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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

French teacher Blair Hopkins enters City Coffee & Creperie in Clayton, Mo. for breakfast with her Honors French 4 students and AP French 5 students. Both classes went on a field trip to a fair trade chocolate factory in St. Louis to begin their unit on Côte D’Ivoire, a major producer of cocoa beans. “My ideal school would just be the Magic School Bus — you would always learn about things by going someplace and learning hands-on, being able to see it yourself and asking people questions. I think [learning is] always so much more memorable if you can experience it firsthand,” Hopkins said.

French en route

Sage Kelly, Features/News Editor May 21, 2026

Throughout the month of April, students enrolled in French 1, French 3, Honors French 4 and AP French 5 all went on separate field trips to enhance their learning and develop their cultural awareness....

Sophie McCarthy

Sophie McCarthy

Raaga Golla, Humans Of West Editor November 21, 2025

"I’m a senior now and was elected as president of the French Club this year. I've been on the board for two years now, but I’ve been in the club since my freshman year. I took French all throughout...

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 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...

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...