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
Leylah Moreno

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director and Head of Broadcast Anchor Coverage

Leylah Moreno is a senior at McHenry Community High School’s Upper Campus. She enjoys listening to music, reading, and hanging out with her friends. When they’re not at work, Leylah volunteers for Key Club and spends time creating art. This is their first year on the McHenry Messenger’s staff and third year on the Warrior Weekly’s staff.

Recognition:

2024 IHSA Sectionals (fourth in TV News)

NSPA Leadership Award in Student Journalism (2024)

“More than just a victim” (Best of SNO, IJEA)

“Review | Reflecting on ‘The Last of Us’” (IJEA)

“Countdown to Halloween | Urban legends of McHenry County” (IWPA)

“Review | Reflecting on ‘The Last of Us’” (IWPA)

 

All content by Leylah Moreno
Warrior Student Media held its second annual Ghost Hunt at the Freshman Campus, a nearly 100-year-old building rumored to have paranormal activity.

School spirit

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director
May 14, 2024
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Between fees, parking passes and “senior experiences,” it costs a lot of money to be a senior. While some expenses are easy for some to cover, they can make senior year much more stressful and less fun for others.

Opinion | Being a senior is expensive

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director
May 8, 2024
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Singer JoJo Siwa performs at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on Aug. 13, 2019.

Opinion | JoJo Si-WHAT?!

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director
May 1, 2024
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Some senior members of the Messenger staff are new to Newspaper this year - even this semester. Others have been writing for the Messenger for four years. All of them have helped tell the story of the MCHS that readers will appreciate for years to come.

[Photo] The Messenger Class Of 2024

May 9, 2024
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Students must have a stamp from the Main Office on their Prom permission slip form confirming that they meet the requirements and are permitted to attend Prom.

[Photo] Opinion | Requirements make prom memorable for wrong reasons

April 22, 2024
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Since March is Youth Art Month, the National Art Honors Society set a station up outside the cafeteria during lunch periods to celebrate creativity and encourage students to get involved with art.

Gallery: Youth Art Month

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director
March 22, 2024
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Special education teacher rolls through the halls on Friday mornings with her adjusted learning students to hand out snacks on the Treat Trolley.

[Photo] Treats on wheels

Michalina Sotka, Print Managing Editor
March 20, 2024
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Shrek Invades McHenry’s Swamp | Warrior Weekly 3.12.24

Madison Harvey, Grace Mueller, Leylah Moreno, and Kiara Kearns
March 14, 2024
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Something fishy

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director
March 13, 2024
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McHenry Welcomes Stan’s Vintage | Warrior Weekly 02.27.24

Kiara Kearns, Grace Mueller, Madison Harvey, and Leylah Moreno
February 27, 2024
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A student may walk through the halls of MCHS never knowing that the person walking past them is a victim of sexual assault — but those victims need to know they aren’t alone.

More than just a victim

Leylah Moreno and Gabe Santos
February 14, 2024
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Warrior Investigates: Bad Weather and E-Learning Days

Leylah Moreno, Madison Harvey, Grace Mueller, and Kiara Kearns
February 7, 2024
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For MCHS's annual Writers Week, the Celebration Of Words welcomes all on, the sophomores participate in the Poetry Slam, and New York Times bestselling author Matt de la Peña comes to speak to the school and sign copies of his books.

[Photo] Writer’s Week starts Monday at MCHS

February 5, 2024
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MCHS’ German Class Visits Chicago’s Christkindlmarket | Warrior Weekly 12.05.23

Caiden Bunting and Leylah Moreno
January 30, 2024
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MCHS Hosts Military Panel | Warrior Weekly 11.14.23

Caiden Bunting, Leylah Moreno, and Vanessa Etherton
January 22, 2024
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The week before Winter Formal, students participate in spirit week. Friday's theme was Anything But A Backpack Day, where students use unconventional methods to carry their school supplies from class to class for the day.

[Photo] MCHS shows spirit during winter sprit week 

January 19, 2024
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MCHS is bringing back the Winter Formal on January 20th from 7-10pm at the Freshman Campus.

[Photo] Students prepare for first Winter Formal in years

January 19, 2024
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BOO! Halloween at MCHS

Leylah Moreno, Caiden Bunting, and Vanessa Etherton
January 18, 2024
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The Last of Us television series is set to produce a second season after the success of the first season.

Review | Reflecting on “The Last of Us”

Leylah Moreno, Art Director
December 14, 2023
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The Five Nights at Freddy's new movie is based upon the video game Five Nights at Freddy's.

Review | “I always come back”

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director
December 12, 2023
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MCHS's top songs of the year have been recognized and wrapped up for this year.

[Photo] MCHS Wrapped

December 7, 2023
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The Illinois State Board of Education has updated the approach to students' course selection with the Accelerated Placement Act that automatically places students in the most advanced class appropriate to their previous academic performance. Course level changes can be requested.

[Photo] Empowering minds

December 5, 2023
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Students and teachers at MCHS must first complete their Flex Certification before partaking in blended learning.

[Photo] Opinion | Blended is beneficial

November 30, 2023
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Boys Soccer Hosts Senior Night | Warrior Weekly 10.17.23

Leylah Moreno, Caiden Bunting, Vanessa Etherton, and Madison Harvey
November 13, 2023
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The Woodstock Opera House in the center of the Woodstock Square stands surrounded by an eerie ambiance with its urban legends, among many others in McHenry County.

[Photo] Countdown to Halloween | Urban legends of McHenry County

October 31, 2023
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The car that plowed into a Starbucks earlier this month is the second in McHenry these past few years. Cars have crashed into restaurants throughout the county repeatedly in the past decade, and Starbucks are common accident locations.

[Photo] Another car crashes into McHenry Starbucks, highlighting new trend

Michalina Sotka, Print Managing Editor
October 26, 2023
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There's a reason why Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "The Monster Mash" are staples at Halloween parties — they are spooky, catchy, and fun. But there are plenty of other songs that fall into these categories that should become household Halloween hits as well (album artwork courtesy of Arista Records, Epic Records, Motown Records, Walt Disney Records, Decca Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Darkroom/Interscope Records, and Caroline Records)

Countdown to Halloween | Top 10 Halloween songs

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director
October 20, 2023
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Taking on a new role this school year, Social Worker Otto Corzo makes an effort to connect with students and strengthen relationships.

[Photo] Supporting in a new way

October 12, 2023
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MCHS Prepares New Baseball Fields for Spring 2024 Season | Warrior Weekly 9.19.23

Allena Noel, Leylah Moreno, Grace Mueller, and Madison Harvey
October 11, 2023
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Student teacher Alex Maurer stands in front of his American Studies class on Oct. 4. Because of a budding relationship with Illinois State University, MCHS is attracting both student teachers and new teachers from the university.

[Photo] Sink or swim

October 5, 2023
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Blended learning is supposed to empower students to work at the pace and place that best suits them. So why is MCHS denying the flexibility that some students need to thrive?

Opinion: MCHS should allow off-campus blending

Leylah Moreno, Artistic Director
September 21, 2023
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Tri-M wins IL Chapter of the Year | Warrior Weekly 11.15.22

Leylah Moreno, Kiara Kearns, Ary Juarez, and Keith Pierce
November 21, 2022
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McHenry staple keeps things sweet | from Warrior Weekly 11.1.22

Ary Juarez, Leylah Moreno, Keith Pierce, and Kiara Kearns
November 11, 2022
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Phoning Poland | Warrior Weekly 10.18.22

Keith Pierce, Kiara Kearns, Ary Juarez, and Leylah Moreno
October 21, 2022
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Playing dress-up | Warrior Weekly 10.11.22

Caiden Bunting, Tyler Houston, Jack Lullo, Leylah Moreno, Kiara Kearns, Keith Pierce, and Ary Juarez
October 13, 2022
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Freshmen get a sneak-peak at the Upper Campus | Warrior Weekly 5.3.22

Kiara Kearns, Leylah Moreno, and Hannah Covalt
May 3, 2022
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A Record-Setting Weight Room | Warrior Weekly 2.1.22

Leylah Moreno, Kiara Kearns, and Hannah Covalt
February 1, 2022
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Opinion: No blind eye to climate change

Opinion: No blind eye to climate change

Leylah Moreno, Staff Writer
January 14, 2021
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Recently discovered primates critically endangered

Recently discovered primates critically endangered

Leylah Moreno, Staff Writer
December 17, 2020
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Sum elbow grease

Leylah Moreno, Staff Writer
November 6, 2020
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Demonstrating her art, Ms. Michele Zimmerman uses motivation and modeling to help her students improve their artistic skills and knowledge.

Art-Warming

Leylah Moreno, Staff Writer
October 9, 2020
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