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

Junior Krish Bhagat smiles at the camera as he carefully holds a black crow in his gloved hands. He had earlier saved the bird and taken it to Wild BIrd Rehabilitation.
Wings of hope
Annie Deckelbaum, CJ1 Writer • 6 days ago

Entrepreneur junior Krish Bhagat created speakUP! to help non-profit organizations promote their brands. In elementary school, junior Krish...

Junior Nicholas Herman stands in front of a white wall with a colorful mural of a world map painted on it. Herman stands in front of the Eastern Hemisphere.
A Tale of Three Cities
Sakenah Lajkem, CJ1 Writer • May 17, 2023

From birth until 11 years old, junior Nicholas Herman was used to New York City. He was accustomed to the skyscraper buildings, the English language...

A graphic of the 2022-23 Pathfinder senior staff.
Seniors signing off
Addie Gleason , Ashlyn Gillespie , Elle Rotter, Madi Michajliczenko, and Makinsey Drake May 12, 2023

Addie Gleason I’ve been a shy person for just about as long as I can remember. While I always completed coursework on time, my teachers...

Senior Ava Kayser cooks a meal with her nanny Angela Cupajita. Kaysers parents wanted her to learn a different language growing up and hired Cupajita to teach her.
A nanny's love, a students legacy
Ava McLeod, Staff Writer • April 5, 2023

With three kids under seven, doctors Jason Kayser and Sarah Garwood decided to enlist some help on the homefront. After talking to friends about...

Sophomore Sadie Burgess poses with her grandmothers novel Spirited Sisters. Burgess grandmother grew up in India and has written 20 novels with her experience.
Discovering diversity
Ava Griswold, Staff Writer • March 31, 2023

After spending time with her grandparents twice a year, sophomore Sadie Burgess felt a connection far beyond Ballwin, Mo. Burgess’...

Science teacher Amy Van Matre-Woodward stands in her classroom and smiles at the camera.
From molecules to maritozzi
Allison Rueschhoff, CJ1 Writer • 3 days ago

With the fresh aroma of sesame seed bagels wafting through the kitchen air, science teacher Amy Van Matre-Woodward wakes up early Saturday morning...

With the sun setting in the background, English ASC Kristen Witt and her husband, Aaron Witt, wear matching team shirts for the Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival. In 2021, they ran out of time for matching team shirts and instead wore ‘West is Best’ shirts, while in 2022, they made custom couple shirts. “This year, [Aaron] decided to have them made. On the front, it said ‘Team Witt,’ and on the back, it had ‘24,’ for how many years we have been married, and it [reads], ‘24 years of playing in the sand together,’” Kristen said.
Sand-sational castles
Cindy Phung, Staff Writer • March 2, 2023

Strolling along the beautiful, white sand shores of the top beach in America, Siesta Key, Fla., revisiting their honeymoon destination from 24...

Math and computer science teacher Jason Townsend explains how to graph algebraic equations in front of the class. Townsend teaches algebra, calculus, and computer science. I love teaching calculus [because] calculus [is] more challenging [and] more interesting to me. Granted, if youre a good teacher, you find ways to make [all math] interesting for your students and you challenge yourself to do it differently all the time,” Townsend said.
Traveling, teaching, theater — oh, my!
Grace Loethen, Staff Writer • March 1, 2023

  Hidden in a nook on the first floor, math and computer science teacher Jason Townsend enthusiastically teaches his last year of classes...

Eyes and ruler fixed towards the screen, social studies teacher Aaron Bashirian points to his Smartboard and explains the history behind his barn. Having learned the ropes of carpentry, Bashirian made structural changes to the barn by himself over the past three years. “It’s not your normal barn, but it’s cool, though. It’s got quite a bit of history to it,” Bashirian said. “It used to be a carriage house; you can see where they used to keep the horse. There’s still a grain [and] hay shoot [too]. They parked Model T-style cars [that created] all these oil slicks on the floor where they leaked. You can see that there’s a lot of history in there. I love it, [it’s a] perfect building for a history guy. ”
From shack to studio
Kristen Skordos, Staff Writer • January 17, 2023

Too much time spent without music often kills the desire to play, but social studies teacher Aaron Bashirian did not lose interest. Instead,...

Athletic and Activities Secretary Gina Groceman stands in front of her magnet-covered fridge. Groceman has collected magnets from Canada, Mexico, Luxemburg, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, England and Japan. “I bet I have at least 100,” Groceman said.
Magnet Memories
Claire Creely, Staff Writer • November 14, 2022

Living anywhere from Japan to Germany, new Athletic and Activities Secretary Gina Groceman is well-traveled. Throughout Groceman and her husband’s...

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