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

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...

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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...

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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.

Lessons I Learned From Boys and Girls State, and Why You Should Apply

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

Picture this: the pacifying hums of the road engulf your synapses throughout the June bus ride to the Golden State’s capital, a jet-black curtain enshrouding anything and everything along the lonesome interstate. Save for a motley assortment of constellations,...

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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...

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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, Staff Writer 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...

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Westin the Warthog shows his Warrior Pride during a game. As he walked down the field, cheers could be heard from the student section sending love to our new hype man.

Hypeman Headaches? What does West think about Westin?

Christian Robledo, Staff Writer September 19, 2023

     On Friday, August 25th on the football field, West High was introduced to what was believed to be our new mascot: Westin the Warthog. However, the school administration soon cleared up in an online post that Westin is merely a hypeman for our...

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The push by public schools for more STEM-centered learning is nothing new, and has been around since at least the 1950s. When competing against the Soviets in the Space Race first began, it consumed every aspect of American culture, and in a way still does. This desire to become a leading country in STEM-related subjects has endured throughout the years, steamrolling the fine arts behind the glamor and flashy headlines of new advancements and scientific discoveries.

Make Way, STEM Coming Through!

Alexandra Arnold, Staff Writer September 18, 2023

   “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The question is one we’ve all heard numerous times before — when adults don’t know what exactly to say to a seven-year-old you, and when it’s time to start thinking of college ten years later....

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What the Bell Is Going On?

What the Bell Is Going On?

Philip Lam, Editor-in-Chief July 7, 2023

   Edgar Allan Poe encapsulated it the best. In life, there are four types of bells: silver bells are merry and melodious, capturing the adolescent ebullience and youthful vigor that herald one’s prime; golden bells characterize the happiness and...

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With Biden’s student loan debt  forgiveness plan on pause until the Supreme Court reaches its decision, 45 million Americans are left  wondering if they’ll have to carry the financial burden of college into the future.

Education Is a Right, Not a Business Deal

Jacob Usary, Staff Writer May 19, 2023

   More than 45 million Americans have taken out student loans, totaling to a whopping $1.6 trillion of debt. Their situation has been thrust into the national spotlight after the Biden administration announced in October 2022 that it would forgive...

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Though firmly embedded into AP English curriculum, timed writes can encourage rushed, single-draft essays, leaving students little opportunity for improvement in grammar conventions and professional writing.

DOes timed writing teach you how to to right correctly?

Philip Lam, Editor-in-Chief May 11, 2023

   Have you ever experienced this? You right vary fast during a timed write in AP Lang or AP Lit hoping to scour a high grade. ?With 50 minutes on the glock, you crutch your pen as you split out as many information as possible. Confidant with your...

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ChatGPT is advanced by the standards of modern AI. However, its formulaic style is a main drawback, especially in English classes, where writing ability is meant to be cultivated by students.

Is ChatGPT Taking Over English Classes?

Anthony Parker, Entertainment & News Editor May 10, 2023

   On Nov. 20,  the San Francisco based company, OpenAI, created a language AI software called ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer). The software boosted in popularity, reaching 13 million unique users per day. The AI is known for being so...

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It’s no secret that the K-pop industry isn’t the best towards their idols. There have been many cases of exploitation and abuse by companies towards their idols, utilizing their looks and appeal in their fans to push certain agendas and toxic ideologies that reinforce long-standing social issues in South Korea.

Blinded by Stardom: The Inner Turmoil Behind Becoming a K-pop Idol

Natalie Ou, Sports Editor April 27, 2023

   Glowing with dazzling performance outfits, snappy choreography, and brilliant stage lights, the shining star power of K-pop has swept across the globe, becoming one of the foremost entertainment industries, generating over a billion dollars in estimated...

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