Skip to Main Content
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

Seniors Alex Spangler, Joseph Grove and Tre Bell practice their choreography for Mr. Longhorn Friday, Nov. 19. Senior boys competed for the title of Mr. Longhorn in a beauty-pageant style competition which included learning choreography for dance numbers. “Being a part of Mr. Longhorn was a fun experience. [I] was able to hang out with all the guys and learn the dance, which was fun. At first, we sucked at the dance, we were terrible, but by the end we finally got it,” Grove said.

Photo of the Week – Nov. 19

Madi Michajiliczenko, Staff Writer November 19, 2021

Painting the letters of her parking spot, senior Paige Matthys-Pearce participates in painting day. Matthys-Pearce painted a starry background with a quote written in French, which says ‘don’t forget who you are.’ “I'm happy that I got to participate in this new tradition because I think it's a great way for us seniors to leave a mark here, even though the spots will get painted over at the end of the year. Pulling into the colorful parking lot each morning brings me so much joy, and all the different designs highlight how unique everyone is,” Matthys-Pearce said. “Even though we sat under the sun in a hot parking lot for seven hours straight, it was a fun experience that I hope future classes will continue.”

Senior class paves the way to a new tradition

Leah Schroeder, Managing Editor-in-Chief September 30, 2021

Speeding into the parking lot at 7:29 a.m., the colorful variety of parking spots is probably the least of your worries, as you desperately try to avoid yet another tardy. These painted spots mark the...

Posing with their prom dates, senior Luke Lung and his friends celebrate planning their own prom. The group dined, danced and sung during the night. “My favorite moment of the night probably had to have been when we did karaoke. Everyone in the group has amazing voices and we had a blast singing and just enjoying the night,” Lung said.

In a year without Prom, seniors plan their own

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief April 27, 2021

Glamorous floor-length dresses, laundered tuxedos and limousines have all come to be staples for a high school rite of passage: Prom. Prom dates back to the 1900s, becoming more extravagant in the 50s...

Advice from seniors to freshmen

Maddy Truka, Social Media Manager + Video Editor April 23, 2021

Senior Skyler Ji converses with students on a video call. Ji, who has been speaking Chinese since birth, treasured the opportunity to talk with native Chinese speakers. “I wanted to join because of the opportunity to talk to and interact with people in China. I used to go to town a lot, but, recently, I haven’t been,” Ji said. “I also wanted to join because of the opportunity to talk to Chinese people and see how COVID[-19] has been impacting them.”

The Speech King: Inside senior Justin Xu’s English tutoring organization

Thomas Bruns, Opinions/A&E editor March 14, 2021

After spending hours on a plane to visit his grandparents in rural China, senior Justin Xu noticed a disparity between rural English speakers and urban English speakers. He was invited to a local middle...

2021 Senior send-off map

2021 Senior send-off map

Paige Matthys-Pearce, Staff Writer March 5, 2021

Looking at black hair, there is more value and meaning than what the eye may see.

It’s not Black and White: Lets hair about it!

Bri Davis, Staff Writer March 1, 2021

Episode Link to Listen Transcript: Sponsored segment: For those who have not heard about Anchor, it is the easiest way to make a podcast. The most important thing, it’s free! There are creation tools...

Seniors have a wide variety of colleges to pick from as they search for the school that is right for them.

Senior struggles with college applications during the era of COVID-19

Bri Davis, Staff Writer December 7, 2020

“It feels like you're taking your pants off in front of a whole crowd.” That is how senior Amina Aser describes her college applications process. The fear of being vulnerable to those close to you...

History teacher Zaven Nalbandian stands outside of a polling place at the St. Louis County Government Center. Nalbandian experienced socially distant lines, mask wearers and a comfortable and tolerant feeling in the air. “I stood in the rain for the chance to once again exercise my right. I was feeling nostalgic as I thought back to that Tuesday in November in 1988 when I walked into the gym at Francis Howell North High School and punched the card," Nalbandian said. "St. Louis County is still using those old voting stands that look like ‘80s suitcases, but there are no more punch cards. I did get to keep the pen they gave me."

Despite a pandemic, students and teachers exercise their right to vote

Thomas Bruns, Opinions/A&E editor November 2, 2020

As the 2020 election season comes to a close, students and faculty alike are preparing to vote on Nov. 3. This is seniors’ first time at the ballot, and for teachers, their first time voting during a...

Senior Lauren Beard finishes her last lap at a swim meet. Beard plans to continue swimming at the collegiate level. “It’s such an escape from life’s craziness,” Beard said. “It allows me to take a step back and get out all of the anger and frustration I have built up. The community is so supportive and it’s like a second family.”

Spring Edition: Seniors commit to their school for collegiate sports

Zoe DeYoung, Ridwan Oyebamiji, and Lydia Roseman May 28, 2020

Tia Reed-Basketball Senior Tia Reed couldn’t imagine the idea of playing collegiate basketball, but that changed when she began to hear offers from Missouri Baptist University, Lyon College, Fontbonne...