McCaskey Comes Up Big in Overtime to Defeat Reading

By Nora Schindler At the pep rally on Friday, October 6, Steven Lavender-Gray told the crowd full of McCaskey students he was going to win the homecoming game. Then the anticipation began.  That Friday, the air was cold and it was finally starting to feel like fall. It was dark as people filed in. What initially seemed like a decent amount of students turned into … Continue reading McCaskey Comes Up Big in Overtime to Defeat Reading

Brother Albrecht Aims to Make the Most of His Last Year at McCaskey

By Leana Rodriguez Deeply rooted within the McCaskey community is a teacher named Frank Albrecht. Better known as Brother Albrecht, his passion for education shines brightly, guiding students toward a brighter future. Albrecht started teaching at McCaskey High School in 1985, originally as a gym teacher. In 1990 his passion for teaching changed, leading him to start a peer mediation program.  Today you can find … Continue reading Brother Albrecht Aims to Make the Most of His Last Year at McCaskey

Panchiko is a DIY Music Era Success Story

By Mitchell Copeland Music is one of the few things that all people seem to love, a unifying force among many cultures and communities. We don’t often think about the impact of music on pop culture and art. It is used to make political statements, tell stories, share culture, or just make cool melodies.  It’s no secret that some artists garner more support than others, … Continue reading Panchiko is a DIY Music Era Success Story

Abdiel Ferrer Rivera: McCaskey’s Jack-of-all Video Games

This article was written by Staff Writer Angel Quintana. For centuries, many a friend group told stories about that one friend whose existence on this mortal plane is a scientific anomaly, but yet for some reason they defy all laws of this known universe, and exist anyway, for they simply don’t care. They are people whose stories about them sound like great Greek myths of … Continue reading Abdiel Ferrer Rivera: McCaskey’s Jack-of-all Video Games

The Christmas Industrial Complex

This article was written by Staff Writer Sidney Brant. “Merry Christmas!”  “Happy Hanukkah,” my mother would say in response.  I was always embarrassed when she did this, made an innocent grocery store checkout employee uncomfortable for no apparent reason. Eventually, I understood why she did it: “Merry Christmas” made me uncomfortable, so even though it was a bit annoying or needlessly confrontational, it gave the … Continue reading The Christmas Industrial Complex

Classist Tactics in the Gaming Industry

This article was written by Staff Writer Angel Quintana. Activision Blizzard the kings of video game industry controversy, they’re always messing something up in the worst way possible, but what makes what they’ve done now different before? They’ve started what is most likely the most predatory and classist tactic when it comes to the video game industry to date, they’re asking for your phone number.  … Continue reading Classist Tactics in the Gaming Industry

Spirit Week: Not so Spirited?

This article was written by Staff Writer Layla Morales. While each school is different, most participate in what we call “Spirit Week,” a fun tradition involving dressing up according to themes. With different dressing themes each day that are typically outside the norm, including Costume Day, Pajama Day, and many other wacky themes. Students can express how they interpret each one and bond with their … Continue reading Spirit Week: Not so Spirited?

SAAY Club: Spreading Awareness of Sexual Assault

This article was written by Vidette Staff member Ellery Cravey. Over the years, McCaskey has had a multitude of clubs that pertain to certain activities and hobbies. However, there’s a particular club that is relatively new, and has piqued the interest of many. It doesn’t revolve around fun activities; in fact, this club talks about scary, but very real, topics. It’s called the Sexual Assualt … Continue reading SAAY Club: Spreading Awareness of Sexual Assault

DS4EVER is here!

This article was written by John Stewart, Staff Writer. On his new album DS4EVER, Gunna brings back the unique style and ad-libs that the fans love to hear. The special melody and tone that Gunna has brings a different sound to the music industry that’s exceptionally smooth. Gunna’s catchy hooks and lyrics always seem to stick out, and this especially shows on the album. Overall, … Continue reading DS4EVER is here!

The Century-Long Relationship Between Girls and Scouting

This article was written by Guest Writer Xyla Carlson. Xyla is a Junior at McCaskey and a Youth Leader of Troop 99, a Gender Inclusive Scout Troop in Lancaster County.  Recently, the Boy Scouts Of America adopted a new name for their flagship program (Scouts BSA), and more controversially, opened to children of all genders. Many opposed this historic change due to the belief that … Continue reading The Century-Long Relationship Between Girls and Scouting

Hollywood’s Nepotism Problem

This article was written by staff writer Caroline Ponticelli. Nepotism is the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. Nepotism refers to privileges that ordinary, non-famous people simply don’t have access to. Tons of well-known celebs we know today have benefited from nepotism. Many get their start from their famous parents/family members, where fame gets … Continue reading Hollywood’s Nepotism Problem

Who is to Blame for the Astroworld Tragedy?

This article was written by Vidette Staff Writer Presleigh Grove. Astroworld is an annual music festival run by the acclaimed artist, Travis Scott. This festival was seemingly very successful considering Travis Scott’s tour grossed $34.3 million dollars in 3 months and hundreds of thousands of tickets were sold.  The first ever Astroworld festival took place in 2018, it was described as nostalgic and “a celebration … Continue reading Who is to Blame for the Astroworld Tragedy?

Xinjiang ‘Re-Education Camps’: A Modern Genocide

Written by staff writer Presleigh Grove. TW: Sexual and Physical Abuse For the past four years, Uyghur muslims have been raped, tortured, murdered and forced to work in off-site factories or worksites in Xinjiang, China. In 2017, these ‘re-education camps’ were put in place to indoctrinate Uyghurs. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has made countless attempts to dissemble this genocide which could eventually lead … Continue reading Xinjiang ‘Re-Education Camps’: A Modern Genocide

Celebrities, Plastic Surgeries, and “Real” Beauty

Written by Staff Writer Caroline Ponticelli Why do celebrities feel the need to lie about body augmentation? Regardless of your personal opinion on plastic surgery, most of us can agree that lying can be harmful. Lying about getting cosmetic work creates unrealistic body images and promotes  negative mindsets, and can create dangerous trends. Most influencers can’t even achieve many of their beauty standards naturally, so … Continue reading Celebrities, Plastic Surgeries, and “Real” Beauty

Guest Editorial: My Life as a Junior Firefighter

My name is Brandon Balbuena Rincon, and I’m a ninth grader at McCaskey and a Junior Firefighter for the Lafayette Fire Company. When I first started firefighting the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2020, I had a huge misconception about the job and tasks I would be performing. But as time progressed, I gained perspective and knowledge.  Currently in the United States, the need for firefighters … Continue reading Guest Editorial: My Life as a Junior Firefighter