A Reflection on Scouting
I joined Scouting late and with trepidation. Being an older kid and having no experience with the program left me entirely clueless as to what I was walking into. In addition to my seniority, I began my experience in the Boy Scouts of America having spent my junior year with Scouting Ireland. That being said, I’m no stranger to the outdoors. I grew up spending … Continue reading A Reflection on Scouting
Well, Goodbye.
I do not know what you, the reader of this article, need to hear about my high school experience. I don’t even know if you want to hear about any of it. I could tell you that when I came to McCaskey, I thought there was one right way to be a person, and that way was warped by my own insecurities and fears. I … Continue reading Well, Goodbye.
From Her Hogwarts Mansion: J.K. Rowling and how to Control a Narrative
In 2019, Megan Phelps-Roper’s life changed. Formerly under the spotlight as a disaffected member of the ultra-conservative Westboro Baptist Church, Roper has since been a commentator of sorts, tracking current issues in politics and culture from a centrist perspective. Her latest and most ambitious undertaking is a podcast covering the events of bestselling author J.K. Rowling’s life and recent controversies. Smugly named “The Witch Trials … Continue reading From Her Hogwarts Mansion: J.K. Rowling and how to Control a Narrative
Raised By The Internet: Why Children Shouldn’t be Given Access to Social Media
At what age would you give your child their first device? Seven? Twelve? The debate of when it is best to give a child access to the internet is extremely important in today’s society with the newest generation, Generation Alpha (also referred to as “IPad Kids”) growing up. But, the answer to that question is clear as day. The internet is being used much more … Continue reading Raised By The Internet: Why Children Shouldn’t be Given Access to Social Media
Trial Attendance Program Provides Students with RRTA Bus Passes
In mid-February, twenty-five Red Rose Transit Authority bus passes were issued to McCaskey students. These students lived one-two miles from the McCaskey Campus. The passes they were issued had ten rides on them and were distributed with the instruction that once the student used the ten rides, they should return to one of the main offices in order to fill up the pass again. As … Continue reading Trial Attendance Program Provides Students with RRTA Bus Passes
A Reflection on the Talent Show
On April 5th, McCaskey hosted its first talent show of the new year. With amazing talent, the participants brought a show stopping performance. Although the talent show itself was a sight to see, the audience made the experience all the more memorable. There were two shows this year, the first hosted for 9th and 12th graders and the second for grades 10th and 11th. After … Continue reading A Reflection on the Talent Show
What if Tik Tok is Banned?
In 2020, the Trump administration threatened to ban TikTok if Chinese owners didn’t sell their shares. As we all know, this didn’t amount to a concrete ban of any sort, but the issue resurfaced when the Biden administration issued a similar threat in March. This time, however, government agencies were forced to delete TikTok from all government-associated devices. From the government’s perspective, the concern is … Continue reading What if Tik Tok is Banned?
Spring Play 2023: On Tour
On Thursday, April 13, two vehicles left from McCaskey High School to go to Washington Elementary. One was a truck, which contained speakers, two collapsible screens, five giant wooden walls with wheels on the bottom, a sound board, two projectors, a box full of pirate and cowboy costumes, a box full of maps, telescopes, other props, two large monitors, and three fold up tables. The … Continue reading Spring Play 2023: On Tour
On Boygenius’s ‘The Record’ and Lessons from Senior Year
It’s strange and remarkable how music conjures visceral memories. In fact, according to neurologist Andrew Budson, music can “open forgotten doors to your memory” and “take you back in time.” When we hear a song that we associate with specific moments in our lives, the details of those moments come flooding back. As I prepare to graduate, time feels compressed. Experiences are denser, richer, faster. … Continue reading On Boygenius’s ‘The Record’ and Lessons from Senior Year
The Lancaster Public Library Is Moving Locations
On April 20, Lancaster Public Library closed to the public and began the move to its new location on Queen Street, which is expected to open in late May. The old Duke Street building has several structural issues, such as flooding and mold, that made the move necessary. It was bought by a group of investors for the use of Saint James Episcopal Church, located … Continue reading The Lancaster Public Library Is Moving Locations
Why are Americans terrible at learning languages?
Americans are notorious for not only being unable to speak multiple languages, unlike the rest of the world, but also not wanting to. Native born Americans make the United States a largely monolingual country and English is a growing language that you can find on every continent. There is no shortage of foreign languages spoken in the US, in fact, there are 54 languages spoken … Continue reading Why are Americans terrible at learning languages?
Where IB Succeeds and AP Fails: Critical Thinking
AP (advanced placement) and IB (international baccalaureate) classes are both higher level course options offered at McCaskey and are often equivalated. The comparison of the two curricula though, is arbitrary and inaccurate. Although both courses have the same general structure of a college-level class with a nationally or internationally administered test at the end of the year, the differences extend far beyond geography. AP classes … Continue reading Where IB Succeeds and AP Fails: Critical Thinking
How Mr. Young Uses Technology to Gamify His Classroom
Technology is an unavoidable facet of learning in most modern classrooms. For many students, it can be frustrating and even hinder any willingness to learn. Mr. Young, a math teacher at McCaskey East, is trying to change that. In Mr. Young’s classroom, assignments are part of a game facilitated by tech. He creates a game board every week, and students are put into groups to … Continue reading How Mr. Young Uses Technology to Gamify His Classroom
How Will ChatGPT Impact Education?
With the recent spike of news covering ChatGPT, one could only imagine the complications that would come when this writing AI software app reached the classroom. The rising fear of cheating among teachers has caused panic not only for school boards, but students as well. ChatGPT is an AI (artificial intelligence) chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched in November 2022. Sam Altman is the CEO … Continue reading How Will ChatGPT Impact Education?
McCaskey Talent Shines Through “High School Musical”
The production of High School Musical by McCaskey’s performing arts program has become the talk of the school. The cast and crew have been working hard since January with the hope to produce a musical as good or even better as last year’s production, Newsies. The casting has been different from years prior in the sense that there were new faces to the musical, both … Continue reading McCaskey Talent Shines Through “High School Musical”
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