In response to a year full of political activism and pushes for a more diverse curriculum, the ICCSD is offering a new English course starting in the 2021-2022 school year: African American literature….

In the classroom

You walk into the sixth grade classroom, refreshed after a recess break. But now the room feels different. Your classmates go silent as the dimly lit projector reveals the elusive…

Throughout high school, math teacher Hanan Rahmatallah was ambitious. She was involved in a diverse range of activities from singing to playing sports. She especially enjoyed the wonders of creating. Inspired…

It’s been over a year since the novel coronavirus made its first appearance. Although the pandemic has felt never-ending, with the introduction of two COVID-19 vaccines released by companies Pfizer and…

In the world of sports, there’s no in between.

The ball is either in or out. You make the shot or miss it. You win or lose. Even the way sports teams are categorized is firmly rooted in the binary:…

Six foot nine Pete Moe ‘22 is easy to spot in the hallways, regardless of the recently crowded West High halls. Knowing almost no one beyond his new teammates on the basketball court, Moe found himself…

When parents first sign their children up for a recreational soccer league or for tennis lessons, kids probably don’t think of it as much more than an activity that takes up a couple of hours of their…

West High special education teacher Alex Michenfelder started losing the upper ranges of his hearing in sixth or seventh grade. Hearing loss has always run in his family, so he wasn’t that surprised….

Recap

Following a rally for former President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump supporters formed a mob and made their way to the Capitol to protest Congress’ certification of the presidential…

The college application process is always a new and stressful experience for high school seniors. This year, however, admissions officers are also finding themselves in uncharted territory. With testing…

With school shifted online, many students are finding it harder to focus and get their work done. This is especially true for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental…

The best ideas don’t always develop in the shower; they can also unfold in the car. At least they did for friends Aasiya Ali ’22 and Advika Shah ’22. This past October, the pair launched their new…

Reconnecting. In the age of Zoom classes, students are no stranger to this message appearing on their screen as their internet cuts in and out, and they are kicked out of the virtual classroom yet again….

2020. The year started off with fireworks and excitement as people were filled with hope and plans for the new year. People attended big parties together with no masks in sight, a foreign idea to us now,…

Exhilarating wins and devastating losses are engraved in the culture of sports, and West High is no stranger to these experiences. For years, Trojan athletes have dominated in numerous spheres of athletics…

The bright floodlights and cheering crowds of Friday night football games are always met with excitement from many. For one student, however, these games mean more than just entertainment and school pride….

Through a screen, we might feel an inch away from others, but in reality, we are miles apart. With turned-off cameras hiding forbidden resources, the absence of eyes directly watching a student’s every…

For centuries, Indigenous peoples in America have been ignored or silenced, from having their land stolen to their culture continuously appropriated. The state of Iowa was named after an Indigenous tribe…

It’s seventh period, but somehow you’re still sprawled in bed. Your head is throbbing and your back aches. A voice drones on from your laptop on the other side of the room. If it wasn’t for the …

You step onto the West High softball field for the very first time, ready to represent the Trojans with pride. The thought of a life-altering injury, let alone two, is unimaginable. Greta Kraske ’23 never…

For many high school athletes, some of their best memories are a big win over their cross-town rival or a trip to the state tournament, but not for Aurora Roghair ’21.

Only a couple of months before…

After what feels like years of campaigning, the 2020 presidential election is coming to a close. More than 30 candidates, 12 debates and countless rallies have boiled down to two months of in-person and…

For many, school pride is a pivotal aspect of the high school experience. Football games and school assemblies are an expected part of the social dynamic for students, but these events have come to a halt…

Peering through the iron bars stretched across her mask, she takes one look at her opponent as she prepares her next strike. Sweat drips down her face as her gloved hands tightly grasp the sleek bamboo…

The streets of Iowa City were lined with protesters demanding racial equality. Groups chanting “Hands up, don’t shoot” and “Say their names” filled every corner of the city while voices echoed…

As the summer heat fades into an autumn breeze, the cool weather is normally met with roaring crowds on the bleachers of West High and the excitement that comes along with the fall sports season. The cheering…

COVID-19 paired with election season has caused a surge in the amount of political discourse that takes place online, leaving students to distinguish between what’s real and what’s fake.

In terms…

Even in a normal school year, it can be difficult to balance school and home life. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this clash to the forefront. With everyone doing school at home up until this week,…

When I was a kid, my house was full of music. My mom, Dannye Frerichs, was a singer. She sang in bands and at concerts, but what I remember most is hearing her sing at home. She would sing while getting…

Nearly 8,300 homes were damaged in a matter of minutes. A gloomy Monday morning in Iowa turned into a disastrous storm with wind speeds reaching 140 mph, equivalent to a major hurricane. This storm…

Amongst the flood of cancellations, spring sports seasons are no exception. What will become of the summer season has yet to be announced. Athletes are doing their best to stay in shape and keep their…

Six feet. That’s the distance every person is recommended to stay physically apart from others, according to the CDC. Although social media and other online communication methods can partly fulfill the…

When schools closed after spring break to not reopen for the rest of the year, science teacher Jenny Eustice had to figure out how to homeschool her kids while teaching her classes. Jenny’s kids are…

You rush to a table full of food as soon as you hear the call to prayer. “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest, God is the greatest) is all that echoes in your head as you break your fast…

In the past few months, the world has been turned upside down. There have been over 3.2 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and on April 27, the U.S. surpassed 1 million cases and became the country with…

The spring sports season came to a sudden halt on March 16 when the Iowa City Community School District announced that they would suspend classes until April 13, preventing track and field’s upcoming…

It’s a Sunday afternoon, and my dad returns home with a load of groceries after a trip from the store. With a sullen look etched on his face, he sets the bags on the kitchen countertop. I ask him about…

Language is everywhere and it’s surely unavoidable. Homework, tests, socializing and even a quick trip to your local coffee shop will require you to use language. As English is the most common language…

We all know the common Asian stereotype: super smart, math geeks and are perfectly quiet. Asians have achieved more success than any other minority and are therefore the model to follow, otherwise known…

Halfway across the world, the impact wasn’t immediate. It all started in late December, when a few individuals in Wuhan, China were diagnosed with pneumonia from an unknown cause. As cases spread throughout…

With talk of the coronavirus and how it will affect daily-life saturating the media, things can appear pretty bleak. However, one University of Iowa student is finding the good by being the good.

On…

On March 16, the Iowa High School Athletics Association and Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union announced that all Iowa high school sports have been suspended until April 13. This news has mainly impacted…

The enthusiastic ramblings of host Pat Sejak and tender smile of Vanna White are two comforts that many Americans tune in for on a weekly basis. The high-stakes competition and fun-loving spirit of…

The coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, is a respiratory disease that was first detected in Wuhan, China. There are more than 115,000 cases as of March 10, 2020 (after this video was filmed) and…

For some women, leaving the house without having their favorite ring, watch or scrunchie is an abnormality. For many, there is a specific article of clothing that they would not feel comfortable going…

It’s almost an unspeakable phrase in Iowa high school sports: transfer.

Whenever a student-athlete transfers to a new school, particularly without changing their residence, rumors and speculations…

One thousand four hundred eighty-five students. All with different backgrounds, and most importantly, different germs. With 1485 opportunities for disease, the school can provide a breeding ground for…

Introduction
It’s a new day at school and you walk in the building with a pair of new shoes and a fresh haircut, a bounce of confidence with every step you take.

Suddenly, someone makes fun of you,…

Like any typical teenager, Ellie Garcia ’21 loves sweet treats and spending time with friends. On one hot summer day in Maryland, before her freshman year, she decided to go out and get ice cream with…

In the morning, the three meet for coffee ahead of their busy days. At lunch, they are gathered around the dining table in room 102, definitely not gossiping about their students. In the evenings, they…