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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
Alyson Kuennen

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer

This is Alyson’s second year on staff where she is a news editor and photographer. As a senior she spends her time working, working and working. “College is expensive folks,” she said. “I mean no regrets, but maybe I should’ve had one less trip to Pancheros.”
 
All content by Alyson Kuennen
One of the Little Rock Nine, Doctor Terrence Roberts, talks to West High students on April 6.

[Photo] Civil rights activist visits West High

Fatima Kammona, News Editor
April 13, 2018
The following day, Al-Ani sees two young boys in the refugee camp and asks them the same question.He discovers they are not siblings, but rather just two kids sticking together. While Al-Ani was given permission to take their photo, he does not always ask before the shot. "Sometimes you meet someone in the street, he's crying, so you have to ask him, 'Why you crying:' But here, you don't have to ask, you have to take the picture."

A powerful perspective

Anna Brown and Alyson Kuennen
April 6, 2018
‘The Miracle Season’ will show at the Englert Theatre on March 18.

Free tickets released for ‘The Miracle Season’

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer
March 1, 2018
SASS event to promote youth political involvement

SASS event to promote youth political involvement

Alyson Kuennen and Fatima Kammona
February 22, 2018
BeFunky-Collage

[Photo] Which west high teacher are you?

Reagan Hart, Reporter, Distribution Manager
February 22, 2018
West alumni and former tech member for Theatre West, Wes Overton '83, poses with the farewell message he wrote on a board following his graduation.

[Photo] A drama goodbye answered years later

Fatima Kammona, News Editor
February 7, 2018
Woody Harrelson showed his unprecedented film "Lost in London" to an Iowa City audience on Jan. 25 at the IMU.

Woody Harrelson presents groundbreaking film to Iowa City

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer
January 28, 2018
Lifestyle Fitness is a new course among many to be added for registration next school year.

[Photo] Three new courses to look out for while registering

Reagan Hart, Reporter, Distribution Manager
January 25, 2018
While seclusion rooms are said to be disbanded within the 2018-19 school year, 11 of the 28 schools in the ICCSD still make use of them. Almost 80 percent of schools in the district utilized them at one point and nine rooms have since been repurposed.

Sketched on the inside padded wall of a seclusion room at Northwest Junior HIgh reads the warning message, "KEEP OUT." Also found along the walls of the seclusion room were footprints, scratch marks and unidentifiable bodily fluids.

[Photo] Alone

Anjali Huynh and Anna Brown
December 22, 2017
Spoken Word Club launches today with help of UI students

Spoken Word Club launches today with help of UI students

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer
January 24, 2018
West's improv team took home one of two boots after tying with City High on Jan. 19.

Improv Battle of the Boot against City ends in tie

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer
January 24, 2018
Students walk through the smoke from construction during second period.

Haze from construction not to affect lunch

Eman Elsheikh and Alyson Kuennen
December 22, 2017
Sketched on the outside door of the seclusion room at Northwest Junior High reads the warning message "STAY OUT."

West's Girl Up club members pose for a photo after their first fundraiser on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria. The club raised well over $1,000 for girls programs in need of assistance.

First ever Girl Up fundraiser raises over $3,650

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer
December 19, 2017

[Video] Library celebrates release of ‘The Last Jedi’ with STEM project

Alyson Kuennen and Eman Elshiekh
December 15, 2017
Performers Zach Ring '18 and Will Laverman '18 play the piano after the Girl Up fundraiser on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria.

"Girl Up is a United Nations organization that helps girls in developing countries have things like education, health and safety that aren't as easily available to them as they are in developing countries," head of West's Girl Up club, Megan Schneider '18, said. "They provide lots of different opportunities and programs that help girls be successful."

University of Iowa professor Mary Ann Rasmussen reflects on the inability of young girls to obtain an education due to its steep price at the Girl Up fundraiser on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria.

Khlood Saeed '20 performs her slam poetry piece at the Girl Up fundraiser on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria.

Head of West's Girl Up club, Megan Schneider '18 (right) updates Emmie Klever '18 (center) and Ella Schmitz '18 regarding schedule changes for performers at the fundraiser on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria.

Sandrah Ochola '19 performs a dance to Audra Day's "Rise Up" on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria.

Sandrah Ochola '19 performs a dance to Audra Day's "Rise Up" on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria.

Social studies teacher Dominic Iannone plays "Wonderwall" by Oasis for the first ever Girl Up fundraiser on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria.

Social studies teacher Dominic Iannone plays "Wonderwall" by Oasis for the first ever Girl Up fundraiser on Dec. 8 in the cafeteria.

Austin Geasland '18 leads the student section in a cheer during the varsity basketball games against City on Dec. 12.

Basketball teams face off against City

Kara Wagenknecht and Alyson Kuennen
December 15, 2017
Jacob Klein '19 gets ready to shoot a basket in the second half of the varsity boys basketball game against City on Dec. 12.

Jake Anderson '18 gets past City's Jace Caven '18 in the second half of the game on Dec. 12.

Jake Anderson '18 screens for Jayson Barnes '18 in the second half of the game against City on Dec. 12.

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Seybian Sims '18 tips the ball off at the beginning of the game against City on Dec. 12.

Emma Koch '19 reaches for a rebound in the game against City on Dec. 12.

Lauren Zacharias '19 wrestles to grab the ball against City's Ashley Joens '18 after it rebounds on Dec. 12.

Girls varsity basketball players defend against City's Ashley Joens '18 on Dec. 12.

[Photo] Best of the best

February 17, 2020
West student section members try to distract City's free throw shooters during the varsity girl's basketball game against on Dec. 12.

From left: Lien Zhu '18, Yangtian Shangguan '19, Wingel Xue '18, Colleen Bloeser '18 and Quinn Baker '18. Not pictured: Steven Yuan '19.

6 West High students score perfect on ACT exam

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer
December 6, 2017
As technology becomes more and more prevalent, humans are becoming machines. Design by Selina Hua.

[Photo] ̶H̶u̶m̶a̶n̶

Fatima Kammona, News Editor
December 22, 2017
Courtney Mapel '21 and Lizette Perez '21 restart their Chromebooks after an accidental update by the district forced students to login every time they shut their laptop.

[Photo] ICCSD technology department says Chromebook update is unintentional

November 8, 2017
Cars leave the parking lot as their school day ends.

Back parking lot floods, water at West turned off

Alyson Kuennen and Fenna Semken
November 3, 2017
Ethan Seylar '18 sings "Monster Mash" with the combined Northwest and West High orchestras at the Halloween fundraising concert on Oct. 26.

Spooky strings scare up over $2,000

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer
November 1, 2017
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Along with band members, orchestra and choir students will audition for spots into All-State on Oct. 21. Above, Meleah Chang '18 practices for a mock audition at the All-State Strings Workshop on Oct. 14 at the Voxman Music Building.

[Photo] “Just go for it”

October 21, 2017
Ethan Buck '21 plays his alto saxophone in the West High courtyard.

[Photo] All that jazz

Anna Brown, Print Co-Copy Editor
October 16, 2017
After being born in Sudan and traveling to Egypt, Aibeer Mohamed and her family found themselves looking to the United States for better healthcare services.

[Photo] Aibeer Mohamed ’19

Prateek Raikwar and Shawn Thacker
September 29, 2017
Lifelong friends Merci Sikitu and Linda Adela have overcome immense challenges from across the world ever since they were infants.

[Photo] Uprooted

Anjali Huynh, Jessica Moonjely, Prateek Raikwar and Shawn Thacker
October 18, 2017
Despite Nidhi Patel's initial struggles with adapting to the new language and culture of the United States, she remains steadfast in her pursuit of a better education.

[Photo] Nidhi Patel ’19

Prateek Raikwar and Shawn Thacker
October 20, 2017
Rylee Fay '20 saves the ball in the game against Jefferson on Sept. 26.

Varsity volleyball falls to Jefferson on senior night

Kara Wagenknecht and Alyson Kuennen
September 30, 2017
The graduating Class of 2017, the second graduating class for which Dr. Shoultz was the principal. (File Photo)

[Photo] Gregg Shoultz

September 29, 2017
Alyson Kuennen is one of 10 finalists nationwide in NSPA's News Photo of the Year contest for this photo taken at a sit-in protest in the West High Commons in November 2016.

[Photo] WSS photographer 1 of 10 finalists in national News Photo of the Year contest

September 28, 2017
FlexiSCHED available to students for AFT request

FlexiSCHED available to students for AFT request

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor, Photographer
September 27, 2017
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Colby Greene '18 spikes the ball in the second set of the game against Jefferson on Sept. 26.

Cailyn Morgan '19 gets ready to spike in the second set of the varsity volleyball team against Jefferson on Sept. 26.

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Maddie Laffey '18, gets ready to spike the ball in the third set of the game against Jefferson on Sept. 26.

The varsity volleyball team huddles together after Cailyn Morgan '19 scores a point in the third set.

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After the girls varsity volleyball team scores a point in the third set against Jefferson, the student section erupted with cheers on Sept. 26.

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Members of the student section leap to catch the senior night volleyballs thrown by seniors before the game against Jefferson on Sept. 26.

Assistant coach Whitney Lang cheers after the varsity volleyball team scored a point in the game against Jefferson on Sept. 26.

Scheel's Athlete of the Week, Maddie Laffey '18, gets ready to spike the ball in the first set of the game against Jefferson on Sept. 26.

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The student news source of Iowa City West High
Alyson Kuennen