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.

Catching Some ZZZs

Kamakshee Kuchhal, Abigail Kacmarynski, Akshethaa Naveen-Kumar, and Jane Lam • March 9, 2021

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...

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...

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....

Trying TikTok Art Trends

Lucybelle Gerlieb, WSS Intern • March 9, 2021

Three freshman at West High, Akilah G, De'Jah J, and Lucybelle G, try out three different art trends involving painting. The video was created for a Foundations of Journalism group project. The three trends...

Students Speak

Zoe Smith & Courtney Vest, FOJ • March 9, 2021

As soon as you step into the halls of West High your freshman year, you are excited to start a new chapter in your life. You have waited your entire life to see what this defining experience will...

What Makes a Teacher Great?

March 9, 2021

Gregory Witt West High math teacher Gregory Witt had this to say when asked about the best teaching qualities is building good relationships and them having fun. Students of his class agree that his...

FOJ: The Pandemic’s Affect on Learning and Teaching

Sophie Richardson and Rawan Ibrahim • March 8, 2021

We’ve all been struggling through the pandemic but have you ever wanted to know what other people around you are experiencing? Well we interviewed one of the West High teachers and a couple of students...

Iowa Eliminates Hybrid Learning

Masha Arshava and Cayden Bridges • March 8, 2021

It was a bright and sunny day when students and staff of West High learned that Hybrid learning was no longer an option. Learning in school affects everyone differently. Some have positive views on it,...

Bag and Baggage: The model minority myth

Zaira Ahmad and Athena Wu • February 25, 2021

Bag and Baggage is a podcast discussing West students and their experiences with race. In this first episode, hosts Zaira Ahmad ’24 and Athena Wu ’24 look at the model minority myth and how its effects...

A glance into the past: We’re going to party like it’s…

Kamakshee Kuchhal, Lead Print Copy Editor • February 9, 2021

"We're going to party like its..." by Angela Winnike, originally published in the Feb. 25, 2000 issue of WSS On February 5th, 2000, the Iowa City Police Department...

New country, new opportunities, newest school board member

Ella De Young, Print Managing Editor • October 13, 2020

It has been 10 years. 10 years since she made the decision to journey 6,000 miles away from Ghana, the only home she had ever known, to Iowa City. She is now a two-time law school graduate and the newest...

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