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

Tate high school has a unique way of educating their students.

Empowering education

Zoe Smith, Editor-in-Chief March 5, 2024

The Iowa Department of Education defines alternative education as “a perspective, not a procedure.” While students at the ICCSD’s traditional high schools may overlook Tate, it remains a vital part...

Waad Dafalla 26, Trinity Myers 25 and Julian Manson 26 pose for a photo

Black excellence at West: Waad Dafalla, Trinity Myers and Juju Manson

Minna Abdalla, Assistant Sports Editor March 4, 2024

The Urban Dictionary defines Black excellence as “Someone that is Black and portrays great qualities and abilities that make the Black community proud.” This definition is accurate, however, Black...

The future styles of parenting.

Parenting in the digital age

Minna Abdalla and Abby Guo March 4, 2024

Parents are some of the most important figures in a child’s life. They shape the future generation through their ideas and values. Throughout the centuries, parenting has evolved and changed along with...

For Women’s History Month, WSS highlights influential women from the Iowa City community.

Women of West

March is dedicated to recognizing women’s impacts by celebrating those who have shaped society for the better.  In 1908, women workers in the Needle Trade marched in New York to demand women’s...

As a Java regular for the past five years, Lily Polgreen 27 comes here whenever she can. Whether it be studying, hanging out with friends or just picking up a sweet treat, The Java House is definitely a favorite for Polgreen.

Java House jolt: a sip into West High culture

Colin Wehrle, Lea Abou Alaiwa, and Ella Ciliberto February 29, 2024

A local West favorite, The Java House is a Trojan go-to amongst West’s students and faculty. A place to study, hang out or get coffee after school, it's very convenient as it is only five minutes away...

Helen Orszula 24, Sila Duran 23, Josie Schwartz 25 and Erinn Varga 24 pose in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Exploration beyond the known

Jake Beneke, Jack Sun, and Maddux Neukirch February 29, 2024

On average, only 20% of American high school students will study a foreign language, according to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. In comparison, 92% of students study a foreign language in...

An overview of the teams facility at the Kirkwood Regional Center.

FRC Children of the Corn takes on Crescendo

Haneen Eltyeb, Videographer February 28, 2024

What is FRC?  FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) falls under the robotics organization FIRST and is considered the most advanced and complex of their three programs. FRC membership is limited to high school...

Margaret Winkler (left) and Nancy Pacha (right) attend a Rotary Club of Iowa City A.M. meeting Feb. 27. Photo courtesy of Nancy Pacha.

A 40+ year friendship defined by service

Lilly Graham, Print Managing Editor February 27, 2024

46 years ago, former West foreign language teachers Nancy Pacha and Margaret Winkler first met at Northwest Junior High, where they shared an office space. Since then, they have been inseparable, with...

Members of the West Speech & Debate team pose for a photo after winning sweepstakes at Districts.

West Speech & Debate members qualify for Nationals

Kamakshee Kuchhal, Lead Print Copy Editor February 14, 2024

West co-hosted the East Iowa District Tournament with Bettendorf High School on Jan. 27 for Congress and Feb. 9-10 for Speech and other forms of Debate. After days of crafting speeches, passionately delivering...

Sara Siepker, new to West as a librarian secretary.

Sara Siepker: journey to West

Vera Tanas and Tessa Gibson February 13, 2024

Sara Siepker, one of the valued members of the library staff has had quite the journey. She didn’t originally plan to work in a library, and in fact, she went to school for English and creative writing...

A drawing of Abudagga and Saba standing in front of the flag of Palestine.

Far from the river and across the sea: the Palestinian-American experience

Josephine Schwartz, Photo Editor February 5, 2024

On average, it takes 30 minutes to travel 26.9 miles from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids by car. From junior Rana Saba’s house in East Jerusalem, Palestine, to her extended family's house in the West Bank,...

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