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

Teen Poet Laureate Sadie Adams (left),with fellow poets   Lillian Davis, Cal Hughes, Rachael Pond, Zoe Farris, and Cal Dagner (left to right).

Crozet Celebrates Inaugural Teen Poet Laureate Award

Martha Thompson, Staff Writer June 5, 2023

This year, in partnership with Western’s creative writing program, Crozet’s local library created a Teen Poet Laureate program to celebrate local youth poets. The title of Teen Poet Laureate was awarded...

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...

Outside of Wyants Store | Image Credit: Wyants Store Website

Wyant’s Store: Best Quick Food Off the Beaten Path

Jack Steenburgh, Assistant Editor June 5, 2023

Wyant's Store is a small gas station with one out of date gas pump on the far side from the parking lot. It lies just in front of a big field, and the inside feels more like a cozy room than a gas station....

NEHS officers pose with a club banner at the induction ceremony of new students into the club in the fall of 2022.

The National English Honors Society Puts Pen to Paper, Spells Success!

Rachael Pond, Staff Writer June 5, 2023

A collective gasp, intermingled with applause, swelled in the auditorium during the final monthly meeting of Western Albemarle’s National English Honors Society. Ms. Define and Ms. Streit’s announcement...

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...

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...

Just Tryin to Get Big

Just Tryin’ to Get Big

Sophie Mathew, Staff Writer April 24, 2023

While society portrays young women as the main victims of body image disorders, it is not a gendered issue. In light of the pandemic, men have experienced increasing pressure to conform to male beauty...

Virginia Representative Bob Good present Western Student Nolan Burkhart with coding award| PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE

Western Student Reflects on Winning App Development Award

Ike Noth, Staff Writer April 17, 2023

Nolan Burkhart, a WAHS 17 year old senior and app engineering extraordinaire, won the 2021 Congressional App Challenge award for Virginia’s 5th district; he received the award from representative Bob...

We the People placed first at regionals and fourth in states.

We the People Club: “A duty as citizens to engage in government”

Rachael Pond, Staff Writer March 3, 2023

“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union-...” Whoa, whoa, whoa- hold up. Play back the tape. We’re not talking about that “We the People,” although Western’s...

Greta Slaats cast her first ballot this past November

WAHS to the Polls

Jack Tueting, Editor in Chief January 6, 2023

For many WAHS students, the appearance of vibrantly colored leaves and crisp autumn air denotes some particularly notable school activities. Homecoming, spirit week, and the end of the first semester....

Western students find it harder to socialize with cellphones present.

Students Discuss How the New Cellphone Policy has Changed

Charlotte Pelton, Staff Writer January 6, 2023

The new cell phone policy being implemented at Western is very controversial. Simply put, the cell phone policy or “away for the day” is the rule that students must have their phones put away or in...

Mclernan hopes to bring back many popular treats to Western lunch.

Where Did the Muffins Go?

Claire McMahon, Sports Editor January 6, 2023

Where did Western’s muffins go? Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Western had a grab-and-go system with a variety of food and drink options. The school had a diverse range of options including pretzels,...