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Kyla Henige

Kyla Henige, Managing Editor

Kyla Henige is a junior at McHenry High School's West Campus, and is a third-year news kid. Kyla is passionate about writing and studying political sciences along with law and history. She is an active member of the school community, is ready for reporting anything at anytime!

“Your offensive language may hurt someone else” (IJEA)

All content by Kyla Henige
Preparing for standardized test can be stressful enough when it's not a pandemic. The state's choice to seek a federal testing waiver is the right decision.

Opinion: Let’s skip standardized tests this year

March 2, 2021
Counselor Sarah Sadler works at her computer in her office in West Campus. She and counseling intern Jenna McLaughlin have launched a workshop series to offer support to students with anxiety.

[Photo] Weekly anxiety workshops meet on Zoom

February 23, 2021
Though he has played a variety of roles throughout his tenure at MCHS, college prep instructor Kris Hokinson has made a powerful impact on his students.

Hele mai ho’ohiwahiwa

February 9, 2021
A student sits on her Chromebook during an in-person class at West on January 27., one week after MCHS back from a semester fully remote.

[Photo] Hybrid continues strong despite challenges

February 2, 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.

Opinion: Parents just don’t understand

January 26, 2021
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[Photo] Comfort food

December 2, 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.

[Photo] District 156 pushes hybrid learning to second semester

November 20, 2020
CTE division chair Karyn Burmeister walks into West Campus wearing a mask on November 20. As cases in McHenry County rise, staff rely on clear information to decide whether to work from their classroom or from home.

[Photo] Containing COVID

December 1, 2020
Neither students nor teachers were ready for an entirely remote school year, and everyone is still scrambling to make it work.

Con: Remote learning doesn’t work for most students

November 17, 2020
Signs provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health hang on bulletin boards throughout West Campus. Now that students will not be returning to hybrid, only teachers, staff, and administrators will see them.

District 156 dashboard reports COVID cases

October 30, 2020
A student wears a mask in the hallways at West Campus on October 20, only a couple days before the district announced they would be pausing plans to begin a hybrid schedule.

[Photo] Hybrid learning “paused”

October 29, 2020
As the sun sets on an empty MCHS West Campus, a new beginning is coming in the near future. Soon a Hybrid Learning model will be bringing life back into the building.

MCHS to open back up for hybrid learning

October 5, 2020
Stefanie Lukas leads students through a math lesson at East Campus before the switch to remote learning in March.

MCDH approves hybrid learning

September 30, 2020

News Briefs: Week of May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020
resident Donald J. Trump takes questions from the press during a coronavirus update briefing Sunday, April 19, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House.

Trump announces plan to re-open the U.S. economy

April 27, 2020
Though digital learning has been stressful for many students, parents have also had a tough job during shelter-in-place. Many parents are balancing a job from home with the demands of parenting, and many have even lost their jobs.

[Photo] Parenting in a Pandemic

April 28, 2020
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks during a coronavirus (COVID-19) update briefing Monday, March 30, 2020, in the Rose Garden at the White House.

Trump recommends 30 more days of social distancing

April 9, 2020
With Chicago mayor Laurie Lightfoot at his side, Governor J.B. Pritzker issues a directive to all Illinois residents to stay at home during a Friday press conference.

COVID-19 leaves Illinois in lock down

March 21, 2020
The symphonic band pose prior to their performance at the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria on February 1. The band was one of only 16 high school bands in the country selected to perform at National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis this weekend before the trip was cancelled.

Band cancels trip to nationals over COVID-19 concerns

March 12, 2020
Many students know first-hand the pain caused by hearing a homophobic or racial slur in the hallways, even when it is not directed at them or someone they care about.

Opinion: Your offensive language may hurt someone else

March 10, 2020
The McHenry Downtown Theater is hosting

MCHS to host viewing of documentary “LIKE”

February 13, 2020
MORP, which is

Winter spirit week culminates in annual MORP dance

February 7, 2020
Though construction broke ground in September, the structure that will make up West Campus's new wing began taking shape at the beginning of second semester.

West’s new wing one-third complete

February 6, 2020
Demonstrations in Iran over the death of Qasem Soleimani.

Death of Iranian general stokes tension in Middle East

January 27, 2020
Seniors Erin Caner and Noelle Peters walk out of West Campus’s south foyer together. Seniors will be able to leave campus to eat lunch starting second semester.

Changing with the times

December 16, 2019
Eileen Zheng and Breanna Darcy help put together birthday blessing boxes for the homeless during a November Key Club meeting in the West Cafeteria. Key Club students will hand out the boxes to homeless on their birthdays throughout the year.

Key Club packs blessing boxes for local homeless community

November 27, 2019
Victims and their allies need a safe space or outlet to take a stand together and speak up when something is wrong. When things are left unsaid, the abuser gains more power, and the abuse will not stop.

Opinion: Help is on the way

November 19, 2019
Volunteers from West's Key Club sanitize their hands before packing meals for Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville.

Key Club breaks record for feeding hungry children

November 1, 2019

“Hidden In Plain Sight” gives parents new perspectives

October 31, 2019

Parents plan to meet with teacher during fall conferences

October 23, 2019
MCHS students take two standardized tests during their junior year—the Preliminary SAT in the fall and the official SAT in the spring.

Juniors tackle PSAT

October 23, 2019
In the Chill Zone, students will find a quiet space with comfortable places to sit and calming decor, including a bubbling fish statue.

West chill zone offers space to cool down

October 15, 2019
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Carl Vallianatos addresses stakeholders during a groundbreaking ceremony on September 19 outside of West Campus.

Breaking new ground

October 7, 2019
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