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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

All content by Nina Raneses
Interim Principal Dale Rumberger talking to students. (Courtesy West Potomac High School Website)

Getting to Know Your Interim Principal, Dale Rumberger

Nina Raneses, Editor in Chief Mar 21, 2017

Week after week, West Potomac’s boys’ varsity basketball team left fans on the edge of their seats. It’s impossible to miss the energetic and ever-spirited student section, as interim principal Dale Rumberger found out for himself at one of the...

Photos taken by Lifetouch.

Principal Alexander Case and Assistant Principal Michelle Lyttle on Leave

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Feb 14, 2017

Principal Alexander Case and Assistant Principal Michelle Lyttle have been put on leave, Fairfax County Public Schools confirms. There are no details at the moment, though the county has told local news organizations that it is a “personnel matter.”...

(Courtesy TotallyHistory) Freedom of Want by Norman Rockwell

An Angsty Teen’s Guide to Thanksgiving

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Nov 21, 2016

Well, it’s that time of year again, Wolverines! Thanksgiving is this week which means most of us will be out of school, doing a lot of eating, and not doing a lot of school work. However, for a lot of us that also means seeing family—the obscure second...

(Staff photo) Students celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Spanish teachers Yamalie Colon and Sonia Castano.

Hispanic Leadership Club Celebrates Heritage Month with School-Wide Parade

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Oct 3, 2016

Filling the halls of Quander with loud music and good energy, the Hispanic Leadership Club (HLC) hosted one of multiple parades on Friday in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month that will continue this week. To many of the participants, the Hispanic Heritage...

Courtesy of the West Potomac Board twitter

Start on Time Initiative Brings Changes to 2016-17 School Year

Shahtaj Ali and Nina Raneses Sep 12, 2016

  Following significant pushback from students and community members that prompted a change.org petition that received over 1000 signatures in less than 24 hours, this year’s new bathroom hall pass vest initiative has changed temporarily...

(Courtesy ifreespirit51 via flickr) The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference Class of 2016

Finding My Free Spirit

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Jul 16, 2016

From June 18-23, I had the honor of representing the state of Virginia among this year’s class of 51 Free Spirit scholars at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, an honor that I was in complete shock of receiving—there were plenty...

(Courtesy Emma Bass and Liz Brodie) House Democrats at the steps.

West Potomac Students Support House Democrats’ Sit-In on Capitol Hill

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Jun 28, 2016

From Wednesday, June 22 to Thursday, June 23, House Democrats initiated a sit-in on the floor of the House Chamber in a protest for gun control legislation. The sit-in came only a little over a week after a mass shooting at Pulse Night Club in Orlando...

(Photos Courtesy Micah Moore, Jane Sullivan and Gabby Hopper) This year's champions, the Blue Eagles, pose with their trophies.

World Languages Department Holds Fifth Annual Co-Ed Soccer Tournament

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Jun 10, 2016

On Thursday, June 2, the World Languages Department held their fifth annual Soccer Tournament, an opportunity for any West Potomac student to get a team together and play against others on the school’s stadium field. The event is held after school...

(Courtesy West Potomac Crew) The women's JV4+ and 1V4+ boats along with other West Potomac rowers. The men's JV4+ competed as well, but did not make it to the finals.

West Potomac Crew Women’s JV4+ and 1V4+ Place 6th, 9th at SRAA Nationals

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief May 30, 2016

On Saturday, May 28, West Potomac Crew’s Womens JV4+ and 1V4+ competed in the 2016 Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) Regatta in Zanesville, Ohio. The two women’s boats were the first in West Potomac Crew’s history to make it to the...

(Courtesy Jonathan Middleton) West Potomac Crew's men's JV4 boat. From left to right: Kyle White, Logan Lynch, Jonathan Middleton and Reece Hagler.

West Potomac Crew’s Men’s JV4 Boat Qualifies for Nationals

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief May 16, 2016

On Saturday, May 14, West Potomac Crew’s men’s JV4 boat received fourth place out of all the heats (qualifying races that determine who goes to finals), at the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championship Regatta at Occoquan Regional Park. Neither...

(Courtesy Alina Selnick) Women's JV4+ boat. From left to right: Rachael Brautigam, Juliette Burcham, Liz Brodie, Natalie Lorca and Rachel Hardison.

West Potomac Crew’s Women’s 1V4+ and JV4+ Boats Qualify for Nationals

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief May 15, 2016

On Saturday, May 14, West Potomac Crew’s womens 1V4+ and JV4+ boats qualified for the 2016 Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) National Championships Regatta. They placed third and first place, respectively, in their races at the Virginia...

(Courtesy cnn.com) Jerry Falwell Jr. speaking at convocation at Liberty University.

FCPS School Board Writes Letter to VHSL Following Debate Team Boycott

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief May 9, 2016

On April 28, all nine members of the Fairfax County School Board, representing all districts along with the chair and vice chair, wrote a letter to the executive committee of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) explaining why the league should no longer...

West Potomac seniors have been accepted everywhere from James Madison University to Haverford College.

Seniors Celebrate College Commitment for National Decision Day

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief May 1, 2016

For most college applicants, May 1 is the deadline to send in the SIR (Statement of Intent to Register), to the school they plan on attending in the fall. While some West Potomac seniors were accepted through early decision or early action processes,...

30 Years of History: The Creation of West Potomac High School

30 Years of History: The Creation of West Potomac High School

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Apr 30, 2016

On the morning of August 26, 1985, the first bell signaling the beginning of classes to start at West Potomac High School rang. Filling the crowded halls and parking lots were students who were all new to this experience. Most of them didn’t know each...

 The Mount Vernon Surveyor 2015-16 Staff, Courtesy Mount Vernon Surveyor

Complete Coverage : Mount Vernon Surveyor Editor Defends Yearbook Spreads

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Apr 30, 2016

This article was originally published in the March 2016 issue of The Wire. In 1988, the Supreme Court case decision for Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier permanently altered the perception of public school student publications in the eyes of law. Hazelwood East...

Senior Darrel Mensah received his crown, sash and a check for $100 as 2016's Mr. West Potomac.

Senior Darrel Mensah Crowned 2016 Mr. West Potomac

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Apr 10, 2016

After a night filled with plenty of laughs, original talent and good-natured fun, senior Darrel Mensah received the coveted ‘Mr. West Potomac’ title and a check for $100 on Friday in this year’s annual competition. The Mr. West Potomac competition...

West Potomac students and staff on Super Tuesday.

West Potomac First Time Voters Participate in Super Tuesday

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Mar 8, 2016

With encouragement from sunny, warm weather and a day off school, West Potomac students and teachers took to the polls on Tuesday Mar. 1, called Super Tuesday for the number of states participation. 12 including Virginia, voted in the presidential primary....

Garza addresses the FY 2017 budget in detail at this year's press conference.

Superintendent Garza Proposes Higher Salaries, No Cuts in FY 2017

Nina Raneses and Jan 8, 2016

Fairfax County schools superintendent Karen Garza unveiled the proposal for the much-discussed FY 2017 budget plan on Thursday accompanied by guest speakers, FCPS principals and school board members. West Potomac was chosen to host this year’s budget...

Model UN Sees Biggest Attendance to Date at WESTPOMUNC III

Model UN Sees Biggest Attendance to Date at WESTPOMUNC III

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor in Chief Dec 18, 2015

West Potomac’s Model United Nations Club held their third internal conference, WESTPOMUNC III, on Wednesday afternoon. The topic of the conference was the Syrian refugee crisis, a topic chosen by club members. Delegates were also met with a “crisis”...

The 2014-2015 'blackout' game, where a major incident caused SGA to change their minds about the popular term.

SGA Blacking Out on “Black-Out”

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor-in-Chief Oct 12, 2015

When Hype Squad first announced that the varsity football game against Lake Braddock High School scheduled for Sept. 25 would have an all black theme, word got out that the popular term ‘blackout’ had been banned by the SGA. The reason? Students...

Everything You Need to Know About the New SAT

Everything You Need to Know About the New SAT

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor-in-Chief Sep 17, 2015

With school back in session and preparation for college applications in full swing, most juniors and seniors have one thing in mind this particular fall: the new SAT. After announcing that major changes would be made to the college admission test two...

West Potomac Students Get Ready for School at Wolverine Welcome

West Potomac Students Get Ready for School at Wolverine Welcome

Nina Raneses, Co-Editor-In-Chief Sep 3, 2015

The West Potomac campus was brought back to life on Tuesday, Sept. 1 by returning and new students with Wolverine Welcome, a relatively new initiative that includes upperclassmen schedule pick-up, freshmen orientation and a kick-off pep rally. This year,...

Courtesy of itooamharvard.tumblr.com

#itooamwestpotomac: The Microaggression Theory

Nina Raneses, Reporter Jun 18, 2015

In a world regularly called “post-racial” and “progressive,” inequality and stereotyping is embedded in comments in nearly every conversation. These comments are both intentional and unintentional, and we often find ourselves either in the middle...

Three Teens Arrested on School Grounds for Possession of BB Gun

Three Teens Arrested on School Grounds for Possession of BB Gun

Nina Raneses, Reporter May 1, 2015

On the morning of March 30th , Fairfax County Police chased three juveniles from Route 1 to school grounds on Quander Road, and arrested the teens for possession of a BB gun with the help of school security and administration. The juveniles are not...

'FROOT' is no doubt Diamandis' greatest endeavor in her professional music career.

Album Review: Marina & The Diamonds – ‘FROOT’

Nina Raneses, Reporter Mar 24, 2015

After a hiatus following the end of the tour for sophomore album Electra Heart, singer Marina & The Diamonds has taken the industry by storm with her new album, FROOT. Since the release of the album's title track in October 2014, fans have been...

O'Grady and Alex Trebek

Colin O’Grady Represents WestPo in Jeopardy! Teachers’ Tournament

Nina Raneses, Reporter Feb 25, 2015

It’s a typical Monday night and the end of a four-day weekend for students at WestPo. It is 7:26 PM, and the reality of returning back to school after a break from the end-of-semester grind should be kicking in. Instead, a collective, enthusiastic spirit...

“Student 2 Student”: A New Perspective of the Military Population at West Potomac

Nina Raneses, Reporter Nov 19, 2014

Northern Virginia is home to a large military and federal government population due to its close proximity to the nation’s capital and military bases scattered throughout the area. Military families are constantly being stationed to Fairfax County’s...