West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
All content by Brendan Talbot
Both the boys and girls teams got second place at the state competition. The boys to Western Branch high school, and the girls to South Lakes high school.

A Spartan dynasty: cross country, track and field

Brendan Talbot, Design Editor-in-Chief
April 11, 2024
A large number of colleges allow students to apply test-optional, a choice that the Common Application reflects.

Standardized tests: required or not?

Naila Adimi and Brendan Talbot
April 11, 2024
Prom-peration

Prom-peration

Zoe Ferlazzo and Brendan Talbot
April 11, 2024
Episode four | Students' views and the news

Episode four | Students’ views and the news

Ben Bradfield, Christina Nies, and Brendan Talbot
February 29, 2024
Tick-tock, FCPS transportation on the clock (Forum)

Tick-tock, FCPS transportation on the clock (Forum)

Jade Hanson and Brendan Talbot
February 14, 2024
Freshman Kaitlyn Gorkowski complains that buses are in need of better conditions. “I’m at the last bus stop, and usually when I get on, there are not enough seats. This one time, kids were sitting in the aisle, and there was no room for me,” said Gorkowski.

[Photo] Tick-tock, FCPS transportation on the clock

Jade Hanson, Staff Writer
February 14, 2024
IMG_0895

[Photo] A slippery slope on the road

Ben Bradfield, Managing Editor-in-Chief
January 17, 2024
Pictured above, Homelander celebrating in the aftermath of the season three finale. “The Boys” season four will be released sometime in 2024, and takes place after the events of “Gen V” season one.

“The Boys” & “Gen V”: don’t meet your heroes

Brendan Talbot, Design Editor-in-Chief
November 29, 2023
A Journey that began in Cochabamba, Bolivia, required five flights and lasted a little over a week but ultimately resulted in the arrival of Samatha’s family in Springfield, VA, last September. Flights were taken from Cochabamba, Bolivia, to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, then Mexico City, Mexico, to Tijuana, Mexico, later Los Angeles National Airport (LAX) to Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) finally to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

[Photo] American dream / American reality

Paula De Megret-Murray, Features Editor
November 29, 2023
United we stand, divided we fall

United we stand, divided we fall

Paula De Megret-Murray and Brendan Talbot
October 6, 2023
Number 4, senior Devante Rudolph, receives pre-snap instructions from the coaches.

Spartan football starts season off triumphantly

Brendan Talbot, Design Editor-in-Chief
October 6, 2023
Number four, senior Devante Rudolph, receives pre-snap instructions from the coaches.

Seniors Vishal Green, Henry Anderson, Ino Puente, Gavin Reichard, and junior Cael Alonzo pose at Virginia Beach during the 2023 indoor track and field state championship. Green, Reichard and Anderson are all current track and field captains, and Alonzo is on track to be one next year.

Senior succession

Brendan Talbot, Head Design Editor
May 31, 2023
Junior Natalie Sorensen in the hospital.

Sorensen’s story: one student’s battle with GBS

Brendan Talbot, Head Design Editor
May 31, 2023
A picture of the Spartan football team, or something? StarryAI was given the prompt "West Springfield High School Fairfax, Virginia Spartans." A different present was used on this generation. The "Argos" mode which is said to provide more photorealism with photorealism with more complicated prompts.

Pandora’s bot

Brendan Talbot, Head Design Editor
February 15, 2023
Spartan Civil War

Spartan Civil War

Brendan Talbot, Head Design Editor
December 15, 2022
Last December, students walked out in support of Fairfax High School student Ekran Mohamed who had her headscarf taken off while assaulted by another student. Students stood in solidarity with the notion that a woman’s choice to wear hijab should never be met with violence.

[Photo] Keep politics away from the hijab

Anisha Iqbal, Editor-in-Chief
November 10, 2022
E-hall passes allow teachers to monitor and control students movement and activity.

Electronic hall passes: Admins answer to unruliness

Brendan Talbot, Head Design Editor
October 31, 2022
E-hall passes allow teachers to monitor and control students movement and activity.

Reagan Alpanap, Emily Cramer, Emma Goldkopf

Senior Picnic pictures!!

Abigail Beyene, Anisha Iqbal, and Brendan Talbot
June 3, 2022
Apps like TikTok help perpetuate both the positive and negative aspects of gym culture.

“FitTok”: social media’s influence on gym culture

Brendan Talbot, ETC. Editor
May 26, 2022
Students often struggle with stubbornly difficult teachers and unfair grading policies.

[Photo] Educational egos’ effects on academia

Editorial
April 12, 2022
Pajort brand ambassadors sophomores Jon Hennigh, JP Ogden, and Stephen Zarbo pose in Pajorts for the Pajort_Instagram on the football field.

Pajort: “A company designed by degenerates”

Brendan Talbot, ETC. Editor
February 28, 2022
When high school apply for jobs, they willingly give up a great amount of free time and freedom in exchange for a paycheck which can be used for lifestyle or financial reasons.

Working students’ dilemma

Brendan Talbot, ETC. Editor
December 16, 2021
A political cartoon depicting brave soldiers fighting for child voting rights nationwide. If your local community isn't holding any teen voting rallies in the near future, start one.

Declaration of kiddependance

Brendan Talbot, ETC. Editor
December 16, 2021
Manny Baskerville plays quarterback in place of the injured Adrian Mejia during the Homecoming game against Oakton. Mejia is one of many athletes across the sports world who has fallen plague to injury this year, as the wave of injuries is affecting not only the rest of high school athletics, but college and professional sports as well.

Wave of injuries strikes athletic world

Brendan Talbot, ETC. Editor
October 28, 2021
While WS athletic facilities have reopened to the public again, mask mandates indoors and other COVID-19 safety protocols are still in effect.

COVID-19 protocols spark discussion for student athletes

Brendan Talbot, ETC. Editor
September 29, 2021
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