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

Deforestation is a horrible phenomenon, affecting all corners of the world and having extraordinarily negative effects on both humans and animals. It’s impossible to pinpoint deforestation on one specific cause, but much of it can be accredited to palm oil. In the last few years, palm oil has grown to be a big problem for animals and people alike. “Palm oil is a big issue because so much of the rainforest is being converted to palm oil plantations and a huge loss of species matters.” AP Environmental Science teacher Paul Hage said.

Worth its weight in blood: The problem with palm oil

By Lauren Holcomb, Parkway West High School October 25, 2023

Deforestation. The word evokes powerful visuals of thousands of trees being cleared by shockingly industrial, murderous machinery. It’s a scary thought that a person wants to put out of their head as...

School districts in Texas have considered implementing a four-day school week. The Sidekick staff writer Elizabeth De Santiago thinks a four-day week would be favorable for students involved in extracurricular activities and beneficial for mental health. Graphic by Omega Tamang.

I’m for four-day school weeks

By Elizabeth De Santiago, Coppell High School October 25, 2023

I wake up to another Monday morning. It is almost like the weekend never happened, I spent the entirety of my two days off cramming homework. I can’t help but think of what I could have done if I had...

Throughout history, girls have been taught to maintain a role in society, often accommodating to the pressures and needs of others. The Sidekick CHS9 editor Nyah Rama thinks the unequal expectations placed on women has a negative sociological and psychological effect on them. Graphic by Minori Kunte.

I am not your perfect girl anymore

By Nyah Rama, Coppell High School October 24, 2023

Last month I said the words “I’m sorry” at least five times a day. Why?, you may ask. Did she say something rude to a teacher? Did she hurt a friend's feelings? Did she turn in an assignment late? Nope....

Column: The Erosion of Local Journalism

By Jackson Lythgoe, Logansport High School October 24, 2023

In an age where an abundance of information is at people’s fingertips and defined by the rapid dissemination of information, we are witnessing the growth of communities finding themselves trapped in...

Students bike among cars and pedestrians.

The Importance of Bike Permits, and Why They Aren’t Enough

By Connor Carroll, Sage Creek High School October 23, 2023

When I learned about the new bike permit program near the end of summer break, I felt that familiar sense of exasperation with change that I always feel when I have more paperwork to do. This frustration...

Students at CESJDS represent American Jewry and stand together in support of Israel

Diaspora Jewry has an obligation to support Israel

By The Lion's Tale, CHARLES E SMITH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL October 23, 2023

Israel is in a state of war. With every passing second, there are high-rise buildings burning to the ground, citizens desperately seeking information about their missing family members and a rapidly increasing...

The 16 plaintiffs that initiated the nations first youth-led constitutional case, Held v. Montana. The landmark case was ruled in their favor on Aug. 14.

From Classrooms to Courtrooms: Montana Youth Win Battle for Greener Future

By Ellie Segura, Brea Olinda High School October 19, 2023

In recent years, the role of youth activists in shaping future climate litigation has been nothing short of revolutionary. By challenging government policies and demanding stronger environmental protections,...

ILLUSTRATION: The front of Strath Haven High School on a fall day

EDITORIAL: Students are not alone

By Editorial Board, Strath Haven High School October 19, 2023

A successful school is made up of two things: good students and great teachers. As students, our responsibility every day is to go to school, pay attention in class, and do our homework. Not many people...

The ICCSD needs to speak out and support students regarding new laws.

Editorial: Broken identities

By WSS Editorial Board, West High School October 17, 2023

For some, school is a second home, a place where they can fully be themselves, away from their difficult home lives. But now, some students can no longer call school a safe space. On May 26, the Iowa...

Though a growing diverse American society may imply otherwise, banned books are steadily on the rise. In addition to reflecting one of the most widespread forms of censorship in the nation, banned books also undermine education by hindering the youth generation from being able to make educated decisions.

Banning Books Poses A Threat to American Culture and Education

By Aarya Kale, WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - Austin October 17, 2023

Portrayed to the world as a vibrant utopia complete with a vast variety of music, art, cuisine, and especially social habits, America is most highlighted for its spectrum of people from all backgrounds,...

According to Reader’s Digest, the differences between audiobooks and reading a physical book are minimal which is why audiobooks should count towards ones reading goal. However, not all sources agree. Psychology Today’s Jessica Schrader and Daniel Willingham insist that there is a distinction between the two, and that they cannot be substitutes for one another.

Flipping pages or pressing play: do audiobooks count toward reading goals?

By Christine Han, Liberty High School - TX October 13, 2023

It may not be reading, but audiobooks should count towards one’s reading goal. According to Reader’s Digest, experts say that the difference between listening to audiobooks and reading a physical book...

Students have to weigh their options when using the restrooms at LHS.

Column: A Disgrace

By Justin Snay, Logansport High School October 12, 2023

How can we justify no men's restrooms in the English wing? Half of the men’s restrooms are not available in the school. This needs to stop. When I walk into the school, I see many interesting things....

The security barrier between Jerusalem and the West Bank in the center of the Old City.

The Crisis in the Middle East Is Complex; Terrorism Is Not

By Eliza Lampert, Latin School of Chicago October 12, 2023

Note: The opinions expressed in this op-ed represent the perspectives of its author, not the voice of The Forum. I was about to go to sleep on Friday night when a CNN notification popped up on my phone:...

Senate File 542 expands the maximum amount of hours 14-year-olds can work on days when school is in session.

Loosened child labor laws in Iowa puts teenagers at risk

By Armaan Bhagwat, Pleasant Valley High School - IA October 11, 2023

An attempt to provide more opportunities in the workforce could put teenagers in danger while clocked in. Iowa Senate File 542, passed in May, loosened restrictions on child labor laws, subsequently placing...

If adolescent menstruators were informed about what is happening within their bodies, they
would feel strong and secure in themselves. Currently, students are taught about healthy
relationships, drug use and personal health in General Health, but menstruation isn’t covered.

Changing the cycle: instituting menstruation education in health classes

By Stella St. Clair, Midtown High School October 7, 2023

As students, we're taught about various aspects of our bodies and health, but one essential piece of the puzzle is often left out: periods. At Midtown, students are required to complete one semester...

Sheltering students from information that parents deem inappropriate robs students of a quality education.

Us vs. them

By Niveda Hari and Sarah Liu October 7, 2023

On Aug. 21, hundreds of parents gathered in Sacramento to protest a series of new bills they claim violate their parental rights. In particular, they were protesting bills like Assembly Bill 1078,...

America Won (Trust Me, We Get It)

America Won (Trust Me, We Get It)

By Karmiah Smith, Dreyfoos School of the Arts October 7, 2023

The sounds of tapping pencils to desks, marker caps opening and closing, and pens clicking fills classrooms as students monotonously recite the Declaration of Independence. Teachers stand in front of their...

Editorial Board: End the Attacks on Transgender Youth

Editorial Board: End the Attacks on Transgender Youth

By Editorial Board, Marquette High School October 7, 2023

The Washington University Transgender Center abruptly ended its gender-affirming medication services on Monday, Sept. 11, due to a law signed in June that prevents transgender minors and some adults from...

Seminole County has the strictest interpretation of the School-Sponsored Events and Activities Law. With its lack of effectiveness and its confusing components, students scramble to get permission forms filled out to attend extracurricular activities.

Parent Permission Forms— an inconvenience for all

By Greta Carrasco, Hagerty High School October 7, 2023

An average student fills out three permission slips for a week’s worth of after-school activities. The next week the same student has four more forms to fill out, with one of them being the outdated...

Sophomore Meredith Ho edits an interview transcription on Otter.ai. With the addition of AI guidelines to the student handbook, our editorial board has been questioning how AI technology can impact journalism.

Editorial: AI is a tool, not the future of journalism

By 23-24 Editorial Board, Archer School for Girls October 5, 2023

At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, Archer’s student handbook's section on academic dishonesty was updated to incorporate guidelines for artificial intelligence, saying academic dishonesty...

Similarly to vaping, the exploding online gambling scene has an immense appeal to teenagers. Unlike vaping, however, it appears that nobody is concerned about students gambling.

Gambling in class: The new vaping in the bathroom

By Ichi Bai, Walt Whitman High School October 5, 2023

Student names have been changed to protect anonymity. Beck, a senior at Whitman, has a problem. It’s costing him money, it’s illegal and it’s incredibly addictive. Many would guess he’s a nicotine...

An AP US Government textbook is opened to a subunit dealing with women’s rights and equality.

We don’t need more AP histories

By Charlie LaRocca, Center Grove High School October 5, 2023

Two teachers at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton, California have taken it upon themselves to petition the College Board to instate an AP US Womens’ History course to detail the contributions of...

A United Nations subcommittee sits in session in the UN HQ this summer in New York City

UNfinished: Is the United Nations a broken alliance?

By Sofia Barrera, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart October 5, 2023

If the United Nations is truly a symbolic representation of world peace, then I am worried. I visited the United Nations Headquarters in New York City this summer with a group of journalists from the...

Skincare content circulates all over social media, exposing young consumers to the industry. However, many anti-aging products were not formulated with young consumers in mind.

Anti-aging content online promotes damaging standards, harms young consumers

By Yasmine Rivera, The American School in London October 5, 2023

As I scrolled through my TikTok For You page this summer, I found myself horrified by the extreme measures some influencers were taking in order to avoid aging. I watched, astounded, as creators described...

 Although there is a dedicated point in time to inform and engage in suicide prevention, the topic of suicide should be highlighted all year round; not just in the span of a month.

Season of fallen leaves

By Carley Bailey, Millard West High School October 5, 2023

Varieties of hued reds and oranges suffuse each tree once the first cool breezes hit in the early weeks of fall. Yet, with as beautiful and lively as the flourishing autumn leaves are perceived to be,...

A statistic revealing how female features widen the gender gap in sports.

Opinion: Women in sports must wear white shorts to lessen gender gap

By Gigi Gordon, CHARLES E SMITH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL October 4, 2023

Around the world, female athletes have stopped wearing white shorts because of “period anxiety.” The idea is to raise awareness for the cause on an international scale; however, there are much more...

CLOS(ET)ED IN: Forced outing policies in educational institutions protect no one while harming the lives of countless LGBTQ+ youth.

When School Walls Speak: The harm of forced outing

By Anthony Park, Northwood High School October 4, 2023

It’s caging in on you, concealing such a sacred aspect of your identity from almost everyone you know, everyone but one trusted confidant you are sure will keep your secret. You glance up at your them—a...

The progressive pride flag, featured in the middle, is representative of the whole community. In the middle, the white, blue, and pink stripes represent transgender people, while the surrounding rainbow is representative of the whole community. The rim features a black and brown stripe, representing the people of color who were heads of the gay rights movement.

The danger of North Carolina’s anti-LGBTQ bills

By Hannah Suehle, Athens Drive High School October 4, 2023

Six months ago, North Carolina drew up one of their first anti-trans bills. Now, they have rapidly expanded to 11 bills and counting. As for the U.S.? The country is up to a whopping 496 of these bills....

Queer education is needed in Hudson Schools

By Tobias Banozic, Hudson High School October 4, 2023

Anti-queer legislation has been on the rise, and it is still rising, even more for anti-transgender bills. There have been 566 bills introduced in the US, 368 are still active and 8 are active in Ohio,...

The live-action version of The Little Mermaid reimagines the original story in a new light.

Remakes should add to the story, not repeat it

By Akshya Mahadevan, Richard Montgomery High School - MD October 3, 2023

The idea of remaking old movies and TV shows is a controversial one. Those who oppose remakes believe that they are a waste of time and money, claiming that the originals are often classics that can be...

Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, Parkway discontinued study halls throughout the district. Concerned over the consequences it may have on their academic success, several students and teachers have spoken out against the elimination of a necessary tool. “Kids arent abusing study halls to sit there on their phones or something. They might need [more support]. Just because youre not taking this amount of AP classes doesnt mean youre not being challenged, and just because youre not having ‘X’ amount of hours every night doesnt mean you have enough time to get homework done,” chemistry teacher Chloe Gallaher said.

Study Hall: setting up students for success or stress?

By Pathfinder Editorial Board, Parkway West High School October 3, 2023

Kicking off the 2023-24 school year, students were forced to say goodbye to study hall as the district removed it as an option for students. The decision wasn’t well received by students, parents, teachers...

This spring will begin the schools first ever season of girls flag football. Doubt still remains as to whether this sport will become as popular and appreciated as boys football.

Tackling clichés

By Lia Miller, Hagerty High School October 2, 2023

Nothing is more American than football. Think about it: there truly is no activity that embodies the spirit of the United States more than watching huge, sweaty men tackle each other in pursuit of an ultimately...

More and more frequently, academic essays and research write-ups are overpowering the impact of creative writing.

Opinion: We’re losing the “arts” in English language arts

By Winnie Einhorn, Woodside High School - CA October 2, 2023

Topic sentence, context, evidence, analysis, transition. English students see these rigid, sentence-by-sentence expository writing outlines beginning freshman year, and practice them consistently throughout...

The media we consume also serves as an educator. The world is a diverse place, and movies and television shows should strive to reflect the ways in which it is distinct.

Complexity of diversity in media

By Yifan Li, The Harker Upper School September 29, 2023

Characters flit in and out of my computer screen, their stories blossoming in each frame that passes. I scroll up endlessly, engrossed in a show and wanting to know what happens next, and soon, I’ve...

It’s time to end legacy admissions

It’s time to end legacy admissions

By Clare McRoberts, University of Chicago Laboratory High School September 27, 2023

In June, when the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action, it barred race-conscious decisions in college admissions but still permitted universities to practice legacy admissions in a vast sea of...

The shooting at the Raintree Apartment Complex on Aug. 30 is just one of several recent local incidents involving armed crime. These crimes are not an anomaly -- theyre reflective of a national crisis of gun violence.

Too Close to Home

By Ellie Segura, Brea Olinda High School September 27, 2023

In even the quietest corners of America’s small towns, where life is generally serene and idyllic, tragedy -- like the Aug. 30 fatal shooting at Brea's Raintree apartment complex -- can strike with unexpected...

Although acceptance of all languages is desired, people continue to hold inherent biases about the language and accent of non-native English speakers.

Linguistic racism perpetuates stereotypes in media

By Laura Chen, Pleasant Valley High School - IA September 27, 2023

Linguistic racism encompasses all racism spurred by differences in language and accent. There are many ways this can occur, but it is most notably illustrated through the stereotyping of foreign accents...

PragerU is an FLDOE approved educational vendor. Their videos can now be shown in the classroom, and pushes a political agenda on students through misinformation.

PragerU—a threat to keeping our history alive

By Kailey Calvo, Hagerty High School September 26, 2023

Being kept as a slave is better than being killed, no? Slavery was part of life all over the world. It was America that began the conversation to end it. Feminists, celebrities and politicians spreading...

These emergency guidelines should be posted in every Woodside classroom.

Opinion: My Life Matters More Than Your Gun

By Jaiedenn Dolan, Woodside High School - CA September 26, 2023

One evening, before school season started, I was in the living room scrolling through my phone when a particular advertisement on television caught my attention. It starts off with a child showing off...

TikTok’s Booktok trend has created a rise in young adults reading books with explicit ideas meant for adults.The Sidekick editorial page editor Aliza Abidi has growing concerns on the new normalization of largely explicit adult fiction and its effects on adolescents. Graphic by Minori Kunte

Where’s the Y in YA?

By Aliza Abidi, Coppell High School September 26, 2023

I close out of TikTok and eye the bookshelf in the corner of my room. I have a diverse arrangement of genres, characters and memories within the tear-stuck and earmarked pages. Coming out of quarantine,...

The cartoon dramatizes how music theory can ease someone’s understanding of music.

Opinion: Advancing the music program with AP Music Theory

By Chloe De Leon, Woodside High School - CA September 22, 2023

Woodside High School’s robust music program lacks one essential class that could give students the opportunity to further their understanding of music while earning college credit: AP Music Theory. ...

9/11 is one of the most tragic events that has taken place in United States history — a day many looked death in the eyes. People’s lives were drastically changed, including mine.

Opinion: 22 years later

By Eyesha Sadiq, Hebron High School September 21, 2023

September 11, 2001. It was the day that two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. It was the day that thousands of innocent lives were lost. It was the day that altered many...

Student press rights must be protected

Student press rights must be protected

By Jack Tell and Natasha Torkzaban September 21, 2023

National outrage spread quickly when police raided the press office of the Marion County Record, a small but fiery local newspaper in central Kansas. Police removed phones and computers in a highly...

 Iowa legislature dictates a change in the policy of what students in Pleasant Valley’s high school orchestra should wear.

An attack on self-expression: Iowa’s gendered clothing laws restrict student freedom

By Laura Chen, Pleasant Valley High School - IA September 20, 2023

“In Iowa, we still know right from wrong, boys from girls.” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ polarizing statement in the last ad of her 2022 re-election campaign has only been reinforced by her legislation...

The students run to the fence to congratulate the football team on their win against Ballard.

OPINION: Louisville’s shortcomings in welcoming adolescents into public spaces

By Grace Fridy and Naomi Fields September 20, 2023

Teens across Louisville do not know where they are welcome. From football games to movie nights with friends, constant barriers make it difficult for high schoolers to engage in social activities. High...

Greta Gerwigs Barbie faces criticism in Korea due to its womens rights awareness and feminism messages. Illustration by Christine Park.

I’m a Barbie Girl in a Korean World

By Serena Travers, Catherine Park, Leanne Yoon, and Christine Park September 20, 2023

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie boasted unmatched box office sales as the billion-dollar movie of the year. In the Western world, Barbie mania peaked to the point of total media saturation alongside release date...

The dilemma of being a part of two cultures is a familiar one to many Americans of Indian descent. The Sidekick CHS9 editor Nyah Rama shares her personal struggles with being estranged from her culture. Graphic by Noor Fatima

Diary of a coconut

By Nyah Rama, Coppell High School September 20, 2023

“N-Y-A-H. Yeah, I know it is spelled weird. It is Swahili.” Every August I have this conversation at least three times a day whether it be with teachers or the new friends I make who have not figured...

Empty calories \ “Girl Dinner” started as a way to express freedom with food but has turned into a vessel for glorifying not eating a filling amount, such as having only an iced coffee for dinner or a few crackers.

Why “girl dinner” is problematic

By Maggie Volpi, Wylie East High School September 20, 2023

Trigger warning: mention of disordered eating. If you’ve spent any amount of time on Instagram or Tiktok recently, there’s no doubt you’ve come across at least one video that looks something like...

Opinion: A Work of Fart

Opinion: A Work of Fart

By Sunny Li, North Allegheny Senior High School September 19, 2023

In today’s shaky political climate, one issue lingers in the air. A stigma has been unjustly silencing Americans for generations, stripping them of a fundamental human birthright. It’s time that society...

Senior Sebastian Harvey stands masked on MSMS campus. During Orientation Week, MSMS experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 cases, causing approximately 30 people to be sent home.

Harvey: We survived a COVID outbreak. Why was masking not encouraged?

By Sebastian Harvey, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science September 18, 2023

One of my best friends caught COVID-19. It wasn’t the blatant, guns-blazing kind of sickness. This variant slipped in unnoticed and smirked on its way out.  A week ago, I sat next to him in our special...

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