Several academic classes and extracurricular activities are being altered due to COVID-19, and those alterations are having a major impact on classes that rely on human interactions. For junior Eliana LaRosa, her Clinical class is one that has become challenging to take due to the virus. She is really involved in the class and knows all there is to know about it. “Clinical Rotation is a class to help prospective health care students get a health...

In the past, Collin classes have always been different from other Plano West classes, meeting only three days a week instead of five. This year they are even more different. Some Collin courses are entirely online, even for students who are doing in-person learning, and some are mixed, with the teachers balancing both online and in-person classes. ¨The virtual Biology classes are completely asynchronous, we meet once a week for questions but only...

This school year has been one filled with compromises due to COVID-19. Sports, clubs, school and more have all had to find other ways to complete activities. These changes include debate, which has a school year filled with zoom tournaments.  ¨Debate programs across the nation have begun utilizing Zoom among other conference programs to hold rounds,¨ senior Eric Ryan said. ¨Some speaking events are asynchronous, so all we would have to do for...

It is currently Week 5 of the NFL, and things have not been too bad for the league. They test their players regularly, social distance when possible, and have several safety precautions in place. However, things can still slip through the cracks. “I just hope that all players stay safe, no matter what team they are on,” junior Stephen Bassey said. The Tennessee Titans were the first NFL team to have an outbreak of COVID-19, and they currently...

All classes have been looking a bit different due to COVID-19, but most have it easy compared to Fine Arts. Since these are performance classes, students have to find safe, socially distanced ways to perform to their full potential. Remote and face-to-face learning have taken a new meaning for Fine Arts students. Take Orchestra, for example. The students at home do not have much to do when preparing for the class. Preparation time for orchestra...

Technology is playing a huge role in how schools teach students this year, even with them opened back up. Some students were excited to get back to school so that they could have a better learning experience.   “I did not like virtual learning because it is needlessly repetitive and tiring,” junior Josh Connors said. “This is why I chose to go back to school. I learn better and the teachers teach better in person.”   Other...

With the world on pause and everyone inside, several people have developed new hobbies. Some knit, others sew...but some students of Plano West bake! Here are three recipes anyone in the Wolfpack should get their hands on.   Star-Spangled Berry Pie(by Junior Eliana LaRosa)                                                            Although the Fourth of July has passed,...

All extracurricular activities have been put on hold so far this year, but sports are slowly making a comeback. Practice has started for some sports, but how is it affecting the schoolwork of athletes along with their schedules?   “Drill Team is having practices Mondays through Thursdays in the indoor facility center,” junior Royales social officer Kaiya Noguera said, “and once you come home, you are extremely exhausted, so it is...

Even with the recent pandemic bringing many difficulties and extra responsibilities, the Wolfpack family has yet to let go of school spirit. Although only 50% of maximum capacity will be allowed to cheer on the teams from the bleachers, the athletics department is making sure that all precautions are taken so that sports season will not be canceled. Football kicked off the year with their first game taking place September 24, at Clark Stadium....

The jump from junior high to senior high is special, marking the beginning of a new adventure for juniors. There are more opportunities to meet a variety of new faces, the campus becomes noticeably larger, and a wide set of responsibilities are entrusted. What was supposed to be a fresh start for many upcoming juniors became an experience that was anxiety inducing, as the pandemic shifted the basis of everyday life. “I was most excited to get...

Although there were many concerns regarding the safety of students all over the world who are slowly integrating back into the standard face to face learning environment, the people who were arguably the most affected were the teachers. Ranging from personal health issues to family circumstances, teachers were equally affected by the recent pandemic as the students, if not even more. For the first three weeks of this school year, some teachers, like...

With the annual time of college admissions rolling around yet again, another fresh batch of seniors are applying for the school of their choice, hoping for good news to be sent back in a few weeks time. This year, however, students have a choice that has never been an option before: the choice to forgo submitting an SAT/ACT score without it being detrimental to the application process. The recent COVID pandemic altered many aspects of everyday...