Inkspot

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...

BACC culinary students roast the competition at SkillsUSA regional; COVID simmers State competition hopes

Olivia Plangger and Jessalyn Baer
Apr 25, 2020

Four Bloomington Area Career Center Culinary Arts students -- Emma Feit ('21), Madelyn Burton ('21), Kennedy Coe ('21), and Gavin Regnier ('20) -- qualified for the SkillsUSA State competition after participating in the Regional culinary competitions at Southwestern Illinois College in Granite City on...

Q & A: Seniors Speak Up

With Satya Garapati

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
Apr 24, 2020

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...

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...

Q & A: Senior Athletes Speak Up

With Kailah Carter

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
Apr 17, 2020

Tonight, Friday, April 17, NCHS would have hosted the 2020 Normal Community Co-Ed Track Invitational and recognized the senior athletes of the boys and girls track teams. However, like so many other events, that meet is canceled. Kailah Carter (‘20), a 2018 and 2019 State track and field qualifier,...

Sewing for safety: Coe family combats coronavirus

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
Apr 12, 2020

The struggles of those combating COVID-19 have hit home for the family of Kennedy (‘21) and Piper (‘20) Coe. Utilizing their sewing skills and passion for helping others, the sisters started crafting homemade masks a month ago, distributing them to friends, family, health-care workers,...

Q & A: Seniors Speak Up

With Sheri Stewart

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
Apr 12, 2020

School closures due to COVID-19 present unique challenges for all students. However, for senior athletes in their last semester at Normal Community, the experence is on a different level. Missing out on their senior season, and that final chance to make memories in Normal Community colors has led to seniors running the gamut of emotions. This is the second installment in a series of articles where seniors detail their experiences through the COVID-19 crisis, featuring soccer player Sheri Stewart.

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Q & A: Seniors Speak Up

With Sabrina Chang

Mantra Dave and Olivia Plangger
Apr 8, 2020

School closures due to COVID-19 present unique challenges for all students. However, for seniors in their last semester at Normal Community, the experence is on a different level. Possibly missing out on a variety of senior memories, and having to transition to E-learning has led to seniors running the gamut of emotions. This is the first installment in a series of articles where seniors detail their experiences through the COVID-19 crisis, featuring Sabrina Chang who spoke to the Inkspot during Spring Break.

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IHSA remains hopeful for return of spring sports seasons

Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave
Apr 6, 2020

In response to Governor JB Pritzker extending the ‘shelter in place’ order until April 30, the IHSA has announced that they are hopeful a shortened spring sports season will remain possible. “We continue to support the possibility of our member schools completing both regular and postseason...

Coronavirus Update: “Stay-at-Home” order [3/21 8:00 a.m.]

Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Mar 21, 2020

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker issued a statewide stay-at-home order on Friday, March 20, which will begin at 5:00 pm on Saturday, March 21 and will remain in effect until the end of the day on Tuesday, April 7. Pritzker also announced that all Illinois schools will now remain closed until April...

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...

Coronavirus Update: Local impact and Illinois’s response [3/20 2:35 p.m.]

Charlotte Calmes, Editor-in-Chief
Mar 20, 2020

The McLean County Health Department confirmed McLean County’s first case of coronavirus on Thursday, March 19. The man in his 70s with “no history of travel or exposure” is currently being treated for the virus at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Bloomington, according to WGLT. While preventative...

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...