble was born deaf. Coble relies on lipreading or the use of a phone or paper in order to communicate with hearing people. Despite the challenge of communicating while in masks, deaf and...

Freshman Harrison Beck poses for a picture wearing his mask.

Harrison Beck

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer March 4, 2021

Hearing disabilities are not always clearly cut in their impact on each individual. For freshman Harrison Beck, his hearing disability continued to develop over time. Despite Beck being born hard-of-hearing,...

Junior Jordan Ingrham poses for a picture wearing her mask.

Jordan Ingrham

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer March 4, 2021

Junior Jordan Ingrham was born with the rare condition Goldenhar syndrome, impacting her ability to breathe due to a deformed skull and her ability to communicate. Ingrham has endured more than  20 surgeries...