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
Nikki Sisson

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director

Nikki Sisson is a senior at McHenry High School’s Upper Campus. She enjoys art, music and hanging out with her friends. In her spare time, she teaches violin lessons at Pearl Street Music and plays in a band. This is Nikki’s second year on the Messenger’s staff.

Recognition:

NSPA Leadership Award in Student Journalism (2023)

“An honor” (IWPA, IJEA)

“Opinion: The United States needs stricter gun control laws” (IWPA)

Instagram @mchenrymessengr (JEA)

“@mchs_caught_writing” (IJEA)

2022 IHSA Sectionals (first in Newspaper Design, sixth in Headline Writing)

All content by Nikki Sisson

Gallery: Senior Honors Night

Nikki Sisson, Managing Director
May 15, 2023
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The McHenry Messenger obtained documents from the McHenry Police Department that showed that, though student ticketing is down at the Upper Campus since last year, several tickets have still been written despite a state law stating that students should not be issued a fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence.

[Photo] Still fine

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor
May 19, 2023
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Nikki Sisson, Marketing Manager

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Manager

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Manager
May 11, 2023
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MCHS students celebrate the end of the year during prom at the Schaumburg Renaissance on April 28.

Gallery: Prom 2023

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
May 5, 2023
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The end of senior year is busy for everyone, so The Messenger has created a straightforward calendar to keep seniors on track through the end of the school year.

[Photo] Seniors top off high school with event-filled final weeks

May 5, 2023
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This spring and summer, Hollywood has a slate of fun movies that will appeal to teenagers and their sense of nostalgia, including “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”

Review: The previews

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
April 28, 2023
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Data from 10th grade behavior/bullying questionnaire distributed by MCHS | Nikki Sisson

[Photo] A matter of respect

Eli Frommes, Staff Wrtier
March 15, 2023
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Data from the CDC's 2011-2022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey | Infographic by Nikki Sisson

[Photo] Teen girls ‘engulfed in growing wave of sadness,’ new national data finds

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor
March 14, 2023
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Dr. Jeff Prickett meets with a teacher during a free moment on March 7 in the communications conference room at the Upper Campus. Prickett has been offering to meet with teachers to chat about how improve the school's culture.

[Photo] Making an impact

Evanel Gonzalez, Contributing Writer
March 10, 2023
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The cast of MCHS's "SpongeBob: The Musical" sing on stage during a rehearsal on March 6 in the Upper Campus Auditorium.

[Photo] Review: I am not a simple sponge

March 10, 2023
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Slim Shady

[Photo] Throwback Review: “The Slim Shady LP” by Eminem

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor
March 3, 2023
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A handmade sign reads "Inclusion Matters!" hangs on the wall in Upper Campus.

MCHS celebrates Inclusion Week

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
February 28, 2023
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Erika Sanchez speaks about her writing on Feb. 8 in the Upper Campus auditorium as part of Writer's Week.

[Photo] She’s not your perfect Mexican daughter

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor
February 27, 2023
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Sophomores read during the Celebration of Words on Feb. 6 in the Upper Campus auditorium as part of Writer's Week.

Gallery: Writer’s Week

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
February 16, 2023
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On Jan. 10, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a law immediately banning the sale of assault-style rifles in the state. However, McHenry County's State's Attorney is challenging the ban, which is currently tied up in court,.

Governor Pritzker signs assault weapons ban into law

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
February 14, 2023
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thescore

[Photo] Throwback Review: “The Score” by The Fugees

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor
February 21, 2023
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Released at the end of 2022, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” brought new energy and interesting visual effects to a franchise that seemed like it might have been at its end.

Review: The legend never dies

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
February 13, 2023
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The Battle of the Bands takes place on Friday in the Freshman Campus auditorium. Not only will the event showcase student bands and solo acts, but will also offer food from two different food trucks.

[Photo] MCHS to host Battle of The Bands at the Freshman Campus

Eli Frommes, Staff Writer
February 9, 2023
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A dress collection box sits full of dresses for the Key Club’s dress drive in coordination with My Sister’s Dress. The affordable dresses will be on sale on Feb. 25 at McHenry County High School.

[Photo] Key Club partners with My Sister’s Dress to donate prom attire

Ella Trimingham, Staff Writer
February 22, 2023
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Signs hang outside of classrooms where dual credit classes take place at MCHS. Next year, students enrolled in dual credit classes will be charged $25 per class each semester.

[Photo] MCC to charge for dual credit classes next year

Tati Rubi, Staff Writer
February 23, 2023
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Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills gestures towards the crowd during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Highmark Stadium on Nov. 13, 2022, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Remarkable recovery

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
February 3, 2023
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David Bowie's "Blackstar," released at the end of his life in 2016, endures as one of his powerful — even in a particularly popular and influential catalog.

[Photo] Throwback Review: “Blackstar” by David Bowie

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor
January 26, 2023
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Netflix's original cartoon "Dead End" is not only fun because of its colorful illustrations and dark humor, but because of the way the show represents so many groups who are not normally prominent characters in cartoons.

Review: Just keep it to yourself darlin’

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
December 15, 2022
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"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," released in 1989, is the perfect family film to watch this holiday season — and a classic in its own right.

[Photo] Review: We're gonna have the happiest Christmas

December 20, 2022
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Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak teamed up last year to release the surprise album "An Evening With Silk Sonic" which is still impressive a year later.

[Photo] Throwback Review: “Spend the Evening With Silk Sonic” by Silk Sonic

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor
December 6, 2022
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Students perform at Tri-M's Coffeehouse open mic night in the Upper Campus cafeteria on Nov. 11.

[Photo] Tri-M hosts disco-themed Coffeehouse

Ella Trimingham, Staff Writer
December 12, 2022
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Family members of Susan Kanantz left items and messages as part of a makeshift memorial after she was killed in a mass shooting in Raleigh, North Carolina last month.

Opinion: The United States needs stricter gun control laws

Nikki Sisson, Marketing Director
November 11, 2022
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Though Green Day's "Dookie" rocketed them into the mainstream — dragging pop-punk from the underground with them — "Insomniac" showed that there was more to the band than snotty punk-rock stereotypes.

[Photo] Throwback Review: "Insomniac" by Green Day

October 18, 2022
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Bruno Mars's 2010 debut combines elements of pop, funk, R&B, rock and other styles to create music both familiar and unlike any other artist before him.

[Photo] Throwback Review: “Doo Wops And Hooligans” by Bruno Mars

Gabe Santos, Staff Writer
October 7, 2022
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Though the popularity of HBO's "Euphoria" is due to its dramatic portrayal of teenage addiction, much of its mood is created by its equally dramatic soundrack.

[Photo] Throwback Review: "Euphoria" by Labrinth

October 6, 2022
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Editorial Cartoon: Amingus

Editorial Cartoon: Amingus

Nikki Sisson, Staff Writer
September 21, 2022
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WSM travels to Washington DC with Honor Flight

Cooper Ten Bruin, Rayaan Ahmed, and Nikki Sisson
September 7, 2022
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Community members celebrate a group of veterans upon their return from their MCHS-sponsored Honor Flight trip in the Upper Campus main gym on Aug. 28.

Gallery: Honor Flight Welcome Home Celebration

Nikki Sisson, Staff Writer
September 1, 2022
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A retired Marine traveling with Veterans Honor Flight takes a moment to ponder the United States Air Force Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 25.

An honor

Nikki Sisson, Rayaan Ahmed, and Cooper Ten Bruin
August 28, 2022
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Veterans explore the National Museum of the United States Army during the Veteran Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. on Aug. 27.

[Photo] A lot of memories

August 28, 2022
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