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
Ciara Duncan

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor

Ciara Duncan is a senior at West Campus who’s determined to make this year good. She enjoys hanging out with friends and her boyfriend, going swimming and running, and all-things girly. She’s fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of the newspaper staff, and do what she likes best—meet others, learn about their stories, and give them a voice.

Recognition:

2021 IHSA Sectionals (1st in feature writing)

“Opinion: The quarantine 15” (Best of SNO)

“Essay: Defending democracy” (Best of SNO, IJEA)

“Don’t forget remote students” (IJEA)

“‘GTA’ is here to stay, Marcus C. Evans Jr.” (IJEA)

“Seeing color” (Best of SNO, IJEA)

All content by Ciara Duncan
Weight gain over quarantine should be something that is celebrated rather than shamed because everyone needs to be a little nicer to themselves during such a rough and confusing time in the world.

Opinion: The quarantine 15

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
May 19, 2021
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Ciara Duncan

Ciara Duncan

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
May 14, 2021
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Not every student becomes valedictorian or gets a full-ride scholarship to the school of their choice. Students who fly under the radar, though, still have a stories to tell, and still cherish their memories at MCHS.

Under the radar

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
May 10, 2021
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Ciara Duncan poses with her collection of Squishmallows, which have become rarer as they've become more and more collectable.

Essay: Searching for Squishmallows

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
May 3, 2021
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Throughout the pandemic, teachers have had to shift their practices many times between asynchronous remote learning, synchronous remote learning, and various hybrid learning models. This has been difficult for them as well as their students, but all of them have persevered and grown.

The teacher becomes the student

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
April 30, 2021
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Freshman Daniel Thomas stands outside of West Campus with his Greentastic climate agreement. Thomas penned the agreement with environmental club in an attempt to make a positive change at MCHS.

Making the world a greener place

Kaitlyn Wenzel and Ciara Duncan
April 29, 2021
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Dr. Jeff Prickett has been the principal of East Campus since 2017, and changed the culture of the building in many ways. Pricket will continue to put relationships at the forefront as he becomes the principal of both the upper and lower campuses starting during the 2021-22 school year.

Defining greatness

Kaitlyn Wenzel and Ciara Duncan
April 26, 2021
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If Rep. Marcus C. Evans Jr. can blame "Grand Theft Auto" for society's problems, then it only makes sense to blame him for starting the pandemic. After all, was he wearing a mask at all before the state was placed on lockdown?

Opinion: “GTA” is here to stay, Marcus C. Evans Jr.

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
March 11, 2021
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District 156 sent out an email in late January explaining that the district will no longer alert parents or students when there is a new Covid case on either campus.

MCHS stops sending COVID case email alerts

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
March 2, 2021
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The mix of remote and hybrid learning models has created new challenges for students who are still stuck at home.

Opinion: Don’t forget remote students

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
February 5, 2021
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Right now, Illinois restaurants and bars are supposed to be closed to indoor dining. Though this helps stop the spread of COVID-19, it unfairly punishes the small business who should not have to bear the brunt of the pandemic.

Opinion: Don’t punish local businesses

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
January 12, 2021
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A food service worker helps a driver load lunches to be delivered to MCHS students outside of West Campus on November 20.

Comfort food

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
December 2, 2020
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Weeks after the 2020 election—and after Democratic candidate Joe Biden was announced the winner of the presidential race—political signs still adorn neighborhoods throughout McHenry.

Essay: Defending democracy

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
November 24, 2020
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Remote learning hasn't been easier, but it has helped some students remain organized and push themselves to succeed.

Pro: Remote learning gives students more control

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
November 17, 2020
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This fall's new fashionable trends include Victorian-inspired clothing, more fashionable menswear, 90s inspired plaid and tartan, and capes.

Looking good, feeling good

Ciara Duncan, Features Editor
November 10, 2020
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Though President Trump's nominated another woman to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Amy Coney Barrett does not live up to Ginsberg's legacy—and may do more harm than good from the bench.

[Photo] Opinion: Amy Coney Barrett isn’t for human rights

Becky Arendarczyk, Art Director
November 11, 2020
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Though online learning isn't ideal, many students have found that the flexibility offered by digital learning can make learning a lot easier.

Pro: Online learning offers flexibility

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
April 13, 2020
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Lauren Horrocks, an ER nurse at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, wears a mask and extra protection as the hospital makes preparations for COVID-19 testing and treatment.

At the frontline of coronavirus

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
March 30, 2020
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After playing on boys teams for several seasons, which was not always accommodating, Wirth joined the Glen Ellyn Admirals, an all-girls hockey team.

Wirth it

Ciara Duncan, Layout Editor
March 6, 2020
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Valentine's day is a holiday surrounding the idea of love and affection.

Pro: Valentine’s Day is worthy of celebration

Ciara Duncan, Layout Editor
February 10, 2020
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Leanna Anderson helps MCHS student at her IT help desk on January 7. She spends her time in the library solving student’s technology problems.

Keeping the machine running

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
January 9, 2020
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Student-constructed models stand tall in a West Campus biology classroom. Health classes in Illinois and across the country spent more time talking about about the body than safe ways to have sex.

Opinion: Abstinence only does more harm than good

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
December 18, 2019
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Gisselle Sandoval discusses the role race plays in her life. High school is a battle in its own, but the addition of being a minority makes it more difficult.

Seeing color

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
December 13, 2019
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President Donald Trump waves to supporters from Air Force One onSeptember 6 in Mandan, ND following an event with energy workers. The inquiry surrounding President Trump's impeachment has dominated the news cycle since a whistleblower's report became public in September.

The Trump impeachment inquiry—what you need to know

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
November 8, 2019
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Record numbers of students packed West Campus's gym for during this year's Homecoming dance on October 12.

Homecoming dance breaks attendance record

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
October 25, 2019
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Board meetings take place each month at the Robert O. Swartzloff Center for Educational Services.

School board approves new classes for 20-21 school year

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
October 22, 2019
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Truman Keppy swings his golf club during the first boys golf game of the season against Wauconda on August 15.

Boy’s golfer headed to State after team Regional win

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
October 18, 2019
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Though being a foreign exchange student has kept Leproni busy, he misses the little things back at his home in Italy.

New face in a new place

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
October 18, 2019
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Review: Blink-182's 'NINE'

Review: Blink-182’s ‘NINE’

Ciara Duncan, Staff Writer
October 4, 2019
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