It starts with a loud shriek.

Shortly after, the pounding of shoes racing down the linoleum hallway can be heard from inside the main floor classrooms. Teachers seal off their class from the outside…

How much does it really cost to have a quality education at a public high school? Looking at the sticker price, nothing. Yet this year, according to USA Today, the average family spent $1223 on just basic…

It’s that time of year again. The bitter December wind whips through the air, bringing with it an equally chilling obstacle for students: the influx of exams crammed in before break. When the seemingly…

Turntables, headphones and deafening music all accompany the talented individuals and job descriptions of disk jockeys, commonly referred to as DJs. While most DJs may learn and perfect their style and…

As technology has become more prevalent, security monitoring has increased, and people’s sense of privacy has gone down. Schools are no exception to this trend. Since West has opened, the administration…

A new generational war has broken out, and words are the weapon of choice. Two little words in particular have sparked fury in the middle-aged and plastered smug grins on the faces of teenagers and twenty-somethings…

At first glance, wrestling mats might look soft. That’s what people thought about female wrestlers. But if you take a closer look, both are extremely tough. It took decades of dodging stereotypes and doubters…

Females fight sports bias by WSS Editorial Board 1971
Published in the September 17, 1971 edition of West Side Story
During the course of high school, certain extra-curricular activities are set up so…

The changing of the seasons from fall to winter brings about time with family, hot chocolate and snow. However, it also brings shorter days, piled up homework and stressful holidays. For many individuals,…

The diagnosis

In December of 2014, English teacher John Boylan and his wife, Sarah Boylan, went to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital for their daughter, Emilia “Emmie” Boylan’s,…

While some may drive right by the “Feeling sweaxy?” sign outside of the jazzercise fitness center on Gilbert Street, other curious individuals might just be intrigued enough to stumble upon their new…

On Nov 19, the Municipal Equality Index (MEI) was announced at City Hall in Iowa City. The MEI rates 506 different cities in the United States on the inclusivity of laws and policies through five categories…

It’s been an astounding 58 years since Fred Rogers began hosting a television program for children, and 51 years since the premiere of the beloved show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” In this era…

The soft glow of the SMART Board beams at the front of the room, casting a low-lit shadow over the faces of those residing in the front row. As you are concentrating on the presentation in front of you,…

One can of tuna.

That’s all wrestler Brock Pelfrey ’22 allowed himself to consume on the day of last year’s dual meet against City High.

In the weeks leading up to the meet, Pelfrey, who plays…

Imagine you wake up in the morning and open your Instagram, Youtube, or Twitter feed to see your name trending across all platforms, thousands of people calling you out, tagging you in harsh comments….

Inappropriate touching. Unwanted sexting. Catcalling down the hallways.

All of the above have happened right here at West High.

Almost five years ago, WSS wrote a cover story titled ‘No Excuse’…

Taika Waititi has proven himself again and again to be one of Hollywood’s greatest tour de force directors of delightfully bizarre arthouse films that tread the line between drama and full-on comedy….

They are five of the biggest guys on any given football field, yet most fans hardly even notice they are there.

Football fans eyes’ are almost always glued to the ball, meaning they focus on the quarterback…

“The Lighthouse” is a tale of how two men, isolated on a decrepit rock, fall into a state of murderous hysteria. Robert Eggers is such a stupendous filmmaker, viewers will likely fall victim to the…

Mia Dillingham ’20 and Mary Woodward ’21 met two years ago in cross country, completely unaware that they both knew sign language. They were sprinters, so they became friends over their shared love for…

It was the golden era of West High athletics.

From 2010 to 2014, ‘Dynasty High’ won 19 state championships across 10 different sports, including seven in the 2011-2012 season alone. In 2015, the…

When remembering Akram Mergani ’18, there are always certain qualities that tend to come to mind. He was funny and kind. He was passionate and caring. He was an individual who left a positive mark on…

This is the story of a young boy who could climb as quickly as he could read. A boy who could play just as well in the band as he could on Friday nights. The story of new friends and new schools. This…

From a birds-eye view, the earth appears to be dead. What was once green is now brown; what was once frozen is now melted. Trees can no longer survive in the extreme temperatures, glaciers have completely…

From Todd Phillips, director of “The Hangover” trilogy, comes one of the most beautiful, jarring and controversial films in years. “Joker” is, at its best, a unique character study that just so…

The soul-crushing sound of a Hydro Flask crashing against the worn tile floor sets off a chorus of “sksksks” and “and I oop’s” that echo around an otherwise silent classroom. These are the exclamations…

In preparation for Maia DeGrazia’s ’20 eighth grade formal, her mother was adjusting her dress. While her mom was standing behind her, adding clear straps to the sparkly strapless top of the dress,…

What began as a normal school lifting class became an opportunity for two girls to participate in one of the United States’ most male-dominated school sports.

Without schedule flexibility for…

In perfect unison, the marching band struts onto the football field. They stand still, waiting in anticipation until the shriek of the conductor’s whistle cuts through the air. As they start to play,…

You walk into the movie theater and the smell of buttery popcorn fills the air; shushes and whispers fill your ears as you take your seat. The trailers finish and finally, the movie begins. You look up…

Although West High seems to have no shortage of sports to offer, there is one that does not make the list. Competitive cycling. While cycling is not available for athletes to participate in at West, there…

They walk in unison to the open field, all singing the Trojan cross country song. The girls line up and cramp together as tightly as possible. They try to suppress the feeling of anxiety and focus on staying…

Loki: the God of Mischief, Prince of the kingdom of Asgard, adopted brother of Thor, the wronged son of the devious Frost Giants. His tales of plunder, adventure, and roguery have always been a shining…

It was a crush that brought sixteen year old Caleb Rainey to first perform poetry as a high school student. After his classmate told him she was interested in poets, he got to work in preparation for his…

In fashion, one of the easiest parts of an outfit to overlook is socks, as most of the time they are hidden by shoes. However, for some students at West, socks are integral to their unique style.

…

Olivia Dachtler and Maddy Luegering: University of Iowa
West Side Story: How long have you been friends?

Maddy Luegering: “We started being friends this year, so it was pretty recent. We had a Kirkwood…

I started sophomore year without many friends. Most people in my close friend group had been split up because of new district lines or because of families moving away.

A few months into sophomore year…

Having a professional musician as a father, it is no surprise that Phoebe Burt ‘21 was humming before she could talk. Phoebe and Kevin Burt discuss how music has helped the two grow more in tune with…

A new tradition will begin this Saturday at West High: the Eastern Iowa Track and Field Festival. Teams and individuals from across Iowa will show up and compete in hopes of qualifying for the Drake Relays…

*Some sources in this story have been given aliases, as they chose to remain anonymous.

It’s a summer night, just a few weeks before you start high school. You are sitting with your friends in the…

Disclaimer: some of the songs embedded in this article contain profane lyrics.

Drake, Kanye West, Eminem: these are the names that come to mind when one thinks of “rap.” But, over the past few years,…

The second annual March for our Lives took place in downtown Iowa City on Saturday, March 30. The event, coordinated by West and City High Students Against School Shootings (SASS) members, protested school…

Emotions. It goes without saying that our emotions, our inner feelings and our sensations, are a main proprietor in making us who we are. We use them during every moment of our life, whether they be the…

At the beginning of Spanish class, my stomach felt queasy. I was nervous, I didn’t want to give a presentation, especially in another language. The teacher required us go in alphabetical order by last…

In January, we celebrated diversity and inclusivity with the MLK Day Activities. The purpose of the event was to learn about the civil rights movements and to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Yet as I…

The trudge from one class to another can be a mundane journey, but students making their way past room 117 might catch a glimpse of Kedi Ochs singing and dancing outside of English teacher Ann Rocarek’s…

If there are a few things that viewers have readily come to expect from every new Marvel Studios film that makes its way into theaters, they are consistent entertainment value, boundless mesmerizing thrills…

The bell rings, signaling the end of yet another long school day. The halls are abuzz with excitement about tonight’s big event. Athletes’ lockers are covered with posters wishing them luck for the game.

Students…

One of the most cliché pieces of advice we’ve all heard growing up is that hard work pays off. For the most part, this has proven to be true. Take the “miracle stories” of people working their way…