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

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...

Teens continue to go on with their day as shootings of others their age ensue nationwide.

In America we (dis)trust: the effects of guns on America’s youth

Ringing the wrong doorbell. Pulling into the wrong driveway. Opening the wrong car door. Dropping a basketball in the wrong backyard. Once seen as innocent mishaps, these actions may warrant a death sentence...

Though the May 15 incident is by far the worst, Junior Lynsey Stevenson has been isolated from her peers at numerous other choir events

‘I felt like I was just a shadow’: PV fails to meet expectation of inclusivity

By Jae Jepsen, Pleasant Valley High School - IA June 1, 2023

What Happened? The Spring Choir Concert held on May 15 was a joyous event meant to celebrate PV Choirs’ successful year and honor graduating seniors. From beginning to end, this celebratory spirit...

Students say they are using ChatGPT primarily for convenience, but AIs true capabilities tell a different story.

EDITORIAL: ChatGPT – Beware the prices of convenience

By The Boiling Point Editorial Board, Shalhevet High School June 1, 2023

“Write me a five-paragraph scholarly essay on the American Revolution.” “Summarize Act 3 Scene 2 in Romeo and Juliet.” “Solve the following physics equation…” Since the launch of...

The military-entertainment complex allows the Department of Defense to have a tight leash on Hollywoods movie production—especially surrounding movies they have a vested interest in.

Opinion: Hollywood’s Front Lines

By Aris Pastor, North Allegheny Senior High School May 31, 2023

They are our survivors. Our honor bound. Our zombie killers, our superheroes, our action figures. They also make up 13% of the homeless adult population. They have a higher rate of risk seeking behaviors,...

A student walks towards the Japanese Classroom at Lynbrook, only to be surprised when opening the door to find a brick wall and caution tape. Students and teachers were excluded from the decision making process and the district should be more transparent in the future.

Editorial: District neglects community input

By Epic Staff, Lynbrook High School - CA May 26, 2023

District leaders failed to include teachers and students in the decision making process regarding their preliminary plans to remove all level four World Language classes and the smallest language program...

This illustration shows a Black girl with an afro. Since second grade, I’ve attended predominately white schools and have often been discriminated against for my natural hair. (Graphic Illustration by Lola Thomas)

Op-Ed: I’m not a guest, I’m a member

By Lola Thomas, Archer School for Girls May 25, 2023

"Is your hair fake?" "You speak so well; I'm shocked!" "You got in because you're Black." "You're so pretty, for a Black girl." "Don't steal anything; I'm watching you." I have heard these...

The hazy diction of translated text is often left unnoticed and can stifle fluent and authentic communication or complete appreciation of secondary literary works.

Words aren’t enough: exploring limits of translation

By Susanna Tang and Ashley Huang May 23, 2023

“Tsundoku” is a Japanese word that describes the habit of ambitiously buying books but letting them pile up unread. Uniquely expressed only by this language, the word holds cultural Japanese connotations...

At 9 years old, I wear a qipao in preparation for Lunar New Year. Even if Asian Americans relationship to their culture is complicated, stigma surrounding assimilation is ignorant and unjustified.

Op-Ed: Asian American assimilation is not yours to judge

By Allie Yang, Archer School for Girls May 19, 2023

When assigned to read "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu in my 10th grade English class, I did not expect to cry. After all, why would I? I live every day as an Asian American, so no story about the Asian...

Senior Gaby Smith holds a pennant from Howard University, which she will attend in the fall.

Embracing the ‘B’ in HBCU

By Gaby Smith, Brea Olinda High School May 19, 2023

“I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions.” Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston. Toni Morrison....

Women across the nation are balancing their their educational wellbeing and their physical one. This photo represents the struggles women face while attempting to find the balance.

Periodically disrupting learning

By Claudia Molatore and Hannah Aldrich May 19, 2023

Staring at the clock, unable to use the restroom, the young woman in class becomes increasingly worried and distracted. She ponders whether it is better to leave the class without permission or stay...

The last ever picture of Sandvall and her mom at a volleyball game late Sept. of 2020.

Mother’s Day without a mom: Year 3

By Jada Sandvall, Lincoln High School May 19, 2023

Yet another year has passed, and I still hate Mother’s Day. Since last year, I have gotten two tattoos in my mother’s honor, met for lunch with her friends and worn countless pairs of her shoes, but...

GREEN: A field at the edges of Auschwitz is surrounded by barbed-wire fencing. The class of 2023 is visiting Israel and Poland this week, and saw Auschwitz on Sunday.

SENIORS IN POLAND: Colors of death

By Jack Metzger, Shalhevet High School May 19, 2023

Poland. The beautiful, awful country. A country that has both life and death. Poland, a country of green grounds scattered with mustard flowers. But beyond those mustard flowers is death. Life and death...

Editors Rose Sarner (23) and Maia Alvarez (24) edit articles during class. Since NPR and other publications have ceased posting on Twitter, our editorial board has thought a lot about our presence on the platform.

Editorial: Our presence on Twitter

By 22-23 Editorial Board, Archer School for Girls May 18, 2023

This past April, National Public Radio (NPR) announced that it would cease posting on Twitter from its 52 accounts amidst recent controversy surrounding the social media platform labeling the nonprofit...

OPINION: Diversity in literature is key to a more representative and compassionate community

By Isabella Edghill, duPont Manual High School May 18, 2023

Providing access to books with all-encompassing worldviews helps students feel seen in their school and help them build empathy for others. Schools should promote these stories for students, but their...

Former Duchess Camilla’s title as Queen rather than Queen Consort is likely to further exacerbate British discontent towards the monarchy. In the U.K.’s post-Brexit political climate, defining national identity was already a daunting task; the royal familys decision to refer to Queen Camilla without the term Consort has only added to the confusion.

Former Duchess Camilla’s coronation as Queen jeopardizes British identity, tradition

By Tara Behbehani and Annika Skorski May 17, 2023

Former Duchess Camilla was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland May 6 despite her lack of direct descent from a monarch, according to AP News. The decision to crown...

Humor is subjective, and jokes about race are not different – its the situational context and understanding of the community that dictate whether theyre appropriate or not.

Is it a racist joke or just a joke about race?

By Meggie Chen, Monta Vista High School May 15, 2023

Bro you forgot to turn on the blinker when turning? Man, we [Asians] really are bad drivers. Imagine wearing shoes in the house white people! You’re such a coconut – brown on the outside, white...

the Editorial Board believes that Strath Haven should adjust its approach to teaching Human Sexuality by ensuring that health courses are truly comprehensive.

EDITORIAL: Reconsider Sexual Education at Strath Haven 

By Editorial Board, Strath Haven High School May 15, 2023

The unsigned editorial represents the opinion of the Editorial Board, which consists of the 2022-2023 student editors. Students have sex. It’s a fact. According to the CDC, more than half of teens...

Normalize Our Differences

By KAITLIN SWIFT, Eastern Regional High School May 15, 2023

Neurodiversity is the array of differences in the functions of the brain. It is a wide spectrum, ranging from ADHD, autism, Tourettes, anxiety, depression, and hypersensitivity. These conditions can impact...

Recently, the College Board removed Roe v. Wade from the AP Government and Politics curriculum. Nationwide, students will no longer learn the case that defines the women’s rights movement. Roe still belongs in the classroom.

College Board Nixed Roe: Here’s Why it Still Matters

By Nikki Iyer, San Juan Hills High School May 8, 2023

It doesn’t matter if you’re pro-life or pro-choice. If you love the Dobbs decision or if you hate it. There’s one thing that we all need to agree on: students need to continue learning about Roe...

How diverse is your AP class: The equity gaps in advanced classes remain prominent in the US

By Viktoriia Sokolenko, The Masters School May 8, 2023

Black students make up 15% of high schoolers in the US, yet only 9% of students enrolled in at least one AP course. Similarly, 25% of high schoolers are Latino, but they make up only 21% of students enrolled...

Tilting their head patiently, senior Macy Ziegler gets their face painted in the library in preparation for the Spring Pep Rally. The library invited students to come in during lunch and paint each other’s faces West-themed for the event. “[The event] sounded fun. [Face painting] is a thing I havent done since I was eight, and I had a friend who wanted to go, so I figured, why not? Its free,” Ziegler said. “I hung out in the library before school a lot last year with my friends, and I enjoyed it.”

Beyond Books

By Ashlyn Gillespie, Parkway West High School May 8, 2023

In late March, Missouri’s House of Representatives motioned and approved to allocate $0 to public libraries in the next state-operating budget. Republican House Chairman Cody Smith proposed this $4.5...

WSPNs Katya Luzarraga discusses her experience with sexual assault and harassment in school.

Opinion: My silence didn’t mean it was okay

By Katya Luzarraga, Wayland High School May 5, 2023

Trigger Warning: This article discusses situations of sexual assault and sexual harassment. It wasn’t my fault. It will never be my fault. When I was in eighth grade, I was sexually assaulted in...

Performance-based assessment tasks are more holistic and effective than SBAC tests, which present a snapshot of student education and is meant to assess areas of improvement, but student proficiency has stayed the same in recent years.

SBAC Remains Fruitless Toward California Education

By Elise Ngo, Portola High School May 5, 2023

Every student in California is familiar with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) standardized exams but may not know where the test data goes or how it affects them.   While it serves...

An image of the Supreme Court building where Groff v. Dejoy will be heard.

Groff v. Dejoy: The battle over the Sabbath

By Adin Halbfinger, CHARLES E SMITH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL May 5, 2023

On April 18, the Supreme Court heard the case of Groff v. Dejoy, a landmark religious liberty case between an Evangelical postal worker and the federal government. The United States Postal Service (USPS)...

Enacting sensible laws that prevent mass shooters can help reduce gun violence in the United States. California has one of the strictest gun laws in the nation, requiring a 10-day waiting period for gun purchases and thorough background checks of purchasers, and California has a gun death rate that is 37% lower than the national average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Guns are killing people. So why are we looking away?

By Hannah Ko, Portola High School May 5, 2023

In recent years, the United States has witnessed an alarming increase in mass shootings, leading to shocked and grieving communities that struggle to make sense of the violence that has rocked their lives.  ...

While I appreciated the life skills teachers attempt to raise Autism awareness with the first bulletin board, it contained an outdated, harmful symbol to represent autistic people. I sincerely appreciate how quickly the teachers changed the symbol once they learned of the negative connotations of the puzzle-piece symbol.

Reject puzzle piece as autism awareness icon

By Victoria Veselka, McCallum High School May 5, 2023

A few weeks ago, I saw a postboard near the life skill classrooms that said “April is Autism Awareness Month,” but it was decorated with puzzle pieces. As an autistic person, I immediately felt uncomfortable...

Girls across the U.S. get their periods, but those in Florida wont be able to learn about them. On Feb. 22, HB 1069 was filed, restricting health and sexual education for those under sixth grade, including period education.

Menstrual education is necessary, period

By Nadia Knoblauch, Hagerty High School May 1, 2023

The jog in from recess leaves many girls covered in sweat, dirt and grass stains from their outdoor play. Walking into the bathroom, one girl discovers a concerning spot on her shorts—one that doesn’t...

When will “enough” truly be enough?

By Cameron Mitchell, Collierville High School April 26, 2023

On the evening of Friday, January 27, the Memphis Police Department released footage of the appalling incident that led to the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols. The Memphis community and the entire world...

People who have dealt with the loss of friends and family members often have nowhere to express their feelings but pieces of paper. There are people who you can turn to, however, such as the Teen Counseling Hotline at (800) 852-8336.

Opinion: Dear Diary, why don’t we talk about teen deaths?

By Crista Alarcon, Starr's Mill High School April 26, 2023

Dear Diary, Earlier this year, there was yet another school shooting. This time in Nashville. It was at an elementary school. When did things like this start becoming “just another?” Six people...

After School Satan Clubs reveal dangerous lack of information among community members

By Sarah Lockley, Southern Lehigh Senior High School April 26, 2023

On February 20, Saucon Valley School District superintendent Mrs. Jaime Vlasaty approved the After School Satan Club (ASSC) – a program sponsored by the Satanic Temple – to rent space in their middle...

Junior Maggie Simonyan performs a cultural dance in her traditional Armenian clothing known as a Taraz. The Taraz and jewelery she wears originate from an Armenian region known as Artsakh, located in Southeastern Armenia. The Armenian national costume, having existed through long periods of historical development, was one of the signals of self-preservation for the Armenian culture.

The weight of remembering: Being a descendant of Armenian genocide survivors in the 21st century

By Maggie Simonyan, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School April 26, 2023

I am a descendant of an Armenian genocide survivor. My ancestors fled the Armenian village of Mush, which is now under Turkish occupation, to seek refuge in modern-day Armenia. Each year, as Armenian...

When students at MCHS hear racist comments, many ignore it — or, worse laugh at it. When students are approached about their behavior, their quick response is, “I didn’t know.” It’s time MCHS does better at confronting and taking responsibility for this behavior.

Opinion: It’s time to confront racism at MCHS

By Lydia Lawrence, McHenry High School April 25, 2023

Would you call out your friend if they were being racist?  Obviously your first answer should be yes, but it doesn’t appear to be that easy to execute anymore at MCHS, if it was ever easy to begin...

My younger sister and I work at the register at Timeless Treasures Ticktocker Thrift Shop in Culver City. We were nervous for our first time managing the register, as our people skills had gotten worse due to quarantine. However, spending hours talking to customers helped us improve communication with them through words and friendly gestures.

Op-Ed: Too many words

By Lucy Williams, Archer School for Girls April 24, 2023

The story of human communication has shifted drastically in recent years. When we were isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had hours to text friends, write long emails to teachers and rethink witty...

Opinion: U.S. Healthcare—Or the Lack Thereof

By Olivia Shubak, North Allegheny Senior High School April 19, 2023

Oxford Languages defines care as “the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something,” though in the American healthcare system, the word—in...

Female students across the country, including Tyrone, have reported sexual harassments and assault.

“I was violated in so many ways”: Tyrone Teens Speak Out on Sexual Assault

By Cassidy Miksich, Tyrone Area High School April 18, 2023

The Centers for Disease Control recently released its bi-annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey and concluded that female youth across the United States are experiencing “record high levels of violence,...

The National Rifle Association (NRA) Annual Meeting is taking place in the Indiana Convention Center this weekend.

Crossroads in the crosshairs

By Kate Strunk, Center Grove High School April 18, 2023

This week, instead of using my weekly AIM time to study for my biology test and practice my geometry problems, I had to spend that time planning what would happen if an active shooter came into my school...

The Biden administration’s approval of the Willow Project to begin production in Alaska has sparked an uproar of protest on social media within the past month. The green light for such a massive oil drilling project leaves many questioning whether environmental activism is being prioritized at the governmental level. “The Willow Project being approved puts a lot of uncertainty about [the] types of politicians we can trust,” sophomore Amelia Geistler said.

Willow, at what cost?

By Risa Cidoni, Parkway West High School April 17, 2023

In the past month, the name “Willow” has not been unfamiliar to many across the United States. From thousands of TikToks with the trending hashtag #Stop Willow to a social media petition that raised...

Despite the increased popularity of women’s athletics, the media creates debates that disregard athletic accomplishments, choosing to rather focus on race and gender.

A double hit: The media vilifies Black female athletes

By Leila Assadi, Pleasant Valley High School - IA April 14, 2023

During the final minute of the tough battle between the Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Tigers, LSU player Angela Reese taunted Iowa by gesturing John Cena’s iconic “You Can’t See Me” move and pointed to...

In this photo, I chose to cover my eyes and mouth with a white cloth to represent the isolating experiences I’ve had at predominantly white schools. The cloth symbolizes how I have been held back and mistreated by some of my white peers and teachers, and my hands peeling back the cloth is me bravely stepping forward and telling my story for the first time.

Alone in a Crowd: Being a Black Student at a Predominantly White School

By Jasmine McIntosh, La Salle Catholic Preparatory High School April 14, 2023

I am a Black student who has attended predominantly white schools my entire life.  At times, this has been a very isolating experience, but also one that has undeniably shaped me into the person I...

Many students face pressure to succeed and get into a good college. Thus, they turn towards cheating and stat-padding.

Competitive academic culture: The ill-fated ending of cheating and stat-padding

By Andrew Liu, Bellaire High School April 14, 2023

Compete. Fail. Cheat. This trifecta has pervaded the academic landscape and has become commonplace in the lives of students. In such an environment, it's no secret that the fear of failure has created...

Despite the risks accompanying private user information input to companies, it is far too common for consumers to share their data without a second thought.

A technological façade: The ignored problem with data collection

By Jake Wilsted, Pleasant Valley High School - IA April 13, 2023

In a world where technology dependence continues to grow, people are often blind to the implications of using its applications. Upon signing up for an application or membership program, people are prompted...

Nerf guns like these will be used to play Paranoia this year. The game is a fun tradition, but its time to end it.

Paranoia should be canceled

By Mary Plotner, Lake Forest High School April 7, 2023

Paranoia, the game where teams of seniors try to "assassinate" each other with NERF guns,  is a fun tradition for the senior class. Students have been enjoying it for years, and this year's contest is...

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