The past year of the pandemic has been a very difficult year filled with many new changes and hardships that will transform the lives of many forever. Isolation and quarantine are not meant for human beings to endure for long periods of time and it is evident in the recently released mental health statistics for … More Pets of the pandemic: Community shares pet adoption stories
By Kyler Helvey, Audrey Hurlburt, and Paula Zalar McNicholas held its final athletic commitment signing ceremony on April 14. Six members of the Class of 2021 committed to continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level: Daniel Auxier, Clay Badylak, Riley Haugh, Emma McSwigan, Austin Ramey, and Mia Smith. Daniel Auxier committed to playing lacrosse … More Six seniors commit to college athletic programs
As someone who has lived in Cincinnati their entire life, it’s not very often I am able to visit other cities. On March 28, I drove from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh for a college visit with my mom. Sure, I’ve been to Columbus a few times, but this was a completely new experience. For those who … More First impressions: Native Cincinnatian rates Pittsburgh experience
The McNicholas High School Rocket Shop, the one-stop shop for all Rocket High spirit wear, has just launched their new spring collection. According to Rocket Shop Coordinator Marilyn Melcher, the ideas for new spirit wear designs come from many. “We have partnered with U-Sports as a local business with alumni connections to McNicholas this year … More Rocket Shop launches new spring collection
With spring sports having officially started, McNick has welcomed athletic trainer Ryan Preston to the staff. Preston became head athletic trainer when previous trainer Mike McCafferty left. While Preston joined the Rocket staff about mid-way through this school year, there are still many students, parents, and community members who have yet to meet him. Preston … More McNicholas welcomes new athletic trainer
Self-advocacy is skill vital to human survival. Although everyone’s definition may look different, school counselor Alaina Way thinks self-advocacy is, “Speaking up for yourself- interest[s], desires, needs and rights.” As an adult, you are your own advocate, and when students learn this skill varies by the individual. “I see some freshmen who come to McNick … More Self-Advocacy: Why is it so important?
McNick is filled with adults who work behind the scenes in administration, counseling, and the adults who teach us. The real question is: do you know them as well as you think? Each week, the Milestone is going to test your knowledge of the faculty at McNick, specifically one certain faculty member. Can you guess … More Milestone Mystery: Can you guess the faculty member?
From political figures, celebrities, social media personalities, and even the Royal Family; the cancelation of human beings seems to have no limits; cancel culture is everywhere. This toxic trend in society has become very common, and it is having a detrimental impact on the world. These public acts of shaming have always been deeply rooted … More Cancel Culture: Its damaging effects and the need for growth
It would be hard to find someone who didn’t like listening to music, but with so many choices, everyone’s musical taste is different. Everyone has a different favorite song, favorite genre, favorite artist, and favorite band. During the week of March 22, I roamed around McNick to pull random Rockets aside to find out, “What … More What was the last song you listened to?
During March, seniors in Angie Noble’s AP Language class watched the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. The documentary includes the perspectives of tech experts, researchers, and activists to reveal “how social media is reprogramming civilization.” Many people, students included, are unaware how much social media influences their lives, and The Social Dilemma shows the audience … More The Social Dilemma alters perspective on social media
John Jorden has a job unlike many others at McNick. As Director of Development, his job covers many responsibilities. “So, to give you an idea of my schedule, yesterday I had a meeting with Mr. Schmidt and Principal Mueller to talk about how we can raise money to replace some things. Then, I had a … More A day in the life of Director of Development John Jorden
The term implicit bias has been used more prevalently within the past few years, often with a negative connotation, but not many people actually know what the term means. Ryan Wynett, Manager of Implicit Bias Initiatives at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, defines implicit bias as “the attitude or stereotypes that affect our understanding, … More Implicit bias explained: What it is and how we combat it
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up on March 17, and these treats are the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit! These delicious pretzel treats are quick and easy, taking 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes total to make. Start with gathering the ingredients: regular pretzels (twists), pretzel sticks, Rolo’s candy, green … More How to make easy St. Patrick’s Day pretzel treats
Movie theaters across Cincinnati have recently been playing classic movies from across the generations as a way to welcome moviegoers back to theaters after quarantine. This plan, which was designed to end as new movies came out in theaters, now might become a common occurrence. There are many advantages to playing these classics in theaters. … More A blast from the past: Movie theaters now showing classic films
One’s faith often serves as a special center point in their life. Of course different religions hold different beliefs and values, yet all of them share a similar set of key values to live by and live for. Theology teachers Mary Beth Sandmann, David Sandmann, and Teresa Davis all believe that the paramount virtue of … More Loving your neighbor: What it means to be Catholic
Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter where we fast, pray, and give. This season however, will look a little different due to the pandemic. From limited church capacity to ashes on our heads rather than foreheads, Covid has influenced several changes within the Catholic church. Although many traditions have been adapted to … More Giving alms Covid safely this Lent
The coronavirus pandemic along with the new restrictions and policies has taken a toll on everyone, especially students and teachers around the world. Schools were challenged to rethink the traditional concept of what it means to “go to school,” teachers had to learn new ways of teaching through online classrooms, and students had to learn … More Student and teacher burnout: How to overcome it during difficult times
A hot topic across college athletics has been whether or not athletes should be paid. It’s a question that has brought about much controversy, not only throughout college athletics, but all across the United States. Some are extremely passionate that these athletes should not be paid, and they argue that having athletes become compensated will … More College athletes should be paid. Period.
The McNicholas art program allows students from all grades to express themselves in many different ways. In art teacher Willy Corbett’s classes, students primarily use drawing and/or painting as a creative outlet. Here are some art pieces that these students have been working on throughout the school year. Sophomore Gia Guessford Despite being a virtual … More McNick students share the inspiration behind their art
By Lauren Cox, Cassidy Jacobs, Olivia Rohling, and Paula Zalar Skipping the lunch line, being dismissed for Mass first, and leading the student section in cheers are just some of the senior privileges and traditions that the Class of 2021 have missed out on this school year due to Covid-19. It’s easy to feel left … More Keep it in perspective: Senior privileges are better than they seem
Over the course of February, Cincinnati has been given 20 inches of snow. McNicholas High School was lucky enough to have February 9th as a snow day to play around with it, as well as online days on Feb. 11th, 16th, and 18th as more opportunities to get outside and have fun. Here is how some … More Students, teachers share time spent in snow through photos
For some, teaching is just a job, but for others, in particular Mrs. Julie Dill, it’s a part of their life. As a teacher who not only is responsible for teaching all levels of French, she also is a part of the English department, teaching AP Literature. Time is of the essence for Dill, and … More A day in the life of a teacher: Mrs. Dill’s daily life teaching at McNick
Photo Credit: Courtesy of McNicholas Twitter @McNicholasHS … More Holocaust speakers share experiences with Theology, English classes
Valentine’s Day is a day to spread extra love and positivity all around the world. From making cards to giving flowers and sweet treats, there are many ways people celebrate this holiday. It is a special time to express love to the ones around us. Sometimes the busy days of life get in the way … More Valentine’s Day Edition: McNick community shares who holds a special place in their hearts
The question of where one should get their news seems to have become a controversial one in recent years. With the increase of social media usage and drastic polarization of politics, it can feel like information overload, and it can be an overwhelming task trying to decipher if the information one reads is credible. In … More News 101: Finding an unbiased news source
This February marks the second-annual celebration of Black History Month at McNicholas High School sponsored by Hands Across Campus. Theology teacher and Hands Across Campus moderator Teresa Davis said, “With Hands Across Campus, our mission is inclusion and diversity, and with Black history being so anemic in America, [Black History Month] had to happen [at … More Hands Across Campus sponsors, celebrates Black History Month
The United States Constitution, written in 1787 and ratified in 1788, includes the first amendment (added in 1791 with the other nine amendments in the Bill of Rights), which guarantees that Americans have the right to five freedoms: speech, religion, assembly, petition, and press. Freedom of Speech Beginning shortly after ratification, however, the boundaries of … More First Amendment explained: What are the boundaries in the rights of citizens?
On Tuesday Jan. 19, McNick Athletic Director Drew Schmidt announced to seniors that they would be allowed to attend varsity basketball games for the remainder of the season. “[Principal Dave] Mueller and I spoke about trying to give seniors as many opportunities as we can until the school year ends to have a little resemblance … More McNicholas allows seniors to attend varsity basketball games
The 2020-2021 school year has been a roller-coaster of five months with students and teachers learning to work through a global pandemic. From March 18, 2020 until now, times have been anything but normal with the McNicholas High School community. A vital part of making this school year a success has been the teachers. Without … More Through a teacher’s perspective: Teaching in a pandemic
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky The Perks of being a Wallflower is narrated by a freshman in high school named Charlie. He navigates through the ups and downs of growing up along with confronting his past. Throughout his freshman year, he meets Sam and Patrick who help offer him support and … More Top books to read your way through the pandemic in 2021
TRIGGER WARNING: Topics discussed in this article may be triggering for some readers. Words have created beautiful stories and depictions that have enlightened and inspired creativity all around the world. Just as words can encourage and motivate, they can also cut, diminish, and ruin. Hateful and derogatory words create negativity that lead to barriers and … More Think before speaking: Carelessness of words impacts society
By Jackson White and Kyler Helvey On Sun. Feb. 14, McNick will hold its 69th annual Mardi Gras Pageant. This year, due to Covid-19, there will be no dance following. The Pageant honors 20 senior women and 20 senior men representing the court, and 8 each (4 men, 4 women) on both the junior and … More Q&A with maid, captain: 69th annual Mardi Gras Court, Honor Guard announced
Disclaimer: *This article is an editorial and represents the opinion of the student journalist. It does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of McNicholas High School administration, faculty, or students. * On Jan. 6, 2021, during a joint session of Congress to certify president-elect Joe Biden’s electoral college win, insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol. … More Opinion: American democracy has no party affiliation; those who endangered it need held accountable
With former English teacher Anne Jones transitioning to the role of Director of Communications and Marketing when school resumed Jan. 5, McNick was in need of a new English teacher for second semester. Joining the English Department is Gretchen Thomas. Born in 1997, the now 23-year-old grew up in Anderson Township, attended St. Ursula Villa … More Gretchen Thomas joins faculty as McNick’s new English teacher
Winter time is basketball season. A time that, just a few short months ago didn’t seem possible, is now in full swing. The Rockets have jumped out to a 7-2 record, with a 4-1 record in GCL play, wasting no time in giving the Rocket community something they can be excited about. This fast start … More Men’s basketball off to hot start
It’s no secret: 2020 has presented us with some pretty heavy challenges — wildfires, murder hornets, a pandemic, and toilet paper shortages just to name a few. When terrible things happen to us, it is certainly easier to focus on all that has gone wrong, especially when it hurts and feels so consuming. Though it’s … More Finding the silver lining: 20 good things from 2020
With Covid-19 cases surging throughout the United States, some health concerns about going to school in person have arisen. Despite measurements being taken to keep everyone safe, physically interacting with students and staff members can be dangerous to people who are especially vulnerable to the virus. Because of this, teachers at McNicholas have been given … More Working from home: A Q&A with the current remote teachers of McNicholas
With the difficult times of 2020, finding things to do over Christmas break is difficult. Here are some fun ideas that are COVID-friendly and guaranteed fun. Take it outside Outside activities are a great way to be able to social distance with family while still being able to enjoy fun holiday activities. Another suggestion is … More How to have a COVID-friendly Christmas break
With a population of over 300,000, the City of Cincinnati is home to hundreds of local businesses. Investing in local businesses benefits the local economy, so from new places to shop to new restaurants to dine, here is a brief list of Black-owned businesses to support in Cincinnati. 1.Black Coffee Lounge Black Coffee Lounge on … More 10 Black-owned businesses to support no matter the season
Some are lucky enough to call McNick home for 4 years. Most go off into the world where they pursue jobs and find ways to positively impact society. Others return to McNick, as a parent or in a position as support staff, a coach, a teacher, or an administrator — any way to stay involved … More Returning home: A Q&A with new Athletic Director Drew Schmidt
In the two days following Thanksgiving break, McNick implemented two remote learning days. Students attended class sessions remotely on Microsoft Teams, and went to classes as usual under a slightly altered schedule. “The thought was let’s provide a little insulation from contagion coming back into the building if families are going to gather on Thanksgiving … More McNick responds to remote learning days
With the challenges of the new school due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the option for in-person and online school is becoming more popular, with the McNick community deciding which is the safest and best option for all students and for teachers to teach safely. The debate of doing online or in-person classes continues to be … More Online vs in-person learning: Which do students prefer?
Whether it be making Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve or driving to see the Christmas lights throughout town, everyone has holiday traditions that belong to their Christmas season. The teachers in the McNicholas community shared the many different fun and creative ways they celebrate their holidays with their family. French and English teacher Julie … More McNicholas faculty share Christmas traditions
Virtual and remote learning are new to the world of education and increasingly more crucial in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Schools all around the world are utilizing remote learning, hybrid schedules, and virtual classes in order to limit the spread of the virus. McNick is back full-time in person, but students still have … More SAIL teachers share experience, advice for successful remote learning
Even though it occurs in the darkest, coldest time of year, Christmas can bring joy and warmth to everyone who celebrates it. There are endless traditions that come with this holiday, but one of the most well-known and common traditions is decorating with Christmas lights and other festive decorations. Math department chair Ashley Brothers has … More ‘Tis the season to decorate; lighting up McNicholas for the holidays
With the holidays rapidly approaching, many are shopping for gifts and preparing for their holiday meals. However, waste and pollution in the United States will increase throughout December until New Years’ Day. Since global warming does not stop for the holidays, here are five simple ways to promote sustainability this year. 1. Skip the gift … More Five simple ways to have an environmentally-conscious holiday
Thanksgiving is a time for family, fun, and food. During this special holiday, many different dishes are prepared and served, each with their own unique taste. In a recent Milestone poll, students and faculty were asked to vote for their favorite Thanksgiving foods based on the following choices: turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, ham, … More Rockets have spoken: Top five favorite Thanksgiving Foods of McNicholas
On Nov. 18, 2020, McNick students had the opportunity to participate in a virtual Shantytown. Although Shantytown is normally held in person and known to involve students sleeping in cardboard boxes on campus, this year it was moved online as a result of the Coronavirus. “The [Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless] actually had reached … More McNick hosts online Shantytown due to Covid-19
Thanksgiving is a time filled with family, gratitude, togetherness, and most importantly food, one of the staples of this holiday. The turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and pumpkin pies are a part of major traditional foods that coincide with this family gathering. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, the family gatherings may be very limited … More Celebrate Thanksgiving with these easy, sharable treats
By: Sammy Waterman and Charlie Everhart Bored at home after school? Longing for some social interaction? As long as you’re social distancing, we have the solution for you. Brand new clubs! Ablaze, McMakerspace, and St. Vincent DePaul Youth Conference are three additions to the long list of clubs available for Rockets. Made to further … More McNick offers new clubs for the 2020-2021 school year
