In 2024, the United States presidential election is not the only upcoming race; this year, in Mr. Paduano’s AP Government classes, students have created their own political parties and will compete to be crowned the 2024 President. 

The project, according to  Mr. Paduano, allows students to not only understand the government better, but also gain experience with the functions of each individual branch and its relationship with the American people. The project incorporates a variety of categories within politics and government, including political parties, interest groups, and the tie between funds and political speech opportunities. Mr. Paduano believes that, in the AP course of government and politics, this project connects government to politics. 

Often portrayed as a cherubic baby who flies around and shoots people with his magical arrows on Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s backstory is much different from what is represented today. According to Times.com, Cupid actually began as a mythological “man who had more power than any god."

It is a known issue that the United States of America is one of the fattest countries in the world. But, is it really all the person’s fault, or is it the food industry’s and manufacturers’? Is it what they are putting into the foods we all enjoy? Or is it how much of these products we are buying and consuming?

Well known theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking told the BBC that “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race….It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.” What’s ironic is that he was using an AI-powered speech system to vocalize this warning.  

With the technology of the world advancing every day, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dangerously carved its path of prominence into our everyday lives, specifically impacting students ranging from Middle School to College Universities. While there are benefits to technological advancement such as efficiency through task automation, data analysis for informed decisions, assistance in medical diagnosis, and more, AI marks a monumental challenge in limiting critical thinking.

Engaging in sports and physical activities offers numerous health benefits, but it's essential to recognize the potential aging effects on the body. 

High-impact sports may place stress on joints, contributing to wear and tear over time, potentially leading to joint issues. Connective tissues can also be affected by sports, as the physical activity involves abrupt movements, impacting the flexibility and elasticity of the tissues and joints.

Most people see traveling as seeing beautiful sights, but it's not just all about the physical beauty, as there is so much more to traveling. As a person who has been traveling since a very early age, I have learned so much about the different cultures and ways people live from experiencing different countries. 

Midterm week is a wild time for many Westlake students. Because of the testing and differences in schedules, midterm week can get a little hectic. Although midterm week might seem overwhelming or stressful, it is more manageable than most think.

Positives

• Leave school early

• Home for lunch

• Hanging with your friends after the midterms

• One day off of school

• Midterms help practice for bigger tests like Regents and AP exams

• The test block is appropriately paced

• Graded very quickly

• Ability to reflect on test prep and performance

• Large percentage of grade 

Negatives

• Requires lots of studying 

• Causes stress

• Large percentage of grade (could also be a positive)

• Assigned seating 

• Possibly in school all day with 2 midterms

• If people have a 2 hour break, many people have nothing to do 

Senior Night at Westlake High School celebrates the current seniors and their commitment to their varsity sport. Their time, dedication, and sportsmanship are honored first by the head coach, Mr. Mayer, who provides accolades for the four star athletes, followed by underclassmen speeches. 

In the gymnasium on Wednesday, February 2, 2024, Captains, Ella Devito and Cate Nebel, Riley Giaccone, and Chloe Putter were praised in front of their Westlake family. 

As we all know, many people on our Earth are experiencing an extremely pivotal, tragic period of time: the attacks occurring between Israel and Hamas. I believe I can say on behalf of us all, it has taken over the news, daily conversations, and, specifically, social media. 

Now-a-days, social media is the way many get their information, especially teenagers. Personally, I even find myself looking on TikTok for the trending news, and proceed to believe something as soon as I see it, which is exactly the problem. 

As this war is constantly circulating all throughout social media platforms, like TikTok, it is easy to be swayed by false conspiracy theories, propaganda, and lies. 

For many schools, the Homecoming game is something many students, friends, and families look forward to. The excitement that is built up all week long is finally unfolding in front of the whole town. Specifically, in Thornwood, the game that is the focus is the football game when the boy's varsity football team faces off against the opponent, fighting for the win. 

As Vice President, I can speak to the endless time and energy needed to make the week as special as possible for students and the community. 

Considering that this year’s Homecoming was later than previous years’, all members of Student Council and other student volunteers gathered together to tie ribbons around the perimeter of the football/soccer field. We did this before student athletes’ games to show school pride and our school colors. This is a very long and tedious task, but it is all worth it in the end because it looks phenomenal and spirited. It also recognizes all Varsity athletes who play in the Fall season sports.

Global warming is an issue that everyone knows of, and it could potentially lead to the downfall of humanity as we know it. According to NASA, the simple definition of global warming is, “the long-term heating of the Earth’s surface”. 

Why does this happen?

What’s caused this international predicament? The simple answer is human activities, which have led to a whole host of other problems also related to global warming. The main problem is carbon dioxide emissions, which causes the Sun’s heat to get trapped in the atmosphere and, in turn, heat the surface of the planet. The cause of this extra carbon dioxide is from the following: gas-powered cars, manufacturing facilities, burning of fossil fuels, and much more. According to NASA, the Earth’s temperature has been raised approximately 1.1℃(~1.8℉) since the pre-industrial period, which is between the 1850s to 1900s. 

Since October 7, 2023, over 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of the conflict between Hamas and Israel, CNN reports. Tensions have always been high between Palestine and Israel ever since that territory had been divided at the end of WWII. At that time, Britain controlled Palestine; their predecessor was the Ottoman Empire, who had controlled the land for decades and was the original home for Jewish settlers. 

Do students still enjoy  Halloween? When children were little, waking up in the morning on Halloween made them ecstatic.They were able to dress in anything they desired to be. Whether their dream was to be a singer, a superhero, or even a princess, they were able to play the part on that special day. They would walk into school feeling free to express themselves. 

​

As a child, there were numerous activities for the young students. There was a Halloween parade to walk in where each student could show off their costume to other kids who had been outside of their assigned class. As a child, I walked through with a smile from ear to ear exhilarated to not only show my costume to others, but to be able to see others, and what they had decided to be. 

It is no secret that this school year has brought us some new additions to the Westlake Wildcats-- heck, we’ve even got a new Vice Principal! We’re very lucky to have them in our school, but we don’t know much about them, don’t you agree? Well, let’s learn: new health teacher, Mr. Jesse G.; new global history teacher, Mr. Patrick Henderson!

Inflation is defined as the steady rise in the general price-level of goods and services over time, It is a topic that has been making headlines across the globe, as it is impacting middle class families the most. 

In recent years, many countries have witnessed an alarming increase in their inflation rates. This surge in inflation rates has left policymakers, economists, and citizens concerned about its impact on the economy and livelihoods of people. 

Monday - Pajama day is a comfy, relaxed way to start the week. Everyone usually participates, even teachers!

Tuesday - RED, WHITE and BLUE. Here is our chance to show our American PRIDE. Considering there are three colors to choose from, this is the perfect way to participate!

Above all, Westlake High School’s cafeteria menu is known for one thing--the cookies. Unless you have the first period of lunch each day (or you stop by the cafeteria in the morning during a free period), it is almost impossible to even buy the cookies, as they sell out at lightning speed. The demand is simply higher than the supply. 

​

And, at $1 for two cookies, the demand is high. Many students have racked up debt on their lunch accounts, to the point where parents have had to interfere to reimburse their hungry, hungry children. 

With the rise of AI technology, many are concerned about the security of their jobs. Among those who are fearful about being replaced are the writers of Hollywood, the people who create the scripts for the many movies and series produced each year. 

​

The last writers’ strike occurred in 2007, in response to the beginning of streaming services and how they changed the industry. The current strike comes with a new development in technology, artificial intelligence, or AI. The Writers Guild of America, or the WGA, is calling for large companies to restrict the use of AI in writing scripts. Writers are concerned about the security of their jobs with the development of this new technology and are seeking some form of job assurance.  

Every single year, books across the nation have been banned for myriad reasons: explicit content, language, and violence have all been leading contributors in a variety of books being banned from educational facilities. Though rational to ban specific genres of books, or inappropriate literature to teach in a high-school setting, the excessive banning of books has reached an all-time high in 2023, with over 874 books being banned in a classroom setting alone, according to Tolin. 

​

These banned books can range “from ‘profanity’ and plotlines ‘centered around negative activity’ to ‘X-rated’ content and ‘Satanic’ themes,” (insider.com), but mostly because of the area of the country the book has been banned in. In this article, the following books will be discussed as to why they were banned from schools: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee; Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck; and The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas.

Everybody’s favorite time of the year is almost here! The long-awaited summer days are what many people need after a stressful year of hard work. But, let’s face it; going on vacation can be very expensive, not to mention the chaotic pre-planning that comes with it. Guess what? A fun vacation doesn’t require a lot of money! Here are some vacation ideas that can be used this summer, without worrying about the price!

Recently, Artificial Intelligence has been a hot topic of conversation. There are many different uses and forms of AI that have been implemented in technology. Whether it be used to complete assignments or just have a conversation, AI is everywhere. This new trend of AI has posed many potential dangers as well as concerns in regards to groups that can access it. As it is being used more and more, many people ask “What is AI?” 

As summer break is right around the corner, everyone must be eager to start preparing for their vacations. I speak for myself, and many, when I say I can’t wait any longer to get an escape from my yearly stresses, and that’s why I’m presenting you with one of my top vacations destinations that is on my wish list. 

Nice, France

Nice, France is located on the Southeast coast of France. With its crystal blue water, warm temperatures, and its historic, old-timey feel, it’s a very popular spot for tourists. 

On February 6, 2023 powerful earthquakes violently struck the country of Turkey, causing the mass destruction of buildings and leaving many people dead. The earthquakes were most prominent in the area of South-East Turkey, near the border of Syria. Consisting of 2 continuous earthquakes with intense aftershocks, this disastrous event surpasses the death tolls of historic earthquakes in Turkish history. 

According to the BBC News article, “Turkey earthquake: Death toll could increase eight-fold, WHO says”, the country’s “worst earthquake disaster was in 1939 when 33,000 people died.” Now, the most devastating earthquakes for the Turkish people are the ones of this year, when more than 50,000 people make up the current death toll.

The hot topic of this weekend--besides the Super Bowl, of course: unidentified flying objects. Since February 10, the United States government has intercepted (shot down) several unknown flying objects from the skies. First in Alaska; on February 11, in the Yukon Territory; on February 12, in Michigan. 

On February 13, a White House spokesperson, John F. Kirby, clarified that the source of the objects and their purpose are to be determined. He also claimed that, though the objects posed a “very real” threat to civilian air traffic, they were not transmitting communication signals, nor were they a potential danger to Americans on the ground.

On February 13 at 8:18 pm, a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University. This tragedy has caused much speculation and disappointment in regards to how the university handled the situation.  Because all responders were said to have gone directly “toward the threat,” there was no one assigned to send an emergency alert to students. By the time a delayed warning was sent, shooter Anthony McRae had already fatally shot 3 students.

A couple months ago, my cousin and I went to a restaurant to eat lunch. On the menu was a stapled paper reading, “prices on the menu may be inaccurate due to inflation.” Every day after that my cousin had called me requesting a definition of inflation. Every day I had told him, “it is the rising of prices over a period of time, which causes money to lose its value.” Yet, every day that answer never satisfied him. My mistake was giving inflation a blunt definition when in reality, the concept has much more depth. 

Westlake has seen great success in sports in recent years. Not only has the Varsity Girls Basketball team managed to reach a section final, but we’ve also seen the Varsity Football and Varsity Boys Soccer teams win section 1 titles in the past two years, as well as the Varsity Baseball team also reaching a section final. 

However, none of these successes may be the greatest news Westlake athletes have received. After the passing of the bond vote, which occurred in March, 2022, reconstruction has begun on Westlake’s athletic fields.

Many people across America sat in front of their televisions on February 12, 2023 and enjoyed the 57th Annual Super Bowl held in Glendale, Arizona, at the State Farm Stadium. This was the 57th Super Bowl game, and it was held in Glendale, Arizona, at the State Farm Stadium. 

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs starred in the game. Patrick Mahomes, a favorite player among many, led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory with a score of 38-35. The Kansas City Chiefs now have 3 Super Bowls, and Patrick Mahomes now has 2. 

After putting in a great deal of hard work and effort, National English Honors Society members were finally inducted with a ceremony on Thursday, December 8. There were a total of nine students: Isabella Alberti, Anna Carpinelli, Lily Deur, Grace Griffin, Jasmine Joseph, Patricia Keating, Melania Petriccione, Rachel Thomas and Abbie Varco. This small amount makes it clear that getting inducted is far from easy. Students must publish pieces of writing on a local, regional and national level in addition to a 15 hour literacy outreach project in order to be considered.

On November 16, 2022, Mr Tyson, a service dog trainer, came to Westlake High School and gave a short presentation on his work and the dogs they train. Tyson brought with him Happy and Dylan, service dogs that graduated from training school. 

While in training school, the dogs learn a series of commands: “Got my back; peek-a-boo; block; shake; and kiss,” Tyson explains. Each one is used in order to establish a relationship with the owner. Tyson adds that Got My Back “is a command for someone who is worried that someone is following them. If the dog wags their tail, they are signaling to their owner that there is someone behind them after all.” After training school, all graduate dogs go through tests in order to get a visual of each dog's personality to best assign them to each family. 

This year, Black Friday was on November 25th, but the deals began way before then. In the days, even weeks, leading up to Black Friday, all types of businesses were promoting a seemingly new discount every day. And these “deals” were not in vain. According to Adobe, between November 1st and 28th, $32 billion were spent online. On Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday alone, a total of $3.73 billion were spent.

On September 13, 2022, the Iranian morality police arrested 22-year-old, Mahsa Amini for “improperly” wearing her hijab in public. Just 3 days following her arrest, she went into a coma and was shortly pronounced dead at a hospital in Tehran, Iran. The Iranian police claim that her death was a result of a heart attack, but Mahsa’s father, Amjad Amini, who has raised her since birth contradicts those statements by saying that Mahsa was in “perfect health” and did not have any heart-related medical conditions, according to the article, “Mahsa Amini’s Father: ‘Everything They Have Said and Shown Is Lies.” 

Moreover, local media are convinced that the young Iranian woman was severely beaten by the police and received several blows on the head with a baton. This unfortunate event eventually led to protests on social media and massive riots in Iran, resulting in violent encounters with the authorities and the destruction of numerous police stations.

As usual, the World Cup has succeeded in grabbing the attention of millions around the world with enthralling soccer matches. To anyone unfamiliar with the World Cup, it is a soccer tournament held every four years in which the world’s greatest teams compete against each other for the honor of becoming world champions. 

​

This tournament is split into two stages:, the group stage and the knockout stage;. The group stage places 4 seeded teams from 8 different groups against each other, with the top two teams moving on;, and the knockout stage places the qualifying teams from the group stage into a bracket, consisting of a round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal and final. 

According to Erin Bury, commentator for CTV News, “Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t want plastered on a billboard with your face on it.” 

Social media accounts will post about something before it can even be deleted. It has now become society’s new source of the latest gossip, scandals, tragedies, etc. It is easy to access and hooks readers and watchers on very efficiently. Right when logging onto any of the social media apps, it’s very likely that viewers  immediately see the latest news on trending celebrities, like Kim Kardashian or Kanye West. What is even more alarming than the fact that celebs are the main topic, instead of world news, is the fact that even if information might not be true, many accounts will still post videos and pictures in hopes of going viral.

During this year alone, Indonesia has been struck with multiple catastrophic earthquakes. Week after week, new quakes have erupted and devastated the archipelago. The seisms range from 34.7km - 123.4km below the Earth’s surface, and differed from 5.6 - 6.2 in magnitude levels. Usually, quakes of about this size do not result in wide-spread damage, but the addition of the fault lines the country resides upon and the flimsy infrastructure of its buildings all helped to contribute to the damage that was caused, The Associated Press reports.  Some shocks were more deadly than others, but the accumulation of multiple in close proximity to one another has left the country in shambles.

As the exhilarating race to buy the most trendy presents begin, the holiday cheer comes along with it. Many people look forward to holiday shopping and seeing all of the decorated stores. What they do not realize, though, is that holiday shopping can actually be quite dangerous. 

Malls become filled with criminals who are waiting to catch you off-guard. Pick-pocketers, bag thieves, and other criminals are destroying the Christmas spirit. Many websites, such as State Farm, publish articles with tips for staying safe while shopping, indicating dangers are on the rise. 

For decades, the American meat industry has been growing and evolving to suit the population’s needs. First, its main goal was to produce as many pounds of meat as possible. Then (as the animal activist rights movement gained popularity) it was treating these animals humanely and respectfully. Now, it is testing to see if beef from a cow can be replicated inside of a lab.

While the majority of students may journey through their academic career, and never once experience being reprimanded for violation of a dress code, of those who do, women are disproportionately affected. 

​

A simple Google search of “dress code violation statistics” will overwhelm the viewer with surveys, editorials, and flatline statistics that illustrate the dramatic number of women and girls that have been affected by their school or institution’s dress code. 
 

Whether you want to give your pumpkin a smile, a silly face, or a scary look, you would most likely start by cutting the top, placing a candle inside, and putting the lid back on. However, this traditional method is being questioned after a shocking Tik Tok video made by the user @brunchwithbabs. 

It is evident, especially with students in school full-time now, that social networking platforms such as Tik Tok, Snapchat, and Instagram have become a serious problem and addiction amongst society. As of today, people spend hours each day scrolling through social media without realizing the time they waste, to the extent that teachers now have to take away students' phones in the classroom setting. 

​

After having previously lost to Blindbrook in overtime, the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team was eager for a rematch. On October 14, 2022, the Westlake team had a chance to face them for a second time under the lights at Homecoming. 

The game started off with a ceremonial kickoff in order for injured senior players, Jillian Raguso and Morgan Leitch, to step on the field for one last time. Soon after their recognition, Westlake began.

Stereotypes, discrimination, and prejudices against others are unfair and harmful, benefiting no one. Hence, it is increasingly important to find a way to put a stop to these actions. 
 

Three ways to do so are: attending and listening to seminars about the impact of discrimination and bullying; creating cross-cultural days and ethnicity days to spread awareness and understanding; and discuss discrimination - where it stems from and ways to prevent it - in order to end it. 

With the end of the school year comes the beginning of the summer travel season. However, according to Scott Clement and company, writing for The Washington Post, roughly 61% of Americans say that gas prices are a major consideration for them when making this year’s summer plans.

According to AAA, American Automobile Association, as of May 23, 2022, the national average for a gallon of gas had risen to $4.59, with the prices in all 50 states being above $4.00.More specifically, AAA states that the national average as of June 17, 2022 is currently $5.00 for a gallon of regular gas.

According to author Nick Galov's 2022 vaping statistics, 25.5% of high schoolers use e-cigarettes. Compared to the 2.4% of teens that vaped in 2019, this percentage is extremely high. 

​

As a freshman in high school, I have witnessed countless attempts to lower the vaping rates in my school. I have gone to a number of assemblies in which there are long monologues about the detriments of vaping. 

​

Typically, students find those conventions to be extremely tedious. They sit and listen to the speech by force, then leave to go vape in the bathroom.

​

E-cigarettes are banned at Westlake High School, but evidently, this expulsion has done very little to diminish the vaping rates. 

Senior year. 

The countdown year. 

A year that is an incredible year in itself, but with all the added benefits, it makes this year extraordinary. From leaving during lunch periods to grab lunch at Rosehill with friends to getting more independence outside of the school building due to free periods at the end of the day, the year has its perks. 

As of today, about 66% of the American population has received a full vaccination dose for the COVID-19 virus. In low income countries, fewer than 15% of all citizens have been vaccinated. Why may you ask? Vaccines are not available to these people due to the ongoing conflict of Intellectual Property Waivers.  

An IP waiver is a document that gives someone permission to manufacture a product that was conceptualized by someone else. 

Almost every year, Apple comes out with a new phone or invention to release publicly. Last year, Apple created a device called Apple Air Tags: a small, little tracker that people are supposed to use to find their lost item. Unfortunately, criminals have started using them to track people and their vehicles.

Most people think school is a place of stress, anxiety, and hard work. Westlake has figured out a way to alleviate the negative traits associated with school. Therapy dogs are dogs that are trained to provide affection, comfort and support to people. 

Therapy dogs, and dogs in general, are proven to release a chemical called oxytocin otherwise known as the, “happy chemical." It is scientifically proven that dog and human contact release oxytocin. Therapy dogs in school have been proven to lower anxiety, boost attendance, grades, and morale amongst students and faculty. 

The high school Scholastic Aptitude Tests, commonly known as the SATs, will be receiving many new changes in the following years, the most substantial being that it is going virtual. 

In the previous years, the SAT exams were given as scantrons and test booklets. Now they will be issued on computers either owned by the students or dispersed by administrative personnel. 

Omicron is the newest variant of the Covid-19 strain and it seems to be proliferating at a rapid rate. Proven to spread easier than the original SARS-CoV-2, the United States is reporting about 720,000 cases each day according to the New York Times. 

However, the quantity of hospitalized people infected has decreased by 26% from last year’s Delta surge, according to Reuters.

There have been ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine since 2014, over 8 years ago. These conflicts are mainly centered around territory disputes on Russia’s border with Ukraine and who the land truly belongs to. On this border, many people speak Russian and consider themselves part of Russia. 

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has placed troops and military artillery on the border of Ukraine, saying that is not a threat. Rather, he insists it  is a place for its military to practice. Skeptical of this claim, a phone call has been planned between “US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky,” Ivana Kottasová from CNN reports.

School shootings are a big issue that impact a lot of schools around the country. One of the most recent ones being the Michigan school shooting at Oxford High School, which took place on November 30, 2021. 

​

A 15-year-old student opened fire, leaving four innocent teenagers dead and seven others injured in the afternoon hours. Officials and students alike say Ethan Crumbley gave many signs and warnings threatening the school on social media, however, the school did little to intervene.

On the night of November 28th, a protest took place throughout New York State, including on Westlake campus. This reported protest garnered significant controversy in the surrounding few weeks since the incident. 

​

Before this argument continues, allow me to note that I have nothing against a peaceful protest. I do, however, want to challenge the beliefs behind the protest. Personally, I believe that the protest was illegal, wasteful, and above all, pointless.

Are you looking for delicious, healthy food that you can eat and taste out of this world? Well, Root 2 Rise is the place for you, a 100% gluten free, vegan, and organic eatery in the heart of Pleasantville, NY. 

Root 2 Rise has an array of options to choose from for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

While using our modern day technology, we often overlook how our technology is understanding our questions, our likes and dislikes, and always supplying us with advertisements right after we were looking for them on Google.

​

We need to be more concerned about Alexa. Is she always listening?

The morning of Wednesday, October 6th was a tough one for Yankees fans, as the Yanks tragically fell to the Boston Red Sox the night before in the do or die American League Wildcard game. 

After a year of remote learning and social distancing, the Westlake Wildcats FINALLY got to celebrate Homecoming 2021 as it should be done! Throughout the fall sports season, athletes created bonds that will never be lost. High school football, soccer, cheerleading, tennis, and volleyball roared back amid the pandemic with several states. 

This year’s homecoming was happy and sad for everyone; while some teams lost and some teams won, it was simply enjoyable to be able to experience normalcy.