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The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire
Fairfax County Closes Schools for Sept. 9. Special Election
Eloise Andreozzi, the organizer of the walkout speaking on the importance of Gun reforms.
West Po Students Stand Up Against Gun Violence
The Commanders set to return to Washington DC.
Commanders Return to DC
"Better Days" album cover
Better Days
Gerry Connolly has served in Congress for 16 years
Virginia Representative Gerry Connolly Dies at 75
L. to R. Junior Madison Seyfert, sophomore Nora Fitzpatrick and junior Annalise Richardson teamed up to win “Best School” at the Lightridge Model UN Conference: a small but mighty team. Photo:
West Po Model UN Receives “Best Delegation” Award
An $1,800 grant from “Educate Fairfax” allowed students from the Pulley Center to help build new tables for the courtyard.
More Students Learn Outdoors Thanks to “Educate Fairfax”
Screenshot of video footage of May 8 school board meeting by Fairfax County Public Schools
School Board Finally Approves Cellphone Policy
Up until this year, some of the Virginia Department of Education’s Standards of Learning (SOL) tests were required for students to pass to graduate high school, but the SOL scores didn’t directly affect students’ grades. The above chart shows the recent aggregate reading scores for West Po.
Virginia SOLs to Count as 10-Percent of Grade Next School Year
AP World history student using Heimler's History to preparing for their Exam on May eighth.
Students Preparing to Take the AP World Exam on May 8
Fairfax County Closes Schools for Sept. 9. Special Election
Eloise Andreozzi, the organizer of the walkout speaking on the importance of Gun reforms.
West Po Students Stand Up Against Gun Violence
Students Seek and Find Jobs at Mount Vernon Rec Center
Students Seek and Find Jobs at Mount Vernon Rec Center
Metal Detectors Become Morning Routine
Metal Detectors Become Morning Routine
An $1,800 grant from “Educate Fairfax” allowed students from the Pulley Center to help build new tables for the courtyard.
More Students Learn Outdoors Thanks to “Educate Fairfax”
An $1,800 grant from “Educate Fairfax” allowed students from the Pulley Center to help build new tables for the courtyard.
More Students Learn Outdoors Thanks to “Educate Fairfax”
Lydia Grace, junior, plays the guitar at this year’s Waynewoodstock, which also served as a post-storm distraction.
2nd Waynewoodstock Featured Local Musicians
"Better Days" album cover
Better Days
AP World history student using Heimler's History to preparing for their Exam on May eighth.
Students Preparing to Take the AP World Exam on May 8
Sophmores Leila Freimanis and Juliet Laisch studying for their AP Psychology exam.
The Season of AP Exams
The poster of the WP Wire Pi Day Contest, took place on March 14 and high 101-digit steak!
West Potomac Wire Pi Day Contest Wraps Up with Impressive 101-Digit Streak
Mr Landis, a world history/geography teacher who grew up in Pennsylvania.
Teacher Feature: Mr. Landis
Parent volunteers operate a concessions booth during most West Po Athletics home games.
Band Concessions Sell Out Quickly after Sudden Home Game Cancellation
One vote, One chance
Teacher Feature: Ms Lutzker
Teacher Feature: Ms Lutzker
Lydia Grace, junior, plays the guitar at this year’s Waynewoodstock, which also served as a post-storm distraction.
2nd Waynewoodstock Featured Local Musicians
A Tour Through the Lesser Known Museums of DC
A Tour Through the Lesser Known Museums of DC
Brief information on The Wire's Pi Day competition.
The Wire to Host Pi Day Competition Next Friday
A picture of some of the menu items at Kong Dog.
Kong Dog A New K’runchy Staple
Promotional graphic from the West Po Marketplace organizers
Craft Fair in the Wolverdome This Saturday
Belen Estrada joined the staff of The WP Wire her senior year. She urges other seniors to dream, but not forget to live in the present.
Don’t Write Off Senior Year: Enjoy the Present
School publications across Northern Virginia are at risk to be censored by their school districts.
Censorship Threatens Papers Throughout ACPS and FCPS
After the Taliban reestablished power in Afghanistan, women and girls lost the right to an education. Photo: Britannica
All Girls Deserve an Education
A Report on Education, From an Inside Man
Afghan Girls and Women Lost Rights to Education
Belen Estrada joined the staff of The WP Wire her senior year. She urges other seniors to dream, but not forget to live in the present.
Don’t Write Off Senior Year: Enjoy the Present
The ERA is an amendment calling for the equality of sex in the U.S. Constitution, graphic created using Canva.
Why We Need the Equal Rights Amendment
Alessandro Della Bella / ETH Zurich
Engineering an Equitable Feature
Photo Illustration: Nora Fitzpatrick
The Importance of Local Journalism in the Fight Against Disinformation
Phoebe Shultz, a staple of West Po journalism for 4 years, is headed to Clemson University in the fall.
Keep it Newsworthy, West Po
School publications across Northern Virginia are at risk to be censored by their school districts.
Censorship Threatens Papers Throughout ACPS and FCPS
Don't Tune Out
Don’t Tune Out
Teens start and end the day with a mindless scroll.
Social Media: Blessing or Burden?
Lack of Funding Impacts Some West Po Sports
Lack of Funding Impacts Some West Po Sports
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
Cartoons of 2024-2025
Cartoons of 2024-2025
Student Cartoons of the Week: 5/29-6/4
Student Cartoons of the Week: 5/29-6/4
Is Trisha Paytas's Baby The Next Pope?
Is Trisha Paytas’s Baby The Next Pope?
Summer In Media
Summer In Media
"Better Days" album cover
Better Days
The Beyond the Page Theater Company just finished their spring musical.
Once on This Island Review
Spring Wolverine Horoscopes
Spring Wolverine Horoscopes
The Beyond the Page Theater Company just finished their spring musical.
Once on This Island Review
The cast of Twelfth Night the Musical bow after their opening night performance.
Review for Twelfth Night the Musical
Graphic created using Canva with Wicked logo from Public Domain by Universal Pictures
A Wicked West Po Review
A picture of some of the menu items at Kong Dog.
Kong Dog A New K’runchy Staple
Kendrick Lamar: gnx Album Review
Kendrick Lamar: gnx Album Review
Dire Wolves have been revived from their previous extinction.
Return of Dire Wolves
Taylor Swift and her carbon emissions from her private jet.
Taylor Swift’s Carbon Footprint: Something She Can Not Shake Off
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
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris enjoy some time outside while questions on their environmental views are still at large.
Our Presidential Candidates Views on the Environment: What the Frack do They Stand For?
Claudia Bunea and Lucy Wilson posing with some of their Back To School supplies
Back to School: The Hidden Costs of Overbuying on the Environment
Genevieve Cummings Leaps to New Start
Genevieve Cummings Leaps to New Start
Ten Wolverine Grads to Play College Sports
Ten Wolverine Grads to Play College Sports
The Commanders set to return to Washington DC.
Commanders Return to DC
An athlete poses with a Celsius before a game.
Energy Drinks: Energy or Endangerment?
Photo Credit: West Potomac Athletics
Girls Lacrosse Heads To The State Tournament, After Beating Justice At Regionals
Newly Elected Pope Leo XIV
Introducing… Pope Leo XIV
Kendrick Lamar, during his performance after the song "HUMBLE."
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Recap
Poetry from Pakistan: Reflections on Tulu-e-Islam
Poetry from Pakistan: Reflections on Tulu-e-Islam
Los jugadores firmaron con La Liga para jugar durante determinados periodos S.
La Liga Regresa a West Potomac (English & Español)
The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire
The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire
All content by Richard Cuminale
Paul Russell congratulated by former student Delegate Scott Surovell after his retirement speech at West Potomac's 2013 commencement.

One Last Farewell to Paul Russell, 1946-2014

Richard Cuminale, English Teacher
March 6, 2014

I first met Paul when I came to West Potomac as a student teacher in 2010. This may surprise those who knew him, but he actually really intimidated me at first. He was the veteran, the cool guy, with the...

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Richard Cuminale