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
Lining up in the staging area before his start time, junior Landon Aberle mentally prepares himself for the start of the Binder Lake Bash race on Aug. 7. In the minutes before his race, a pair of riders were involved in a car accident. Aberle wanted to show his support and emphasize the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) value of community. “The race was going well for me and my friend physically, but it hurt knowing that other people weren't there. That's all we cared about, and when we knew one of them was okay, we decided to keep going and finish the race for them,” Aberle said.

Trails of confidence

Aminah Hilaly and Max Chung • October 3, 2025

At Parkway West, students can participate in numerous clubs and sports. However, a few of these extracurriculars aren’t school-sponsored, including the lesser-known mountain biking club.  Mountain...

Twisting yarn, senior Carlee Priem enjoys her favorite hobby outside. Founding Yarniacs in her sophomore year has helped her to share her hobby with a larger community. “Yarniacs is one of my proudest achievements just because I think it’s a really good way for someone to get into crochet who may not know a lot about it,” Priem said.

Not just a knitwit

Lauren Holcomb, Staff Writer • November 3, 2023

Needles flying and conversation flowing, members of Yarniacs congregate in special education teacher Alexandra Fehlig’s classroom biweekly to share an hour of knitting, crocheting and macramé together....

This weekend, we followed junior Thalea Afentoullis at the St. Louis Greek Fest.

Ancient Culture in a Modern World: The Sights and Sounds of the STL Greek Fest

Samir Shaik and Cindy Phung • May 30, 2023

SOPHOMORE SAMIR SHAIK: Many people forget that Saint Louis is a cultural melting pot. Each year, countless cultural festivities are held that celebrate people from all walks of life.  SOPHOMORE...

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, Staff 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 and the busy city people. “People are very active...

Junior Leah Leifer sits in her house with Hunter, the first service dog she trained. Leifer is passionate about the respect service dogs deserve. “Don't pet a dog you just see in a store. If it's marked as a service dog, don't ask to pet it,” Leifer said.

Coaching canines: Junior Leah Leifer trains service dogs

Anna Claywell, Staff Writer • December 12, 2022

A lively wag of a tail, a slobbery smile and a cuddly greeting as an owner, opens the door: all things typical of our fluffy friends that could make anyone smile. However, for junior Leah Leifer, dogs...

Former junior Cory Driver decided to drop out this summer, feeling disheartened with the school system. He now has more time to pursue other interests, such as going to trade school, building his “yaasified crust punk” band and working more hours at Qdoba. “I'd been talking to my principal and my counselor since the middle of summer. I'd keep trying to have conversations saying, ‘Hey, I want to drop out and get my GED.’ Every single time I'd try to have [that] conversation, they did whatever they could to make sure that I didn't drop out [because] if I drop out, it makes the school look bad,” Driver said.

Dropping out

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief • December 6, 2022
Former junior Cory Driver went into the school year with a LOL Surprise Doll Backpack and a determination to drop out. After months of back-and-forth with his principal and counselor, Driver emailed his administrators and teachers a minion meme reading, “I’m dropping out and getting my GED.” 
Junior Suraiya Saroar enjoys both American and Bangladeshi traditions on Thanksgiving. For dessert, she has pumpkin pie and mishti, a broad category of sweets from south Asia.

You ain’t seen stuffing yet

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief • November 28, 2022
Thanksgiving is when families and friends gather to show their gratitude for each other. However, every family celebrates in unique ways, often beyond the stereotypical turkey and stuffing. Read on to learn about some of our student’s untraditional traditions.
Junior Kristen Skordos sings for her band Okay Violet’s third performance at Ballwin Sno-Cone. Skordos believed being in a band helped her develop as a person and deal with non-music related problems. “Later in life, if I’m ever facing a challenge, it will be different than learning a song, but I’ll put myself in those shoes. In the moment, things can be so stressful, but once you’ve done it, you’ll [see how] amazing it is,” Skordos said.

Journey to Okay Violet: Junior Kristen Skordos sings for the new St. Louis band

Anna Claywell, Staff Writer • September 23, 2022

A late-night summer breeze blows as junior Kristen Skordos and four others sit on a curb with Ted Drewes in hand. The ice cream freezes their palms as they chatter about the event from earlier that night:...

Principal John McCabe works at his desk after the Aug. 24 pep rally during Ac Lab. McCabe did his first substituting job as a sophomore in high school and has been an educator ever since. “I strongly believe in public education because it's a calling to serve others. That quality of serving and supporting other people is one of the things that I love the most about working in schools,” McCabe said.

Who is Principal John McCabe?

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief • September 13, 2022

Latin teacher Tom Herpel prepares to cut a piece of wood with his table saw. He has enjoyed woodworking for several years now because of the creativity it requires. “With woodworking, I like that you can think of anything and make it a reality, especially if you have the right tools,” Herpel said.

From classics to carpentry

Tiffany Ung, Staff Writer • April 22, 2022

Getting a driver’s license is one of the most exciting moments for a teen. The possibilities are endless with the keys to freedom and the family car. However, one of the most important indicators of...

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