Inkspot

Senior Showcase Gallery Five

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
May 26, 2020

Senior Showcase Gallery Four

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
May 26, 2020

Senior Showcase Gallery Three

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
May 26, 2020

Senior Showcase Gallery Two

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
May 26, 2020

Senior Showcase Gallery One

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
May 26, 2020

Q & A: Seniors Speak Up

With Satya Garapati

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
Apr 24, 2020

Sewing for safety: Coe family combats coronavirus

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
Apr 12, 2020

The struggles of those combating COVID-19 have hit home for the family of Kennedy (‘21) and Piper (‘20) Coe. Utilizing their sewing skills and passion for helping others, the sisters started crafting homemade masks a month ago, distributing them to friends, family, health-care workers,...

Q & A: Seniors Speak Up

With Sheri Stewart

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
Apr 12, 2020

School closures due to COVID-19 present unique challenges for all students. However, for senior athletes in their last semester at Normal Community, the experence is on a different level. Missing out on their senior season, and that final chance to make memories in Normal Community colors has led to seniors running the gamut of emotions. This is the second installment in a series of articles where seniors detail their experiences through the COVID-19 crisis, featuring soccer player Sheri Stewart.

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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...

Let, second serve: Iron Tennis warms up for new challenges

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
Mar 25, 2020

Editor's Note: According to the IHSA, "April 8 is the target date" for the resumption of spring sports. "However, there are state governmental, educational and health bodies that will need to approve this action... It is too early to say definitively that IHSA activities will resume on April 8." Neither...

Coach Short, Ironmen seniors offer opinions ahead of baseball season

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
Mar 25, 2020

After graduating 14 seniors, the Ironmen varsity baseball team began their 2020 season with clear goals and high hopes. The goal isn’t “really about doing any better than last year,” Head Coach Ryan Short said, but “just trying to do as well as this group can.” Prior to the postponement of the season, Short was optimistic about the team’s potential, saying he “think[s] this group can do really well.” After last year’s exit on a rainy day in the Regional Championship game against Moline, Short is determined to make it a step further this year, and he thinks the Ironmen are up for the challenge. On their journey to Regionals, Short hopes to win the Big 12 Conference since NCHS is currently half a point ahead of Peoria Notre Dame for the all-sports trophy. “We spring sports need to pull our weight,” Short said. Short believes that the key to the team pulling its weight and reaching its full potential is camaraderie and chemistry, something he doesn’t think will be an issue for this group, which will make it easier to focus on and achieve season success.

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College Board announces AP testing revamp

Mantra Dave, Staff Writer
Mar 20, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College Board has announced a revamp of Advanced Placement (AP) testing. Keeping in line with recommendations for social distancing, there will be no in-person AP testing for the 2019-20 school year. Instead, students will have the opportunity to test online. Tests will...

Coding meets community

Computer Science Honor Society showcases key concepts

Mantra Dave, Staff Writer
Mar 9, 2020

Computer Science (CS) Honor Society members presented their projects -- highlighting the impact and importance of computer science and its related fields, while also showcasing members' creativity and community involvement -- during lunch hours on March 5. “The computer science showcase is our yearly...

Teachers in Training: Making a Mart-in the classroom

Mantra Dave sits down with Mr. Michael Martin

Mantra Dave, Staff Writer
Feb 26, 2020

This is the fourth in a line of columns that looks at the student teachers that are an integral part of the Ironmen experience.

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Insightful incisions: peering into the Cadaver Lab

Mantra Dave, Staff Writer
Feb 14, 2020

35 bodies crowd into the back room of a LeRoy law office for their weekly Saturday morning meeting. Holding sharpened knives and bone saws, each person has a wide grin, eager to splatter their shiny new tools with blood and cartilage. Only 32 will leave the room alive. Well, technically, only 32 entered...