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

All grade levels have to study for second semester finals, while seniors that have met the requirements have not had to take their finals.

Opinion: All grade levels should have the option for final exemptions

Hunter Blake, Staff Writer May 24, 2023

A student who performed well in a class all semester and has the grade they wanted right before finals. Then they took the final and didn’t perform well, so their grade dropped to the next lowest grade....

Even before COVID, fewer people were enjoying movies in theaters. But almost nothing can replace the experience of seeing a movie in seats with a larger-than-life screen.

Opinion: Bring back movie theaters

Kennedy Tetour, Managing Editor May 19, 2023

Since the pandemic in 2020 movie rollouts have changed significantly. From theatrical releases to home video, the difference in the way a movie is released highly affects the hype and success of the movie.  One...

For years, MCHS has asked students to pay fees in order to enjoy privileged like prom and graduation. But withholding prom denies students a chance to enjoy of the biggest highlights of the school year over something that might not be their fault.

Opinion: Paying fees should not be a prom requirement

Ruth Luqueno, Contributing Writer May 18, 2023

Seniors regularly have to juggle their student life and after-school jobs daily, not to mention everything else they have going on in their personal lives. With everything going on in a student's life,...

Apps like ChatGPT and other AI services let technology do their thinking for them. If the purpose of school is to learn new skills, are apps like ChatGPT obstructing that goal?

Opinion: AI is harmful to education

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor May 16, 2023

Artificial Intelligence has been a hot topic throughout the 2023 school year, with students gaining access to apps and websites such as ChatGPT which can provide them with pre-written essays only one click...

MCHS celebrates students every single day, but for the same sorts of things — good grades and amazing athletic performance. Other talented students work hard in other ways and deserve recognition as well.

Opinion: Some students don’t get the recognition they deserve

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor May 12, 2023

MCHS Administration claims to want the best for all students, but they fail to treat everyone equally. Students with lower GPAs than others are consistently forgotten about, along with athletes overshadowing...

Senior final exemption is a tradition at most schools, and seniors at MCHS have to earn the right to skip finals. But don’t all seniors deserve a break from finals before graduation?

Opinion: Seniors should not have to take spring finals

Krystal Zamudio, Staff Writer May 11, 2023

Eager seniors walk through the doors of MCHS ready to finish off the year on May 12. As the seniors arrive to their first period class of the day, they come to find out that it is no longer their last...

Quiet students are often treated differently from louder more extroverted students, but that needs to change.

Opinion: Unfair treatment of quiet kids needs to stop

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor May 4, 2023

"Talk more." "Are you depressed?" "Being quiet won't get you anywhere!" Quiet kids have heard these phrases countless times. In a society that values extroversion, these kids are often overlooked or,...

Bad behavior throughout the Upper Campus has forced security and administration to take unpopular measures, like closing bathrooms. But should all students be punished because of the bad behavior of a few?

Opinion: Bad behavior of a few shouldn’t trigger consequences for all

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor April 24, 2023

Since the beginning of the school year, bad behavior in bathrooms has continued to plague the campus. Students across McHenry High School face the consequences of closed bathrooms and lost privileges....

When students at MCHS hear racist comments, many ignore it — or, worse laugh at it. When students are approached about their behavior, their quick response is, “I didn’t know.” It’s time MCHS does better at confronting and taking responsibility for this behavior.

Opinion: It’s time to confront racism at MCHS

Lydia Lawrence, Business Director April 20, 2023

Would you call out your friend if they were being racist?  Obviously your first answer should be yes, but it doesn’t appear to be that easy to execute anymore at MCHS, if it was ever easy to begin...

Though Mr. McHenry is a tradition for senior boys like this years winner, KJ Keyfauver, the event should be opened to non-male students as well.

Opinion: Mr. McHenry needs to be more inclusive

Kennedy Tetour, Managing Editor April 14, 2023

The admiration for the Mr. McHenry pageant is well deserved, but the event unnecessarily and intentionally excludes many non-male students.  Mr. McHenry is a satirical pageant that MCHS hosts each...

Editorial Cartoon: Rallying together?

Editorial Cartoon: Rallying together?

Rachel Kaminski, Contributing Illustrator April 3, 2023

Parents debate “critical race theory” at a meeting of the Placentia-Yorba Linda school board in 2021. Since COVID, parents have insisted on more rights over their childrens public education, and school board meeting have been the battleground.

Opinion: ‘Parents’ rights’ may threaten students’ rights

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor March 23, 2023

Angry parents continue to flood schools, each taking different approaches to induce change. Many resort to protesting while others take a more political route by running for a seat on the school board....

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