• FINALS WEEK 11/19-21
  • 11/19: Girls wrestling @ City
  • 11/21: Girls wrestling vs. Liberty @ Home
  • 11/21-23: All-State Music Festival
  • 11/22: Girls basketball @ Solon
  • NO SCHOOL 11/22
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
Sean Brown

Sean Brown, Photographer

Sean Brown is a photographer on staff and a senior at West. When he isn’t microwaving hot pockets or looking through the five hundred pictures he took last night, you can find him scrolling through the Instagram explore page until he loses grip on reality.

All content by Sean Brown
Students from City High lead the march through College Green Park, holding up signs protesting gun violence.

Olivia Barker '20 works on a sign at Yotopia for the gun reform march.

Naomi Hemley speaks out about gun violence, telling a story of a student who had to hide under their friend's dead body from a school shooter.

Mary Beth Tinker and John Tinker speak to students in the West High Arganbright Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 26 about the hardships they faced while trying to protect their freedom of speech while protesting the Vietnam War.

[Photo] "Tinker v. Des Moines" activists visit West High

March 7, 2019
Abbie Callahan '20 performs at the Johnson County Fair talent show in July 2018, placing first and advancing to the Iowa State Fair talent show.

[Photo] High school celebrity

February 25, 2019
Abbie Callahan '20 performs at the Johnson County Fair talent show in July 2018, placing first and advancing to the Iowa State Fair talent show.

[Photo] High school celebrity

Jenna Wang, Editorial Editor
February 25, 2019
While working in food service may seem mundane, a lot more happens behind the scenes.

[Photo] Tales from food industry insiders

Carmela Cohen Suarez, Entertainment Editor
January 28, 2019
Laurel Haverkamp '20 plays a matching card game with a Buddies member.

[Photo] Meet the buddies

January 26, 2019
WSS photographer, Alyssa Skala '21, takes photos of George Liu '19 during the Portrait Service Project, a session aimed at providing senior pictures to those that still need them.

[Photo] Portrait service

January 26, 2019
MLK.carlos1

Carlos Honore, a West High graduate, spoke about how he overcame his difficult childhood to achieve success and give back to his community.

[Photo] Carlos Honore speaks about his experiences

January 26, 2019
A panel of students speak out on issues they've faced at West and changes that should be made.

[Photo] Voices of West High panel

January 26, 2019
MLK.buddies1

Maria Fernanda Perez ‘21 speaks to other students about the difficulties and stereotypes she has faced by being a Latinx student.

[Photo] Being Latinx in the US

January 26, 2019
MLK.BPA2

MLK.choir1

Choir students gathered at the Melrose Meadows retirement home to sing and bring joy to the senior residents.

[Photo] Choir performance

January 25, 2019
Students take a step forward during the Privilege Walk, a session aimed at visually portraying disparities in opportunities and advantages of varying backgrounds.

[Photo] Privilege walk

January 26, 2019
Val Trussov '19 swims butterfly during practice, which he considers to be his best stroke.

[Photo] A second chance

December 27, 2018
Unlike Christmas, which is celebrated on a specific day, Hanukkah takes place over the course of eight days. The start and end dates vary each year, but typically fall in the month of December.

[Photo] Celebrating Hanukkah in a Christmas-crazed school

December 27, 2018
Emily Hill '20 joins WSS staffers to discuss how comedy has impacted their generation in this episode of the West Side Radio.

[Photo] West Side Radio: A very Mulaney podcast

December 21, 2018
Emily Hill '20 joins WSS staffers to discuss how comedy has impacted their generation in this episode of the West Side Radio.

[Photo] West Side Radio: A very Mulaney podcast

Jessica Doyle, Natalie Dunlap, Lucy Polyak, Maddi Shinall, and Sophie Stephens
December 21, 2018
Staffers discuss the show "Friends" as they sit on the couch and assume the role of one of the show's characters.

West Side Radio: The one with the podcast

Sean Brown, Jessica Doyle, Natalie Dunlap, Sidney Kiersch, Maddi Shinall, and Sophie Stephens
December 5, 2018
With Thanksgiving well on it's way, WSS has compiled three recipes to try out this holiday season. One of these is the caramel and apple cake dessert.

[Photo] Recipes to gobble up this Thanksgiving

Carmela Cohen Suarez, Entertainment Editor
November 13, 2018
Jenny Geng '21 swims at Cedar Rapids Washington High School on Aug. 25.

[Photo] Season of changes: A recap of the 2018 West/Liberty girls swim and dive season

Jessica Doyle, Podcast Editor
November 7, 2018
Isaac Liao '20 and Allen Liao '20 have written numerous poems which cover serious topics such as depression and isolation.

[Photo] Poetic pair

November 7, 2018
Aurora Roghair '21 competes in the 500 free at West's last dual meet. Later in the season, Roghair swam a 4:53.20 to place second in the 500 free at the state swim meet.

[Photo] Staying afloat

Alex Carlon, Online Editor-in-Chief
November 1, 2018
scarletfeature

Nick Biancuzzo '19 tackles a Pleasant Valley player.

Marcus Morgan '21 hands the ball off to Peter Breitbach '19 during the second quarter.

Grant Henderson '20 reaches up over Devin Lentz '19 to make a crucial catch.

Marcus Morgan '21 scans the field and throws the ball to a receiver.

Josh Halverson '19 makes a big play for West, sacking Max Slaven '19 to set up a long third down.

Noah Aanestad '19 braces to collide with Devin Lentz '19, securing the ball to avoid a fumble.

westvpvfeature

The Trojans run onto the field to mark the beginning of the game against Pleasant Valley.

Olivia Barker '20 started her makeup Instagram page in June of 2017 as a way to show her passion to her friends and family.

[Photo] The art of makeup

Carmela Cohen Suarez, Entertainment Editor
October 3, 2018
Shawn Thacker '18, Abbie Callahan '20, and Prateek Raikwar '18 display chic outfits that can work for both casual and elaborate events.

Shawn Thacker ’18, Prateek Raikwar ’18 and Abbie Callahan ’20

Sean Brown, Photographer
May 25, 2018
Seniors Nick Pryor, Alyson Kuennen and Ethan Goers stand together on a trail at Lake McBride on Saturday, May 12.

Staff Fashion Friday 2018

Kara Wagenknecht, Olivia Dachtler, and Sean Brown
May 25, 2018
During the self-driver autonomous period, Team 167's robot drives up to the switch to take control of it.

West High's FRC team, Children of the Corn, finished the Iowa Regional ranked 5th overall.

Children of the Corn's robot, known as Slick, lifts two other robots in the air to boost their alliance's score at the Iowa Regional.

Slick carries a cube to the switch to place it inside, gaining one point per second for maintaining control of it.

A poster for "The Miracle Season" sits on a table during a book signing.

[Photo] The Miracle Season

Jenna Wang, Editorial Editor
April 16, 2018
Selina Hua '20, Frances Dai '19 and Jenna Wang '20 open the show with a performance of BTS's DNA.

[Photo] Walk It Out celebrates West’s diversity

Kara Wagenknecht, Online Editor-in-Chief, Co-Sports Editor
April 2, 2018
Xena Makky '18 poses in African dress

Sharon Amouzou '18 wears traditional African clothing on Saturday, March 31.

Ibrahim Barakat '19 dances during the African section on Saturday, March 31.

Aisha Kazembe '18 describes her artwork and talks about the importance of more diversity in art.

Over thirty million people of all ages and genders in the US suffer from an eating disorder (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).

[Photo] Eating disorders

April 8, 2018
Concert raises money for MOST

Concert raises money for MOST

Sean Brown, Photographer
March 5, 2018
The best tea in Iowa City

The best tea in Iowa City

Ken Wilbur and Sean Brown
March 5, 2018
Wind Ensemble features guest conductor

Wind Ensemble features guest conductor

Sean Brown, Photographer
February 26, 2018
West High competed in the state swimming meet on February 10, with swimmers from 36 different schools competing.

Boys swim team hosts state meet

Kara Wagenknecht and Sean Brown
February 12, 2018
Marsean Rhodes '18 walks down during the senior ceremony with Margaret McCaffery on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Boys basketball celebrates senior night

Kara Wagenknecht and Sean Brown
February 14, 2018
Load More Stories
Donate to West Side Story
$50
$2000
Contributed
Our Goal

Menu
Activate Search
The student news source of Iowa City West High
Sean Brown