West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle
West Springfield High School Newspaper

The Oracle

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor

All content by Robbie Kugler
FCPS students who attempt to access blocked websites are always met by a shadowy specter looming over fine print. Fittingly enough, the public face of the block page is just as formless and indistinct as the blocking system itself.

Unraveling the blocklist

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
March 29, 2023
Senior Anne Foote went to see “Cocaine Bear” at the Angelika Film Center on opening weekend with seniors Amelia Fox, Ania Francis, Anastasiia Goi, and Annalise Thaler. Both Foote and senior Catherine Browne professed that “Cocaine Bear” was a great film to watch with friends.

“Cocaine Bear” leaves audiences in high spirits

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
March 29, 2023
Although most students have likely passed by the courtyard next to the STEM hallway at some point, there is actually another hidden courtyard on the second floor accessible through Spartan Hall. Befitted with a small playground, this courtyard has been used by both Child Development and Special Education classes over the years.

[Photo] Courtyards should not be out of bounds

Editorial
March 29, 2023
For the second year in a row, Head Track and Field Coach Chris Pellegrini celebrated an Indoor State title by wearing an Arby’s t-shirt. Last year, he lost a bet and had to wear the shirt on the podium to celebrate the 4x800 meter relay repeating as champions. This year, he chose to wear the shirt himself in order to commemorate his first Track and Field State team title as a coach.

Nobody wins unless everybody wins

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
March 3, 2023
Spartan rappers chasing stardom

Spartan rappers chasing stardom

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
February 15, 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.

[Photo] How media companies cause piracy

Editorial
February 15, 2023
Befitting of an unconventional protagonist, the Enola Holmes films have explored several unconventional methods of communication, ranging from fourth-wall breaks, flower symbolism, anagram decoding, and the secret language of hand fans.

“Enola Holmes 2” educates and excites

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
December 15, 2022
The top 12 runners on the season made it to States, with the top seven runners on the Girls Cross Country team running in the championship-winning race. The unyielding support from teammates on the sidelines was a huge help to those racing.

Girls Cross Country wins States

Anne Foote and Robbie Kugler
November 16, 2022
Through the release of Crystalized, more than 400 different playsets and 700 different minifigures have been produced under the Lego Ninjago theme, allowing fans of all ages to hold their own Spinjitzu tournaments, reenact epic battles from the show, or even just display their favorite ninja in interesting places.

A legacy built brick by brick

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
November 10, 2022
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.

[Photo] Declaration of kiddependance

Brendan Talbot, ETC. Editor
December 16, 2021
Two seniors waiting to take their portraits. With multiple photos taken during every session, and a limited number of available photographers, tuxes, and drapes, senior photos can be an extremely lengthy process.

Senior pictures separate students

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
September 29, 2022
Senior Nahomy Vasquez Garcia working with a tutee. The Peer Tutoring Center has partnered with Strategies for Success teacher Ying Smith to deliver more individual assistance and fundamental services to students.

Peer Tutoring on death row

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
May 26, 2022
A typical CharacterStrong lesson might include this sort of picture guessing game in order to spark creativity and cooperation. Students, however, would much rather use LS 4 to catch up on homework.

[Photo] Mindfulness fails to mind students’ mental health

Riley Zimmerman, Contributor
April 13, 2022
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will feature wild Pokémon in the overworld, skies, waterways, and even within towns, although it’s currently unclear whether capture battles will stay in the overworld like in Pokémon Legends Arceus, or cut away to a separate battle screen like in previous games.

Pokémon franchise caught between tradition and evolution

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
April 12, 2022
Sophomore Aidan MacGrath competing in the 3200 meter run. She finished first with a personal-best time of 10:54.05 and qualified for States.

Leslie Sherman’s legacy lives on

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
April 9, 2022
Due to a bet conceived at the very beginning of the Indoor Track season, largely inspired by Head Track and Field Coach Chris Pellegrini’s occasional visits to Arby’s following meets, he was obligated to wear the restaurant’s shirt for their podium picture.

An Arby’s shirt and a golden baton

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
March 1, 2022
A standard AP US History textbook cover censored to remove the prominent male figures. Of the more than 1500 historical figures listed in this textbook’s index, less than 15% are women. Although this marks a much larger percentage than the national average, that rate is far from equitable.

Down with the patriarchy

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
February 28, 2022
Teacher Erin Pawlowicz teaches a class of Algebra 1 students how to multiply exponents. Combined with the effects of virtual learning, an accelerated curriculum compared to last year, and the nature of math as a subject, this year has been difficult for many students.

A rush of rapid mathematics

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
February 28, 2022
Mariah Carey’s fourth studio album, “Merry Christmas,” which features seven covers and three original songs. Despite garnering a mixed reception upon release, the album itself has largely become overshadowed by the iconic single “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” ASCAP's number one most-played holiday song in 2020.

The inescapable trap of soulless Christmas music

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
December 16, 2021
The Girls Cross Country team posing together for a group photo after competing at the Nike Cross Regionals (NXR). After sweeping first place at Districts and Regionals, they finished third at States and finished third in an unusually small field of 10 teams at NXR.

Girls Cross Country dominance continues

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
December 16, 2021
The Boys Cross Country team posing at Regionals. They swept first place at District and Regionals this year, powered primarily by the efforts of their senior runners.

A swan song for XC seniors

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
December 16, 2021
Sour cream cookies

Sour cream cookies

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
December 16, 2021
The sun setting at just 5:13 p.m. One of the most common causes of winter-pattern seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is the shorter days, as that increasing lack of sunlight can have a very negative effect on a person’s health.

‘Tis the season to be depressed

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
December 16, 2021
AlpacaHawk’s longtime channel icon, which displays a screaming Tobey Maguire from “Spider-Man 2.”

Long live the king of iMovie

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
October 28, 2021
A selection of wigs for sale at Party City. Two of the wigs for sale, titled the “Rasta Vibration Wig” and the “Dreadlock Rasta Wig,” respectively, seem to appropriate Rastafari culture. There are also several wigs available that attempt to replicate elements of African American culture, including the “Black Afro Wig,” “Brown Afro Wig,” “Short ‘Fro Wig,” and “Runway Fro Wig.” Each one of these wigs appears to play into some sort of racial or cultural stereotype, and many of the other products for sale at Party City also play into stereotypes. Although, to their credit, Party City does not appear to carry costumes based on the Indigenous Peoples of America anymore, so that’s something.

[Photo] Halloween costumes: cultural appreciation or cultural appropriation?

Forum
October 28, 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.

[Photo] Homecoming swindles students with lackluster experience

Editorial
October 28, 2021
Students crowded around Door 5 waiting for their buses to arrive. Buses all across FCPS have experienced delays and student-capacity issues due to a shortage of bus drivers. The overcrowding for buses also raises safety concerns due to the close proximity of students while facing a global pandemic.

Traffic jams and overcrowded buses cause chaos

Robbie Kugler, Viewpoint Editor
September 29, 2021
Senior Ashley Smith high jumping.

Stellar seniors

Robbie Kugler, Staff Writer
May 23, 2021
Purple ribbon for Purple Up! Day. Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as a combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red, and Navy blue.

Month of the Military Child: justified or misguided?

Robbie Kugler, Staff Writer
May 5, 2021
Anastasiia Goi and Riley Sucato’s 1st Place Exhibit “Alexander Hamilton: A Revolutionary Transforming the World with Every Pen Stroke.”

NHD holds first virtual competitions

Robbie Kugler, Staff Writer
March 16, 2021
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