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
Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, Parkway discontinued study halls throughout the district. Concerned over the consequences it may have on their academic success, several students and teachers have spoken out against the elimination of a necessary tool. “Kids aren't abusing study halls to sit there on their phones or something. They might need [more support]. Just because you're not taking this amount of AP classes doesn't mean you're not being challenged, and just because you're not having ‘X’ amount of hours every night doesn't mean you have enough time to get homework done,” chemistry teacher Chloe Gallaher said.

Study Hall: Setting up students for success or stress?

Pathfinder Editorial Board • September 29, 2023

Kicking off the 2023-24 school year, students were forced to say goodbye to study hall as the district removed it as an option for students. The decision wasn’t well received by students, parents, teachers...

Juniors Wilson Gao and Alan Song and freshmen William Mayer and Prateek Nemmali play a timed match at chess practice during Academic Lab (Ac Lab). Gao appreciated Ac Lab practices as they provided a break from the rest of the school day. “It's just talking with people and playing well, just playing chess. People don't always know how to play chess, it can be a super foreign game. The interactions we have with people and how we can just play chess is fun,” Gao said.

Club meeting limits, responsive scheduling, other Academic Lab updates

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • February 10, 2022

After countless double scheduled club meetings and a lack of student attendance accountability during the first semester, Ac Lab schedule will now take place through Infinite Campus. Club meetings will...

Student schedules constantly change to accommodate the many inconsistencies of Ac Lab.

The Student Body and Its Discontents: Overly structured Academic Lab results in student frustrations

Pathfinder Editorial Board • November 30, 2021

Some students sit in their Academic Lab classes staring at their phones, while others hop from class to class, trying to check off things from their to-do lists. Parkway’s Academic Lab, often shortened...