The Write Side
2018 January Edition
PWHS WINS DISTRICT COMPETITION
By Jennifer Moorhead
PWHS Mock Trial team won first place at the 2018 District Competition, a feat the school has not achieved since 2005, scoring more points than all other 11 teams that competed. The team, coached by Ms. Moorhead, is composed of two sides. Making up the Prosecution is senior Eli Cole and sophomore Whitney Campbell as attorneys and senior Jordan Willis and freshman Evan Green as witnesses. The Defense includes seniors Noah Lovins and Dalton Pertuset as attorneys and Jordan Willis and freshman Anna Lovins as witnesses. Senior Candice Orris returned for a second year to play the part of Bailiff/Timekeeper. Eli Cole and Noah Lovins won Best Attorney awards for the second year in a row at a district competition. Jordan Willis won two Best Witness awards this year--one for each side she played--giving her a total of five Best Witness awards collected at a district competition throughout her four years of Mock Trial experience.
This year's case is State of Buckeye vs. Adam Smith, with the defense arguing a motion for a new trial for convicted murderer Adam Smith. To advance and qualify for the Regional competition Feb. 16, both sides must win at the district level: the Prosecution defeated Notre Dame and the Defense defeated Valley. Other schools that West defeated in regard to total points scored to win the first place trophy include Portsmouth, South Webster, River Valley, Wheelersburg, and Ironton St. Joseph, The team's legal adviser is Jay S. Willis, who brings 15 years of Mock Trial legal advising experience as well as one year of experience 30 years ago as a team member. Additionally, the team was supported by Mrs. Ginn who volunteered her time to help create the winning team.
2018 Basketball Homecoming
Sophomore Taylor Graham and Travis Andre
All homecoming photos provided by Teresa Powell
To view more images of homecoming, visit the Homecoming page on the high school web page.
Musical Department to present Les Misérables
PWHS Musical Department will be performing the well-known musical Les Misérables on Friday, Feb. 23, and Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 pm on the high school stage. The PWHS Chamber Choir will join the Cast of Les Misérables to present their first-ever staged in concert production.
Reserved tickets will be sold in advance at the high school office. General admission tickets are available at the door on the evening of the performance.
Girls Basketball Season
By Hunter Blacker, Breanna Bricker, and Kaitlin Pistole
PWHS girls basketball team is currently 5-13, but is working to improve its record to finish the season strong. The team fell short to Georgetown with junior Jordan Swords leading the team in points. Next, however, the Senators pulled out a victory against Green with sophomore Morgan Rigsby racking up 18 points.
The Lady Senators play Waverly at home Thursday, Feb. 1.
Boys Basketball
By Jack Cremeans, Marty Knittel, and Cody Staggs
Portsmouth West Senators basketball team broke a six-game losing streak in their win against Adena Jan. 23. They then earned a hard-fought victory against South Webster on Jan. 26 to improve their record to 5-7. Saturday, Jan. 27, Georgetown was able to squeak by with a mere 3 point win. Seniors LT Maynard and Jordan Frasure combined a total of 39 points in that loss.
After their win last night against Northwest, the Senators are now 6-8.
The Senators will play again this Friday, Feb. 2, at Oak Hill High School.
Thespian Troupe continues their enrichment
Members of PWHS's Thespian Troupe #5739 recently visited the Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati to watch the musical Waitress.
The high school's Thespian Troupe is actually a part of a national organization called International Thespian Society, or ITS. Induction into ITS is based on a point system, and points are earned by students' achievements within their school's theater program. In order to earn points, students must participate in their own performances or view a variety of performances. This involvement is meant to enrich students' educational experiences.
Mrs. Tieman, teacher and troupe advisor, several students in PWHS's Thespian Troupe #5739, and some chorus members, leave Wednesday, Jan. 31, for a cruise to the Bahamas that will include opportunities for viewing professional productions and participating in theatrical activities.
Picture, along with content contributions, submitted by Alec Arnett.
Classroom in focus: Engineering
By Jeshua D. Craft
Brittany L. Crall is the current engineering teacher for Portsmouth West High School and Wheelersburg High School, and she is employed by Scioto County Career Technical Center. She earned her a bachelor's at Shawnee State University for Plastics Engineering in 2014 and a Master’s in Industrial and Systems engineering from Ohio University in 2016.
Ms. Crall has hosted two field trips this year, one at Ohio University, and the other at Scioto County Career Technical Center to meet engineers and have some insight into the trade and ask questions. These have been unforgettable experiences, and have definitely helped students see what to expect in the field of engineering.
Engineering students’ current project is a marble sorter that will have the ability to sort marbles based on their properties. The marble sorter is supposed to resemble a trash recycler, sorting metal, plastics, and wood.
Many students benefit from having the opportunity to explore the field of engineering as an elective option. Senior Jakeb Guilkey plans to major in mechanical engineering at Marshall University. This class has helped him further his interest in engineering and pursue his dream of becoming an engineer. He has job shadowed the former PWHS engineering teacher, Darren Lebrun, who is now the Scioto County Engineer. Guilkey also plans to job shadow an engineer at ODOT in February to further explore his interest his intended major before heading to Marshall University this upcoming fall.
Club in Focus: Key Club
By Brandon Moore and Isaiah Norman
Key Club will be collecting donations for homeless veterans living in the Columbus area. Boxes to place donations can be found in the office at each of the three buildings. All items collected from Jan.15 to Feb. 28 will be given to Volunteers of America, a non-profit organization that not only supplies homeless Veterans with necessary supplies but also helps prepare for interviews and find jobs.
In addition to collecting donations, Key Club members are currently gaining volunteer hours by working concessions and taking tickets for district-wide basketball games. Throughout the year, Key Club members earn service hours for their various volunteer activities.
“Over Christmas break we rang the bells for the salvation army and were able to raise $321.20 - a big thanks to Mrs. Callihan and Kevin Moore who rang the bells for the Salvation Army for their help and Madison Cochran, Allison Cooper, Kaleigh Parr and Elizabeth Rodgers for their hard work,” stated Leah Blevins, Key Club adviser.
Upcoming Events
02/02/18 - Boys Basketball @ Oak Hill
02/03/18 - Girls Basketball @ Oak Hill
02/05/18 - Girls Basketball vs. Symmes Valley
02/07/18 - Boys Basketball @ North Adams
02/07/18 - Girls Basketball @ Rock Hill
02/09/18 - Boys Basketball vs. Wheelersburg
02/10/18 - Boys Basketball vs. Huntington
02/13/18 - Boys Basketball vs. Manchester (senior night)
02/16/18 - Boys Basketball vs. Waverly
02/17/18 - Boys Basketball vs. West Union
02/19/18 - No School (President's Day)
02/23/18 - Les Misérables presented by Portsmouth West High School Musical Department
02/24/18 - Les Misérables presented by Portsmouth West High School Musical Department
03/16/18 - End of 3rd Nine Weeks
PWHS Digital Media
Email: kristie.copley@westsenators.org
Website: http://www.westsenators.org/highschool
Location: 15332 U.S. 52, West Portsmouth, OH, United States
Phone: 7408581103
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePWHS/
Twitter: @PWestHSlibrary