• NO SCHOOL 10/14-15
  • 10/14: Boys golf state championship
  • 10/15: Volleyball tournament @ Home
  • 10/15: Girls swimming and diving @ Cedar Falls
  • 10/16: Corridor Marching Classic @ Liberty
  • 10/17: Girls and boys cross country @ Seminole
  • 10/18: Football @ Home
  • 10/19: Girls swimming and diving @ 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
Vera Tanas

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor

Vera Tanas is a senior, and this is her third year on staff. She is the Copy Editor and Art Editor for the West Side Story website. Outside of journalism, Vera enjoys playing soccer, listening to music and drinking sparkling water.

All content by Vera Tanas
Silhouettes of U.S. Paralympic athletes Sarah Adam, Hunter Woodhall and Trevon Jenifer.

September news quiz

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
October 4, 2024
Ripped pieces of paper tied together with red string spell out the title of the book.

Page to screen: “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”

Vera Tanas and Elizabeth Young
September 30, 2024
Sophie Bodin '25 hands out beaded necklaces to the crowd in the parade.

Homecoming week anticipations

Vera Tanas and Anna Gibson
September 29, 2024
Silhouettes of Paralympic athletes Sarah Adam, Hunter Woodhall and Trevon Jenifer participating in their respective sports.

A collage of the teachers retiring.

Faculty Farewell: A final goodbye

Yaya Orszula and Vera Tanas
June 5, 2024
The Best of West logo connected by hearts made of string.

The beginning of Best of West

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
June 4, 2024
A field of flowers surrounded by trees in the Shimek Ravine preserve.

Preserving Iowa: Bur Oak Land Trust

Vera Tanas and Josephine Schwartz
May 29, 2024
A student contemplates the best way to study for her upcoming AP tests.

AP studying tips from Best of West

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
April 16, 2024
A trash can spills a student's school supplies.

West High diary: “Giant trash can on the ground”

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
April 12, 2024
Christian's corner banner

[Photo] Christian’s corner

Zoe Smith and Abby Guo
April 8, 2024
"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" can be watched on Disney+

“Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” live-action review

Vera Tanas, Josephine Schwartz, and Nicole Lee
March 18, 2024
Untitled_Artwork (3) (1)

Sara Siepker, new to West as a librarian secretary.

Sara Siepker: journey to West

Vera Tanas and Tessa Gibson
February 13, 2024
Paraeducators are the beating heart of West High.

[Photo] Unsung heroes: exploring the challenges faced by paraeducators in the West community

January 17, 2024
Tina Hart is a librarian secretary who fills the library with her warm and welcoming personality.

Full circle: from student to librarian secretary at West High’s haven of books

Tessa Gibson and Vera Tanas
December 21, 2023
Jill Hofmockel stands in front of a Halloween themed book stand.

Meet West’s leading librarian: Mrs. Hofmockel

Tessa Gibson and Vera Tanas
November 8, 2023
Snakes and feathers swirl around a chalice.

The return of Percy Jackson in “The Chalice of the Gods”

Anna Greenlee and Vera Tanas
November 7, 2023
Store-bought Halloween costumes can make costs soar, so this year, turn to your own wardrobe to create a stellar costume!

Budget Halloween costumes

Josephine Schwartz and Vera Tanas
October 27, 2023
IMG-0146

[Photo] Budget Halloween costumes

October 26, 2023
Students connect over classwork.

Best of West: connections through classwork

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
September 26, 2023
Magic flows upwards from a book lying open.

Nostalgia in novels

Anna Greenlee and Vera Tanas
September 25, 2023
A silhouette of Taylor Swift forms a heart with her hands in front of The Eras Tour colors.

The Eras Tour (West’s version)

Vera Tanas and Neema Ash
September 21, 2023
A bike leans against a fence next to a Courage Ride banner

Biking for a cure

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
June 17, 2023
Michelle Wikner teaches Chemistry and AP Chemistry at West High

Michelle Wikner

Vivian Polgreen and Vera Tanas
May 30, 2023
Marlisa Batie smiles at the camera

Marlisa Batie

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
May 23, 2023
Dave Rosenthal smiles while sitting

Dave Rosenthal

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
May 23, 2023
Steve Gibson stands with his hands in his pockets

[Photo] Steve Gibson

Tessa Gibson, Profiles Editor
May 30, 2023
Darci Witthoft stands in front of a board in her classroom

[Photo] Darci Witthoft

Yaya Orszula, Sports Editor
May 30, 2023
Various people show off their fashionable selves

Be your amazing YOU

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
April 27, 2023
Caiden Sweeting, Grace Miller, Ms. Witthoft, and Sophia Deyak prepare for their first socratic seminar discussion over F. Scott Fitzgerald's, The Great Gatsby.

Faculty farewell: Ms. Witthoft

Vivian Polgreen and Vera Tanas
April 26, 2023
An assortment of classic April Fools' Day pranks.

[Photo] Craziest April Fools’ Experiences

Tessa Gibson and Lee Corlette
March 31, 2023
Aria holds a bouquet of flowers after winning the Miss Amazing pageant

Aria Warren: Miss Amazing

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
March 7, 2023
Health classes in the ICCSD are outdated, and need to be reformed to fit today's social scene for teens.

[Photo] Health classes: more harmful than helpful

February 24, 2023
Health classes in the ICCSD are outdated, and need to be reformed to fit today's social scene for teens.

[Photo] Health classes: more harmful than helpful

Camille Gretter, Online Editor-In-Chief
February 24, 2023
Michelle Wikner stands in front of a poster of the periodic table

Faculty Farewell: Ms. Wikner

Vivian Polgreen and Vera Tanas
February 20, 2023
Mr. Neuzil, a social studies teacher at West High, announced his retirement earlier this year

Faculty Farewell: A look into Mr. Neuzil’s 37 years at West

Vivian Polgreen and Vera Tanas
January 30, 2023
Showtime show choir raises their arms during their perfomance.

Show choirs debut in annual River City Showcase

Vera Tanas and Alaina Greenlee
January 19, 2023
Spotify wrapped is finally here! Students throughout West High are eager to find out their results for 2022.

Spotify Wrapped 2022 breakdown

Vera Tanas, Tessa Gibson, Eleanor Weitz, and Elena Garcia Van Auken
December 14, 2022

The Melodies of Midnights Ep.1

Tessa Gibson, Elena Garcia Van Auken, Ashlyn Brady, Vera Tanas, and Katherine Shoppa
December 2, 2022
Zebulon Hurst tells about his journey from West and his return

Zebulon’s full circle: returning to West High

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
November 28, 2022
Virtousa poses for a pre-concert photo.

Fall choral concert

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
October 17, 2022
The Mohamed effect

The Mohamed effect

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
October 2, 2022
The inside on why we should go outside

The inside on why we should go outside

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
April 19, 2022
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The student news source of Iowa City West High
Vera Tanas