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
Teachers often don't choose the education path as their first option, many of them have an interesting first carrer.

Blast from the past

Aika Villa and Eli Frommes • October 24, 2024

Heidie Dunn was looking back at old photos showing her students what she did before she started teaching. Some of her students asked why she left and became a teacher, after they asked she just smiled...

When a student needs extra help with homework or someone to vent to, MCHS's 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...

Quiet students are often treated differently from louder more extroverted students, but that needs to change.

Opinion: Unfair treatment of quiet kids needs to stop

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor • May 4, 2023

"Talk more." "Are you depressed?" "Being quiet won't get you anywhere!" Quiet kids have heard these phrases countless times. In a society that values extroversion, these kids are often overlooked or,...

Parents debate “critical race theory” at a meeting of the Placentia-Yorba Linda school board in 2021. Since COVID, parents have insisted on more rights over their childrens' public education, and school board meeting have been the battleground.

Opinion: ‘Parents’ rights’ may threaten students’ rights

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor • March 23, 2023

Angry parents continue to flood schools, each taking different approaches to induce change. Many resort to protesting while others take a more political route by running for a seat on the school board....

Communicating important information is a tough job for a high school, who has to keep students, staff, and parents in the loop of every major event and decision. Still, many stakeholders at MCHS wish communication from the district was clearer.

Partial disclosure

Kennedy Tetour, Managing Editor • March 20, 2023

A student walks into class, hearing rumors of a snow day from students and staff alike. She opens her email only to find no update from administration. No email means no snow day but, with no update to...

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...

Many teachers at MCHS are married to each other. Some even met each other while working at the school — and, in some cases, the same department.

Love is in the classroom

Lydia Lawrence, Business Director • February 15, 2023

Upper Campus science teacher Beth Caruso stares at the copy machine with impatience at the end of the school day, frustrated that the box of metal and screws isn’t working properly. Just as she’s about...

MCHS has had more teacher absences than other schools in the area, especially those in the Fox Valley Conference. According to the Illinois School Report Card, only 50 percent of teachers have fewer than ten absences.

A missing piece

Alayna Majkrzak, Features Editor • February 13, 2023

Week after week, a student walks into their class room to a large empty desk. The chair that was supposed to have their teacher in it sat cold and empty just like it did almost everyday. The student huff...

When parents have access to grades, they can help students stay on track. But constant conversations about grades can also add pressure to students who are doing their best and struggling to keep their grades up.

Full access

Eli Frommes, Staff Writer • December 19, 2022

A student falls behind on their homework and they say, “I'll do it later.” Then they start to say that on every assignment or they tell their parents that they finished it. When the parent checks in...

When the highest grade students can receive is a 95%, it discourages those students who are pushing their skills — the opposite effect of what most teachers want from their students.

Opinion: Full effort deserves full credit

Kennedy Tetour, Managing Editor • December 7, 2022

A student sits refreshing the grades tab on her Schoology page. She awaits the input of her latest assignment, hoping to receive a good score. She refreshes a final time and sees that her grade was input...

Though band director Ryan Cabildo was hired only part way through second semester last year, he's done much to re-invigorate MCHS's band program, guiding them to wins at competitions and exciting parade opportunities.

New director, new direction

Lilyonna Kribley, Contributing Writer • October 17, 2022

Loud cheering can be heard, filling the sky just like the sunset. Ryan Cabildo guides his marching band out in front of the stands of McCracken Field. In front of hundreds of people, Cabildo starts guiding...

Leah Pelletier, a science instructor who teaches Honors Principles of Biomedical Science, Honors Medical Interventions and Medical Residency, has found that teaching bridges her passion for science and nurturing people.

Changing plans

Vanessa Moreno, Staff Writer • October 12, 2022

Before Leah Pelletier was a biomedical science teacher, she was an aspiring pediatrician. That is, until all eight medical schools she applied to rejected her. Or maybe it was seven — one got lost...

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