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The best stories being published on the SNO Sites network

Best of SNO

The best stories being published on the SNO Sites network

Best of SNO

The best stories being published on the SNO Sites network

Best of SNO

Students reading during one of the independent reading sessions at last year's Witching Hour event.

After “Witching Hour” read-a-thon event sells out in just three minutes, students take on reading challenges to get off the waitlist

By Kayleen Capitulo, Townsend Harris High School October 28, 2025

"I plan on doing the quests,” junior Kanon Banno recently told The Classic. She’s not on a quest to slay a dragon or find a magical object. Instead, she’s on a quest to get a coveted ticket to...

One other benefit of joining the teacher steel drum band is the ability to interact with other teachers outside of their department. “I've been able to put some names to the faces and have conversations with people that I would have probably never really had a conversation with before,” Shannon Montiel said. “It's easy when you're doing something together to make new friendships.”

Steel-ing the spotlight

By Elena Brown, Walnut Hills High School October 28, 2025

The jaunty and cheerful noise of steel drums is perhaps a strange sound to hear echoing through the halls of WHHS at seven in the morning. This strange phenomenon can be traced back to a room tucked away...

Katherine Nguyen and her NYO friends stand in front of the Beijing Performing Arts Center. “My favorite part of the tour was probably the second half of the tour, like Shanghai and Seoul, just because I got close to the people I was with,” Nguyen said.

Strung for Greatness

By Lucas Ruan, Clayton High School October 28, 2025

The violist, senior Katherine Nguyen, joined the National Youth Orchestra this summer for a global tour with the nation's top youth musicians. During the tour, Nguyen was one of two students representing...

Built in 1904, the Vokes Theater is a space occupied by local volunteer performers, who spearhead their own performances four times a year. Founded by famous actress, Beatrice Herford, the theater is rich in fame and even more so in a love for the arts.

The hidden stage: A theater run on passion, not paychecks

By Annabel Orcutt, Wayland High School October 27, 2025

Tucked away on Boston Post Road, Vokes Theatre is easy to miss and most people do. This 100 year old theater isn’t lit up by neon signs or flashy lights, yet its stage comes to life four times a year...

Photo of Leo Gil warming up in the colorguard closet in the band room.

A seat in the symphony

By Nyla Kërr, McIntosh High School October 22, 2025

When he was in sixth grade, McIntosh senior Leo Gil first picked up a trombone. It was the first instrument he had ever played. Before this, the only exposure Gil had to music-related activities was in...

Concentrated, seniors Natalie Ju, Dorian Herri, Brandon Kim, and Imy Gao play their respective instruments. Taking the extra step, these student musicians not only pursue higher-level musical opportunities, but also take to Instagram to share their progress and passion for their instrument.

Insta-Instruments

By Yonnie Yang, Jayant Kalra, and Sarah Jung October 22, 2025

This story contains an alternate format that can only be viewed on the original site. View this story on Westwood Horizon. It was originally published on October 17, 2025.

Yo, Brea, Brea, It's 'Yo Gabba Gabba!'

Yo, Brea, Brea, It’s ‘Yo Gabba Gabba!’

By Charlotte Nethers, Brea Olinda High School October 21, 2025

From quirky creatures like a red cyclops with bumpy scales and mitten-shaped hands and a magical yellow robot named Plex; to educational songs about losing baby teeth; to hosting popular musicians like...

Music artists today largely strive to receive streams and chart well, while many older artists focused on pushing political messages. Protest music can speak to people’s emotions, as a single powerful song can take one person’s struggle and urge thousands to feel and act on it.

The Beat of Change: Why protest music must rise again

By Charles Penn, Walt Whitman High School October 21, 2025

From spirituals sung on plantations during slavery to anthems that fueled the Civil Rights Movement, music has always been a powerful force in the fight against oppression. Protest music has conveyed the...

Amanda Moi, junior, instructs one of her students at a CReT class on Sunday, Sept. 28. Moi advises the students with the jellyfish pattern as her student observes up close. Moi joined CReT during her freshman year.

Students Teach Children to Crochet

By Kate Lorenz, Marquette High School October 21, 2025

While leashing and hooking her yarn, Amanda Moi, junior, demonstrates crochet methods for her students sitting beside her, repeating the saying, “under and over the bridge.” Her freshman year, Moi...

The Penguin Project’s savannah sprinkles Disney magic

The Penguin Project’s savannah sprinkles Disney magic

By Melissa Krainer, Altoona Area High School October 21, 2025

On Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m., everything the Altoona Area High School auditorium stage light touched was Altoona Community Theatre’s (ACT) kingdom—a lion’s kingdom. In 2023,...

‘The Toxic Avenger,” directed by ACHS Alumni Macon Blair, finally saw a theatrical release Wednesday, Aug. 29. /Image courtesy of Legendary Entertainment and Troma Entertainment

“The Toxic Avenger” Remake Captures Cult Classic’s Charisma

By Leo Maucieri, Alexandria City High School October 20, 2025

"The Toxic Avenger" reboot finally saw a theatrical release Wednesday, Aug. 29, two years after its initial premiere in September 2023. The film, based on a 1984 cult classic of the same name, stars actors...

The debate surrounding appropriation versus appreciation is always fierce and scarcely productive. However, appropriation in the context of South Asian culture is more complex than many may think.

South Asian fashion: a glimpse into the West’s selective appropriation

By Zara Madhok, Walt Whitman High School October 20, 2025

The South Asian influence in modern-day pop culture is undeniable. Whether it’s people sipping chai lattes or aligning their chakras, the aestheticization of Indian products and practices is a globally...

Seattle Prep’s Very Own Twisted Tale: Amanda Knox

By Kate Smith and Kate Cannon October 20, 2025

Seattle Prep alumna Amanda Knox, who graduated in 2005, is once again the focus of international attention with Hulu’s new series “The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox”. The eight-episode docudrama, which...

Branch Sword uses watercolors to work on Joey and Friends in his spare classtime.

From crayons to comics: The artistic journey of “Joey and Friends” creator Branch Sword

By Gionna Russo, Tennessee High School October 16, 2025

Drawing is a natural stage of development for each and every person, but uniquely, Branch Sword recounts himself being an inspired five year-old, creating complex comic book-style characters influenced...

Vedanshi Prasad writes beautiful poetry and short stories, inspired by her previous struggles and powerful books.

Vedanshi Prasad overcomes obstacles and ignites inspiration

By Prisha Pulastya, Lynbrook High School – CA October 15, 2025

Today I went to the redwood tree,  “I’ve shaken hands with death multiple times,” sophomore Vedanshi Prasad said.  greeted by the brush of its leaves, welcomed in its embrace.  In January...

CHEESING FOR THE CAMERA: Chris Simons smiles down at his phone, just as he greets the teaching focused TikToks he makes.  Simons’ TikTok content varies from “day-in-the-life’s” to skits.

TikTok trendsetter takes over the Bowie teaching world

By Morgan Hertel, James Bowie High School October 15, 2025

Through the crowded halls, a new teacher has become a familiar face to not only his students in the classroom, but also thousands of people on social media. He transforms regular classroom moments into...

Bryce Mikolajczak holds up his cards, planning to make his next move in his game Cell Quest. Photos by Nicolas Cheng and used with permission from Bryce Mikolajczak.

Bryce Mikolajczak’s Cell Quest gamifies the world of cells

By Nicolas Cheng, Lynbrook High School – CA October 14, 2025

In a quiet corner of the Lynbrook library, a group of students lean over a deck of brightly illustrated cards. Instead of kings and queens, they hold mitochondria and chloroplasts. Junior Bryce Mikolajczak...

Rather than hurtle ahead with westernization in an attempt to strike gold in the American market, the K-pop industry shouldn’t be afraid to look into its past for inspiration.

Westernization drains the K from K-pop

By Emma Li, The Harker School October 14, 2025

A month ago, I eagerly checked the HYBE YouTube channel, excited to listen to the debut album of the brand new boy group CORTIS. Though I enjoyed American mainstream music, I looked forward to hearing...

Finding the groove

By Emma Mainarich, Baldwin High School – PA October 10, 2025

For the Youngstown, Ohio, band the Vindys, taking a gig in the Pittsburgh International Airport helped them take off after the Covid pandemic. The pandemic in 2020 was a difficult time for all bands,...

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" (2025)

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another”

By Rocco Awad, Lakewood High School October 8, 2025

A powerful resistance group, a secret high society of racists, an affair, bounty hunters, and a goofy stoner dad played by Leonardo DiCaprio—these may not seem like factors that usually coexist within...

Taylor Swift and the Jazz Age imagery the pop star used to promote her recently-released album 'The Life of a Showgirl.' (TAS Management)

‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Review: Taylor Swift Cosplays as Daisy Buchanan on Latest Album

By Sofia Rodriguez, Brea Olinda High School October 7, 2025

Jewels glint off butter-smooth skin framed by fluffed feathers, a deep red. Dark eyeliner circles electric blue eyes. A 1920s-reminiscent bob crowned with diamonds. The Jazz Age luxury of a Gatsby-like...

Cespedes and Legion members lifted the canvas from the roof.

American Legion Post 716 hosts unveiling for new mural

By Lily Zimmerman, Los Alamitos High School October 7, 2025

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- On Sunday, Sept. 28, a crowd gathered around the Los Alamitos American Legion Post 716 to watch as a team on the roof lifted a heavy canvas obscuring a new mural. Retired Sergeant...

Debra McGuire smiles for a solo shot. Ungerleider said costume design is very important and should be very intentional. "Humans take in things through their eyes, so it's like you're already telling a story about someone by looking at what they're wearing and what their style is," Ungerleider said. 
Photo courtesy of Debra McGuire

‘Silent storytellers’: The job of a fashion, costume designer for award-winning movies, TV shows

By Elisabetta Silveri, Archer School for Girls October 7, 2025

For Debra McGuire, every day at work looks different. She spends some days sitting with writers, dissecting and interpreting the script for any given show or film. She spends others doing research...

A BIGGER PURPOSE. In the children's book "Tiggy the Yarn," Tiggy wants more from life. The book written by senior Ciara Cross is available on Amazon.

Senior turns school project into published children’s book

By Victoria Medina, Willis High School October 7, 2025

I must have been made for something special, But all I do is unravel. Is this all there is? What can I be worth? The words from "Tiggy the Yarn," a book by senior Ciara Cross shows the internal...

Cooper Buckallew, sophomore, reads from the "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon to prepare for his lead role: Christopher Boone in the MTC fall adaptation with the same name.

MTC Announces Cast of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’

By Grayson Bowen and Siya Taneja October 6, 2025

MTC has released the cast list for the fall play "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time."  The book this play is adapted from follows 15-year-old Christopher Boone who finds his neighbor's...

Gazing across the stage, sophomore Alexis Monteleone performs in the school theater.  The Monteleone family’s band “Monte and the Machine” has been releasing music since 2012, but Alexis started her own solo career in 2024 with the release of her first single, Crying Skies. “My whole family is very musical, [and I especially] love writing [songs with them],” Monteleone said.

Harmonies, hurdles and high school

By Charlie Brady, Malia McLellan, Zainab Al-Jaff, Zaina Hasan, and Jude Taher October 3, 2025

Taylor Swift. Olivia Rodrigo. Billie Eilish. Lorde. Each of these musicians has made it big with chart-topping singles, loyal fan bases and worldwide recognition. However, all of these musicians share...

Satya has trained in circus arts for 10 years. As she developed her performance style, she began to combine clowning with her skills as a trapeze artist, and now, with every performance, she pushes her audience to expand their notion of what’s possible.

Senior Satya Dominguez-Hultgren adds whimsy to aerial dancing through clowning

By Lila Coyne, University of Chicago Laboratory High School October 3, 2025

Some of the most famous circus acts have been about escape: a straitjacket, handcuffs, a sealed box. Senior Satya Dominguez-Hultgren chooses silk. Concentric circles bind her stomach, her legs, her left...

Gotham Chopra works on the set of “In The Arena: Serena Williams.” Chopra is one of the three Religion of Sports, a production company that works alongside elite athletes to share their stories through film, co-founders.

‘I’m a storyteller:’ Gotham Chopra documents athletes’ mentality, drive

By Laila Taraporevala, The American School in London October 3, 2025

This story contains an alternate format that can only be viewed on the original site. View this story on The Standard. It was originally published on September 30, 2025.

"Come From Away" takes to the sky at the Paramount Theatre.

‘Come From Away’ soars into audience’s hearts, lands in DGS community

By Joy Haddleton, Downers Grove South High School October 3, 2025

On Sept. 11, 2001, 2,976 lives were lost in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, excluding the 19 hijackers; at the same time, 38 planes filled with 7,000 people were diverted to an...

Skylar Snyder holds up her first published children's book that helps kids understand ADHD with empathy.

Skylar Snyder Turns Her Personal Inspiration Into a Children’s Book About ADHD

By Cynthia Lan, Yorba Linda High School October 3, 2025

While most high school students are going through AP classes, extracurriculars, and college applications, senior Skylar Snyder (12) has done something remarkable during this time. Becoming an official...

Artist and Professor Rigoberto Gonzalez speaking with The Oracle via Google Meet.

Artist vows to be true to himself after painting singled out by the White House

By Rylin Kinzel, Shaler Area High School October 1, 2025

On Aug. 21, the White House newsletter posted an article titled, “President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian,” calling out some of the museum’s displayed artwork, exhibits and even online articles...

ILLUSTRATION: PBS has been defunded after a recent executive order.

Public media memories left defunded

By Evie Fernandez ’27, Lavanya Dixit ’27, and Fiona Seale ’28 October 1, 2025

Wild Kratts, Sesame Street, Curious George, and Odd Squad are just a few of the many shows on the Public Broadcasting Service Kids Channel (PBS Kids) that sculpted what we call our childhood. But after...

"The Compatriots" hometown premiere was followed by a Q & A with the audience. From left to right, the Q & A included Producer Alberto Sayan, Director Spencer Cohen and lead actor Rafael Silvia.

His childhood friend faced deportation, so he made a movie about it

By Annabel Orcutt and Ainsley Jay October 1, 2025

Director Spencer Cohen and Producer Alberto Sayan have been best friends since middle school, both growing up in Natick, a town neighboring Wayland. Although they played sports together and graduated from...

The participants of the Long Walk, a dystopian tournament, walk backwards to watch the violence unfold. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate

‘The Long Walk’ is a thrilling trudge that sometimes loses its footing

By Jillian Ju, Monta Vista High School September 30, 2025

Major spoilers for “The Long Walk” ahead Though it’s been 46 years since Stephen King published “The Long Walk,” the iconic death game returned to theaters on Friday, Sept. 12. Directed by...

Mora speaking at the Youth Poet Laureate ceremony after being awarded the position

Inside Eila Kittikamron Mora’s journey to becoming Chicago’s Youth Poet Laureate of 2025-2026

By Izzy Elkin, New Trier High School September 30, 2025

For Eila Kittikamron Mora, what started out as little more than a way to put her feelings down on paper eventually grew into a serious hobby that would earn her recognition at some of the highest levels. “I...

Coppell senior Sivaank Pothukoochi authored Perfect Silence, a book emphasizing the importance behind embracing the discomfort of standing up for what one believes in. Pothukoochi spends time debating, writing and spreading awareness through his nonprofit, No Child Too Far.

Pothukoochi’s quest for truth in a noisy world

By Prisha Hooda, Coppell High School September 26, 2025

In a world filled with noise, Coppell High School senior Sivaank Pothukoochi authored his first novel, Perfect Silence, a gripping tale that explores the importance behind embracing the discomfort of standing...

Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah of the hit show of the summer, 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' Season three of the Amazon Prime series concludes Sept. 17.

Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah?: ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Phenomenon

By Charlotte Nethers, Brea Olinda High School September 24, 2025

From Helen, Paris, and Menelaus in Homer's The Odyssey, to Jacob, Bella, and Edward in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series, the love triangle has long been a go-to trope to inject drama, fantasy, and a...

Offset’s “KIARI” album cover features the artist lying down contemplatively as he closes his eyes while smoking a cigarette. Photo courtesy of Motown Records.

Offset’s ‘Kiari’ takes an off path to introspection

By Ritik Shenoy and Anish Khinvasara September 22, 2025

With 18 tracks, “KIARI” includes eight features, including Key Glock, Gunna, Teezo Touchdown, JID and John Legend. The album asserts Offset as a standalone artist beyond the fame he achieved with...

“Superman” reimagines the hero’s story as a reflection of modern society. The film was released in theaters July 11, according to Odeon.

‘Superman’ confronts power, propaganda through action, parallels real world events

By Ayra Ansari, The American School in London September 17, 2025

When “Superman” hit the theaters this summer, I went in expecting a classic superhero spectacle — intense fights, buildings falling and a soundtrack that makes you feel like you’ve been pulled...

A family walks through Coyote Point together in one of the scenes painted on the mural. The goal of the mural was to depict the park in an accurate way. "We wanted to make sure that it wasn't like a tropical scene that you would see in a different country. We wanted it to be like, oh, yeah, this is Coyote Point," said Michele Beasley, executive director of the San Mateo County Parks Foundation.

Bay Area youth transform Coyote Point’s public restroom into art

By Keira Sarmiento, Carlmont High School September 17, 2025

A podium awaits as a crowd gathers in front of a public restroom. Members of the San Mateo community marveled at the building’s new mural during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Coyote Point Recreation...

Live, laugh, love... Labubus?

Live, laugh, love… Labubus?

By Adriana Monsanto and Sofia Azevedo September 17, 2025

While scrolling through TikTok last summer break, every third video seemed to feature the same wide grin, fluffy ears and uncanny facial expressions. Some people claimed to own “the one and only...

Art Bias artists Amber Smith, Deborah Shea, and Shari Bryant walk down the San Carlos centennial mural. With the purpose of honoring the city’s history, the San Carlos centennial mural is a massive feat, displaying the result of talent, research, and collaboration within the artwork. The artists received help from local schools and volunteers during the first stages of painting. “In the beginning, we allowed people to sign up as volunteers. We allowed them to do the primer and the triangles. We also had a lot of kids from high school,” Smith said.

San Carlos mural celebrates 100 years of history

By Claire Kornberg, Carlmont High School September 16, 2025

To honor its centennial, the city of San Carlos, in collaboration with Art Bias, created a 6,000-square-foot mural – found on the 700 block of Laurel Street – which features historical hallmarks of...

Sabrina Carpenter just released her seventh studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.” The album is fun and entertaining but lacks emotional depth. “Man’s Best Friend is available on all streaming platforms.

Sabrina Carpenter continues to play it safe

By Ella Bissonnette, Starr’s Mill High School September 16, 2025

Sabrina Carpenter has always dazzled with her sparkling charisma, cheeky puns in her lyrics, and her confident embrace of desire. On “Man’s Best Friend,” her seventh studio album released August...

Chavarkar entering the specialized Percussion room with all the equipment and instruments.

Feeling the music: Purav Chavarkar’s journey as a musician with congenital hearing loss

By Salem Dinh, Huron High School – Ann Arbor, MI September 16, 2025

Senior Purav Chavarkar, a member of the Huron Symphony Band, has always loved music since a young age. Starting out with piano, the notes and rhymes of music remained familiar, but Chavarkar did not get...

Darren Aronofsky’s “Caught Stealing” (2025).

Darren Aronofsky’s “Caught Stealing”

By Rocco Awad, Lakewood High School September 16, 2025

Some of the most beloved film genres are sports movies and mafia films, but Darren Aronofsky’s 2025 film “Caught Stealing” is neither. The film follows Hank Thompson, a former high school baseball...

The American Legion Marin-Davis Post 716 building currently features a white curtain covering the in-progress mural, showing only a small portion of the grand art piece.

American Legion Post 716 to unveil mural, a lasting tribute to veterans

By Leah Oh, Los Alamitos High School June 2, 2025

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – For years, you may have seen a white brick building, a familiar landmark near Oak Middle School, when turning onto Florista St. in Rossmoor. While many residents and students pass...

Main character Mei Lee from Pixar’s “Turning Red” walks a fine line between stereotypical and representative of Asian culture, exemplifying the struggle of Asian American media creators to produce authentic representation. Photo | Pixar

A cultural affair

By Sophia D’Sa and Kate Yang June 2, 2025

As the film’s credits begin to flash and the dimmed lights in the theater slowly turn on, animator Bruce Kuei feels nothing but contentment and pride as he watches the audience whisper admiringly about...

The return of vinyl in the digital age

The return of vinyl in the digital age

By Adriana Monsanto, Hagerty High School June 2, 2025

Surrounded by laptops. Every screen is buffering. One by one, as the cursors stop spinning, the page scrolls down to the “Add to Cart” prompt. The only thing left to do is spam the mouse in a hectic...

Anish Darjee is one of the Baldwin students in a band that celebrates Nepali culture.

Striking a chord

By Arpan Basnet and McKinley Beech June 2, 2025

It’s not uncommon for musicians to be a little anxious when their bands play in public for the first time. That was the case for the Deurali Band, a group that includes three Baldwin students and that...

“The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh,” and the clothing that makes them look like they came straight from a haldi ceremony. (Source: Prime Video)

Peacocks in My Backyard: What “The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh” Gets Wrong

By Kaveri Udupa, Stanford Online High School June 2, 2025

As an Indian American, and more importantly, as an immigrant student, I crave representation in the media. Yet, every single time I begin watching an Indian American show, be it “Never Have I Ever”...

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