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
Standing in Lambert Airport, French students smile for a photo before their flight. On March 10, the group of students began their 12-day trip to France, accompanied by French teacher Blair Hopkins and Spanish teacher Dominique Navarro. “The trip went smoothly. I think everybody enjoyed all three parts of it: Paris, Nice and the family home stay. The feedback I’ve gotten from all [of] the students has been positive, including several people already trying to plan a trip back to France,” Hopkins said.

A très bon voyage

Sage Kelly, Features/News Editor • April 17, 2025

From Paris to Nice and from Notre Dame to the Palace of Versailles, this group of 10 French students and two chaperones has seen it all. Beginning their voyage to France on March 10, they spent 12 days...

Sophomore Maddy Tarter and her family greet sophomore Charles Leleu at the airport in front of a welcome to St. Louis sign that features the Gateway Arch. Tarter and her sister hold a sign with French and American flags that reads: "Welcome to the USA Charles."

Coming to America (venant en Amérique)

Tyler Smith, CJ1 Writer • June 1, 2023

Ever since sophomore Charles Leleu was born, all he has known has been his home in France. Now, he has to adjust to a whole new world in America.  Leleu began searching for a host family last year....

French Teacher Nabila Harig was a champion of the Tunisian Tennis team in France before she came to the United States on an educational visa. Courtesy of Nabila Harig

Harig’s history: what you don’t know about french teacher Madame Harig

Thomas Bruns, Opinions/A&E editor • January 19, 2022

French teacher Nabila Harig’s Tunisian background is hard to miss as a French student. She often incorporates details about her experience growing up in a francophone country into lesson plans and uses...

French and Spanish teacher Blair Hopkins evaluates Spanish 1 students' speaking abilities during a speaking test. Tests in the third quarter are taken outside the classroom for 3 minutes to evaluate the curriculum learned in that unit. “Since we’re in-person, each student has to scan the QR code to be outside the classroom,” Hopkins said.

Saying hola to new teaching strategies

Lydia Kirkou, Staff Writer • April 13, 2021

“I can’t hear you.”  “Please turn on your screen.”  “My screen can’t be on while you are presenting or my computer knocks me out of Zoom.”  “There is such a lag with what...

In a Boomalang session, junior Quinn Berry practices her Spanish skills. Berry, a Spanish three student, opted to participate in Boomalang. "Boomalang forces me to only speak Spanish with a Native speaker so it helps me in my speaking and listening tests which helps me overall in Spanish,” Berry said. “It gives me a chance to interact with other cultures while building my comprehension skills."

Saying Bonjour, Hola and Guten Tag: Modern and Classical Language Department offers crosscultural language opportunities

Kathryn McAuliffe, Managing Editor-in-Chief • April 10, 2019

Sitting in front of her computer screen French five student and senior Sophie Pellegrino has just finished a 30-minute conversation, in French, with a native speaker from Paris, France. “It’s really...

Hopkins poses by the Christmas market in Strasbourg, France. "From living in France, I learned to take advantage of each chapter of my life as much as possible, because it won't last forever," Hopkins said. "In each place you live, you'll have friends and opportunities that are unique to that time and place. I can't easily visit a museum of medieval art or take a train to Switzerland anymore, so I'm glad I did it when I had the chance."

Getting to know French teacher Blair Hopkins

Gabby Leon, STAFF WRITER • January 8, 2018

Pathfinder: What is your job? Hopkins: “I am a part-time French teacher. I do French I and French II, so I am here in the morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.” What got you interested in teaching French? “I...

Sophomore Ryan Mound and junior Peter Martin converse in French and write their conversation on the board.

French students plan for trip abroad

Lily Bucher, Convergent Media Writer • October 27, 2016

During a 15 day summer excursion, students will face total immersion into the French culture. Participants will tour Paris for five days and then attend a sister school, L’institution Sainte Jeanne...