Freshmen Elections
Freshmen elections were held
Thursday September 24th.
The results are:
President - Weston Lucas
Vice-President - Nick Zylstra
Secretary - Jenny Klein
Treasurer - Chris Muhich
Sergeant at arms - Elaina Maslowski
Senators - Ashley Auman,
Nathaniel Judd, Kelly Ross,
Sawyer Smith

Pep Assembly Students may attend a pep assembly on October 8 to prepare for the home football game against the Washougal Panthers. "We're coming up with a new dance routine. And we're going to try to get the crowd involved more," said JV cheerleader freshman Lindsey Folger. The pep band will also be in attendance to provide the usual loud music.

Music Booster Potluck

Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is back this year, but the date has not yet been decided. The annual event will take place either October 17 or 31. There will be booths set up by several clubs, and local bands will perform.

Homecoming
Homecoming Spirit Week is October 19 through 23. The game is Friday vs. the R.A. Long Lumberjacks. The dance, which takes place after the game, will be put on by the senior class.

NW Wind Symphony
The Northwest Wind Symphony fall concert will take place Saturday, October 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the commons. The theme will be "To Russia With Love" and will feature arrangements by Russian composers. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for students.

FBLA
Conference All students involved in FBLA have the opportunity to go to the annual fall conference for the southwest region. FBLA secretary, sophomore Caleb White, said, "It's fun and everybody should go. You get to meet new people from other schools." Around 400 students will attend.

Ase Klokkeide

Kozue Nagura

Thais Watarai

Exchange Students There are three foreign students at W.F. West this year. Ase Klokkeide, from Norway, and Kozue Nagura, from Japan, will be here through June. Thais Watarai, from Brazil, is staying until January.

No School
There will be no school Friday, October 9, due to a State Professional Day.

Homecoming Kick-off
The homecoming kick-off assembly will be at the end of the school day on Friday, October 16. The purpose of this assembly is to announce the candidates for king and queen, as well as the rest of the homecoming court. The dress-up days will also be explained. There will be a dance from 9 to 12 that night put on by the West Theatre Company. "We're thinking about a masquerade theme. It will be something fun, but simple," said drama club advisor Brian Adams.

A bustling cobblestone street lined with outdoor cafes is in vision. The Eiffel Tower looms above. A young and fashionable woman rudely brushes off a foreigner and ravishly bites into a frog's leg. While this may be the stereotype of a French inhabitant of Paris, those in the new French classes will soon discover the truth.

The sounds of students speaking basic French emanate into the hallway from room 112 at W.F. West. The implementation of this new language class was partially influenced by intrigued students. "Many students expressed interest in taking French as a foreign language over the past five years that I've been here," said foreign language instructor Nel Baarspul.

French is thought to have a melody to it and is oftentimes associated with love. Students could take French to woo their object of affection or for various other reasons. "They're mostly taking the foreign language as a four-year college requirement. Some take it because of their heritage and would like to communicate with extended family members; maybe not just for communication, but to have a deeper understanding of them as people. A number of students would like to go to France and experience French culture," said Baarspul.

Freshman Ashlee "Lucee Jean" Auman is taking French because she has wanted to travel to Paris in order to explore the fashion aspect of the city. "Paris is popular for clothes and clothes design and since I love clothes, I think that it [taking French] would tie in a lot," she said.

Senior Morgan Cisneros is taking French and German to give her a basis in foreign language for college and to travel to Europe. "I wanted to take French because it's the language of love and in German I can spit all over people," she said. "I'd love to go overseas and do a program, but it's so difficult. I'd like to minor in theater arts, which a lot of is very European. My main goal of taking foreign language is to teach, maybe in a high school setting or with younger children," Cisneros added.

No matter why students take French, they will learn about French culture through the new curriculum, a possible field trip to a French restaurant, or possibly the Spring Break 2,000 trip to Europe. "We're starting a brand new [curriculm] series called C'EST A' TOI!...everything that goes with this series such as music, CDs, and videos are very current and showcase young people in French speaking countries," said Baarspul.

The new class has students full of anticipation. Cisneros said, "The atmosphere is that no one's really sure of what's going to happen, unsure about speaking a different language in front of people. You have to let yourself go."