On Monday, the administrators announced a major schedule change for the 2026-27 school year: a four-day school week.  New Schedule The new schedule would eliminate Mondays, giving the students a three-day weekend every week. As for the other four days of the week, an extra 15 minutes would be added to the school day to make up for lost time. This means we would get out at 3:30 rather than 3:15. Adding the 15 minutes onto the school day would really only create a minor inconve

Last year’s phone restrictions were put in place so that every school district had to put a phone restriction in their schools. But now, Kim Reynolds doesn’t think that it was strict enough. So she is working on a law where no phones will be allowed in schools or kept in the front office. So what would this entail? Unless someone needs their phone for a medical reason, kids cannot have their phones during the school day. If they were caught with their phone, it will be confis

Starting next August, in the 2026-2027 school year, students will be able to have emotional support animals of their choosing provided by the school. Animals such as cats, fish, snakes, and hamsters will be allowed at all hours of the day to comfort students who need extra support during the day.  By having this unique change, the school is hoping to improve students' well-being by allowing them to be with animals that make them feel the most supported and comforted. School o

First, they tried to take our phones, and now they are taking our NeeDohs—what’s next, breathing? NeeDohs have overtaken North Scott High School, disrupting the learning environment, according to North Scott Admin. The admin team values what they believe  is best for our school. After weeks of deliberation, they have officially announced a building-wide NeeDoh ban.  Teachers have been quietly observing students over the past few weeks. Their findings were concerning. It was f

Assignments trump assassin, end of story. Sorry, seniors, no fun for you. If you were planning on winning this year's senior assassin game, think again. The school administration is saying no to this year's senior assassin game.  Seniors, when they learn they can't sit outside their target's house for hours anymore. Senior Assassin is a game that high school students across the country participate in every year.  Classmates work to get each other out using water guns. All the

In 1987, the state of Iowa declared that in every school's graduation requirements, every senior must take at least one semester of an astronomy class as part of their history courses. Astronomy is an important class that works towards the furthering of young minds on the topic of space and what is beyond what we know to be true. Requiring this class also helps us provide a continuous number of generations to NASA as they continue to lose astronauts in space and continue to s

My personal goal for this fundraiser is to increase student involvement across activities and promote prosocial behaviors. WE are North Scott High School, not a series of disparate activities and organizations with little to no crossover. WE should be there for one another because WE pride ourselves in our collective success. — Mrs. Grimesey At North Scott High School, a new initiative is encouraging students to make the most of their time as Lancers—one experience at a time.

Through the high school offering international student tours with EF, I have traveled to five European countries. Today, I am ranking them based on food, art, architecture, shopping, and attractions. Dive in and don’t be hesitant to allow it to change your opinion on traveling internationally. It truly is a life-changing opportunity that everyone should consider.  Honorable Mention: Vatican City The Vatican Museum Vatican City is technically a country due to its religious sig

For many years, experimentation has been the best way for scientists and scholars to learn information all around the world. Some of the most well-known experiments have happened outside of the United States, specifically in Germany during World War 2. Many of the experiments that took place in the United States were much worse and quickly covered up, with the government destroying documents and admitting much, much later that these things happened. One of the big ones took p

The 98th annual Academy Awards (or Oscars) took place the first weekend of spring break (Mar.15th). Here is a short highlight of the event if you didn't sit through the 3 ½ hours like I did. Best Picture 🏆 One Battle After Another took the award in 6 categories, including Best Picture. This win was predictable but deserved. Instead of relying on one strength, One Battle After Another succeeded across the board. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film is set in a modern

As of January 2026, the Doomsday Clock is set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to symbolizing global catastrophe. Doomsday Clock showing that we are very close to world wide catastrophe If you didn’t know, every 28 years the days of the calendar year are perfectly aligned as it was 28 years ago (example: this year lines up with 1998). But what is so special about this 28 year cycle you may ask? Well in the past four 28-year-increments we have either had

A March heat wave has surpassed previous temperature records in parts of the United States. Eight total states have set all-time heat records, and over 160 cities reached a peak of 112 degrees.  The areas at highest risk included parts of Arizona, Nevada, and California. This marks four days in a row where March has exceeded normal temperatures, with Phoenix hitting an all-time high of 105 degrees. On Wednesday, North Shore, California, reached a record of 108 degrees, and on

Along with Wes Craven's New Nightmare in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, the first four Scream films were each Wes’s very own babies. While the rest were made under a different direction by directors Tyler Gillett, Matt Oplin, and the 7th being directed by Kevin Williamson. The most recent are famously not as loved, but everyone has their own opinion about this franchise in particular. While in my usual opinion, there is no bad Scream film, there are definitely ones

The Chicago river dyeing is one of the most unique St. Patrick's day traditions. This typically happens the day before St. Patrick's Day at 10 a.m. and is set to be dyed again this year on Saturday. The river is dyed green by Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130 of the United Association.  This is a famous celebration that can be traced back to 1962. The tradition was supposedly inspired by an accident that happened, where plumbers used dyes to detect water leaks. In 1955, C

Spring break is a perfect time for students to relax, catch up with friends, and explore new things around our area. Here are some ideas to help pass the time Freight House Farmers Market The farmers' market is a popular local attraction that offers a variety of vendors selling food, baked goods, handmade items, and locally grown products. With warmer weather, it’s the perfect time to support local businesses and find unique items not typically found in retail stores. The far

My parents dressed for a night of dancing and music. An example of traditional music building community. For much of my life, I have been surrounded by Irish culture, most notably Irish folk music. I have grown up at Irish music festivals and in the basement of pubs with my family, listening to the boisterous sounds of traditional Irish folk music being kept alive. There are dozens of pictures of me, my brother, and my father dressed in kilts at music festivals, concerts, her

Chill on us. — A North Scott Senior As spring break approaches, many students are feeling the pressure. The final week before the break becomes a sprint to the finish line—packed with assignments, tests, and major projects all at once. Students push themselves to stay on top of work while juggling their other responsibilities. For many students, the excitement of the upcoming break is overshadowed by the overwhelming workload leading up to it. What is currently the most stres

¨It costs nothing to be nice¨ is what Cole Green had to say when I talked to him to prepare for this article. Cole was among the highly suggested seniors in my survey, and I quickly learned why. If you don't know Cole, he is a Senior. Just a few years ahead of his Freshman brother, Zach Green. Cole is #27 on the varsity football team, one of the best on our wrestling team, and even plays soccer. Cole was voted homecoming king along with queen Charlotte Madden. He is described

"Where the Red Fern Grows is not lacking culture; it is culture. Two weeks ago, I reached out to the student body and surveyed them on their favorite standalone novels. The book chosen was Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, submitted by Robert Wheeler.  Where the Red Fern Grows  is the ultimate coming-of-age story set in the rural mountainous area of the Oklahoma Ozarks. Billy Coleman is 10 years old at the beginning of the novel. And it is he who guides us through his

Between homework, extracurriculars, jobs, and trying to have a social life, it can seem like there aren't enough hours in the day. But just how busy are our students? I sent out a survey, and it revealed some surprising answers.  "How many extracurricular activities are you involved in?" How Busy Our Are Students?  At about 100 respondents, the majority are balancing a large number of responsibilities during the school week. When asked about extracurricular activities, almost