Amplifying the voices of a nation
Natalie Dunlap, Online Editor-in-Chief
April 25, 2019
Filed under Feature, Profiles, Showcase
A phone in one hand, a mic in the other, Prisca Namutchibwe ’19 took the stage at Walk it Out. The night of March 9 had consisted of students from various cultures of the world modeling on stage and dancing to music, but the crowd fell silent as Namutchibwe read her poem, addressed to the white parents...
An open letter to anti-vaxxers
Sumner Wallace, Reporter
April 24, 2019
Filed under Columns, Opinion, Showcase
Dear anti-vaxxers, I believe you have been done a disservice. People, like myself, who believe in the importance of vaccinations have come after you on the internet and made you out to be the villains of the recent measles outbreaks in Washington state and New York. You have been sorely mislabeled and ...
FilmScene unveils new “Strengthen Grow Evolve,” project
Harry Westergaard, Arts Editor
April 24, 2019
Filed under A&E, Arts, News, Showcase
For the past year, the area across the street from the downtown rec center has been consumed by a grand construction project, the details of which have mainly existed as whispers about a new FilmScene theater opening, a bowling alley. Last Saturday, the twentieth of April, a new partnership between FilmS...
Green hope
Bess Frerichs, Reporter
April 21, 2019
Earth Day celebrates the planet and serves to raise awareness of the damage society is doing to the earth. One way to raise awareness is to host or attend events for Earth Day. Here are a few happening in the Iowa City area. "Tallgrass Conversations" Release Day Reading Monday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Bookstore 15 S Dubuque St. ...
ISASP: an Iowa statewide annoyance
Ken Wilbur, Reporter
April 19, 2019
Filed under Columns, Opinion, Showcase
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 Iowa Statewide Test of Student Progress (ISASP) exam. Although it is one of many standardized tests West students will take this y...
Track teams push to qualify for Drake Relays
Kara Wagenknecht, Online Editor-in-Chief and Co-Sports Editor
April 19, 2019
Filed under Multimedia, Showcase, Sports, Track and Field
The track and field teams traveled across town to City High to compete in the annual Forwald/Coleman Relays in hopes of qualifying for the Drake Relays for the last time. The Drake Relays start Thursday, April 25 and go through Saturday, April 27. The boys team narrowly defeated City High by four points to g...
Not seeing double
Bess Frerichs, Reporter
April 19, 2019
Identical twins Lizzy Slade ‘21 and Makayla Slade ‘21 may look alike, but that is where most of the similarities end. Lizzy wakes up at 7:00 a.m. every morning to get ready for school. She gets dressed, puts on makeup and goes to eat breakfast. After a foot reconstruction surgery on Feb. 6...
Rising Stars: Jada Dachtler ’22 & Makenna Vonderhaar ’22
Lucy Polyak, Opinion editor
April 15, 2019
Filed under Showcase, Soccer, Sports
Jada Dachtler ’22: WSS: When did you start playing soccer? JD: “I started playing soccer when I was five, and at that time I played softball and danced too. I was kind of just trying out sports, but then I got into soccer when I was ten because a friend asked me to come try out for a club ...
Boys track honors seniors and past coach
Kara Wagenknecht, Online Editor-in-Chief and Co-Sports Editor
April 14, 2019
Filed under Multimedia, Showcase, Sports, Track and Field
The Trojans hosted Pleasant Valley, Solon, Monticello, Muscatine and Grinnell for the annual Hollingsworth relays. The meet honored the first ever West track and field coach Gary Hollingsworth and West seniors with a senior recognition ceremony. The meet also honored West science teacher Brad Wymer's f...
Testing new tech
Anna Brown, Co-Copy Editor and Reporter
April 14, 2019
It’s that time again. A time for students to be surrounded by unfamiliar faces and wander to unknown places. A time of walking aimlessly among rows of desks searching for your name card. However, this year, the faint scent of pencil shavings will be absent. And even more noticeable, the silence wi...
High stakes
Sophie Stephens, Online Managing Editor
April 12, 2019
It’s a summer night, just a few weeks before you start high school. You are sitting with your friends in the house when they say they’re going outside. Out of curiosity, you follow them to the back porch. Instantly the smell hits you. As you walk closer, you see them passing something around. You ...
West community names best restaurants of the Iowa City area
Anjali Huynh, Print Managing Editor and Co-Copy Editor
April 11, 2019
Filed under A&E, Food, Reviews, Showcase
Best Asian restaurant: Red Ginger Honorable mentions: Formosa, Taste of China, Thai Spice Best bakery: Scratch Cupcakery Honorable mentions: Deluxe, Molly's Cupcakes, Panera Bread Best barbecue: Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack Honorable mentions: Mosley's Barbecue and Provisions, Pop's BBQ, Texas R...
Co-Design Editor
Crystal is a senior at West High. This is her third year on staff and she is a Co-Design Editor on the print section. In her free time, Crystal is either reading or at the Bread Garden enjoying their $5...
