A WARRIOR STUDENT MEDIA Publication
McHenry Community High School | Volume 5, Issue 4 | November 14, 2023
What’s next for the Bears? NEWS
Photo by: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images / TNS
See side two for the full story
Students and staff welcome week-long Thanksgiving
This year, MCHS moved parent-teacher conferences to November to allow students to have a full week off for Thanksgiving break Lola Cassidy Online Managing Editor
OPINION
Students at MCHS countdown the days to a week-long Thanksgiving break this year. This school year, MCHS will have a change with parent-teacher conferences, moving them from October, to the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving break. According to the MCHS District 156 calendar, students will be out of school Nov. 20 to Nov. 24 for an extended fall break. This shift is intended to add more consistency between district 15 and 156, and to add more instructional consistency early in the semester. “In reviewing our annual calendar, we decided we would try this for several reasons," said Carl Vallianatos, the Assistant Superintendent at MCHS. “To align with our largest feeder district 15… to add to our break for students and staff, and to eliminate the broken week in October.” It not only creates a coherent schedule for the two districts, but also gives time
for students to unwind and focus on themselves. “I think we anticipate that this longer break will improve the wellbeing an emotional health for our students and decrease some anxiety and provide a much needed break from the rigors of the semester,” Vallianatos continued. Max Newton, a senior here at MCHS is eagerly anticipating this extended break, and looking forward to a week of relaxation and having fun with friends and family. “It is a good opportunity to focus on your family and not have to worry about schoolwork,” says Newton. Ella Boland, also a senior here at MCHS, speaks for students as the week-long break is a reward for how far students have come this semester. Students should use this break as a reset before the home stretch to finals in December. "I think it is needed to get through this semester,” said Boland. “It is kind of like a reward for me getting through the first few months of school." If needed, the week off of school is a great time to catch up on missing assignments, or to get ahead on work.
This year’s Thanksgiving break will look different compared to previous years. Instead of part of the week, students will have the entire week off and staff will host parent teacher conferences on Monday and Tuesday. | Illustration by Leylah Moreno
“Students can also use the extra time to catch up with school work, complete projects, and spend time with family and friends or siblings home for the holidays,” said Vallianatos.
This is a time to either spend the break with family and friends, or spend it working. Take time to get some sleep and decompress before returning for the final month of the semester.
Opinion: Headphones are beyond helpful for students
Teachers may be unsure about whether headphones are beneficial but can make all the difference for some students
Though many teachers think that headphone distract students, many students benefit from having music playing in their ears, especially students whose brains have a hard time focusing. | Illustration by Annapatricia Cruz
Mack Parker Staff Writer In 2023, it has become a common sight to see students at school, including myself, wearing headphones as part of their everyday routine. While the use of headphones in the classroom has generated mixed opinions, with some asserting that they lead to distraction, others argue that they serve as a valuable tool for maintaining focus and
productivity. I think headphones can be a helpful tool and a distraction depending how they're used because using headphones can help students block out distractions and focus on their respected work. This is really beneficial for people who have a hard time focusing in noisy environments or people who have ADHD. One of the primary concerns about allowing headphones in class is that students who use them might not be
paying attention to the lesson. Many teachers believe that students who wear headphones are disengaging from the learning process and are instead focused on their headphones. Which is completely understandable for teachers. It’s hard teaching students if they’re not paying attention or not even looking up from their phones. I think it’s really hard for teachers especially. There are also arguments against headphones in class, believing students
who use them in class aren't paying attention. While it’s understandable that teachers may worry that students with headphones in class are not paying attention This concern is understandable for teachers because you don’t want the students not paying attention to the teacher. A few students in 10th and 12th grade shared their opinion on the headphones in class, including Pharis Walusimbi. “Headphones help certain students to get work done and to space out the noise,” he says. Gavin Schultz says, "I like using headphones during group projects because they help me tune out background noise and focus on my task." I agree with both Walusimbi and Schultz because I also use headphones, particularly during independent work, which aligns with their arguments for enhancing focus and productivity. Now, the headphone situation in school is like trying to solve a complex puzzle. They can be a powerful ally in your battle against distractions, but it's all about using them wisely. If you're in your own world while the teacher is trying to teach, it's not the wisest thing to do. It's all about keeping that balance between staying focused and showing respect to your teachers and the classroom. Teachers deserve your attention when it's needed and desired, also it is a reflection of your actions and grade in the classroom. End of the day it's up to the teacher to decide so respect their decision.