Skip to Main Content
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

Football games can be the pinnacle of school spirit at MCHS, but only if upperclassmen lead the way.

Editorial | It’s time for seniors to start stepping up

Editorial Board May 22, 2025

A student enters Freshman Campus during homecoming spirit week, and he notices that nearly everyone is participating in “everything but a backpack day.” The same thing doesn’t apply when he enters...

The class of 2025 ends their high school careers with multiple fun events happening over the course of May.

Send-off schedule

Berenice Santiago, Social Media Designer May 13, 2025

A MCHS senior is sprawled out on the floor scrolling on their phone for pictures of some of their last events as MCHS students. They are surrounded by some of their friends who decided to come together...

This year's senior Messengers have been an important part of growing MCHS's student newspaper.

The Messenger class of 2025

Maggie Demski, Copy Editor May 12, 2025

This year, we have some pretty amazing and memorable seniors leaving our Messenger staff. For this year's senior story, I asked them to write advice that they have for incoming Messengers. Every year,...

Seniors have been able to witness everything from the original iPhone to the development of online streaming services. Pop culture has changed dramatically under their watch.

A life of entertainment

Beth Brackmann, A&E Editor May 8, 2025

The senior class of 2025 has been through a lot. But one thing that has been with them through it all is entertainment. From movies, to music and TV, these forms of media have shaped a generation but why...

This year’s seniors seem to be the “guinea pigs,” with them being the first  to try many new things, including the Freshman Campus and flexing, among others.

Time and time again

Lily Adams, Editor In Chief May 7, 2025

An MCHS senior sits in the auditorium, listening to the senior AIM meetings. She listens as the counselors on stage explain all the changes for her senior class. She folds her arms, disappointed but not...

 A student recieves a loaner Chromebook in the Upper Campus library during the school day. For years, MCHS has allowed graduating seniors to buy their Chromebooks for about $20, but this year because of the quality of their computers, students will not be able to buy their own.

Graduating seniors can’t buy their Chromebooks

Aubrey Butler, Copy Editor May 6, 2025

The 2025 senior class is no longer allowed to purchase their chromebooks after they graduate at MCHS. For years, MCHS has allowed graduating seniors to buy their Chromebooks for about 20 dollars, but...

Seniors at MCHS make the most of their ditch day, though leave behind empty seats in their classrooms. In a sense, senior ditch day affects the entire school, including students, teachers, athletics and extracurriculars.

A hop and a skip away

Sydney Boswell, Staff Writer May 6, 2025

A junior drives into the school parking lot, wondering why it is so empty. They remember their senior friend telling them about senior skip day. Throughout the day, they notice that the halls feel empty,...

Senioritis seems to effect most of the class of 2025, with many being overwhelmed or unmotivated. Many believe, however, that if senioritis is real, then junioritis must be real as well.

Countdown to freedom

Afton Ingraffia, Features Editor May 5, 2025

A senior at MCHS sits in her car before returning to class after spending her lunch off campus. Motivation is as low as ever as all the senior’s last year of high school comes to an end. As final assessments,...

On their way out of the Upper Campus, the Class of 2025 has learned a lot. Here's some of their advice, along with some advice from other graduates, for the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen they leave behind.

Essay | The honest truth about surviving high school

Gabe Santos, Opinions Editor May 5, 2025

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” Charles Dickens wrote at the beginning of "A Tale of Two Cities." While this quote was originally intended to describe the French Revolution,...

Students complete a team-building activity during MCHS's leadership conference in the Upper Campus auditorium on April 30.

Today learners, tomorrow leaders

Ffion Curtain, Online Managing Editor May 1, 2025

Leadership in action put on the Leadership Summit which occurred on April 30, 2025 in the Upper Campus’ auditorium. This year was the third year occurrence of the Leadership Summit. It’s an opportunity...

Seniors have been utilizing the staff and the space in the College and Career center to look at their next steps for college.

Prepping for the future

Eli Frommes, Digital Editor January 9, 2025

As the semester comes to a close seniors are faced with tough decisions about college. Seniors are having to prepare for college, and go down paths that they have never crossed before. Throughout the...

A student rushes out to the Upper Campus parking lot after school to beat the traffic that, in some ways, is caused by seniors who are required to stay in the building until the end of the school day.

Opinion | Beat the rush — re-introduce Senior Incentive

Olivia Smith, Staff Writer November 14, 2024

After four long and difficult years of high school, the end is now in sight for the class of 2025. They have worked tirelessly to graduate and deserve every bit of special treatment they can get. This...

Load More Stories