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
Art teacher Katy Mangrich sits in her classroom, smiling for a picture. During her time in high school, Mangrich learned several lessons that she now passes on to her son. “The biggest life lesson that I learned is honesty. I wouldn't say I was the best teenager, but I learned very quickly in high school to always be forthcoming and honest with my parents because it always ended up serving me better in the long run. [My parents] might have been upset with me [and the mistake I made], but I wasn't going down the rabbit hole of a lie because that was just going to get me into more trouble,” Mangrich said. “I passed [that lesson] along to my nephew. Honesty is always your best approach; just don’t lie. I say that to my son all the time. There's no advantage to lying, [and] that's a huge takeaway [from] how my parents raised me.”

Flashback Friday: Art teacher Katy Mangrich

Sakenah Lajkem, Staff Writer • January 26, 2024

Art teacher Katy Mangrich sits in her classroom, smiling for a picture. During her time in high school, Mangrich learned several lessons that she now passes on to her son. “The biggest life lesson that...

Teachers recount where exactly they were during the 9/11 attacks, 22 years later.

Where were you during 9/11?

Sakenah Lajkem, Staff Writer • September 11, 2023

On Sept. 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked and sent to crash into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the White House. While the White House was spared from the attack, the other two targets were hit,...

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...

Art teacher Katy Mangrich and journalism adviser Debra Klevens analyze the “Survivor” competitors together. Mangrich won the competition a couple times in the past by picking the correct contestant that she believed would win. “[Winning] was exciting. I’ve picked a couple people for Klevens when she was not available for pick day, and she’s won on my picks too. I’d say I’m pretty good at making picks, whether it’s luck or whether I have good intuition,” Mangrich said.

Forming work tribes through “Survivor”

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief • December 9, 2022

English, art and special education staff await anxiously every Wednesday night, eyes glowing from the TV screen light, ears listening as names are read. This night’s elimination announcement would determine...

Construction tools stand throughout the partially-finished entrance to the Fine Arts wing. The entrance will be a glass display case featuring students’ artwork. “[I’m excited about] everything being so fresh and new. For art teachers, I would say our department is very clean. [The new department] is going to be ready to organize and allow for procedures to be a lot more accessible [and] manageable,” Art Department Leader Katy Mangrich said.

The final draw: Administrators decide to update the art department

Emily Early and Claire Creely • September 19, 2022

A shiny silver sign reading “Fine Arts” hangs over the glass display case at the entrance to the new art department. Just beyond the doorway, a charette, or place of congregation, leads into the contemporary...

A graphic containing pictures of members of the West Community with the influential women in their lives.

The influential women of our lives

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief • April 7, 2022

March was Women’s History Month, recognizing the innovative, trailblazing and inspiring women. What started as a local holiday in Santa Rosa, Calif. transformed into a global, month-long celebration,...

The stories of student cadet teachers assisting in classrooms.

Cadet teachers reporting for duty

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • May 27, 2021

Able to complete administrative tasks like collecting materials, grading papers and passing out books, student cadet teachers gain experience teaching first-hand without the responsibility of teaching....

Art teacher Katy Mangrich sits at her desk working on the virtual art show for others to see students' artwork. Every year, Mangrich has prepared the art displays to be available to students and parents to see in the hallways. “I actually enjoy doing things like that. It's part of creating a visually pleasing piece of work,” Mangrich said.

Regional art show upgrades with technology

Bri Davis, Staff Writer • March 16, 2021

Trading the ice rink at Queeny Park for a virtual platform, the art department got creative in the production of their annual art show. By making the show virtual, there was room for experimentation in...

Photo II student Bri Davis uses this photo to answer 'how has quarantine affected her?' This is one of three pictures she took that got posted on the account for the assignment. "I edited the sides to kind of shut out everything on the outside to really emphasize that this is what I am doing," Davis said. "There's nothing else to it. I am just stuck in the house with the same objects."

Photography students stay connected through an Instagram account

Olivia Bradshaw, Staff Writer • April 14, 2020

A red shoe bag lined the whiteboard in the Photography classroom for students to place their phones in during the hour. However, during times of quarantine, the device that was prohibited in the classroom...

While in AP 2D Design and Photography, senior Sarah Lashly cuts out pictures of artist examples for her most recent project. This AP course went through major curriculum changes this year and now requires students to do more writing along with their photography projects. “I love the class because I get to be creative and express what I feel, but it is also very stressful for me since the curriculum is so new and different,” Lashly said.

AP teachers speak out about College Board changes

Grace Kaempfe, Convergence Journalism Writer • December 12, 2019

AP teachers are adjusting to the changes College Board made over the summer while also trying to maximize student exam and portfolio performances. The College Board is a national organization that provides...

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