Importance of security
Cierra White, Reporter
February 13, 2020
Fights, arguments, disagreements, and other conflicts occur at schools, so administration and school staff hold a lot of responsibility to help keep staff and students safe. Security professionals Chris Carr and Shay Serrano are two of six security guards at West. Security guards go by many names. They could...
Thoughts behind SEL (social and emotional learning)
Reagan Hoffman, Reporter
February 11, 2020
You walk into school on a Monday morning to a room of familiar faces. You sit down, pull out your chromebook, and sign up for flex. This is the usual, however, what about the occasional lessons and slideshows? Some teachers try to connect and open discussions with their students, some get through them...
Behind the locker tags
Vu Tran, Business Manager
February 11, 2020
Freshman Faith Rettler is on the volleyball team and is a varsity cheerleader. Senior Ellie Mirfield is in the Ecology Club and Health Careers Club (HOSA). Something you may overlook are the locker tags that hang on students' lockers in the halls of West honoring membership in Falcon sports and clubs. ...
Helping hands of West
Madison Barton, Reporter
February 6, 2020
On average the student to counselor ratio is 482 to one, according to the American School Counselor Association. As a school counselor, his/her job is not only to figure out students’ schedules, but also to help students with concerns or questions, and help with career counseling. With over 1,500 stu...
Rise of cultural diversity
Kaylee Milem, Reporter
February 5, 2020
The Cultural Diversity Club began two years ago at Davenport North by math teacher Ayola Vesey and world language teacher Monica Jager. North staff was required to join a faculty focus or extracurricular team for the school. Among these teams was the Faculty Diversity Team, which had the goal of fig...
Speeding up future education
Sarah Bernick, Managing Editor
January 31, 2020
Some students fear college, and some people are ecstatic to obtain new information on their road to success. Taking an AP class can help assist with either scenario, raising expectations and receiving a jump start on future education. High schools across the country started offering Advanced Placem...
Awesome alumni: 60 years, 29,079 people served
Megan Dunn, Reporter
January 29, 2020
The youngest city council member, a dedicated public servant, and a group who continues to give back. What do they all have in common? They graduated from Davenport West High School. When West first opened its doors the Tuesday after Labor Day in 1960, it also opened many doors for students. Pr...
Silence below the surface
Kaylee Milem, reporter
January 16, 2020
To the outside world, junior Kyleigh Ortiz seems like the average girl. She goes to high school like the average girl. She also has dreams after high school like the average girl. But, don’t always believe what meets the eye, you’ll miss the most important characteristics. Ortiz is 16 and a student at Davenport West....
Exchange students give perspective on life as Falcons in Iowa
Farnaiza Gulam, Reporter
November 26, 2019
International education has become a crucial part of building bridges for understanding, across cultures and borders. For the past few years, West has welcomed about 30 foreign exchange students with four students every year. West believes that International Education helps introduce people to its g...
Homecoming 2019 dance recap
Olaoluwa Johnson, reporter
September 30, 2019
West celebrated its Homecoming dance last Saturday. This year's theme was "Old Time Rock and Roll." Student Senate helped to organize the event as well as the other events taking place in the week leading up to it. This year was a first for the event as it was one of the first to have both a king a...
2019 Homecoming court Q&A
Olaoluwa Johnson, reporter
September 24, 2019
Notice: King candidates note featured. Isabella Castel How do you feel about making homecoming court? "Surprised and shocked, but excited!" What first went through your head when you found out you made court? “Wow! Did they really just say my name?” Why do you think you deserve this role of bein...
Author, former West teacher’s work comes full circle
Laurence Walker, Reporter
May 31, 2019
When West first opened its doors to students in 1959-1960, an entire school of educators were hired and became West’s first teachers. On Friday, May 24 one of the first wave of West teachers, 86-year-old English teacher and author Jon Ripslinger visited West. He came to talk to the yearbook staff a...
Reporter
I am Karley Eacker. I am a sophomore that loves writing and covering real news. I am planning to go to college to be a journalist. I hope that I can bring interesting stories to West.