• MONDAY 5/19: girls golf MVC Divisional @ Western Dubuque
  • TUESDAY 5/20: girls soccer vs. Liberty, band concert @ 7:00 in Arganbright Auditorium, girls tennis semifinals @ U of I tennis complex
  • WEDNESDAY 5/21: baseball vs. Prairie, boys tennis substate vs. CR Jefferson, girls golf @ Southeast Polk, boys soccer @ Kennedy, senior recognition ceremony @ 7:00 in Arganbright Auditorium
  • THURSDAY 5/22: state track & field @ Drake, orchestra concert @ 7:00 in Arganbright Auditorium
  • FRIDAY 5/23: state track & field @ Drake, baseball @ Davenport West
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
Lea

Lea Abou Alaiwa, Assistant Photo Editor and News Co-Editor

Lea Abou Alaiwa is a sophmore and this is her first year on staff. This year, she’s broadcast’s Assistant Photo Editor and News Co-Editor. When she’s not in the newsroom working, you can find her either spending hours practicing trumpet or at Java fueling her caffeine addiction.

All content by Lea Abou Alaiwa
As the school year comes to an end, six West High staff members will be saying goodbye to West and hello to retirement.

2025 Faculty Farewell

WSS staff
May 29, 2025
Carolyn Walling does a demonstration with dry ice for her class.

Alice Jones was recognized for her work at the Community Music Talent Show April 17 before she retires.

Steve Merkle gives out high fives at the Community Music Talent Show April 17.

Jazz Ensemble closes the concert by playing their set.

West Jazz bands perform at Friday Night Concert Series

Lea Abou Alaiwa, Assistant Photo Editor and News Co-Editor
May 28, 2025
The civics test would be 100 multiple choice questions and students would be required to get 60 correct to pass.

[Photo] Iowa bill would require high school students to pass a citizenship test to graduate

Evelyn Kraber, Managing and Features Editor
May 27, 2025
WSS Online Photo and News Editor Lea Abou Alaiwa '27 won best Feature Photo for this photo of Adel Osman ‘25 looking at a clip of music he made in the Digital Music Production room.

[Photo] IHSPA names WSS staff 2025 News Team of the Year finalist

Staff
April 30, 2025
On the West High field, Sophia Oulman ‘25 kicks the ball away from her opponent March 31.

[Photo] April news briefs

Henry Timmer-Hackert, Print Opinion Editor
April 18, 2025
Iowa City West girls volleyball huddles up before their game at the Live Like Line tournament.

[Photo] Meet West High’s new volleyball head coach: Jaedynn Evans

Lila Eastvold, Photographer and reporter
April 13, 2025
Jazz Ensemble performs their first song, "This Song is You," at the 2025 Iowa Jazz Championships on April 8.

[Photo] Jazz Ensemble travels to Ames for Iowa Jazz Championships

Anna Greenlee, Design, Entertainment and Opinion Editor
April 10, 2025
All kinds of books were banned under SF 496 — from fantasy to nonfiction.

[Photo] Senate File 496’s book ban blocked — again

Evelyn Kraber, Managing and Features Editor
April 7, 2025
President Donald J. Trump was inaugurated for his second non-consecutive term of presidency on Jan. 20.

Executive directives: The impact of Trump’s presidential decisions

Lea Abou Alaiwa and Ella Ciliberto
March 26, 2025
The Supreme Court will rule to keep or ban TikTok on Jan. 19.

TikTok termination?

Lea Abou Alaiwa, Assistant Photo Editor and News Co-Editor
January 17, 2025
A silhouette of Adel Osman '25 as he works on his music.

[Photo] Musician, poet, artist: Adel Osman

Vera Tanas, Copy and Art Editor
March 15, 2025
West’s Jazz Bands traveled to Chicago. Over the course of the trip, they competed twice and visited The Jazz Showcase, a professional jazz club in town.

Through the lens: jazz band Chicago trip

Anna Greenlee and Lea Abou Alaiwa
March 13, 2025
Photos by Evelyn Kraber, Anna Song and Colin Wehrle.

Where excellence is a tradition, but where stress thrives

Anna Greenlee and Lea Abou Alaiwa
March 9, 2025
Dylan Colleran '27 poses with one of his fragrances.

West High’s fragrance connoisseur: ScentedGent

Lila Eastvold and Lea Abou Alaiwa
February 20, 2025
Following the 2025 Lunar New Year Gala, the performers throw snakes into the crowd Feb. 2 in the Englert Theatre.

Through the lens: 2025 Lunar New Year Gala

Lea Abou Alaiwa and Colin Wehrle
February 14, 2025
West High held its National Honor Society ceremony on Feb. 11.

[Photo] New students inducted into National Honor Society following changes to requirements

Ashlyn Brady, Online Editor-in-Chief
February 13, 2025
Phone is handed into administrators after first infraction to phone policy.

ICCSD implements new phone policy

Lea Abou Alaiwa, Assistant Photo Editor and News Co-Editor
January 22, 2025

Sweet talk

Anna Greenlee and Lea Abou Alaiwa
January 16, 2025
Genna Ray '25 performs at Jazz Cafe, a fundraiser event for the West High Bands, in the cafeteria Dec. 15.

[Photo] January news briefs

Mrudani Ramkumar, Print Managing Editor
January 17, 2025
A student places their phone in their backpack.

School board finalizes district-wide phone policy

Ashlyn Brady and Lea Abou Alaiwa
December 13, 2024
The Trojan Marching Band performs a dance during their closer, "Thriller."

Marching forward: one year later

Lea Abou Alaiwa and Anna Greenlee
October 17, 2024
Liberty High performs their show "Happily Ever After," full of Disney classics such as "I Can Go the Distance" from "Hercules" and "You're Welcome" from "Moana" at the Corridor Marching Classic.

[Photo] West High’s first Corridor Marching Classic

Anna Greenlee, Design, Entertainment and Opinion Editor
October 18, 2024
Jazz Ensemble plays in the concert as the last band featured.

Swinging into the jazz band season: first concert of the year

Lea Abou Alaiwa, Assistant Photo Editor and News Co-Editor
October 10, 2024
On Oct. 4, the West High student section throws up colorful arrays of chalk at the Homecoming football game against Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Homecoming highlights: reflecting on moments from the week

Colin Wehrle and Lea Abou Alaiwa
October 10, 2024
Seniors Ava Bruxvoort, Sidney Tranel and Sasha Postnikov endorse Period Club. On Sept. 11, the group incentivized sign ups by giving out candy.

[Photo] October news briefs

Colin Wehrle, Print Photo and Sports Editor
October 4, 2024
A view of Pump It Up's new space in the new commons area. As part of Pump It Up's rebrand, they're going to get a new space with locked doors and seating in front. BPA plans to rename Pump It Up and change the colors as well.

Constructing change

Lea Abou Alaiwa, Jake Beneke, Ella Ciliberto, and Colin Wehrle
June 4, 2024
Graphic illustrates slang used in today's society.

Loose Language

Lea Abou Alaiwa, Assistant Photo Editor and News Co-Editor
April 16, 2024
As a Java regular for the past five years, Lily Polgreen '27 comes here whenever she can. Whether it be studying, hanging out with friends or just picking up a sweet treat, The Java House is definitely a favorite for Polgreen.

Java House jolt: a sip into West High culture

Colin Wehrle, Lea Abou Alaiwa, and Ella Ciliberto
February 29, 2024
Load More Stories
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germaniw Hebrewhi Hindiit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanpt Portuguesero Romanianru Russianes Spanishsu Sundanesesw Swahilitr Turkish
en English
Donate to West Side Story
$300
$2000
Contributed
Our Goal

Menu
Activate Search
The student news source of Iowa City West High
Lea Abou Alaiwa