Skip to Main Content
The School Newspaper of West High School

West Signals

The School Newspaper of West High School

West Signals

The School Newspaper of West High School

West Signals

Allah is the Arabic word for God. The Islamic faith calls Allah by 99 beautiful names, including The Compassionate, The Merciful, The Ruler, and many more, each title reflecting a unique attribute of God.

Answers to What You Wonder About the Islamic Faith

Urooj Nasir, Staff Writer November 21, 2024

  The Islamic faith is one of the prevalent religions in the world; however, there are also many misconceptions about the faith and those who follow it. In particular, Muslim women are distinguishable by their religious head coverings, called hijabs,...

Read More
With the development of technology, avid readers like Kyle Cho (11) begin to question if books are “a thing of the past.” However, other students like Trevor Lam (12) believe books are a necessity, a path to knowledge “without distractions.”

What are the Roles of Books in the Digital Age?

Jimin Han, Freelance Writer November 20, 2024

     Sustained throughout the centuries, books have been a classic form of entertainment since immemorial. However, as humanity reaches the modern age, society has latched onto digital devices as the dominant force for our entertainment. Consequently,...

Read More
With students stressing over impending college applications, Caleb Chang (12) believes that “we should focus on showing our unique perspectives to the audience.” Ethan Kang (12) elaborates that we should never “stress about the outcome.”

Senior Advice for UC and CSU Applications

Jimin Han, Freelance Writer November 19, 2024

     Stressed with college deadlines? Confusion in navigating college applications? With upcoming deadlines for UC and CSU applications, feelings of anxiety and worry are frequent during the application process. This process shouldn’t be...

Read More
McDonalds is now known for their motto of: "I'm lovin' it." Benjamin Nguyen (12) explained that “the motto makes it easy to see their intentions with their product” while others like Seobin Lee (12) feel the opposite, “that these advertisements have gotten too far.”

Meaningful or Meaningless: Do Mottos Matter?

Jimin Han, Freelance Writer November 14, 2024

   “I’m lovin’ it.” “The Happiest Place on Earth.” “America runs on Dunkin’.” Chances are you may recognize these slogans. Mottos have always been a prominent staple of the marketing world, advertising businesses through an iconic...

Read More

Meaningful or Meaningless: Do Mottos Matter?

Jimin Han, Freelance Writer October 19, 2024

“I’m lovin’ it.” “The Happiest Place on Earth.” “America runs on Dunkin’.” Chances are you may recognize these slogans. Mottos have always been a prominent staple of the marketing world, advertising businesses through an iconic one-liner....

Read More
Trends are ever-changing but, what does West think should stick around and what shouldn’t?

The Trouble with Trends

Christian Robledo, Entertainment/Opinion Editor September 27, 2024

   In the realm of pop culture,  trends are defined as an ever-changing societal interest likely to fall out of relevancy in a short amount of time. Despite the fleeting nature of most fads, some trends seem to live on forever in the hearts of those...

Read More
Like many standardized tests with strict rules and guidelines, there are some areas that people would like to see changed amid the gradual shift from physical to digital testing. Megan Charan (12) commented, “I would want to put most of them online because. . . it’s easier, and your hand does not get tired.” On the flip side, Naomi Yoshikawa (12), felt the opposite, saying, “I think that everything, all the English exams, should be handwritten instead of digital.” 
Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash

An Accurate Judge of Knowledge, or Just Another Standardized Test?

Alexandra Arnold, Staff Writer April 19, 2024

   Several hours of running on adrenaline and high strung nerves. Sweaty palms and bitten nails. A clock ticking down that draws your eye no matter how hard you try to look away. Depending on personal opinion, an AP test is either your worst nightmare...

Read More
According to a study done by Omniscient in 2012, 78% of all high school seniors in the United States admitted to experiencing Senioritis to some degree.

The Mysterious Affliction

Alexandra Arnold, Staff Writer February 14, 2024

   Drowsing off in class. Missing deadlines. Slowly withdrawing from caring about day-to-day activities. These are all possible symptoms of the mysterious affliction known as senioritis, but what exactly is it, and what’s causing it?    Like...

Read More
Small Ways You Can Be More Environmentally Friendly

Small Ways You Can Be More Environmentally Friendly

Alexandra Arnold, Staff Writer February 13, 2024

   In a world where global warming and pollution are becoming increasingly urgent issues that need to be given attention, it’s vital to take the time to educate yourself on what’s happening, and what you can do to help fight it. One of the biggest...

Read More
With delegates organized into mock cities of around 50 residents, my hometown of Chandler prepares its tent ahead of a city exposition where groups contend for the “Model City” recognition. Nico DeSesa (12), a fellow resident and city council member, remarked that “it was incredible how well put-on the event was,” referring to Boys and Girls State as a whole. “Students ran the event and it felt very freeing, a micro-community formed in . . . the week we were there,” he shared.

To the 2024 Cohort: Lessons I Learned From Boys and Girls State

Sponsored by the veterans' organization the American Legion, the highly selective summer leadership and civics program touts itself as “a week that shapes a lifetime.”
Philip Lam, Editor-in-Chief January 16, 2024

   The pacifying hums of the road engulfed my synapses throughout the June bus ride to the Golden State’s capital, a jet-black curtain enshrouding anything and everything along the lonely interstate. Save for a motley assortment of constellations,...

Read More
Entrance to The Last of Us attraction in the lower lot of Universal Studios. One of the park’s most popular attractions, so be prepared for a long line!

A Survival Guide to Halloween Horror Nights

Jackson Mancilla, Staff Writer November 12, 2023

With Halloween just around the corner, there’s a big chance that West High students will be heading down to Universal Studios Hollywood to celebrate Halloween Horror Nights. Horror Nights is an annual tradition in which the popular theme park is decorated...

Read More
Pictured above is the National PTA’s flyer advertising the Reflections Contest. Elementary schooler Alice Meko of Hampton Cove Elementary School in Alabama inspired this year’s theme. Fall entries are due on October 15, 2023. Photo courtesy of the National PTA.

Please, Enter This Year’s Reflections Contest

Joshua Lee, Sports/News Editor October 3, 2023

   Whether through musical composition, literature, or the visual arts, artwork has been one of humanity’s tools for articulating creative ideas throughout the ages. Recently, however, it would seem that art has become increasingly undervalued, with...

Read More
Load More Stories