In a back and forth showdown filled with long rallies and powerful plays, Freshman Volleyball secured their hard-earned win 2-1 against the Stony Point Tigers on Friday, Sept. 19. After their loss against Cedar Ridge, the Warriors took the court fierce and united against the Tigers, scoring points through striking saves and dominant blocks.

“I think we did really good with covering,” Caitlin Steenrod ’29 said. “It’s something we’ve been working on and we’ve definitely improved on it a lot [this game].”

Opening the first set, Daisy Segura ’29 secured the first point for Westwood with a kill. This lead did not hold easily for the Warriors as following the early kill,multiple long, challenging rallies occured. However, even through this adversity, the Warriors remained unphased, helping maintain Westwood’s leading position with  strong defense and speedy digs by Aahana Desai ’29. Westwood sustained their lead, although not easily as Stony Point remained determined in every offensive possession, until they were neck and neck with Stony Point at a score of 24-24. Needing to win by two, a strong kill followed by a disappointing miss by the Warriors led to the first set ending with a win for the Tigers and a final score of 26-24.

“Our coach makes us pretend like we’re goldfish,” Emme Sims ’29 said. “They have bad memories, and she tells us to forget the previous game or set we had and have a new mindset [for the next set].”

With a shifted focus and newfound determination, the Warriors pushed themselves even harder in the second set. Both Segura and Sims made clever passes and forceful spikes to open the second set and to help hold the Warriors lead of 8-7 through the first ten minutes. The Tigers repeatedly hit errors and out of bound serves forcing Stony Point to call the first timeout while the score was at 17-15, with the Warriors in the lead. After the timeout, both teams played with intensity, keeping long rallies but allowing for constant turnovers, making the second set just as nerve-racking as the first. These tense plays caused Westwood to call their first timeout of the night with only one point needed to win the . After a fumble by the Tigers, the Warriors won the second set, putting the set score at 1-1.

“We did a lot of hustling,” Ava Punalekar ‘29 said. “We knew Stony Point serves a lot of unexpected balls for our team so [I] tried going for the ball, calling it, and just [playing] with my best effort.”

The third set started shaky, with the Tigers opening with a quick run of 3-0, and Westwood losing opportunities for points by shanking the ball. However, with determination and passion, the Warriors kept the ball alive during long rallies, and communicated well with each other to move smoothly around the court.After many shifts in possession as both teams played fiery offense, an ace by Sims allowed the Warriors to close the gap and bring the score to 15-16. After a couple more well placed serves and effective blocks, the Warriors lead the score at 23-21, causing the Tigers to call their first timeout of the set. Coming out of the timeout the Warriors score the first point, immediately giving them the one up by building confidence. With only one more point needed to take home the Homecoming victory, a long rally that lasted almost 3 minutes, ended with a kill for the Warriors, giving them the victory of the set and the game. The final score of the third set was 25-21.

The Warriors will prepare to play their next game on Tuesday, Sept. 23 against the Manor Mustangs.

While she began her career as a teacher, an enlightening moment came when a student confided in her during a difficult time. Their conversation made her realize counseling was where she could have the most impact helping students. Ms. Wahrer realized she wanted to continue being there for students when they were in tough situations.

“I always knew that I wanted to work with students,” Ms. Wahrer said. “I wasn’t sure how, so I was a teacher first.”

After working in elementary, middle, and now high school, Ms. Wahrer has seen how young people grow and change. Over the years, Ms. Wahrer has followed many students through critical chapters of their lives, spending time with some students for almost a decade.

“I worked as a counselor at Purple Sage Elementary [School], and then moved to Grisham [Middle School],” Ms. Wahrer said, “It was neat because I ended up being with some students for like 10 years, working with them from preschool all the way through eighth grade.”

Through her various experiences, one thing has stayed the same: her passion for helping students navigate change. Ms. Wahrer has always found meaning in guiding others through stormy times. For her, counseling isn’t just about helping students achieve the highest GPA — it’s about building trust, listening without judgement, and reminding students that they are not alone in their journeys.

Outside of school, Ms. Wahrer enjoys running and traveling with her family. Together, their goal is to visit all 50 states before her eldest son graduates, an adventure they are close to completing. Ms. Wahrer wants high schoolers to know that although things may seem overwhelming, they can persevere.

“We can always work through it,” Ms. Wahrer said. “Whether it’s friend stuff, academic stuff, emotional or relationship stuff, we can work through it. If you think back on things that felt really huge in middle school, you made it through. Things may feel really big now, and they are because there’s a different seriousness to it in high school, but at the same time we can make it through.”

For Ms. Wahrer, her most noteworthy memories come from seeing her students grow. One of the most significant moments for her is working with students and witnessing who they become over time.

“You saw glimmers of who they were going to be as they were going through school, but getting to see that be fulfilled is pretty amazing,” Ms. Wahrer said. “I love knowing that I helped in whatever small ways I could.”

Overall, Ms. Wahrer brings experience and important viewpoints to Westwood. She wants students to know she is always there for them, whether they need help through a hard time or are celebrating their achievements. Ms. Wahrer finds joy in helping students set agendas for themselves and reach their goals. Though these four years can be stressful and fast-paced, Ms. Wahrer is always there to support and guide high schoolers.

“We’ll have conversations you won’t remember, like when I’m talking about credits or your classes, but I’m hoping that students will remember that I made them feel good, and I made them feel seen and heard,” Ms. Wahrer said. “People may forget what you said or did, but not how you made them feel.”

Although the term is popularized and relentlessly mocked online, the problem with performative males runs deeper than an internet joke.

As performative men manipulate support for women’s empowerment to match their agendas, the original focus of gender equality diminishes. Putting “I’m a feminist” in a dating app bio might seem harmless, but when the sentiment isn’t backed by action or genuine desire for change, it trivializes the movement. Feminism isn’t a “vibe,” it’s a political struggle rooted in action and creating change. When diluted into a superficial style or trend, the political edge is gone, and what remains is an empty performance that is stripped of substance and any real threat to the status quo.

Performativity doesn’t just fail to help, it causes harm. Younger audiences are left to absorb these curated, shallow images without seeing the work behind it. As a result, distrust grows and leaves a reinforced “male manipulator” stereotype, making it harder to see who is committed to making change from those mimicking the language, traits, and behaviors of genuine people. Young boys learn a damaging dynamic of performing what women want to see is the key to validation instead of developing a sincere understanding of equality and respect. The pressure to appear progressive becomes a social script, creating a reinforced pattern of external acceptance rather than originality.  

This obsession with image over integrity distorts everything it touches. The pressure to conform with certain interests, like music taste, fashion, or favorite books, influences self-expression and shapes social manners. Fearing accusations of “trying too hard” or being fake leads to confusion about what is acceptable or not, and people feel forced to hide their true self. This incentivizes people to be as inauthentic as possible, making meaningful communication futile.

When many performative males proudly reference feminist literature or authors such as Jane Austen and Emily Brontë to signal intellectual depth, it reduces these works to social props solely meant for their own benefit. Their radical critiques of patriarchy and gender roles are lost, and their ability to spark authentic engagement is watered down into an Instagram caption, ultimately setting back material efforts for change.

Real allyship doesn’t come from mimicking the “right” traits; it comes from listening, learning, and doing the hard, unglamorous work of change. Feminism is not here to accessorize identity, it’s supposed to dismantle systems of oppression. When activism becomes performance, the movement stands still.

“In Europe, you need almost 4,690 hours of education to be a hair stylist,” Ms. Kiss said, “We graduate with degrees that we have for life.”

“We focus more on quality and listening to the client’s needs,” Ms. Kiss said. “At my salon, it is unique because each hair stylist focuses on what they specialize [in], so they are going for their passion. When a person goes for their passion, you cannot do wrong.”

One factor that sets Haute Salon apart from the numerous other boutiques in the state is that they have a Sassoon-trained team. Sassoon, a high-level hairdressing technique taught by the prestigious Sassoon Academy, emphasizes precision cutting approaches, modern and classic styles, geometric shapes, and a strong foundation in hair theory focusing on cuts that help flatter individual features and require minimal styling. Sassoon hair styling is a level of skill that’s rare in America as there are only two Sassoon Academies in the United States. Currently, Haute Salon is the only salon in Austin with an entirely Sassoon-trained team.

“I’m so grateful for the Sassoon training,” Ms. Packard said. “Whenever someone requests something, we can do it from sight just by looking at a photo. It allows me to shape different styles. Sassoon training gives us a really broad reach.”

Innovation is another important aspect of Haute Salon’s brand. Ms. Kiss recently introduced a novel hair tool, the hot scissor, that builds more resilient hair. Hot scissor haircuts, also known as thermal cuts, help seal damaged hair or split ends with electrically heated scissors, therefore helping hair regrow healthier. Although Haute Salon recently began offering thermal cuts, Ms. Kiss has many clients that come to her salon specifically for these hot scissors as she has years of experience with the tool. A handful of Ms. Kiss’ clients have left glowing reviews on their experience with the hot scissors, praising the salon’s hair stylists for their talented work. In 2026, she plans to market her hot scissors, highlighting the salon’s individuality.

“One time I had a very interesting haircut request from a musician,” Ms. Packard said, “Thank god for the Sassoon training — it allowed me to help achieve the client’s expectation for the hair shape and style.”

Hair trends and preferences change frequently based on social trends and media. The Haute Salon team, however, is consistently learning new techniques to satisfy unique requests from customers. Hair stylist Kelli Golden, for instance, has experienced how trends from the ‘80s come back with new names. Wolfcuts, for example, have risen in popularity on social media in the last few years. Featuring deceptively methodic layers, wolfcuts are reminiscent of the shag haircut popular in the ‘90s. Receiving intriguing and uncommon requests from clients can be a challenge for the Haute Salon hairstylists, but nevertheless they utilize their extensive training and honed skillset to achieve customer satisfaction — one of their primary goals.

“Customers always have different preferences,” Ms. Golden said. “Someone once asked me about a mushroom haircut, which was new. I remember when I was in school and someone requested something I’d never heard. I was like, ‘what?’.”

Despite the tribulations and adjustments, Haute Salon successfully runs and meets the needs of their client base. They are active in the Mueller community, often hosting karaoke and Hair Tinsel Happy Hour and participating in fall festivals. These events often expand their customer base. Last May, the salon-shop celebrated their 10th anniversary. Despite their success, Haute Salon continually aspires to greater heights. In the next decade, Ms. Kiss plans on opening more branches across the city while prioritizing quality and the same welcoming vibe that initially attracted clientele. Overall, Haute Salon brings talent and comfort while forging meaningful connections with their clients, maximizing not only customer satisfaction but also invention in the salon and beauty space.

“If you look good, you feel good,” Ms. Kiss said. “Healthy hair never goes out of fashion.”

Fostering community within young dancers, the SunDancers held their annual SunDancer Summer Dance Camp (also referred to as Kiddie Camp), a student-led camp for dancers from kindergarten through ninth grade, on Monday, July 28 through Wednesday, July 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The campers were split into four different age groups and were managed by different sets of SunDancers. Some dancers handled campers from kindergarten through fifth grade, while others handled dancers from sixth through ninth grade. Additionally, the social officers, mainly upperclassmen, organized and managed the three-day event. For the officers, organization was an essential portion of planning since the camp had numerous moving parts, such as various campers attending the half-day camp while others stayed the full time.

“Organizing is an important part and definitely needed,” Social Officer Suhaani Srireddy ’26 said. “Our main goal is to make sure that they’re here and that they have a fun time.”

Camp attendees spent two days learning dances with their assigned counselor groups. During this time, counselors polished the campers’ techniques, taught them new skills, and strived toward building confidence in each and every camper. Dancers also worked alongside other age groups for the final showcase. In addition to dancing, the SunDancers emphasized a light-hearted environment where they played team-bonding activities with campers to build camaraderie. Through this, campers not only built relationships with peers but also with counselors.

“I want the kids to walk out with a huge smile, running to their parents saying, ‘I had so much fun’,” newbie SunDancer Lina Saad ‘28 said. “If the kids have a fear of performing in front of other people, I want to help them get over that fear. I want them to walk out feeling very accomplished and happy with what they did.”

While teaching the kids dance, many counselors walked away with new memories every day. Each memory was unique, from telling stories about their toys to building brief but deep connections.

“I left a little early yesterday, and one of the campers came up to me this morning and said, ‘I missed you yesterday. Where were you?’,” Srireddy said. “It was really sweet, and it’s really special, getting to build bonds with the kids.”

Many SunDancers attended the Kiddie Camp when they were young, aspiring to be a part of the varsity dance team one day. Now, years later, many of the counselors see themselves in the kids.

“Becoming a SunDancer has been one of my biggest goals since I was in kindergarten,” Newbie SunDancer Magdelyne Hang ‘28 said. “It’s a big achievement for me, and so I want to try to be a role model for the campers.”

Upon reflecting on the program, many campers expressed joy at their experience and hopes of returning next year.

“I really like dancing, and hopefully one day I can also be a part of the SunDancers team,” one anonymous camper said.

The summer event ended with campers presenting their final routine to parents at the showcase on Wednesday, July 30, from 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the field house. Campers displayed the new techniques and dances they had learned throughout the three days.

“This camp is super fun,” Newbie SunDancer Molly Johnson ‘28 said. “I would recommend all young dancers to come.”

In addition to Kiddie Camp, the SunDancers have another upcoming annual tradition: Line Camp. As their next big feat, Line Camp consists of preparation for many of the big events coming up this new school year.

“Line Camp is definitely going to be challenging, but I’m excited to improve,” Johnson said. “It’s really an amazing experience, and I’m glad I get to do it with one big family.”