West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle

Christina Nies, Head Copy Editor

Christina Nies is a junior in her third year with The Oracle. As a Head Copy Editor, she oversees the editing process of the publication, as well as writes stories and online articles. She enjoys music, fashion, and journaling in her free time.

All content by Christina Nies
Model Bella Hadid is known for using her Instagram to speak in support of Palestinian self-determination.

With fame comes responsibility

Christina Nies, Copy Editor-in-Chief
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
Episode three | Students' views and the news

Episode three | Students’ views and the news

Ben Bradfield, Christina Nies, and Paula De Megret-Murray
February 16, 2024
Seniors Christina Nies and Briseis Memos recently attended a concert by rock band Tool. While best known as a progressive rock band, Tool fuses elements of nu metal with progressive rock in their music.

Nu metal resurges among Gen Z

Christina Nies, Copy Editor-in-Chief
February 14, 2024
Left to right: senior and program director James Hogan, senior and president Edward Tomlinson, junior and secretary Ryan Healy, and senior and vice president Liam Stubblefield.

Philosophy Club fundamentals

Christina Nies, Copy Editor-in-Chief
December 18, 2023
Left to right: senior Alyssa Delmonico, Spanish teacher Michelle Caldwell, seniors Andrew Downham, Emma Doll, and Brady Echols

PJ day starts spirit week

Christina Nies, Copy Editor-in-Chief
December 12, 2023
As part of Halloween festivities, students played ‘wrap the mummy,” in which participants wrap a volunteer in toilet paper. Uniquely American activities such as making s’mores and cornhole were also enjoyed before the night ended with a round of trick-or-treating.

German exchange students come to WS

Christina Nies, Copy Editor-in-Chief
November 29, 2023
Episode one | Students' views and the news

Episode one | Students’ views and the news

Ben Bradfield and Christina Nies
November 13, 2023
Spartans register to vote

Spartans register to vote

Christina Nies, Copy Editor-in-Chief
October 26, 2023
Although extremely crowded, the stands were the place to be throughout the game. Encouraging chants from both students and the cheerleading squad made for an uplifting and spirit-filled experience as the Spartan football team clinched a Homecoming victory.

Homecoming victory makes waves

Ben Bradfield and Christina Nies
October 8, 2023
An additional way AP Precalculus differs from the Honors version of the class is its focus on rates of change. Rates of change are introduced in the very beginning of AP Precalculus, while they are barely mentioned in Honors.

The launch of AP Precalculus peeves

Christina Nies, Copy Editor-in-Chief
October 3, 2023
(Left to right) Seniors Mikayla Bartos and Mia Chetelat

Homecoming week begins brightly

Christina Nies, Copy Editor-in-Chief
October 2, 2023
Although junior year is often viewed as a year of struggle, juniors were able to have fun and win second place in this year’s homecoming float competition.

Junior year: friend or foe?

Christina Nies, Head Copy Editor
May 31, 2023
“I believe if society were to be less judgemental about one’s weight, then the issue of having an eating disorder may be less prevalent,” said the anonymous student.

Overlooked: men’s eating disorders

Christina Nies, Head Copy Editor
March 29, 2023
Questbridge is aligned with a wide variety of college partners across the country, including Dartmouth College, the University of Virginia, Princeton University, and Yale University.

Questbridge bridges the gap

Christina Nies, Head Copy Editor
February 15, 2023
“My journey as a high school athlete has definitely not been normal,” said Thaler. The pandemic cut Thaler’s freshman year lacrosse season short and moved her sophomore year field hockey season from summer-fall to winter-spring.

Seniors say goodbye to their sports

Christina Nies, Head Copy Editor
December 15, 2022
Evan Peters stars in “Monster: the Jeffrey Dahmer Story” which has a record watch time of over 3.7 billion streaming minutes.

The Dahmer dilemma

Christina Nies, Head Copy Editor
November 10, 2022
The dispensers provide an excellent option to students who don’t have access to menstrual products at home. Instead, these students must now rely on others for these essential supplies.

Empty words and empty dispensers

Christina Nies, Head Copy Editor
September 29, 2022
Sophomore Ben Bradfield works through the process of page design in InDesign.

Extra! Extra! Read all about The Oracle

Christina Nies, Features Editor
May 26, 2022
“It’s just clear that even though the school put up the dispensers, they don’t really care,” said sophomore Ainsley Hawkins, highlighting the apathy displayed by the school towards making sure students have the products they need.

“Dispensers” that don’t dispense

Christina Nies, Features Editor
April 12, 2022
Besides charting 24 songs, “Dawn FM” recently hit number one on Billboard's Top Album’s Sales chart.

2022 album reviews

Christina Nies, Features Editor
February 28, 2022
Junior Tenzin Werner participated in protests in support of Uyghurs this past fall, condemning China’s actions and displaying solidarity by the Tibetan community.

“Never again” is happening, again

Christina Nies, Features Editor
February 28, 2022
Chocolate crackle cookies

Chocolate crackle cookies

Christina Nies, Features Editor
December 16, 2021
“Happy Home Paradise” includes a new currency, Poki, as well as new scenes, design options, and facilities. It is available for purchase starting November 5, for $24.99.

Animal Crossing’s update energizes fans

Christina Nies, Features Editor
December 16, 2021
Fall leaf colors of red, orange, and yellow finally revealed themselves in November. Compared to past years where the leaves started to change in October and September, this autumnal tradition arrived late.

Eco-anxiety and students: a dreadful duo

Christina Nies, Features Editor
December 16, 2021
Brianna Ann Ford is a prime example of how the “missing White woman syndrome” unfairly puts White women on a pedestal and ignores others. She was last seen wearing a black Reebok jacket, a black short sleeve blouse, and black flowered pants. She has several tattoos, including a few on both of her arms, black writing on her back, and “Mom” on her chest. She is 20 years old, 5’7, and 120 pounds. If you have any information please contact the Fairfax County Police Department at 703-691-2233.

The false epidemic of missing White women

Christina Nies, Features Editor
October 28, 2021
Besides vegetables, Hogan has also planted herbs such as basil, oregano, and rosemary in his garden.

Students acquire new hobbies over long quarantine months

Christina Nies, Features Editor
September 29, 2021
Following a disagreement before the album was released over the image’s use as the cover, lead Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain offered the phrase, “if you’re offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile,” be put on a sticker over Elden’s genitals. 

Iconic naked Nirvana baby sues for child pornography

Christina Nies, Features Editor
September 29, 2021
A normal return to school this fall: does WS approve?

A normal return to school this fall: does WS approve?

Christina Nies, Staff Writer
May 14, 2021
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