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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

Most City High students want to leave Iowa after graduation. But why? And is there a way to convince them to stay?

Brain Drain

By Lily Rantanen, Iowa City High School December 17, 2024

A mile and a half away from City High is the University of Iowa campus, a Tier-1 public research university and one of three major universities in Iowa. Despite this, Kenji Radley ‘25 has still had trouble...

Programs often distribute merch without considering whether students actually want the items they are offering, instead ordering bulk and distributing until they run out. Departments like performing arts, athletics, and speech and debate provide swag to members every year, especially with every new production and season, resulting in members receiving duplicates if they continue for multiple years.

Unsustainable swag negatively impacts environment

By Heather Wang and Charlize Wang December 10, 2024

DECA tote bags. Robotics fedora hats. Conservatory hoodies. Year after year, clubs and programs distribute swag to members and attendees. While students sometimes sport these items around school, some...

Holiday heroes

By Palin Nichols, Texas High School December 6, 2024

Eyes glow, teeth show and children of all different backgrounds and ages gather along the sidewalk of Target in Texarkana as police and fire department vehicles roll into the parking lot, lights flashing...

WSPN's Fiona Peltonen, Alex Evangelista and Jessie Dretler unwrap the story behind a chocolate factory in Sudbury. When you enter the store, the mural of the Sky Bar can be seen painted on the walls. When the original owners of Sky Bar went out of business, the Mawhinneys took over the product and the Sky Bar come back began. “I don't know any other food item that is so beloved,” L. Mawhinney said.

The Sky Bar comeback: How one family revived a classic candy

By Fiona Peltonen, Alex Evangelista, and Jessi Dretler November 25, 2024

The Sky Bar, a candy bar from the 19th and 20th centuries, which was discontinued in 2018, has made a state-wide comeback. Introduced in 1938, the candy bar consists of four different sections each containing...

GOP HOPEFUL. Sheehy is running as a Republican to replace incumbent Democrat Jon Tester, who has been in office since 2006. The race is an important one–if Sheehy wins, it could flip the Senate to be under Republican control. (Tim Sheehy Media Kit)

Class of ’04 alumni Tim Sheehy may shape the Senate

By Sonia Kharbanda, St. Paul Academy and Summit School November 11, 2024

On the surface, Montana Senate candidate Tim Sheehy appears like most other far-right politicians–dedicated to pro-life, pro-gun and pro-American values. But Sheehy has distanced himself from certain...

Memories made as Redhawks beat Memorial

By Christine Han and Addyson Schick October 31, 2024

29 games. 116 quarters. 1,392 minutes of game action. 1,075 days. That’s how long it had been since the Redhawks last won a game in 2021, a first round playoff win over Forney. Now, after...

Torn by Tensions

Torn by Tensions

By Luca Vostrejs, Meryem Orazova, and Elise Andrade October 25, 2024

INTRODUCTION With the 2024 United States presidential election just weeks away, the nation braces for a high-stakes showdown between the Republican and Democratic nominees. Running as the Democratic...

A child types out a message on Discord, a popular online messaging platform. Discord was created in 2015 and has over 150 million active monthly users, connecting people from all over the world. The minimum age requirement for the platform in the United States is 13, allowing teens to communicate with each other; however, this policy also poses risks, as online predators may be present on the platform.

Adolescents face growing risk of online exploitation

By Chloe Chu, Carlmont High School October 22, 2024

As technology advances, cyber crimes have become increasingly prevalent in society. The internet connects people from various demographics, regardless of race, age, or gender. While this connectivity...

Coppell ISD is facing budgetary issues in response to insufficient state funding. To generate revenue, the district has been encouraging community involvement through the proposition of the Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) and discussions of school consolidations.

Breaking the bank

By Sahasra Chakilam, Coppell High School October 9, 2024

Careful savings can become vulnerable in the face of emergencies. As the state continues to shortchange public education and take away from crucial district resources, Coppell ISD is compelled to draw...

Confidential student information released in District 203 data leak

Confidential student information released in District 203 data leak

By C.J. Getting, Naperville Central High School October 1, 2024

Confidential student information was unintentionally leaked in Naperville Central’s School Improvement Plan, which was released publicly on Friday, Sept. 20. It was removed on Tuesday, Sept. 24 around...

Sree Senthilnathan, sophomore, reads the memoir "Hidden Girl" by Shyima Hall in the library during her language arts class. Language arts classes are now visiting the library every three weeks for designated reading time as part of the initiative to increase students' literacy skills.

PUSHING FOR LITERACY

By Caleb Monzyk and Anvi Talyan September 25, 2024

Six down, 24 to go. Lucy Gillian, freshman, set a goal to read 30 books by the end of the school year. Currently, Gillian is reading “Powerless” by Lauren Roberts.  “I really love fiction and...

Acceptance rates have been on a downward trend over the past five years, but they are not as concrete as they appear to be.

Playing with Numbers

By Lily Mirza, St. Mary's Episcopal School September 17, 2024

Acceptance rates: one of the first harsh realities high school students have to face when applying to their dream schools. Falling acceptance rates are a trend at colleges across the country — not...

Tammy Webster and members of the Mount Hebron girls' basketball team circa 1990 celebrate by jumping into the air (photo courtesy of Erica Farley, used with permission).

The power of perspective: How Tammy Webster smashes stereotypes with ALS

By Mia Lucas and Emily Rice May 24, 2024

“I didn't know what, but I knew something was wrong,” said Tammy Webster, former basketball star and paraeducator. Webster first began to notice signs that something was off when she was playing...

Cathy Kuhlmeier talks to students about her experience with the Hazelwood East newspaper in 1983.

Kuhlmeier Shares the Inside Scoop of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

By Meghan Lynch, Wentzville Liberty High School May 21, 2024

The United States has a complex and interesting history, especially when it comes to Supreme Court cases. There have been a multitude of cases surrounding First Amendment rights, such as Tinker...

College banners hang in the Career and College Counseling office.

The hidden costs of higher education

By Evelynn Lin '25 and Kaitlyn Ho '26 May 7, 2024

"What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question asked over and over to every kid. Once you reach high school, that question becomes, “Where are you thinking of going to college?” However,...

Seniors Morgan Salisbury, Maya Smith, Natasha Torkzaban and Jack Tell pose before a meeting on March 29 with district administrators.

Fighting for our rights: Gaggle & USD 497

By Natasha Torkzaban, Morgan Salisbury, Maya Smith, and Jack Tell April 19, 2024

We have spent the past four years learning about our free press rights. And we have spent the past five months fighting against a system that threatened them. Last week, our school district finally...

Trouble with transit

Trouble with transit

By Zack Goforth, Grayson Redmond, and Will Clifford April 9, 2024

For those of us in a tucked-in oxford shirt, grey shorts and — can’t forget — a belt, many are fortunate enough to look forward to a set of wheels after finally passing that driver’s test. But...

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff onboard Hydrographic Survey Vessel CATLETT observe the damage resulting from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Stevenson community in shock following Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

By Dominic Snipes, Landon Zernhelt, Gavin Shields, and Ben Johnson March 29, 2024

As a young girl growing up in Baltimore City, Yolanda Peace remembers Sundays when she climbed into the backseat of her family car for a trip over the Francis Scott Key Bridge. “I remember always...

 It’s been almost 13 years since “The Hawk Eye” published the original story, “Baby steps, long strides,” in 2011. Since then, alumni Madie Mckasson and Brandon Van Kuilenburg have worked together to raise their daughter, 12-year-old Skylar Van Kuilenburg. (Photo provided by Madie Mckasson, via Nicholas L. Laning)

Moving forward

By Olivia Evans, Hebron High School March 8, 2024
It was the night before New Year’s Eve — the night before Madie Mckasson’s wedding. She booked a hotel room in downtown Dallas with her daughter, Skylar Van Kuilenburg, and had a mother-daughter sleepover. Madie was excited, but Skylar knew her mom wasn’t always comfortable in the spotlight. The wedding was all about Madie, and it only made her more nervous. Skylar received beaded bracelets with individual quotes on them from her grandma during Christmas. Madie needed something borrowed for her wedding, and Skylar knew exactly what to give her.
An illustration of a therapy session on a Clayton graduation cap.

Do Students Need a Shrink?

By JiaLi Deck, Sidra Major, and Kipp Vitsky February 27, 2024

Ninety percent of Americans feel that we are currently in a mental health crisis, according to the Pew Research Center. In a time when it seems we can hardly agree about anything,...

The issue of gender bias in the gaming industry and community lies in the ignorance of harassment, as people insist that their comments are just jokes, turning the responsibility of female gamers if they feel offended, humiliated, or undermined.

The warped world of gender in gaming

By Qianzi Loo and Meadow Shen February 22, 2024

“Oh, you’re a girl?!” “But wait, you’re too good to be a girl gamer.”  Over time, these deprecating remarks have become running jokes. Still, they serve as reminders of the bias that exists...

The teacher shortage is taking a toll on McLean High School, even two years after schools returned from the virtual format.

The Educator Exodus

By Minsong Ha, Zakareya Hamed, Nimera Shanil, Allie Deutsch, and Sakura Mogami February 14, 2024

Somewhere within McLean High School, a seasoned educator is finding themselves at a crossroads. Wrestling with the weight of prospective decisions and a growing sense of disillusionment, they contemplate...

Hatred and misinformation, concerning the Israel-Hamas war, flood Instagram comment sections.

The web of misinformation

By Shiori Chen, Carlmont High School February 12, 2024

"What the f— are you looking at?" Vicha Ratanapakdee, an elderly immigrant from Thailand, heard these words before a teenager from San Francisco slammed into him. Ratanapakdee passed away two days...

Ready to Wrestle

Ready to wrestle

By Gianna Liu and Celia Sadewasser February 1, 2024

Fourteen rows of wrestlers line up in the middle of the Xtream Arena, each holding a sign with their respective weight class. Before the champion matches begin, the girls march onto the mat in the Parade...

According to senior Wania Munir, respect should be something that's a given and an act of disrespect should not be so easily forgiven. "It's not that hard to respect people's identities and respect people's race and culture. You don't have to be making derogatory comments," Munir said.

From clicks to consequences

By Harper Latta and Nafsiya Hafiz January 30, 2024

Living in an era where social media and the internet can serve as platforms for self-expression, high schoolers often find themselves navigating between showcasing their authentic selves and maintaining...

Evolv weapons detectors were installed in Manual's 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...

Senior Editor-in-Chief, Stella Windhorst, working on the yearbook.

A Family Tradition

By Lily Stroud, Paoli High School January 19, 2024

The Hillcrest has existed since 1948. Over these 75 years, one family has had three generations serve as staff members. Senior Stella Windhorst, this year’s editor-in-chief, is a third-generation...

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...

MSD students lack comprehensive sex education, despite the approval of a new curriculum. The new curriculum does not have a specified course for it to be taught in outside of Personal Fitness and Lifestyle Design.

BCPS passes new sex education curriculum

By Brynn Schwartz and Andie Korenge January 9, 2024

*Names indicated were changed to protect students’ anonymity “At your age, you’re going to have a lot of urges,” Coach Carr said in his iconic line in “Mean Girls,” while teaching sex education....

Homeschooling has shaped students’ development in ways traditional schools do not.

A 1 to 1 teacher to student ratio

By Lilly Wu and Olivia Yuan December 12, 2023

Instead of waking up every morning for 8:30 a.m. classes, a typical day in the life of a homeschooled student can be quite different. Some homeschooled students start their academics later in the morning...

WSS investigates the changes in attention and cognitive function with West students.

1-2-3, eyes on me

By Celia Sadewasser and Shanza Sami December 7, 2023

Buzz — a single notification may only cause a small vibration, but it commands the attention of the typical teenager within seconds. Teenagers are constantly bombarded with notifications: a median of...

Graphic depicting a memorial to an anonymous female student (Hustler Multimedia/Jada Mitchum)

ABEL: In case I die in a school shooting

By Zoe Abel, Vanderbilt University December 6, 2023

Editor's Note: This piece contains mention of gun violence. My laptop password is my dog’s middle name. Yes, my dog has a middle name. Middle name privileges were my dad’s consolation prize after...

Michelin inspectors visit fine dining establishments frequently, remaining anonymous in compliance with the guide.

Behind the Michelin star: Anonymity of Inspectors

By Gracia Shao-Xue, Carlmont High School December 1, 2023

In the captivating realm of Michelin dining, anonymous assessors traverse the culinary landscape, concealing their identities while holding the ultimate authority over the fate of restaurants and chefs.  ...

Do We Trust Students?

Do We Trust Students?

By Charlie Meyers, Alex Cohen, and Kipp Vitsky November 28, 2023

Intro Homeschooling is the fastest-growing form of education in the United States. Citing statistics from thousands of school districts, The Washington Post reported that the number of families educating...

Samantha Wurm shows a tattoo she got in April in remembrance of her father who passed away Jan. 13. The scene depicts one of Wurm’s favorite memories with her father, Tony as they overlook Lake Superior’s North Shore in Grand Marais, MN in Sept. 2012.

Sitting with the silence

By Soraya Keiser and Alyssa Malyon November 16, 2023

Editor’s note: This story contains the topic of suicide. — Samantha Wurm sat in her childhood bedroom and sobbed. Her Bible had been left on the bookshelf collecting dust for six months, but...

The Fighting Highlander mascot in the BHS main gym represents all of Baldwin's sports teams.

‘Relegation’ proposal would let struggling teams drop down a level

By Jacob Staley, Adam Degenhardt, Jackson Sgattoni, Nico Macurak, and Kevin Hutchinson November 14, 2023

After struggling in the AAA division, Baldwin’s ice hockey team was moved down to the AA level several years ago. There, the team was so successful that it won the 2021 state title and earned a promotion...

Lower attendance rates in Coppell ISD schools are negatively affecting district funding and students' academic performance. CISD is in the midst of a 12-week attendance campaign to combat lower attendance rates.

More than a headcount

By Sahasra Chakilam and Aliza Abidi November 7, 2023

It's a typical Wednesday morning at Coppell High School and the day of an AP English Literature unit test. CHS English teacher Benjamin Stroud holds 29 test copies. Little more than half his students...

Wearing her custom Wonder Woman drag costume, drag queen Kelly Kline poses confidently. Kline occasionally wears her Wonder Woman costume to protest for LGBTQA+ rights.

“We Battle People Every Day”: Lives of Drag Queens in Austin

By Alessandra Ashford, WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - Austin November 1, 2023

Irvin Horn takes an hour to put on his makeup, and he’s not even close to being done with getting dressed. He still has to do his hair and get into costume. In a couple hours he’ll step on stage...

Each week, students from all across campus make their way to one of three stadiums to watch the football game. Friday Night Lights, however, is much more than that. These are the stories of those behind a high school staple, Friday Night Lights.

Redhawks flock together for Friday Night Lights

By Maya Silberman and Haley Ward October 31, 2023

A hallmark of the high school experience. An event that unites students from football, to Student Council and photography. Every Friday, Redhawks across campus flock together for a weekly staple:...

West High’s Sudanese community shares how the current situation in Sudan has affected them.

Sudan’s struggle

By Reem Kirja and Jane Lam October 24, 2023

Television screens flick through various channels, each showcasing unique turmoil— climate change, deforestation and the Russo-Ukrainian war. However, one topic isn't receiving the same extent of coverage,...

Minnesota Hillel on Sept. 23, 2019.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict brings fear, stress and perseverance to UMN students

By Grace Henrie, University of Minnesota October 20, 2023

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has affected University of Minnesota students’ mental well-being as some students have said they feel scared because thousands of people have been killed or wounded in...

WSS covers recent legislation regarding censorship and the LGBTQ+ community in classrooms.

Education legislation

By Kamakshee Kuchhal, Shanza Sami, and Marie Stier October 12, 2023

High school students file into classrooms at the start of the school year, brimming with curiosity and anticipation. However, students face a dramatic shift in the educational landscape this year as the...

Sophomore Faith Won writes in her notebook during sixth period English class in Room 64.

UPHILL JOURNEY: Sophomore with muscular myopathy advocates for herself

By Jaimie Chun, Sunny Hills High School October 11, 2023

A memorable color that sticks after meeting Won is red — not because that’s the color of her electric wheelchair, rather through her personality. “I like red because it looks clean, bold and straightforward,”...

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...

Will Seavers and friends after he received his medal at the Special Olympics. After discovering a love for basketball, Will began to compete for his middle school team and participate in the Special Olympics games.

Will’s World

By Isaiah Macri, Hagerty High School October 4, 2023

You are having a bad day—maybe you just flunked a math test or had a falling out with a close friend. As you mope to your next class, you’re approached by a friendly face and can’t help but smile....

The FSACC facility was condemned as unfit to host a child care facility in 2022, and they now hope to find a new location for the center.

Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center faces eviction

By Charlie Fee and Ben Luka Sheddrick September 29, 2023

After a year-long battle with the Ross Valley School District (RVSD), the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children's Center (FSACC), which has provided subsidized child care in Marin County since the early 70’s,...

Otter 841 clings onto a vibrant surfboard in the waters off Santa Cruz's Cowell Beach in June. Many surfers have reported encounters with this otter outlaw, and authorities are still searching for her.

Otter 841: The audacious, surfboard-snatching menace

By Victor Gong, The Harker Upper School September 28, 2023

As surfers ride the waves in the cool blue waters of Santa Cruz, one omnipresent threat looms over them all — an overly-social, delinquent sea otter. The aquatic outlaw, which local officials call Otter...

Interim High School Principal Jack Phillips approves the affirmation of student free expression rights Sept. 8. The affirmation was developed by the Private School Journalism Association and the Student Press Law Center to ensure that students in school-sponsored media have free expression rights.

Interim High School Principal affirms student free expression rights

By Sophia Bassi and Oskar Doepke September 27, 2023

Interim High School Principal Jack Phillips signed an affirmation of student free expression rights Sept. 8. The affirmation, which was developed by the Private School Journalism Association and the Student...

TRAFFIC ON PRESTON 
As Marksmen start coming into school on a Thursday morning, students and other passing drivers cause heavy traffic.

Dallas driving disasters

By Hilton Sampson and Arjun Poi September 26, 2023

As the traffic light flashed green, senior Sharang Vyas lurched forward. Accelerating onto the toll road access ramp, he felt his anxiety begin to resurface. With only a short runway of an entrance...

GANAS Algebra 2 is just one of the six racial affinity classes that ETHS offers for Black and Latinx students.

Seeking Affinity

By Sophia Sherman, Isaac Suarez Flint, and Marin Ubersox September 22, 2023

2,580 miles away from her home in Medellin, Columbia, Maria Gomez stepped into Evanston Township High School (ETHS) for the first time in 2021, a junior in high school. As Gomez made her way through the...

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