Many seniors are finding that senioritis, the traditional decline in motivation, hits harder than anticipated as the academic year draws to a close. Excitement for graduation frequently turns into a daily battle to maintain attendance, stay focused, and complete homework. Teachers across the school have observed a difference in energy. Formerly active students are now more likely to appear fatigued, submit work late, or discreetly … Continue reading Senioritis: Is It Kicking In?

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

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?

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

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?

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?

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

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?