The Chicago Bears have unveiled a new identity. There is now a new sense of pride throughout not only the city of Chicago, but also throughout East. The feeling of success has revived the fandom of many students at East. As the seventh seed in the NFC, the Bears are the best they have been in seven years. In years past, Bears fans have been … Continue reading Monsters of the Midway are Dominating the NFL Season
Last Saturday, Winter weather struck Oswego and may continue for the next few months, affecting how everyone must drive to remain safe. Normally, it takes senior Gavin Zuber about five minutes to drive to school each morning. “We spent 16 minutes getting the snow and ice off. It was like a 16-minute drive,” Zuber said. According to the National Weather Service, “When driving, if roads … Continue reading How to Drive safe in the Winter Weather
“I think the number one lesson basketball has taught me is to never give up, in a game, there is always the next play so you cannot be stuck on one thing that happened,” Merritt said. Senior Captain Desiree Merritt has been chosen as East’s Athlete of the Week for her ability to face challenges on and off the court and her constant demonstration of … Continue reading Athlete of the Week: Desiree Merritt
It has come to my attention that many people, though most of us in this town use it every day, aren’t actually sure how to use our beloved roundabout. Completed in December of 2023, A Christmas gift to many, was a project that casted a hope to reduce the traffic nightmares. This especially excited students of East due to the immense traffic buildups we used … Continue reading How to Use a Roundabout, a Life Skill
As the first period starts at 7:20 a.m., most students are still half asleep, dragging themselves to class, struggling to focus on anything beyond staying awake. Vivi Mendygral, a freshman here at East, struggled to adjust to the earlier start of high school after coming out of middle school. “Sometimes I cut it close getting to school on time. I think we should definitely start … Continue reading Should School Start Later?
Cost of equipment, enrollment fees, and uniform costs; it all adds up. Winter activities are underway at East, and many students are faced with fees and expenses. Senior Angelo McLearnon, an athlete entering his fourth year swimming on East’s varsity swim team, provides his insights on spending for sports. “I spend about $300 on equipment a season on swim caps, goggles, suits, and gear. Varsity … Continue reading The Price of Participation
In the fall, cheerleaders were on the sidelines cheering on the football team. As East transitions into winter sports, the cheerleaders switch over to competition season. Although they both are forms of cheerleading, the two seasons are very unique. The level of intensity rises as the competition season nears, which affects practice times. Senior Hannah Adams has been involved in cheerleading at East for the … Continue reading Sidelines to Competitions: Differences in East Cheer
As winter weather is upon Illinois, student’s fashion adapts to it. Some wear coats, some wear hoodies, and some people just wear t-shirts. Other than what people typically wear, what makes a winter outfit unique? Senior Alex Lass explains what he wears during the winter time and why. “I usually wear a coat during the wintertime to stay warm. It’s the best thing to wear … Continue reading What’s on the Forecast for Winter Fashion?
Senior Derek Zahorak has been named East’s Athlete of the Week for Boys Bowling because of his extreme commitment to his athletic achievements and for displaying E.A.S.T. ‘s core values of excellence, academics, spirit, and tradition. Zahorak has only been bowling for a little over three years, but has made huge strides for East’s bowling program. In his time on the team he has consistently … Continue reading Athlete of the Week Derek Zahorak is Rolling to Victory his Senior Year
This winter, East will put on a production of “Heaven Can Wait” written by playwright Harry Segall. The production will showcase a romantic comedy reflecting the journey of life, death and everything that happens in between. “Heaven Can Wait” will be the perfect kick off to the 2026 program with a mix of challenge and excitement for the cast and crew as they dive into … Continue reading Timeless Classic “Heaven Can Wait” Prepares to Come to Life on East’s stage
Black Friday might feel like a day for shopping for the holidays, but its history is a lot more than long lines and TV’s. The name originated from a financial disaster in 1869 on Wall Street, trying to pay national debt. The Black Friday that we know and love today started in Philadelphia in the 1960s when many suburban tourists came into the city to … Continue reading The History of Black Friday
Every Thanksgiving, the Macy’s Parade brings out a bunch of giant balloons, and this year the new ones are already starting drama. Some people think the characters are super cool, while others say they’re kind of unnecessary. Junior Yazmine Cruz said she’s not really into the new lineup. She said she usually prefers the older balloons that everyone grew up seeing. “They’re okay, but I … Continue reading Mario and Pac-Man Taking over the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
This year, Oswego East’s Thanksgiving break was extended from its former Wednesday-Friday off to a full week off. This resulted in Easter break and Spring break being combined in the second semester. Students have different opinions on whether this change was a positive or a negative one. Personally, we love this change in the break. While it does give us one less break, it still … Continue reading Extended Thanksgiving Break: Positive or Negative?
Wellness is essential for a student’s life in and outside of school. Without wellness, people would be struggling with many things at school and at home, which include, but are not limited to, homework, chores, health, hygiene, etc. How does social media affect student wellness? Students today are surrounded by media 24/7, making it a major influence on their daily lives- especially their behavior in … Continue reading How can we Improve Student Wellness?
Oct. 19 2025, The Louvre was robbed in broad daylight for the first time since 1998, quickly becoming one of the most infamous heists to date. The public was astonished that amateur criminals managed to break in and steal around $102 million worth of precious jewels in under ten minutes, leaving unidentified and unscathed. This crime left the internet inspired. The crime quickly went viral, … Continue reading The Louvre Heist: Criminal or Chic?
East Boys basketball is hosting tryouts on Monday, Nov. 10 and Tuesday Nov. 11. Tryouts will take place in both the main gym and the K gym at Oswego East from 3-5:30 P.M. Tryouts are open to students of all experience levels. The team is looking for athletes who are ready to work and be team players. Patrick Molanari, a varsity basketball coach, is more … Continue reading Boys Basketball to hold Tryouts
The East Performing Arts Center (PAC) has been closed since the beginning of the school year for repairs. Right now, the PAC is set to be back up and running in mid-late January. The district began repairs in October to repair damage to the walls which caused the paint to deteriorate. The paint is intended to slow down the progression of fires if one occurs. … Continue reading With no Performing Arts Center East Programs look to Adjust
With the abrupt absence of East’s principal, Laura Bankowski, students and staff are left wondering where their leader has gone. On Oct. 23, East families received an email from the district informing them that “Principal Bankowski is currently away from the building”. No other information regarding her whereabouts was shared. District 308 Chief Communications Officer Thersea Komitas elaborated on what “away from the building” means. … Continue reading What we Know about Principal Bankowski’s Absence
Every October, candy corn makes its way back into stores and back into debate. Some people see it as a Halloween classic, while others think it’s completely overrated. Senior Yazmine Cruz said she’s never been a fan. She said she usually prefers chocolate or sour candies instead. “It’s too sweet and I don’t like the waxy texture,” Cruz said. “I try it every year just … Continue reading Candy Corn: A Sweet Treat or a Sugary Controversy?
Every Halloween, kids can be seen trick-or-treating, but where is the cutoff? At what age is trick-or-treating socially unacceptable? People believe there is a clear cutoff, while others feel the tradition shouldn’t be limited by age. Tommy Reingold is a senior here at East, and he’s gone trick or treating his whole life, and even though he enjoys it, he has a firm opinion on … Continue reading How Old is Too Old to Trick or Treat?
East’s first round of playoffs lands on Halloween this year. There’s a lot of talk about whether people will be attending on a holiday. The more people in the stands supporting the Wolves will help make this game feel more special for the team. Although some people would rather watch football instead of celebrating the holiday, many want to participate in spooky activities. To ensure … Continue reading Friday Night Frights: Wolves to enter the IHSA Playoffs on Halloween
In recent years, concerts are not just music but an experience, encapsulating the entire intention of a project. They’ve taken a new form, everything from production, choreography, costumes, features, stage presence, and improvisations. Students at East are amongst the concertgoers who feel the energy of live music. According to Nielsen Music’s 2018 Music 360 report, “More than half of Americans—52 percent—attend live music events each … Continue reading To Go or Not to Go: Are Concerts worth it?
National Chocolate Day is on Tuesday, Oct. 28, this year. This day recognizes all things chocolate, like candy, pastries, drinks, and more! But how did it all come together in the first place? Chocolate comes from the seed of a cacao tree that originates in Central America, Mexico, and Northern South America. In the past, the chocolate-making process was long and time consuming but now, … Continue reading National Chocolate Day: East is Ready for a Sweet Treat
International Animation Day is a holiday established by the Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (ASIFA ) on Oct. 28, dedicated to celebrating the importance of animation and its cultural significance, and how it has impacted multiple generations throughout their lives. International Animation Day is important because it highlights the influence of animated pictures throughout the history of movies and TV shows. In 2025, International Animation … Continue reading Get Animated: International Animation Day has arrived
On Oct. 31, East will be hosting its annual Blood Drive. There is currently a national blood shortage that has reached crisis levels, according to the American Red Cross. Students at East have the opportunity to step up and help those who are in need of blood. This year’s student council president, Harper Dawe, a junior at East, has been working hard to coordinate this … Continue reading Annual Blood Drive back at East
Junior Jack Wolstenholm has been nominated for East’s Athlete of the Week due to his passion for consistently displaying E.A.S.T. ‘s core values of excellence, academics, spirit, and tradition. Wolstenholm began running in middle school and for the past six years, hasn’t stopped. Jack credits running as his passion and sport, but also offering something that consistently teaches him life lessons. “I love running. I … Continue reading Athlete of the Week Jack Wolstenholm; In the running for a three-peat
Over the past weekend, East Theatre premiered its production of “Airness” at Bednarcik due to the closure of the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Kathleen Belovsky is an English teacher and tech director at East Theatre, guiding students through the creation of the sets for the show. “We accept the challenges and we get it done, because that’s who we are as a theatre family,” Belovsky … Continue reading East Theatre stays “In Tune” despite Venue Change
Today, Oct. 23, is International Mole Day, but it is not celebrating the typical fuzzy rodent that comes to mind. Mole Day commemorates “Avogadro’s Number,” 6.02 x 10^23. This number, called moles, is a basic unit in chemistry that allows chemists to convert small measurements to make them easier to work with. Chemistry teachers at East plan fun festivities to celebrate this day. Cari Carlton, … Continue reading From Moles to Molecules: A Day for Science and Fun
At East, a new policy has arisen for the 2026-2027 academic year. Students will not be permitted to use their phones in class during the school day. The school board is setting stone for this phone ban and trying to apply it to the high school. The goal of the ban is to increase in-person engagement, decrease distractions, and foster focus in the classroom. This … Continue reading Nationwide Phone Ban Coming to East
On Aug. 20, East’s E-wing hallway flooded, damaging computers used by the E-sports team. Nearly two months later, the team is still feeling the impact. The team practices for competitions at the school and needs working computers to remain competitive. Repairs in the E-wing started almost immediately and have only recently been finished; the computers have yet to be replaced. Amy Whitlock is the sponsor … Continue reading East E-sports Team Faces their Final Boss: Weak Water Pipes
East’s speech team is holding its first meeting of the year on Oct. 20; students are encouraged to come out and get involved in this team. The speech team, which began last year, is a space where creativity is kindled and opportunities are given to students who are interested in any event involving public speaking. Events include performing speeches, poetry, monologues, skits and more. There … Continue reading East Speech Team to Hold First Meeting on Monday, October 20.
The rivalry between the Wolves and Panthers is always an exciting showdown, and this year’s crosstown game on Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m., appears no different. Oswego East Football (Wolves) enters the season with a 6-1 record, and Oswego Football (Panthers) comes in with a 5-2 record. The Panthers have come out on top in the last two matchups against the Wolves. East senior and starting … Continue reading Crosstown Clash Between Panthers and Wolves
Immigration enforcement, also known as ICE, has been even more active and severe in our community, and overall, the state of Illinois. While many think that this is something that has to be done and is completely okay, there are protesters and allies that say otherwise. Recently, there have been many ICE sightings in our community. In downtown Aurora, in Naperville and even in downtown … Continue reading ICE Targets Our Community
On Oct. 2, the student council sent out an email stating that the homecoming pep rally was cancelled due to high heat advisories. The student council deemed the heat to be unsafe and decided to look into other options for rescheduling. Student Council advisor Patrick Sweeney elaborated that they worked very hard to move the event to the morning, like Oswego High School did, but … Continue reading The Pep Rally was Cancelled. What now?
On Oct. 13, people across the United States will be celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday that honors the history and culture of native people who have lived in the United States for hundreds of years Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on the second Monday of every October. The same day was formally recognized as Columbus Day, which was named after the explorer Christopher Columbus. … Continue reading What is Indigenous Peoples Day?
Last Friday at the East vs. Romeoville game, East’s student section was almost completely abandoned by halftime. Groups of students headed out early, most on their way to Raising Cane’s, a popular post-game spot for many. But why has leaving to get food become more popular on a Friday night than the actual football game? Although it’s common for many to leave the game early, … Continue reading Stands are left empty after halftime; What gives?
