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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

Some seniors may seem older and wiser, but they started in the same place that every freshman did — uncertain, confused and overwhelmed. By surviving four years of high school, the Class of 2023 has earned the privilege to give out some of their wisdom.

Advice to the next generation

Alayna Majkrzak, Features Editor May 12, 2023

Students at the Freshman Campus are getting ready for the next step. Going from middle school to high school was hard, but being a new kid in a second new high school is just as nerve wracking. A year...

Captured during their second to last week of school, students from the Class of 2023 show what it looks like to be a senior mere weeks before graduation as they wander and hang out in the Upper Campus’s halls and classrooms.

Real Warriors: Seniors

Preston Boysen, Staff Writer May 10, 2023

The school year is coming to an end for the senior Class of 2023. This senior class stands out because, visibly, every kid is different. Anyone would agree that there are cliques and posses, however...

Freshman and their senior leaders tour the Upper Campus during the UC Sneak Peek on April 21.

Freshmen travel to Upper Campus for a sneak peek

Michalina Sotka, Freshman Correspodent May 3, 2023

The UC Sneak Peek took place on Friday, April 28 where freshmen were taken to the Upper Campus for a variety of activities to familiarize themselves with the new environment.  Freshmen went to Upper...

Juniors and sophomores explore post-secondary options at the annual College & Career Expo on April 20 in the Upper Campus main gym.

Gallery: College & Career Expo

Tati Rubi, Staff Writer April 26, 2023

On April 20, MCHS held a College & Career Expo. This included around nearly 100 colleges and universities to explore in the Upper Campus first floor gym. Sophomores on that day all attended second...

Sophomore Kaylie Szczepanik holds a picture of her from her freshman year. A lot has changed in the year since she left the Freshman Campus, but not all sophomores have adjusted to the shift as well as she has.

Crossing the divide

Alayna Majkrzak, Features Editor April 17, 2023

A sophomore walks through the halls of the Upper Campus, unfamiliar and unforgiving as they hear small snippets of conversation from the upperclassmen around them. All of them follow one consistent pattern,...

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...

Arturo Delgadillo, dressed fittingly as a super hero for Halloween, poses in the Center for Science, Technology and Industry. Formerly a police officer, Delgadillo now supervises the security teams at both the Upper and Freshman Campuses.

Who it takes to keep MCHS safe

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor November 9, 2022

With 40 school shootings in ten months, 2022 has become the most devastating year for schools in recent history. Ensuring safety and preventing tragedy has become a priority more than ever for schools. This...

Last year, the Warrior Warehouse connected to the cafeteria housed the Hidden Pearl coffeehouse before it was forced to relocate. This fall, Rusty Malts will move into the spot in this most recent partnership with the school and local businesses.

Rusty Malts coffee shop partners with the Upper Campus

Freedom Tomasello, Opinions Editor November 7, 2022

This month, MCHS’s Upper Campus will be welcoming a new coffee shop, Rusty Malts, available to students during the school day.  In previous years, the campus had welcomed Hidden Pearl. Although loved...

Garcia is a senior at the Upper Campus who has learned to rely only on herself — but who is willing to fight for the people she loves.

Humans of McHenry: Angie Garcia

Savannah Drost, Staff Writer November 4, 2022

"I would say there's a new challenge every day. Family life, personal life. challenge every single day. I would say [I overcome] those challenges. A childhood memory that shaped me was I got into a car...

Paglini is a senior at MCHS who has found a way to become a better student by committing to his work.

Humans of McHenry: Armand Paglini

Savannah Drost, Staff Writer October 21, 2022

"I had pretty bad grades the last 3 years, [but] this year has been like a turner for me. I've had pretty good grades so far — Bs and As — so it's been good. [I] stopped procrastinating, I just set...

Sophomores Luis Adame, Jamison Shea and Jiji Thorne walk through the hallways of the Upper Campus. As sophomores, this is their first year in the building, which makes them feel like freshman for a second year in a row.

Freshman, freshman, junior, senior

Eli Frommes, Staff Writer September 27, 2022

A sophomore walks through the Upper Campus on the first day of school and can't find his class. With two minutes left in the passing period, he asks a teacher to point him in the right direction and is...

Sophomores enjoy eating hot dogs and hamburgers and play games during a special sophomore picnic organized by Connections Crew on Sept 15 outside of the Upper Campus.

Gallery: Sophomore picnic

Eli Frommes, Staff Writer September 19, 2022

The sophomore picnic was held on Thursday, Sept. 15 during third and fourth period to help sophomores feel connected to the Upper Campus and help with the transition. Stefanie Lukas, division chair...

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