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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)

“Essay: Defending democracy” (Best of SNO)

“Seeing color” (Best of SNO, IJEA)

All content by Ciara Duncan
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

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

Essay: Searching for Squishmallows

May 3, 2021
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

April 30, 2021
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

April 29, 2021
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

April 26, 2021
If Rep. Marcus C. Evans Jr. can blame

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

March 11, 2021
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

March 2, 2021
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

February 5, 2021
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

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

Comfort food

December 2, 2020
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

November 24, 2020
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

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

Looking good, feeling good

November 10, 2020
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

November 11, 2020
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

April 13, 2020
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

March 30, 2020
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

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

Pro: Valentine’s Day is worthy of celebration

February 10, 2020
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

January 9, 2020
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

December 18, 2019
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

December 13, 2019
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

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

Homecoming dance breaks attendance record

October 25, 2019
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

October 22, 2019
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

October 18, 2019
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

October 18, 2019
Review: Blink-182's 'NINE'

Review: Blink-182’s ‘NINE’

October 4, 2019
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