As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly popular, with millions of visits to popular generative AI apps and sites such as Gemini or ChatGPT, concerns and stories of students using AI to cheat on assignments and submit AI-generated essays have become...

Since ChatGPT went public in 2022, school systems have scrambled to understand a rapidly evolving technology. Now Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the ninth largest school district in the country, is drafting a policy to manage artificial intelligence...

There are only three showings left of Into the Woods, meaning time is limited to go see the fairy-tale filled production. When I went to see the show last Saturday, I had very little knowledge of the musical. I knew that it mixes together a bunch of...

Since the start of the 2025-2026 school year, West Potomac High School has seen a surge in student-led protests. This year, the school has had two widely attended walkouts: one as a part of the nationwide Students Demand Action against gun violence in...

Earlier this year, FCPS updated its policies surrounding student expression, adding a new section to the Regulations and Procedures Governing Freedom of Expression by Students to establish clear procedures for “advocacy activities,” which are broadly...

Abigail Spanberger, throughout her campaign, frequently referenced the “chaos out of Washington” to refer to an endlessly growing list of Bad Stuff by the Trump administration. Many actions harmed Virginia as a state; mass layoffs of federal workers,...

Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were arrested on Jan. 30 for allegedly disrupting a religious service, thereby obstructing congregants’ right to religious freedom in a place of worship, while reporting on an anti-ICE protest in a Minnesota church....

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...

Gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger, democrat, and Winsome Earle-Sears, republican, have both discussed education as important issues they wish to address as potential governors. While they agree that students need support, they diverge on how...

Students, previously seen checking their phones during passing periods, now rarely use their phones in the sight line of teachers and staff. Instead, only the cafeteria is filled with students distracted by small screens. Implementation of the new...

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...

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,...

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 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.

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...