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
Sullivan Kolakowski

Sullivan Kolakowski, Staff Photographer

Sullivan Kolakowski is a staff photographer for West Signals and a junior at West. This will be her second year in Signals, and she’s excited to continue telling stories and connecting people through her photographs. In her free time, Sullivan can be found taking more photos or surfing at the beach.

All content by Sullivan Kolakowski
New year, new me! New Year’s resolutions are a great way to set goals for the upcoming year. Students share what resolutions they made and how they plan on measuring their achievement progress.

[Art/Photo] New Year, New Resolutions

January 17, 2022
Warriors are seen cheering for their grade level during the Winter Rally. With high spirits, outdoor rallies allowed closer bonding post-pandemic.

[Art/Photo] Boosting School Spirit at the Winter Rally

January 5, 2022
Powderpuff players run towards the endzone, hoping to make a touchdown for their team. Pictured in black shirts were the Blitz Babes, running with the ball, as the Trophy Wives (pictured in pink shirts) followed. Lilly Ramirez-Johnson (12) enthusiastically recounted the game, saying that it was “super fun getting to play a traditional game in front of the school’s audience.”

[Art/Photo] Powering Through Powderpuff

January 5, 2022
Practicing shooting during warm-ups, West High Girls’ Varsity Soccer player #8 Cherrie Cox (12) prepares for the game against Palos Verdes High School on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Cox has played soccer her entire life and recently committed to playing for Cal State Long Beach.

[Art/Photo] Athlete of the Week: Cherrie Cox

January 5, 2022
Shant Mazmanian (12) catches a wave as he practices on a sunny Saturday morning. Surfing is a sport that requires great passion and dedication, and Manzmania has both. His perseverance has allowed him to compete against South Bay’s top high school surfers.

[Art/Photo] Athlete of the Week: Shant Mazmanian

December 3, 2021
It’s that time of the year again! Pumpkins have never been more popular – whether that’s on doorsteps or the dinner table. Students shared their favorite autumn season recipes, hoping to not only spread the great taste but the fall feeling. Natalia Cruz-Chicas (10) expressed how “every time I bake something, I still never get bored. It’s really my favorite thing!”

[Art/Photo] Warrior Fall Baking!

November 29, 2021
With opening night right around the corner, that’s a wrap on Tech Week! Johnson is “really excited for people to come and watch [Puffs]!” Tickets are available for purchase on the ASB webstore or at the door. Showtimes are Thursday, November 18 @7pm, Friday, November 19 @7pm, and Saturday, November 20 @5pm. Don’t miss this incredible musical!

Backstage Pass: Puffs Tech Week

November 18, 2021
Varsity Golf member Kami Kwong (12) delivers another one of her perfectly precise swings on the challenging golf course. Kwong has played golf her entire life. She recently celebrated her commitment to playing golf for Hawaii Pacific University. In regards to the recent payoff for her dedication, Kwong explained how “Golf is such a big challenge and it makes you keep wanting to do better and better. I just want to strive to keep improving more and more.

[Art/Photo] Athlete of the Week: Kami Kwong

November 2, 2021
Breaking a school record is no easy feat, and Varsity Cross Country runner Conor Gibson is one of the lucky athletes who holds that bragging right. Gibson is the current school record holder for the three mile race in 14 minutes and 19 seconds. But he doesn’t plan on stopping there! He expressed how he also aspires “to break the 3200-meter and 1600-meter records,” and wants to “win an individual and team state title.”

[Art/Photo] Athlete of the Week: Conor Gibson

October 22, 2021
Following the announcement of Homecoming King and Queen, Meileen Taw (12) and Elliot Kim (12) reminisce about learning of their win at Friday’s Homecoming football game. The Homecoming King and Queen are nominated through a series of student voting and teacher appointments. It’s a long journey to the throne, and Taw expressed how she is “honored to be chosen by my teachers and peers.”

[Art/Photo] Just Crowned: Homecoming King and Queen

October 16, 2021
Brilliantly Shooting the ball, Boys Varsity Water Polo senior Tyler Reed (12) scores a point for his team in a heated battle against Culver City. Reed plays club water polo in addition to highschool water polo and this season, all those hours of dedication are paying off. Not only is he a valuable player, but according to Ian Noe (9), “he always acts like a team leader” and “brings positive energy to the team.”

Athlete of the Week: Tyler Reed

October 7, 2021
Designing a model rocket on OpenRocket, President of the Rocketry Club Archit Mishra (12) hopes to inspire other students to “fight gravity.” Rocketry Club is a new club at West High that will compete in the American Rocketry Challenge. Mishra expressed, “If you join Rocketry, it will be one of your best decisions of your high school career.”

[Art/Photo] West High’s Clubs of 2021-22: Rocketry Club

October 1, 2021
Charging through a poster, West High’s Varsity football team arrives in style to the first football game of the season. On August 27th, West High welcomed hundreds of spectators and Culver City’s football team to Fred Peterson Stadium. Linebacker and receiver #22 Elias Overstreet (11) described the excitement of running out on the field: “It was like adrenaline because I knew it was game time.”

[Art/Photo] West Football Season Kicks Off with Excitement

September 14, 2021
Fiercely spiking the volleyball, opposite Abby Witzansky (11) gives Vistamar’s Girls’ Volleyball team a run for their money. Witzansky is a worthy opponent this volleyball season with 160 kills in 10 games. She said the best part about volleyball is “how fast the game is,” and that she loves “competition and winning.”

[Art/Photo] Athlete of the Week: Abby Witzansky

September 14, 2021
For the West High Girls’ Tennis Team, First Serve was an event filled to the brim with suspenseful games. During their first set, Sarah Han (11) and Jasmin Cuaresma (11) played to a tiebreaker against Rosemead. “It was super stressful, but we were still proud of ourselves since we put up a fight,” Cuaresma said.

[Art/Photo] West High Girls’ Tennis Team Victorious at First Serve

September 14, 2021
West High students made their way to their classrooms on the first day of school. Recalling the exhilaration, Isis Kim (10) said, “I was so excited to meet my friends I haven’t seen in a year!”

[Art/Photo] The Return to In-Person School

September 4, 2021
An early start, freshman students make their way to their first periods in West High’s Building Five, ready for learning. Finding their classes is a breeze after already having a few days of instruction.

[Art/Photo] Fresh to West

September 4, 2021
Posing in front of a photo-op station, Daelene Cabahug (12), Lauren Bolton (12), and Faith Shortridge (12) sport college merch for Senior Decision Day. Shortridge explained how the seniors “signed a banner, got a cool button, and had our picture taken before we got a donut and took a bunch of pictures.” She also expressed how being able to “talk and take pictures with everyone” was fun for all the seniors.

[Art/Photo] Seniors Celebrate Committing to College: Decision Day

May 25, 2021
Ending the school year with a Spring Show, West’s Dance Department put on a marvelous performance that left a profound and meaningful impact on the virtual audience. A member of Advanced Dance and one of the Teacher Assistants for Beginning Dance, Hanna Blair (12) expressed how “Intermediates hip hop brought an instant smile to my face while the Advanced senior soloists brought me to tears.

[Art/Photo] WHS Dance Puts Their Heart and Soul Into Spring Show “20-21 And Done!”

May 7, 2021
For many of the players, Friday’s game was the last time they sported the West High football helmet. “I just wanted to give a thank you to all the seniors for playing their hearts out this year and a shout-out to the underclassmen who stepped up this year,” shared the team’s defensive end, Chris Pech (12). “I thank you for everything.”

[Art/Photo] End of ’21 Football Season: Final Game vs. North

April 30, 2021
Right after her 16th birthday, Paityn Yamasaki (10) made it a priority to get vaccinated. She explained how getting a vaccine is a simple procedure: “It’s a very easy process and can go by quickly depending on how busy they are. Make sure to bring your school ID and birth certificate so they can identify you.”

[Art/Photo] Why Students Should Get the COVID-19 Vaccine

April 25, 2021
Looking beautiful as ever, West’s Principal Mrs. Murata color-coordinates her mask and outfit to achieve a simple yet fresh look.

[Art/Photo] Masks Galore!

April 11, 2021
Greeted by the enthusiastic beats of drumline, students walk back onto campus for the first time in a long time.

[Art/Photo] Change in the Air as Students Prepare

March 29, 2021
Seconds away from the finish line, Amor Jones (11) gives it her all in a battle for first against the Palos Verdes sprinter in the varsity girls’ 200m race. On Saturday, March 20th, West High Track & Field kicked off their season with a friendly dual meet against Palos Verdes High School. Jones described her feelings about returning to the track for races once again: “I can admit I was nervous, but me being nervous I feel made me more prepared... while I was running it felt like I was floating in a way.”

[Art/Photo] West Girls’ Sprints Team Kicks Off Season at PV High

March 27, 2021
On Tuesday March 9 at 3:00pm, the West Boys’ Tennis team started their season off with a tournament against Peninsula High School.

Boys’ Tennis Takes On Peninsula

March 24, 2021
Mrs. Rippeto has been a secretary at West High for 23 years, working behind the scenes to ensure school matters run smoothly and to support West families. Mrs. Rippeto said the best part of the job is when parents “call me back or send me an email just to tell me how helpful Ive been, and to thank me and show me their appreciation. Those are the kinds of things that make the day worthwhile.

[Art/Photo] Unsung Heroes of West: Mrs. Rippeto

March 15, 2021
Surf’s Up!

Surf’s Up!

March 15, 2021
Walking through Los Angeles, it’s hard not to feel the presence and all the great contributions of the Black community, especially during Black History Month. February is dedicated to observing and acknowledging the impact African Americans and their culture has had on society. Black Culture Club’s President, Alyssa Reamer (11), described how “being able to look back and see where African Americans have come from gives me a sense of pride knowing that those strong people were my ancestors.”

[Art/Photo] Celebrating Black History Month

March 2, 2021
Reaching for a book in the textbook room, Mrs. Tehrani flashes a quick smile under her mask. You don’t have to see her warm grin to feel her radiant energy. West High is lucky to have such a spirited presence: “I like working in the school because I like the kids. The kids are fun, they’re funny!... I love what I do.”

[Art/Photo] Unsung Heroes of West: Mrs. Tehrani

February 17, 2021
The Let Them Play Coalition is fighting for California sports to reopen with appropriate COVID protocols for the sake of student-athletes’ mental health.

The Let Them Play Movement

February 17, 2021
For the past 6 months, restaurants have faced strict COVID guidelines. Last week was LA County’s first time in a long time where restaurants were once again allowed to serve guests outdoors. This is a huge victory for restaurants that were struggling to stay open during this unknown time. Doug Howarth, the owner of Silvio’s, expressed that he’s glad to be open for business and safety is still the number one priority, “You’re nervous for your own health, as well as your employees’ health. You’re worried about your income and business.”

[Art/Photo] A Glimmer of Hope: Outdoor Dining Resumes

February 4, 2021
Plants have so much to offer. Not only do they purify the air and look amazing, like this zebra succulent, but they can also help improve your mood.

[Art/Photo] The Joys of Plant Parenting

January 19, 2021
It’s time to write your New Year’s Resolutions for 2021. Faith Shortridge (12), a West High student who makes resolutions every year, recommends to “keep growing every day and try your best” with yearly goals. With the help of psychological tips, you will be able to not only create realistic resolutions, but maintain them as well.

[Art/Photo] New Year’s Resolutions and the Science Behind Them

January 14, 2021
Smiling out the window of her 2020 Honda Civic, Kami Kwong (11) was happy to share her behind the wheel experience and helpful tips to make your behind the wheel test a success.

Time To Get Your Driver’s License: Here is a Step-By-Step Guide

December 18, 2020
What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading?

November 24, 2020
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many traditional Thanksgiving family plans have been modified due to the global pandemic. An alternative to the annual dinner party would be to just “eat with your core family,” suggested Vibhash Devanathan (12). “You don’t need some 50 people to celebrate.”

[Art/Photo] Thanksgiving with a Side of Social Distancing

November 18, 2020
With the full moon shining this Halloween, NASA’s recent announcement about finding water on the Moon has us all looking upwards. Mrs. McCulloch (Earth & Space Science and Physics) expressed that NASA’s discovery, “is re-exciting people to have that child-like wonder and curiosity. I think that’s the bigger impact.”

[Art/Photo] Lunar Water: A Space Travel Breakthrough

November 6, 2020
Homecoming Top 5: Your Future King & Queen

Homecoming Top 5: Your Future King & Queen

October 22, 2020
Like other athletes, Varsity Girls Tennis Captain Ashelyn Tablan (12) is glad to be back at practice, working hard and following COVID guidelines.

[Art/Photo] The Return of Athletics to West High

October 21, 2020
West Highs Native American themed logo is facing recent backlash due to a group of students demanding a new mascot.

[Art/Photo] #NotMyMascot: Replace the Warrior

October 16, 2020
How Are Our Athletes Training During COVID?

How Are Our Athletes Training During COVID?

October 8, 2020
Parents could tune in to a live meeting or watch a pre-made video, such as this video recorded by English and AP Language teacher Mrs. Cunningham.

[Art/Photo] Back-to-School Night: Adapting to Change

October 4, 2020
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