![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
One year later
In the year since COVID-19 shut the world down, students at MCHS have experienced — and persevered through — so much change. But is life starting to return back to normal?
Kennedy Tetour
Empty, socially distant desks wait in the West Campus south foyer for students to sit and eat their lunches — one of many ways the past year felt different to students.
March 15, 2021
SARS-CoV-2, more commonly known as coronavirus or COVID-19, has completely turned the world upside down. What started as a distant virus spreading through China quickly became a global pandemic. The world has had to adjust to socializing through a screen, maintaining a six-foot distance from each other and wearing masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
March 13 marks one year since the pandemic began. While this year has not been easy, students and staff at MCHS have all worked together to overcome its challenges. People came together to support frontline workers, provide help to those who needed it, and spread positivity where ever they could.
While the beginning was dark and our battle to the end of the pandemic is far from over, a year later, we have the hope of a successful COVID-19 vaccination.
This story continues on The McHenry Messenger was originally published on March 12, 2021.
