Volume 5, Issue 8

A WARRIOR STUDENT MEDIA Publication

McHenry Community High School | Volume 5, Issue 8 | December 18, 2023

Holiday shopping by the Riverside See side two for all the festive cheer

NEWS

Photo by: Mackenzie Sroka

Seniors win first spirit rally of the school year

MCHS hosts a series of spirit events at the winter spirit rally to celebrate the end of the semester Lola Cassidy Online Managing Editor

NEWS

As MCHS students and staff countdown to winter break, we head into finals week with some school spirit events. The spirit days consist of a Goose Chase, dress up days, and a spirit rally to close out the week.

According to Mitchell Stengal on The Warrior Weekly, “This two week event, our spirit barrel showdown, will culminate in our winter pep rally, where we will decide which class gets to claim the spirit barrel for the rest of the year.”

The competition began on Monday, Dec. 4, with an MCHS Goose Chase, where the different classes compete throughout the week to earn the most points by completing tasks.

“Those challenges are all this week from taking photos with your principal to forming a pyramid with your friends in the hallways,” said Stengel.

The senior class won the goose chase and were awarded ten extra points towards the Spirit Barrel showdown.

Starting last Monday, Dec. 11 thru Dec. 14, students are competing in a “claim the staff” event.

“We are going to begin our claim the staff competition,” continued Stengel,

“Student’s job is to recruit staff members all across MCHS to join their class, freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and represent them.”

The class with the most staff claimed by the end will earn points towards the competition.

On Thursday, Dec. 14, the dress up theme will be through the ages, as students and staff dress up as the different stages of life.

Freshman dressed up as babies, sophomores were toddlers, juniors were working adults. While seniors were senior citizens, and the staff dressed up as teenagers.

Then, on Friday, Dec. 15, the dress up day will be color wars where each student will dress in their class color.

The freshman class color is blue, sophomore’s color is purple, juniors are red, and seniors are green. Finally, the week ends by having a spirit rally in the Upper Campus main gym, where all staff and students will attend. At the spirit rally there will be more competitions for each class to have the opportunity to earn points to win the spirit barrel.

“We will end with our pep rally where at the end of the day every single student will join us… to celebrate the semester’s end and determine who claims the spirit barrel for spring 2024.”

On Dec. 15, Upper Campus Principal Dr. Jeff Prickett addresses the crowd during the Winter Spirit Rally in the Upper Campus Main Gym. | Photo by: Lily Adams

The spirit rally consisted of streamer wars, where each class had to cover everyone with streamers, a musical chairs scavenger hunt, and the Warrior chant.

“The importance of spirit rally is to bring back the fun of high school because with finals coming up, it is a lot of

studying,” according to senior spirit rally leader, Alexis Wilde,“But with a spirit rally then we have more fun and we get to mingle with other classes.”

At the end, the senior class of 2024 took home the spirit barrel, after a close tie with the freshman class.

Walk in a winter wonderland this week Here’s a list of fun holiday events going on in McHenry this week Aika Villa Page Designer

The McHenry community gets in the spirit of Christmas, decorating spots like Veteran Acres Park with holiday lights and festive colors. | Photo by: Mackenzie Sroka

A small group of people are walking down a snowy pathway wondering what to do for fun during this winter season.

Till all the people realized that they could go to some Christmas events in McHenry.

There are many Christmas events going on in McHenry as of this moment and also areas around McHenry as well.

From seeing what is new for the Riverwalk shops to decorating Christmas cookies with Santa all within McHenry.

On Saturday Dec. 16, at Treats 4 You on 1114 N. Green Street, kids can decorate Christmas cookies with Santa.

The kids were given a kit of unfrosted cookies, buttercream, sprinkles, and times to decorate their cookies. Santa was there to be available to take photos, and to have personal visits to talk with each of the children.

Not only is there decorating cookies with Santa, there was a small event

going on in McHenry Riverwalk.

On Dec. 16, the Riverwalk Shoppes hosted an event called the ‘special’ hot holiday beverages at All Marine’s Retro Rentals. This occurs within a food truck for people to visit. On that day, Mario’s cart and Cookies with Flavor were there from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There are lot of events within McHenry, but also within its surrounding towns.There was a Lake in the Hills holiday lights bus tour that people rode to get into the holiday spirit.

On Dec. 14 through the 16 there was the Lake in the Hills holidays lights bus tour. The timing was to start at 5:30 P.M.8 P.M. The event fee will be at $10 per person and $12 for non-residents.

On Dec. 20, there will be Christmas On the Prairie the timing will be at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The location will be at Steel Heart, Ltd - House of Seven Gables.

This year will be the year for spending time with friends and family and having fun while also going to some fun holiday events and spreading some holiday cheer.

FEATURE

Seasonal shoppes

McHenry Riverwalk District is decorated and prepared to host many events for the holiday season. | Photo by: Mackenzie Sroka

Paulina Borowski Social Media Manager

SPORTS

Tinsel shines off the glistening Christmas lights on the Riverwalk, people walk around the shops with hot cocoa in their hands, children and adults alike glide across the ice rink. There is plenty to do for everyone in and around downtown McHenry.

After much collaboration with MCHS’s students and staff, the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes were built in only three months and opened in July of 2023. Miller Point Park improvements were also made in September of the same year.

Now, as the snow begins to fall and the holidays draw near, The Riverwalk Shoppes have turned into a festive downtown area in their own unique way,

Riverwalk Shoppes celebrate their first holiday season in downtown McHenry with all the decorations and lighting shoppes are marketing and promoting their merchandise in conjunction with special holiday events making, way for many activities to get into the holiday spirit.

“Each shoppe, in its own unique way, has embraced the season wholeheartedly. With all the decorations and lighting the shoppes are marketing and promoting their merchandise in conjunction with special holiday events and happenings in the Riverwalk District.

Each shoppe plays off the holiday theme,” says Director of Economic Development, Doug Martin.

With the addition of the holiday markets, food trucks and ice skating rink more people have been drawn to the area and visiting the shops.

“The Christmas season has been keeping us busy. We are returning to the same amount of foot traffic as we saw during the busy summer months. There was a slight decline in September, October and early November as everyone went back to school, but now that the holidays are upon us things have picked back up,” comments one of the shops, The Mad Soyentist.

Holiday Markets and food trucks come to the shoppes on multiple weekends, coordinated by the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, and having these additions really has increased traffic down in the Riverwalk District “Each shoppe has also decorated in theme with their business and the whole place looks very festive! The holiday markets have been a hit as well, packed with shoppers every Saturday.

More events mean more foot traffic, customers and sales, and people have been coming out every weekend even in the cold. Overall the holiday season has been going very well at the shops!” adds The Bumble Bread Co. Additionally, Miller Point has the Riverwalk, ice skating rink, the park and with a bathroom structure more individuals are coming downtown to enjoy the amenities and stay for longer periods of time which only benefits the shoppes The McHenry downtown has truly turned into a winter wonderland with many things to do and look at as the holiday season draws near.

Chicago Blackhawks player Corey Perry fired

Ultimately, Perry was released from the team due to an “alcohol-infused incident” in the locker room Hunter Blake Sports Editor

The Chicago Blackhawks currently have one of the brightest futures in the National Hockey League, with the team acquiring the number 1 overall pick Connor Bedard. The team has made some moves in the right direction to be successful for future seasons. But controversy has surrounded the team the past 2 weeks, surrounding former Anaheim Ducks star Corey Perry, who was acquired during the offseason and was supposed to be part of the “veteran core” surrounding Bedard.

Perry’s contract was recently terminated by the Blackhawks and he was placed on waivers and eventually released by the team after his waiver claim period ended. Initial reports on his release provided unclear reasons on why he was released from the roster and had a lot of Hawks fans wondering the true incident of his release. The only reason provided to fans on initial reports was his release as “inappropriate work-place behavior” which the organization deemed unacceptable to teammates and coaching staff, with details being very vague at the start.

According to Bleacher Report, Sportsnet Reporter Elliotte Friedman said, “After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined

Chicago Blackhawks Corey Perry stands on the ice in the first period of a preseason game against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. | Photo by: Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune / TNS

that Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation of both the terms of his Standard Players Contract and the Blackhawks' internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments. As such, Corey Perry has been placed on unconditional waivers.”

The initial reports on Perry’s release left many fans confused and rumors even spread that Perry was involved in a relationship with one of his teammate’s mother. While this rumor was proven false by the Blackhawks and his teammates, it did have an effect on the overall culture of the team within the clubhouse and on the ice, and has

put a strain on the team during its rebuild.

According to NBC Chicago, Blackhawks head coach, Luke Richardson said, “Obviously it's disappointing that we are in this situation but there's really no second guessing, it also puts a big dent in the team.”

With the Blackhawks currently sitting dead last in wins and points, this incident provides a challenge to the team, losing a player who was supposed to be part of the aging Blackhawks core, and was even given an assistant captain patch for the season is tough for the Blackhawks.

Full details have now surfaced on the actual reasons for Perry’s release, and they relate to an “alcohol-infused” incident that occurred in the locker room in the morning a day before a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This incident led to Perry’s ultimate release, and Perry is currently seeking professional help for his problem.

According to CNN, Perry said in a statement following his release, ““As a result of my actions, there has been speculation and rumors. I am sickened by the impact this has had on others, and I want to make it clear that in no way did this situation involve any of my teammates or their families.”

The McHenry Messenger is McHenry Community High School’s student-written and -edited newspaper.

Editorial Leadership

Staff Writers

Section Editors

Brooke Danz, Copy Editor Maggie Demski, Copy Editor Aika Villa, Page Designer

Launched in 2019, The McHenry Messenger is the student-run and student-edited school newspaper at McHenry High School in McHenry, Illinois.

Student journalists have the right to exercise freedom of speech and the press in high school media. The McHenry Messenger benefits from these rights. We hope to use this platform to inform and engage the students and staff of McHenry High School as well as its broader community.

As an open forum for student expression, the McHenry Messenger hopes to maintain editorial independence from that which we cover while continuing to foster connections to the community.

Mackenzie Sroka‭, ‬Editor-In-Chief Lola Cassidy, Online Managing Editor Michalina Sotka, Print Managing Editor Grace Crockett, News Editor Lily Adams, Features Editor Lydia Lawrence, Opinions Editor Hunter Blake, Sports Editor Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Multimedia Team

Leylah Moreno‭, ‬Artistic Director Paulina Borowski‭, ‬Marketing Director Grace Bellavia, Social Media Manager Olivia Smith, Social Media Manager Grace Hunt, Business Manager

Zach Benton‭, ‬Sam Bodden‭, ‬Eli Frommes‭, ‬Trevor Gutierrez‭, ‬Ellie Henry‭, ‬Lexi Januk‭, ‬Elijah Latronica‭, ‬Breiton Mackey‭, ‬Kiera Miller‭, and Parker Mackellagn

Questions? Comments?

Contact Mr. Dane Erbach, the Messenger’s advisor, at erbachdane@dist156.org.

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