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
Students line up to put their phones in the hanging phone organizer before art class starts to ensure no distractions. This routine is often used in classes to encourage discipline. “Most of my classes make me put my phone up right before class starts, and some of my teachers even take attendance by looking at whose phone is in which box. I think it is kind of useless, but my teachers think otherwise,” sophomore Natalie Cochran said.

More harm than help

Niharika Vaidya, Staff Writer • January 21, 2025

In the modern day, phones are useful for many things –– communication, navigation, educational aids, and unfortunately, distraction. Debate over phone policies being enforced in school has been ongoing....

Sophomore Sravya Guda stands outside in a saree, lighting a firecracker at nighttime.

Festival of lights: Celebrating diversity within Diwali

Keira Lang and Zoya Hasan • December 4, 2023

Once a year, the dark sky fills with the sound of laughter and the popping of firecrackers as family and friends come together to shine up the night with sparkling lights and indulge in a feast. The tradition,...

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to memorize the Quran — the holy book of Islam. It has 604 pages and 114 chapters. Memorizing the holy book has a strong significance in my religion and it is very rewarding. I recite it to this day to make sure I don’t forget it. I’m the co-founder and vice president of the Muslim Student Association [at our school]. It is a club formed to create a community for Muslim students here at West. I [moved] to West from an Islamic private school and homeschooling program, so I naturally yearned for that consolidated Muslim community at West when I joined in-person [school]. I got to know many Muslims at the school, but they were scattered. In Islam, forming an ummah (a muslim community) is very significant. However, when I first came to West, I saw that there was a population of Muslim [students], but they didn’t form one solid group. So, along with one of the new senior Muslim friends that I made, we took it upon ourselves to create a club forming a solid Muslim community, and it has been great. We’ve done volunteer opportunities, projects and even Islamic board games. It really has been such a fun experience that I want to keep up next year.” – Zahraa Sajid, 12

Zahraa Sajid

Sakenah Lajkem, Staff Writer • August 25, 2023

Tom Herpel uses his plan time to prepare for future Latin classes in which students learn grammar, literature, and culture. Herpel wanted to avoid jumping to conclusions about the upcoming changes to reduce teacher plan time. “I will not know the type of time crunch I will be under until I've experienced it. I might be able to get work done while I'm doing this other responsibility. I hesitate to make assumptions without having experienced it myself,” Herpel said.

Teachers speak out as Parkway School District implements a 190-minute reduction to teacher plan time

Ruthvi Tadakamalla, Editor-In-Chief • June 2, 2023

Think of everything a teacher needs to do to prepare for class. A student might come into class and start their work immediately, but a teacher needs to spend hours planning and preparing to ensure learning...

In an intense game between Argentina and France, the entire world tuned in to watch the FIFA World Cup. But behind this tantalizing game remained questionable decisions FIFA got away with. “I love soccer so much, but I hate that it has to become a political thing,” varsity soccer player and junior Ava Relihan said. “Coming from the United States, where we do have so many rights, I don’t like [that] we’re hosting a global [event] in a place where so many rights are restricted.”

A red card for FIFA

Audrey Ghosh, Anna Claywell, and Serena Liu • December 22, 2022

Blinding lights flood packed stadiums, illuminating the world’s greatest soccer players. But, as billions of eyes were watching the long-awaited FIFA World Cup, Qatar’s human rights violations —...

Junior Caitlyn Allendorph carries the shield of her mentor during the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) Laurel Award Ceremony. The award is presented to those who have excelled in the arts and sciences category. “This was a huge honor to do this, [my mentor] helped me get my bearings at the SCA. It makes me so happy that I was able to be in this,” Allendorph said.

Experiencing the ages

Lily West, Staff Writer • October 13, 2022

As the horn sounds for the second time to alert everyone of the upcoming voyage, junior Caitlyn Allendorph boards the Fydraca, a 32-foot-long Viking ship, along with her seven other crew members. While...

Whether you are at a loss for what to do during the ‘stay-at-home’ act, or you feel stressed about the Covid-19 situation, helping out your community is a perfect way to keep occupied and reduce any stress or anxiety you may feel.

Quaran-time to give back to the community!

Leah Schroeder, Managing Editor-in-Chief • April 3, 2020

In efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, St. Louis has issued a stay-at-home order, effective until April 22. While this order will greatly reduce the impact the virus will have on St. Louis citizens,...

Highlighting the importance of access to feminine hygiene products for all, sophomores Anna Newberry, Mira Nalbandian, Santi Lugo and Mason Paul model their future club plans. Newberry believes inaccessibility of products can lead to health issues, embarrassment and even a lack of belonging. “I want to stock bathrooms with feminine hygiene products to help reduce stigma and embarrassment that can come with having a period,” Newberry said. “I know [I] haven’t come to school before because I was embarrassed and wanted to go home, or I was in pain or didn’t have what I needed to have. I feel like everyone has a right to be here, and I feel like no one should feel like they can’t come to school.”

Fighting stigmas and the Pink Tax by ‘Going with the Flow’

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • September 27, 2019

Period. Any mention of this word will probably result in a flurry of teenage boys scurrying to distance themselves from the speaker as fast as humanly possible.  However, sophomores Anna Newberry and...

Cheering on her buddy, senior Julia DeFrank watches as her athlete shoots the basket. "She enjoyed the day, and that was awesome because they said last year she was nervous to even go into the gym," DeFrank said.

Special Olympics day to become school-wide day of service

Claire Smout, AWARDS COORDINATOR • October 6, 2017

Last school year, over 500 students volunteered in Special Olympics. Although more students applied, the administration had to cap the number of participants because of space issues. This year, as a solution,...

It only takes one to topple history

Nell Jaskowiak, OPINIONS AND ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR • March 3, 2017

Foolish violence, prejudice and fear mongering has brought St. Louis to national news infamy once again. Unknown suspects desecrated the historic Jewish Chesed Shel Emeth cemetery sometime between Feb....

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