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Feature: Northwest Athletic Trainers

As winter sports of 2024-25 start, Northwest High School athletic trainers are required to help student-athletes perform their best. Colin Whittie has been an athletic trainer at Waukee Northwest High School since the school opened in 2021. Whittie is one of the trainers and works Monday through Friday from 3:15-6:00…

by Meredith Muller  •  Dec 1, 2024
News

Sub Shortages

According to data and personal accounts of teachers and higher-ups, a substitute and teacher “shortage” is underway as the supply of people wanting to teach slows and the demand for substitutes and teachers grows. “There is a shortage metro-wide, and it’s an issue,” Current Waukee Board of Education President Wendy…

by Delphina Lonsdale  •  Dec 1, 2024
News

Covid v.s. Monkey Pox

From urban to remote communities, Monkeypox and COVID-19 have made their mark worldwide. In the battle of emerging viruses, these two stand out not just for their impact on public health but for their strikingly different types of spreading and the unique challenges they provide to the human population. COVID-19…

by Mya Farwell  •  Dec 1, 2024
News

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Now that it has entered the month of October, it is time to start bringing to light awareness for breast cancer.  More than 360,000 women a year get diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.   Courtney Carter, a mother of two beautiful daughters, was diagnosed with…

by Reagan Hansen  •  Dec 1, 2024
Features

Coaches during the daytime

There are dozens of coaches at Northwest High School in athletics, music, arts, and more.  Many coaches in their daytime are teachers at the Waukee School District or neighboring ones. One of these is Peter Westerkamp, head Girls Cross Country Coach and Assistant Girls Track and Field Coach. In the…

by Abby Lee  •  Dec 1, 2024
News

The Road to Bands of America

On September 28, 2024, the Northwest Royal Brigade will perform their 2024 show “Imagine” at the Bands of America Iowa Regional, but behind the scenes, the Royal Brigade is a found community for many. Since the beginning of August, the Royal Brigade has been rehearsing most days up into the…

by Addax Hicks  •  Dec 1, 2024
Culture

Meet the “Zone”

The Waukee Northwest 2024-2025 student section theme is construction and is led by a group of twelve senior and junior boys.  The group is known as the “Zone,” and it consists of seniors Max McBride, Nate Hipwell, Landry Goldsworth, JT Spalding, Ryan Carpenter, Roman Punelli, Nikson Vansyalom, Andrew Kivlin and…

by Laurel Richards  •  Dec 1, 2024
Culture

Behind the Scenes of Iowa Dance Theater’s “The Nutcracker”

Opening on December 13th to the public, The Iowa Dance Theater’s production of The Nutcracker has been a holiday tradition in the Des Moines Metro thanks to endless work and effort put in behind the scenes by dancers, staff and theater crew. First performed in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia,…

by Ava Hansen  •  Nov 26, 2024
News

Volunteer and Job Fair

On November 19, 2024, the volunteer and job fair came to Northwest to involve students in finding organizations they can work or volunteer for.  The volunteer and job fair is an event where local organizations all come together at Northwest and talk to students about finding work or volunteering for…

by Grace Mgana  •  Nov 26, 2024
News

Impact of Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene caused $53 million in damage and has been reported as the worst hurricane since Katrina in 2005. Helene impacted several American states, including North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. The storm also affected areas outside the United States, such as the Cayman Islands, the Yucatán Peninsula…

by Reagan Hansen  •  Nov 16, 2024