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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

Opinion | Galaxy gas is a "whipped scheme"

Opinion | Galaxy gas is a “whipped scheme”

Elijah Latronica, Staff Writer March 19, 2025

There’s been a trend students may have heard of lately – promises of a gas made of stars, when really it’s just nitrous oxide, stirring up controversy for being used as an inhalant despite its branded...

Pageants have been around for many years, girls who enter all are aiming for the top and to get crowned.

Opinion | Pageants can lead to bigger and greater things

Bri Lucansky, Staff Writer March 18, 2025

As the girls in the dressing rooms get into their gowns to walk the stage and hear the winner of the town pageant, one girl in particular is staring into the mirror thinking about all of the good she could...

Students log onto schoolodgy to join their class zoom call

Opinion | Cold day criteria in schools is inconsistent and needs to change

Mason Sites, Staff Writer March 11, 2025

It’s a frigid Sunday night. Snow and ice swarm the windows of your home. Every step outside feels as if every individual part of your body is freezing one-by-one. Not only is the arctic-like climate...

Slow walkers around the school can make it harder for students to get to classes on time.

Opinion | A walk to hopefully forget

Sydney Boswell, Staff Writer March 7, 2025

The timer in the hallway is counting down, and a student looks for a path to their class, while a stampede of slow walkers blocks any possible exits. They look at the timer over and over, praying they...

Listening to music can be beneficial for students if used correctly.

Opinion | Music doesn’t help you focus

Grace Bellavia, Opinions Editor March 5, 2025

Can music help you focus on a task like homework? This is a simple answer, yes or no. Some say music helps people focus and can be therapy, whether it’s while you're cleaning, doing homework, or just...

Opinion l The reason for the season: Valentines Day

Opinion l The reason for the season: Valentines Day

Olivia Smith, Staff Writer March 3, 2025

Every holiday gets hate in some way no matter what. Holidays can bring up complicated feelings and nostalgia that cause people to dislike them. This is certainly true for Valentines Day, the holiday which...

In high school, students spread gossip without even thinking. But rumors can become a serious problem if students take them to the next level.

Opinion | The power of a lie

Eliot Raymond, Staff Writer February 27, 2025

Picture this: You wake up, get ready for school and walk through the doors, completely unaware that your name is already on everyone’s lips. Whispers follow you down the hallway. People glance at you,...

Sometimes, teachers feel as if students take control of the classrooms more than anything. Students should ease up on their teachers — and teachers should step up and be the grown up in the room.

Opinion | Stop allowing disrespect

Ele Kinser, Staff Writer February 24, 2025

A girl seated in the back of the class, pencil in hand, just trying to listen to the lecture being given by her teacher and take notes. The rest of the class, though, doesn’t care – everybody is shouting...

Valentines day tends to be more focused on big bright gifts than loving others.

Opinion | Cupid’s arrow of capitalism

Elijah Latronica, Staff Writer February 14, 2025

It feels like every year young love is turned into an ode to money, especially on Feb. 14. Buy your girlfriend chocolates, and flowers, or else you don’t love her. Admittedly, every holiday is commercialized....

Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk gestures while speaking during an inauguration event at Capital One Arena on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Opinion | Heil Tesla

Afton Ingraffia, Features Editor February 4, 2025

On Jan. 20 at the post-inauguration rally during Elon Musk’s speech celebrating the inauguration of Donald Trump, Musk performed an arm gesture that looked to be a Nazi salute, and he is now facing scrutiny...

As time passes along so does teaching, books are now being turned online.

Opinion | Reimagine education

Eliot Raymond, Staff Writer January 31, 2025

The American public education system as we know it, has been around for well over 200 years. However, the traditional schooling model has remained unchanged, with around 20 to 30 students packed into a...

Students and teachers alike enjoy drinks that will give them that nice caffeine kick. But how much caffiene is too much, and are companies putting too much of it in drinks?

Opinion | Energy drinks lead to an early grave

Aika Villa, Page Designer January 29, 2025

There are many energy drinks that contain an insane amount of caffeine, there is a total of 30% or more kids and teens between the ages of 12 and 17 that consume energy drinks according to CBS news. The...

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