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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

Finn Howell

Finn Howell, Coverage Editor

Finn Howell, Junior, is the coverage editor and is passionate about making students feel seen and recognized. He spends much of his time outside of journalism practicing music, running, and climbing. He specifically enjoys playing clarinet and saxophone with the WLHS band. Howell’s favorite form of media production is photography, and you can follow his journey through media publications here on wlhsNOW as well as on his portfolio, jfinnhowell.wordpress.com.

All content by Finn Howell
May Court seniors rehearse the princess bows for the ceremony.

2024 May Day preview

Despite the fact that half of the senior princesses who applied would be voted in, Chiara Arendt and Myrtle Guarisco made the cut for the 2024 May Court.  May Day is an annual school ceremony which...

Green Horizons: Throughout President Biden's four years in office, he has enacted many policy decisions centered around climate and wildlife sustainability. "As President, I’ll use my executive powers to combat the climate crisis," Biden said.

Balancing ambition with political realities

Kaelyn Jones and Finn Howell
April 12, 2024

Only a few months after being inaugurated, President Biden set a target for the United States to achieve a 50% reduction in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution by 2030. Later that year, the White...

Ryan Vandenbrink and Janina Kraetschmer, seniors, high-five the other Amazing Race teams after their win in the finale.

The final Amazing Race report with Janina Kraetschmer and Ryan Vandenbrink

The Amazing Race is an event that involves multiple pairs of seniors competing in a variety of challenges to win $1000 for the charity of their choice. This year's winners were Janina Kraetschmer and Ryan...

Some have made the accusation that Ice Spice is an industry plant, meaning that she became successful from record labels using their money and connections to manufacture her fame.

Is Ice Spice a plant?

Isis Naija Gaston, also known by the stage name Ice Spice, has come into the public eye over the last year, and has started off 2024 with her first Grammy appearance after being nominated for Best New...

Alaina Moore, senior, walks on to the court with family to join the ceremony. Moore has been on the varsity team for three years. “I’ve learned a lot about leadership, and especially just being there for those that you care about,” Moore said.

[Photo] Womens basketball team wins on senior night 66—30

Edie Himmer, Copy Editor
February 20, 2024

Surrounded on all sides. Reese Jordan, sophomore, goes for the shot while being guarded by Lakeridge Pacers players.

Showing their support. As the players’ families join together on the court, audience members hold up personalized signs to cheer on members of the team.

Showing their support. As the players’ families join together on the court, audience members hold up personalized signs to cheer on members of the team.

Poppy Friel, senior, hugs head coach Brooke Gates during her recognition. Traditionally during senior nights, family joins the player as they’re acknowledged for their work on the team. Here, they are lined up in the center of the court, while audience members hold signs from a distance.

Poppy Friel, senior, hugs head coach Brooke Gates during her recognition. Traditionally during senior nights, family joins the player as they’re acknowledged for their work on the team. Here, they are...

Maci Churchill, senior, poses with family on the court once it was her turn during the ceremony. Younger family members wear shirts that read, “I’m next” in support of the West Linn womens basketball program.

Maci Churchill, senior, poses with family on the court once it was her turn during the ceremony. Younger family members wear shirts that read, “I’m next” in support of the West Linn womens basketball...

Getting her flowers. Ava Hess, senior, takes the floor with her family to be recognized.

Getting her flowers. Ava Hess, senior, takes the floor with her family to be recognized.

Alaina Moore, senior, walks on to the court with family to join the ceremony. Moore has been on the varsity team for three years. “I’ve learned a lot about leadership, and especially just being there for those that you care about,” Moore said.

Alaina Moore, senior, walks on to the court with family to join the ceremony. Moore has been on the varsity team for three years. “I’ve learned a lot about leadership, and especially just being there...

On Sept. 15, 2023, the cheer team performed at a football halftime show. The cheer team won the 6A OSAA Large Traditional State Championship on Feb. 10.

Cheer team wins first ever state championship

Finn Howell, Coverage Editor
February 12, 2024

For the first time ever, the West Linn Cheer competition team won the 6A OSAA state title in large traditional cheer. During this competition, they also won the Grand Champs, meaning they received the...

College applications can be filled with questions, details, and goals.

College application season underway

As we approach the next college application deadline in January, counselors at the school, like Kami Vermillion, anticipate more and more seniors will begin to apply. “So far this year we’ve probably...

The mens soccer team is currently ranked 9th in state according to OSAA.

Fall sports progress and predictions

Edie Himmer, Finn Howell, and Preston Weller
October 24, 2023

With some fall sports starting playoffs in the near future, now may be a good time to recap their progress and look into their future. Web Editor-in-Chief Joseph Murphy joined the West Linn Weekly Wake...

Among other school changes, the new block schedule has come into effect this year.

Staying on schedule

With the start of the 2023-24 school year and new faces entering, we have a new schedule coming into effect this year. The West Linn-Wilsonville school board changed the amount of classes students have...

This year, AP Precalculus won't be weighed on a five-point scale.

The difference in AP Precalculus

Finn Howell, Coverage Editor
October 2, 2023

For the first time ever, in the 2023-24 school year Precalculus is going to be offered by College Board as an Advanced Placement (AP) class. This means that students across the country will be able to...

To give a complete overview of the season, wlhsNOW staff hosted a mens soccer media day, which included portraits in the photo studio and individual interviews with the players. Scroll below to see each player’s profile, which explains each players’ backstory and individual outlook on the season.

Getting to know the 2023 mens soccer team

Fourteen players from last year’s roster are returning. After finishing last year losing in the first round, the mens soccer team believes continuity is the key to success. Miles Miller, junior, is a...

Beatrice Gilroy was elected ASB president after being the ASB vice president last year.

A new lion leader

As students return from summer vacation, the Associated Student Body (ASB) is settling into a new groove. Newly elected president Beatrice Gilroy, senior, has been at work with the other members of ASB...

Oppenlander has been host to community past times such as baseball, soccer, dog walking, and more for decades.

Fighting for the field

Finn Howell, Current Events Editor
April 18, 2023

The city of West Linn and the West Linn-Wilsonville School District (WLWV) have been debating the purchase of Oppenlander Park since 2021. Oppenlander is currently a 10-acre park that features a number...

Responding to a prompt, ChatGPT introduces itself. ChatGPT is an interactive chatbot that responds to prompts given.

ChatGPT: the future writes itself

Finn Howell, Current Events Editor
March 15, 2023

With new technology and AI programs, academic dishonesty is becoming a more pressing issue. Open AI’s new program, ChatGPT, has been catching national attention due to its ability to write human-sounding...

With all of the new scheduling changes, counselors help students forecast for their next year.

Falling behind: are the new schedule updates helpful or harmful?

Finn Howell, Current Events Editor
March 9, 2023

When word of an eight-period schedule for the 2023-2024 school year spread, my initial reaction was excitement. Similar to others who are affiliated with school music programs, it has always been a struggle...

Celebrating after finding out they weren’t eliminated, Ajani White and Koffi Kouamè will proceed onto the next leg of the competition.

[Photo] Off to the races

Kaelyn Jones, Student Life Editor
March 8, 2023

Celebrating after finding out they weren’t eliminated, Ajani White and Koffi Kouamè will proceed onto the next leg of the competition.

Wind Lothamer photographs contestants after the competition ends. Lothamer is a Fine Arts teacher, and was a judge for Poetry Out Loud.

[Photo] Telling stories through poetry

Molly Lundstrom, Arts and Entertainment Editor
February 14, 2023

Wind Lothamer photographs contestants after the competition ends. Lothamer is a Fine Arts teacher, and was a judge for Poetry Out Loud.

From the balcony, the club fair can be seen buzzing with activity.

Hitting the clubs

Eli Ballesteros and Finn Howell
September 21, 2022

A common part of most high school experiences is clubs. Whether they are created by teachers or students, clubs provide an opportunity for students to express themselves, make new friends, and learn new...

FIDM Fashion Club leaders Sofia Gomez, junior, and Karina Rower, senior, decorated their table with fashion magazines and club merchandise.

[Photo] FIDM Fashion Club

September 21, 2022

Haley Ray Newbore and Emma Staten, juniors, stand at the YCAC table and display information about the club's purpose.

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Finn Howell