America’s Unhealthy Consumerist Culture
By Elisabeth Palacios Since the 1920s, consumerism in America has increasingly defined both our economy and culture–whether we can afford it or not. In the last year, credit card debt was the highest it has ever been. According to a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, it surpassed $1.08 trillion. “We are still largely a paycheck-to-paycheck nation,” based on the words … Continue reading America’s Unhealthy Consumerist Culture
Meet Anya Eden
By Elisabeth Palacios In McCaskey’s 2023 fall play, Robinhood or the True Tale of Marian, 10th grader Anya Eden played the role of Alana Dale, one of the leads. She decided to perform in the fall play because of her passion for performing, as well as her love for last year’s theater director. She was excited to work with the cast, happy to see what … Continue reading Meet Anya Eden
Meet Dr. Miles
By Tiyya Geiger High school second chair in clarinet, avid lover of self-help books, and dedicated to power hour, Dr. Keith Miles Jr’s disciplined and active lifestyle allows him to be an effective leader, and keeps him busy. I caught Dr. Keith Miles after a superintendent student cabinet meeting, now referred to as Listening and Learning sessions. As we sat in the freezing room B123, … Continue reading Meet Dr. Miles
Meet Mrs. Peters
By Cal Clapper I first met Mrs. Peters when she was student teaching last year. Her warm, calm, presence and contagious laugh makes the ceramics room a sanctuary for her students. Taking over for the previous ceramics teacher Ms. Fasen, Mrs. Peters began teaching at McCaskey at the beginning of this year. Only a few months in, she is already beloved by many students, but … Continue reading Meet Mrs. Peters
Meet Mr. Phillips-Cary
by Sidney Brant McCaskey students take an obligatory chemistry course as sophomores. By the end of the school year, two camps of people emerge–those who forget 6.02 X 1023 and go on with their lives, and those who are left desperate for more knowledge to explain the deceivingly complex processes that compose our entire existence. From the latter emerges a fringe group of students, loyal … Continue reading Meet Mr. Phillips-Cary
Meet Moustafa Hamed
By Nemari Morales Fighting an unjust government isn’t on your typical middle schooler’s roster, but for Moustafa Hamed, a 12th-grade electronics student at McCaskey, a nightmare became a reality. Moustafa was just 13 years old when his mother, Reem Desouky, was accused of running a Facebook page that criticized Egypt’s president. Desouky was immediately arrested on charges including “promoting a terrorist group and publishing false … Continue reading Meet Moustafa Hamed
Meet Mr. Johnston
By Ada Kessler It was a warm June day when I first met John Johnston, McCaskey’s new band director. With a smile on his face, he was eager to begin McCaskey’s 2023 marching band season. Johnston was introduced to McCaskey’s band during the last away game of the 2022-2023 football season at Wilson High School. At the time, he worked at Wilson Middle School and … Continue reading Meet Mr. Johnston
Meet Mr. Wilson
By Gabriel Brogan On a Tuesday morning, I walk into Mr. Wilson’s unassuming lost wing classroom. Flags of several nations hang on the walls, joining a 2008 Obama poster and a joke about chickens crossing the road. While his room may seem typical for a history teacher, the man inside is anything but. On that particular day, Mr. Wilson was dressed in this year’s red … Continue reading Meet Mr. Wilson
Meet Mrs. Cashdollar
By Ariana Martinez Those who frequent McCaskey’s libraries know the generous and amiable Mrs. Cashdollar. You can find Jaymie Cashdollar, one of our kind-hearted librarians, in the library of JP and East. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for books, studying, or just hoping to build a puzzle. She can often be found at the front desk ready to make your experience in the library … Continue reading Meet Mrs. Cashdollar
Meet Hector Martinez
By Logan Bjerklie There are so many words you can use to describe Hector. Bright, funny, and charismatic don’t even start to describe who Hector is as a person, let alone the goal that he wants to accomplish in high school. “I want to show other people they can [be a positive influence in somebody’s life], it doesn’t just have to be doing something funny, … Continue reading Meet Hector Martinez
Understanding McCaskey’s recent lockdowns
by Tiyya Geiger During the week of October 16, 2023, McCaskey was under lockdown three separate times. As national investigations regarding the links between increased access to assault weapons and increased violence continue, it is important to understand what lockdowns are and how they impact McCaskey as a whole. Lockdowns at McCaskey are characterized by the coexistence of dissipating anxiety and increasing desensitization to violence, … Continue reading Understanding McCaskey’s recent lockdowns
What’s up with all the TVs in McCaskey’s hallways?
By Ariana Martinez At McCaskey High School, everyone has already noticed all the new TVs placed in teachers’ classrooms and others lingering in the halls on the walls. For the TVs in the classrooms, most would agree that the teachers’ classrooms needed an upgrade from their aged projectors, but what about the hallway TVs? These TVs started appearing in September of 2023. What are the … Continue reading What’s up with all the TVs in McCaskey’s hallways?
The optics war underlying the Israel-Hamas conflict
by Sidney Brant A father, pulling his bleeding child out of a pile of rubble; a woman, the crotch of her pants bloodied, being forced into a jeep and taken hostage. The images, videos, text blurbs, and news stories that barrage our screens don’t provide information about the war–they are the war. The most recent iteration of the century-old struggle between Israel and Palestine began … Continue reading The optics war underlying the Israel-Hamas conflict
Should we start school an hour later?
by Nora Schindler First period here at McCaskey starts at 7:50 in the morning, but sometimes you might not even be able to tell. Lots of students can tell you that by the first bell some classrooms are half empty and by the second period bell the classrooms are almost always full. While lots of parents and teachers attribute the tardiness to just plain laziness, … Continue reading Should we start school an hour later?
McCaskey’s Voices of Freedom fall showcase
by Caroline Ponticelli On Friday, November 3, McCaskey’s Voices of Freedom gospel choir performed their annual fall showcase. The show’s setlist included “Go Down Moses,” an African-American Spiritual song with an amazing solo by Yarelis Perez. Other songs included “How Much Can We Bear,” by Hezekiah Walker, “I Pharadisi,” a South African folk song, “Praise your Name,” by Cedric Ford, “Soon and Very Soon,” Andrea … Continue reading McCaskey’s Voices of Freedom fall showcase
