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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

All-District and All-State designation, choir teacher Mr. Ben Luginbuhl said, are significant honors that require students to be “highly motivated” and balance “technical skill” with “fluency and musicianship. 
Twenty Community music students demonstrated those skills this year in the eyes of the ILMEA. 
Photo Courtesy of: Mr. Jeff Christopherson

Music students shine in All-State honors from ILMEA

Twenty Community music students receive All-State honors from the Illinois Music Education Association
Abby Ruebush, Editor-in-Chief
Dec 15, 2023

Twenty Community music students received All-State honors from the Illinois Music Education Association after the building qualified 75 musicians for the All-District festival Nov. 4.  Students practiced this year’s audition material, released to teachers in the spring, over the summer before getting...

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The Normal Fire Department was at Community Wednesday, Dec. 6.   investigating a small fire set by a student in the boys locker room in the Athletic hallway. 
School Resource Officer Mr. Jeremy Flood said the investigation is still ongoing.

Locker room fire investigation nearing resolution

The investigation into a small fire that occurred in the boys locker room on Dec. 6 remains open, according to Community’s School Resource Officer Mr. Jeremy Flood. Flood declined to provide specific details about the ongoing investigation, stating, "It's an open investigation... so I don't want...

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Model U.N. tackles zombie apocalypse in crisis summit

Model U.N. tackles zombie apocalypse in crisis summit

Eight members of the Model United Nations grappled with a global crisis scenario involving the spread of a zombie-inducing virus during the crisis summit on Nov. 17. Hosted by Bloomington High School, the summit brought together young diplomats from BHS, Normal Community, West, Central Catholic and...

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Stock Image // Envato

Teachers express reservations over Automatic Acceleration process

Department heads share perspective on Accelerated Placement Act, test-driven course placement
Kirsten Santana and Abby Ruebush
Dec 10, 2023

For some students, the course registration process will look a little different this year.  Students who met or exceeded state benchmarks on Illinois-mandated tests (IAR, PSAT and SAT) last school year will be enrolled automatically in advanced courses. The change came as a result of the Illinois...

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A small fire occurred in room 75, the boys locker room in the Athletic hallway shortly after 11:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6.  
In an email to parents, principal Dr. Adam Zbrozek said: The fire was immediately extinguished and all students and staff were safe and uninjured.  Due to the quick response, there was no need to evacuate the school.

Small fire in locker room sparks investigation

Inkspot Staff
Dec 7, 2023

A small fire in the boys locker room was reported during 4th hour on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The incident, still under investigation, was allegedly caused by a student igniting a paper towel dispenser in the Athletic hallway locker room, according to several sources. The fire was quickly extinguished...

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The seven members who attended the Nov. 13 conference (pictured left to right: Jansi Patel, Sophia Boyer, Sophia Hartke, Karmen Singh, Sayonna Edwards, Emily Lin and Sumitra Paramatmuni) were the organizations top points earners, Cole said. 
Members of Student Council earn points based on the number of hours they commit to the organization through activities like attending meetings and volunteering.

Image Courtesy of Community Student Council Instagram // @nchs_student_council

Student Council members gain insight, ideas at Central Illinois Leadership Conference

Pranathi Ganti, Staff Writer
Nov 30, 2023

Seven members of Student Council attended the Central Illinois District Leadership Conference for State Councils on Nov. 13. In her first year as Community’s Student Council sponsor, Mrs. Jennifer Cole saw the conference as an opportunity to award the organization’s most committed members. “We...

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The Dining Room is a series of vignettes—some funny, some touching, —which, when combined, creates a picture of the vanishing upper-middle-class White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.

The play, director Ms. Kevin Vernon said, goes to great lengths to educate audiences about WASP culture.
I want them understand who it is theyre looking at, Vernon said. I want them to laugh.

Digital Illustration // Mr. Brad Bovenkerk

Curtain call: Vernon restages ‘The Dining Room’ as final production

Diverse cast, decades of laughter in 'The Dining Room' culminate Mrs. Kevin Yale Vernon's two-decade theatrical career
Lyra Townsend, Aki Griffin and Kevon Ramsey
Nov 29, 2023

February's production of "The Dining Room" marks the final show of theater director Mrs. Kevin Yale Vernon's two-decade career. Vernon's final show caps a career that spans almost 21 years and brought over 75 productions to the stage. Revisiting a play from earlier in her career, Vernon said, is...

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Six of Normal Communitys student athletes signed their commitment letters to play Division I and Division II athletics next year after school Nov. 7 in the cafeteria.

6 Iron athletes sign National Letters of Intent

Check out the Inkspot's Q & A with the athletes and their career highlights

Six Ironmen are headed to college to continue their athletic careers, signing National Letters Of Intent on Thursday, Nov 8. Recognized at the after-school event were four future Division I athletes: Oregon commit Ali Ince (womens track & field), future Louisville Cardinal Ethan Eberle (baseball),...

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“The students have really bought into improving their individual marching and their individual kind of talents within the group,” NMB Co-Director Mr. Paul Carter said of the band’s growth this season. 

“They’ve made tremendous strides…and thats leading to more success for the whole group because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” Carter said.
Photo Courtesy of: @normalmarchingband // Instagram

Normal Marching Band celebrates season with second State title, international recognition

Despite the Normal Marching Band falling short of their start-of-season goal to make a finals run at the Bands of America Super Regional, the group garnered numerous accolades throughout the 2023 season. Among them was a first-place finish at the 6A Illinois State Marching Band Championships at Illinois...

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One of Communitys orchestra classes performed a sneak preview of the Hauntcert for staff members during Oct. 18s half day.
Photo Courtesy of: Brad Bovenkerk

Hauntcert 2023 brings silver screen classics to life

Inkspot Staff and Lyra Townsend
Oct 25, 2023

The Hauntcert, Community’s annual October orchestra concert, takes center stage with a cinematic theme, ‘Villains On Strike’ on Thursday, Oct. 26. While the Hauntcert isn’t exactly a Halloween-themed performance, Orchestra director Mrs. Melissa Siebenthal said, the show takes place at the...

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The ability for freshman or first time actors to audition for Communitys Theatre program, Director Ms. Kevin Yale Vernon said, says something about the ability of students to trust our program. We dont have a star culture... it is all about the audition. 
Photo Courtesy of: Brad Bovenkerk

Underclassmen take center stage in Theatre program’s fall production ‘The Diviners’

When the Theatre department’s fall production of “The Diviners” premieres this weekend, a new generation of performers will take center stage.  Set in a rural Indiana town during the Great Depression, the story revolves around the intertwining lives of the townspeople as they grapple with faith,...

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Iron Synergy wins ‘Iron’s Got Talent’

Iron Synergy wins ‘Iron’s Got Talent’

Bryce Hickman and Carter Hull
Sep 25, 2023
The Iron’s Got Talent competition raised $300 for the Junior Class Board on Wednesday, Sept. 20, funds that will help lower this year's prom ticket prices. This year, six acts took the stage: a dance group, three soloists, and two bands. The Iron Synergy dance team won the event, taking home a trophy and gift card. The show also featured a performance by Staff Infection, Community's teacher ensemble, performing TLC's "No Scrubs."
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News Briefs for Sept. 22

News Briefs for Sept. 22

Inkspot Staff
Sep 25, 2023
Want to know what's going on at Community? Check out this week's Spot shorts, as the Inkspot's Journalism I students publish their first news briefs.
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That first show we didnt complete the full show, Band Director Mr. Paul Carter said.  Last week was our first time having the whole show on the field, but we were still learning at that point. 
Over the next few weeks, well continue to refine and continue to develop and improve... and strive for that excellence that were always going for.

Normal Marching Band kicks off 2023 season with consecutive 2nd place finishes

The Normal Marching Band took second in their first two competitions, debuting the 2023 season show “The Game.” The season opener at the Washington Invite was a rematch of last year's State Finals, with the NMB once again finishing 2nd behind the defending 6A State Champions from Morton High School. The...

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