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The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
Leah Pickhinke

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter

Leah Pickhinke is a senior at Millard West and this is her third year on staff for the CATalyst. Pickhinke is an NSAA award-winning student journalist and enjoys producing content for her peers. In her free time, she loves being active, listening to music and taking photos. Other than journalism, her outside hobbies include drawing, streaming games and digital design.

All content by Leah Pickhinke
As high school seniors stand on the threshold of adulthood, casting their first ballot is not only a rite of passage but also an act of civic engagement. Their votes can help shape the country they will be a part of, making it more equitable, just and sustainable.

Representing the youth

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
October 28, 2024
The image above shows what some people remember the Kitkat candy-bar looking like. The bar on the left shows a hyphen in the middle of the name, which some people believe is right, when in reality the one on the right is the correct candy bar.

False memories

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
October 7, 2024
Mecha break was released for beta testing early this summer and will be available to play soon on steam.

Blitz, brawl, blaze

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
September 25, 2024
With AI's daily progression, many wonder where our knowledge of artificial intelligence will lead us to. Although AI can provide a plethora of benefits, it can also lead to a downfall that we haven't seen yet.

The rise of mind machines

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
September 4, 2024
The last few weeks of school means the beginning of finals. Finals week brings intense stressful feelings for many students and teachers. Whether it is test taking, long projects or cramming in some grading, these can all negatively affect your mental well-being. Seeking support to manage a healthy lifestyle will overall benefit how your test results turn out. Remember, a score doesn’t determine your future.

The silent struggle

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
May 22, 2024

Hide or hunt

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
April 29, 2024
Short-term success does not account for the long-term negative consequences of plagiarism. Whether it is copying off of someone’s paper or claiming someone’s work as your own, punishment follows almost every time.

The hidden costs of plagiarism

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
April 22, 2024
Having professional skills goes beyond the work place; It provides individuals with assets that build trust within a company, an enjoyable work environment, work morale and future benefits.

Keeping it professional

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
April 1, 2024
Veering from option to option of what you want to do after high school may be consuming your brain, but by informing yourself on what would be the best option it may help ease some tension. Whether it is college, trade school or a gap year to continue your education, there are always people to help you navigate your way through.

Navigating the pathways

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
February 28, 2024
Helados Locos, an extension to "Javi's Tacos" restaurant, sells a variety of different desserts, foods and beverages that advertise the taste of Mexican style cuisine here in Omaha.

A Frozen gem in Omaha

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
February 20, 2024
The dangers in parking lots can range from human trafficking to keeping your belongings safe in your car. Adding additional surveillance and security in parking garages and large lots can help keep safety maintained.

Take 5 and stay alive

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
January 30, 2024
Homeschooling has been becoming an increasingly more common approach to learning. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling; such as a personalized learning experience while also battling three main components to success is something that needs to be acknowledged in order for a good homeschool experience.

The powers of personalized education

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
December 20, 2023
The negative impacts of timed tests include increased anxiety, performance over education, memorization over comprehension and unfairness.

No time for success

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
December 6, 2023
Many school districts implementing the four-day school week have found that the most effective day off is Friday. Teachers and students have reported increased enthusiasm and productivity throughout the week, knowing they can enjoy a long three-day weekend ahead. This schedule adjustment goes with the idea that an extended break before the weekend provides an opportunity for relaxation, extracurriculars and family time. Teachers find that the Friday break allows for more effective lesson planning, contributing to an overall positive impact in the school's atmosphere.

Leaping into the four-day school week

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
November 15, 2023
Junior Lawson Pashia and other scare actors enjoy their time frightening people, playing different characters and bonding with the Bloodrush staff. The attraction is open from Sept. 29 to Nov. 3. “I didn’t want to have a job that wouldn’t give me good memories,” Pashia said. “I am glad I am still young enough to have a job like this where I can just enjoy my time and not have to be serious about anything.”

Fear’s performance

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
November 7, 2023
Student job shadowing provides different job exploration opportunities, abilities to network with professionals, capability to gain confidence in the work field and advancements to your skills.

Opening doors into the future

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
October 17, 2023
Students in journalism work weekly to make their stories enjoyable and informative for everyone. "Journalism is something that is very important to me, as well as my peers,” senior Quinn Burton said. “I’ve actively been a part of Advanced Journalism and Yearbook everyday for the past two years and it’s been such a rewarding experience getting to use my voice in addition to sharing others voices through my stories. Throughout the years, I’ve consistently seen the amount of effort that my classmates put into their work, and it’s something that unfortunately goes unnoticed. Sometimes tackling a broadcast and news paper article each week can be a grueling task, but for most students in the Journalism program, it’s a weekly routine.”

The voices within the building

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
October 3, 2023
Internet restrictions range from games to videos and educational websites. "I think restricting games on school provided laptops is fair enough," junior Sophia Eljamal said. "But when I try to access certain websites for research, a lot of them are restricted, even if the websites are trusted and reliable sources for information."

Locked-down learning

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
September 14, 2023
As screen time numbers add up from social media apps, to online ordering; concerns to mental and physical health grow. Large amounts of screen time pose a threat towards the eyes, brain, energy and activity in young children and adults.

The issues cell phones promote

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
August 30, 2023
"Avatar: The Way of The Water" was released to theaters on Dec. 16, 2022

The return of ‘Avatar’

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
December 20, 2022
“Bullet Train,” leaves viewers amazed by the unpredictable plot and the action-packed intensity of the film.

Never ending train ride

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
December 15, 2022
"I got to create a video that used time lapse while talking about my artist," junior Addison Kramer said. "I recreated one of Pieter Bruegel's artworks called 'The Fall of the Rebel Angels'"

A deeper dive into art

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
December 12, 2022
This month’s display shows information posted about National Native American Month. “We hope this will allow our school as a community to be more aware of months and groups we should celebrate,” sophomore Skylar Johnson said. “More people need to learn about different cultures and this is a great opportunity to stop and look at the displays and learn something new.”

Appreciating student’s heritage

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
December 1, 2022
The baby food diet is one of the diets that falsely advertises for quick weight loss but does not state its dangers.

Selling a ‘healthy’ diet

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
November 22, 2022
Mock elections are held every year in the month of November to allow students to share where their political standpoints are and to get a say early on in the democracy.

Students getting a say

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
November 11, 2022
Actress Naomi Watts takes the cover of the new Netflix series, The Watcher

House of horrors

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
October 28, 2022
Every year a different number of students from all three Millard high schools qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. This years semi-finalists are Anderson Kelly and Riya Kulkarni representing Millard West. "It takes a lot of hard work and motivation to earn this scholarship," senior Riya Kulkarni said. "I just keep pushing myself to my greatest academic level because you can never stop achieving."

Achieving great things

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
October 10, 2022
Junior and senior Wildcats working separately to create 3D form room models. "There are so many skills that can go into an interior design project," senior Aubrey Sause said. "It helps students be more creative with interior design and do something different when creating/working for other people's likes and dislikes."

Dream rooms in the making

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
September 26, 2022
Homecoming nominees

A more meaningful Homecoming

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
September 16, 2022
AP Capstone

A new way to critically think

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
September 12, 2022
Gathering together

Gathering together

Leah Pickhinke, Staff Reporter
September 7, 2022

Hard word pays off

Paige Hightower, Leah Pickhinke, and Winni Neil
August 26, 2022
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