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The Student News Site of Traverse City West Senior High

The Occidentalist

The Occidentalist

The Occidentalist

Tess Tarchak-Hiss

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Assistant Editor, Lead Page Designer

Tess Tarchak-Hiss is a junior and in her third year of newspaper. She joined the newspaper freshman year to hone her writing skills and talk to people from different walks of life. Currently, she is lead page designer and and Assistant Editor in Chief. Outside of school, Tess likes to roller skate, play guitar, and watch “The Simple Life”.

 

All content by Tess Tarchak-Hiss
Weston shows off her Western skills in the ring. Photo Courtesy: Peyton Weston

West’s Equestrian Team: Riding Solo

Tess Tarchak-Hiss and Lila Swan October 7, 2024

  When many think of high school sports, they imagine a rush of football players running toward the end zone on a Friday night, volleyball players celebrating simultaneously when winning a match, or basketball...

Summer School: An Opportunity to Open Potential

Summer School: An Opportunity to Open Potential

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Section Editor, Page Designer June 5, 2024

  Students who finish required core classes with a 60% or lower technically fail, which leaves the issue of properly graduating in the open. However, with the option of summer school taken on the Michigan...

Students to Leave to Go On Exchange Trips

Students to Leave to Go On Exchange Trips

Tess Tarchak-Hiss and Tessa Gryc May 16, 2024

  Summer is an opportunity for students to be more involved in their community, however, summer also opens doors to experiencing different cultures. Students who take language classes had the chance...

“Underdressed at the Symphony” Album Review

“Underdressed at the Symphony” Album Review

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Page Designer March 8, 2024

  Faye Webster, an Atlanta based singer-songwriter, released her fifth studio album, “Underdressed at the Symphony” this past Friday. Webster, usually known for her bluegrass and indie roots, has...

TCAPS Builds Support System for Students

TCAPS Builds Support System for Students

Sydney Fleming and Tess Tarchak-Hiss February 26, 2024

  TCAPS has a large variety of students from different economic backgrounds. Certain margins of students from less fortunate environments, such as students without a home, occasionally need possible support...

Saltburn: A Horrendous Attempt at a Psychological Horror

Saltburn: A Horrendous Attempt at a Psychological Horror

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Section Editor, Page Designer January 17, 2024

After Emerald Fennell’s first film, “Promising Young Women” was met with both controversy and praise, many were on the edge of their seats wondering what she would do next. “Saltburn,” her sophomore...

Model UN: A New Wave of Students

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Section Editor, Page Designer December 15, 2023

    Model UN has made its way from Oxford University, where it originated, to schools in the U.S., including Traverse City’s high schools. Although the school has had a Model UN program for...

"Five Nights at Freddy's" promotional poster.

Five Nights at Freddy’s: A Bad Bite of Nostalgia

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Section Editor, Page Designer November 15, 2023

  “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (FNAF) is an indie-horror game developed by Scott Cawthon in 2014. The game became a cult classic instantly, rising in popularity with the help of many early Youtube...

Doja Cat's "Scarlet" album cover

Doja Cat’s “Scarlet” Review: A Demonic Callback to the Past

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Section Editor, Page Designer October 10, 2023

  Whether it’s hot pink cat ears or bald heads and beady eyes, Doja Cat has been prevalent in the music industry. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini started making rap music...

Protecting Students and the Community

Protecting Students and the Community

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Section Editor, Page Designer October 3, 2023

  Moms Demand Action (MDA) is a national organization started in Indiana by Shannon Watts. The organization has increasingly spread since the Facebook page was created in 2012, and it’s found its way...

"Bottoms" movie poster.

“Bottoms”: Almost There, but Not Quite

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Section Editor, Page Designer September 29, 2023

  I believe movies where the plot is simply just two dorky main characters trying to get the girl at the end of the night are painfully overdone. Some of these movies are extremely fun to watch the first...

"But Here We Are" Album Review

“But Here We Are” Album Review

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Staff Writer June 8, 2023

After the death of the longtime Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, fans were unaware what the future of the rock band would be. Josh Freese joined the band as the new drummer, but continued to carry...

Movie Poster for "Scream 6." Photo Courtesy: IMDb

Just Another Scream Movie

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Staff Writer March 23, 2023

  As someone who didn’t grow up watching the “Scream” movie series, yet binged the entire franchise in two weeks, I started off confused on how they could do the same basic formula over and over...

Robotics Team Suppresses Goals, Reaching 15th in Michigan

Robotics Team Suppresses Goals, Reaching 15th in Michigan

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Staff Writer March 20, 2023

  Over the weekend of March 4, the robotics team shattered their goals, placing second after the qualifying matches and third in the semi-finals. After the competition, they placed fifteenth in the state...

Thanksgiving Episodes Ranked

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Staff Writer November 28, 2022

The Release of One of the Most Popular Albums of the Year, "Midnights"

The Release of One of the Most Popular Albums of the Year, “Midnights”

Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Staff Writer November 7, 2022

  On Oct. 21, at 12 a.m., Taylor Swift released her new 70’s inspired pop album, “Midnights,” followed by seven other songs released at 3 a.m. Swift started her career by releasing her first album...

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