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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

The cast of Zap! ran through their final dress rehearsal Thursday, Oct. 14 in preparation for their first show on the Community stage since February 2020.

Theatre program ‘Zaps’ back on stage

Charlotte Calmes and Dylan Wehmeyer
Oct 15, 2021

The Theatre program returns to the NCHS stage with "Zap!"'s premiere on Oct. 15. Friday's opening night marks the first in-person production at Community since February 2020's staging of "Clue."  Last November, the Theatre program collaborated with the three area high schools and ISU to produce...

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Best Buddies kicks off the year with annual pairing party

Best Buddies kicks off the year with annual pairing party

The Normal Community Best Buddies chapter held their annual “pairing party” on October 1— pairing 16 students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with a student buddy without IDD in an effort to build one-to-one friendships.  The Best Buddies “pairing party” marks...

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The king is dead

The king is dead

NCHS eliminates Homecoming King, Queen titles; elects Homecoming Royalty
Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Sep 30, 2021

Seniors Drexel Douglass and Joey Fela were crowned as the inaugural “Homecoming Royalty” at the kickoff of Friday, Sept. 24’s Homecoming football game. NCHS opted for the more inclusive term “Royalty” in place of “King” and “Queen” terminology. As a result, two male candidates,...

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TikTok craze turned crime

TikTok craze turned crime

Social media trend influences rise of theft, vandalism
Dylan Wehmeyer and Eli Schneider
Sep 21, 2021

A TikTok trend popular amongst high school students led to a drastic increase in petty theft and vandalization of school property nationwide. The "#devious lick" trend originated when TikTok user jugg4elias uploaded a video depicting the removal of a box of masks from his backpack, captioned: "A month...

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From Cavaliers to Cougars: Kingsley changes mascot

From Cavaliers to Cougars: Kingsley changes mascot

Jonah Kramer, Sports Editor
Aug 26, 2021

Kingsley Junior High School students were greeted with a new mascot to start the 2021 school year -- the Cougar -- after announcing the decision to replace the Cavalier mascot in May. The change was motivated by the school’s value of community. The Mid-April edition of the Kingsley Connection, the...

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Life Flight lands at NCHS [video]

Charlotte Calmes and Laynee Scheck
May 18, 2021
OSF Medical Group provided Mr. Justin Steve and student teacher Mr. Brad Smith's third-hour Bio-engineering students with an overview of the Life Flight program, which involved a helicopter landing on the NCHS football practice field.
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Big Macs for Big Decisions: Counselors host Decision Day 2021 [video]

Laynee Scheck and Charlotte Calmes
May 10, 2021
Counselors hosted a drive-thru Decision Day April 30 for all seniors -- remote and in-person -- to declare their post-secondary plans.
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Army Adventure Trailer visits NCHS [video]

Charlotte Calmes, Laynee Scheck and Zach Holliday
Apr 30, 2021
The College and Career Center hosted the U.S Army's Adventure Trailer where students experienced a variety of digital simulations.
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Students, staff react to 4-day in-person plan [VIDEO]

Students, staff react to 4-day in-person plan [VIDEO]

Laynee Scheck, Print Editor
Mar 12, 2021

With the news of Normal Community adopting four-day in-person learning beginning on Monday, April 5, students and staff shared their opinions on the shift from the two-day hybrid plan. "I feel like the students at Normal Community have done a really good job of keeping socially distant and keeping...

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NCHS students are taking advantage of the outdoor seating option offered for social distancing.

Unit 5 implements 4-day in-person learning

Inkspot Staff
Mar 12, 2021

Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle announced in an email to Unit 5 families that four-day in-person instruction for 6-12th graders will begin on Monday, April 5. The email, sent Monday, March 8, lays out the plan to replace the two-day-a-week hybrid model Unit 5 junior high and high schools began implementing...

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Signage will be added around the building to replace outdated design like the orange and black entrance to the junior hallway.

Ground floor undergoes cosmetic renovations

Norah Wagoner, Staff Writer
Jan 5, 2021

NCHS is undergoing major cosmetic renovations as custodians paint the first floor of the building. With students returning to remote learning in November, the custodial staff began painting the atrium in early December. The ground floor is planned to be finished by the end of the school year. The...

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The Madrigals 20th-anniversary show was recorded live on the last day of in-person learning during fall semester in place of the traditional dinner and dessert shows.

20th anniversary Madrigals performance goes remote

Myra Saulat and Maggie Stiennen
Dec 17, 2020

COVID-19 forced this year's Madrigal singers to perform their 20th-anniversary concert without an audience, recording an emergency performance on Nov. 17 in preparation for Unit 5's return to remote learning. Madrigals director Mr. Ben Luginbuhl, then in his fourth year teaching, and the court singers...

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With the 2020 election more contentious than those in modern memory, Normal Community students react to the outcome.

Students react to 2020 election

Lauren Cutler, Staff Writer
Dec 15, 2020

The Electoral College voted Monday, Dec. 14 to certify the Presidential election for Democrat Joe Biden. Biden’s 306 electoral votes surpass the 270 required to win the presidency. President Donald Trump had continued to contest Nov. 3’s election results by requesting recounts and filing lawsuits...

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The Fiesta Ranchera location on College Ave. is one of the Fiesta locations run by the Canchola family.

Local business restrictions impact NCHS students

With Illinois reverting to Phase 3 of the ‘Restore Illinois Resurgence Mitigation Plan’ on Friday, Nov. 20 for the unforeseeable future, small businesses face another round of mitigation requirements. The requirements, coming as a new wave of COVID-19 surged statewide, “aims to limit gatherings...

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Class of 1997 graduate Jarrett Johnson is nominated for Grammy award for a song release this summer.

NCHS alum Jarrett Johnson nominated for Grammy

Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Dec 4, 2020

NCHS alum Jarrett Johnson, a member of the Class of 1997, was nominated for Best Arrangement - Instrumental or A Capella at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” arranged and performed by Johnson and ten-time Grammy award winner Alvin Chea of Take 6 was released in...

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