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  • MONDAY 2/24: boys basketball vs. Davenport West
  • TUESDAY 2/25: girls basketball regional championship @ Prairie, boys and girls state bowling, choir concert @ 7:00
  • THURSDAY 2/27: Orchestra concert @ 7:00
  • FRIDAY 2/28: WSS publication day
  • SUNDAY 3/2: Spring swing show
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.

Mrs. Viana Qadoura gives a speech to the Coralville Mayor and the city officials and administrators about the Proclamation for World Hijab Day at the Coralville City Council.

World Hijab Day

Ayaat Ibrahim and Zainab Naveed February 14, 2025

What is world hijab day? This is a common question people ask when they first hear about it. Many Muslim women around the world are represented on this day. Its purpose is to spread awareness and educate...

Preparing for action

Preparing for action

Michael Moody and Zeke Williamson February 14, 2025

From the pool, to the field, to the mat, all athletes have different ways to prepare themselves to compete. One thing all sports have in common is preparation- you can’t just show up to a swim meet or...

Hopper in a computer room in Washington, D.C., c. 1978

Remembering a Legend: Grace Hopper

Tada Goto, WSS Intern February 14, 2025

Computers are everywhere in modern society. A phone is a computer. A Chromebook is a computer. Even a credit card has a tiny computer inside to handle tap-to-pay. The technology for all of that can eventually...

Shelby Zukin (choreographer) and Rana Saba '25 rehearsing a scene as their castmates admire them in awe.

Lights, camera, action: the journey of a play

Rabiyatou Bah and Rzaz Osman February 14, 2025

Theater: a place where people can produce, or write plays- a dramatic performance as a branch of art. However, theater isn’t just a performance. It's more than that. It’s a way to unite people, share...

Emmerson Reimers ’28 and Endrit Ramku ’27 pose. Both agreed on many aspects of the policy in interviews. Photos by Taha Salem and Sonya Zhu.

Behind the policy: how phone ban affects students

Sonya Zhu, FOJ Intern February 14, 2025

The ICCSD district put into effect a district-wide policy on phones and earbuds on Jan. 21. The policy states that from bell to bell, phones, headphones, and earbuds must be off your person and teachers...

Colin Whitters ’26 gets ready to block for quarterback Jack Wallace ’25 to hand the ball over to Campbell Janis ’26 to run the ball in hopes for a first down.

Colin Whitters ’26: building his future one block at a time

Emmerson Reimers and Niki Wendlandt February 14, 2025

  It’s finally that time of the year, the moment you find out what college the seniors in high school are attending. But, this time around, some juniors have already decided where they are...

New headphone policy: student and teacher thoughts

New headphone policy: student and teacher thoughts

Sophia Austen, WSS Intern February 13, 2025

  The bell rings at the start of each period, followed by a voice on the intercom saying,  “At this time please secure all devices in a backpack or a purse,” cueing students to put away all...

The varsity girls basketball team holds hands before starting the game.
Photo by Minna Abdalla.

From practice to perfection: girls basketball team’s journey

Felicity Aggers and Misheel Munkh-Erdene February 13, 2025

Under the bright lights of the gym, the sound of sneakers squeaking against the court floor fills the air. The scoreboard counts down, but what the crowd doesn't see is the journey that led up to this...

The duality of the diplomat: Keith W. Mines

The duality of the diplomat: Keith W. Mines

Loren Barjis, FOJ Intern October 18, 2024

Church bells chime with both war and peace for a diplomat. Keith W. Mines, veteran, former Director of Andean Affairs at the Department of State and Vice President of the Latin America program at the U.S....

Business owner Raghd Kirja ‘28 with a set of nails custom-made she created.

West High entrepreneur starts business from bedroom table

Mingmei Lumetta, FOJ Intern October 17, 2024

On a lamp-lit table in a homey bedroom, the sharp, pungent smell of nail polish fills the air as meticulous brushes design a set of nails into perfection. With the click of a phone camera, they’re posted...

A view of Pump It Up's new space in the new commons area. As part of Pump It Up's rebrand, they're going to get a new space with locked doors and seating in front. BPA plans to rename Pump It Up and change the colors as well.

Constructing change

2024 is a major year of change for schools in the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD). This fall, sixth graders will move from the elementary level to the newly renovated middle schools, marking...

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