When Illinois high school juniors sit for their required state assessment this year, the test will look different. Beginning with the 2024–25 school year, Illinois will replace the SAT with the ACT as the state-mandated assessment for high school juniors. The shift follows the expiration of the state’s...

Five students from Community were selected to participate in Illinois Wesleyan University’s second annual Honor Jazz Band, joining approximately 30 of the state’s top high school musicians for a two-day clinic and concert event hosted by IWU’s School of Music. Sophomores Jake Piotrowski, Joe...

Community’s student musicians brought live performances to the atrium ahead of spring break, as part of an annual lunchtime concert series celebrating Music In Our Schools Month, a music education awareness event now in its 40th year nationwide. Jazz Ensemble, Voicemale and Key of She rotated performances...

Community’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter was named the top chapter in Illinois, earning the Outstanding Chapter Award at the annual State Leadership Conference in March. At the two-day event, the school set a program record with 65 students qualifying for this summer’s National...

Community’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter set multiple school records at the State Leadership Conference held March 20-22 in Springfield, including the chapter’s highest number of state officer candidates and International Leadership Conference qualifiers. Three Community...

Seven Inkspot staff members qualified for the IHSA State Journalism Finals, set for April 25 at Heartland Community College. At the April 5 Sectional competition, Bryce Hickman, Carter Hull, Arwen Georges, Beatrix Alvarez and the team of Bella Green, Leon Castaneda and Audra Wolf earned top-three...

A 1% school facilities sales tax will take effect in McLean County on July 1, after voters approved the April 1 ballot measure 17,415 to 15,427—earning just over 53% support, according to election results. Voter turnout reached 28% across Bloomington and McLean County—an eight-point jump from typical...

Members of the Unit Five Education Association teachers union gathered in the fishbowl atrium on March 19 as part of a nationwide “Walk-In” demonstration to advocate for public education funding. Wearing red and carrying signs, UFEA members joined thousands of educators nationwide in the National...

With over $52 million in facility repairs projected over the next five years, Unit 5 schools face mounting infrastructure needs—from roof replacements to outdated HVAC systems, according to Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle. Normal Community alone accounts for nearly $18 million of those needs,...

Community recognized student accomplishments across athletics, academics and the arts during the Spring Walk of Champions on Friday, March 14, a tradition that began during the 2023-24 school year.  

After saving two lives in separate incidents last spring, Officer Jeremy Flood, Community’s School Resource Officer, was named Normal Police Department’s “Officer of the Year” in February. Despite the honor, Flood credits his role at Community as the most rewarding part of his 20-year law...

San Diego’s Marine Band took the Kevin Yale Vernon stage on March 6, performing a rock-heavy setlist for Community music students. Choir, band and orchestra members were excused from their eighth-hour classes to watch “America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization”...

Over 200 members of the sophomore class gathered in the auditorium Feb. 24 as Mock Trial presented “People of the State of Illinois v. Peyton Reed,” a criminal case, to English II students. The event, a collaboration between the Mock Trial team and sophomore English teachers, aimed to provide students...

Community’s dance team closed out its season with the annual Guy/Girl routine, performing during halftime of the boys basketball team’s regular-season finale against Normal West on Feb. 21. The performance served as a farewell for the Iron Dance seniors, marking the end of their seasons. Iron...