🎃The Write Side👻

When our Senators commit to something, they fully commit! Plenty of Halloween spirit filled the halls of Portsmouth West High School on Friday. Students and staff showed off their creativity with festive costumes, bringing a little spooky magic and lots of laughs to the school day. From frightfully fun to boo-tifully creative, our Senators made it a Halloween to remember!

12th grade

Straight A: Ava Baker, Gracelynn Bigham, Adriann Carver, Hailey Carver, Luke Elliott, Rylee Fuller, Rihanna Henderson, Colton Hill, Carter Keyser, Kylee McCleese, Tyson McGinnis, Max Newsome, Evan Stiles, Maddie Tieman, Gavin Veach, Macey Whisman

A: Braden Adkins, Levi Bays, Chloe Bryant, Ally Buckner, Roschelle Cantrell, Miley Castle, Laiken Caudill, Margaret Cook, Kayleigh Craft, Kate Cyrus, Chloe Fraley, Braydyn Frost-Romero, Alexis Harsdorf, Mollie Morrissette, Harrison Richards, Owen Richards, Eutonia Stevens, Aubrey Stone

B: Shaley Boggs, Grace Conley, Camilla Harrison, Blake Jordan, Ben Sparks, Salina Straughn

11th grade

Straight A: Braydyn Adkins, Lorelei Carver, Donovan Eldred, Bryson A Journey, Ava McNeil, Keagan Salem, Elyn Shiveley, Chris White

A: Ashton Barber, Makenna Bentley, David Brickey, Grace Conley, Lainey Cook, Brenna DeLong, Morgan Entler, Logan Hatfield, Ally Hedge, Braxton Kammer, Nathan Kammer, Bree Messer, Haylee Perkins, Isabella Sherman, Alex Stump, Lauryn Trinidad, Kailynn Wiedbrauk, Turner Young

B: Jaydyn Anderson, Katielynn Blevins, Sophia Coleman, Zane Evans, Bryan Morris, Creed Newman, Isabella Nichols, Aaron Patton, Brayleigh Pistole, Humble Rawlins Moore, Braeden Stevens, Mylee Tieman, Corey Warren

10th grade

Straight A: Brycen Bodmer, Audrey Brower, Shella Harrison, Giuliana Hedrick, Kaitlyn Logan, Hunter Maynard

A: Eli Blevins, Lilly Chapman, Dannie Galloway, Katherine Gronbek, Kyler Hammonds, Aubree Hayslip, Cameron Howard, Shelby Hurst, Ava Klaiber, Maddox Lawless, Jace Lore, Chloe Lucas, Tamaja Moore, Kierston Mosley, Makayla Murphy, Shelby Murphy, Max Rosario, Bryson Roy, Easton Simpson, Wyatt Terry, Haley Thomas, Molly Whisman

B: Josef Begley, Reece Bell, Colton Blevins, Jordyn Bradford, Chase Bryant, Lelani Cabrera, Ryan Cassidy, Damion Castle, Buddy Cottrell, Shelbi Day, McKenna Flanagan, Cason Frump, Braylon Henry, Annabelle Jordan, Kelsey Marsh, Braxton McNutt, Josh Miller, Torie Milstead, Myles Mitchell, Noah Mount, Maddy Nesser, John Nichols, Roger Plona, Adrian Ramey, Westyn Ratcliff, Addi Sadler, Bentley Shonkwiler, Kolton Smith, Natalie Snow, Aurrie Soard, Maddox Spencer, Eli Spradlin, Sawyer Staggs, Celyne Taylor, Audrina Turner, Delaynee Ward, Farrah Wilson

9th grade

Straight A: Clay Bloomfield, Carla Houston, Emmalee Kasper, Ryan Lawless, Nevi Lockhart, Charlotte Ralstin, Brody Seth, Stella Staggs, Reese Thompson

A: Gavin Cantrell, Keaton Essman, Arika Farney, Madi Green, Jason Hoskins, Ethan Hunt, Nevaeh Jarrell, Braxton Jenkins, Trinity Keaton, Karis Keslar, Ava Kessinger, Wyatt Keyser, Aliyah Lancaster, Maddie McNutt, Daniel Milstreed, Jackson Penix, Lainey Rickett, Dakota Saunders, Jersey Stewart, Skyler Summers, Kyndal Tackett, Brayden Zoellner

B: Dominic Adkins, Bradley Bishop, Londyn Bricker, Keyaira Craft, Azael Dunn, Kaylee Jordan, Elliot Kegley, Killian Mercer, Jordan Milburn, Alec Miller, Hayden Miller, Riley Moore, Emmit Morgan, Brooklynn Patrick, Eli Pendleton, Dean Rapp, Aubrey Redden, Kaiden Ridout, Jonah Roberts, Guy Roe, James Sheppard, Macie Staggs, Kaleb Swords, Grace Wiedbrauk

Seniors

Braden Adkins, Levi Bays, Laiken Caudill, Rylee Fuller, Kylee McCleese, Max Newsome, Lafe Potters

Juniors

David Brickey, Lorelei Carver

Sophomores

Josef Begley, Colton Blevins, Brycen Bodmer, Lelani Cabrera, Cason Frump, Dannie Galloway, Colten Hamilton, Kyler Hammonds, Cameron Howard, Tamaja Moore, Kierston Mosley, Maddy Nesser

Freshmen

Bradley Bishop, Bryson Horsley, Jason Hoskins, Braxton Jenkins, Hayden Miller, Riley Moore, Emmit Morgan, Elaina OConnor, Lainey Rickett, Brody Seth

October is School Safety Month, and Washington-Nile Local Schools is proud to join the Ohio School Safety Center in highlighting the important role kindness plays in creating safe, supportive schools. Our school community is currently leading the Ohio charge in promoting kindness as part of school safety!

Throughout the month, we’ve emphasized that school safety goes beyond secure buildings and emergency procedures. It also means ensuring every student and staff member feels welcomed, respected, included, and valued. Small acts of kindness, positive relationships, and looking out for one another all help make our schools safer and stronger.

As October comes to a close, we encourage everyone to carry this message forward, and not just this month, but throughout the school year and beyond.

A special thanks to Mr. Ben Howard and Mrs. Caitlin Oliver for spearheading this initiative.

🧡 Be Kind. Be Safe. Be a Senator. 🖤

Senior Laiken Caudill represented Miss West with pride at the Portsmouth River Days Pageant, earning second runner-up honors and the title of Miss Congeniality! As a member of the River Days Court, Laiken will travel to numerous parades and community events throughout the year. With two titles to her name, she proudly earned the lucrative distinction of being “double-sashed”! Congratulations to Laiken on this outstanding accomplishment!

*Pageant photo courtesy of Kevin Hoops

*Spider hat photo taken at Crowns and Cobwebs event

*Photo courtesy of Kevin Hoops

✅Congratulations to our newly elected class officers for the 2026-2027 school year!

Seniors

President: Tyson McGinnis

Vice-President: Blake Jordan

Secretary: Owen Richards

Treasurer: Evan Stiles

Mrs. Mault’s Allied Health students put their medical knowledge and creativity to the test by designing pumpkins representing various diseases and medical conditions. We love seeing our Senators bring learning to life in such fun and creative ways! Great work, Senators!

Welcome back to Dr. Harvey’s science class where our sophomore biology students tackled the ultimate existential question: How do we actually know if something is alive? In this lab titled “What Living Things Do”, students were tasked with looking for evidence that supports the ten characteristics of life. The energy in the room was electric as students collaborated to complete their lab worksheet within the three minute time limit. By the end of class, students learned that all life is controlled at the cellular level. Feel free to stop by to explore this exciting lab activity and learn about life science’s amazing creatures. ~Dr. Harvey

It's Spooky Season in Advanced Biology where students are learning the 22 bones of the face and skull. Students used fully assembled (articulated) skulls to understand how individual structures fit together in a 3D space. Students also located major fibrous joints connecting cranial bones, including the coronal, sagittal, lambdoid, and squamous sutures. Stay tuned for this week's adventure where students will be learning 126 bones of the skeleton. MWAHAHAHA!

Students in Dr. Harvey's room recently conducted an experiment designed to observe photosynthetic activity by measuring the time it takes for sunken leaf disks to float under a light source. Disk shapes were punched out of ivy leaves and transferred into a syringe using forceps. A solution of soapy water mixed with baking soda was drawn into the syringe to create a vacuum, which forced carbon dioxide into the leaf tissue and increased disk density so they sank. The leaf disks were placed into a water beaker under a light source, and a timer was started to measure how long each disk took to float to the top. The goal was to observe photosynthesis in action while identifying the reactants and products before and after the experiment.

Our PWHS juniors and seniors recently attended Shawnee State University’s College Fair, where they had the opportunity to explore a variety of college majors, connect with admissions representatives from multiple universities, and learn more about their options for life after graduation. Students also enjoyed a campus tour and a complimentary lunch in SSU’s dining hall!

The Portsmouth West boys' golf team has done it again! The Senators captured their third consecutive Southern Ohio Conference championship, securing an impressive three-peat! Both the boys’ and girls’ golf teams competed hard throughout the season, representing Portsmouth West with pride.

As the season has now concluded, we recognize our graduating seniors: Owen Richards, Harrison Richards, Layla McCleese, and Gracelynn Bigham. Thank you for your dedication and contributions to Portsmouth West golf. Congratulations to both teams on a successful season, and a special shout-out to our boys for continuing their championship tradition!

The Sensational Senators Marching Band continued its tradition of outstanding performances this year, bringing energy, school spirit, and plenty of excitement to halftime shows throughout the season! Congratulations to all our band members for another fantastic year. We also extend our best wishes to our graduating seniors, Mollie Morrissette and Rihanna Henderson, as they prepare for their next adventures!

*Photo courtesy of Kevin Hoops

The Senators cross country team is still making strides as the season continues! For the first time in program history, the entire boys team qualified for the Regional Competition in Pickerington, a tremendous milestone for the program. Junior Noah Fannin also raised the bar by breaking the school record a week after David Brickey did the same. With one senior - Gabe Swanner - on the roster, the Senators will return Noah Fannin, David Brickey, Gabe Nichols, and Josef Begley next season and look to build on this historic year!

*Team photo courtesy of Kevin Hoops

With an impressive 8-2 regular-season record, the Portsmouth West Senators football team has continued to demonstrate the toughness and competitive spirit that define our football tradition. Still competing in tournament play, the Senators are representing our school and community with pride as they fight to advance one game at a time.

With each tournament game bringing a win-or-advance challenge, the team has even more reason to give it their all as they play alongside their senior teammates. Congratulations to Gunnar Shonkwiler, Max Newsome, Lafe Potters, Braden Adkins, Carter Keyser, Anthony Bishop, Tilton Rapp, Ben Sparks, Zane Pitts, Levi Bays, and Austin Ramsey. Thank you for your dedication, leadership, and contributions to Portsmouth West football.

*Photo courtesy of Kevin Hoops

The Senators volleyball team put together a solid season (still competing and will play Oct. 31 in the district semi-finals) despite working through player injuries, with a 13-11 record, the team’s best in two years! As five seniors - Hailey Carver, Chloe Bryant, Macie Whisman, Shaley Boggs, and Ariane Jordan - prepare to graduate, the Senators look forward to building on this season’s success and continuing to improve next year. Juniors: Grace Conley, Lainey Cook, Brayleigh Pistole, Ally Hedge, Haylee Perkins, Rilee Pollard. Sophomores: Maddie Lawless, Shelby Hurst, Molly Whisman, Shella Harrison, Jordyn Bradford, Ava Klaiber, Chloe Lucas. Freshmen: Ryan Lawless, Lainey Rickett, Maddie McNutt, Jersey Stewart,

*Photo courtesy of Kevin Hoops

The soccer team wrapped up its season with plenty of reasons to be proud and even more reasons to look forward to next year.

They finished the season with a 4–14 record and advanced to the second round of tournament play. While the season presented its share of challenges, the team demonstrated meaningful progress, improving from last year’s record, which reflects the hard work and commitment of the players and coaching staff throughout the season.

With no seniors on the roster, every player is eligible to return next year. The experience gained this season will provide a strong foundation as the team continue to grow, build team chemistry, and work toward even greater success. Juniors - Bryson Journey, Nate Kammer, Creed Newman, Humble Moore, Logan Kessinger, Bree Messer, Caleb Middleton, Aaron Patton, Chris White. Sophomores - Myles Mitchell, Reece Bell, Havanna Wamsley, Easton Simpson, Damion Castle, Haley Thomas, Giuliana Hedrick. Freshmen - Keaton Essman, Skyler Summers, Madi Green.

Sports flyers were made by Sider Sam

Leading the crowds with spirit and enthusiasm, eight senior cheerleaders will take their final bow on the football sidelines this season. Congratulations to Laiken Caudill, Adriann Carver, Ava Carter, Madison Tieman, Chloe Bryant, Camilla Harrison, Roschelle Cantrell, and Shaley Boggs on their final football season as Portsmouth West cheerleaders. Thank you for the energy, dedication, and school spirit you have brought to the team!

Although the team will be saying goodbye to a large portion of its squad at graduation, the future of Portsmouth West Cheer is bright. A strong group of returning sophomores - Audrina Turner, Shelbi Day, Farrah Wilson, Chloe Lucas, and Dannie Galloway - and freshmen - Kya Ward, Jersey Stewart, Brooklynn Patrick, Stella Staggs, and Reese Thompson - will carry on the Senators' cheering tradition in the seasons ahead.

*Photo courtesy of Kevin Hoops

Summary

Menachap, California. An incomprehensible event: every person in the audience of a high school play falls unconscious – every person but one. Using interviews with witnesses, loved ones, first responders and the investigators pursuing the case, a theatre ensemble brings the story of the strange event to life, documentary-style. But as the strands weave together into an increasingly dangerous web, it becomes clear that this phenomenon might not be entirely in the past. Unnerving, exhilarating and wildly inventive, you’ve never walked into anything quite like Trap.

History

Trap was first staged at Olathe South High School in Olathe, Kansas, on October 26, 2017.

Stephen Gregg’s play This is a Test helped define a genre of one-acts when it appeared in 1988 and was the most-produced one-act play in the country for over a decade. Since then, he has published over thirty plays for secondary schools to perform, including Small Actors, One Lane Bridge, The New Margo, S.P.A.R., Twitch and Wake-Up Call. His full-length plays Crush, Trap and Ghostlight appeared on the mainstage of the International Thespian Festival. His newest full-length play, The Neverland Project, appeared on the mainstage of the 2024 Kansas Thespian Festival. Awards: MacDowell Fellow, Inge Fellowship, EDTA Founders Award, Actors Theatre of Louisville Heideman Award for best 10-Minute Play. As a screenwriter, Gregg has worked for Dreamworks, Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Licht/Mueller, Henson Productions and Summit Entertainment. He’s a member of the Writer’s Guild, West, the Dramatists Guild and LabTwenty6 Writers group.

Cast

Heche - Mollie Morrissette

Ephraim Salas - Liam Risner

Rickenoch Baynor & Brand Hillock - Kolten Vangundy

Kenosha - Rihanna Henderson

Kendra - Audrey Brower

Norma Pike - Adrian Ramey

Candelaria Ortiz - Karis Keslar

Real Kenosha - Trinity Keaton

Marion Jay & Jonathan Mollusk - Tommy Nichols

Avishay Lenser & 911 Operator - Charlotte Ralstin

Gander Main, Esq. & Tamblyn Grey - Jonah Roberts

Maura Aoki & Donavan - Mylee Tieman

Issa Fuente - Arika Farney

Angela - Annabelle Jordan

Brian Gurbaxani - Eli Throckmorton

Melissa Tengue - Abigail Nichols

Menachap Herald - Nevaeh Jarrell

Sergeant Brock - Emily Stepp

Clifton - Ilias Keslar

Danalynn Morse - Emmalee Kasper

Ceia Brown - Sami Windsor

Mollusk's Counsel - Rayanna Woods

Judge Matalucci - Alenah Throckmorton

Harte Forbush - Hiliana Hernandez

Queta Muguruza - Guiliana Hedrick

Translator - Lola Carter

Interviewer - Bethany Summer

Kenosha - Rihanna Henderson

Deputy 1 - RyAnn Hammond

Deputy 2 - Emily Stevens

Cell Phone Audience Member & Fallen Boy - Cale Stratton

Director/Artist-In-Residence - Jason Chaney

Assistant Director/District Liaison - Nicholas Wolford

Residency Coordinator - Sharee Price

Technical Crew - Tyson McGinnis, Bella Sherman, Shawna Walker

*Photos courtesy of Amber Kasper

Prom season is officially underway, and our Prom Committee is already hard at work planning an unforgettable night! Under the guidance of Mrs. Smalley, committee members Jayden Anderson, Makenna Bentley, Khloe Campbell, Sophia Coleman, Grace Conley, Lainey Cook, Breena DeLong, Zane Evans, Ally Hedge, Bree Messer, Humble Moore, Haylee Perkins, Brayleigh Pistole, Mylee Tieman, Lauryn Trinidad, Kailynn Wiedbrauk, and Turner Young are busy bringing their ideas to life.

Want to support this year's prom? Keep an eye out for upcoming fundraisers, including a Yeti Cooler Raffle, a Candle Making Class on November 5, and a Trivia Night on November 19. Mark your calendars and help our Senators make this year's prom one to remember!