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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

This includes work created by students enrolled in Foundations of Journalism, the prerequisite course to joining a publication staff at West High. FOJ students are considered interns and are not West Side Story staff members while enrolled in the yearlong English elective. FOJ students can apply to join a publication staff after completing the course.

This is a picture of one of the many evergreen trees growing around my house. My aperture was low, and I used selective focus.

Masha’s Photo Essay

Masha Arshava, WSS Intern April 9, 2021

For my Photo Essay in Foundations of Journalism, I chose to photograph nature-esque photos. I grabbed my dad's camera (after a half hour long lecture on how to use it) and walked around the woods behind...

As she reads a letter from her friend, Fareeha Ahmad ‘21 can’t help but smile. Ahmad keeps a box of all the cards she’s received over the years and looks back at them when she needs some cheering up. “Whenever I’m having a bad day or feeling low, I can open it up and see the notes people have written for me in the past.”

The storytelling of important objects

Zaira Ahmad, Print Editor-in-Chief April 8, 2021

Objects can seem like material things. People eventually lose them, getting rid of them during house cleanings or forgetting they exist altogether. While those lost objects may appear meaningless, there...

Paige Albright 23 performs a football game.

Racing Against Time

Your eyes are starting to feel heavy, but you have to keep them open long enough to finish your last little bit of homework. You can see your warm, comfy bed waiting for you only a few steps away from...

Positive Plays!

Positive Plays!

Cooper Uetz, WSS Intern March 9, 2021

You open up your computer, scrolling through the games you have installed. You don't really feel like playing them, the same thing over and over gets boring and sometimes it's just nice to play new things,...

Academic Counselors: What You Need to Know

Have you ever had a conflict at school? Had a question about scholarships or needed help with grades? Or, have you ever had a personal problem at school? Chances are, there’s someone at West who can...

Freezing Time

Freezing Time

A photo captures many things. It gives insight on unknown point of views and evokes strong emotions. It allows for photographers to spotlight their perspective of the world. Photos are talked about quite...

Tess Degrazia 23’, Katie Ruppencamp 21’, Grace Brokaw 21’, and Helenipa Stevens 23’ chatting between scenes for SPIT.

Pandemic Performance Perspectives

  The pandemic has hit hard and put a halt on everyone’s lives and experiences. One of the activities that was affected by Covid-19 is high school theater. While sports and other...

Ceci DeYoung 24 and Ella DeYoung 23 on February 3rd getting coffee and warming up in the car. Photo courtesy of Ceci DeYoung.

Snow Days In A Post-Pandemic World

Ginger McCartney, Artist, Designer March 9, 2021

 Every student has probably had that experience of waiting for a snow day, the excitement, the hope, the checking of the weather app about five million times the day before. A lot of things have changed...

Catching Some ZZZs

Catching Some ZZZs

Racing out the door, breakfast and combing your hair are the last things on your mind. Just in time; you make it to class with only a few seconds to spare. Despite all the differences between teenagers...

A picture inside the Downward Dog Yoga studio

Local Businesses: the cornerstone of our communities

Lillian Graham, Defne Bayman, and Huilin Cui March 9, 2021

Homes fill the landscape, each boasting a garage and fenced in yard, each similar to the last. This description could fit any number of suburbs across the world, ranging from the outskirts of Chicago to...

Hai Huynh, the Community Projects Coordinator for the Coralville Food Pantry, works with fruits and vegetables.

How to get involved with volunteering: during a global pandemic

Zaira Ahmad, Alexandra Filerio, and Ceci DeYoung March 9, 2021

Places to volunteer Houses Into Homes: Providing households in need with essential furniture, Houses Into Homes makes a difference in the lives of those in our community. Houses Into Homes is accepting...

Predictions and Reactions:

Jem Alden and Adithi Rajan March 9, 2021

Over the first and second week of the new school model, my partner and I surveyed and interviewed people about their opinions on it. We got 39 different people to answer questions in the surveys....

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