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The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

Clara Wood

Clara Wood, Copy Editor-in-Chief

Clara Wood, senior, is in her third year of journalism as the Copy Editor-in-Chief and Awards Committee Chair. She particularly enjoys writing features, creating infographics, and making podcasts with the West Linn Weekly Wake Up. An enthusiast for all things books, writing, and animal-related, you can often find Wood with a web browser open to the Oregon Humane Society website or writing down her friends’ best quotes. Wood aims to one day be a science journalist and publish her written works. For now, you can view her work and journalism journey on her WordPress, clarawoodportfolio.wordpress.com.

All content by Clara Wood
Michael Sugar is running to be the Representative of District 40 in the Oregon House of Representatives. In order to do so, he must win both the primary and general election. Photo courtesy of Michael Sugar.

Fighting for a sweeter future

Clara Wood, Copy Editor-in-Chief
May 17, 2026

Disclaimer: The opinions stated by Michael Sugar are those of a private citizen. Sugar’s opinions are not affiliated with the West Linn-Wilsonville School District or his status as a public employee...

Posters advertising Multicultural Night can be found around WLHS, and in other schools across the district.

An affinity for community

Clara Wood, Copy Editor-in-Chief
April 9, 2026

An event for the whole community, Multicultural Night will take place on April 10. West Linn High School (WLHS) Affinity Clubs have partnered with Wilsonville High School (WVHS) Affinity Clubs to bring...

Clara Wood and Kira Sato, seniors, pose for a photo after receiving their dark blue bandana, the color that would represent them for the rest of the Race.

Anyone can be an amazing racer

Clara Wood, Copy Editor-in-Chief
March 3, 2026

I don’t run. Every pitch to get me to join cross country has failed. On any given day, I’ll take a cup of hot chocolate, a cozy couch, and a book over running in the rain. So how did I get here,...

The cast of Wicked included Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), Glinda (Ariana Grande), Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), and The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

Changed ‘For Good?”

Clara Wood, Copy Editor-in-Chief
February 18, 2026

*WEB CONTINUATION: This article originally appeared in Volume 106 Issue 1 of our news magazine, Amplifier. The Wicked Witch of the West has undergone significant evolution throughout her appearances in...

Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.

Painting for purpose

Garrett Arendt and Clara Wood
October 16, 2025

Decorating the community with color, on Oct. 10, the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) arrived at SouthLake Church to paint the windows for the Youth Music Project’s (YMP) annual benefit auction and...

A mural of Mount Hood was the first mural that NAHS students painted on Oct. 10. This mural was in the room with the items up for silent auction, and was designed to remind guests of the wooded and mountainous areas of the Pacific Northwest. In this window, students used techniques like removing the wet paint using the handle of their brushes to add texture and designs. “The only feedback we’ve gotten from guests was that it was a really sort of magical journey through what they love most about living here and being here,” Penkman said. “It was just so iconically Pacific Northwest.”

A mural of Mount Hood was the first mural that NAHS students painted on Oct. 10. This mural was in the room with the items up for silent auction, and was designed to remind guests of the wooded and mountainous...

This is the second half of the two murals in the entryway. The entry was designed to look like the Oregon coast, with gulls plastered to the walls and other ocean motifs. “A lot of people remarked how it was very affecting and very impactful,” Penkman said. “They’d never seen anything like that at a fundraiser that they’d been to before.”

This is the second half of the two murals in the entryway. The entry was designed to look like the Oregon coast, with gulls plastered to the walls and other ocean motifs. “A lot of people remarked how...

This is the second half of the two murals in the entryway. The entry was designed to look like the Oregon coast, with gulls plastered to the walls and other ocean motifs. “A lot of people remarked how it was very affecting and very impactful,” Penkman said. “They’d never seen anything like that at a fundraiser that they’d been to before.”

This is the second half of the two murals in the entryway. The entry was designed to look like the Oregon coast, with gulls plastered to the walls and other ocean motifs. “A lot of people remarked how...

The College Board owns and administers the SAT and PSAT, two tests that students may be planning to take for college admissions and other purposes.

Top tips for the SAT and PSAT as test dates loom

Clara Wood, Copy Editor-in-Chief
October 9, 2025

As students prepare for upcoming SAT and Preliminary SAT (PSAT) dates, questions may arise regarding how to prepare, what to study, and what happens after they take the test. These upcoming dates for...

On the move. After exiting the Aux Gym, students walk with their Lion Ambassadors to begin a tour of the school. The groups went to separate locations within the school, then moved from one location to the next.

Welcoming new members of the pride

Clara Wood, Copy Editor-in-Chief
September 12, 2025

On Aug. 25, the day before school officially began, the building was filled with school photo takers, parking pass grabbers, and rising freshmen for the 9th-grade orientation. Guided through the day...

The executive order has sparked multiple different opinions. Graphic by Garrett Arendt.

Phone debate

Garrett Arendt and Clara Wood
September 11, 2025

Over the summer, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed Executive Order 25-09, where all K-12 schools in the state must implement a policy to prohibit student phone usage by Oct. 31, or at the latest Jan. 1. Donald...

In D101, each desk includes special computes that allow students to animate.

[Video] Meet the Animation club

Garrett Arendt and Clara Wood
September 2, 2025

Every Friday, the Animation club gathers in classroom D101 for their club meeting. The club is run by Lucy Schreiber and Samantha Koenig, both seniors, who started the club during the 2024-2025 school...

Brody Olson, senior, sits down in the podcasting corner in preparation for the recording.

Leading the pride

Garrett Arendt and Clara Wood
August 29, 2025

At the end of the 2024-2025 school year, the students voted for their new Associated Student Body (ASB). When the votes were revealed, this year's ASB was the biggest in West Linn High School history,...

The Met Gala is a fundraising event most known for it's fashion, themes, and high-profile attendees.

The Met Gala is a fundraising event most known for it's fashion, themes, and high-profile attendees.

The movie's characters included a capybara, lemur, Golden Retriever, and a cat, all voiced with real animal sounds.

Go with the ‘Flow’

Clara Wood, Multimedia Resources Editor
April 23, 2025

*WEB CONTINUATION: This article originally appeared in Volume 105 Issue 3 of our news magazine, Amplifier. As it turns out, cats can triumph over both emotions and robots. At least, according to the Oscars,...

Green all together. Teachers pose in the center of the main gym after hearing Brigham Baker’s speech for the first time that night, all wearing the ‘You Make A Difference’ shirt gifted to them by a student from either the mens or womens teams.

‘Bigger than basketball’

Clara Wood, Multimedia Resources Editor
March 1, 2025

It was more than just the seniors who were being recognized on the evening of Feb. 25, when the varsity mens basketball team held their senior night at 7 p.m., and the women had their final game of the...

Oregon Humane Society puppy Kim and her three month old siblings Kourtney and Khloe greet visitors at both the back and front of their kennel. Young puppies are put into foster care until they can be spayed or neutered, and then go up for adoption. Kim was adopted by the end of the day.

[Photo] Newest family members

February 7, 2025

Oregon Humane Society puppy Kim and her three month old siblings Kourtney and Khloe greet visitors at both the back and front of their kennel. Young puppies are put into foster care until they can be spayed...

Oregon Humane Society puppy Kim and her three month old siblings Kourtney and Khloe greet visitors at both the back and front of their kennel. Young puppies are put into foster care until they can be spayed or neutered, and then go up for adoption. Kim was adopted by the end of the day.

Oregon Humane Society puppy Kim and her three month old siblings Kourtney and Khloe greet visitors at both the back and front of their kennel. Young puppies are put into foster care until they can be spayed...

Oregon Humane Society puppy Kim and her three month old siblings Kourtney and Khloe greet visitors at both the back and front of their kennel. Young puppies are put into foster care until they can be spayed or neutered, and then go up for adoption. Kim was adopted by the end of the day.

Oregon Humane Society puppy Kim and her three month old siblings Kourtney and Khloe greet visitors at both the back and front of their kennel. Young puppies are put into foster care until they can be spayed...

Lofty celebrations. After having two touchdowns called back due to flags on the play, Viggo Anderson, junior, shouts, “I got one,” as he scores with 1:28 left in the first half.

Touching down into the playoffs

Clara Wood, Multimedia Resources Editor
November 15, 2024

The football season isn’t over just yet, as the Lions made it into the playoffs with a record of 8—1, securing them a spot as one of the top four teams in the championship. While the Lions’ one...

Booker, a library and Tales to Tails dog, came to the West Linn High School library on Sept. 19 with Melanie Nelson, a library staff member. Nelson was the owner of Otto, the first West Linn Public Library therapy dog, and now takes care of Booker and Gunner, the latter of which is a therapy dog in training. Booker is a Leonberger registered through Pet Partners.

Pup to the task

Clara Wood, Multimedia Resources Editor
September 30, 2024

Since 2008, the West Linn Public Library has welcomed furry visitors for a special program: Tales to Tails. Children in elementary school can take part in the program, where they spend 20 minutes reading...

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Clara Wood