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Whatever you are interested in, we've got it covered.

Inkspot

Melissa Schill

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief

Melissa Schill is a senior at NCHS. This is her third year working for the Inkspot, and she is the Editor in Chief. Melissa is also involved in the Principal Advisory Committee and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Random fact about me: I was homeschooled in 7th and 8th grade. Farthest I've been from home: Nairobi, Kenya. Likes: Dancing, writing, hiking, and traveling. Guilty pleasure: Brownies and mint chocolate chip ice cream.

All content by Melissa Schill
Farmers market open for season

Farmers market open for season

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief May 22, 2018

Downtown Bloomington’s farmers market is officially open for the summer. Saturday, May 5 marked the beginning of the outdoor season. The farmers market, located on Jefferson, Main, and Center Streets, offers an array of locally sourced goods such as produce, plants, and art.   The market...

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9 best things about Bloomington/Normal

9 best things about Bloomington/Normal

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief May 14, 2018

With summer rapidly approaching, many students are looking forward to a summer spent in places, well, other than the cornfields of Bloomington/Normal. While true, Bloomington/Normal doesn’t offer the same landscapes and activities that destination spots across the country might, there are plenty of...

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Crash: Slapshot snapshot

Crash: Slapshot snapshot

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Mar 21, 2018

Unlike most humans, Sarah Kowalczyk’s (10) feet function better on ice than on grass. Though Sarah learned how to skate at the age of three, she gave it up in favor of soccer. After a few years of soccer, however, she quickly discovered that hockey was where she belonged. That’s not to say that...

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Shumaker: New assistant principal

Shumaker: New assistant principal

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Feb 1, 2018

Mrs. Natalie Shumaker took over Mr. Joshua Fabish’s role as assistant principal after he left for a job opportunity in Florida. Shumaker began working with the NCHS administrative team as an intern this fall, then was hired as Fabish's replacement at the school board meeting on December 3 - officially...

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[Photo] Quiz: How bad is your senioritis?

Dec 7, 2017

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Finals will begin on Tuesday, December 19. All underclassman and juniors must take finals. Seniors with 6 or less absences and a B or better in a course are except from that final.

Fall finals schedule

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Nov 27, 2017

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The Lady Iron Swim team capped off their first ever Sectional win with a strong showing at State, finishing 4th overall as a team.

Lady Iron Swim places 4th in State

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Nov 21, 2017

A team of six girls from the Lady Iron swim team attended the IHSA State Swimming and Diving competition last weekend, November 17-19. The team, composed of Grace Ariola (12), Sophie Benson (11), Ashley Bengtson (10), Julia Heimstead (10), Claire Koh (12) and Julia Oostman (12), won 4th place overall...

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Spot the difference: Cheer

Spot the difference: Cheer

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Nov 20, 2017

Spot the difference between these two photos:                     Check the solution here

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The gif above illustrates the different  scheduling configurations possible with an alternative model.

[Video] Block scheduling fosters in-depth learning

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Nov 7, 2017

49 minutes. 49 minutes to take attendance. Settle the class down. Collect homework. Pass out worksheets. Begin a group discussion. Separate the students into groups. Shuffle the desks around. Log in to the computers. Pack everything back up. All this in 49 minutes. Cramming all of this-not to mention...

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The road will help alleviate traffic issues for both NCHS and Eastview.

New road connects NCHS, Eastview

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 23, 2017

A new road is being constructed between Normal Community High School and Eastview Christian Church. The construction began in early October and is scheduled to be completed by November 5. Eastview initially proposed the idea of building the road and has funded the project. The church uses NCHS’s...

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The road from NCHSs side.

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The road from NCHS's side.

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The road from Eastviews side.

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The road from Eastview's side.

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The road connects to NCHSs property by the tennis courts.

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The road connects to NCHS's property by the tennis courts.

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Multimedia: 2017 Homecoming assembly

Multimedia: 2017 Homecoming assembly

Melissa Schill and Taylor Kern Oct 11, 2017

Normal Community celebrated Homecoming the week of October 2. After a week of activities, dress-up days, and after-school events, Homecoming culminated with an all-school assembly before the home football game against Champaign Centennial on Friday and the dance on Saturday. The assembly featured...

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[Photo] Homecoming king and queen crowned

Oct 10, 2017

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Mr. Josh Fabish took a job in Florida after 13 years of employment, first as a math teacher, then as an assistant principal. His last day was October 6.

Fabish leaves NCHS

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 10, 2017

After 13 years of service at NCHS, both as a teacher and assistant principal, Mr. Fabish is leaving Unit 5 to work in Florida. This summer, Fabish accepted a job at Ligonier Ministries, a nonprofit organization that equips churches with materials such as books, podcasts, and teaching series. For...

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Video: The Lugnuts

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 6, 2017

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Video: Battle of the Bands

Video: Battle of the Bands

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 6, 2017

As part of Homecoming week, student bands competed at Battle of the Bands on Wednesday night. The entries ranged from two sophomore violinists to a group of boys performing punk rock to a trio backed only by piano performing mashups. In the end, The Lugnuts--last year’s Battle of the Bands winner--pulled...

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Video: Letters to Her

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 6, 2017

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Video: 2 Republic

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 6, 2017

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Video: Uncommon Core

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 6, 2017

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Video: Take 27

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 6, 2017

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Video: No Questions Asked

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 6, 2017

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Video: Scooter Toughened Ankles

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 6, 2017

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Girls tennis season in full swing

Girls tennis season in full swing

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 2, 2017

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IMC update: Collab lab

IMC update: Collab lab

IMC remodels former computer lab space
Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Sep 1, 2017

The IMC went through some remodeling over the summer,. The computer lab that once existed in the IMC was removed and replaced with a collaboration center. Mrs. Fox-Anvick, the head librarian, stated that “since everybody has a laptop, we wanted a better use of this space. It was a big, ugly bank of...

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Fall event schedule

Fall event schedule

Use the calendar below to keep up with all of the fall semester events
Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Aug 24, 2017

Note: The Homecoming week schedule has changed - the new events can be found here.

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Q&A: Bollmann reflects on career

Q&A: Bollmann reflects on career

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief May 17, 2017

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Spring Finals Schedule

Spring Finals Schedule

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Apr 21, 2017

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Spot the difference: horror halls solution

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Apr 20, 2017

“JAWS” to “JAMS” Shirt from blue to green Addition of cardboard box on the far left Poster on right wall moved to other side of door Locker tags removed (left side) Locker tag removed (right side) Words whited out on shirt “S” taken out of “NURSE’S OFFICE” Bonus:...

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Spot the difference: horror halls

Spot the difference: horror halls

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Apr 20, 2017

Can you spot the eight differences between these two photos? Check out the solution here

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Brewsters car after the accident.

Driver charged with numerous offenses after crash

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Apr 19, 2017

A vehicle, driven by Joshua Brewster, crashed into a utility pole at the corner of Airport Road and College Avenue this past Monday, April 10 around 5:00 PM. Brewster’s wife, Melonie, along with their three children, ages 4, 3, and 2, were also in the car. Although the accident was not fatal, it...

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Sheeran fans undivided; a review of Divide

Sheeran fans undivided; a review of ‘Divide’

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Apr 12, 2017

Ed Sheeran has always drawn from a personal place when creating and performing his music, but his new album Divide takes that same personal, intimate approach to another level. Each of the sixteen songs in Sheeran’s album puts a piece of his culture and past in the spotlight. Every song on the...

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Get to it Pruitt!

Get to it Pruitt!

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Mar 2, 2017

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A la carte items feeding obesity epidemic

A la carte items feeding obesity epidemic

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Feb 23, 2017

First course is whisked out: raw beets in vinaigrette. Next comes the braised salmon with lentils and leeks. To top off the meal, some Brie or Maroilles are served as part of the cheese course. This sounds like a five-star restaurant in the Hamptons, but it’s not. The setting of this fine dining experience...

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Students denounce immigration ban to LaHood

Students denounce immigration ban to LaHood

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Feb 13, 2017

Over 50 NCHS students gathered at Congressman Darin LaHood’s office to express their disapproval of the immigration ban after school on Thursday, February 2. President Trump signed the executive order on January 27, 2017, suspending entry into America for 90 days for immigrants from Iraq, Syria,...

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From left to right: Kaylee Rippeon (11), Sudesh Sahu (11), Cora Sease (11), Logan Rice (11). Rippeons goal is to work out more in the coming year. Sahu states that he hopes to get on top of all of [his] commitments and not procrastinate. He continues, I realized that I have a lot of things going on and in order for me to effectively do all them, I need to make sure that I stay on top of everything. Sease aspires to be a better person. I want to be known as a nice person, she states. Rice resolved to get all of his schoolwork done. He adds, I dont want to get grounded.

NCHS students share New Year’s resolutions

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Jan 13, 2017

With the start of a new year comes new opportunities. Many people choose to create resolutions in order to make the most of the new year. Others choose to not make goals, and instead take the year as it comes. These NCHS students share their hopes for 2017.

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Veena Yeleswarapu (11) aspires to increase productivity. Towards the end of 2016 I just kind of lost motivation to do a lot of things and I was just scrambling, so I want to change that.

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Veena Yeleswarapu (11) aspires "to increase productivity. Towards the end of 2016 I just kind of lost motivation to do a lot of things and I was just scrambling, so I want to change that."

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Sindhu Komaragiri (11) wants to stop procrastinating. In order to achieve her goal, Komaragiri resolves to give her phone to her parents at 9:00 PM so that she isnt distracted by it.

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Sindhu Komaragiri (11) wants to stop procrastinating. In order to achieve her goal, Komaragiri resolves to give her phone to her parents at 9:00 PM so that she isn't distracted by it.

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Some students choose to not make New Years resolutions. Trinity Harris (12), chose to not make a resolution. I dont keep them, she states.

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Some students choose to not make New Year's resolutions. Trinity Harris (12), chose to not make a resolution. "I don't keep them," she states.

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Addie Smiths (10) goal for 2017 is to make new friends because she wants to branch out more.

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Addie Smith's (10) goal for 2017 is to make new friends because she wants to branch out more.

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First semester 2016 finals schedule

Foregoing the finals frenzy

How to manage the stress of finals
Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Dec 13, 2016

Finals: sleepless nights, endless packets, extensive math problems, undetermined grades, constant studying, stress. A lot of stress. Finals are coming. Unfortunately, these end-of-the-semester tests are inevitable (unless you’re one of the lucky seniors that has maintained a B and has less than...

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Winter Spirit dress up days

Winter Spirit dress up days

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Dec 6, 2016

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VIDEO: NCHS students share high school goals

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Nov 16, 2016

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Fashion club premieres at NCHS

Fashion club premieres at NCHS

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Oct 2, 2016

Fashion club founders Sanjana Saxena and Pavani Nukala led the new club's first meeting, with sponsor Mrs. Laura Thomas, on Thursday, September 15. Saxena and Nukala noticed that the school had three fashion courses, yet no fashion club.  Saxena states, “We wanted to be able to do activities...

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Upcoming tests for NCHS juniors

Upcoming tests for NCHS juniors

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Sep 21, 2016

The Junior agenda is full of various standardized and placement tests in the coming year.   PSAT registration is occurring.  The PSAT offers students the opportunity to gain SAT experience before the actual test happens in the spring.  Students wanting to take the PSAT should enroll by midnight...

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Active garden changes landscape of West Bloomington

Active garden changes landscape of West Bloomington

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Sep 19, 2016

The cool September breeze rustles through the thick, green leaves.  The rich smell of soil and basil mix in the air.  Small, red tomatoes hang from thick vines, and green peppers hide between leaves.  A butterfly lands on a flower, and a bird chirps in the distance.  Five children crouch in the...

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One goal of the Active Garden is to become as self-sustainable as possible.  This water jug will collect rain water that they can use to water the plants.

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One goal of the Active Garden is to become as self-sustainable as possible. This water jug will collect rain water that they can use to water the plants.

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Grape tomatoes grow plentifully.

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Grape tomatoes grow plentifully.

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Jan Turner teaches a Boys and Girls Club member how to weed.

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Jan Turner teaches a Boys and Girls Club member how to weed.

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The Boys and Girls Club is located just a few blocks away from the Active Garden.

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The Boys and Girls Club is located just a few blocks away from the Active Garden.

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A green pepper waits to be harvested.

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A green pepper waits to be harvested.

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The garden shed is covered in handprints made by the children at the Boys and Girls Club.

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The garden shed is covered in handprints made by the children at the Boys and Girls Club.

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The children from the Boys and Girls Club learn how to plant seeds.

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The children from the Boys and Girls Club learn how to plant seeds.

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The West Bloomington Active Garden still has about two acres to use and develop.

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The West Bloomington Active Garden still has about two acres to use and develop.

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NCHS welcomes ten new teachers to the staff

NCHS welcomes ten new teachers to the staff

Melissa Schill and Corinne Monroe Sep 8, 2016

Ten new teachers were welcomed to the Normal Community High School staff at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. After the 2015-2016 school year, there were several openings due to the retirement of teachers, such as English teacher Mary Jespersen.  With the large number of incoming freshman,...

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Sophomore players are introduced to the crowd.

Photo Gallery: Orange and Black scrimmage

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Aug 25, 2016

To kick off Friday night football at NCHS, the varsity, junior varsity, and freshman football players held a scrimmage on Friday, August 19.

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Varsity cheerleaders warm-up before the varsity scrimmage.  Reagan Volz (11) performs a stunt.

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Varsity cheerleaders warm-up before the varsity scrimmage. Reagan Volz (11) performs a stunt.

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The scoreboard was not functioning during most of the scrimmage.

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The scoreboard was not functioning during most of the scrimmage.

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Freshman cheerleaders rally the crowd.

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Freshman cheerleaders rally the crowd.

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As the scrimmage finishes, players stop to get a drink as they exit the field.

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As the scrimmage finishes, players stop to get a drink as they exit the field.

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Freshman cheerleaders stand at attention while watching the game.

[Photo]

Freshman cheerleaders stand at attention while watching the game.

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Freshman football players finish their scrimmage.

[Photo]

Freshman football players finish their scrimmage.

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Parents and students watch the game from the stands.

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Parents and students watch the game from the stands.

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Freshman football players exit the field while sophomore players run on in preparation to play.

[Photo]

Freshman football players exit the field while sophomore players run on in preparation to play.

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Sophomore players complete warm-ups before playing.

[Photo]

Sophomore players complete warm-ups before playing.

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Sophomore players huddle before beginning the scrimmage.

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Sophomore players huddle before beginning the scrimmage.

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Students and parents watch from the stands.

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Students and parents watch from the stands.

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Sophomore players are introduced to the crowd.

[Photo]

Sophomore players are introduced to the crowd.

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Parent volunteers sell school spirit wear.

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Parent volunteers sell school spirit wear.

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Student Council sold hot dogs, chips, and a drink for $3 as one of their fundraisers.

[Photo]

Student Council sold hot dogs, chips, and a drink for $3 as one of their fundraisers.

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These posters offer motivational and thought-provoking quotes.

Highlight of the Classroom

NCHS teachers point out their favorite object/part of their classroom.
Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Aug 18, 2016

 

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Choir director on spring concert

Melissa Schill, Editor in Chief Aug 11, 2016

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