West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
All content by Editorial
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-2021 school year utilized a schedule with Mondays as asynchronous learning days. If this practice is implemented in future years, students can be encouraged to prioritize what they need to get done and ask for help when needed on those days.

Four-day is the way

Editorial
November 29, 2023
The new work policy FCPS has implemented now penalizes students for assignments they do not put an effort into completing. With this, there is a greater stress on completing work and learning the material being taught, critical to the successes of students county-wide.

New zero percent policy benefits all

Editorial
October 6, 2023
The RESTRICT Act has become known as the ‘TikTok Ban,” despite the bill not even mentioning the popular social media app. This misinformation has spread like wildfire, causing many to be unaware of the true contents of the bill.

The “TikTok ban” deceives

Editorial
May 31, 2023
Every day, students can be seen passing close to the windows to get a sliver of warmth. A few panes of glass and some bricks are all that separate students from our school’s untouched potential.

Courtyards should not be out of bounds

Editorial
March 29, 2023
FBI anti-piracy warnings, often printed on CDs and DVD cases, are meant to dissuade piracy by explicitly threatening legal punishment in the form of fines and imprisonment. However, given that punishments are almost always levied against large distributors of pirated content, and not against individuals who pirate, these warning are little more than empty threats.

How media companies cause piracy

Editorial
February 15, 2023
Junior Madeline Brumbaugh sits fatigued in her LS. The current learning seminar contributes significantly to boredom among students.

The not-Learning Seminar

Editorial
November 10, 2022
The BeReal goes off at any time during the day, and each day it’s completely random. The leadership class was in the middle of making signs for the football game student section when their BeReal went off.

BeReal or BeFake

Editorial
September 29, 2022
If you or a friend is experiencing suicidal thoughts, actions, or symptoms of depression, help is available. Call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or text the Crisis Text Line for 24/7 anonymous help from trained volunteers.

Stop assuming students trust their counselors

Editorial
May 26, 2022
Students often struggle with stubbornly difficult teachers and unfair grading policies.

Educational egos’ effects on academia

Editorial
April 12, 2022
Buses and cars alike follow the hand gestures of faculty to exit the lot. Faculty recently coned-off a lane at the stop sign to mitigate various paths of entry causing “right-of-way” headaches.

Save the seniors with a simple five minutes

Editorial
February 28, 2022
According to Lee and Low Books, diversity has gone up in publishing in recent years, with bookshelves seeing 3% more POC and 7% more LGBTQIA authors in 2019 since 2015. Despite the inclusivity within modern literature, authors are still just as susceptible to censorship in talking about their own experiences than they were in the past.

The hypocrisy of book banning in FCPS libraries

Editorial
December 16, 2021
Students standing around at the 2021 outdoor Homecoming dance. The event was held in the school parking lot due to COVID-19 restrictions, which resulted in a far more lackluster experience than previous years.

Homecoming swindles students with lackluster experience

Editorial
October 28, 2021
Many students crowd stairwell A which demonstrates how the overcrowding within WS is very unsafe for students.

Administration’s safety protocols are not enough

Editorial
September 29, 2021
According to the HRC, 62% of people in the US support trans rights, which is an 37% increase from just 5 years ago. Still, trans people face the same prejudices as before and often get mistreated or labeled negatively by a society that doesn’t understand nor see space for them.

New state laws show a terrifying future for trans youth

Editorial
May 14, 2021
Photo captured of the insurrectionists breaching the Capitol barriers.

Six ‘heroes’ of the insurrection

Editorial
March 3, 2021
This 2013 graph showcases how students’ sleep is impacted and how it affects academic performance. The highest reason for lack of sleep is the amount of homework they receive.

Teachers need to adhere to schoolwork limits

Editorial
October 23, 2020
President Trump answering questions at a Coronavirus Task Force press conference on February 29, 2020.

The US government’s botched COVID-19 response

Editorial
October 14, 2020

Bring back student choice

Editorial
March 10, 2020
A group of reusable water bottles shuns the plastic bottle. With the growing concern for the change in our climate, the use of reusable water bottles has increased drastically.

Small steps to save the Earth

Editorial
February 7, 2020
Seniors should be rewarded for spending years at WS and feel as though their time means more just getting into college.

What makes senior year special?

Editorial
December 20, 2019
This was the Hype Squad duing WSs Dig Pink volleyball game against Robinson. The student section at the game was packed with excited fans, and the Hype Squad was in full gear.

Hype Squads: gone too far?

Editorial
November 20, 2019
Senior Anna Spirides writes down her homework in her personal planner that she bought herself. Many students bought their own planners in order to stay organized this year.

The absence of planners

Editorial
October 7, 2019

Class selection already?

Editorial
February 19, 2019
WS administration, lengthen our lunch

WS administration, lengthen our lunch

Editorial
December 21, 2018
The value of ethical journalism

The value of ethical journalism

Editorial
November 29, 2018
Senior Hannah Perine works in the library as schoolwork, in conjunction with extracurricular, can often lead to stress.

As a quarter ends, Spartans struggle with stress

Editorial
November 14, 2018
The removal of all the art murals, and the plain white halls, gives the school an industrial feel. Students shouldnt feel like theyre in an institution, with endless halls full of white walls. New murals will bring WS new personality and enhance the beauty of the school.

Art murals brought individuality to WS

Editorial
November 12, 2018
Junior Molly Haynes poses in a dress that she wore on a day in December to show her participation in the Dressember campaign. This is a way for people to raise awareness about human traficking and unethical labor practices.

Who is making your clothing?

Editorial
June 6, 2017
Sophomore Sydney Anderson brings multiple water bottles to school becaue she does not trust the water that comes out of the school’s water fountains. She would rather carry around all those bottles than drink the school’s water.

Just how clean is our water?

Editorial
April 18, 2017

Just how clean is our water?

Editorial
March 31, 2017
Hasselmann spends a large amount of her time prepping functions locally and internationally to create ways for students to have more and better educational opportunities. She wants to “color their world with education.”

And The Oracle Person of the Year is…

Editorial
February 22, 2017
DES MOINES, IA - JANUARY 28: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures as he speaks to veterans at Drake University on January 28, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Donald Trump held his alternative event to benefit veterans after withdrawing from the televised Fox News/Google GOP debate which airs at the same time. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Like him, hate him, he’s our president

Editorial
February 7, 2017
Teacjers Janine Williams and Katharina Fuerst pose for a photo to show how their students must cover their ears in Sparta, to improve their focus.

Thin walls spill test answers and history

Editorial
December 13, 2016
Remember: It doesn’t take much to be kind, but this simple act can make a difference in our lives.

Be kind to one another, Spartans

Editorial
December 5, 2016

Building our lives around construction

Editorial
October 24, 2016
The 2014-15 Key Club members pose for their picture for the yearbook. The Key Club is the largest, oldest and most widely known organization for high school students to provide service and give back to the local community. We’ve always been told that volunteering brings light to others and happiness to all. But why have we been told that it’s “required”?

‘Mandatory’ community service hours really aren’t

Editorial
March 29, 2016

A Letter from the Editors

Editorial
February 2, 2016
Art teacher Katherine Rehm sells tickets at a Friday night football game, where rules about reentry have been put to the test.

Playing by the rules can hurt more than help

Editorial
December 14, 2015
Senior Chandler Mobley, applies to many colleges and universities through the Common Application. The Common Application Web site allows students to use similar essays, questions,and information. Though it takes an extremely long time to complete, the Web site gives students a break from switching from tab to tab.

Common Application is not so common, is it?

Editorial
November 16, 2015
Realizing our generation’s political power

Realizing our generation’s political power

Editorial
October 23, 2015
A new FCPS policy means that students will receive a lot more unexcused tardies than unexcused absences this year.

The times they are a-changin’ with new policy

Editorial
October 7, 2015

It’s not about what we want, it’s about what looks good

Editorial
May 26, 2015

The work of an adult and none of the freedom

Editorial
April 29, 2015

The 10 Commandments of asking for food from others

Editorial
March 23, 2015

Get the honey, keep the money

Editorial
February 13, 2015

Lisa Chen: Oracle Person of the Year

Editorial
January 26, 2015

The only thing to expect is high expectations

Editorial
December 18, 2014

Colleges could care less about all of our extracurriculars

Editorial
October 23, 2014

New attendance policy ‘skips’ the real problem

Editorial
October 2, 2014

Learn from our pain: College app advice

Editorial
June 9, 2014

AP exams close the year

Editorial
May 15, 2014

Make-up school days make no sense

Editorial
April 10, 2014

A big thank you to Mrs. Kurth and Mrs. Halfhill

Editorial
March 12, 2014

Everyone makes mistakes, even the school newspaper

Editorial
January 24, 2014

It’s the most wonderful time—every 6 years

Editorial
December 6, 2013

Lockdowns are not a joke

Editorial
November 8, 2013

At WS, THIS IS SPARTA[N TIME]

Editorial
October 29, 2013

Heartfelt s/o to the administration

Editorial
September 30, 2013

Disgraced memorial

Editorial
April 26, 2013

The positive side of being a Spartan

Editorial
April 5, 2013

What, so now you’re telling me I have a D?

Editorial
March 19, 2013

We’re seeing Green[felder]

Editorial
February 8, 2013

SPARTANS, O13EY 13RANDT

Editorial
October 19, 2012

ATTENTION, JUNIORS: LEARN HOW TO PARK!

Editorial
October 1, 2012

The unsung heroes: a big thanks to custodians

Editorial
January 11, 2012

Food fight ends in school-wide disturbance

Editorial
May 26, 2011

Senior parking lot or student standing lane?

Editorial
April 29, 2011

Quick fix to overcrowding: hallway courtesy

Editorial
April 1, 2011

Don’t whine about it, don’t cry about it. Do what we do and WRITE ABOUT IT

Editorial
March 24, 2011

The ‘R’ in PART has been lost

Editorial
February 24, 2011

PART lessons poorly executed

Editorial
February 11, 2011

Hidden costs deter customers

Editorial
December 17, 2010

Spartan tradition

Editorial
December 7, 2010

Law officials don’t ‘like’ party photos: Students need to be smarter about their posted pictures on Facebook

Editorial
December 3, 2010

Don’t join The Plastics, use reusable water bottles

Editorial
November 15, 2010

Say goodbye to personal bubbles

Editorial
October 20, 2010
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