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McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

Students at MCHS are feeling the affects of the new immigration policies

How this affects us

Aika Villa, Page designer February 19, 2025

A student walking down a busy hallway during the passing period, scrolling through social media seeing a video that caught their attention. The video was covering something that happened in the news. It...

MCHS celebrates Valentine's Day by sending flowers and Crush sodas to others.

Love in the air

Sydney Boswell, Staff Writer February 14, 2025

Valentine's Day was Friday, and students at MCHS celebrate in unique ways. In years past, MCHS has done various ways of celebrating Valentine's Day. At Freshman Campus, students could purchase “Crush”...

Social Science Division Chair and Summer School Principal Sean Sterner has build a bridge of community between his students and himself since starting at MCHS in 2008. Next year, he will be the Freshman Campus’s assistant principal.

Sitting in a new chair

Lily Adams, Editor In Chief February 14, 2025

An MCHS student walks in the halls. As they near the new wing on the third floor, they head into Sean Sterner's old office as a force of habit. When they enter the dark room, they remember he has moved...

Living in the US may have gone up higher than what people might be able to afford.

A struggling McHenry

Elijah Latronica, Staff Writer February 12, 2025

Households spending 90% of their income on necessities can be considered paycheck-to-paycheck. By this measure, roughly 30% of Americans are categorized as such. 26% of these households spend an extra...

Sophomore students perform their deep, emotional poems in the auditorium to classmates and the judges during the Poetry Slam on Friday.

Poets in action

Sydney Boswell, Staff Writer February 11, 2025

A sophomore student sits in their AIM, re-reading their poem making sure it's perfect. The announcements interrupted, blaring, “Don't forget the poetry slam Friday in the auditorium, good luck!” The...

Elizabeth Holden tours MCHS more than two and a half decades after graduating from MCHS in 1999. Since, she has become a published author, started a travel business, and works at UW - Platteville as a physics professor. She spoke at the Freshman Campus during Writer’s Week.

Dream come true

McKenzie Woods, Copy Editor February 10, 2025

Elizabeth Holden describes how becoming an author has always been a dream for her since she could remember. She describes the process of becoming an author and the things that come with being one. She...

A student logs into their Powerschool account to check their information.

Power down

Lily Adams, Editor in Chief February 7, 2025

An MCHS student returns to school after winter break. They open up their email to see a message from the superintendent. The email says that PowerSchool has been hacked and some students' information was...

A helicopter aerial view of the Palisades fire burning in the Mountain Gate Country Club area with smoke visible from the San Fernando Valley in California on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025.

Ready to rebuild

Aubrey Butler, Staff Writer February 3, 2025

Sophomore Rylee Scott sees post after post on her Instagram feed about the Los Angeles wildfires, remembering the stories her grandma told her about the Oakland wildfires from 1991. Scott has heard stories...

Officer Martinez talks to a student at the Freshman Campus on Jan. 27 during his routine patrol through the hallways during lunch periods.

New beginnings

Afton Ingraffia, Features Editor January 28, 2025

Alberto Martinez arrives at McHenry’s freshman campus to begin his last day of the first semester. He is a greatly valued staff member and knows how big of an impact he can make on these students' lives....

Opioid addiction can happen in any place to any person, and its costs can be devastating. In the past few years, McHenry County has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic, but has the services in place to prevent tragedy.

Am I going to use today?

Ethan Rasmussen, Staff Writer January 27, 2025

Counselor Kate Schak meets with a student about his schedule in her office at the College and Career Center at the Upper Campus during the first week back after winter break.

Out of our hands

Maggie Demski, Copy Editor January 23, 2025

This semester, many students have had their year long classes changed in terms of teacher and period placements. This has impacted students' ability to learn in school, and made it so they have to adjust...

Throughout the month of January, LASO is a food drive competition for all of the MCHS AIM classes to compete in. Donations will help the Youth and Family Center in McHenry.

LASO collects food in AIM classes

Afton Ingraffia, Features Editor January 22, 2025

Until the end of January, MCHS’s Latin American Student Organization is holding a food drive where all donations will go towards the non-profit Youth and Family Center in McHenry. AIM classes will compete...

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