From ITBS to Iowa Assessments to ISASP, the flaws in the tests are glaring. On the morning of Tuesday, April 26, 2019, West students in grades nine through 11 began the first section of the three-day-long...
My first experience with running track last year ensured a flurry of mixed emotions: love for the sport and my amazing teammates, pain as I ran through shin splints and a sprained groin, pride when I shaved...
Today, like many days, I head a headache both during the school day and afterward. Who or what is the nefarious culprit behind these head pains? The answer is screens. While certainly not all and probably...
“It’s going to get easier.” Lie. “You're going to get through this.” Lie. Instead, tell me the truth. Tell me that there are going to be days when I pretend to be okay. Tell me that there will...
As spring comes into full bloom, you may be looking to do some spring cleaning on your favorite playlist. WSS staff members recommended their top songs of the moment to be compiled into a giant playlist...
I’m cracking my (root) beer and eating some (veggie) dogs tonight but I don’t think anyone else will at West High. Our generation isn’t paying attention to professional baseball like ones in the...
Earlier this month, I attended my third funeral. It was for my 97-year-old great-grandmother who had passed away the weekend before, which happened to be on my 18th birthday. Though all of this sounds...
Alyssa Skala, Yearbook Managing Editor
• March 27, 2019
At the beginning of Spanish class, my stomach felt queasy. I was nervous, I didn't want to give a presentation, especially in another language. The teacher required us go in alphabetical order by...
One of the most cliché pieces of advice we’ve all heard growing up is that hard work pays off. For the most part, this has proven to be true. Take the “miracle stories” of people working their way...
They rise before the sun and return home well after dark. Division I college athletics is not merely fun and games. Most days are filled with conditioning, weightlifting and team meetings before their...
Communication is key. I know, I know. That sounds totally cliché. It's the first lesson in Relationships 101; it's the unsolicited advice your weird relative gives you; it's much easier said than… said....
Bess Frerichs, Online Managing and Feature Editor
• February 22, 2019
In January, we celebrated diversity and inclusivity with the MLK Day Activities. The purpose of the event was to learn about the civil rights movements and to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Yet as I...
