Nadirah Ngassa - Staff Reporter
Painting their spirits with pride and art: Panthers earn First at SPC Art competition
On March 16, OH students earned first place in three categories at the Southwest Prairie Conference (SPC) Art competition at Joliet West High School “The students did a nice job," said OH Fine Arts Department Chair Michael Skura. "They rose to the occasion.” The SPC Art competition includes many schools in the area in the visual art department. There are many separate categories for 14 in total that compete. Students submit 10 works within those categories before they go to Joliet West.
‘I vant more originality’: The many adaptations of Dracula
It would not be a terribly inaccurate statement to say there is not a person on Earth who does not know Dracula. In some way, shape, or form, everyone has at least heard the famous story of the vampire that popularized Gothic horror for centuries to come. This is all to say that there are thousands of different ways the story has been spun, but has it been overdone? Is there anything original to be said about the story without deviating from the original book so much that it’s no longer the same story? “Vampire stories are still worthy because they explore powerful themes like loneliness and temptation, but suck when they rely on clichés,” said OH junior Hannah Eminger.
Making a statement: OH students protest against ICE with a walkout
In light of recent events regarding ICE, like the murders of Reneé Good and Alex Pretti, OH students planned a walkout to show their frustration and anger against ICE. On Friday, Feb. 6, observers saw around 700 OH students who left the school building and met outside Ken Pickerill Stadium. According to the @oswegostoool, student planners arranged to walk from OH to Hudson Crossing Park in downtown Oswego, bringing awareness to what is currently going on with immigration enforcement. “[[The protest]] was very comforting, knowing that so many people care, and that so many people are on your side,” said OH sophomore, Josselyn Rusell, “and knowing that everyone has their own stories of who has been affected in their family, or if they've even been affected, it's so comforting, and it feels like the biggest community.” The goal of the protest was to ‘skip their lessons to teach one,’ with other protests from schools such as Plainfield East High School and Oswego East having theirs planned. A couple of students thought organizing one was the best solution.
Podcast: Turning things upside down with recaps and theories
A decade in the making, Stranger Things captured a generation of viewers. But Season 5 seemed to turn things upside down, and strange theories emerged. Join Art & Graphics Editor Pierre Vargas and News Editor Nadirah Ngassa as they discuss Season 5 of Stranger Things, including theories, alternate endings, and opinions about the show overall.
Williams takes the stage at ’26 All-State Musical Production
Recently, OH Junior, Sora Williams, performed for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival production of Newsies as the character Medda Larkson. Being in this production is really important for Williams because of the fact that she wants to base her career to music in general. Whether it’s Broadway or Opera. This production being statewide is a great way for Williams to focus on her path in life. “I want to go into music, like, as a whole career," Williams said. “And because this is statewide, I get to meet so many other people and connect and everything.” Newsies is a musical based on the 1992 Disney film and the real-life 1899 Newsboys Strike in New York. The character that Williams auditioned for, Medda Larkson/Larkin, is a character who keeps the newsboys safe and is a mentor to the newsboys. The audition process happened over the summer of 2025, while rehearsals started in July of 2025. The festival/performances happened from Jan. 4 to Jan. 10. The production includes not only actors but also students who are interested in tech and directing. Students from various high schools in Illinois get involved in this production. “I get to meet so many other people and, like, connect and everything,” Williams said.