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
Acting under the spotlight, junior Jack Mullen and freshman Joe McCurdy perform an emotional father-to-son scene from “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” The cast members worked hard to master the accents of the characters of the original story, which takes place in England. “We started off with American accents and robotic lines and slowly morphed into a British wonderland full of different characters, accents, and cadences,” Mullen said. “It took a while and it was hard work, but the people around me are what helped.”

From page to stage: The Curious Incident comes to life

Keira Lang and Zoya Hasan • March 4, 2024

From Feb. 23-24, the theater department produced and performed the adapted play, “The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time.” Based on the mystery novel by author Mark Haddon, the play follows...

Seven cast members stand in a semi-circle on stage, placing their wands in the middle of their huddle.

Accio tickets! Lights, camera, “Puffs”!

Keira Lang and Zoya Hasan • October 30, 2023

This month, the theater department put on a production titled “Puffs”, a spoof of the famous Harry Potter series through the eyes of the Hufflepuffs, utilizing a protagonist who wishes he was the hero...

Math and computer science teacher Jason Townsend explains how to graph algebraic equations in front of the class. Townsend teaches algebra, calculus, and computer science. "I love teaching calculus [because] calculus [is] more challenging [and] more interesting to me. Granted, if you're a good teacher, you find ways to make [all math] interesting for your students and you challenge yourself to do it differently all the time,” Townsend said.

Traveling, teaching, theater — oh, my!

Grace Loethen, Staff Writer • March 1, 2023

  Hidden in a nook on the first floor, math and computer science teacher Jason Townsend enthusiastically teaches his last year of classes before retirement. His booming voice resounds off the blue...

“[The best thing to happen to me this year] was meeting my cool friends. I've met them at the cafeteria, Keys and theater. [I've been] able to hang out with them a couple of times outside of school, and it was chill. They make me feel good about myself, and they got me into "Dungeons & Dragons." I'm closer with them [rather than] the people I was friends with last year. They've made my classes so much better, and it's therapeutic having them there.” - Lu Schuetz, 10

Lu Schuetz

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief • February 6, 2023

The poster for Parkway West Dramatics Company's performance of "Silent Sky." Students in the cast and crew of the production rehearsed and worked for two months leading up to the performances. "Everybody in the cast and crew is challenged in some way [during the play], and being able to see the final product of [hard work] and having the audience watch it is so cool," theatre department teacher and play director Amie Gossett said.

The shining stars of ‘Silent Sky’

Elizabeth Franklin, Editor-in-Chief • October 31, 2022

A sparkling sky of stars lights the theater as a trilling piano melody ascends into the aisles of a dark theater, the spirit of anticipation and wonder imbuing a hushed crowd. Five actors, a director and...

Junior Aidan Ryan pretends to have a severed arm as a part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) disaster training simulations. The simulation’s goal was to test the volunteers’ ability to handle challenging injuries while minimizing mental trauma. “It was funny for me because I got to act panicked and really in shock. It was awesome having the trainees come over and absolutely panic at my situation. I liked having that injury and seeing the whole chaos unfold,” Ryan said.

Theater students help disaster response team with CERT training

Sarah Boland, Staff Writer • May 26, 2022

Leaving a smear of fake blood behind her, junior Nicole Schade is thrown against a whiteboard. Schade volunteered in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program as she acted out an injury. CERT...

“I've always planned on being a part of the theater. I had my heart set on being an actor, so I pursued any opportunities I could get. After I got to high school, I didn't make it into “The Drowsy Chaperone” so Improv became my main outlet for theater, and I loved it. I've learned how to adapt to social situations on the fly, how to be okay with rejection and how to avoid drama. Theater is great because it really forces you outside your comfort zone while also providing a great support system you can rely on to have your back. Theater in general has benefited me by giving me a strong support system and introducing me to some very good friends that I am very thankful for. It has given me an outlet for discovering my identity and finding strong supportive people.” – Muse Spillman, 11

Muse Spillman

Kaelin Kerpash, CJ1 Writer • May 23, 2022

Aspiring actors and performers spend their senior year auditioning for countless collegiate training programs.

The truth about Acting School applications

Arden Dickson, Staff Writer • May 13, 2021

Aspiring to become a famous actor at a young age is a phase most can relate to. We are drawn to the glitz and glam of the industry, the pretty costumes, the expensive parties and the adoration that follows....

Posing with a parrot on her shoulder, theater teacher Amie Gossett acts as a pirate in a sword singing troupe she participates in. Gossett has been part of this troupe for 10 years, preparing each year for the high-intensity physical movement her role requires. “We usually have two to three different choreographed staged sword or stage combat fights per one hour show. They involve swords, daggers, hand-to-hand combat, rolling on the ground, jumping up on boxes, etc,” Gossett said. “I definitely have to get myself into fighting shape each season so that I don't hurt myself."

Teacher by day, pirate entertainer by night; Meet Amie Gossett

Megan Hoenecke, Staff Writer • December 17, 2020

Parrot on shoulder, and sword in hand, theater teacher Amie Gossett performs on a “ship-like” platform as a sword-swinging pirate in an all-woman stage combat sword fighting troupe. Despite working...

Senior section leader Abbey Thompson directs the low brass at practice. She remains socially distant and masked. “I always struggled to find motivation to get into a practice routine but with all the extra time with quarantine I was able to dedicate real time to practice. I saw a pretty big improvement not only in my sound but also my confidence as a musician,” Thompson said.

PIVOT: Arts education in action

Arden Dickson, Staff Writer • October 27, 2020

I had my first dance recital when I was five years old. My mother likes to remind me that she thought I had the best costume: a black and white tulle dress, pink bows on my tap shoes and a feather in my...

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