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The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire

The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire

The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire

Editorial

During the 2025 Virginia Gubernatorial race abortion rights have been in the hot seat, with the rights of abortion for women throughout the South on the line.

Abortion Rights Throughout the South Take Center Stage in Governor’s Race

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-in-Chief Nov 1, 2025

In the United States, 13 of the 14 states considered to be the country’s “southern” states currently have some form of an abortion ban. The only state that does not currently have a form of abortion ban in the South is Virginia. However, that may...

FCPS Affirms Protection of Transgender Students’ Rights

FCPS Affirms Protection of Transgender Students’ Rights

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Oct 31, 2025

According to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, FCPS has violated the sex-based, Title IX right to equivalent accommodations by letting students use gendered facilities according to the students’ gender identity. The Office for...

UVA has been under immense pressure to sign President Trump’s education compact.

University of Virginia Declines Trump’s Higher Education Compact: Other Schools Should Follow Suit

Claudia Bunea, Associate Editor Oct 28, 2025

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump sent nine universities, including University of Virginia (UVA), a Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Under this agreement, universities would get preferential access to federal research funding;...

School publications across Northern Virginia are at risk to be censored by their school districts.

Censorship Threatens Papers Throughout ACPS and FCPS

The Editorial Board May 5, 2025

Censorship has been rearing its ugly head across the nation. For instance, earlier in the year, The Washington Post editorial writers were instructed to focus the paper's opinion page only on stories in defense of free market principles and personal liberties...

Don't Tune Out

Don’t Tune Out

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Apr 4, 2025

In recent weeks, I find myself angrily walking down the cracked asphalt of the Mount Vernon Trail, glaring at the trash crusted Potomac, and stewing in the persistent rhythm of music playing in my ears. Walks are meant to be relaxing, but for me walks...

Teens start and end the day with a mindless scroll.

Social Media: Blessing or Burden?

Frazier O’Leary, Reporter Feb 14, 2025

In a hyperconnected world, social media has become an integral part of daily life. Addictive platforms, TikTok and Instagram, have allowed young people to present their ideas to the world easily. With that privilege comes significant risks to mental health....

Lack of Funding Impacts Some West Po Sports

Lack of Funding Impacts Some West Po Sports

Addison Hood and Leila Freimanis Feb 11, 2025

West Potomac Athletics is home to over 20 sports that students can pick from and play. Each team gives West Po athletes a chance to be a part of a team, a competitive environment, and gives student athletes an opportunity to try something new. High school...

Student leaves early from school out of side door, one of many who may be taking a mental health break from school.

Second Quarter Slump

Emma Fetterolf and Virginia Hope Feb 7, 2025

The 2nd quarter starts Oct. 31 and lasts until Jan. 28. During this time, there are 18 scheduled break days. These breaks are mostly spread out throughout the months, with the exception of winter break. The constant breaks, while nice, can also be a challenge...

Photo Illustration: Nora Fitzpatrick

The Importance of Local Journalism in the Fight Against Disinformation

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-In-Chief Dec 4, 2024

Local journalism is a dying profession. Since the start of the 2000s over one-third of the country's newspapers and two-thirds of its journalists have been lost according to a study from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.  The...

Not Down with the New S-Block

Not Down with the New S-Block

Claudia Bunea and Lucy Wilson Nov 7, 2024

Last year, West Po students were able to be requested by their teachers to go to their rooms during the second half of advisory, called Wolverine Student Support Time (WSST). This allowed many students to retake tests, get help with their homework, or...

Voting outcomes depend on turn-out. Which groups will show up to the polls in large numbers this presidential election?

One Vote, One Chance

Addison Hood, Student Issues Editor Nov 4, 2024

Eighteen years, two hundred, sixteen months, six thousand, five hundred, seventy-four days; give or take. That’s how long American citizens wait to cast their vote for our democracy. In the past, voting was a highly regarded event, freshly eighteen-year-olds...

The growth of AI chatbots like ChatGPT have raised many questions including how the growth of AI has affected the environment.

Hey ChatGPT, Write me an Article on Your Environmental Impact

Claudia Bunea and Lucy Wilson Oct 1, 2024

Although ChatGPT poses many moral questions, with lots of discussion around it being used for cheating or nefarious purposes, one aspect that often goes undiscussed is its environmental impact. When asked for a quote about its own effects on our earth,...