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
A crowd at McCracken Field celebrates Class of 2026 during this year's graduation ceremony on the football field on May 16.

Marching on

Afton Ingraffia, Features Editor • May 20, 2026

As the 2026 seniors step onto McCracken Field for their last time as high schoolers, they take in the moment. The sun is shining, and the spirits are high. Principal Gregory Eiserman begins his speech....

Illinois is considering legistation that may limit phone use in classrooms throughout the state. The Freshman Campus is already implementing rules for next school year that'll require students to keep phones in their lockers.

Lock it up

Aika Villa and Sheltcy Paz • May 18, 2026

As the new school year came around, the students got ready with their phones in hand, texting their friends what classes they had. But the moment the student entered the school, one of the staff members...

Upper Campus building sub Kayleigh Jensen subs for a Spanish class on May 12. Jensen helped spearhead this year's staff appreciation efforts at the Upper Campus.

Put into words

Aubrey Butler, Opinion Editor • May 12, 2026

English teacher Belinda Flynn sits in her room on her lunch break, planning lessons for the next day, when building substitute Kayleigh Jensen walks in. They talk for a minute, and before Jensen leaves,...

Students play hacky sack after senior decision day in the Upper Campus main gym on May 1. More and more students have taken to the halls in the past month to play a game that most teachers played when they were in high school.

Kickin’ it old school

Afton Ingraffia, Features Editor • May 12, 2026

As the passing period bell rings, an MCHS senior leaves strength and heads to their culinary class. Making their way out of the locker room, they are met with a circle of students kicking around a little...

Senior Maggie Putman does work for her Engineering class, having fun and tinkling about her future in the field. Putman is only one of many senior girls looking for a career in STEM after high school.

Where the girls are going

Michalina Sotka, Editor In Chief • May 8, 2026

After a student wakes up on May 1, she gets ready for the day, making sure to represent her next step with a hoodie. She arrives at school, making her way to the gym for senior decision day. As her name...

Seniors play volleyball at last year’s senior sunset. This year, seniors will celebrate their final day together during senior sunset, which will take place at McCracken Field.

Here comes the sun

Maggie Demski, Chief Copy Editor • May 8, 2026

As the school year comes to a close, seniors prepare to leave this chapter behind. One of the last traditions for seniors at MCHS is senior sunset and senior picnic. However, this year some changes are...

Students often have to work on homework until absurd hours in order to keep up, and it's more common than some may think.

Sleep unscheduled

Michalina Sotka, Editor-in-Chief • May 7, 2026

A student stares at her blank doc. It’s three in the morning, and she’s left the essay due for her AP Literature class at the end of her checklist. After doing AP Government notes, a calculus FRQ and...

Ayden Hirsch (lead singer of Tone Deaf) celebrating their Battle of the Bands win.

Surviving the Battle

Bri Lucansky, Business Manager • May 7, 2026

Listen to this audio story by clicking the play button below. There was a very small point difference between first and second place during the 2026 Battle of the Bands. Tone Deaf ended on top. There...

Senior Camille Cohn signs her letter of intent for the University of Iowa for cheerleading int he fall during the signing day ceremony on Wednesday in the Upper Campus main gym.

Pen to paper

Mason Sites, Sports Editor • May 6, 2026

While many senior athletes look back on their experiences in athletics knowing they won’t ever play an organized school sport again, those who have earned the right to refer to themselves as future college...

As little kids, the seniors that lead the McHenry Messenger probably never knew they would be student journalists. Many will be using their communication skills in college — and a few may pursue journalism as a career.

Concluding their stories

Sydney Boswell, Marketing Director • May 6, 2026

After all they have given for the McHenry Messenger, it is now time for the seniors to focus on their futures, outside of the walls of MCHS. There are eight seniors of the 2026 Messenger staff, and...

Seniors at MCHS pin point where they are heading to next after high school on May 1, 2026.

Decisions, decisions…

Afton Ingraffia, Features Editor • May 5, 2026

As the seniors walk into the main gym of Upper Campus and find their seats, they're filled with a sense of accomplishment. Their years upon years of education have led up to this moment. They were once...

A suncatcher hangs in a window in a Freshman Campus windows on April 28. Freshman students were invited to paint suncatchers to honor lost loved ones.

Representing loved ones

Leslie Valle, Page Designer • May 4, 2026

Students at MCHS Freshman campus got the chance to make sun catchers to represent loved ones who have passed. Suncatchers are designed to catch sunlight and cast colorful colors and patterns into a room. Gary...

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