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Inkspot

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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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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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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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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College Board announces AP testing revamp

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...

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Bob Borchears of Thrivent Financial and Althea Shonn, a nurse at Saint Joes and mother of Normal Community student Alexandra Shonn (19), volunteer at the Hyvee pick-up station. The crew also featured Raquel Simmons, a Unit 5 stay-at-home mom (not pictured).

Local businesses partner to distribute free lunches amidst closures

Reid Watkins, Sports Editor
Mar 16, 2020

A number of local businesses have partnered to create “FeedBlonoKids”, distributing free lunches in an effort to feed local students that are out of school after COVID-19 cancellations. Gill Street Eatz, Healthy In A Hurry and Central Image Car Wraps make up the three primary sponsors, along with...

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Coronavirus Update: Impact on Unit 5 and NCHS [3/16 11:35 a.m.]

Coronavirus Update: Impact on Unit 5 and NCHS [3/16 11:35 a.m.]

Mantra Dave, Staff Writer
Mar 16, 2020

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has ordered all schools throughout the state closed from Tuesday, March 17 until Monday, March 30 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Due to the unprecedented nature of this situation, Unit 5 has released important information for students and families, which is...

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Transcript: Superintendent, Unit 5 district officials address Coronavirus

Transcript: Superintendent, Unit 5 district officials address Coronavirus

Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Mar 12, 2020

The following is a transcript of recorded statements at the Unit 5 Board of Education Regular Meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at Kingsley Junior High, where Dr. Mark Daniel, Superintendent; Dayna Brown, Director of Communications and Community Relations; and Michelle Lamboley, Executive Director of Special...

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Co-founders Jathin Nama, Sivani Sayani, and Sunny Shaheen (left to right) present at the Showcase.

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...

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Loving Valentines cards and decorations were made from the eco-friendly paper they created; a positive effort made to spread compassion while helping the planet.

Earth Club’s reusing and repurposing: Valentine’s Day

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
Feb 15, 2020

One for you, and you, and you. Walking around the classroom, elementary school students traditionally place their Valentine’s day cards into the decorated shoeboxes of their classmates, saving their favorite for a special someone. Decked out in red, pink, and white paper, the Valentines usually...

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