The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

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The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint

The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint

Teachers become easily frustrated when writing the same information many times during the day.

Editorial: Green passes are ineffective, wasteful

Maya Homberg, Editor-in-Chief October 24, 2023

There are many new changes to school procedures this year; however, the most impactful change is the implementation of green passes. Each time a student wants to leave their classroom, a teacher is required...

In some places of the world, COVID-19 remains a prevalent issue.

Three years since COVID-19 means its time to look back

Anjali Kota, Managing Editor April 4, 2023

It’s been three years since COVID-19 prompted a shutdown across all of District 99’s schools. Before that, schools were on the edge of the pendulum, unsure if they would shut down or remain open. When...

Changing the rules surrounding absences and tardies has not changes the  issue of chronic absenteeism.

Encouragement is the key to absence issues

Anjali Kota, Managing Editor March 13, 2023

You stroll into class and put your bag down, waiting for your friends to arrive. Knowing what it’s like to sit in your room alone for a Zoom class, you are excited for a lively period surrounded by your...

By giving students the opportunity to create their own clubs, DGS offers a place for everyone.

Editorial: DGS gives spaces for diverse groups and clubs

Gwendolynne Royle, Editor-in-Chief March 27, 2022

Every year, the freshmen orientation gets more and more exciting as more tables get added to the collection of clubs that the incoming underclassmen can peruse. This is because students at DGS have the...

Now that all DGS has returned to full 8-period days, students must adjust to more crowded hallways.

Why I changed my opinion on hallway crowds

Nora Joy, News Editor September 27, 2021

Every student at Downers Grove South knows the familiar feeling of annoyance when standing in a student-packed stairwell wondering if you will make your way to freedom before the dreaded long tone of the...

While students may be present at board meetings and heard in surveys, they arent being listened to by District 99 administration.

Seen but not heard: School board needs students to be voting members

Luc Alvarez, Editor-in-Chief March 26, 2021

District 99 has a problem. It’s been the root of the dysfunction of the school year resulting in a $170,000 tutoring service that only 8% of kids said they needed, a hybrid model that has a minority...

Out of 1246 samples including 47% of in-person students, only one sample had significant findings, potentially due to a false positive.

District 99 had a positivity rate of 0.08%, why hasn’t anybody heard?

Luc Alvarez, Editor-in-Chief March 3, 2021

Beginning on Feb. 16, District 99 began screening students for COVID-19 through a mandatory saliva testing program. As the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines became more clear, the district made...

By failing to listen to students, District 99 makes a well-intentioned, obvious misstep with purchase of Paper.

Waste of Paper: District makes avoidable mistake with purchase of new tutoring service

Luc Alvarez, Editor-in-Chief February 9, 2021

On Jan. 25, students were formally introduced to Paper, a 24/7 chat-based tutoring service recently purchased by the district for $173,356.20, or $36.90 per student. When the school board was presented...

At Jan. 16’s special board meeting, board members will vote on whether to raise the positivity rate metric for opening school from 9% to 10% -- something Thiele said he felt would risk the health of students just days ago.

Gambling with students’ lives: Board would set dangerous precedent by raising positivity rate metric

Luc Alvarez, Editor-in-Chief January 16, 2021

“If I felt like we could set the [the positivity rate metric] at 10% and we keep kids safe based on what we know, I would’ve [recommended to the] board 10%, but I didn’t because 9% is where I’m...

With learning split between in-person and hybrid groups, many students and teachers feel as if their classes are more disjointed than ever.

Better on paper than in practice: Modified hybrid plan falls short

Luc Alvarez, Editor-in-Chief October 23, 2020

It’s been a week since District 99 moved to their modified hybrid schedule. This was done primarily for two reasons: to increase the quality of instruction for students as well as to allow students and...

Some schools in the DuPage County have closed due to coronavirus.

Editorial: Washings hands first sign of defense; school sinks inadequate against Coronavirus

Kate Riley and Luc Alvarez March 12, 2020

Over the course of a month, coronavirus has managed to top headlines worldwide, and in doing so has created a mass hysteria surrounding the virus. Stores quickly sold out of hand sanitizer and prices of...

The first ALICE drill of the school year left students feeling confused and vulnerable, rather than prepared.

Staff editorial: ALICE intruder drill misses mark, leaves students unprepared

Alex Miranda, Video News Director October 10, 2019

In the event of an active shooter crisis, to be informed is to be empowered. With the recent implementation of ALICE procedures on the DGS campus, students are granted the right to make decisions concerning...

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