Dive

Evan Hajek, Sports Editor

March 9, 2020

The boys dive team captured their third state championship in a row at St. Catherines High School in Richmond, VA this weekend. The girls dive team also secured their eighth state championship in the past nine years with a comeback on the final day to top Monticello High School. While swim and dive...

Extraordinary Extracurriculars

March 9, 2020

Riding

Sidney Jackson, Editor-In-Chief

March 9, 2020

From mucking out stalls to learning new jumps, the life of an equestrian is never dull. Senior Kathleen Hughes has been doing it for over seven years. She started riding in kindergarten, but did not continue with it throughout elementary school. She picked it back up in seventh grade after a few of...

Dance

Eva Massarelli, Editor-In-Chief

March 9, 2020

Most people know that dance requires dedication and skill, but many do not realize that it serves as a source of stability for many dancers. There are many dancers at Western, including Ashna Nizsche, a senior, who started dancing at the Albemarle Ballet Theatre in sixth grade after her mother recommended...

Hockey

Lily Marcel, Staff Writer

March 9, 2020

Ice hockey is a fast paced and very physical sport. It requires agility and quick thinking skills, not to mention a highly skilled player needs to be quick on ice. Enter Rush Higginbotham, a ninth grader at Western who plays ice hockey in both Charlottesville and Lynchburg. Because of his love for...

Skateboarding

Edgar Batcheller, Staff Writer

March 9, 2020

When it comes to skateboarding and the culture that it entails, senior Landon Sears is your guy. Landon has been skateboarding for roughly four years and his off-and-on career has brought about a new passion for the action sport. His life in skateboarding began in second grade when he was introduced...

Agree to Disagree: Fostering Respect through Civil Discourse

Abigail Connelly, Copy Editor

February 11, 2019

Conversations regarding foreign and national affairs aren’t always easy to partake in, especially considering their tendency to transform peaceful interactions into war zones of passive aggression. Regardless of your political views, involving yourself in controversial discussions with people you dis...

The Government Takes On Juul

Jessica Klees, Editor-in-Chief

November 1, 2018

The federal government began investigations into the use of electronic cigarettes and vapes last year. Recently, however, some more severe measures have been enacted. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is increasing regulations for vape production, especially for young people. In a statement released...

Evolution Of The Juul

Frances Noll and Jack Reichert

November 1, 2018

The nicotine craze isn’t new to the world of high school, but what is different now is the small rectangular “Juul.” The Juul has started a giant, unstoppable trend across high schools and universities in America. Vapes became relevant in our community around 2 or 3 years ago. Before then, none...

Students Discuss School Safety Procedures

Jessica Klees, News Editor

March 28, 2018

There has been a strong response in our community to the events of February 14, in which a gunman killed seventeen people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Students, as well as members of the administration, have been sharing ways to improve safety at at our school. Ju...

Wellness Ambassadors Encourage Change

Jessica Klees, News Editor

March 16, 2018

There is a club at WAHS that has recently been making some huge changes surrounding student well-being, specifically involving drugs and alcohol this year. Wellness Club’s mission is to bring representation to these problems and overall achieve a happier and stronger community. It was originally st...

Shhhould the Silent Study Hall Become Permanent?

Talley Johnston, Editor in Chief

January 19, 2018

The stereotype of a high school library is dark, dusty, dead silent room staffed with librarians who are always “shhhhh”ing students if they even breathe. However, the library at Western is the opposite.  It has skylights, people are walking through, you can eat, and you do not have to be quiet...