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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

Math teacher Patrick Troy poses in his virtual teaching attire.

Patrick Troy

Leah Schroeder and Mira Nalbandian December 22, 2020

What makes your style unique?  “I wear a lot of button-down shirts and jeans normally. My students will often say I wear ‘graph paper shirts’ because I'm a math teacher and I have a lot of checked...

Sophomore Mitchell Harms displays his virtual learning attire.

Mitchell Harms

Leah Schroeder and Mira Nalbandian December 22, 2020

What makes your style unique? How would you describe your style? “The thing that I think is unique about my style is that I usually mix it up. I sometimes wear polo shirts and khaki pants, but a hoodie...

Freshman Paige Schnarr, equipped with her Longhorns mask, documents her bus ride to school. Bus riders sat one person per row and alternated between the left and right seats to maintain distance. “I was doing well with online learning, but for me, if I’m not in the classroom, then I feel like I don’t get as much done,” Schnarr said.

A look into students’ decision to stay home or return to school

Emily Early, Editor-in-Chief November 24, 2020

The decision all students had to make: stay home or return to school. Whether behind a screen or behind a mask, for the first time in recent history, students have had a say in the environment from which...

While completing online schoolwork, seniors Irene Yannakakis and Anna Pavilsin share a laugh. Yannakakis has been seeking hangouts as a way to connect with her friends during virtual learning. “I have done online school with my friends a couple times, but it's basically just us sitting on our computers with our headphones in,” Yannakakis said. “Although it's nice to have someone next to you, it would be way better to be in school.”

Virtual connection: Student interactions during online school

Tre Bell, Staff Writer October 6, 2020

To counter new COVID-19 rules students are finding ways to remain connected in the virtual world of learning.  Junior Ella Mercer: As students miss eating lunch with their peers, junior Ella Mercer...

Laying out her papers, freshman Allison VanValkenburgh does her homework. VanValkenburgh is getting used to switching over from paper to digital. “in normal school we would've had more paper assignments.and I learn and test the best on paper,” VanValkenburgh said. “With learning being 90% online, it's hard adjusting to the new norms and expectations.”

Zoom university: Freshmen share their experiences

October 2, 2020

Virtual schooling has hit the mid quarter mark now, and the freshmen class has adjusted to their first weeks of high school, well actually, virtual school. From online PE to learning music through a screen,...

Online learning has been a significant transition for students and staff in the Special School District (SSD).

Adapting to virtual learning in the Special School District

Pathfinder Editorial Board September 30, 2020

Since March, many of us have grown used to the Zoom-meeting, online school, new-normal atmosphere. However, these adaptations have been simpler for some more than others, and several hurdles have been...

After receiving feedback from her friends about what they wanted to see on the cover of the school planner, senior Maddy Truka combined her own ideas with friends' to create it. Truka was to hoping to represent diversity in her design. “[Planners] help to just keep track of anything your teacher may assign that’s not listed up on the board like usual,” Truka said. “Also, class set up may be more difficult and there is definitely more work to do so it’s important that students are organized now more than ever.”

Five tips for online school

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief September 23, 2020

As we near the halfway mark of the first quarter, students and teachers are adapting to the approach and offer advice on how to make the most of this time. Take Breaks  The five minute passing...

Virtual school has taken away a lively learning environment for most. For several support staff members, transferring online was not an option.

School behind screens changes jobs for support staff

Ulaa Kuziez, News and Sports Editor September 16, 2020

Walking the almost empty halls at 7 a.m., you might have made a stop at the bookstore before heading to the cafeteria for a morning snack. On your way to class, you may have said hello to a custodian as...

Virtual learning: a balancing act

Nell Jaskowiak, OPINIONS AND ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR August 20, 2018

The change that has been rolling out around the district is now making its way to West High: every incoming freshman will have a Chromebook for this school year. Parkway’s continual expansion of online...