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
Senior Griffin Beno waits in the counseling hub. Students were allowed to visit counselors without an appointment on Aug. 15 and 16 to adjust their schedules, resulting in long wait times. “There [were] not as many [people at open hours last year], but I think that was because we didn't get the word out as well,” counselor Jen Wibbenmeyer said.

Plan period alignment: Productive or disruptive?

Will Gonsior, Opinions/A&E Editor • September 20, 2024

Background Students traversing the hallways of West High — with a hall pass, of course — are liable to see a new sight this school year. One of our school’s many subject wings will be packed with...

For the past three years, Parkway has administered high school finals after winter break, a practice that proves to be detrimental to the success as well as the mental health of students. With finals after break appearing to do more harm than good, the question of what changes can be made arises time and time again. “The pressure for finals is difficult, and to have that [pressure for] a few weeks because you're on [a] break can make you generally sad. It's a bummer in general. I wish [finals] were before break, so we [could] have a break to sleep, celebrate and not study. Everyone I've talked to about it is like 'yeah, finals sucks,' and I wish that wasn't a thing,” junior Meadow Kostial said.

Post-break panic

Zoya Hasan, Keira Lang, and Pathfinder Editorial Board • January 5, 2024

The problem Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, a new schedule — pushing back the academic year and shifting finals to after winter break — was adopted district-wide. From students to teachers,...

Tom Herpel uses his plan time to prepare for future Latin classes in which students learn grammar, literature, and culture. Herpel wanted to avoid jumping to conclusions about the upcoming changes to reduce teacher plan time. “I will not know the type of time crunch I will be under until I've experienced it. I might be able to get work done while I'm doing this other responsibility. I hesitate to make assumptions without having experienced it myself,” Herpel said.

Teachers speak out as Parkway School District implements a 190-minute reduction to teacher plan time

Ruthvi Tadakamalla, Editor-In-Chief • June 2, 2023

Think of everything a teacher needs to do to prepare for class. A student might come into class and start their work immediately, but a teacher needs to spend hours planning and preparing to ensure learning...

Vivian’s Pledge was created in 2002 after a series of events that occurred throughout the 2001, 2002 and 2003 school years. After over 20 years, many teachers still have a poster of the pledge in their room, but almost no students know what it is.

Vivian’s Pledge: the hidden message no one sees

Ashlyn Gillespie, Deputy Managing Editor-in-Chief • May 1, 2023

 

Unofficial Instagrams have swept through the school to entertain the student body.

The unofficial Instagrams of West

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • January 11, 2022

Student-run Instagram accounts have been on the rise and our school has been no stranger to them. With accounts dedicated to sleeping students, teacher quotes and even promoting local canned food drives,...

Before the battle: Jeff Chazen and Annie Wayland’s canned food drive pregame interviews

Raj Jaladi and Drew Boone • November 30, 2021

A photo illustration showing a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Round two: COVID-19 booster vaccines

Mira Nalbandian, Managing Editor-in-Chief • November 17, 2021

As the world goes through phase after phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, through stay-at-home orders, vaccine distribution and mask mandates, we prepare to enter a new stage. The Centers for Disease Control...

Politics Club meets over Zoom, Feb. 1. The club met to discuss President Joe Biden’s first week in office and debate the effectiveness of his recent executive orders in order to expand their political awareness. “Of course it's important to avoid being in an echo chamber and to learn from different ideas, but where do you draw the line at what exactly an opinion is, and when do you decide that some opinions simply are not valid?” Liu said.

Politics Club aims to spread political awareness

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer • February 17, 2021

Tensions rose across the country in the wake of another election year as protests erupted calling for change, rioters attacked the Capitol building and then President Donald Trump questioned election results....

On her desk at home, junior Emma Bateman completes her math homework. This is also how and where Bateman plans to take exams for AP Physics I and AP Government. “Honestly, I’m not happy about the testing [being] online because I focus better in a classroom or testing environment than my room,” Bateman said. “Also, I don’t like that it's going to be all FRQ based this year.”

“They’re not canceled?”: AP testing from home

Fatema Rehmani, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • April 15, 2020

Though the world is at a standstill, the long-awaited Advanced Placement (AP) exams are still on schedule for May 11-22. The tests will now be administered online so that they can be taken from home. Each...

Jamming out to “Don’t Stop” by DJ D-Sol, teachers Jeff Chazen, Jessica Wheeler and Katelyn Arenos get ready to ramp up the endorphins. When teacher Emily Lovercheck is not able to make it to the spin sessions, Arenos takes over leading the class with her playlist. “Music, especially with spinning, dictates how fast we go, if we add resistance [and] if we get a break. When the song speeds up, we speed up. When the song slows down, we slow down,” Arenos said. “I’m just really thankful that the school provides us with this opportunity to have a nice workout center. We are just thankful to have this space.”

Spinning at school: Teachers jam out to hits as they get a workout in

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • February 19, 2020

If you happen by the fitness center after school, you might hear a subdued pulsing of Major Lazer’s “Know No Better.” No, someone didn’t forget to turn off Z107.7. Teachers Emily Lovercheck,...

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