As hybrid learners return to school, seeing friends and being on campus for the first time in over a year feels new and exciting. Safety protocols ask for us to stay six feet apart, sanitize, and wear masks. But these protocols can actually be something to look forward to, because it seems as though masks are now becoming fashion statements!     Masks became the new normal for those in California since June of 2020, when Governor Gavin Newsom made it mandatory to wear masks in public...

   We’ve all been there. We’ve all seen it, or worse, done it. Fingers pulling at the corners of their eyes, exaggerated gibberish flowing from their mouths. This was a light-hearted joke. This was teasing. This was racism.     On March 16, 2021, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long went on a shooting spree in Atlanta, killing 8 people, 6 of whom were Asian women. This incident shook the country, causing several Americans to speak out regarding the motivation behind the shootings. Many attributed...

On March 25th and 26th, West High welcomed back about 70% of its student body – one year since the last 2:57 dismissal bell. But what are the new changes to campus and classroom life, and what remains the same? A few of West’s Blended students give a step-by-step walkthrough of their first on-campus school days of the year. The Ground Rules    The establishment of clear guidelines and adherence to them by students, faculty, and staff are essential for in-person learning to continue....

   One event that many West High students look forward to every year is the Class Olympics: a chance for each class to show off their abilities and compete against one another. Lockdown took everyone by surprise just as ASB began to prepare for the competitions. Thankfully, classes were able to return to a somewhat normal 2021 Class Olympics on March 22nd.    Although there was no opening ceremony, students dove right into day one’s swimming event, catapulting Juniors and Seniors in the...