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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

Josephine Keller

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-chief

Josephine Keller can’t wait for another great year with The Wire. A junior, she has committed to leadership in both Journalism and Choir as editor-in-chief and head librarian respectively. Still a fan of audiodramas and podcasts, they hope to get back into reading and continue maintaining their garden. Her focus this year will be on local news and connecting national issues with the school community.

All content by Josephine Keller
Students, now unable to use phones elsewhere, sit together on their phones in the cafeteria.

[Photo] Students Face Detention for Cellphone Use

Oct 1, 2025

Students, now unable to use phones elsewhere, sit together on their phones in the cafeteria.

Metal Detectors Become Morning Routine

Metal Detectors Become Morning Routine

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Jun 5, 2025

During a fight between West Po students on April 23, one was stabbed multiple times and sent to the hospital in worrying condition. The injured student has been reported stable and the assailant is anticipated to be charged with malicious wounding.  OpenGate...

Screenshot of video footage of May 8 school board meeting by Fairfax County Public Schools

School Board Finally Approves Cellphone Policy

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Jun 3, 2025

On May 8, the FCPS School Board met to finalize the new cell phone policy for next year based on the feedback from its study and pilot programs this year.  First, they voted on two amendments to the FCPS cellphone policy. The first proposed amendment,...

Student journalists from high schools around the county were invited to a roundtable discussion with Dr. Reid about the budget shortfall.

FCPS Budget Strained by $150 Million

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Apr 25, 2025

Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 is fast approaching as the 2025 FY reaches its conclusion. Budget drafting has already begun, with the current advertised budget in a precarious position. FCPS has allocated $4.0 billion to the School Operating Fund, which provides...

Screenshot of an email sent to West Potomac staff Thursday morning, April 24

Screenshot of an email sent to West Potomac staff Thursday morning, April 24

Screenshot of an email sent April 10, 2025, to the FCPS community.

Screenshot of an email sent April 10, 2025, to the FCPS community.

Police officers stand at the front entrance as students enter. Whereas students previously may have been seen entering through other doors, such as Door 28, they were directed by additional officers to the main entrance.

[Photo] Weapons Detection System Leaves West Po Two Days After Stabbing

Apr 25, 2025

Police officers stand at the front entrance as students enter. Whereas students previously may have been seen entering through other doors, such as Door 28, they were directed by additional officers to the main entrance.

Cellphone Policy Remains Murky

Cellphone Policy Remains Murky

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Apr 8, 2025

FCPS and school districts across the state have been pushed to examine and reevaluate their regulation of student phone use during the school day. This reevaluation follows a trend across the country of school districts implementing updated regulations...

Don’t tune out... (2)

Don’t Tune Out

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

The cast of Twelfth Night the Musical bow after their opening night performance.

Review for Twelfth Night the Musical

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Feb 15, 2025

Opening night for Beyond The Page Theatre Company’s production of Twelfth Night the Musical, an adaptation of Shakespeare by Shaina Taub, took place Feb. 15, 2025. For a show that only costs $10 for students and $15 for adults, it absolutely made my...

Showings for Twelfth Night begin on the 13th and include an evening show on Valentine's Day.

Twelfth Night the Musical Preview

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Feb 14, 2025

Beyond the Page Theater Company’s performances of ‘Twelfth Night — The Musical’ begin Feb. 14 and end Feb. 22. Twelfth Night is a classic romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare, but this show in particular is a modern and melodious twist...

February Love Poems

February Love Poems

Reader Input and Josephine Keller Feb 14, 2025
Readers were invited to submit 10 word love stories to the WP Wire through a form on the All Students Schoology page.
Graphic created using Canva with Wicked logo from Public Domain by Universal Pictures

[Photo] A Wicked West Po Review

Frazier O’Leary and Belen Estrada Jan 13, 2025

Graphic created using Canva with Wicked logo from Public Domain by Universal Pictures

Updated. Curriculum Night will now take place on January 14th

UPDATED Snow Days Delay Major School Events

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Jan 7, 2025

This week, West Potomac students, rising and current, are set to view materials reviewing Academic Advising and have the chance to attend various events related to the 2025-2026 school year course selection process. One such event, Rising 9th Grade Family...

Promotional graphic from the West Po Marketplace organizers

Craft Fair in the Wolverdome This Saturday

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Oct 22, 2024

This weekend on Saturday 26th, October 2024, the West Potomac Marketplace will take place in the Wolverdome gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The West Po Marketplace is a craft fair event that also raises funds for the West Potomac Athletic Boosters. A...

Flier for the Trunk or Treat event organized by West Potomac Choir

Trunk or Treat @ West Po This Saturday

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Oct 16, 2024

This Saturday, October 19th at 5:00 PM, the West Potomac Choir is inviting the community to join them for a variety of Halloween themed activities for their new fundraising event: Trunk or Treat. The event was suggested by choir student Allie Miller as...

The logo for Veterans of Foreign Wars, a nonprofit that offers a variety of aid programs to veterans and military service members.

VFW Offering $35,000 Scholarship

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Oct 2, 2024

The program is organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a nonprofit based in the US made up of veterans and other military service members. VFW organizes a variety of programs and services to support veterans, communities, service members, and military...

Graphic from the Virginia Department of Elections Virginia Voter Pocket Guide 

https://www.elections.virginia.gov/media/formswarehouse/2024-voter-outreach/voter-pocket-guide/11.5.24-VPG_English.pdf

Local Guide to Casting Your Ballot

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Sep 25, 2024

Election Day is getting closer every day, but early voting in Fairfax County has already begun. For those who aren’t yet registered to vote, there’s still time to register online or by mail. High school students even have an opportunity to assist...

Photo of the layout of the 2023-2024 West Potomac Yearbook

Picture Day is on Its Way

Josephine Keller, Editor-in-Chief Sep 8, 2024

Created with Canva

End Of Year Schedule

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor May 16, 2024

This school year's end is approaching fast, with the final day on June 12th. Class of 2024's graduation will take place the day prior, June 11th, at 2 p.m.   SHOUT begins on May 28th and ends June 5th. Seniors participating in SHOUT...

Photo of protesters organized outside of the Springbank parking lot. It was alleged that after this photo was taken, more protestors arrived.

Demonstration Against Drag

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor May 8, 2024

Saturday, May 4th, 2024, protesters assembled at the West Potomac sign by the entrance of the Springbank parking lot. These protesters held signs saying things like "An innocent child is a happy child" and "Education not indoctrination." The protest began...

Promotional poster for Kinky Boots

Review: The Flamboyance of Kinky Boots

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor Apr 27, 2024

Kinky Boots came to the West Potomac Auditorium on April 26th, 2024. In doing so, it has gifted the community with a flamboyant presentation of expression, pride, and acceptance.  Kinky Boots is a musical based off of the film Kinky Boots. The musical...

Photo taken at 9:00 AM showing classes filing into the field and bleachers.

Timeline of the Evacuation

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor Apr 25, 2024

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 8:50 AM - The school evacuates after an announcement from Ms. Jessica Statz instructs students to go to the field and for teachers to bring their class roster. 9:03 AM - Classes are instructed to organize based on building...

Photo of Kinky Boots poster

Kinky Boots Comes to West Po

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor Apr 24, 2024

Kinky Boots the Musical is coming to the Auditorium starting this Friday, April 26th. There will be a total of 8 performances, including 2 matinees. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time here. The original opening show on Thursday has been canceled due...

Disinformation Continues to Fuel Anti-LGBTQ+ Sentiment

Disinformation Continues to Fuel Anti-LGBTQ+ Sentiment

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor Apr 4, 2024

The LGBTQ+ community has gained greater recognition in recent years. Movies and TV shows feature queer characters with greater frequency and less pushback, Gay-Straight Alliances have changed to the more inclusive Gender and Sexuality Alliances, and openly...

Graphic created with Canva

New English Electives Struggling to Get Off the Ground

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor Mar 8, 2024

Of the many courses offered in the course catalog at West Potomac, not all courses actually run the following school year. Two of these courses are LGBTQ+ Perspectives in Literature and Black Perspectives in Literature, both of which are English electives....

Dungeons and Dragons is a game combining story-telling and mechanics. Several official rule books have been published by the company Wizards of the Coasts that now owns the franchise.

D&D is More Than a Game, it’s an Adventure

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor Feb 12, 2024

Most of the people in my life are familiar with Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) likely because of the long tangents I go on about whatever D&D podcast has caught my attention, or the new campaign I spend hours making content for. D&D, is a tabletop...

Temporary graphic until the event

District Choir Comes to West Potomac

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor Feb 8, 2024

District choir, an event for select students around District 10 to perform in an ensemble, is being hosted at West Potomac this year. The choral students participating had to complete an audition to get in. “It’s all advanced students who prepared...

Created using Canva

Winter Music Department Concerts in School and Evening Thursday

Josephine Keller Dec 12, 2023

This Thursday during homeroom, the West Potomac Music Department has arranged a performance consisting of 1st period band, the advanced chorus ensembles, guitar ensemble, and all of the orchestra. There will be one performance during the first half,...


Jessica Statz, former Assistant Principal at Hayfield Secondary School, now to be Principal for West Potomac High School.

Jessica Statz Takes the Reigns as the New West Potomac Principal

Josephine Keller, Writer Nov 28, 2023

Ms. Jessica Statz starts as the new principal for West Potomac High School on November 20. She is known to the community because of her history in West Potomac High School as an Assistant Principal and Acting Principal in 2016. In 2020, she moved to Hayfield...

The election action moves to the normal voting locations after early voting was held at the Government Center. There are many signs to encourage voters.

Zimmerman Vies for Mount Vernon District School Board Seat

Josephine Keller, Staff Writer Nov 7, 2023

It's finally Election Day in Virginia, though the sheer amount of political promotional signs on Government Center property have been announcing election day for weeks. All the State Delegate and State Senate seats up for grabs--along with all the School...

Teacher Feature: Ms. Solares

Teacher Feature: Ms. Solares

Josephine Keller, Writer Oct 31, 2023

Ms. Nelly Solares is the West Po choir’s new director, having replaced the previous director, Mrs. Campbell.  Ms. Solares worked with middle schoolers in Liberty Middle School, but is now teaching high schoolers for the first time. She studied music...