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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

Jerry and Sydney Koehle capture one of their many father daughter moments.

Counselor And Principal In Final Year Of Working Together

By Alonna Pfahler, Altoona Area Junior High School December 6, 2024

After being a math teacher at Roosevelt Jr. High School and our school, Jerry Koehle became the ninth grade assistant principal when his daughter Sydney Koehle was in ninth grade. When the junior high...

Seventh-grader Summer Williams prepares to vote during the Duncan Middle School mock election on Nov. 5.

NJHS hosts mock election

By Hunter Phillips and Erta Jetishi November 19, 2024

Tuesday, Nov. 5 was Election Day, and Duncan Middle School students got to vote. While the General Election was taking place, DMS students were given an opportunity to participate in a mock election,...

Clague teachers Meredith Pelchat and Abby Ruehlmann share their pregnancies through Halloween shirts.

A Halloween surprise: the pregnancies of two Clague teachers

By Annabella Mi, Clague Middle School November 18, 2024

Halloween is reputable for its spooky surprises, but Clague teachers Meredith Pelchat and Abby Ruehlmann provided a different kind of surprise on Oct. 31 — their pregnancies. Being close confidants with...

"Growing up, college was something I only saw on TV and never thought possible for someone like me,” Clague teacher Chelsea Brooks said.

From teacher to student to back again: meet Ms. Brooks

By Medha Sangi and Aeda Baang November 12, 2024

When teacher Chelsea Brooks graduated from Pioneer High School as a first-generation student, she faced challenges that many might not understand. In a neighborhood where few pursued higher education,...

Sophia W., Navya K., and Reagan R., are sick of “Thick of It”.

Are we sick of KSI yet?

By Reagan R., Navya K., and Sophia W. October 29, 2024

October means Halloween time, and rapper KSI definitely came up with some spooky stuff of our own. In early October, KSI (and Trippie Redd) took America by storm, releasing their notoriously new song “Thick...

Author Spotlight: Jennifer Nielsen

Author Spotlight: Jennifer Nielsen

By Saanvi Kulkarni, Clague Middle School May 14, 2024

Author of the very popular “Ascendance Series,” as well as the trilogies “The Traitor’s Game” and “Mark of the Thief” and several standalone historical fiction novels, Jennifer Nielsen is...

Mrs. Douglas grades a students paper in Room 320.

Behind The Scenes of Teaching

By Jillian Peralta, Woodbridge Middle School May 9, 2024

8 hours a day. 5 days a week.  But it’s actually even more than that. Teachers are constantly on their feet. Planning, teaching, helping students, and grading. Sometimes they are so focused on their...

Expect a little more of this due to Senate Bill 291. 

Senate Bill 291: Recess is Back

By Angela A., Sydney N., and JD K. May 6, 2024

Remember the repeated bounce of a rubber basketball, or the endless circling of yellow tether balls around steel poles, or that repetitive click as the jump rope smacks and drags across the concrete. These...

Bharatanatyam is Beautiful: a feature on Jay Tavane

By Saanvi Kulkarni, Clague Middle School April 30, 2024

The world is brimming with an array of diverse dances, each with its own unique beauty, all the way from the fiery passion of flamenco to the graceful movements of ballet. One such dance that stands out...

Bonnie Thoe Austin advises two of her auto mechanics students

Shop talk

By Eleanor Montgomery, Cannon Falls High School January 26, 2024

“A mother, once teary-eyed, shared with me at parent-teacher conferences that I was the father-like figure her son was missing.” This is a very good example of the stereotypes that people think...

This is Mr. Nemecek, a P.E teacher here at Day Creek Intermediate who is optimistic about battling cancer. 

What’s going on with Mr. Nemecek?

By Avah C., Penelope M., and Plum C. January 22, 2024

Mr. Nemecek is beloved on Day Creek’s campus. He’s one of those cool, funny teachers that kids hope to have when they get their schedules in the fall. He is known for the fun and energy he brings to...

In certain instances, AI can help or interfere with human creativity.

Does AI have a place in the classroom?

By Amy Fick, Cannon Falls High School January 11, 2024

“Welcome to a transformative journey through the educational landscape, where artificial intelligence converges with learning at Cannon Valley Schools. In this exploration, we delve into the innovative...

Peter Parker and Miles Morales swing into battle in the cover art for the "Spider-Man 2" game.

Possible game of the year: ‘Spider-Man 2’

By Nathan Marchese, Angeline Academy of Innovation January 9, 2024

"Spider-Man 2" for the PlayStation 5 swings into action, capturing the essence of everyone's favorite web-slinger in a spectacular gaming experience. Developed by Insomniac Games, the sequel to the highly...

Buzzer beater! Teachers push to finish the work. It might of been hard at times, but it was all worth it. Teachers always made sure they knew student came before athlete in student athlete.

Student Athletes to Teachers

By Lydia Schimansky, Altoona Area Junior High School December 8, 2023

Whenever we think of our teachers, our first thought usually isn’t their college life. But, not surprisingly, many of them were former college athletes in their days. They weren’t always the person...

This is Mr. Nguyen during his time serving.

Veteran Day: a different perspective

By Sydney N., Day Creek Intermediate School November 10, 2023

North Vietnam intended to have all of Vietnam and to govern it under communism. South Vietnam had another plan. So did the United States and other free countries of the world that feared communist expansion....

Students often wonder how it's like to be a teachers kid. Is it the same? Or are there any major differences?

Behind the Job: A Teacher Kid’s Story

By Kaitlin L., Day Creek Intermediate School October 18, 2023

Everyone knows what it’s like to be a student, being in the classroom for hours on end, dealing with constant studying and homework. But what about the kids whose lives have always revolved around...

An often occurrence is when a student gasps whenever they hear foul language.

Foul Language is Affecting More than You Realize

By Plum C. and Vivian O. October 11, 2023

Have you ever heard of Brown v. The Board of Education? This landmark decision by the US Supreme Court, labeled segregation in schools unconstitutional. Yet even after the ruling, non-white students still...

The art of AI art

By Michelle W. and Kasela D. October 4, 2023

In October 2022, a new AI concept exploded on various platforms–generating more than two million images and over 10 million daily users. What was it? This artificial intelligence program is a digital...

A grand racing experience

By JD K., Day Creek Intermediate School September 22, 2023

Gran Turismo earned a meager 61% on the Tomatometer from professional critics. But what do they know? The public got it right, rating the film with a well-deserved 98% through the Audience Score....

The expectations signs around campus have the saying, "failure is not an option," on them.

Is Failure Not an Option?

By Brooklyn B. and Brooklynn H. September 19, 2023

Have you ever been told that “failure is not an option?” This simple phrase has been Day Creek’s motto since the school’s inception in 2004. The original principal and staff instituted it the...

Always practicing. Witherspoon doesn't only practice during school practices. He also participates in clinics for basketball and football and is going to Brooklyn for a basketball clinic this year.

Multi-Sport Athlete Ezrah Witherspoon

By Conner Ryan, Altoona Area Junior High School May 26, 2023

Imagine waking up at 6:45 a.m, going to school until 2:40 p.m., going home for just long enough to finish homework, then to track practice, working out, practicing basketball at home and finally getting...

There has been an increase in the number of students using AirPods in class, but teachers believe they provide an opportunity for cheating.

Should AirPods be allowed in class? Why or why not?

By Nikki K., Day Creek Intermediate School May 25, 2023

Have you ever seen someone using AirPods in class? Have you ever used AirPods in class? Although they’re generally not allowed, many students argue that they should be. Can the privilege of this technology...

Multi-Sport Athlete Jayce Johnston

By Conner Ryan, Altoona Area Junior High School May 16, 2023

Imagine waking up at 6 a.m., going to school, then directly to a track meet until 8 p.m., and finally getting home just to practice basketball and work on homework until 11:45 p.m. This is the routine...

Habiticas is a helpful habit for students and their procrastination.

Habiticas: A Helpful Habit

By Victoria G., Day Creek Intermediate School May 2, 2023

Read this article and you get a reward! If this was the app Habitica, it would definitely be true.  Many students of all ages wish for a world where chores and work would simply disappear. It may...

During standardized testing, students put up dividers and log onto a secure test browser.

Standardized Testing: Useful or Pointless

By River Y., Chloe L., and Nikki K. April 24, 2023

i-Ready. CAASPP. Two names the majority of Day Creek students dread to hear. It is the season of standardized testing, a time of long hours on a computer, forced silence, and teachers milling about watching...

BAD CHOICES. A Scribe model places his hands through some bars. Juveniles often make choices that can land them in legal trouble. Often, the consequences of their actions come as a shock.

Students Struggle With Their Criminal Past

By Mikaela Pyatte, John Sevier Middle School March 29, 2023

Editor's note: The names of the juveniles in this article have been changed to protect their privacy. Juvenile delinquency, the frequent breaking of laws by a minor, is a major problem across the United...

American culture has been wrestling with the role of law enforcement in minority communities.

Injustices Towards African-Americans Affect How Cops Are Seen In Society

By Ella F. and Razan A. March 22, 2023

As Black History Month came to an end, many people around the country were encouraged to take a real look at African-American history and culture. Perhaps they also reflected on more recent tragic events...

In a special education classroom, aids work with individual students and learn about the students’ abilities, areas of growth, and to help them in aspects where they need more assistance.

United as One: Special Education Students Join General Education Classes

By Nikki K. and River Y. March 10, 2023

Ring! The bell goes off at 8 AM. Time for another day at school. While walking down the hall, some notice a student in a wheelchair and wonder, Where do they go for class? A wide variety of students...

This new form of AI might allow students to have a computer write their essay for them.

A New Level of AI: ChatGPT

By Jasmine L. and Christina C. March 8, 2023

A new AI program has caught the attention of the general public, trending on Twitter and reaching 1 million users within five days of its release, at the same time increasing its holding organization’s...

Administration has a strict policy on dress code, preventing Day Creek students from enjoying a pajama day.

What’s Wrong with Wearing Pajamas?

By Sienna G., Sienna S., and Alice L. January 31, 2023

Spirit days have always been a fun and exciting time for Day Creek Intermediate students. Kids show their creativity while matching the school's enthusiastic energy of a fun school-wide theme. Some even...

William traveled to Dortmund, Germany to compete in the WRO robotics competition.

Day Creek’s World Robot Olympian

By Pablo GS., Josep M., and Ginny Z. January 25, 2023

Imagine working through countless challenges, until finally, out of hundreds of competitors, you receive news that you’ve been chosen for the final competition in the world. This trial will test your...

Behind the Scenes on the Purple Carpet

By Addison J. and Sage P. January 18, 2023

Makayla S. was walking to class to work on a journalism assignment, when her adviser called her over to chat. He showed her a recent unexpected email that could be a unique stepping stone into Makayla’s...

Bagged food waste being placed into a green trash bin.

New Food Compost Law Affects California Residents

By Christina C., River Y., and Jasmine L. January 5, 2023

Have you noticed the new food waste barrels that popped up in our school cafeteria before Thanksgiving break? They are the result of a new law here in California that’s made them a common sight in schools...

DRIVE-IN ENTERTAINMENT A drive in theater is all about sitting back in a car with friends and family and watching a movie on a big screen. Although drive-ins are on the decline, the COVID-19 pandemic brought many customers back.

Local drive-in theater remains despite streaming competition

By Sydney Gentry, John Sevier Middle School January 5, 2023

Like a relic from a bygone era, most middle school students don’t know much about drive-in theaters. They may soon never have the chance to visit a drive-in due to housing developments, smaller families,...

Canned Food Drive

By Anahii H. and Ella D. December 22, 2022

This story was originally published on The Day Creek Howl on December 20, 2022.

Two adolescent girls opening the Gas app and taking a poll

Got Gas? No, the app silly!

By River Y., Christina C., and Jasmine L. December 21, 2022

A new app has entered the social media circle, collecting over $3 million with 1 million active daily users in three months. What is this new competitor? Directed towards adolescents, Nikita Bier, Isaiah...

MISSING BOOKS. New laws and policies may soon see books vanishing from shelves at schools across the state of Tennessee.

TN should keep hands off school library books

By Editorial Staff, John Sevier Middle School December 2, 2022

A new, controversial Tennessee law aims to remove books from school libraries across the state if parents don’t approve of them. This law’s goal is to remove “age-inappropriate” content from school...

DMS school nurse Terry Burdine saw a lot of cases of the flu in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Break.

DMS address flu

By Lillian Thomason, DUNCAN MIDDLE SCHOOL November 30, 2022

The rate of absences before Thanksgiving Break was growing in the weeks leading up to the break. Although not all of the absences were marked as being related to the flu or even sickness, many of them...

“If you’re a fighter or you’re a survivor, it’s still always with you. It’s like a scar that cancer left me with. It left me with hope that I could change the world." -Avah C.

AvahStrong

By Sienna S., Sienna G., and Alice L. November 16, 2022

Avah is a Stage 4 cancer survivor. She is also a curly-haired, jovial 6th grade student. Just two years ago, doctors informed Avah that she had Stage 4 nephroblastoma, a cancer that attacked her kidneys....

BeReal has gained lots of popularity in a very short amount of time.

BeReal’s Blowup

By Arush V., Pablo GS., and Josep M. November 7, 2022

You have two minutes to read this article. Hurry up. This would definitely be the case if BeReal were in charge of the Howl. After many years living under the social media dominance of Instagram,...

How Does Religion/Faith Affect Students’ Daily Lives?

By River Y., Christina C., and Jasmine L. November 3, 2022

On a typical day, Vanmayi B., a seventh-grade student at Day Creek Intermediate, prays before going to bed. Vanmayi was raised Hindu, but gradually accepted beliefs from other religions. “I personally...

Duncan police and fire vehicles gather at the intersection of Chisholm Trail Parkway and Clayton. Duncan Middle School went into lockdown Thursday relating to an issue within a neighborhood next to the school.

Students benefit from lockdown drills

By Berkley Morris, Ava Allbritton, Peyton Griffith, and Bralin McCartney November 2, 2022

Up until Thursday afternoon, Duncan Middle School students had no idea that the lockdown drills they practiced may potentially save their lives. Although Duncan Middle School students and teachers practice...

HEADS UP. Football coach Isaiah Spivey illustrates a proper tackle during a practice session. The most important part of tackling safety is to keep the head safe and let the shoulder pads absorb the impact.

Despite studies that football is not safe, Sevier coaches strive for safety

By Alli Valentine, John Sevier Middle School May 17, 2022

Football is a very popular sport that most everyone enjoys to watch or even play. Research has shown that football poses some dangers to kids who decide to play the game when they are young. Although most...

KEEP THE LEARNING GOING. Substitute teacher Sade Martin fills in for a Sevier Middle teacher. Martin is one of several new substitute teachers who are trying to help eliminate the substitute teachers shortage.

Kingsport, like schools nationwide, struggles to hire substitutes

By Ella Smith, John Sevier Middle School May 16, 2022

There’s a shortage of substitutes in Kingsport City Schools. Like many schools across the nation, KCS has a hard time finding people who want to work as substitutes. There isn’t just one reason people...

A HIGH-FLYING ADVENTURE. Sevier technology specialist Zach Welch holds one of his drones. Welch has a thriving side-business using drones for aerial photography.

The hobby of flying drones faces many legal complications

By Kaylee Hughes, John Sevier Middle School May 10, 2022

Drones have made a big impact on society. The military uses them to fight wars. Amazon and other companies have begun to use them for deliveries. Many people love flying drones as a hobby, but there are...

ENJOYING AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD. Customers enjoy a lunch service at local restaurant "El Loco Taco". The restaurant managed to grow from a food truck to a physical location.

Restaurant “El Loco Taco” is a loco local success story

By Amrick Christian, John Sevier Middle School May 9, 2022

The story of “El Loco Taco” is inspiring. The local restaurant rose from humble beginnings as a food truck to one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in Kingsport. Daniel Lopez is the son of...

Nothing can break the bond between a mother and a daughter. Sarah(38) Alysse (5) on Halloween.

#Sarah’sWay

By Alysse D'Errico, Niles Middle School May 3, 2022

Sarah Elizabeth Matheny- D’Errico. The strongest woman I know, and will ever know. She fought every day until she could no longer. All she wanted was to come back to my dad, brother, and me to live normally...

Special ed. students are back on the Day Creek campus.

A Special Return to Campus

By Ariana A. and Elaria B. April 26, 2022

The past two years introduced a struggle unlike any other for students across Day Creek’s campus. While everyone seems to have a story connected to Covid, few may have considered the impact on our special...

Janelle Cummins is an artist and illustrator and first-generation immigrant.

Janelle Cummins: A Barbadian Artist

By Meena Pradeep, Clague Middle School April 21, 2022

Janelle Cummins is an illustrator and designer who currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Cummins is from Barbados and is a first-generation immigrant. Cummins has worked with big...

Then and Now: Fasolo’s career in softball led her to the English teaching position she has now at the Altoona Area High School. Left: Fasolo pitching during an AAHS away game (Photo courtesy of Alyssa Fasolo); Right: Fasolo posing at her desk in her classroom (Photographer: Melissa Krainer).

Softball Coaches Reveal Past and Talk About Present

By Melissa Krainer, Altoona Area Junior High School April 15, 2022

She started playing when she was five. He’s been teaching for 20 years. Now she’s the head softball coach and he’s the assistant. Their names? Alyssa Fasolo and Scott Berardinelli. Fasolo’s...

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