Upcoming events
  • Walk it out- Saturday in Auditorium
  • Girls soccer vs. Wash- Tuesday @home
  • Drake Relays this weekend- Drake Stadium
  • Class president elections later this week
  • Choir trip to Chicago- Thursday-Saturday
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

Sometimes it can feel like insecurities are under a spotlight for all the world to see.

Bringing the spotlight effect into focus

Anna Greenlee and Ethan Tisdale April 4, 2024

Walking down the halls of West High, it’s easy to feel like all eyes are on you. Whether it’s a bad hair day or an awkward moment, everyone has things they can feel self-conscious about. But is...

Graduation Cap with Money flowing off the tassles and more graduation caps in the background.

Scholarships available to West students

Josephine Schwartz and Airi Thompson April 3, 2024

While it’s too late for most seniors to apply for scholarships, it is not too late for juniors and underclassmen to start preparing for their future. A handful of scholarships are available just within...

Sabrina Du 25 poses at Carnegie Hall, where she will played with other students across the United States.

Q&A with Violinist Sabrina Du ’25

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print News Editor April 2, 2024

What got you interested in playing the violin and how long have you played? I got interested. Well, I kind of got forced because my older sister played violin, so it was kind of automatic for my parents...

West High Habitat for Humanity volunteers at house build

Haneen Eltyeb, Videographer April 1, 2024

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that aids local communities all around the world with housing. The organization renovates existing homes (in urban areas), builds new homes...

Student Government president Cindy Wang 24 is leading Student Government as they reflect and plan events for this trimester

Reflection into action: West High Student Government

Ashlyn Brady, Features Editor March 29, 2024

The West High school spirit within the hallways has been increasing throughout the 2023-24 school year thanks to Student Government and their events. Everything from homecoming to library study sessions...

As we can tell from the court case Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, school censorship was an issue in the 1980s. The question is: is it still an issue today?

Looking back: school censorship

Lydia Cruce, WSS Intern March 25, 2024

Originally published in the West Side Story Oct. 16, 1987: “Four years ago in S[t]. Louis-Hazelwood a high school journalist wrote an article about pregnancy. In the school were 22 pregnant girls. Three...

Meet the bot: Troballin’ and Pumpkin

Haneen Eltyeb, Videographer March 25, 2024

Earlier this month on March 1 and 2, Trobotix and Trobotix Two competed at the FIRST Tech Challenge Iowa Championship among 71 other teams across Iowa and Nebraska. On March 2, their Centerstage season...

Streaming services have grown in popularity over time.

Streaming Services vs. Cable

Airi Thompson, Assistant News Editor March 18, 2024

Streaming Services Before there was Netflix, Disney+ and your dozens of other streaming services, there was cable. While cables still used by millions today, the increase in people switching to streaming...

Melrose Meadows and West High have a great relationship with each other

Meet the neighbors

Eleanor Weitz and Zoe Smith March 8, 2024

West High School and Melrose Meadows Retirement Community couldn’t be more different when it comes to age demographics; however, they manage to maintain a well-connected, neighborly relationship. From...

West robotics members prepare for the upcoming competition season.

Wired for West

Kamakshee Kuchhal and Shanza Sami March 8, 2024

The arena comes to life with a symphony of whirring gears and electronic hums; the whistle blows, signaling the start of another robotics competition. Drivers clutch their controllers, navigating between...

Junior Ella Vakiner has been involved in the arts her entire life.

Behind the Mic

Grace Bartlett and Maddy Cook March 6, 2024

For Ella Vakiner ’25, a typical seven-period school day is not the norm. Acting and costume design replace classes like math and government, and rehearsing choreography substitutes memorizing the periodic...

Recently, students have organized learn-ins and walkouts for Palestine, Perry High and other causes. Photos used with permission of Zoe Smith and WSS Photographers.

A guide to student activism at West

Anna Greenlee, Graphics Editor March 5, 2024

The First Amendment guarantees students the right to free speech, and despite some limitations, this has allowed for a huge amount of activism and change from today’s youth. In 1969, Tinker vs Des Moines...

Load More Stories
Donate to West Side Story
$1400
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Activate Search
The student news source of Iowa City West High
Feature