The Write Side

PWHS Chamber choir members recently participated in the annual performance titled Story of Us V, “Answering the Call,” on Oct 1 at Greenlawn Cemetary in Portsmouth. Some of the PWHS cast members include: Logan Ralstin, Noah Williams, Jack Bell, Mason Tieman, Sam Weiss, Ernest Rhoden, Jacob Sherman, Dalton Russell, Ralph Clay, Bryson Perry, Ethan Patton, Owen Yazell, Carlos Scott, Charlie Pollitt, Kara Carter, Tehya Hazelbaker, Jacee Carver, Emma Damron, Ashlyn Swords, Bella Kammer, Bryce Nelson, Tyson McGinnis, Jeremy Gravely, Cassidy McClurg, Luke Elliott, Hunter Terry, Deaglan Wolfe, Ash Gogowski, Nathan McCoy, Sara Carter, Molli Morrisette, Ethan Doughman, Olivia Kirkpatrick, Portsmouth West HS Choir, and staff members Jennifer Bloomfield, Aaron Blevins, Linda Tieman.

Pictures submitted by Carolyn Callihan

12th grade:

Straight A: Kara Carter, Lakota Carver, Carter Essman, Trevor Fike, Abby Johnson, Bella Kammer, Miranda Kilgallion, Kylee Pollitt, Georgia Roe, Emma Sayre, Carlos Scott, Morgan Stiles, Haylen Taylor, Hunter Terry, Mason Tieman, Jakob Tipton, Noah Williams

A: Jeffery Bishop, Skylar Boggs, Mason Brown, Hailee Campbell, Isabella Cline, Andrew Coleman, Emmaly Damron, Nevaeh Durham-Tate, Jordan Graham, Jack Holbrook, Logan Hurst, Emily Moore, Emily Pack, Kaylor Pickelsimer, Makayla Pistole, Shelby Rhea, Katelyn Rollins, Kamryn Spriggs, Cole Tipton, Sam Weiss

B: Skylar Gunnoe, Haylie Journey, Bryson Perry, Earnest Rhoden, Hunter Sissel, Austin Tumbleson, Cole Windsor, Deaglan Wolfe

11th grade:

Straight A: Jack Bell, Maci Bradford, Jacee Carver, Colton Journey, Rylee McDermott, Dillon Messer, Nick Messer, Michael Miller, Mason Parker, Brooklyn Pitts, Dalton Russell, Jacob Sherman, Ashlynn Swords, Isaac Trapp

A: Noah Cline, Mason Coleman, Kayla Cook, Claira Davis, Jack Geyer, Tehya Hazelbaker, Jadyn Hedge, Hannah Hutchinson, James Journey, Bryson Kessinger, Olivia Kirkpatrick, Mylie Pistole, Nichol Rapp, Jolena Underwood, Erica Whisman, Kade Woods

B: Layla Buckler, Austin Evans, Breanna May, Cassidy McClurg, Myla Mead, Ava Potters, Max Rapp, Brigette Rose, Megan Satterfield

10th grade:

Straight A: Halie Bays, Michael Grobowski, Mason Jordan, Elijah Kasper, Trever Patrick, Charlie Pollitt, Logan Ralstin, Bo Wroten, Owen Wyman

A: Erica Barton, Max Bell, Kayden Bentley, Jerry Book, Charlie Carver, Allie Cupp, Ethan Doughman, Keirra Dunn, Brody Hall, Jack Jewett, Gracie Kilgallion, Grace Lucas, Wyatt McNeil, Bralyn Newman, Ethan Patton, Isaak Tipton

B: Reagan Brown, Josey Burton, Landon Cornell, Ariana Evans, Austin Holsinger, Zach Holsinger, Hunter Horsley, Payton Howard, Sydney Kammer, Will Kegley, Colten Lamblin, Naomi Luster, Mylei McGuire, Macy Mosley, Kelsey Munion, Wyatt Odell, Zach Parker, Jerry Pickelsimer, Shilah Ratliff, Loran Rawlins Moore, Tabitha Rodgers, Haeden Shepherd, Gracie Thompson, Kayla Throckmorton

9th grade:

Straight A: Laiken Caudill, Kylee McCleese, Tyson McGinnis, Corbin Miller, Evan Stiles, Macey Whisman

A: Braden Adkins, Vacilya Begley, Anthony Bishop, Shaley Boggs, Chloe Bryant, Brianna Campbell, Hailey Carver, Miley Castle, Lyla Cornell, Kayleigh Craft, Luke Elliott, Rylee Fuller, Camilla Harrison, Rihanna Henderson, Colton Hill, Carter Keyser, Mollie Morrissette, Max Newsome, Zane Pitts, Gunnar Shonkwiler, Ben Sparks, Eutonia Stevens, Madison Tieman, Maleah Whitman

B: Braden Anderson, Eliza Arthur, Ava Baker, Levi Bays, Roschelle Cantrell, Adriann Carver, Kate Cyrus, Chloe Fraley, Braydyn Frost, Aydan Gambill, Adyson Hall, Alexis Harsdorf, Kamryn Journey, Gregory Kurtz, Ethan Morgan, Shelby Perkins, Kindall Piccolo, Lafe Potters, Austin Ramsey, Tilton Rapp, Harrison Richards, Owen Richards, Daulton Rose, Aubrey Stone, Alexis Vastine, Aadyn Vernier, Sophie Vernier, Jadyn Wright, Owen Yazell

Seniors

President Carlos Scott

Vice President Samuel Weiss

Secretary Kylee Pollitt

Treasurer Mason Brown

Juniors

President Cassidy McClurg

Vice President Jolena Underwood

Secretary Rylee McDermott

Treasurer Olivia Kirkpatrick

Sophomores

President Colton Lamblin

Vice President Trevor Patrick

Secretary Owen Moore

Treasurer Rileigh Miller

Freshmen

President Zane Pitts

Vice President Vacilya Begley

Secretary Gabe Swanner

Treasurer Corbin Miller

Students In CCP American history recently toured Potter's Field and the Kalanu Native American Cemetary to learn about a part of our local history that can be found within walking distance of our schools.

Dr. Harvey's biology students are learning about acids and bases, and they recently completed a pH lab. The objective of the lesson was to predict and then test the pH of eight household products. Students collected and analyzed data and communicated their results. All students worked carefully throughout the lab and the attached photos show their exceptional work ethic.

American History students at Portsmouth West High School created a display to commemorate the 40 heroes who lost their lives on the hijacked Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. Mrs. Callihan's classes researched the events of 9/11, focusing specifically on Flight 93. To represent each tragic life lost on Flight 93, students placed a flag, empty shoes, and a picture with a biography of each passenger. The public is invited to drive by the high school and view this memorial, which will be up through Friday, September 15.

Photos submitted by PWHS senior Austin Barber

Anatomy students are creating a model of the integumentary system, while Biology students used Orbeez to demonstrate the osmosis through the cell membrane.

Students in Senior Life class attended Marshall University's Green and White day on Friday, Oct. 20. Students were able to tour campus, meet with various college/program representatives, and speak with a student panel about college life. Those who hadn't already, were able to apply to Marshall and have their application fee waived. Marshall University also provided free lunch to students prior to their departure.

Seniors Kara Carter and Kylee Pollitt with juniors Hannah Hutchinson and Jolena Underwood attended the National Beta Leadership Summit at the Wilderness at the Smokies Sevierville, TN. Sessions the ladies attended involved leadership and collaboration with other students across the country.

The mission of the National Beta Leadership Program is to inspire tomorrow’s leaders to achieve their personal best through service, character, and achievement. The objectives and principles taught at the conference are listed below:

Objectives of Student Leadership

Students Will:

• Identify personal behaviors and personality styles
• Commit to identifying core ethical and personal values, and commit to act on them
• Develop relationships where the dignity and contributions of all people are respected
• Develop skills to be able to successfully work in groups and teams to accomplish a collective goal
• Connect with like-minded individuals in order to promote the ideals of National Beta
• Increase their capability to achieve goals

Beta Leadership Principles

• Growth: Developing the mind, body, and spirit
• Values: Doing what is right
• Character: Being conscious of your personal legacy
• Connect: Developing relationships that encourage collaboration and teamwork

Students who are in Key Club also participate and work with Impact, a youth-led coalition to improve school climate. They meet on the last Monday of each month to discuss what are ways to improve school connectivity and discuss the positives and negatives of the program. Students recently created bean bags to add to the soft seating area in the library.

• Sensational Senators earned a Superior Rating at the state finals! The last state-level superior rating was in 2018.
• Football had a great season ending with an 8-3 record.
• Volleyball finished with a 16-7 record and third in SOC II.
• Soccer finished their season with 6 wins, 9 losses, and 3 ties.
• Cross Country girls and boys finished with many personal records, and the girls' team were able to compete as a team for the first time in school history!
• Golf finished their season with many personal bests.

Note: Conference, district, and state awards have not been announced as of the time of this publication.

Keay Club members volunteered at Shawnee State Forest's Unhaunted Forest. Students worked with naturalists to lead patrons on a lantern-lit trail to educate them about nocturnal animals and their habitat.

Swim meets usually begin at 5pm, but the official start times have not yet been published.

• 11-29-23, Sprint Meet at SSU (Portsmouth, West, Northwest, Notre Dame, Wheelersburg), Time: TBD
• 12-6-23, Notre Dame, Wheelersburg, Northwest, West at SSU, Time: TBD
• 12-16-23, West at Greenfield McClain, Time: TBD
• 1-3-24, Portsmouth, Notre Dame, Wheelersburg, West at SSU, Time: TBD
• 1-10-24, Portsmouth, Notre Dame, Wheelersburg, West at SSU, Time: TBD
• 1-17-24, BYE Week. Meet TBA.
• 1-24-24, SOC Championship Meet at SSU, Time: TBD
• 1-31-24, County Championship Meet at SSU, Time: TBD
• 2-10-24, Sectional Swim Meet at Ohio University, Time: TBD

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble.

— Mark Twain —

The big message today: Be humble. Be wise. Don’t believe everything you think.

Having said that, the prevailing mindset in our culture is to use personal preference and strong feelings as the reference point for what we believe to be true. Most people think a thing is good or true simply because it is something they happen to like or feel strongly about. Conversely, they think a thing is untrue or bad simply because it is something they don’t like or don’t feel good about.

The result? A failure to think critically and giving in to the temptation to declare, demand, and denounce with undisciplined impulse.

Another factor feeding this problem is the tendency to form personal preferences based on what is popular and fashionable in the culture. Ask people for their perspective on an issue, and you are likely to hear opinions that are more socially-derived than thoughtfully-developed.

Rather than carefully reasoned beliefs, it is becoming the norm to espouse opinions based on the narratives and sound bites that are continually repeated in the media. We are experiencing a frightening deficiency of thoughtful perspectives based on objective information and disciplined thinking.

Many people develop a misplaced confidence about what they believe simply because they read something on the internet or hear something in the news that aligns with how they feel. They don’t seek truth or context; they seek affirmation of their feelings and confirmation of their opinion. They focus and fixate on sound-bites and talking points, and avoid the essential process of disciplined evaluation.

Here’s the reality: Having a strongly held opinion does not give you credibility. Pundits, politicians, and provocateurs love to claim their opinions are based on “facts,” even though their “facts” are often selective, incomplete, and chosen to support a political agenda or personal preference. Sometimes their “facts” are simply untrue. Confirmation bias runs rampant these days.

In the midst of this disorienting and misleading cultural noise, what is needed is clear and careful reflection. We need to be humble and disciplined in our thinking process. We need the courage to challenge our own assumptions and opinions, which is essential for growth. We need the wisdom to recognize that not everything we think or feel is correct.

Wisdom warns us to resist the temptation to impulsively declare an opinion without doing our homework. The challenge is to do the disciplined — and often uncomfortable — work of discovering what is true and good and then aligning our life with it.

Here is a bold but needed statement: If you haven’t done your homework thoroughly, then stay quiet and keep evaluating. The world does not need your impulsive proclamations. Claiming something to be true is no substitute for doing the hard work of discovering what is actually true and then expressing it wisely.

Be humble. Be wise. Don’t believe everything you think

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