Upcoming events
  • Seniors vote on faculty speaker later this week
  • Boys soccer tournament- March 29th-30th @West
  • Women of Troy relays- March 26th home@4:30
  • Chamber ensemble concert- March 28th- Band room@7:00
  • Senior poets: send poems to Mr. Robins
  • College fair Wednesday in Cafeteria
  • Girls soccer vs. North Scott- Tuesday JV@5:30 V@7:00
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

West high rugby has become a prominent sport at West.

A new field

Zoe Smith, Editor-in-Chief May 22, 2023

Iowa high school sports are mostly known for traditional American sports. From football to volleyball, many different sports are popular throughout the United States. But one sport that might not come...

Best of West posters are displayed around the halls of West high.

Stopping the stigmas

Ashlyn Brady and Isabella Tisdale April 27, 2023

“Where Excellence is a Tradition.” West High’s motto has fueled generations of successful students and the title of the number one ranked high school in the state of Iowa in 2022. This prestigious...

Caiden Sweeting, Grace Miller, Ms. Witthoft, and Sophia Deyak prepare for their first socratic seminar discussion over F. Scott Fitzgeralds, The Great Gatsby.

Faculty farewell: Ms. Witthoft

Vivian Polgreen and Vera Tanas April 26, 2023

Darci Witthoft has been teaching at West for 23 years. In her time here, she has taught English 10, English 10 Honors, U.S. Literature Honors and Humanities. Witthoft originally planned to be a journalist,...

James Kirpes stands by a poster of Albert Einstein. His favorite quote by Einstein is, “Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.”

Kirpes with a mathematical purpose: Q and A with Math Club Coach James Kirpes

April 26, 2023

Did your saying “Mr. Kirpes with a mathematical purpose” come from anywhere in particular? It does. So I was in about fourth grade, and my oldest sister, Martha, was running for a county 4-H office....

A cat named Knotch plays with a feather toy

A guide to the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center

Eleanor Weitz and Tessa Gibson April 25, 2023

The Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center is the local shelter for the Iowa City and Coralville area. The volunteer aid that the shelter receives has helped to keep it running smoothly for many...

Opening opportunities

Opening opportunities

Jack Furlong April 23, 2023

As graduation grows closer by the day, juniors and seniors may find themselves needing guidance in what they want to do after high school. With societal pressure to make the decision early, the task may...

Crystals are a common form of manifestation among West High students.

Manifestation: Myth or merit?

Jessie Li and Esther Park April 22, 2023

Crystals, angel numbers, vision boards and tarot cards — one may wonder what these seemingly separate things have in common. The answer lies in the manifestation culture recently gaining popularity on...

Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts have similar yet different ways of helping the community.

Scouts of West

Reem Kirja, Print Profiles Editor April 22, 2023

Colorful boxes full of intricately-crafted treats indicate that Girl Scouts are selling signature cookie flavors like Caramel Chocolate Chip and Raspberry Rally around the neighborhood. Similarly, Scouts...

Josh Kidman brings music to West hallways and plays his guitar outside the iJAG classroom.

Kidman’s community

Zaira Ahmad, Print Editor-in-Chief April 21, 2023

During the five minutes of passing time, West hallways are typically packed with the chaotic energy of students rushing to classes and teachers urging crowds to move. Sometimes, amidst this chaos, iJAG...

West students discuss how taking medication for ADHD, anxiety and depression has impacted their lives.

Medicated

Lilly Graham and Marie Stier April 20, 2023

Roughly 20% of adolescents aged 12-17 in Iowa were medicated for “difficulties with emotions, concentration or behavior,” according to the 2018-2019 National Survey of Children's Health. Adjusting...

West High blood drive

West High blood drive

Jessie Li and Esther Park April 20, 2023

West High’s Red Cross club hosted its second annual blood drive in the auditorium lobby on Friday, April 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A total of 57 students and teachers registered for the blood drive,...

The lead vocal of Skarlett Roxx, Deuce McClanahan ’23, shares his story.

The spider

Rosemary Timmer-Hackert, Print Opinion Editor April 20, 2023

He presents a striking figure. A black spider rests atop his right eye, painstakingly drawn on with eyeliner. His long locs reflect the lights as they flick from red to blue to purple and back again. As...

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