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

When a student needs extra help with homework or someone to vent to, MCHSs teacher often make the time and give support as needed.

A step further

Lydia Lawrence, Staff Writer May 24, 2023

Listen to this audio story by clicking the play button below. The McHenry Messenger · A Step Further   Students universally struggle with school, like any other part of life. Although challenges...

The Coventry Corporate Center in Crystal Lake houses many facilities to help adolescents improve their mental health, including
Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health.

Coping mechanisms

Savannah Drost, Staff Writer May 23, 2023

Tamara Barrera goes to the office at 7:30 a.m. She checks her emails, looks at the schedule and gets everything ready when the first child walks in at 8 a.m. A half hour later, when all the children are...

Special education teacher Lauren Hines helps a student work on a paper for English class in her room 402 at the Freshman Campus.

Keeping it together

Elijah Latronica, Contributing Writer April 19, 2023

Therapy often helps people help people. People who help themselves find it easier to help others. If someone is mentally healthy, they have the capacity to be more helpful towards others. Lauren Hines...

From left, Ella Huff, of Grand Rapids, joins fellow Michigan State University students Sophie Apple and her sister, Abbey Apple, both of Washington Township, as they place flowers at The Rock, on Feb. 14, 2023, the day after a gunman killed three students and injured five others in a shooting on campus.

Opinion: MSU students need more time to heal after mass shooting

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor March 16, 2023

Only a week after a traumatic shooting took place, Michigan State University students and staff were expected to return to classes as normal. Students whose classes take place in halls where they experienced...

In a recent Panorama Education survey, 39% of MCHS’s students reported they feel disrespected frequently, or almost always at MCHS. That’s a startling number, and one that MCHS’s staff hopes to correct in the coming months and years.

A matter of respect

Eli Frommes, Staff Wrtier March 15, 2023

A student in gym class doesn’t know how to play basketball, the team sport of the week. They are yelled at by the other students saying, “Hey! Come on! You could have made that!” The student leaves...

Last month, the CDC released a Youth Risk Behavior study that shows female and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning adolescents display a startling increase in mental health challenges compared to recent years.

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

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor March 14, 2023

Adolescent female and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning students display increasing mental health challenges as hopelessness, suicidality and sexual violence reach new highs, CDC Youth Risk Behavior...

Signs that say You are not alone hang throughout MCHS, but not many students know what Erikas Lighthouse is or what sort of support they offer students who need help.

A beacon of hope

Krystal Zamudio, Staff Writer January 26, 2023

After a long day, a student walks into the restroom to hear one of their peers crying in the bathroom stall. They walk into the next stall open and when they close the door they see a paper taped to the...

Summer comes along with a ton of insecurities for some, so having good summer ettiquette is imperative for everyone to have a safe happy summer.

Editorial: Be kind this summer

Editorial Board May 23, 2022

An outburst of laughter can be heard from behind a teenager on the beach. When she turns around, it is a large friend group. At first she thinks nothing of it, but as she drifts off she overhears what...

People may have all kinds of reasons for sharing their traumas on social media. For example, it might help them process the trauma or find support. Still, the habit can be unhealthy and lead to unexpected consequences.

Opinion: Stop making trauma trendy

Lydia Lawrence, Staff Writer May 10, 2022

A student makes a post on TikTok laughing about their failing grades, while another student views the video wondering why it has so many likes and people joking in the comments. Is this just a coping mechanism...

Certainly, every generation has experienced its share of trauma. But Generation Z has perhaps endured a more complex word, especially more complex than Generation X and Millennials.

Opinion: Trauma? Generation Z is used to it

Alayna Majkrzak, Opinions Editor March 22, 2022

Coming home from school to the news being turned on by a parent. This is one of the worst feelings for Generation Z, they never really know what to expect. The flickering of the screen could be about yet...

When people are suffering from mental health problems, the last thing they need to hear is that their feelings or illness isnt real.

Opinion: Faking it

Alayna Majkrzak, Opinions Editor March 16, 2022

A teenager is finally talking to someone they trust. They want to get help. They know that it’s the only way they can possibly learn to coexist with their mental illness. But after finally confiding...

During the week of Feb. 28, Warrior Buddies is leading a special spirit week aimed to End the Word. The R-slur is a word that people should have stopped using long ago.

Opinion: End the word

Bri Quast, Staff Writer March 1, 2022

Teenagers are very familiar with the “R” slur. It is a derogatory term prevalent throughout social media, and everyday conversation. It is safe to bet even if teenagers don’t use the “R” slur...

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