Embedded Files
March 6, 2026
2026 March Publication .pdfNICE Students Growing as Musicians
By Jupiter Anderson, Contributing Writer
ISHPEMING– NICE Music Department students are participating in events throughout the spring to improve their musical prowess with critique from professionals.
The spring brings a big season for Westwood’s music groups, with Solo and Ensemble, Choral Festival and Band Festival all being close together. While all similar in their purpose, each event has a different focus. Band and Choral Festival focus on the collective groups, but Solo and Ensemble lets students showcase their abilities and get tips on how to improve as an individual or small group. Both vocalists and instrumentalists can participate.
District Solo and Ensemble was held on February 28 at Kingsford High School, where 15 students participated in various categories, along with Voices In Motion for the second year in a row. A record low was hit with the band students, with only 5 of the participating students doing an instrumental piece. This year also had a new category join Westwood’s group, with student Alexis Moore playing a piano solo. State Solo and Ensemble is to be held at UW-Green Bay on May 2. The event will be open to the public for observation.
Various pieces are performed for a judge at Solo and Ensemble, such as instrumental duets, piano classics, vocal jazz, and musical theater pieces. These pieces are separated into classes based on the ability needed to perform them, with Class A being the most difficult. Class A pieces, while hard, allow students the opportunity to qualify for states depending on how well they did. Most participants receive a 1 or 2, with very little seeing the worse grades, and the best of Class A receive a *1, allowing them to move on.
Solo and Ensemble is very important to those who participate, and it isn’t an event for everyone. Students who want to participate should be interested in honing their musical abilities. When asked about why students participate, chorus teacher Alex Polkinghorne said, “Students who have participated every year get a clear benefit from going as a musician. They just become that much more of a veteran performer from doing it.”
While district Solo and Ensemble has passed, people interested in seeing some of the performances are in luck, as there’s always a few littered throughout the annual collage concert. The students who participated have worked hard, and should look forward to what’s next, whether it’s states or their next concert.
February Photos
Credit: Nice Community Schools Facebook page
Credit: Nice Community Schools Facebook page
Credit: Nice Community Schools Facebook page
January 16, 2026
2025 January Publication copy.pdfThere’s more than just the Sideline.
By: Selena Anthony, Contributing Writer
ISHPEMING—The Westwood High School varsity cheerleading team aims to build skill, school spirit, and stronger community connections. Under the direction of Coach Jillian Mahaffey, the team has a preset list of goals to work on as the season progresses that includes getting a deeper understanding of the games they support.
One of the Westwood Cheer team's major goals for this season is to push themselves athletically. Coach Mahaffey explains how she hopes to incorporate new skills and advance stunt abilities within the team that haven't been seen before. This past football season, the squad reached an exciting milestone by performing their stunt “The Sweethert Roll’ where two athletes wrap their arms around one athlete in the center before spinning her into the air and helping her land safely.
“Getting up to an extension and adding other things we haven't done in a long time–is a big goal,” Mahaffey said.
However, physical ability isn’t the only thing that will determine success, and building friendships and a sense of belonging is just as important on the team. Coach Mahaffey explains how she wants the team to grow closer throughout the season, so that each member feels they have support!
“I want them all to have friends and have someone there for them,” she said. “I’ve already seen it happening this season.”
One of the teams main focuses this year is learning the games they support, like basketball. Rather than cheering at random moments, the squad aims to better understand the game, so that they know when specific cheers and stunts may be appropriate for the timing. Coach Mahaffey expresses that she wants to make sure everyone knows what's happening so everyone can be more attentive and successful together!
When it comes to the team's next goal and increasing school spirit, student involvement can play a key role. The cheerleaders heavily encourage any support in helping the team cheer on our players. Students can join the team, chant along to our cheers, and even suggest new cheers.
“We’re here to make sure the crowd is having fun and knows when to cheer,” said Coach Mahaffey.
However, even with the student sections and the Westwood High School Pep Bands help, it can still be hard to maintain energy if the crowd is quiet. The coach emphasizes that showing up to the games and joining in the cheers can make a big difference and a greater impact than you may think.
“We’re all part of one school,” she said. “We’re not just basketball players, cheerleaders, or the band–we lift each other up.”
As the season progresses, the cheerleading team hopes to see strong community support, especially at the January 16, 2026, game. This game will be a Red Out in honor of Thomas Erickson. The team encourages everyone to wear red, cheer as loudly as they can, and show support for Mr. Erickson and his family.
Other games the Westwood Cheerleaders will be attending include: January 22nd (A) Iron Mountain, January 27th (H), January 29th (A) Marquette, January 30th (A) Manistique, Feb 4th, Feb 6th, Feb 12th, Feb 13th, Feb 19th, Feb 20th, Feb 23rd, Feb 25th, 26th, and 27th.
Photo Credit: Jillian mahaffey
Photo Caption: Westwood Varsity Cheerleaders after a home basketball game.
December 5, 2025
decem.pdf
December Weather
By: Sean Grove
This upcoming December looks as though it is going to be cold and wet, with a good amount of snow that is forecasted. We have already seen a few big storms during the month of November, including most recently during the start of Thanksgiving break. However, many students are still waiting and hoping for another big storm to come up on the forecast, to hopefully give us a snow day. Lucky for us The Patriot Press received some information from TV6 Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Perez, who has given us snow lovers a positive outlook for the month of December.
When the month of December hits it looks like there is more significant precipitation forecasted. The precipitation is predicted to be above the normal average for this time of the year, which usually the precipitation for this time of year is very high but right now it's as dry as the sahara desert. Some more good news for those who like to go ice fishing, the temperatures for the month of December are looking to be below the averages. The lower temps mean the snow will stick around for the winter. For the people who don't like the winter, you might not like the long-term forecast.
Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Perez, provided The Patriot Press with good information about the difficulties of predicting the big storms. One of the biggest problems she said, “Social media entertainers love to over hype a weather event without having an educational background. This creates a social media frenzy as many people don't follow accredited meteorologists.”
So with forecasting for the U.P. you never know what could come or what could change because Jennifer Perez said, “A minor shift in the track of the system can have big implications on the type of winter precipitation and snow we end up with.” So snow amounts. The timeline, and track don't become clear until 24-36 hours out from the weather event.”
Everyone needs to be ready for colder and potentially snowier winter, so try to stay warm and bring your jackets,hats, and gloves.
Photo Credit:Sean grove
Photo Caption: 7 day forecast
November 7, 2025
Check out the digital version of our paper!
2025 November Publication.pdfIntroducing Mr. Gilles
October 10, 2025
Check out the digital version of our paper!
WHS10072025A.pdfOctober's Online Exclusives
Westwood Weather
Westwood Weather
By: Jack Moyle, Contributing Writer
September has been a cloudy month in Ishpeming Michigan, and with the cold front coming in we are sure to have snow before too long.
With the last month being rainy and cloudy, the weather pattern shows signs that the temperature is cooling and snow will come soon. There's no way to know the amount of snow that will fall this winter, but we can assume we may have up to 200 inches of snow this year. Westwood Math Teacher, Mrs. Taavola said, “I'm going to say we're going to get 176 inches.” The past winter didn't have a lot of snow until later in the year. By the time it fell, it melted soon after. This upcoming year it should stay colder and the snow should be piled up more and stay for longer than the past few years. Previous years we have had heavy snowstorms, which indicates there will be plenty more this upcoming year. So make sure you have your winter jackets and keep warm, cause this winter is going to be colder.
This past summer has a significant impact on why Michigan is going to have a cold winter. We had a lot of bright, warm, sunny days during the past summer and less rainy days, but now that the rain is starting to fall it's getting closer to colder and colder weather.
With Michigan being named the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States, and its winters rely on cold weather and snow. Since 1888 when the first annual ski jumping competition took place, having a cold winter has played a big role in Michigan events and activities. The Ishpeming Ski Club is hosting the 139th Annual Ski Jumping Tournament, January 16th through the 18th. There should be a significant amount of snow for the tournament. Other events like plays at the school have cancelled because of snow conditions, like Mrs. Taavola stated, “we’ve had plays that we had to reschedule because of snowstorms.”
While the trees are changing colors and leaves are falling, fall in Michigan is a popular tourist attraction for many people. People come from downstate to hunt, fish, and drive by Lake Superior to see the views. Stores get ready for winter and snowmobile season, which brings lots of visitors. When the snow comes, people enjoy winter sports, holidays, and deal with lots of snow.
Colder weather is on the way, and snow is expected to come soon. This winter should be colder and snowier than the last few years, with snow sticking around longer. Ishpeming is getting ready for a true Upper Peninsula winter. So make sure you grab your jackets and boots and stay warm for this upcoming season.
Photo Caption: Picture of Negaunee’s weather tower
Photo Credit: Jack Moyle
End of Annual Hunger Report
End of annual hunger report
By: Garrett Oja, Contributing Writer
The Trump administration has recently decided to end the annual hunger report in America, calling it “redundant, costly, and overly politicized.”
The decision to end the annual food report in America came after the recent cuts to snap benefits. Critics have claimed that the choice to end the annual hunger report could cause difficulties for lawmakers to accurately pass legislation to aid the people most in need.
Eric Mitchell, President of the Alliance to End Hunger, said, “By cancelling the survey, the USDA is sending a signal that tracking and battling cancer is no longer a priority.”
“With continuing worries about food inflation, as well as significant cuts to America’s largest food assistance program – SNAP – this move is a blow to policymakers and advocates who rely on the data to improve the lives of our food insecure neighbors” The USDA gave a news release saying that the 2024 report to be released on Oct 22, would be the last.
“The questions used to collect the data are entirely subjective and do not present an accurate picture of actual food security," the USDA said. "The data is rife with inaccuracies slanted to create a narrative that is not representative of what is actually happening in the countryside as we are currently experiencing lower poverty rates, increasing wages, and job growth under the Trump Administration."
Maria Young is a counselor at Westwood High School, and the NICE McKinney-Vento liaison. Mrs. Young works with homeless youth in the NICE district. When asked about how she believed the ending of the report would impact our students, she said, “I think we use data to justify having resources. So when we start taking away data, we don’t have any justification for why those resources exist. And then those resources get taken away.”
The potential for more people to be put into a bad or worse situation seems to be the main concern, the district being in a rural area has helped to grow this concern. When asked what Mrs. Young thought the local impacts could be she said, “I think more and more people are going to be hungry and lots of other things. And so I think getting rid of of this data, potentially getting rid of the services that are a result of this data will cause a lot of people to be in some really tricky situations, especially like our folks out here that are really isolated.”
Recently the government has also shut down which has raised concerns about an end to the food programs here at Westwood, like our food aid programs as well as our free breakfast and lunch programs, as many other schools have already ended their programs. Naturally, this would negatively impact our local community.
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