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
With the click of a button, senior Abbi VanValkenburgh snaps a shot of her twin sister, senior Alli VanValkenburgh. Abbi found her passion for photography during her freshman year, allowing her to expand her class knowledge into her current photography business. “Photography has taught me how to be patient with myself. I learned that sometimes I'll fail, and that's okay. I know that not every image will be perfect, but the ones that [are] keep me going,” Abbi said.

Capturing moments

Lia Emry, Staff Writer • April 26, 2024

The world of photography first caught senior Abbi VanValkenburgh’s eye when she had a camera placed in her hand in fifth grade. Now, she is captaining her self-run photography business at just 18 years...

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 often commented that I rarely participated in class. This followed...

In Convergence Journalism, junior Claire Creely works on a story for the Pathfinder. The student-run journalism staff seeks to cover stories that matter to our readers.

More to the story

Serena Liu and Katie Wallace • February 27, 2023

In 1983, students in a Journalism II class at Hazelwood East High School wrote stories about teen pregnancy and divorce for their school newspaper, The Spectrum. But when their principal reviewed the issue,...

Popping balloons as fast as she can, junior Sakenah Lajkem participates in a group bonding activity in her Convergence Journalism 1 class. Students were divided into groups where one student wore a onesie, and the balance of the group had five minutes to fill the suits with balloons. “Mrs. Klevens said there are a lot of different ways to do things,” Lajkem said. “I realized different groups have different strategies, which was surprising. [Freshman] Kennedy [Hodge] suggested that one person blow up the balloons and the other ties and the other stuffed the suit. [This activity taught me how to] problem solve and that there are many different ways to do things,” Lajkem said.

Photo of the Week – Jan 20

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • January 20, 2023

Journalism Adviser Debra Klevens sits at her desk and reviews feedback from the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention. Klevens looked for ways to share the feedback so her students could continue to grow journalistically. “Learning from industry experts isn’t something every student has the opportunity to see. My job is to make [resources] available for everyone and to deliver to the different levels of students in a way they can understand at the time,” Klevens said.

The face behind the student publications program

Lia Emry, Staff Writer • January 6, 2023

“Do what you love; love what you do.” This Kobi Yamada quote hangs in Journalism Adviser Debra Klevens’ classroom. Over her 23 years at West, Klevens has taught over 1,500 students enrolled in the...

Art teacher Katy Mangrich and journalism adviser Debra Klevens analyze the “Survivor” competitors together. Mangrich won the competition a couple times in the past by picking the correct contestant that she believed would win. “[Winning] was exciting. I’ve picked a couple people for Klevens when she was not available for pick day, and she’s won on my picks too. I’d say I’m pretty good at making picks, whether it’s luck or whether I have good intuition,” Mangrich said.

Forming work tribes through “Survivor”

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief • December 9, 2022

English, art and special education staff await anxiously every Wednesday night, eyes glowing from the TV screen light, ears listening as names are read. This night’s elimination announcement would determine...

The stories of student cadet teachers assisting in classrooms.

Cadet teachers reporting for duty

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • May 27, 2021

Able to complete administrative tasks like collecting materials, grading papers and passing out books, student cadet teachers gain experience teaching first-hand without the responsibility of teaching....

With iftar time arriving, junior Fatema Rehmani and her family gather to break their fast with dates and water, a tradition rooted in the religious teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

Religious observances during quarantine

Tasneem Nasufovic, Ulaa Kuziez, and Ridwan Oyebamiji • May 21, 2020

With holidays arriving during a pandemic –and social distancing measures remaining in effect across the globe to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus–students describe how their practices changed...

At the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville observation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon, junior Bri Davis receives the Poetry Award from Chancellor Dr. Randy Pembrook Jan. 22. In addition to her recognition, Davis also won $100 for her poem. "I don't know how to feel, I am just so beyond excited," Davis said.

Junior Bri Davis places first in the SIUE Poetry Contest

Ridwan Oyebamiji, Features Section Editor • January 22, 2020

After being recommended to participate in the SIUE Poetry Contest, junior Bri Davis came out on top to take the first place prize. Davis first heard about the competition through journalism advisor...

Editor In Chief Sabrina Bohn shows the group of editors an idea for the week on her laptop at an editorial board meeting on Friday mornings. Bohn then edits the agenda for the week according to what the group needs to get done that weekend or the next week, by managing and overseeing the workload. "I work in class everyday–I’m a cadet teacher for Klevens, and I take CJ4–and the editorial board meets every Friday morning. I also work at home when I need to. Newspaper is a big time commitment, but since I really enjoy it, it doesn’t feel hard or even like other school work at all," Bohn said.

Behind the Scenes of ‘The Pathfinder’

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • December 9, 2019

At a table in the middle of the journalism room, 10 newspaper editors sit with their Starbucks and homemade chocolate chip cookies to discuss stories at 7 a.m. every Friday morning. They develop a posting...

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