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

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....

From left, Ella Huff, of Grand Rapids, joins fellow Michigan State University students Sophie Apple and her sister, Abbey Apple, both of Washington Township, as they place flowers at The Rock, on Feb. 14, 2023, the day after a gunman killed three students and injured five others in a shooting on campus.

Opinion: MSU students need more time to heal after mass shooting

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor March 16, 2023

Only a week after a traumatic shooting took place, Michigan State University students and staff were expected to return to classes as normal. Students whose classes take place in halls where they experienced...

Though MCHS offers creative students a  number of opportunities to express themselves, more would allow these students to earn the recognition they deserve — and would enrich MCHS in other ways.

Opinion: MCHS should showcase student talent more often

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor March 15, 2023

MCHS has a burgeoning arts program. With groups like Tri-M, band, choir, and the theater department, there are many ways to showcase talent. However: some students are more independent. Garage bands, singer...

Editorial Cartoon: Why replace the magic?

Editorial Cartoon: Why replace the magic?

Rachel Kaminski, Contributing Illustrator February 27, 2023

Students have many reasons for taking classes outisde of MCHS’s regular eight-hour class schedule. Whatever the reason, students benefit from having more options for credit before and after school.

Opinion: More zero hour classes are needed

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor February 23, 2023

This semester,a student sits in second period in a dark room taking notes, a recipe to fall asleep. Unfocused as most students in the class are. The following semester, their day now starts at 6:34, while...

In January, a new school policy limiting late work suprised many students — and teachers. But the policy gets in the way of students who need the support the most.

Opinion: The new late work policy is flawed

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor February 16, 2023

At MCHS, the amount of late work turned in by students has steadily increased over the years. In an attempt to combat this problem, the administration has implemented a policy that requires students to...

The first ever MCHS dance and dodgeball was a missed opportunity for a fun winter event.

Opinion: Dance and Dodgeball was a missed opportunity

Kennedy Tetour, Managing Editor February 2, 2023

A student stands in the dark cafeteria filled with no more than 10 other students, Pitbull is blasting through a speaker across the room, but no one is moving. Across the hall in the gym, students are...

The state of Illinois requires students to undergo fitness testing in their P.E. classes. Though the idea is to keep students physically healthy, some students may feel it takes a toll on them socially and emotionally.

Opinion: Fitness testing is unnecessary

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor January 31, 2023

The fitnessgram pacer test is a test most students dread, and it's only one of the 4 required assessments in the physical education curriculum. The tests consist of a 60 second curl up test, a pushup test,...

Police tape hangs from a sign post outside Richneck Elementary School following a shooting on Jan. 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia. A 6-year-old student was taken into custody after reportedly shooting a teacher during an altercation in a classroom at Richneck Elementary School on Friday. The teacher, a woman in her 30s, suffered “life-threatening” injuries and remains in critical condition.

Opinion: When will enough be enough?

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor January 25, 2023

Not even a week into the new year, the United States hit a new low where six-year-olds are now threats in school settings. In Virginia, Richneck Elementary teacher Abigail Zwerner had been teaching...

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