• 11/11: Girls basketball, boys swimming and bowling practices begin
  • 11/13: Signing day
  • 11/15: Cadenza concert @6:30 in West High commons
  • 11/15: Girls swimming state championship @ Marshalltown
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
Marta Leira

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief

(she/her) Marta Leira is a senior at West High and editor-in-chief of the print publication. Marta enjoys running (sometimes), creating a an embarrassing amount of Spotify playlists, and using the oxford comma.

All content by Marta Leira

Sights of spring: Geocaching

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
April 11, 2021
Society's perception of sex is constantly changing, as reflected in the ICCSD sex education curriculum and the rise of the internet.

Let’s talk about sex

Marta Leira and Alice Meng
February 27, 2021

Missed connections 2021

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
February 9, 2021
Iowa state senators discussed SSB 1065 with students and educators Jan. 25.

Iowans weigh in on proposed school funding bill

Marta Leira and Caroline Mascardo
January 25, 2021
Español

Español

Marta Leira and Bess Frerichs
December 8, 2020
Français

Français

Marta Leira and Bess Frerichs
December 8, 2020
English

English

Marta Leira and Bess Frerichs
December 8, 2020

Detached: how to get support

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
December 8, 2020

For(tune) teller

Marta Leira and Eva Jordan
November 2, 2020
According to the New York Times, 15 million to 26 million people in the U.S. alone have attended rallies in support of the Black Lives Matter movement since the killing of George Floyd in May.

Unmuted

Marta Leira, Fareeha Ahmad, and Maya Chu
October 19, 2020
Community members work on a public mural in the South Side district of Iowa City.

Iowa City South District residents unite to paint community mural

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
June 4, 2020
6 things that bring us joy despite tough times

6 things that bring us joy despite tough times

Kailey Gee, Alex Carlon, Hanah Kitamoto, Marta Leira, Abby McKeone, and Alyssa Skala
June 3, 2020
The joy of Spotify

The joy of Spotify

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
June 3, 2020

Iowans protest police brutality at “Say Their Names” rally

Alex Carlon, Marta Leira, and Kailey Gee
June 1, 2020
Unlocked

Unlocked

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
May 26, 2020
COVID-19 has prompted school closures and social isolation, and with that comes unique opportunities for students.

Isolation insights

Marta Leira and Youjoo Lee
May 20, 2020
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, as of April 23, there were 3,748 cases of COVID-19 in Iowa.

Viral.

Marta Leira and Kailey Gee
April 23, 2020
Follow WSS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date coverage concerning West High.

ICCSD updates on COVID-19

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
March 19, 2020
West Side Story investigates vaccine enforcement within the Iowa City Community School District.

Calling the shots

Annabel Hendrickson and Marta Leira
March 4, 2020
Optimizing matchomatics

Optimizing matchomatics

Marta Leira, Isaac Young, and Ken Wilbur
February 28, 2020
Julian Wemmie '20 and Riley Bridges '20 pose with a burrito in Pancheros.

Behind the burrito buddies

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
February 12, 2020
Three participants from West High mark the number of years they have attended UIDM.

[Photo] For the kids: why they dance

Bess Frerichs, Online Managing and Feature Editor
February 11, 2020
The above seniors are candidates for the 2020 Presidential Scholarship.

Eight students named candidates in 2020 U.S Presidential Scholars Program

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
February 5, 2020
WSS: a decade in review

WSS: a decade in review

Marta Leira and Isaac Young
January 12, 2020
Sophie Nims '21 and Ella Rosenthal '21 work on their math homework during AFT.

Securing safety?

Marta Leira and Isaac Young
December 21, 2019
Sabrina Williams '22, iJAG Community Service Representative, poses with one of the donation boxes that can be found around West.

iJAG hosts care box drive to support Four Oaks

Alex Carlon and Marta Leira
November 30, 2019
"I’m trying to listen, but my mind gets easily side-tracked.”-Carly Norris '21

Out of sight, out of mind

Hanah Kitamoto and Marta Leira
November 17, 2019
Protesters reach out as Thunberg says goodbye to the crowd.

[Photo] Greta Thunberg speaks at Iowa City climate strike

Alex Carlon and Marta Leira, Co-News Editors
October 7, 2019
In 2018, the ICCSD used 31,278 pounds of beef, which amounts to over 500,000 pounds of CO2 emissions. (Source: Alison Demory)

Unsustainable.

Annabel Hendrickson, Natalie Katz, and Marta Leira
October 3, 2019
Superintendent Stephen Murley awards custodian Daniel Carlos with the Shine Award on Sept. 13 in the main commons.

ICCSD superintendent to resign June 2021

Alex Carlon and Marta Leira
October 2, 2019
Students and attendees gather in the tunnels of Carver Hawkeye Arena to take shelter.

Tornado warning interrupts graduation

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
May 24, 2019
The vandalized car was towed at approximately 2 p.m. in the Liberty High parking lot.

Senior prank sparks police involvement

Alex Carlon, Marta Leira, and Natalie Dunlap
May 23, 2019
Weighing the decision

Weighing the decision

Marta Leira and Annabel Hendrickson
May 23, 2019
Going green

Going green

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
March 6, 2019
Dante Eldridge '19 runs off the blocks at the start of the boys distance medley on Friday, April 27.

400 meter dash added to Drake Relays

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
February 20, 2019
Michael Han '20 is selected to represent West and compete in the "Who Wants to Be a Mathematician Championship?". The competition is set to take place in Maryland on January 19.

West student takes on international math competition

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
January 17, 2019
Maria Martin, Dean of Students, poses with an American flag.

Sealing the deal

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
January 11, 2019
Design by Lydia Guo.

Meet the Buddies

Jessica Moonjely, Marta Leira, and Alex Carlon
January 10, 2019
Jaden Buckley '19 and Byamungu Omari '20 first met at Northwest Junior High and their friendship quickly took off.

Jaden Buckley ’19 and Byamungu Omari ’20

Jessica Moonjely, Marta Leira, and Alex Carlon
January 10, 2019
Chase Lonngren '20 has always been interested in art, but he took his first art class at Northwest Junior High.

Chase Lonngren ’20

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
January 10, 2019
Members of Students Against School Shootings (SASS), hold up a "March for our lives" banner as they make their way to the Pentacrest on March 24. Nick Pryor '18, one of the leaders of SASS, was impressed by how many people came out in the snow. "It was a nightmare driving downtown, and yet nearly a thousand people came out to support the movement,” Pryor said.

When it happens.

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
December 30, 2018
Students from City High and West High gather to hear speakers from SASS

SASS hosts walkout in honor of sixth anniversary of Sandy Hook shooting

Marta Leira and Lucy Polyak
December 16, 2018
The peer tutoring center is open every weekday before and after school, and during aft.

West High’s first-ever Tutoring Center now open to all

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
November 5, 2018
All classrooms went dark in the school when the power went out on Sept. 18, 2018.

Power outage interrupts class

Marta Leira, Print Editor-in-Chief
September 18, 2018
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The student news source of Iowa City West High
Marta Leira