The student news site of Western Albemarle High School

The Western Hemisphere

The student news site of Western Albemarle High School

The Western Hemisphere

The student news site of Western Albemarle High School

The Western Hemisphere

“The number one goal of schools is to educate the students who are the future of our country,” Berlin (front left) says.

Rebecca Berlin Joins Albemarle County School Board Mid-Term

Opal Kendall, Editor-in-Chief June 5, 2023

When, after seven years on the Albemarle County School Board, David Oberg, who was famous for dressing in a chicken onesie at Crozet Elementary’s Walk and Bike to School Day, filed his resignation in...

White Hall’s Autism Sanctuary

White Hall’s Autism Sanctuary

Jack Steenburgh, Assistant Editor April 14, 2023

Recently in White Hall, Autism Sanctuary, a new nonprofit organization has sprung up to offer support to people who have autism and their families. The organization was started because those with special...

WAHSs African American History class makes cut-outs for the Black History Month bulletin board.

The Culturally Accepting Classroom

Annabelle Mackey, Staff Writer April 12, 2023

Albemarle County Public Schools’ Anti-Racism Policy has been a point of controversy in recent years, dividing the county public schools system into opposing sides. Largely missing from the discourse...

Mais was an Assistant Principal at Agnor-Hurt Elementary.

Lawsuit Against Albemarle County Schools

Claire McMahon, Assistant Editor April 8, 2023

Emily Mais, former assistant principal at Agnor-Hurt Elementary School, filed a lawsuit on April 13th, 2022 against the Albemarle County School Board for a racially hostile work environment. The lawsuit...

A Senate committee votes on a bill, determining whether or not it will be able to move on to the Senate floor.

Model Congress Returns to Western for a 17th Year

Opal Kendall and Staff Reports March 16, 2023

Model Congress is, perhaps, the pinnacle of history and civic education at Western. During Model Congress and the weeks leading up to it, seniors write, debate, revise and vote on bills in the hope that...

The new AP rule stirs up mixed feelings within the freshman population of ACPS highschools.

The New 9 AP Rule: Is Stress Worth the Opportunity?

Ava Ellis, Staff Writer February 17, 2023

  The new 9 Advanced Placement rule has caused quite an uproar within the Albemarle County parent and freshman student population. The new regulation states that “freshmen will no longer be able...

Students at Western have become more sneaky following the new cell phone policy.

Teachers Appreciate New Cell Phone Policy

Martha Thompson, Staff Writer January 6, 2023

The new cell phone policy implemented this year has affected the learning environment for the better and changed the way learning operates in classrooms. In previous years, especially with the challenges...

Math teacher Mr. Gauss uses his Promethean board to do interactive notes with his class.

Promethean: Worth It?

January 6, 2023

This school year Albemarle County Public Schools purchased new Promethean boards for almost every classroom in Albemarle County.  The purchases were made to combat the outdated and inconsistent technology...

Smith is looking for all products, such as these tampons

Monticello Student Forms Nonprofit for Period Products

Olivia Moore January 6, 2023

Grace Smith, a junior at Monticello High School, is always trying to help the community.   Smith was recently inspired to create Ready Girls, a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes...

Tinder is excited for the new changes coming to the program

Albemarle County Changing Academies to Communities

Maria Kinnan, Staff Writer January 6, 2023

The Environmental Studies Academy (ESA) here at Western is one of the many academies across the county that focus on a specific four year long curriculum for students interested in certain fields.  But...

The Drama department is working to make “The Perfect Ending,” in fact, perfect.

It’s the End of the World!

Ava Ellis January 4, 2023

The drama department of WAHS has dealt with increased challenges this fall while Caitlin Pitts, Western’s musical theater teacher, has been away during initial preparations for “The Perfect Ending”,...