CMHS Artist Spotlight!

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 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 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

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 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 Brianna Bielak Editorial Assistant ​ Advanced Placement (AP) classes are designed to prepare students for college by encouraging them to use higher-level thinking and practice intellectual skills for end-of-year exams. Students were recognized for their hard work at the Distinguished Scholars Banquet (many of them who had AP courses) at the end of last year. Student and teacher input is essential for giving ideas on how successful and beneficial AP classes are, or whether

By Taylor Ohrt Editor ​ As the years have gone on at Crete-Monee, students come, and students go, but they are forever holding a memory or a part of CMHS with them. English teacher Mr. Nielsen poses for a graduation photo with a former student. Photo by Mr. Kenealy. “I started going to the Crete school district in 2013, and I started off at the early learning center,” junior Ryanne Pritchard said, who has spent her whole life in the district. ‘I feel like over the years Crete

By Rhiannon leal Features and entertainment ​ In March, students such as Serenity Sterdivant-Richardson and Oliver Starita were selected to have their artwork displayed at The Edge in Crete. ​ “ I wanted to showcase an array of work from both of my 2D art courses: Art 1 and Painting/Drawing. My goal was to represent a variety of styles, skill levels, and creative voices so that many students could see their work displayed in a public space,” Ms. Ores said. ​​ Serenity Sterdi

By Nylah Smith Feature/Entertainment Reporter Social studies teacher Mrs. Mikal is known for her love for history and the strong bonds she creates with her students. Mrs. Mikal won the January Staff Member of the Month award in January 2025. Her students said, "She is extremely nice and is excellent at teaching. You can really tell she cares about her students." “I became a teacher because I love history and wanted to help students appreciate history too,” Mrs. Mikal said. Sh

By Jordyn Sanchez Editor in Chief At Crete-Monee High School, students are always encouraged to get enough sleep to perform even better than they did yesterday, so they strive to accomplish their goals and restart a new day refreshed. Lacoreyis Lofton (left) and Amir Shaffer-Mahone (right) are nodding off in class. Photo by Ontarrio Randle. Sleep plays a significant role in school performance, helping students stay alert throughout the day and enabling clearer information pr

Rhiannon leal Features and entertainment ​ Senior cap-and-gown pictures were taken on March 11, and students such as senior Isis Shores were told to schedule appointments at different times to complete their last school photos of 2026. ​ On March 11, Seniors of Crete Monee High school took their cap and gown pictures. Photographer - Jasmine Grant "Holding the cap and gown picture day at Crete allows all students to be photographed without needing to travel to New Lenox," said

By Kaydein McCall Editorial Assistant ​ A few weeks ago, the Crete-Monee chess team competed in the Upstate 8 Tournament. The Warriors won their first three matches, going 68-0, 45-23, and 51-17. The Warriors ultimately placed third after losing to the undefeated Benet Academy. During their matches, Sophomore Kambria Cook got a perfect 4-0, and Ethan Lawrence also got a 3-1. The CMHS chess team placed third in the Upstate 8 Tournament this year. Photo by Mrs. Rodriguez. ​ The

By Nylah Smith Feature/Entertainment Reporter Roman Nelson, a 17-year-old student, is positive, hardworking, and smart. His goal in school is to be a role model for younger students and leave a good impact on Crete Monee High School. Roman Nelson a goal working, senior at Crete Monee High School as student pf the month . Photo by (Tavauge) “The thing I'm passionate about at school is leading by example and leaving a good impact,” Nelson said. Teachers and staff describe Roma

By Rhiannon Leal Features and Entertainment Reporter On Saturday, Feb. 7, Crete-Monee High School hosted 18 schools to host its annual Spectacular show choir event. ¨One of the biggest parts of hosting a competition here is the connections that our students make with other schools and students. From meeting new people and doing what they love most (performing), you are surrounded by other students that are there for the exact same reason as you,¨ Ms. Myhre said. Diamon

By Marcus Brown Features and Entertainment Reporter ​ Balancing schoolwork, jobs, and personal life is a challenge that affects nearly every student and even their teachers. The struggle to manage time can create stress, impact grades, and test patience. Mr. Mays balances several components in his instruction as a broadcast teacher at CMHS. Photo by Jacorey Hopkins. “The biggest challenge I face as a teacher is definitely time management,” broadcasting teacher and pastor Dori

By Chase Stone News Reporter NJROTC cadets Jayden Posey and Aniya Washington say the program’s structure, challenges, and strong sense of unity have helped them grow into confident, disciplined leaders. Petty Officer Reed shows students how to properly do a push up. Photo by Jacorey Hopkins. Uniform inspections are a major part of NJROTC life. Each Monday—along with days of major events and parades—cadets stand in full uniform for a detailed check. “It’s pretty much every sin