News
News
The Latest
3 Years of Outbreak: A Flashback to COVID-19
This spring marks the three-year anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in America. While over a year has passed since Governor Kim Reynolds declared an end to the coronavirus public health emergency, the detrimental effects of COVID-19 are still seen today. School is a significant part of…
Volunteering During the Holidays
Volunteering is something that many people do, and most often, they get a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of satisfaction after giving their time. Volunteering is something that many people do, and most often, they get a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of satisfaction after giving their time.
Encanto Movie Review
On November 24th, 2021, Walt Disney Studios released its 60th animated film, Encanto. This article contains minor spoilers for Disney’s film Encanto. On November 24th, 2021, Walt Disney Studios released its 60th animated film, Encanto. Encanto is set in a village in Colombia where the Madrigal family lives. Every Madrigal…
Girls Basketball
The Girls Basketball team has shown prominence to be a State contender again this season. The Girls Basketball team has shown prominence to be a State contender again this season. After an easy blowout against Ames 84-14, many believe that Northwest is taking off where Waukee Girls Basketball left it…
Holiday Music
Every year holiday music is covered by many music artists, but many artists who create original songs do not gain as much popularity. We’ve already heard the song 30 times, who wants to hear John Legend do it again? Every year holiday music is covered by many music artists, but…
Waukee Northwest State Dance
The Dance team at Waukee Northwest heads to state. The Dance team at Waukee Northwest has had a rollercoaster of a season, starting off with some work that needed to be done, and ending up with a 1st place in contemporary and a 2nd place in pom at the State…
Americanization of Asian Culture
With social media heavily influencing teens, trends are constantly changing and growing in popularity. Ever since the 2010s, Asian culture has become incredibly popular with today’s teens. From K-pop to anime, fashion and makeup styles, right down to the beauty standards, America is exploding with Asian influence. Many people trace…
Meet the Band Directors
Mr. Friesleben and Mr. Strohmaier are waukee northwest’s two band directors. Even though the Northwest Royal Brigade is just two months old, Chris Strohmaier and Chad Friesleben, the directors of the marching, jazz and concert band are proud to be leaders of the pack. In high school, Mr. Strohmaier played…
Zodiac Signs – All You Need to Know
Zodiac signs are an interesting way to find out more about yourself and other people. Zodiac signs can also determine who you are compatible with and where you are at in life. If you were born on December 22nd-January 19th, you are a Capricorn. Capricorns are ambitious, determined and strong. They…
Band Player Shortage
Due to the split, Waukee Northwest High School is suffering from a shortage of band students. Because Waukee High School is splitting into two, this has caused large instrument groups, like the clarinets, to fall to a small group of eight and double-reed instruments, like oboes and bassoons, only have…
International Club: Dance Night
One of the outstanding clubs and an off-shot in Northwest High School is the club whose membership consists of people from different cultures all over the globe. International Club, a club established to encourage students to share their culture and also learn about other cultures. International club offers the best…
School Troubles
With just a few weeks under Northwest High School’s belt, students have already discovered several problems that have arisen, ranging from traffic to the sound of the dismissal bell. As suspected, things at Northwest High School wouldn’t run smoothly in the first weeks. Many students have pointed out the various…
Meet The Librarian
The contagious smile behind the Waukee Northwest library doors belongs to librarian Ms. Rechkemmer. She is originally from Omaha, Nebraska, and had previously taught middle school Language Arts for seven years. This year is Ms. Rechkemmer’s first year as a school librarian. Ms. Rechkemmer loves riding horses and credits that to…
Study Room Review
At Northwest, students use the group study rooms, located upstairs above the lunchroom, to work on projects, study for tests, and more. At Northwest, students use the group study rooms, located upstairs above the lunchroom, to work on projects, study for tests, and more. The students think the rooms are…
Savor the Season: Holiday Recipes from Northwest Families
Story by Michael Miner. Videos by Krista Giltner, Delphi Lonsdale and Xavier Lago As the holiday season approaches, people all over the world come together and make memories over food. However, food can hold memories, as well as make them. Northwest students and faculty share their unique and personal holiday…
Social Media’s Role in the 2024 Election
One of the most impactful moments of 2024 was the presidential election, and with it, Americans saw the birth of new social media-based campaigning strategies. In the months leading up to the election, TikTok, Instagram and X feeds were flooded with political ads promoting presidential candidates. This is nothing new…
Federal and State Voting Breakdown
Voting in the United States has a long history of being exclusive, rather than inclusive. Ever since America’s independence in 1776, it has been a symbol of democracy and freedom. Yet, only the top few select Americans were allowed to enjoy that freedom. In the beginning, only white male landowners…
Loss of Iowa’s Natural Prairie
In 2025, less than 0.1 percent of Iowa’s native tallgrass prairie remains due to rapid expansion and agricultural settlements. Iowa was once the heart of the prairie lands, with 28.6 million acres of natural plants and grasses covering 80 percent of its landscape—today, about 90% of Iowa’s land is crops.
FFA’s Food Drive Feeding Waukee
Starting January 7 and continuing through the month of January, the Waukee Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter is holding a food drive for the Waukee Area Christian Services. The Waukee FFA is asking for unexpired, non-perishable food items from members of the Waukee community. Food items can be turned…
Scheduling Tips For Students
At Northwest High School, taking classes to earn all the credits is extremely important, especially when it comes to scheduling and choosing how to expand students’ learning after High School. One of the several classes that students must take to graduate is financial literacy. Financial literacy teaches students how to…
Waukee Northwest eSports Season
This year’s 2024 esports season has come to a close with both the Super Smash Bros, and the Rainbow 6 Siege team (R6) bringing home the state runner-up trophy to the Northwest Wolves medal case. Esports is a group of anyone who decides to join the team. In that team,…
History of Christmas Decor
The history of Christmas holiday decor has a long intertwined past, cultivating a mix of iconic images some people still associate with the festivities to this day. A prominent example of the long-ranging past of Christmas iconography is the history of Christmas trees. The beloved pine tree tradition has historic…
COVID-19’s Effects on Schools
In the spring of 2020, the classrooms were hit with a global pandemic that changed the way these classrooms functioned for many years to come; however, even four years later classrooms are still facing the impacts of this situation. Jessica Wunsch, a music teacher at Grant Ragan Elementary, has seen…
Photo Story: Boys Baseball 2024
1) Senior Chase Jones fields a ground ball against Ankeny Centennial. Jones stated, “Everything was a lot more team-oriented, it was a lot more trust, a little bit more pressure, when you play varsity for the first time, a lot more pressure.” 2) Chris Peterson, a graduate, holds…