CMHS Artist Spotlight!

By Sydney Olden Editor in Chief Prom is one of the most anticipated events of the school year, but its rising costs, tickets, outfits, and transportation, can place financial pressure on families. Despite this, prom remains an important tradition that celebrates friendship and coming of age. Girls show off their dresses at the Night in Paris themed prom on May 16. Photo by Tavauge Starling. Prom night can mean more than just a dance for many seniors since it is an event that

By Taylor Ohrt Editor When students are getting ready to graduate, they tend to run to teachers for advice. “I try to give students the whole picture and not just one window,” gym teacher Mr. Meyer said. Science teacher Mr. Balouris gives advice to students for when they leave high school. He has won teacher of the month several times and teacher of the year once. The high school graduation rate in Illinois is 89% according to the Illinois State Board of Education, a 15-yea

By Adelaide Breier Editorial Assistant ​ Crete-Monee High School students and staff are finishing up the 25’-26’ school year with good vibes and excitement as summer approaches. With final exams around the corner and AP exams officially here, many are looking forward to summer break as the weather starts to warm up. Students leave the building as the weather warms up, looking ahead to the summer. “Going into ninth grade was stressful and definitely a big step up. However, aft

By Jaelin Brown News Reporter As exams approach, teachers must begin preparing their students for finals. Teachers can either have students take a quiz or a project as their final. For Mr. Sarsfield, he prefers that students take a quiz, although projects are easier. Students prepare for finals in Mr. Kenealy's journalism class. “Well, I like quizzes because they're using the grade, but in all seriousness, I think that projects are better because I think doing some type of p

By Braylen Alexander News Reporter Petty Officer Reed's retirement has been the center of discussions throughout the cadet program as cadets have taken the time to reminisce on the leadership, discipline, and mentorship Reed has provided to the unit. While the cadets express different emotions regarding Reed's retirement, it seems to be unanimously agreed upon that Reed has helped prepare the cadets for much more than drills and classes. Photo by Jaelin Brown. Freshman Cadet

By Nylah Smith Feature/Entertainment Reporter Although there will not be a senior class trip this year, the senior class did their best to organize plans for the senior trip, with students stepping in to help organize and communicate with school staff. Senior Kimora Darby, who was instrumental in trying to plan the trip, writes down some ideas for it. Photo by Jasmine Grant. Planning for the trip had been underway for the past few weeks as students worked toward a final decis

By Kaydein McCall Editorial Assistant The end of the year is approaching, and it’s time to reflect on the state of the school. Here at Crete, there are more than a few problems that need to be addressed going into next year. Fighting, attendance, and budgeting are among the most pressing issues facing the high school. Students and staff have shared their opinions on the issues within the school’s grounds. Tavauge Starling (left) and Braylen Alexander stage a fake fight to sho

By Lyric McCall General Reporter It is the end of an era for senior students in their lives. Seniors can now enjoy moments of freedom, be themselves, and find their next steps. Cadence Argue (left) and Amiyah Rice discussed their favorite moments in high school. Photo by Rhiannon Leal. For most students, senior year is about their favorite moments; according to Larry Curtis, his came from his Spanish class. “It's a couple of my friends in there that I was really close with i

By Josh Gipson News Reporter As the summer approaches at Crete Monee High School, both the students and faculty begin expressing their plans for the upcoming season. Students leave for the busses on May 18, just a couple of weeks before school lets out for the summer. Photo by Ontarrio Randle. Among the many students preparing for summer is Jayla Nailer, a junior who looks forward to taking a step back and reflecting. "I'm hoping that I will be able to have some downtime whi

By Anthony Flowers General Reporter Getting a scholarship is seen by most as one of the most difficult things to achieve after high school. A scholarship is money for college that doesn’t have to be repaid. According to an article titled “How do Scholarships Work” from the University of Northern Iowa, over $46 billion in scholarships is awarded annually in the U.S. Anthony Flowers searches for scholarships on his Chromebook. Photo by Bella Velasquez. Some students see colle

By Eleanor Fisher Features Writer ​On April 28, A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened at Crete-Monee High School, delivering an impressive adaptation of Shakespeare's iconic story, featuring strong production and set design.​ A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy about four young Athenian lovers fleeing arranged marriages into a magical forest. There, they get tangled in a dispute between Oberon (Zakari Sanders) and Titania (Isla McClure), King and Queen of the fairies, sparking c

Abrial Tolar Sports Reporter Photo taken by Bryce Milburn Here at CMHS, our athletes are no different from any other athletes, and that even extends to their mental health and how they deal with it. Mental health is something everyone deals with. Sports and after-school activities can add stress to teens more than they can handle, and things might be going on at home. Being stressed is something everyone feels, but going through games or even practice might be different fo

By Chase Stone Sports Reporter After battling early-season difficulties, Crete-Monee High School track and field athletes are starting to find their groove through stronger meet performances, more consistent training habits, and growing chemistry across events as they work to improve both physically and mentally throughout the season. Track and field senior night. Photo taken by the Crete Monee Athletic page Senior Jacorey Hopkins said training with the right teammates has he

By Peighton Kelley News Editor Crete-Monee's journalism program continues to grow as students compete in the Illinois High School Association Journalism Competition against schools across the state. While many students are known for sports, journalism students are showing that academic teams can also represent their school with pride, competitors advancing to state to compete against multiple other Illinois schools. IHSA State Journalism competitors Chase Stone (left) and Tri

By Trinity Humphrey General Reporter On April 29, 2026, students and staff at Crete-Monee High School participated in their first-ever Unplug Day, putting away their devices to focus on real-world connections. Freshman Chase Stone is forced to turn off his Chromebook and use paper and pencil during Unplug Day on April 29. Photo by Alasia Jamison. This day was planned as a drill to protect students from cyber attacks targeted at our school. Throughout the school day, classroom

By Kamya Rice News Reporter Students are worried about bathroom policies for the school year, concerning themselves about locked bathrooms, cleanliness, and the comfort in the facilities. Jacob Powell tries to use the bathroom in the B Wing, but it is locked. Photo by Tyler Blackburn. Safety rules and basic needs have been getting more attention. Locked restrooms, limited passes, and systems like SmartPass became common in many schools to lower the amount of

By Dalay’a Pinkney News Editor At CMHS, taking Advanced Placement courses is a good way to start early on college-level work, potentially earn college credit, save on tuition, and strengthen your college applications, all while still in high school. Senior Josiah Moore prepared for the AP Literature and Composition exam by going to an after-school session hosted by Mr. Kenealy. Photo by Myleigh Ryba Throughout the school year, students are prepared for the timed College Board

By Zyon Floyd Sports Editor The boys' volleyball season has been a mix of progress, challenges, and growing chemistry, showing that while the team is not at its peak yet, it is steadily improving together, growing from each other, and learning to play as one. The boys' varsity team played a match against Joliet Township High School. Photo by Bella Velasquez. students in their lives. Seniors can now enjoy moments of freedom, be themselves, and find their next steps. For most

By Amir Barton General Reporter Under the bright lights of a high school playoff game, Dominic Jackson didn't just play; he took over, turning preparation into performance and effort into dominance when his team needed him most. Photo courtesy of Dominic Jackson “My most memorable performance was our first playoff game, where I had four touchdowns on 12 carries for 150 yards, and it felt great to help lead my team in such an important moment,” Dominic Jackson said. That perfo

By Jordyn Sanchez Editor in Chief Girls’ soccer season is coming to an end, with some of the varsity players saying goodbye to their seniors, but their pride builds stronger as their game runs to an end. The girls strive to win more games as well as represent the school with more accuracy. In girls’ varsity soccer, they’ve had a tough season but made 5th overall conference, winning a quarter of their games even to go as far not letting the other teams score a point in a matc

By Amir Shaffer-Mahone Editorial Assistant At Crete Monee High School, one of the graduation requirements for students is to complete a certain number of hours of community service. Each year, students are supposed to complete seven hours of community service, totaling 28 hours over four years. Students need to meet their community service hours quota before they graduate. They can find opportunities throughout the school. There are both benefits and challenges around the pro

By Bryce Milburn Sports Editor The Crete-Monee Warrior baseball and softball team played their senior night against Rich Township Raptors for softball winning 18-8 and the Thornridge Falcons for baseball on May 20. The Warriors delivered two huge victories, creating memories on this field that will last a lifetime. Photo taken by Crete Monee athletic page of all the athletes on signing day. Four-year softball player, shortstop and Governor State University commit, Taleeana R

By Bryce Milburn Sports Editor The Crete-Monee softball team's season just started. With numerous players, new coaches, and a brand-new turf field, the Warriors are in for an entirely new season. Photo by Emily Gerth. The players discussed their feelings before the season. The Warriors are looking to build off their 12-15 record from last season. They are off to a 1-1 record so far. "I'm very excited and very nervous,” senior outfielder Carli Sawallisch said. Senior outfie

By Sydney Olden Editor in Chief On Feb. 26, the students observed Black History Month with a colorful and entertaining program that celebrated Black culture through music, dance, fashion, and drama in the CMHS auditorium. The program was intended to recognize significant historical figures and events, promoting greater awareness and appreciation among the participants and audience. The jazz band performed at the Black History Month night on Feb. 26. “We all sounded good as in