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Whatever you are interested in, we've got it covered.

Inkspot

Whatever you are interested in, we've got it covered.

Inkspot

While students may not have access to counselors in-person, they are available through digital appointments to help seniors navigate the college application process.

Counselors offer college planning advice during pandemic

Kennedy Coe, Staff Writer
Dec 3, 2020

With stay-at-home orders and social distancing mandates, college-bound seniors planning their futures in an uncertain world are finding the process difficult to manage.  “The pandemic has upended the whole system of college admissions,” Jenny Rickard, Common App CEO, said in an interview with CBS...

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Unit 5 announces continuation of remote learning through end of semester

Unit 5 announces continuation of remote learning through end of semester

Inkspot Staff
Dec 1, 2020

Unit 5 will continue remote learning for the remainder of the fall semester, according to a district email sent to parents this morning. When Unit 5 returned to remote learning on Wed., Nov. 18, the district had initially planned for students to return to in-person learning on Dec. 7; however, remote...

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Nearly 1/4 NCHS students and staff surveyed said they will be gathering with people outside of their household for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving amidst a pandemic; ISU public health expert weighs in

Jonah Kramer, Sports Editor
Nov 25, 2020

Dr. Jackie Lanier would love to see her five siblings on November 26. However, there will be no holiday get together this Thanksgiving. “It’s going to look really different, and it should unfortunately,” she said.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center for Disease Control recommends that...

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Mental health stigmas are impacting teens’ ability to receive help.

Suffering in Silence: Teens struggle to seek mental health services

Laynee Scheck, Print Editor
Nov 25, 2020

When it comes to mental health, teens don’t often reach out for help. According to a June 2020 National 4‑H Council survey, 65% of teens reported that they deal with their feelings on their own, while 67% pretend to feel better to not worry others. 3/4ths of the teenagers surveyed recognize “there...

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Unit 5 will return to remote learning for all students on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Students and staff share their thoughts on the experience.

NCHS faculty, students on remote learning

Nayonika Banerjee, Senior Staff Reporter
Nov 17, 2020
With the transition back to remote learning effective Wednesday, Nov. 18, NCHS students and faculty weigh in on how successful remote learning has been thus far. For Social Studies teacher Mr. Kevin Shackley, remote learning hasn’t been easy. The fifth-year teacher compared teaching remotely to juggling, adding, “I don’t know how to juggle.”  Orchestra teacher Ms. Melissa Siebenthal shared Shackley’s struggles with teaching remotely. It has “been really, really hard, especially given the nature of orchestra,” Siebenthal said, who conducts on Zoom as muted students play along.  While “every day is a technical difficulty” for Siebenthal. She recognizes that “we’re really in unchartered territory, we’re just kind of pioneers, and it’s groundbreaking, actually, because people have never done this before.”
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Actors of the NCHS play, Ghosts in the Machine by Eric Coble posed for the screen capture during their Zoom rehearsal.

‘The Show Must Go On’

Drama programs collaborate to host virtual theatre festival
Olivia Plangger, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Nov 16, 2020

When faced with the inability to perform on stage this year, the Bloomington-Normal high school theatre programs proved "the show must go on," according to NCHS theatre director Mrs. Kevin Vernon as they participate in the digital theatre fest "Everywhere is a Stage." "Everywhere is a Stage,"...

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Unit 5 returns to remote learning

Unit 5 returns to remote learning

Eli Schneider, Senior Staff Reporter
Nov 15, 2020

Unit 5 Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle announced Friday, Nov. 13, that the district would return to remote learning effective Wednesday, Nov. 18. Students will not be in attendance Wednesday to allow teachers and staff time to prepare for change. The “adaptive pause” to hybrid learning is tentatively...

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Survey reports that the Covid-19 pandemic is having an impact on teen mental health.

COVID-19 affects teen mental health

Laynee Scheck, Print Editor
Nov 9, 2020

Isolation. Stress. Anxiety. Depression.  All side-effects of a global pandemic. Teens across the country face unforeseen challenges as they navigate school, jobs, and relationships during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In March of 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak shut down schools nationwide,...

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NCHS returns to in-person learning with new protocols, procedures

NCHS returns to in-person learning with new protocols, procedures

Inkspot Staff
Oct 19, 2020

NCHS students return to in-person learning, starting with 9th graders on Monday, Oct. 19, and 10-12th graders on Oct. 26. Unit 5 will be staggering the students’ return over the two weeks to “adjust processes, as needed, with fewer students in the buildings,” Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle...

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The Unit 5 District Office was closed Monday, August 31 for a deep cleaning before reopening on Tuesday.

Unit 5 Executive Cabinet member tests positive for COVID-19; District officials quarantined

Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle and members of her Executive Cabinet working remotely through Sept. 10
Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Sep 1, 2020

A member of the Unit 5 Superintendent's Executive Cabinet tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, August 29, according to Director of Communications and Community Relations Dayna Brown. In response to the positive test, multiple Unit 5 Cabinet members -- including Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle...

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Unit 5 announces Return to School plan

Unit 5 announces Return to School plan

Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Jul 21, 2020

Unit 5 released the Return to School plan for the 2020-2021 school year Monday afternoon which will be voted on during the July 22 School Board meeting at Normal West.  An email sent to Unit 5 families included the Return to School plan and video explaining the available schooling options to ensure...

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Four-year Lady Iron soccer player Courtney Dage (20)  plays during the 2018-2019 campaign.

IHSA cancels spring tournaments

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
Apr 21, 2020

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors announced its decision Tuesday, April 21 to “cancel all IHSA spring state tournaments” in a statement released at noon. Though the IHSA has made efforts to keep the slim possibility of a spring season alive, Governor J.B. Pritzker’s...

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COVID-19 Update: In-person schooling suspended in Illinois through end of year

COVID-19 Update: In-person schooling suspended in Illinois through end of year

Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Apr 17, 2020

Governor J.B. Pritzker suspended in-person learning in Illinois schools for the remainder of the school year during his daily coronavirus press briefing Friday afternoon. The suspension of in-class learning comes as a result of the 27,575 reported cases of coronavirus in Illinois and 1,072 total deaths...

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IHSA remains hopeful for return of spring sports seasons

IHSA remains hopeful for return of spring sports seasons

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
Apr 6, 2020

In response to Governor JB Pritzker extending the ‘shelter in place’ order until April 30, the IHSA has announced that they are hopeful a shortened spring sports season will remain possible.  “We continue to support the possibility of our member schools completing both regular and postseason...

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Coronavirus Update: Stay-at-Home order [3/21 8:00 a.m.]

Coronavirus Update: “Stay-at-Home” order [3/21 8:00 a.m.]

Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Mar 21, 2020

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker issued a statewide stay-at-home order on Friday, March 20, which will begin at 5:00 pm on Saturday, March 21 and will remain in effect until the end of the day on Tuesday, April 7. Pritzker also announced that all Illinois schools will now remain closed until April...

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