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The Project 2025 predicament
September 17, 2024
As students return to school, they encounter new or updated cell phone policies that often restrict their use completely in classrooms. "So far, the teachers, staff, and parents have been very supportive of our intentional enforcement of the policy. It is too early to tell how effective we have been, but from informal conversations with teachers, they indicate there has been increased student engagement in the classroom," said Grant Steunenberg, the administrative vice principal at Carlmont.
San Mateo high schools adopt ongoing nationwide phone restrictions
September 17, 2024
Big changes to suspension rules in California schools arrive this fall.
Senate Bill 274 erases ‘willful defiance’ suspensions from public high schools
September 17, 2024
Senior Alec Suarez reads from a classroom copy of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The book is set in a dystopian society where books and literacy are obsolete.
House Bill 900 removes books from library, requires teachers to keep classroom catalog
September 17, 2024
WSSD Teachers and community members listen to the school board meeting on the evening of Tuesday, August 27 in the Strath Haven Middle School Auditorium. Many WSSD teachers and staff in attendance at the meeting wore union-branded white t-shirts in support of the WSEA (Wallingford-Swarthmore Educators Association) teachers union.
School Board faces backlash amid superintendent’s departure, teacher contract disputes
September 17, 2024
Co-founder and owner of Supplying Smiles: Riti Patel shown next to school supplies that were donated to numerous schools across the DFW area.
Supplying Smiles: one school supply at a time
September 17, 2024
Downers Grove Resident Mike Dunn was in the South Tower on 9/11, and he recounts his experience.
Downers Grove father recalls harrowing experience in South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001
September 17, 2024
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
September 17, 2024
The AP U.S. History teachers get ready to pack up for summer after giving their last final exam. The trio has taught together since the 2022-2023 school year.
From a spark to an Edaburn
September 17, 2024
The tree rests on the center of the Cavallo home after Hurricane Beryl struck on July 8. The tree fell into the empty upstairs bedroom between the rooms where sophomore Soleil Cavallo and Kingwood Park graduate Luke Cavallo sleeps.
Recovery tests patience in Kingwood after Hurricane Beryl’s destruction
September 17, 2024
World Languages and Cultures Teacher Tamara Smith poses in front of the Olympic rings in the athletes village at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Prior to volunteering at the Paris Games, Smith assisted at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Tamara Smith strengthens cross-cultural ties through Olympics volunteering
September 17, 2024
Carrying the weight
September 17, 2024
Many of head baseball coach Bryan Resnick's videos have received millions of views, being a platform to connect with people from different states. “I put out a video about how to hit a home run, and I just started seeing it getting shared and shared and shared and just snowballed,” Resnick said. “I’m really most proud of just being able to build something that people enjoy.”
Home Plate Humor: Baseball Coach Resnick Mixes Comedy and Content Creation
June 3, 2024
Junior Mia Milicevic practices her forehand at tennis practice with the WJ girls tennis team. “Sometimes I don’t like [tennis] because you’re alone but most of the time, I do like it for that reason because it really is just you out there. I do experience being part of a team at WJ but in tournaments and when I’m playing outside of school, I like that rush when I win a point because I did it all by myself," Milicevic said. (Courtesy Mia Milicevic)
Milicevic aces her way to the top
June 3, 2024
(Courtesy Madeleine Simmons)
Simmons cements legacy with four state titles
May 31, 2024
The SCHS Marching Band and Color Guard performed at the 49ers stadium for the Kickoff: Players with a Purpose event on Aug. 28, 2024.
SCHS Marching Band and Color Guard perform at 49ers Kickoff­: Players for a Purpose
September 17, 2024
Senior Elle Gasper’s journey through different art forms
September 17, 2024
“Short n’ Sweet” showcases Sabrina Carpenter’s seamless blend of wit and catchy melodies, making it her most compelling and confident album to date. Photo Courtesy of Island Records
Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’: A Masterclass in Pop Precision and Playful Provocation
September 17, 2024
The discrepancy between fictional and real relationships is a key factor in these trends. The rise of social media has made in-person grand gestures far less prominent. The days of the “Say Anything” boom box or the “10 Things I Hate About You” bleacher performance seem even more distant than when the movies were originally released.
Love’s new chapter: The empowering resurgence of romance novels
June 3, 2024
Class of 2010 graduate and conservation photographer Kyle Obermann takes a self portrait photo while on a shoot.
Conservation photographer captures world to change it
May 31, 2024
Without getting proper sleep, students are left tired and groggy throughout the school day. Design by Marisa Bucher.
OPINION: JCPS early start times are detrimental to student success
September 17, 2024
Davenport streets filled with pro-choice protesters following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. Photo credit to Abby Howell
Iowa’s contentious six-week abortion ban sparks concern over women’s healthcare access
September 17, 2024
A phone cubby on a BOHS teacher's wall. At the beginning of each period, students are required to place their phones in the colorful holder. The result of this classroom management tool: a more attentive, less distracted classroom.
BOHS Cell Phone Policy Falls Short
September 17, 2024
Students in one of the World Language classrooms stand up with their arm across their chest, facing the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I pledge allegiance to…”
May 29, 2024
The Jaguar student section sits down while the girls basketball team plays in the Great Eight game at the Denver Coliseum against Valor Christian High School Feb. 29. Many students who participated in the boys basketball student section prior to the girls basketball game left before half-time. "I think it [the student section] plays a huge role because we actually had a decent crowd at a ranch game. I think that was the only time we had like a student section. And the energy was just awesome," varsity pointing and shooting guard Brooke Harding ‘25 said. "I don't expect much from them [the Golden Boys] at all. But the fact that they left at the Elite Eight game when they were already there is honestly mind blowing to me."
The Silent Crowd
May 24, 2024
Bark the stress away
September 17, 2024
Station 4 firefighter Natasha Hunt participates in the memorial stair climb for the first time. As one of many people partaking in the tradition, Hunt climbed the Pleasant Valley Tower nine times, for a total of roughly 1,368 feet of stairs.
Austin firefighters climb 1,368 stairs—World Trade Center height—to honor 9/11 heroes
September 17, 2024
Meet the oldest home in Coppell
Meet the oldest home in Coppell
September 17, 2024
Eckert and Negrin delve into the fundamentals of mathematics and are posed with a difficult question: what is math?
Where Does It Stem?: episode four
June 3, 2024
Feature on a Local Clay Studio
May 31, 2024
Eckert and Negrin delve into the fundamentals of mathematics and are posed with a difficult question: what is math?
Where Does It Stem?: episode four
June 3, 2024
"Behind the Backline" is back with a rebranded look and sound.
“Behind the Backline:” episode 15
May 29, 2024
Retirement and Reflection—Mrs. Dobbert
May 23, 2024
Reporters Seya Sawiris and Amelia Bassi join Computer Science Teacher Kent Collins to discuss his time serving in the Navy and his transition to teaching.
PODCAST Kent Collins reflects on time served in Navy, transition to teaching
May 21, 2024
Abby Eckert and Taylor Negrin discuss and explore the debate of psychology, as well as the science and social studies aspects within it, with teacher Rod Jensen.
Where does it STEM: episode three
May 21, 2024
Station 4 firefighter Natasha Hunt participates in the memorial stair climb for the first time. As one of many people partaking in the tradition, Hunt climbed the Pleasant Valley Tower nine times, for a total of roughly 1,368 feet of stairs.
Austin firefighters climb 1,368 stairs—World Trade Center height—to honor 9/11 heroes
September 17, 2024
Caps in the air, senior Kaya Miller celebrates the conclusion of the graduation. PHS graduates, all 823, had their own favorite memories to share. “My last football game season was definitely memorable. I always went with my three friends and we would make a whole tradition out of it,” Miller said. “We would get ready, go to the game and then go to either dinner at Texas Roadhouse or In-n-Out.”
Seniors celebrate 2024 graduation
May 30, 2024
BACKGROUND IN THE BUSINESS: Dressed by junior designer Kaitlyn Gerrie, senior Chamila Muñoz took to the “Dreamland” runway this past weekend. While it was her first time participating in the McCallum fashion show, Muñoz isn’t new to the modeling world. I modeled here and there when I was a lot younger, maybe five or six [years old] for some jewelry brands and small businesses, but not much in recent years,” Muñoz said. Muñoz had hoped to participate in last year’s show but couldn’t due to scheduling conflicts. For her senior year, though, she couldn’t let the opportunity pass her by. “It’s [modeling] something I haven’t done in a while so I was excited to step out of my comfort zone in a way,” Muñoz said. “I always love trying new things and being able to show off designs of my schoolmates is such an honor.” The preparation process for the show was hectic, leaving the final reveal of Gerrie’s design until days before the show, but the moment Muñoz tried on the outfit, all the stress for both designer and model melted away. “I didn’t get to try on my outfit until the day before, but the look on Kaitlyn’s face when she saw what she had worked so hard to make actually on a model was just so special,” Muñoz said. “I know it meant so much to her. But then she handed me a blindfold and told me I’d be walking with it on, so that was pretty wild.” Caption by Francie Wilhelm.
Mac fashion show brings ‘Dreamland’ to reality
May 21, 2024
Positive Post-Its Project
Girl Up Club Produces Positive Post-its for Women’s History Month
May 21, 2024
The paper drop is an annual tradition at West Chicago Community High School, always held on the seniors' last day of classes.
Seniors celebrate final day of high school
May 17, 2024
Bark the stress away
September 17, 2024
Meet the oldest home in Coppell
Meet the oldest home in Coppell
September 17, 2024
Feature on a Local Clay Studio
May 31, 2024
VIDEO Writers Seminar reading showcases student creativity
VIDEO Writers Seminar reading showcases student creativity
May 29, 2024
Students in the Authentic Science Research class create their own research projects and use district materials and labs to complete projects.
Authentic Science Research 3 Removed from 2024-2025 Course Offerings
May 29, 2024
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
All content by Helen Martin
TO THE BEAT OF THEIR OWN DRUM: Senior King Perez plays the drums with his band, Red River Trucking Co. at Thursday’s Battle of the Bands. The band had plans to play “Red River Line” as well as a new song they had been working on, “Road Dog Fever,” but later decided to add “12 Gauge Shotgun” and “Lawbreakin’ Man.” “We chose the first two because they’re newer and we feel like they’ve come together and are a good representation of us now,” Perez said. Perez shared that the band performed well overall and that the audience’s reaction was the best pay off. “My most memorable moment from that night was seeing everyone jumping off the stage and moshing,” he said. “It is always awesome seeing people enjoy our music in that way.” Caption by Gaby Esquivel.

Battle of the Bands offers mosh to be proud of

By JoJo Barnard, Julia Copas, Gaby Esquivel, Shila Gill, Evelyn Jenkins, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Maggie Mass, Caroline Owen, Alice Scott, and Lanie Sepehri
April 12, 2024
WATER BALLOONS AND SMILES: Senior Peer Assistance and Leadership program member Jude Masoni holds up his fellow PAL, senior David Herring, as a human shield to protect himself from the path of an incoming water balloon. Students paid to throw a balloon at the PALS on Tuesday as part of the shooting PAL-ery, one of the Pink Week fundraisers intended to raise money for the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Central Texas, an Austin-based non-profit that provides personalized support to those affected by breast cancer.  Year after year the PALS put on Pink Week in order to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. The PALS put on a variety of different events the whole week at lunch in hopes of both bringing in profits and bringing an exciting week of fun to the McCallum community.    Herring was made a target of the water balloon by his cross country teammates. “I enjoyed seeing my teammates coming out to donate as I was telling them about it the week prior,” Herring said. “I was also just having fun on that nice day with my fellow PALS. Some of them that did the pallery that day, like Jude, I’ve known since elementary school.” Caption by Chloe Lewcock with reporting by JoJo Barnard.

Pink Week soars to new fund-raising heights

By Sutton Banning, JoJo Barnard, Olivia Dungan, Carlo Hinsdale, Chloe Lewcock, Beatrix Lozach, Helen Martin, and Olin Michalovic
October 31, 2023
PINK FOR PROM: Seniors Vaughn Vandegrift, Peter Wiseman, Max Yehaskel and Alex Gold sing and dance their hearts out at Saturday’s “Under the Knight Sky” prom. Yehaskel and Wiseman stood out in the sea of black and navy suits as the pair opted for bright pink with contrasting, yet coordinating, shirts and ties. While the style decision seemed big to onlookers, for Yehaskel it was a simple choice. “I like pink, it’s a solid color,” he said. “It almost melted when I ironed it actually. It’s 100% polyester, and I got it from Kohl’s.” Yehaskel enjoyed prom overall, except when it came to the royalty announcement. “Someone stole prom queen from me,” he joked. “It was very tragic. But other than that, it was fun.” As prom marks another milestone at the end of senior year, Yehaskel is ready to sit back, relax and enjoy his last few weeks as a Knight. “My grades don’t matter anymore [and] after AP tests I’m done,” Yehaskel said. “I’m going to go nuts, and I’m going to start cooking more.” Caption by Francie Wilhelm.

Students shine like stars ‘Under the Knight Sky’

By Kate Boyle, Morgan Eye, Meredith Grotevant, Chloe Lewcock, Sophie Kessler, Gergő Major, Helen Martin, Caroline Owen, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, Grace Vitale, J. Frank Webster, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
May 17, 2023
Brandon Grant and senior Miles McCollum reunite after a McCallum football game.

Where are they now?

By Sophie Leung-Lieu and Helen Martin
January 6, 2023
FUN WITH FRIENDS: Sophomores Hazel Trominski, Julia Rasp and Zalie Mann pose for the camera during Pink Week’s lunch festivities. Students in the science courtyard throughout the week enjoyed the activities while spending time with friends and sporting their best pink wear. Rasp went all-out during Pink Week, pink being her favorite color. “I think it’s awesome that they’re raising money for breast cancer awareness and doing fun stuff and that a lot of it is student-organized,” Rasp said. Caption by Camilla Vandegrift.

Pink Week 2022 sets standard for fun, fundraising

By Evie Barnard, JoJo Bernard, Isley Cameron, Jolie Gabriel, Chloe Lewcock, Gergo Major, Helen Martin, Emerson Merritt, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Rio Sotelo, Sofia Thatcher, Elena Ulack, Camilla Vandegrift, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
November 7, 2022
Senior Maya Cidale (Mal) alongside senior Kathryn Dooley (Evie), junior Henry Mayes (Carlos) and senior Anderson Zoll (Jay) perform "Ways to be Wicked," a number in which the four evils reunite to take over Auradon. For Cidale, developing her character was a significant aspect of her rehearsal process. “It was actually a very interesting process finding my version of Mal,” Cidale said.  “I started off by pretending to be Regina George if she had magic on her side, but then I took a closer look at how all of the iconic mean girls achieved that status. I realized it was all about making people second guess themselves. From that realization, I stemmed every tactic from wanting people to question what they know is right.” Reporting by Alice Scott.

‘Descendants’ brings Disney magic to life

By Jojo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm
October 26, 2022
UNDER THE UMBRELLA: Junior Wilson Corbitt heads toward his dad’s car near the portables during Monday afternoon’s rainstorm. Corbitt faired better than some students, having the forethought to bring an umbrella to school. “In that moment I thought ‘I bet you all thought I was crazy for bringing an umbrella on a sunny day,’” Corbitt said. His intuition proved right, but Corbitt connects this occurrence to a larger issue facing Austin and the planet. “Every year the weather in Texas gets more and more unpredictable and severe due to climate change,” Corbitt said. “And that’s coming off the back of one of the hottest summers on record where today was the first day since May under 90 degrees, which is making it progressively difficult to tell what might happen.” Reporting by Alice Scott.

Flash flood strikes Austin as school dismisses Monday

By Isley Cameron, Naomi Di-Capua, Meredith Grotevant, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Oliver Harrington, Helen Martin, Caroline Owen, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
September 19, 2022
At 2 p.m. on Monday Nov. 15, hundreds of students walked out of their third-period classes in a show of support for students who have been victims of sexual abuse or sexual assault. The group met in the band parking lot and then marched around the perimeter of the school stopping often to hear personal stories of assault and survival. Each story elicited embraces and statements of support from members of the crowd. The walkout was about building community and improving systemic support on campus. “We shared ideas for a better support system at Mac while talking about the realities of the situation," said Aubrey Mitchell, one of the organizers of today’s walkout, “People cried, laughed, yelled, hugged and left feeling supported and empowered.” Caption by Dave Winter.

Standing up and walking out

By Evie Barnard, Amaya Collier, Naomi Di-Capua, Emma Hagood, Julia Husted, Eliza Jensen, Cassidy Levin, Lucy Marco, Helen Martin, Kaela Martin, Lexi Ramos, Elisha Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Alysa Spiro, Francie Wilhelm, Nate Williams, and Bo Witzel
December 14, 2021
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