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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

Kirsten Santana

Kirsten Santana, Senior Staff Reporter

Kirsten Santana is a senior at Normal Community High School and involved in the internship program. This is her third year working on the Inkspot, and she is a senior staff reporter.

My favorite film is either “Mamma Mia” or “Little Women.”

I am currently reading “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong.

One of my favorite quotes is “In the end, we’ll all become stories.” – Margaret Atwood

All content by Kirsten Santana
The Up-Beat – S.2, Ep. 1 – Orchards; Tyler, the Creator; Mr. Bovenkerk cries and the Impact Project

The Up-Beat – S.2, Ep. 1 – Orchards; Tyler, the Creator; Mr. Bovenkerk cries and the Impact Project

Bella Green, Kirsten Santana and Carter Hull Oct 24, 2024

Welcome to “The Up-Beat,” where a group of Inkspot reporters take a break from breaking news to share what’s been making them smile this week. Bella Green, Kirsten Santana and Carter Hull share what is making them happy in the season two premiere.

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Image Courtesy: Normal Public Library

Normal Public Library to maintain community services during asbestos removal

Inkspot Staff and Kirsten Santana Mar 19, 2024

The Normal Public Library will continue to provide services to the community during its upcoming closure for asbestos removal. Starting this spring, NPL will begin removing asbestos from the 1973 portion of the building, a process that may take nine months to a year to complete. The library’s...

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The Up-Beat – Ep. 5 – Daylight Saving time, Gordon Ramsay, snacks and Studio Ghibli

The Up-Beat – Ep. 5 – Daylight Saving time, Gordon Ramsay, snacks and Studio Ghibli

Welcome to "The Up-Beat," where each week a group of Inkspot reporters take a break from breaking news to share what's been making them smile this week. Bryce Hickman, Leonor Rivas, Kirsten Santana and Carter Hull share what is making them happy this week.  

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Ms. Cassie Adelman goes over the daily agenda with her 6th hour English II class.

Ms. Cassie Adelman replaces Zeman in English department 

Kirsten Santana, Senior Staff Reporter Jan 17, 2024

Community hired Ms. Cassie Adelman, a December graduate from Illinois State University, to fill a vacancy in the English department after Ms. Jackie Zeman’s resignation.  Zeman, after five years at Community, announced in late November she would not be returning for second semester. The former...

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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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Girls swim takes 2nd in Big 12 Conference; Sets sights on IHSA Sectionals

Girls swim takes 2nd in Big 12 Conference; Sets sights on IHSA Sectionals

Kirsten Santana and Brayden Blackwell Oct 31, 2023

Girls swim claimed second in the Big 12 Conference Oct. 21, scoring 210 points between its two second-place relays and seven individual top three finishes.  The team trailed Champaign Central by 93 points and finished 14 points ahead of Normal West thanks to junior Kenna Malinowski’s two first-place...

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Waiting Room Records, located in Uptown Normal, stocks new vinyl and buys and sells used vinyl, making it a popular among Community's record enthusiasts.

Vinyl revival

Community’s vinyl enthusiasts on why records are spinning back into popularity
Kirsten Santana, Senior Staff Reporter Oct 4, 2023

A tug on the sleeve. An adjustment of the arm. Millions are turning to the needle to feed their addiction. This is the vinyl revival. Vinyl records outsold CDs in the US for the first time in over 35 years, according to the Recording Industry Association of America’s annual revenue report. Climbing...

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Analog audiophiles’ playlist picks [Spotify Playlists]

Analog audiophiles’ playlist picks [Spotify Playlists]

Kirsten Santana, Senior Staff Reporter Oct 4, 2023

Mr. Stefen Robinson, in his interview for the Inkspot article 'Vinyl Revival' commented he “occasionally [likes] listening to curated playlists, especially when a friend makes it for me,” Robinson said. “You know, that's beautiful.” The Inkspot tasked Robinson and the two other main sources...

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New Faces of Normal

New Faces of Normal

A Q & A with 2023's new instructional, administrative and support staff members

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The girls track & field program claimed their first-ever Sectional Title Thursday, May 11 at Bloomington High School.

Record-breaking victory: Girls track & field makes history with first sectional title

Brady Boyd, Ruth Oliveros-Gallardo, Gianna Rawlings and Kirsten Santana May 19, 2023

The girls track & field team captured its first sectional title in school history on May 11, sending 11 competitors to this weekend’s IHSA State meet. Community’s 89 points gave the Iron the edge over Edwardsville; the Tigers finished the IHSA 3A Bloomington Sectional in second with a team...

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The girls track & field team pose for a photo after winning program's third straight Big 12 Conference title at Champaign Central High School May 5.

Girls track & field: Big 12 Champs for 2nd straight season

The girls track and field team secured its second consecutive Big 12 Conference championship title on May 5. Community ended the conference meet with 131 points, a 37-point lead over hosts Champaign Central High School. The win was a team effort for the Iron. Junior Jazmin West won the 100-meter...

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Uber's annual Lost & Found Index takes a look at the  10 most commonly forgotten items, the 10 most "forgetful" cities, The 50 most *unique* lost items and identifies some trends in what people lost and when.

Uber’s 2023 Lost & Found Index reveals bizarre items passengers left behind

Uber’s 2023 Lost & Found Index highlights some of the more unusual items passengers left behind in the company’s vehicles.  For the seventh straight year, the annual report “provides a snapshot” of “the most commonly forgotten and most unique” items lost by riders.  Among some...

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The event’s organizers–Avani Rai, Pritha Chatterjee, Lilly McClelland and Karthika Nair– presented a poster stating “349,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since 1999. 6000 children and teens injured or killed in 2022.”

Students join National Walkout, demand stricter gun safety laws

Over 200 Community students took a stand against gun legislation on April 5, walking out of their 5th-hour classes and gathering in the school’s bus lane at noon. The demonstration was part of a national campaign organized by Students Demand Action, calling for stricter gun safety laws. A week...

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Asian-American & Pacific Islander Culture Club's Diwali attendees group photo in room 36 on October 28.

Asian American Pacific Islander Culture Club celebrates Asian cultures, Diwali

Kirsten Santana and Brayden Blackwell Nov 29, 2022

The Asian American Pacific Islander Culture Club (AAPI) hosted its first official event celebrating Diwali on Oct. 28.  Each month, Pranavi Chaganti, the club’s board chair, said, the organization plans to recognize, celebrate and teach about Asian cultures. The AAPI's purpose, Chaganti said,...

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Volleyball finishes 3rd in Intercity

Volleyball finishes 3rd in Intercity

The Lady Iron took 3rd in the Intercity volleyball tournament Sep. 24, finishing 2-2. Community’s two losses came at the hands of eventual champions the Normal West Wildcats and tournament runners-up the U-High Pioneers. After defeating Central Catholic in three sets in the tournament’s opening...

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