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

In the program, Moak will not only be learning the Japanese language, but will also immerse herself in Japanese culture through a series of unique cultural activities.

Helen Moak: First WAHS Student to Attend Japanese Governor’s School

Olivia Moore, Staff Writer June 5, 2023

Western junior Helen Moak has proven herself a trailblazer. She is the first student from Western to be admitted into the Summer Residential Governor's School program for Japanese, which will spend its...

WAHS Band competes at competition in Nashville. Odumosu can be found at the far-right in the front row.

Leri Odumosu: A Saxophone Superstar

Annabelle Mackey, Staff Writer May 30, 2023

Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis once said that he imagines he’s playing the guitar on trumpet. For Leri Odumosu, star freshman saxophone player, he draws many similarities to Miles Davis by emulating the...

Author Jocelyn Johnson with reporter Max Pollock.  Johnson  was Pollocks art teacher at Murray Elementary School.

Interview: Author Jocelyn Johnson Discusses New Work, “My Monticello”

Max Pollock, Staff Writer May 12, 2023

While some Western students may know her as their former art teacher at Murray Elementary, Jocelyn Nicole Johnson is now widely recognized as the author of "My Monticello," her collection of short stories...

A slideshow about the new CLCs is high on polish but low on real information.

Career Learning Communities: What’s Going On and Who’s Joining In?

Gray Tracey, Staff Writer May 12, 2023

Beginning in the 2023 school year, Albemarle County Public Schools is scrapping the old academy system and replacing it with a new network of Career Learning Communities (CLCs) that will allow students...


Kylee Hughes (Lavender), Molly Cafagno (Hortensia), and Aneesa Chandra (Alice) rehearse their lines after school.

Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” Takes Center Stage at WAHS

Olivia Moore, Staff Writer April 12, 2023

Drama's musical, “Matilda,” is preparing for its performances between April 20th and 23rd. "Matilda" is a lively and enthusiastic play, following Matilda, a child prodigy who navigates life with incredibly...

All the WAHSs a Stage

All the WAHS’s a Stage

Gray Tracey, Staff Writer February 6, 2023

On January 9th, a small circle of passionate students gathered after school to show off their theatrical prowess in WAHS’ annual Shakespeare Competition, each student choosing a monologue from one of...

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...

Youngkins policies roll back previous protections for trans students in Virginias schools.

Youngkin Proposes New Policy for Transgender Students

Gray Tracey, Staff Writer November 12, 2022

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has proposed a new set of policies on how Virginia’s public schools should treat transgender and nonbinary students, one that differs significantly from the previous...

Things I Wish I Knew Before Applying to College

Things I Wish I Knew Before Applying to College

Lee Marcel, Editor-in-Chief June 10, 2022

As a first born child, college applications seemed incredibly daunting. I didn’t have siblings or older friends to tell me what to do. I was super stressed about applications due to all the counselors...

WAHS students constructed and decorated signs on short notice in preparation for their protest.
Picture courtesy of Mika Chaturvedi

WAHS Walks Out for Abortion Rights

Jack Tueting, Assistant Editor June 9, 2022

Numerous WAHS students walked out of school on May 9th in protest of a leaked draft of the United State Supreme Court’s decision in the case Dobbs v. Jackson. The leaked draft outlined a 5 to 4 majority...

Spanish teacher runs Boston Marathon

Spanish Teacher Runs Boston Marathon

Raley Baynes, Staff Writer June 6, 2022

Most people at Western know Ms. Katie Pugh as a no nonsense high-level Spanish teacher, however there is more to her than just that.. Distance running has always been something that Pugh loves. She began...

Denny Barberio: A Look into the Life of That One Really Good Substitute

Denny Barberio: A Look into the Life of That One Really Good Substitute

Opal Kendall, Assistant Editor June 3, 2022

Denny Barberio might be the most multi-faceted person I’ve ever met. He is a musician. He is a teacher. He is a producer. He is a theatre kid. He is a sound expert. He is a grandfather. He is a gardener....