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.

Books Should Provoke Conversation Not Fear

Megan O'Neill, WSS Intern • April 18, 2023

Like many books from this century, the book “The Catcher in the Rye” by JD Salinger is a book that has been a frequent target of censorship ever since its publication in 1951. According to the...

A “Brawl Stars” Review

Yeju Seol, Artist and Reporter • April 18, 2023

“Brawl Stars” is a mobile third-person multiplayer shooter game, and was released to the world on Dec. 12, 2018, by a Finnish game company called Supercell. In the game, you can choose different characters,...

What age is a good age for cell phones?

Clare Allou, WSS Intern • April 18, 2023

How old were you when you got your first phone? 12? 13? According to Child Mind Institute, 42% of kids have a phone by age 10, and 75% of kids have a phone by the age of 12. If kids have unlimited access...

Artificial Intelligence is making it easier for students to cheat

Bonnie Ding, WSS Intern • April 18, 2023

AI is a kind of robot used to simulate humans' intelligence by mimicking problem solving skills. Go to ChatGPT and type in any topic you want to read about. It's pretty shocking knowing that a robot...

Burnt Out

Shanza Sami and Tia Rahmatalla • February 19, 2023

Experiencing burnout is normal, but shouldn’t be normalized. Mental health is an aspect of academic life that is often overshadowed by students’ desire to perform well—however, mental health should be prioritized regardless of how invested students are in their passions.

Under Pressure

Anna Greenlee, Evelyn Kraber, Jay Sainsbury, and Megan O'Neill • February 16, 2023

In 2019, 66% of graduates in the U.S. enrolled in college immediately after high school. In the same year, 59% of high school students said they planned to attend a 4-year college post-graduation. Of those...

Sustainable Fashion: Changing the Game

Bonnie Ding, Leah Butcher, and Callie Gao • February 16, 2023

West Side Story introduces the club of Sustainable Fashion.

Girls Who Code: Breaking the Status Code

Callie Gao, Leah Butcher, and Bonnie Ding • February 16, 2023

West High school is notorious for being excellent. In all things education, West High exceeds, and Girls Who Code is no exception to that standard. With the majority of the coding community being men,...

West High Alumni Leaving His Mark on the World: The story of Hunter Kieth

Giselle Garcia, Maddy Cook, and Jaretzi Garcia • February 16, 2023

At West, Keith was a brilliant student, spending lots of time in the Debate and Journalism room.“Between Debate and Newspaper that was basically my whole life at that point.” Keith says. Hunter...

What is your unforgettable moment?

Yeju Seol, Artist and Reporter • February 16, 2023

A ray of sunlight illuminates your room as you flip through your aged album. Pictures of your younger self flip past as you recall memories associated with them. The good, the bad, the chaotic, the peaceful,...

A Taste of College

Henry Timmer-Hackert and Sterling Warren • February 16, 2023

In high school not all classes are created equal, at least in the eyes of colleges. AP classes are far and away the best way to impress colleges and get credit in high school. The view of AP classes as...

Trends vs. Individual Style and Personality

Gretchen Van Iddekinge, Yearbook Staff • February 16, 2023

With different fashion trends blowing up every other day, it's hard to keep up with what Gen Z considers “cool” and “fashionable”. It seems like every time something becomes popular another...

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