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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

Nora Fitzpatrick

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-in-chief

Nora Fitzpatrick, a junior, enjoys listening to music. The Marias, Olivia Dean, and The 1975 are some of her favorite artists. She loves playing and watching sports and shes an avid watcher of the WNBA. If she’s not out with friends she’s usually at home hanging out with her family and her dog, Cruz. Nora’s fascinated by politics and wants to pursue a career in government. She hopes to continue promoting journalism at West Potomac and growing The Wire for the third year in a row as Editor-In-Chief.

All content by Nora Fitzpatrick
Eloise Andreozzi, the organizer of the walkout speaking on the importance of Gun reforms.

West Po Students Stand Up Against Gun Violence

Nora Fitzpatrick and Emma Fetterolf Sep 6, 2025

On Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, West Potomac students participated in a nationwide protest against gun violence in America. The protest involved students walking out of the building and to the football field during 5th period. This walkout was created by a...

Genevieve Cummings Leaps to New Start

Genevieve Cummings Leaps to New Start

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-in-Chief Jun 10, 2025

After years of hard work and dedication, senior Genevieve Cummings is leaping into her final spring Track and Field season. Genevieve is committed to continue her athletic and academic career at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). She is one of West Po’s...

An athlete poses with a Celsius before a game.

[Photo] Energy Drinks: Energy or Endangerment?

Emma Fetterolf, Assistant Editor Jun 3, 2025

An athlete poses with a Celsius before a game.

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

[Photo] Censorship Threatens Papers Throughout ACPS and FCPS

The Editorial Board May 5, 2025

Email received by The Wire that Principals were instructed to send out to journalists as a response to the Hayfield football scandal.

Sophmores Leila Freimanis and Juliet Laisch studying for their AP Psychology exam.

The Season of AP Exams

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-In-Chief Apr 29, 2025

For countless West Po students May doesn’t symbolize a time of relaxation, instead May means hours of studying and stress for AP exams. While The Wire staff prep for the upcoming paper they also have spent numerous hours prepping for their various AP...

Tonight Girls Baksteball faces off against Robinson in the last game of their pursuit of a Regional Championship tonight at Hayfield at 6:00 p.m.

Girls Basketball Faces Off Against Robinson in Regional Championship

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-In-Chief Feb 28, 2025

Last night West Potomac Girls Basketball defeated South County 41-39 in the Regional semi-finals on a last second shot by junior, Abby Beddis, to advance to tonight's game against Robinson that will be played at Hayfield Secondary School at 6:00 p.m. West...

Many students keep phones in backpacks, but some still use phones even though they are not authorized in class.

Phone Ban Hasn’t Materialized (Yet)

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-in-Chief Feb 12, 2025

Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 33 to ban all cell phones in schools across Virginia took effect on Jan. 1, 2025. However, about a month into the new supposed cell phone ban, there has been little to no difference in phone use at West Po. The school...

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...

West Po's newest production follows the story of three Hufflepuff's and their stories throughout their seven years at Hogwarts.

Review: The Whimsical Joy of Puffs

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-In-Chief Nov 10, 2024

On October 31st, Puffs came to the West Potomac. In doing so Puffs brings a hilarious story of unlikely heroes and community to West Po. Puffs follows the story of three Hufflepuff's and their lives while they try to survive seven increasingly eventful...

Wolverines be prepared! Above is the schedule for next weeks Homecoming themed events.

Homecoming Week Events to Look Out For

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-In-Chief Sep 17, 2024

Wolverines, mark your calendars for September 28th to enjoy a night under the stars at West Potomac Homecoming. With homecoming week not far away, West Po students have many ways to display their school spirit from following the spirit day themes to participating...

The location of the Twin Towers as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey.

The Lasting Effects of 9/11 on America

Nora Fitzpatrick, Lucy Wilson, and Claudia Bunea Sep 11, 2024

Few events in American history have had the same devastating effects as 9/11. On September 11th, 2001 it only took two hours for the lives of millions of Americans to change. At 8:46 ET the North Tower of The World Trade Center was hit by a plane. The...

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are participating in a vital debate September 10th.

A Look into the First Presidential Debate Between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump

Nora Fitzpatrick, Editor-In-Chief Sep 9, 2024

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are participating in a vital debate September 10th.

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

[Photo] Picture Day is on Its Way

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

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

A student enjoys a peaceful moment by the pond.

Nature and Beauty Added to Gunston

Nora Fitzpatrick and Lila Wells May 31, 2024

If you've passed through Gunston recently you've probably noticed the renovated pond in the Gunston Zen Hallway. This project was proposed in the fall of 2023 by Mr. Cooper who is one of the special education Work Awareness and Transition teachers (WAT)...

Mr. Fitzgerald poses outside of one of his many French 2 classes.

Teacher Feature: Mr. Fitzgerald

Nora Fitzpatrick May 22, 2024

Mr. Dan Fitzgerald has taught here for 23 years as a French teacher. He had an extensive college education where he went to Franklin College in Indiana. He started his college career as a double major in philosophy and English but then decided to switch...

Screenshot of message sent to parents at 9:15 AM.

[Photo] Timeline of the Evacuation

Josephine Keller, Associate Editor Apr 25, 2024

Screenshot of message sent to parents at 9:15 AM.

Norma Martinez and Alisson Mazariegos are co-captains of their girls La Liga team.

Advisory Students Score with La Liga

Nora Fitzpatrick Apr 4, 2024

There’s a new reason to come to class for a whole lot of Wolverines. La Liga, a new intramural soccer league will be played during the 2nd half of advisory. La Liga will include eight separate teams that will be separated by color. Each team will be...

Caitlin Clark is now the NCAA All-Time leading scorer
(Image Credit: Britannica)

Caitlin Clark Passes Pete Maravich For All Time Scoring Record

Nora Fitzpatrick, Reporter Mar 7, 2024

Last Thursday, Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark went on social media to announce that she will not return to Iowa for her fifth year and instead declared for the 2024 WNBA draft.  Three days later, she broke the all time scoring record...

Credit: Paramount

Mean Girls: What’s Old? What’s New?

Leila Freimanis and Nora Fitzpatrick Feb 14, 2024

The Mean Girls Musical adaptation was released in theaters on January 12th. The original movie became one of the most iconic movies of the 2000s, but will the adaptation live up to the same expectations? Freshman Sadie Regardie doesn't think so, “I...

Will the Gun Violence Ever End?

Will the Gun Violence Ever End?

Nora Fitzpatrick, Assistant Editor Feb 2, 2024

A cross country coach, a future Navy Seal, and a swimmer with dreams of the Olympics were among the 17 students and staff killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School 5 years ago on February 14, 2018. Nikolas Cruz, the 19 year old gunman, opened fire...

Dunne Selected as Mount Vernon School Board Rep, Senate and House of Delegates Now Majority Democrat

Dunne Selected as Mount Vernon School Board Rep, Senate and House of Delegates Now Majority Democrat

Nora Fitzpatrick, Reporter Nov 9, 2023

Local voters had the opportunity to weigh in on predominant issues in the community by voting for new Local Office, House of Delegate and Virginia Senate representatives Tuesday. Virginia Democrats won the majority of the local elections on election night...

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.

Dunne Vies For Mount Vernon District School Board Seat

Nora Fitzpatrick, 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...

West Po Volleyball heads to the Region Quarterfinals tonight. The Senior Class and their families are pictured here.

Volleyball team plays in Regional Quarterfinals

Nora Fitzpatrick and Jacqueline Henwood Nov 2, 2023

Last night West Potomac Varsity Girls Volleyball defeated Lewis in three straight sets to advance to tonight’s Region quarter-final at Thomas Jefferson High School at 6:30 p.m. Recently, the team held their senior night where West Po defeated Robinson...