Chelsie Cooley

My self-care journey: What self-care means to me

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
May 31, 2022

When some people think of self-care, they think of the gentrification of this topic: bubble baths, skincare routines, getting your nails done, or a new hairstyle. And yes, self-care can absolutely be this...

Photo Gallery and Review: “Things are looking up” for “Crazy For You” actors

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
March 24, 2022

On Thursday, March 24 through Sunday, March 27, Highlands High School is performing the romantic comedy musical, Crazy for You. At the beginning of the musical, HHS Theater Director Jason Burgess introduces...

Rep. McCoy files House bill in favor of first charter schools in Kentucky

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
March 18, 2022

Unlike the majority of the United States of America, Kentucky is one of the seven states that do not have charter schools. HB 9 was filed Tuesday, March 15, in the Kentucky General Assembly, which...

BREAKING NEWS: FTIS masking protocols change

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
February 9, 2022

Today, the following email was sent out to the FTIS community. FTIS Family, As mentioned in the communication on February 4, 2022, based on our local experience we have determined that the Fort...

[Photo] HHS girls bowling Ladybirds lose to Cooper in state tournament match

Evelyn Hopping and Lianne Guttadauro
February 8, 2022

Senior Carissa Armstrong picks up her bowling ball.

Roe v. Wade: The past, present, and future

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
January 21, 2022

Editor’s note: As this court case is widely controversial for both political parties, this is not an opinion piece but instead an overview of the case and how it has affected the lives...

BREAKING NEWS: HHS Winter Ball postponed

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
January 13, 2022

On January 13, Business Teacher and Student Council Adviser Elise Carter announced that the annual Highlands High School Winter Ball has been postponed until further notice due to the spread of COVID-19. “Due...

Off to a great start: Co-ed Bowling Birds dominate Brossart High School

Sara Price and Chelsie Cooley
December 10, 2021

The bowling team kicked off their year great in the first two matches. The second match, however, exceeded all expectations. The team ended up scoring against Brossart High School 4-3. It...

BREAKING NEWS: FTIS to allow stakeholders the choice of mask-wearing in January

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
November 22, 2021

On November 22, 2021, in an email sent to stakeholders, the Fort Thomas Independent Schools District (FTIS) announced for that the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year, students, faculty, staff, and...

Not-so-harmless pranks: Highlands High School’s experience with vandalism

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
November 12, 2021

Over the past few months, Highlands High School has seen a surge of acts of vandalism. The rise in acts of vandalism can be tied back to a Tik-Tok trend that went viral across American...

“Eerily similar:” The connection between The Who concert and the Astroworld tragedies

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
November 10, 2021

Last Friday, in Houston, Texas, during famous rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld concert. Here, eight people lost their lives, along with hundreds of people who were injured, and many who are still...

Tragedy strikes: Astroworld concert turns deadly

Karter Houze and Chelsie Cooley
November 9, 2021

On last Friday, November 5, tragedy struck as a well-known rapper, Travis Scott, held a concert in Houston, Texas, which soon turned deadly. A whole weekend event, the tickets cost $200 for a day...

A dream come true: Anderson leads the HHS marching band as drum major

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
October 5, 2021

The hot sun beats onto the stadium bleachers, as the drum major climbs up onto the podium. Standing in anticipation as he waits to begin directing. He lifts his arms up as the instruments begin to sound. ...

Shooting for the stars: the marching band’s great start to their season

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
October 5, 2021

As Highlands High School gets called, the performers walk onto the field, their friends and teammates all around them. Taking their places on the field they wait anxiously for the drum major’s signal...

PHOTO GALLERY: Students and staff dress up in their decades attire for day four of Spirit Week

Karter Houze, Chelsie Cooley, and Tamra Armstrong
September 30, 2021

PHOTO GALLERY: Students and staff dress up for day one of Spirit Week, PJ Day

Haley Barth, Chelsie Cooley, and Evelyn Hopping
September 27, 2021

Spirit Week rapidly approaches: 9/27 – 10/1

Elly Wira and Chelsie Cooley
September 24, 2021

With homecoming on Saturday, October 2, Spirit Week is coming up quickly. Spirit Week is one of Highlands High School’s events that allow students to show their support towards the school and...

PHOTO GALLERY: Highlands sports weekend wrap up

Chelsie Cooley and Liam Downie
September 20, 2021

[Photo] PHOTO GALLERY: Highlands boys varsity soccer take home a win against Lafayette

September 20, 2021

Sophomore Chad Gesenhues waits for the ball.

Beshear calls a special session to discuss school COVID-19 policies and precautions

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
September 10, 2021

On September 9, in the same week that Kentucky reported its highest number of COVID-19 cases, Kentucky lawmakers voted in favor of Senate Bill 1, nullifying the statewide school masking mandate set by...

Positive outlook for Highlands football after a big win against Bowling Green

Tamra Armstrong and Chelsie Cooley
August 27, 2021

“This year has been a big culture change. People are getting a better attitude about the season and we are working a lot harder than we did in the past.” Varsity football team...

Kentucky Board of Education mandates masks for all students and staff

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
August 25, 2021

For the 2021-22 school year, the Kentucky Board of Education released COVID-19 guidelines that all Kentucky public schools are required to follow. These included a masking mandate for students,...

FTIS COVID-19 Protocols announced for the 2021-2022 school year

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
August 6, 2021

Today, FTIS COVID-19 protocols for the 2021-2022 school year were announced. These included a strong recommendation rather than a requirement for the masking of unvaccinated students at Highlands...

SBDM approves first GSA at Highlands High School at July meeting

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
July 20, 2021

Yesterday, the Highlands High School Site-Based Decision Making Council (SBDM) approved the establishment of a chapter of a Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) at Highlands High School beginning in...

Bellevue Principal John Darnell joins the nest

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
May 18, 2021

For the second time in the last four years, a new principal will be landing in the nest. Last Thursday, John Darnell, who is the current principal at Bellevue High School, was announced...

Boys tennis wins against Ryle

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
May 12, 2021

On May 10, the boy’s tennis Birds defeated Ryle High School 5-0. The Birds were very excited about this outstanding victory. They are looking forward to the continuation of this amazing season. ...

Senior Week: 04/26 – 04/30

Chelsie Cooley and Megan Benzing
May 6, 2021

Remembering Mrs. Tonya Eide

Megan Benzing and Chelsie Cooley
April 23, 2021

From a video announcement by Principal Matthew Bertasso: “Good Morning Highlands staff and students, I’m saddened to announce that yesterday afternoon our colleague, teacher, and friend...

Young Frankenstein Review

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
April 15, 2021

Highlands High School is performing Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks, opening April 15 and closing April 18. At the beginning of the show, Director Jason Burgess introduces the production. The...

Fort Thomas Education Foundation announces Teacher of the Year and five grants

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
March 30, 2021

On March 30, 2021, Spanish teacher Emily Haffey was announced as the 2020-21 Teacher of the Year in a surprise ceremony. Haffey has been a teacher at Highlands for eleven years, teaching...

Archery Birds take on NASP, ranking nearly 20 places higher than year prior

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
March 17, 2021

Over the past weekend, the Highlands archery team competed in the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP). It is seen as a big honor to even qualify in this program, and the Highlands archery...

Highlands girls defy gender norms one match at a time

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
February 24, 2021

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, female wrestlers make up about eight percent of the total 269,000 wrestlers at the high school level. Though still small,...

Boys bowling match against Newport High School

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
February 10, 2021

What Biden plans to do on his first 100 Days as President

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
January 26, 2021

President Biden has already begun making important changes, even though he has just been inaugurated. Many of the bills that he is removing and putting into place are laws that former President...

OPINION: Who I think should receive the COVID-19 vaccine first

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
January 17, 2021

There are a set of variables when it comes to deciding the fate of billions of human beings. So, it is understandable that there are a lot of feelings and opinions attached to how the vaccine is...

Resilience during an Unprecedented Time: What NTI looks like through my eyes

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
December 8, 2020

I open my eyes to the sound of my fan, blowing softly in an almost humming tune. Stretching, I sit up and pick up my phone along with my glasses. I slide the frames of my glasses on my face and...

With cases on the rise, following precautions is a necessity

Lexie Crawford and Chelsie Cooley
October 30, 2020

How to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
October 30, 2020

The comfortable, heated seats of your car warm your body as you drive to school and park in one of the only available parking spots. You put the vehicle into park and turn off your car, opening...

The fight to stay alive: COVID-19’s effect on movie theatres

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
October 28, 2020

You’re sitting in a dark room. The faint scent of Coke and buttered popcorn fills your nostrils as you stare at the big blaring white screen ahead of you. You recline your seat back and prop...

PHOTO GALLERY: Florals fill school as students dress for day of three of Spirit Week, Hawaiian day

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
October 21, 2020

The resilience and persistence of a Ladybird

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief
October 16, 2020

The field is just as you remembered. The turf hitting your legs, coming up and into your shoes as you run upon the grass. The sun is set, so the stadium lights shine bright on you and your teammates'...

Girls Soccer Birds breaks tie to defeat Dixie

Chelsie Cooley and Tamra Armstrong
September 22, 2020

This past Monday, September 21st, there were three girls soccer games, including Freshman, JV, and Varsity at Highlands soccer field. Facing Dixie High School, the Freshman Birds tied the game 2 to 2....

Chelsie Cooley, Editor-in-Chief

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