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
Freshman Yunhao Zhao, senior Mdalala Abdeljabbar, sophomore Alysse Custard and freshman Ayaan Sajid share their name stories. Names, no matter how short or long, are essential to a person’s being; each name holds significance in culture, family and identity. To disregard a name is to disregard a human being.

What makes a name?

Addie Gleason and Elle Rotter • March 14, 2023

Mdalala Abdeljabbar  Ayaan Sajid  Yunhao Zhao  Alysse Custard Siddharth Sistla Did you actually read those names? Did you take the time to try to pronounce them correctly? Or did you just skim...

Senior Khushi Chauhan and Sophomore Samir Shaik help each other pour a cup of chai. At Indian Club’s first meeting, they dived into the history of chai and how it became a part of Indian culture. “The meeting was chaotic, but we were prepared. We had a presentation, and in the end, everything came together. In America, where everything is so westernized, it’s important to connect back to your culture. I love planning these meetings for people to learn and enjoy,” said Chauhan.

Indian Club in Motion

Nidhi Pejathaya, Staff Writer • January 5, 2023

Pulling up a slideshow and setting down a tray of samosas, junior and Indian Club founder Puneeta Ganga prepares to present their lesson on chai as people slowly pour into the room.  They spent their...

With banners up in the air, a diverse group of students, teachers, parents and alumni rally to end racism. On June 14, 2020, more than 1,000 people marched from West High campus onto the streets of Clayton Road and Baxter Road before an 8 minute, 46 second moment of silence at West Middle School in memory of George Floyd. “I'm proud of our students and the Parkway community, for their maturity, ability to speak up when they see something wrong and challenging us to do more and do better,” Dr. Charlotte Ijei, the district's Director of Pupil Personnel and Diversity said.

Equity Task Force discusses the next steps for diversity and inclusion

Raj Jaladi, Newsletter Editor/Data Analyst • May 4, 2022

Two summers ago, an announcement from Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty concerning racism and hate speech in social media posts announced the formation of the Equity Task Force. The task force's purpose was...

This photo illustration represents tokenism, when Black and Indigeninous People of Color (BIPOC) and other minorities are used as a token of diversity because of their race or ethnicity.

The word “people” comes first in the term “people of color”

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • December 16, 2020

As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to have a profound effect on the way we think about representation, we have taken it upon ourselves to “increase diversity.”  We read the word “diversity”...

The WPO fundraiser Google Form included descriptions such as “celebrate Christmas in an elegant way” and “expressing your spirit of Christmas.”

WPO fundraiser sparks questions about inclusivity

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • November 17, 2020

The West Parent Organization (WPO) sent an email Nov. 2 to students and parents announcing their new holiday wreath fundraiser running through Nov. 15. This email included a digital order form of products...

Parkway offers faculty the opportunity for global competency

Nayeon Ryu, Video Editor • April 9, 2019

To combat ignorance and cultural indifference in our district walls, Parkway Career & Technical Education, Choice Programs and Global Studies & World Languages Coordinator Amy Belding and Talent...

An assortment of books cradled in her arms, junior Meela Abby arranges belongings in her locker. Abby was enrolled in Parkway from kindergarten, hoping to study psychology upon graduating high school. “My sister went to school here and she told me that as soon as I come here, I need to start working. With my schedule you can’t procrastinate or things go bad,” Abby said. “If you want your education, you have to work hard. It doesn’t come easy.”

“I have to sacrifice”: junior Meela Abby’s daily struggle for education

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief • December 17, 2018

“Would you say you face discrimination at this school?” Junior Meela Abby wastes no time to answer, punctuating her response before I can even finish asking the question. “Yes, for sure.” The...

Standing alone, junior Aaliyah Weston completes a dance routine while her poms teammates drop to the floor. The team performed with the entire school watching at the Homecoming pep assembly Sept. 28. “Once I got all that applause it was like, ‘Oh, I do matter and I’m a black girl making a change at Parkway West,’” Weston said.

Behind the glitz and glamor: junior Aaliyah Weston’s fight against black stereotypes

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief • December 7, 2018

“Being a token black kid, not being allowed to be angry ever because people just know me as–” Junior Aaliyah Weston pauses, searching for the right words before redirecting her line of thought. “You...

A Parkway school bus waits outside the building's front entrance.

Zip code and skin color: the power in the stories that nobody tells

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief • December 7, 2018

Sixty years ago, 10 before Parkway West opened its doors, Arkansas governor Orval Faubus infamously shut down the entirety of Little Rock’s public high school system following pressure from the federal...

Bill Byrd (center left) stands with current principal Jeremy Mitchell, and former principals Dave McMillan and Beth Plunkett at West’s 50th anniversary football game and celebration. Byrd had continued to stay connected to the West community even after leaving his post as principal in 1987 through his three children’s enrollment and attendance to football and basketball games. “We currently have a granddaughter [sophomore Susie Seidel] at West and enjoy attending her activities and listening to her West stories. I feel very honored and fortunate to have been a part of West High for the past 50 years,” Byrd said.

Former Principal Bill Byrd reflects on West’s 50th anniversary

Gabe Davis, STAFF WRITER • March 15, 2018

Pathfinder: How did you become a principal at Parkway West? Byrd: I was teaching social studies at Hickman High School, Columbia, Mo. In 1969, when I interviewed for an assistant principal's position...

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