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
Madison Wise

Madison Wise, Artistic Director

Madison Wise is a senior at McHenry High School's West Campus. She has been on the varsity girl's soccer team for 4 years. After high school, she plans on going to Arkansas State University to study her undecided major.

All content by Madison Wise
Though the decision to practice social distancing is the right decision, the consequences for high school students — especially seniors, who may miss prom, spring athletics, Decision Day, or even graduation — is more than unfortunate.

[Photo] Opinion: Coronavirus ruined my senior year

March 19, 2020
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MCHS District 156 cancelled all classes, extracurriculars, and academics starting March 13 until after spring break. The decision was made with the health of both the schools students and community in mind.

[Photo] District 156 cancels classes, activities, athletics due to coronavirus

March 13, 2020
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Laughing with his students, Derek Galvicius listens back to a recording with his Surround Sound students on March 5 in the West Campus choir room.

[Photo] Safe in sound

March 9, 2020
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Seniors Julia Druml and Brandon Clough pin purple ribbons to their shirts, handed out by members of MAC to represent International Womens Day on March 6.

[Photo] Gallery: International Women’s Day

March 6, 2020
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Students and staff at MCHS have gathered before school to celebrate International Womans Day for the past three years. This years event will take place in the Main Gym at West and the flagpole at East both on Friday morning at 7 p.m.

[Photo] MCHS to celebrate International Women’s Day

March 5, 2020
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Freshman Raegan DuHamel walks past senior Olivia Greenwald during a passing period at West Campus. Though students frequently stereotype freshmen, most acknowledge that individual students don’t represent the whole.

[Photo] The freshman stigma

March 11, 2020
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MCHS Drama Club presents Chicago: The Musical in West Campuss Auditorium. Senior Nathan Bodecker gives an angry look to junior McKenzie Scott who played Katalin Hunyak, but was portraying Roxie Hart during this scene where senior Ava Snider explained herself.

[Photo] Gallery: Spring musical ‘Chicago’

March 3, 2020
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Students have petitioned for years to have more intramural sports as extracurriculars. West administrators Greg Eiserman and Justin Stroh have opened the door for intramural volleyball for the first time.

[Photo] District serves up intramural volleyball tournament

March 10, 2020
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Though standardized tests have long been a determining factor in a students admission to a college or university, the SAT and ACT have frequently been criticized for being biased against certain groups, such as minorities or low-income students.

[Photo] Opinion: Standardized tests are still unfair

February 20, 2020
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Jared Bysiek shows off his Black Flag tattoo on his forearm. At MCHS, getting a tattoo when a person is of age is a sort of right of passage.

[Photo] Fresh ink

February 19, 2020
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Students at West Campus celebrated Valentines Day on February 14 in a variety of ways—from giving carnations through Key Club, buying orange Crush from LASO, or just dressing up for the occasion.

[Photo] Gallery: MCHS spreads the love on Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2020
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Vday

[Photo] Point-Counterpoint: Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2020
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Valentines day is a holiday surrounding the idea of love and affection. Though, it might not spark the same feelings for everyone.

[Photo] Pro: Valentine’s Day is worthy of celebration

February 10, 2020
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MORP, which is prom spelled backwards, is an informal dance where students can have fun, de-stress, and hang out with friends. Posters hang around the school to promote the event.

[Photo] Winter spirit week culminates in annual MORP dance

February 7, 2020
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McHenry County College is hosting a series of workshops to prepare students for college. This is an opportunity for students to learn and prepare to take the next step in continuing education.

[Photo] MCC plans college readiness series

February 12, 2020
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The McHenry Downtown Theater is hosting LIKE, an indie film dealing with the impact of social media on teenagers lives. With social media ever expanding, it begs the question on if it is a positive or negative within our society.

[Photo] MCHS to host viewing of documentary "LIKE"

February 13, 2020
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West StuCo president Julia Druml talks with Kaili Wegener about Student Council plans. The student leadership groups at both West and East have made efforts to hear from students in both buildings during open meetings before school, during lunch, and during AIM.

[Photo] StuCo seeks feedback about campus reform

February 6, 2020
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Every day, users can track how they are feeling and receive encouragement during down moments using mental health apps like stoic.

[Photo] Opinion: Mental health apps benefit everybody

February 4, 2020
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Winter Tennis huddles after winning Battle of the Bands. On January 24, MCHS student-formed bands competed for the title of 2020 Battle of the Bands champion.

[Photo] Gallery: Students and staff rock Battle of the Bands

January 27, 2020
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Rachel Hanson has taught special education for 14 years, though this is only her second year working at West Campus.

[Photo] Touching hearts and minds

January 27, 2020
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Many adolescents find love for the first time during their high school years, but it takes some a little bit of time to learn appropriate ways to express that affection in public.

[Photo] Opinion: PDA is OK — to an extent

January 24, 2020
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Breanna Darcy, a senior involved with the medical residency program, received hands-on experience at Northwestern Medicine that ended up saving her brothers life.

[Photo] West Campus senior helps save brother’s life

January 21, 2020
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Avary Shrum stretches with the varsity dance team before their tournament performance. The dance team hosted the Fox Valley Conference championship at West Campus on January 15.

[Photo] Leaps and bounds forward

January 24, 2020
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Every staff member at MCHS teaches in their own unique way. English teacher Stacy Rockweiler assists two of her students in her sixth period Rhetorical Analysis of Media class.

[Photo] Opinion: The best teachers use informal teaching styles

January 22, 2020
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Niki Mayers, a sophomore at MCHS, sells small koalas to raise money for the Australia fires.

[Photo] West student raises money and awareness for Australia

January 21, 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.

[Photo] Keeping the machine running

January 9, 2020
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Students at MCHS celebrate more than just Christmas. Here are four students who use the holidays to celebrate in different ways.

[Photo] More than Christmas

December 20, 2019
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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.

[Photo] Opinion: Abstinence only does more harm than good

December 18, 2019
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Sales Kigozi discusses the role race plays in his life. High school is a battle in its own, but the addition of being a minority makes it more difficult.

[Photo] Seeing color

December 13, 2019
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Finals have been a tradition at many schools for generations, but these end-of-semester exams only serve to stress out students. What’s worse is that they aren’t the most effective tests.

[Photo] Opinion: Stressing the test

December 16, 2019
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Though the practice of “cutting weight” is illegal according to the IHSA, some wrestlers choose not to eat to keep themselves at the top of their weight class.

[Photo] Taking one for the team

December 18, 2019
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Director of bands Spencer Hile and West science teacher Ryan Ellison were nominated and selected as Novembers staff member of the month at East and West respectively.

[Photo] Diligent Warriors

November 27, 2019
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Administration uses tardies and detentions to deter students from arriving late. But are there other ways of encouraging students to arrive on time that are less punitive?

[Photo] Opinion: The attendance policy at MCHS is too strict

November 25, 2019
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Posters hang around West Campus advertise students running for APLAC president. Students vote on November 14th.

[Photo] APLAC students run for president

November 21, 2019
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Sally Hepner, Wests student services administrative assistant, makes a phone call during the school day and custodian Elenor Rogan cleans up East Campus after school. Hepner and Rogan were MCHSs staff members of the month for September.

[Photo] Dedicated Warriors

November 14, 2019
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