Schedule Change & Travel Time: Is It Enough?

By Devon Barnes  This year, J.P. McCaskey High School is undergoing a few changes. There’s the footballstadium renovations, homecoming’s location, and a few more— but, one thing a few studentsare left wondering about is the ever-so-slight schedule change. Start time has been pushed forward by ten minutes, though the reason for this isn’t exactlyknown. Consequently, dismissal has been pushed forward by four, and additional adjustmentshave … Continue reading Schedule Change & Travel Time: Is It Enough?

McCaskey phones: Ban or No Ban

By Sofia Escudero  Recently schools all over the country have been using YONDER pouches to preventstudents from using their phones. As many administrations believe that this is a way to reducephone use, others disagree. As far as McCaskey goes, views vary. Students in McCaskey overall rather have their phones in their hands for many reasons. Withthe unknown dangers in schools all over America there is … Continue reading McCaskey phones: Ban or No Ban

Surviving the Winter Blues

By Ariana Martinez When winter makes its way around students start to feel less motivated and struggle to get through their days. They fall behind on schoolwork and stop trying. This could be because they are dealing with feelings of sadness or loneliness. Why is it always around winter though? Due to the colder weather, reduced sunlight, and shorter days, people tend to get seasonal … Continue reading Surviving the Winter Blues

How Biden Alienated the Youth Vote, and How He Can Win Them Back

President Biden narrowly won the 2020 election with the surge of support from African Americans and young voters who came to his aid in the polls against incumbent President Donald Trump. Four years later, President Biden’s strategy no longer reflects that of a lesser of two evils, instead a centrist liberal who bends to the will of the center right-leaning Democratic Party to pass limited … Continue reading How Biden Alienated the Youth Vote, and How He Can Win Them Back

Cell Phone Addiction: a Personal Retrospective

By Tiyya Geiger Cellphone addiction in our increasingly interconnected society perhaps most clearly manifests itself in our grudgingly short attention spans. We itch for the answer to our questions the second they appear and when gone unanswered, we allow the next thing to distract us in a cycle of never-ending vapidness. Previously intriguing dilemmas now rarely cause a batted eye or induce a spark of … Continue reading Cell Phone Addiction: a Personal Retrospective

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

Are Young Girls Growing Up Too Fast?

By Nora Schindler It’s not a new thing, the issue of girls growing up fast. I think the concept of a girl growing up faster than the others around them is one thing almost all girls can relate to.  During middle school, dynamics shift and the maturity gap between boys and girls seems to expand. After all, there’s a clear difference between the two middle … Continue reading Are Young Girls Growing Up Too Fast?

Why is BookTok So Annoying?

By Sidney Brant TikTok is a terrifying platform. Users of the app often acknowledge this with the caveat that yes, it sucks the life out of you and makes any long-term task impossible without a Subway surfers video playing in the background, but it can expose you to so much unique, interesting media that you otherwise wouldn’t have discovered.  There are communities formed fully online … Continue reading Why is BookTok So Annoying?

Separation of Church and State is Under Attack in Lancaster County

Cody Stonebank has a vision. A vision for “a revival happening within public schools and worship nights inside of school auditoriums leading students to encounter Jesus.” This vision violates a fundamental American principle: the separation of church and state. But that didn’t stop Stonebank and his movement, Unrestricted, from implementing it in our county. Unrestricted, a branch of the Lancaster Fellowship of Christian Athletes, has … Continue reading Separation of Church and State is Under Attack in Lancaster County

Making Learning More Accessible for All Students

One of the biggest challenges I have faced in this classroom, where I am now writing this article, is having to find a way to balance my own needs with the needs of the reader. This same issue of balancing personal teaching style with the needs of students is seen in many classrooms today and has been the cause of many of the miscommunications between … Continue reading Making Learning More Accessible for All Students

Abortion, The Supreme Court, and the Electoral College

In early May, Politico leaked a draft from Justice Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, two cases that constitutionally protect the ability to get an abortion.  It is the first time in history that a Supreme court draft has been leaked prior to the final decision, and has led to an outcry from pro-choice … Continue reading Abortion, The Supreme Court, and the Electoral College

January 6, 2021: Perspectives from Lancaster County Citizens

Note: All subjects in this article have requested to remain anonymous. Following the events of January 6, 2021, Americans have been left wondering about the safety of their own communities. Lancaster County, in particular, saw a number of its citizens in Washington D.C. that day, and it has left some people unsettled. Five members of our county – a farmer, a mom of three young … Continue reading January 6, 2021: Perspectives from Lancaster County Citizens

NFTs are Dumb

NFTs have drawn some controversy in the past few months, but most people are left wondering what they actually are. NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are a new way for artists to sell their artwork from websites. People are able to purchase these works using cryptocurrency. In actuality, the world of NFTs and Crypto-fanatics is much more complex and harmful for the environment than any normal … Continue reading NFTs are Dumb

The Personal Is Political – So Drop a Commitment

When I walk down the halls of McCaskey, I can feel the stress in the air. It’s palpable. When I talk to my friends about their days, I hear it echoed in their frenetic voices as they describe their struggle to balance marching band, varsity sports, musical, a job, advanced classes, the mountain of homework from the history teacher who waitresses at night. 16-year-old fledgling … Continue reading The Personal Is Political – So Drop a Commitment