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

Oakmont High Schools Wellness Center provides a space for students to learn about self-care and balance, talk to a mental health professional, or simply take a short break.

Student privacy or parent rights?

By Nova Roden, Oakmont High School February 20, 2024

“More parent involvement isn’t always a bad thing, but I think there can be more harm than good done from it,” Oakmont senior Viktoriya Rotaru said. On Nov. 9, 2023, the Roseville Joint Union...

Guided by a love for writing that emerged at a young age, Eli Saslow knew early on in his career that he wanted to write about people. Now, his work reporting on some of the most divisive issues in the country has appeared on the front pages of the nation’s most prestigious publications.

Two-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner Eli Saslow Visits La Salle

By Seychelle Marks-Bienen, La Salle Catholic Preparatory High School February 19, 2024

At 12:05 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, the computer lab was buzzing with energy. Around 40 journalism students were crammed into the room, holding notebooks and pens and chatting as they waited for the bell...

In response to the abundance of false information online, a new bill was signed that requires K-12 teachers to teach media literacy skills.

New media literacy law seeks to educate students about fake news

By Joelle Huysmans, Burlingame High School - CA February 19, 2024

According to a 2019 Stanford study, two-thirds of students tested couldn’t distinguish editorial content and advertising, and 96% didn’t comprehend why a climate-change website supported by a fossil...

On Feb. 13, several news media sources published stories claiming Park will newly allow opt outs for LGTBQ+ content. This is not new — Park has always had an opt out option.

It’s business as usual

By Anya Panday, St. Louis Park High School February 16, 2024

Rumors of a potential parental lawsuit have been brewing through the halls, posing the question: what will Park do next? On Feb. 13, several articles published stories claiming that Park will now allow...

Principal Ann Bonitatibus teaches a seventh period Ethical Leadership course. The class covers the fundamentals and applications of being a leader. “In other schools, the Ethical Leadership class was intended [for] principals to meet periodically with their SGA leaders or some club presidents,” Bonitatibus said. “At TJ, we wanted to take more of a philosophical approach to ethics in leadership.”

Principal Ann Bonitatibus will teach Ethical Leadership course

By Robert Stotz, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology February 15, 2024

Jefferson principal Ann Bonitatibus is set to teach a seventh period of Ethical Leadership for second semester. The decision came just over a week prior to the beginning of the second semester, on Monday,...

Cedar Trails Exploration Center offers students opportunities to work with industry-level technology

Cedar Trails Exploration Center offers students opportunities to work with industry-level technology

By Emma Clement, Mill Valley High School February 14, 2024

A New Era High schoolers are no strangers to technology use. With the school’s shift to 1-to-1 laptop to student ratios and its switch to almost entirely online assignments through Canvas, this...

Zyn pouches are oral nicotine products that users put under their upper lip, visually concealing them. They come in flavors ranging from citrus to coffee. In Illinois, a person must be 21 to purchase any tobacco or nicotine products. All flavored liquid nicotine products are illegal in Cook County. However, Zyn patches are not liquid until moistened in the user’s mouth.

Students use Zyn nicotine products, despite discouragement

By Audrey Park, University of Chicago Laboratory High School February 13, 2024

Editor’s note: Students spoke to the Midway on the condition of anonymity due to age restrictions for the products mentioned. Both students are at U-High. Convenient. Discrete. Potentially healthier....

Mia Urzua, senior, walks past the New Building in the rain on Feb. 5. California experienced record-setting amounts of rainfall from Saturday to Tuesday, with Brea accumulating 6.26 inches, the most in north OC.

Record Rainfall Drenches Orange County, BOHS

By Lauren Ko, Brea Olinda High School February 9, 2024

Sodden socks, soaked backpacks, and drenched jeans were the norm for students on the BOHS campus this week as California experienced unprecedented levels of rainfall. By early Monday morning on Feb....

Protestors gathered outside Manual.

Demonstrators at Manual protest JCPS response to sexual abuse allegations

By Cooper Walton, duPont Manual High School February 9, 2024

A small group of protestors gathered on Cardinal Boulevard outside Manual on Tuesday afternoon, speaking out against JCPS’ continued employment of twins Ronnie and Donnie Stoner. The protestors held...

Senator Mitzi Epstein holds up the menstrual equity bill she and Sharett worked on together. If the bill passes, all public restrooms in Arizona will contain free period products providing access to those who need them but are unable to afford them. (Photo courtesy of Ava Sharett)

Breaking boundaries: Ava Sharett strives to pass menstrual equity bill

By Asiana Guang, Xavier College Preparatory February 9, 2024

On January 8, 2024, Ava Sharett ‘24 arrived at the Arizona State Capitol for the Opening Day Ceremonies of the Arizona State Legislature to introduce her menstrual equity bill. “I felt like menstrual...

Staff clears water from the flooded basement of the lab building.

L.A. Flood Disrupts Hami Flow

By Ambrielle Ayllon and Lauren Legaspi February 8, 2024

This morning, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced that all schools, with the exception of Vinedale College Preparatory Academy and Topanga Elementary Charter, would remain open despite numerous...

New web filter GoGuardian has blocked the school districts own live streams.

Flagged

By Penelope deRosset, Freya Heinzer, and Rowan Roberts February 7, 2024

Instagram - blocked. TikTok - blocked. Pinterest -blocked. Cool Math Games - blocked, The New York Times - blocked. This year the high school started using GoGuardian, a monitoring program that keeps track...

Atlantic Speech Team Evacuated From Competition After Bomb Threat

By J. Molina, Atlantic High School February 7, 2024

A bomb threat forced the evacuation of all performers and spectators present at the IHSSA Southwest State Large Group Contest. Members of the AHS speech team were also present at Ankeny Centennial High...

Recent charges against an employee have impacted the Bellwood-Antis School District.

Charges shake up B-A’s athletic department

By Kate Wallace, Bellwood-Antis High School February 7, 2024

Recent events have led to a shake up in the Bellwood-Antis School District. Almost three weeks ago on Jan. 10, Mr. John Garritano took over as interim athletic director after one current and one former...

Seniors talk to one another in their period 1 AP English Language class on Feb. 5. Los Angeles Unified School District campuses remained open on Monday despite a rain storm that began during the weekend. A total of 116 students, about half of the student body, attended school on Feb. 5.

Campus remains open on Monday despite heavy rainfall

By Jasmine McNair, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School February 7, 2024

Although senior Josiah Lands, who takes the public bus to get to school every morning, attended school today, he found that coming to school today wasn’t necessary and the downpour from the atmospheric...

Across the nation chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of school days) has doubled since 2018. BHS has seen a 75% increase in that same time frame and now has a 28% chronic absenteeism rate.

Unexcused

By Connor Byam, Burlington High School February 6, 2024

Twenty-eight percent of BSD students were chronically absent last school year – having missed more than 10% of school days. This follows a nation-wide trend of increased absenteeism in recent years....

Words like zesty have entered student vernacular as an alternative way of refencing queerness in a disparaging way.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Language on the Rise at Latin

By Scarlet Gitelson and Carolena Tognarelli February 2, 2024

Over the past several months, LGBTQ+ Affinity leaders and students say they have seen an uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ language throughout the Latin community. “There have been concrete examples of people...

Empty recycling bins lining the sidewalk at the back of HHS.

HHS recycling program thrown out with trash

By Mary Clare Ingram, Homewood High School February 2, 2024

This school year began with 16 rolling recycling bins lining the sidewalk behind HHS, emptied for the summer without a program to utilize them.  This summer, the city of Homewood switched from Republic...

Advisory students collect trash behind Fine Arts. Hundreds of students have participated in organized campus cleanups. “Kids need to do their part, adults need to do their part,” campus administrator Brynn Thomas said.

Creek Struggles to Tackle Trash Crisis

By Peter Philpott, Cherry Creek High School February 2, 2024

Every weekday morning, at 6:30 AM, Creek maintenance staffer Tyjuan Martin begins his trudge about campus, collecting trash bag after trash bag from the exterior trash cans of Creek, Campus Middle School,...

Dayana Dominguez (24) after matching to Amherst University through the QuestBridge Foundation.

Dayana Dominguez is off to Amherst

By Vikram Sambasivan, Robinson High School - FL February 1, 2024

After years of hard work and determination, Robinson’s very own Dayana Dominguez (’24) received admission to Amherst University through the Questbridge Scholarship, a program that works to match underserved...

Jimmy Gwinner, junior, and Nour Elbeshbeshy, senior, present the topic abortion for Politics Clubs meeting on Thursday, Dec. 14. Members from the Students For Life (SFL) Club, including Natalia Montilla, senior, attended the meeting with a pro-life perspective.

Students For Life Club Gains Admin Approval, Continues Search for Sponsor

By David Moss, Marquette High School February 1, 2024

When Hanna Patterson, junior, first heard about the Students For Life (SFL) club in early December, her main thought was “Why?” “I didn’t know why they would want to bring that issue to MHS,”...

The Minnesota state capitol, with two fliers that say new state standards and new ethnic studies class.

EHS’s Social Studies Department revises curriculum in response to new state standards

By Claire Chen, Edina High School January 31, 2024

On Jan. 8, the Edina School Board approved a proposal by Edina High School’s Social Studies Department outlining a new curriculum for the 2024–25 school year. The proposal fulfills the requirements...

A student stands next to a sign that protests the board decision during the Board of Education meeting. The decision was highly controversial and caused many people to rally against the decision.

A Student’s View on Recent Board of Education Decisions

By Birdie Brereton, Francis Howell Central High School January 31, 2024

Francis Howell School District has been the subject of media attention as many students, families, and teachers have been pushing back against the original verdict and rallying together to attempt to reinstate...

Librarian Jenahlee Chamberlain returns books to City High shelves after injunction on book bans

Students and Teachers React to Injunction Against Book Ban Law

By Tai Caputo, Iowa City High School January 30, 2024

On December 29, 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher filed an injunction against the book-banning portion of Senate File 496 just before the law was set to fully go into effect in all Iowa public...

Parkway buses await student riders in the transportation lot. Photo by Esther Wang

Driver Shortage Continues

By Esther Wang, Parkway Central High School January 30, 2024

Imagine walking out of school at 4 p.m., hoping to get a ride to go home. But no bus is available and the only feasible options are to either walk for an hour-and-a-half or get on the bus with all the...

A Pleasant Valley student attempts to access AEAs online resources, but is unable.

In the crosshairs: AEA services at risk amid Iowa educational reform bill

By Jae Jepsen, Pleasant Valley High School - IA January 30, 2024

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds proposed a bill in early January that would entirely reconstruct the state’s Area Education Agency (AEA) system, limiting the organizations’ services and granting increased...

Min Williamson stands with an LGBTQ+ flag draped across her shoulders. SF-496 has mandated that teachers must report student requests to go by different pronouns than those listed in school records. The legislation poses new challenges for trans youth. Created with Canva.

Iowa “Name Law” Bill Poses New Challenges for Trans Youth

By Chantal de Macedo Eulenstein, Ames High School January 30, 2024

On the first day of school, U.S Government and European History teacher Kirstin Sullivan began attendance with a warning; if students wanted to be identified by a different pronoun than that listed in...

Two students of Campus Middle School and one of West Middle School, the two primary feeder schools for Creek, created controversy when racist videos they had posted involved discipline and reactionary involvement from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). “We want kids to be able to learn and you cant learn in an environment that you feel is not conducive to learning and that you dont feel safe in,” NAACP Denver Branch President Sondra Young said.

Racist Videos From CCSD Middle Schools Spark NAACP Involvement, Responsive Education

By Peter Philpott and Serenity Hurtado January 26, 2024

First, a West Middle School student posted a racist rant on a group chat on Sept. 26, using slurs and saying Black people shouldn’t exist. Then two Campus Middle School students on Nov. 30, allegedly...

Winter clothing drive for migrants at Wimette Metra Station

NT Township seeks to support arriving migrants

By William Karr, NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL January 25, 2024

Buses of migrants from Texas have arrived in New Trier Township over the past month, with some communities taking steps to regulate the unscheduled bus drop-offs.   Since Dec. 25 and Dec. 31, 2023,...

A student watches Memento in film class for their unit study on director Christopher Nolan. After the countys December policy change requiring principals or media specialists to approve all movies shown in class, Film Studies, which has special approval for its film list, might be the only class on campus showing any films.

New SCPS policy restricts movies in classrooms

By Josephine Lim, Hagerty High School January 24, 2024

When film teacher Jaimie Ling first heard about the district’s new movie restriction policy, her first thought was, “Oh no, here we go.” Last December, Seminole County published new guidelines...

Over 300 students have participated in interviews for on-the-spot admissions opportunities this year, earning 460 scholarships totaling almost ,000,000.

MCPS hosts regional on-the-spot admissions event

By Nikhita Dass, Walt Whitman High School January 24, 2024

On Jan. 11, MCPS hosted a regional on-the-spot admissions event at Seneca Valley High School from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for high school seniors to receive immediate college decisions from select schools.  ...

Club members Simeon Moulton and Brandon Parnell present to an AP Biology class about BEI.

Brain Exercise Initiative: new LHS club supports local elders with dementia

By Juliet Outka, Lawrence High School January 24, 2024

Each year, Alzheimer’s Disease affects millions of elders nationwide. Alzheimer's Disease is a terminal illness that progressively causes one to lose their memories and other important mental functions. Although...

U.S. House of Representatives member Mike Levin (CA-49) awards seniors Zonglin Zhang and Terry You (rightmost) for their app, Ember, which aims to help youth feel more open in conversing about mental health. Although Ember is still being refined and not available on the app store yet, it can be viewed on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website, in the U.S. Capitol Building or requested for a demonstration, according to Zhang.

Seniors Terry You and Zonglin Zhang Help Teen Mental Health with Congressional App Challenge Winner ‘Ember’

By Catherine Li and Ruhi Samudra January 23, 2024

From learning coding as a hobby to having their skills recognized on the national level, seniors Terry You and Zonglin Zhang and their teammates, Santa Margarita Catholic High seniors Jingwen Mao and Liam...

Leaving home behind. Kathryn Murchison ’25 packs for a six month journey to the nation’s capital. She will be a senate page for US Senator Susan Collins. “It’s my political passion that drives me toward this opportunity. I’m nervous, but excited,” Murchison said.

On her way to witness history

By Lane Carmichael, Presque Isle High School January 22, 2024

On Jan. 26, junior Kathryn Murchison will walk out the doors of PIHS and into the heart of where history is written - the United States Senate. From January until June, Kathryn will eat, sleep and breathe...

Evolv weapons detectors were installed in Manuals building on Dec. 13, 2023. Photo by Aly Peeler

Evolving backward: The company behind JCPS’ new weapon detectors accused of unreliability

By Caleb Masterson, duPont Manual High School January 22, 2024

On July 25, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted 5-1 to place $12 million worth of metal detectors in every JCPS middle and high school by the end of the 2023-2024 school year. JCPS purchased...

EL Specialist and ESOL Department Head Stacy Henry talks with Lizeth Rozo Barroso (12) during a sheltered EL Government class.

Bridging Language Barriers

By Kriti Dhaduvai and Diego Perez Palomino January 22, 2024

The ESOL, or English Speakers of Other Languages department at PCH serves to help students who have immigrated here from other countries to learn English as well as acclimate to their new environment. ESOL...

Awaiting their arrival in second semester, Kindness Kits will fill the cubbies and commons of the Jefferson hallways. The intent and purpose of them is to give students an opportunity to have a resource at hand,  Director of Student Services Sara Genetin said. They will be close by a classroom within a cubby to allow students to destress themselves.

Kindness arrives in hidden nooks

By Samhita Kotamraju, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology January 22, 2024

It’s no secret that Jefferson students run themselves thin. From track tryouts to Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry labs to BC Calculus homework to Spanish PALS, even the top students in the nation feel...

English teacher Erika DeShay Lowenkron incorporates queer texts in the new course CP Introduction to Queer Literature, including classical works such as Orlando by Virginia Woolf as well as contemporary LGBTQ+ writings. “The goal is to try to give a little bit of history of queer authors and queerness in literature,” DeShay Lowenkron said.

CP Introduction to Queer Literature Highlights LGBTQ+ History and Experiences

By Izzy Krauss, Cherry Creek High School January 19, 2024

English teacher Erika DeShay Lowenkron will be teaching the new CP Introduction to Queer Literature course next year. While much of classic literature is taught in schools, having a class dedicated to...

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By Sophia D'Sa and Benjamin Zhang January 19, 2024

Governor Gavin Newsom introduced a new committee in late October to address a recent trend of computer science teacher shortages in California, which currently ranks 39th in the nation for the percentage...

Wong arrives at the SCV Rehabilitation Center for physical therapy after initial care at the UCSF Medical Center. Photo used with permission from Marilyn Wong.

Assistant Principal Eric Wong’s road to recovery

By Ashley Huang, Lynbrook High School - CA January 19, 2024

Assistant Principal Eric Wong faced a life-threatening hemorrhagic stroke, requiring urgent surgery. Wong received swift treatment and was released after physical therapy.  He is currently residing...

Senior Seoyoung Jun solders the board for her device as a part of her project. “I was like, What aids are there on the market that they use? And I found that compared to [a lot of] other common [conditions], there wasnt much done for them,” Jun said. “It was a lot of the same technology that was used 30 years ago. So, I was like, I [should] try to develop something, so I decided to develop a portable device. And then, I designed a little device that could help them recognize 3-D space.”

Regeneron STS names seven Jefferson semifinalists

By Karen Lee, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology January 19, 2024

After filling out a lengthy application, which includes a research paper and several essays regarding the applicant’s background, on Jan. 10, 300 students were recognized as semifinalists for the Regeneron...

2023 became a frightful year for both Cobb County School District (CCSD) students and educators; as teachers face possible penalties for their book recommendations or participation in book-related events, students feel restricted in their abilities to read from CCSD libraries. As a result of powerful organizations such as Moms for Liberty and political figures such as Ron DeSantis, school districts have removed numerous books regarding racial and LGBTQ+ issues at an alarming rate. However, students strongly advocate for the end of book censorship and showcase how controversial books may leave a positive impact on them.

The relentless removal of books in America

By Ivan Mendoza, North Cobb High School January 19, 2024

Ever since April 28, 2022, teachers across the state of Georgia have started to hide certain books behind curtains. Governor Brian Kemp signed several education bills into law including HB 1084. This law...

Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy answers questions from reporters following a rally in Ames, Iowa Jan. 14. He announced he would drop his presidential bid and endorse former President Donald Trump after placing fourth at the Iowa caucus Jan. 15.

Ramaswamy drops presidential bid after placing fourth at Iowa caucus

By Clara Martinez, The American School in London January 17, 2024

Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy dropped his presidential bid after he earned less than 8% of the Iowa caucus vote. He also announced he would endorse Trump’s campaign to continue the “America...

First and second-generation students at Manual have persevered through many struggles within their community and they wish to help others in the same journey.

Manual students foster resilience in immigrant communities

By Dia Cohen and Isabella Edghill January 17, 2024

First and second-generation students at Manual are bravely and resiliently paving a path that very few in their families have trekked before. In the case of second-generation students, their immigrant...

A teacher earlier this week anonymously provided The Accolade with a letter titled, “NOTICE OF DATA BREACH,” which states the cause of the recent internet outage that all schools in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District faced last November before Thanksgiving break. Emails from The Accolade that have been sent to the superintendent asking for comment on the document and the ransomware attack were unresponsive until Friday, Jan. 12.

HACKED: Unspecified number of district employee data taken from November’s network outage, according to Friday, Jan. 5, letter

By Alexxa Berumen, Sunny Hills High School January 17, 2024

*The Accolade strives to follow professional journalism practices in identifying all sources in the stories it posts or publishes. However, in rare cases in which sources’ identities could risk harm,...

Hall monitor Carren Rogan subs for language arts teacher David Choate during his absence on Sept. 14, 2021. Due to the continued lack of substitute teachers, hall monitors or other teachers fill in when needed.

Staff shortages stem from district competition, occupational disinterest

By Maddy Cox and Samantha Haney January 12, 2024

Rockwood has been experiencing staff shortages in a variety of areas from substitute teachers to custodial staff. Despite district efforts, these shortages have persisted for a number of years and have...

Openverse.org, which is a website used by Akins publications students to find open licensed pictures is blocked by filters, as well as many other useful websites.

New internet filter causes frustrations

By Diego Hernandez, Akins High School January 12, 2024

A new Internet filter went into effect in September on the Austin Independent School District network, causing disruptions to lessons and access to online resources students and teachers . The new filter...

Mr. Lee lifts portion of the gyms Lego flooring, revealing the wet, black lining.

Aging Gym Poses Disadvantage to Student Athletes

By Carolyn Taveras and Ramata Diop January 10, 2024

When Pace’s physical education teacher Mr. Lee lifted up a portion of the gym flooring, the air smelled of garbage. The barrier between the flooring and the foundation was wet and covered in a grainy,...

Pride Crosswalk in Swarthmore

Swarthmore rainbow crosswalks targeted in homophobic vandalism

By Evie Fernandez '27 and Anabella Larin '27 January 10, 2024

On Nov. 5, residents of the Swarthmore community noticed that one of the two freshly painted rainbow crosswalks were vandalized—spray painted with the words ‘no gays,’ as well as multiple other homophobic...

Former President Donald Trump was recently kicked off the 2024 presidential ballot in Maine and Colorado for his part in the Jan. 6th Insurrection, 2021.

January 6 insurrection – democracy at a crossroad

By Madelyn Johnson and Megan Quinn January 10, 2024

Jan. 6, 2021 - A joint Congress session was held at the United States Capitol to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell took the Senate floor and...

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