Fox Valley's voice and choice for news.

The McHenry Messenger
Fox Valley's voice and choice for news.

The McHenry Messenger
Fox Valley's voice and choice for news.

The McHenry Messenger
Kennedy Tetour

Kennedy Tetour, Artistic Director

Kennedy Tetour is a junior at McHenry High School’s Upper Campus. She has worked on the Messenger for the last three school years, taking pictures and creating art to accompany the stories that her classmates write. She loves music, movies, and pushing herself to be more creative.

Recognition:

"12 days of movies" (IJEA)

"Spring musical tech week" (IJEA)

 

All content by Kennedy Tetour
Anticlimactic excitement fills the air as students prepare for summer on the final day of the school year.

[Photo] MCHS celebrates last day of school

May 25, 2021
Summer is right around the corner, which means that boredom is as well. These are our picks of movies to fend off that boredom for the first few days of summer break.

Groovy Movies: Countdown to summer

May 21, 2021
Before the pandemic, wearing a mask when you are sick was already normal in many countries, especially in Asia. As mask restrictions ease up for vaccinated people, it's time to make mask wearing normal in the United States as well.

[Photo] Editorial: Normalize masks

May 18, 2021
Choir director Derek Galvicius accompanies and conducts MCHS's Concert Choir as they perform their first and last concert of the year in the West Campus auditorium on May 6.

[Photo] Band and choirs perform final concerts of year

May 10, 2021
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.

[Photo] Under the radar

May 10, 2021
MCHS's Concert Choir performs their first and last concern to the year in the West Campus auditorium on May 6.

[Photo] Band and choirs perform final concerts of year

May 10, 2021
IMG_7563

[Photo] Emma Snyder

May 11, 2021
For two years, newspaper photographers have used the corner of in room 233 at West Campus, with its broken ring light and rickety backdrop, to take portraits for the McHenry Messenger. This year’s seniors will be the last to crete the newspaper in this space.

[Photo] Saying goodbye

May 10, 2021
Though teachers at MCHS report that most students are wearing the masks correctly in their classroom, many students report that it has become a problem in the hallways — and data provided by administration seems to verify that student mask use has become worse since spring break.

[Photo] Is mask use slipping?

May 5, 2021
MCHS teachers received their first dose of the Moderna vaccine in February, and their second in March during mass vaccination days at Woodstock North High School.

[Photo] Take your shot

May 5, 2021
Upper classmen can be seen dancing their hearts out at the 2021 Mask-erade event in the West campus main gym.

Gallery: Mask-erade

May 3, 2021
Ciara Duncan poses with her collection of Squishmallows, which have become rarer as they've become more and more collectable.

[Photo] 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.

[Photo] The teacher becomes the student

April 30, 2021
Social media can connect people together, but it can also tear people apart. In addition to bullying and aggression, social media can sow doubt, anxiety, and low-self esteem if users choose to spread negativity instead of positivity.

[Photo] Opinion: Spread positivity on social media, not shame

April 29, 2021
The McHenry Masker-erade was planned as way of keeping prom despite COVID regulations and health concerns. The event will take place Friday despite lower than expected ticket sales.

[Photo] McHenry Mask-erade proceeds despite low participation

April 28, 2021

Groovy Movies: Apex predators

April 28, 2021
As people have come forward to share their trauma, many immediately blame the victim. But it is never the victim's fault that they survived an assault — and society should start placing the blame on the perpetrator of the crime instead.

[Photo] Opinion: It is never the victim’s fault

April 30, 2021
School spirit has been one key factor in the perfect high school experience that has been missing from west campus for some time now. Though STU-CO is trying to bring it back, students are still unenthusiastic about school as a whole.

Opinion: We’ve got spirit, how about you?

April 23, 2021
Tension between Bucky Banres and Sam Wilson builds after Steve Rodgers retired as Captain America. In

Review: To make amends

April 16, 2021
Though the vaccine hasn't received official approval for people under the age of 18, several teenagers, including MCHS students, have received vaccines as essential workers or because they are at-risk.

[Photo] Next in line

April 23, 2021
With the diverse content that can be found on the internet, there comes an increasing need for Trigger warnings to warn viewers of content that may trigger bad reactions.

[Photo] Opinion: Including trigger warnings don’t hurt — and always help

April 19, 2021
Students move from the fourth floor of the Center for Science, Technology, and Industry to the third between classes on March 22, the first day the new extension was open to students and staff.

[Photo] Center for Science, Technology and Industry opens

April 20, 2021
West Campus's new extension, called the Center for Science, Technology, and Industry, opened March 22 to students and staff.

Gallery: Center for Science, Technology, and Industry opens

March 23, 2021
This year, between balancing remote and hybrid learning and dealing with a global pandemic, AP students are under more stress than ever. The Collage Board has the power to relieve the pressure that's on them — and they should.

[Photo] Opinion: The College Board should restructure the AP Exam

March 22, 2021
Students provided with proper SAT prep resources may have a better chance at acing the test in their Junior year of high school.

[Photo] Opinion: Juniors will benefit from College Career Seminar

March 18, 2021
As the seasons changed and the weather became nicer, MCHS tried to enjoy their summer break unsure of that the next school year — and the pandemic — would have in store.

[Photo] Stuck in summer

March 12, 2021
Dancers and singers from this year's musical revue pose at the end of a song during tech rehearsals. This year's spring musical will take special precautions to ensure a safe performance, such as masks and social distancing.

[Photo] Spring musical premieres this weekend

March 12, 2021
Though in-person students will attend classes

[Photo] MCHS expands in-person learning

March 18, 2021
Empty, socially distant desks wait in the West Campus south foyer for students to sit and eat their lunches — one of many ways the past year felt different to students.

[Photo] One year later

March 12, 2021
In the spring, students got used to doing homework from the comfort of their beds. For many, though, this safe place began to feel like a prison, and they missed being with their friends in school.

[Photo] Spring quarantine

March 12, 2021
The third installment of the

Groovy Movies: To all the bad movies I’ve watched before

March 10, 2021
Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs, Becky Hammon, has made history acting as the head coach for a recent game. Hammon acts with power and confidence as she coaches her team to victory.

[Photo] Hammon steps in as Spurs head coach

March 10, 2021
The CDC has begun to recommend double masking as the pandemic rages on. The dual layers offer more protection against Covid-19.

[Photo] CDC recommends continued mask use, double-masking

March 9, 2021
Though Black History Month may be over, art created by black creators should be celebrated all year long. Reviewer Emma Westermeier recommends these films for the power and impact of their stories.

[Photo] Review: 10 meaningful films by Black creators

March 5, 2021
As tech week for McHenry High School’s 2021 Musical Revue begins in the West Campus auditorium, the cast dances through

Gallery: Spring musical tech week

March 3, 2021
art show

[Photo] Tri-Conference Art Show provides a new way of presenting art

February 16, 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.

[Photo] MCHS stops sending COVID case email alerts

March 2, 2021

Review: What’s going on in Westview?

February 10, 2021
The mix of remote and hybrid learning models has created new challenges for students who are still stuck at home.

[Photo] Opinion: Don’t forget remote students

February 5, 2021
Up beat music, tacky costumes, and colorful scenery make 2001 film

Groovy Movies: Ears up, claws out

February 3, 2021
Although it was never officially confirmed, most assume that Olivia Rodrigo's hit

[Photo] License revoked

February 2, 2021

Groovy Movies: What do you wish for?

January 28, 2021
Though many are concerned about COVID-19 and their physical health, MCHS's social services department has created the Virtual Calming Room to support the mental health East and West students — even if they're not in the building.

[Photo] Virtual Calming Room available for everyone

February 1, 2021
Being a teenager is already stressful enough, and the pressure added by the pandemic has made it so much worse. When parents add to this stress by being too pushy, research shows that it can have a particularly negative effect for a teenager.

[Photo] Opinion: Parents just don’t understand

January 26, 2021
Winter break during a global pandemic can only mean one thing: Down time. Here are twelve movies you can watch each day during break to keep yourself sane and happy during the holidays.

Groovy Movies: 12 days of movies

December 14, 2020
The school's decision to extend the digital learning schedule was intended to support struggling students. Instead, it left too many confused and concerned about the disruptions to their routines.

Opinion: Digital schedule 2.0 deserved a chance

December 11, 2020
Based on the 1970 children's novel by Roald Dahl's of the same name,

Groovy Movies: Because I’m a wild animal

November 26, 2020
The sun rises over West Campus's south entrance on November 20. As Thanksgiving approaches, the number of COVID cases in McHenry County has reached a new high, causing the district pause all students coming into the building.

District 156 pushes hybrid learning to second semester

November 20, 2020
Author Stephen Chbosky wrote the novel

Groovy Movies: You’re a wallflower

November 13, 2020
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