The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
Isabel Kachappilly

Isabel Kachappilly, Editor-in-Chief

Isabel Kachappilly is a senior at York and editor-in-chief of ThisIsYork.org. She enjoys covering current news events occurring at school and in the community. When she isn’t reporting, she is teaching a 7th grade religious education class at St. Charles Borromeo or competing for the York Speech team. Her future goals consist of studying computer science and combining her creative skills with technology.

All content by Isabel Kachappilly
Junior Luke Hanley proposes to junior Paige Greve to go to prom.

To date or not to date: prom pressures students to find a partner for the evening

Isabel Kachappilly, Editor in Chief
March 22, 2022
Seniors Kenedi Gomez and Genry Lopez buy prom tickets at the book store.

York dance groups move the hearts of many during Fine Arts Week

York dance groups move the hearts of many during Fine Arts Week

Isabel Kachappilly, Editor-in-Chief
March 3, 2022
Samy and Matt Bones featured on Alternative Press.

Members of Bonelang and and Bonzo Squad inspire young artists 

Milan Bishop-Sasaki, Isabel Kachappilly, Grace Bernstein, and Finnegan Belleau
March 2, 2022
Andrew Laurence plays the keyboard during a cover of the Super Smash Bros. song.

Andrew Bogt plays the bass for the band, Bonzo Squad.

Corbin Andrick performs the saxophone during the band, Bonzo Squads performance.

Sophmore CJ Cannon, junior Laney Toffler and sophmore Will Blanchette play a song by Led Zeppelin.

York Live performances kicks of Fine Arts Week

Isabel Kachappilly and Grace Bernstein
March 1, 2022
Nancy Wolski works with Medical Career students during group work time.

All new for 2022: students and teachers share New Year’s resolutions

Isabel Kachappilly, Drew Subramanian, and Ava Hansmann
January 20, 2022
Students enjoy hot chocolate handed out by staff. Hot chocolate is a tradition that occurs before the winter break and during final exams.

Traditional final exam policy is revised to focus more on student relearning

Isabel Kachappilly
December 20, 2021
Schools begin to offer free* COVID testing for students and families as another safety measure along with wearing masks. *The cost of testing is covered by health insurance.

D205 schools offers free onsite COVID testing

Isabel Kachappilly, Editor In Chief
December 8, 2021
Members of the Hispanos Unidos club showcase traditional quinceañera dresses and perform a cultural dance for all lunch periods.

Hispanos Unidos club hosts a week filled with tradition and culture

Isabel Kachappilly, Editor in Chief
November 4, 2021
Junior girls celebrate a win at the annual Girls Flag Football game against the senior girls. The flag football game is a vital part of the Homecoming traditions. Pictured left to right: Mathilde Cronin, Megan Brandt and Ashley Simonis.

Students and staff react to the return of the Homecoming Dance

Grace Bernstein and Isabel Kachappilly
September 23, 2021
Seniors Michael Spurr, Andrew Brooks, Daniel Sanders and Trent Cefolia pose on the front staircase, clutching their signature light sabers. The Darth Dukes expressed determination to have as much fun as possible and meet new people. Photo courtesy of @darthdukes instagram

King of the Couch groups reflect on Homecoming week

Isabel Kachappilly and Jillian Sussman
September 16, 2021
The Board of Education hires Dr. Keisha Campbell as new District 205 superintendent.

Meet our new superintendent

Lucas Freitag, Mustafa Valika, Finnegan Belleau, and Isabel Kachappilly
July 2, 2021
Graduate Jenna Hughes holds her diploma as she exits the ceremony to celebrate with family and friends.

The Class of 2021 Celebrates Resilience and Togetherness at Graduation

Hannah Brody, Jackie Cimino, and Isabel Kachappilly
May 26, 2021
Members of the prom court, Jenna Hughes, Caitlin Maguire, Jeffrey Grace III, Molly Loch and Lucas Freitag waited at the entrance prior to being introduced to the rest of their peers as nominees for prom king and queen.

Unconventionally Successful: The prom event took everyone by surprise with its success and appearance

Hannah Brody and Isabel Kachappilly
May 20, 2021
On April 12, all in-person students returned to a full eight-period schedule for the rest of the year. Students eat at separate desks during lunch to maintain distancing. Chairs were spread throughout the lunchroom, Commons and Joe Newton Field House.

Students react to returning to eight-period schedule

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Mustafa Valika
April 21, 2021
The influx of students returning to in-person learning means that many will be in the school building for the first time in over a year. While students and their families can choose to stay home for remote learning, most chose to return for the four-day schedule.

York students react to 4 day in-person schedule

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Finnegan Belleau, and Isabel Kachappilly
April 4, 2021
Starting April 12, students choosing to go back to school will be returning to the standard 7:40 a.m. -3:06 p.m. school day. Instead of having four classes a day, the school day will now consist of all eight classes. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

School Board votes to return to full in-person learning beginning April 12

Isabel Kachappilly, Mustafa Valika, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
March 24, 2021
The House of Representatives passes the Equality Act, a bill entitled to remove discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

York’s LGBTQ+ community reacts to the Equality Act

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Finnegan Belleau
March 15, 2021
The International Club announces winners for the International Cook-Off competition. Representing Italian Club, Juliana Moran's Biscotti recipe video won first place. In second place was Japanese Culture and Animation Club's Katsudon recipe video made by Nathanial Moore and in third place was Stephanie Yang's Potato Pierogis recipe video from International Club.

International Club announces the International Cook Off winners

Isabel Kachappilly, News Editor
March 15, 2021
Math teacher Leslie Stipe receives the coronavirus vaccine at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital through University of Illinois at Chicago.

Students and staff receive COVID-19 vaccinations

Lucas Freitag, Finnegan Belleau, Mustafa Valika, and Isabel Kachappilly
February 18, 2021
Spanish Club submits a recipe video on how to make Polvorones. Please vote for the best recipe in the google form linked in the story!

Vote here for the International Cook-Off!

Isabel Kachappilly
February 16, 2021
The inauguration took place on January 20th at the West Front of the Capitol Building.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Finnegan Belleau
January 27, 2021
Students return to hybrid learning following winter break after last attending school in late October.

Students return to hybrid learning amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Lucas Freitag, and Finnegan Belleau
January 25, 2021
Trump supporters riot and break into the United States Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.

Pro Trump rioters storm the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the 2020 election process

Finnegan Belleau and Isabel Kachappilly
January 13, 2021
Photo of the food pantry in Glenn Ellyn. Food pantries in DuPage county have been working hard to provide food for people in need during the 2020 holiday season.

As the holidays approach, local food pantries adapt and continue to serve communities during the pandemic

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
December 22, 2020
The FDA meets on Dec. 10 to discuss the consideration of authorizing the emergency use of the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the United States.

FDA authorizes emergency use of Pfizer vaccine

Isabel Kachappilly, Reporter
December 16, 2020
The York Speech Team have a team meeting after placing tournament champions at the Annual Novice Hersey Tournament and the Varsity Elk Grove Invitational Tournament on Dec. 5, 2020. Pictured top row(left to right): Isabel Kachappilly, Fernando Valdes Nicholson, Kevin Martin, Paige Greve, Emerson Graham. 2nd row: Salma Brobbey, Jillian Caforio, David Izzo, Regan Wright, Grace Stewart. 3rd row: Jaime Gleason, Emma Morey, Anna Collins, Clark Mahoney. Bottom row: Nora Golen, Marguerite DiMarco, Jake Downey, Patrick Scanlon

Earlier this week, the Associated Press called Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania, putting him over the threshold required to beat Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win presidential race; Trump contests

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Mustafa Valika, and Isabel Kachappilly
November 9, 2020
Student casts vote in York's 2016 mock election. The 2020 mock election was conducted remotely.

Joe Biden and Illinois Democrats win York’s 2020 Mock Election

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Mustafa Valika
November 3, 2020
Novice members of the York Speech Team pose for a group picture after attending their first tournament awards ceremony. Top Row (Left to Right): Delia Marianetti, Benjamin Plaisted and Andrea Alcarez. Middle Row: Marguerite DiMarco, Myles Dow and Phoebe Stergios. Bottom Row: Fernando Valdez Nicholson, Dawson Dettman and Jack Davies

The Novice Speech Team earned a wicked win in their first virtual tournament

Isabel Kachappilly, News Editor
November 3, 2020
Donald Trump (left) and Joe Biden (right) debate for the last time in the 2020 election season at Belmont University moderated by Kristen Welker (middle).

The Final Faceoff: Presidential candidates debate one last time before the 2020 election

Isabel Kachappilly, News Editor
October 27, 2020
The famous arch, known as the Gates of Knowledge, in front of the Frick Center has officially changed its name from Elmhurst College to Elmhurst University.

Introducing Elmhurst University, the new face of Elmhurst College

Isabel Kachappilly, Reporter
October 15, 2020
Vice-presidential nominees Kamala Harris (left), and Mike Pence (right) debated this Wednesday at Kingsbury Hall at University of Utah.

Kamala Harris vs. Mike Pence: the key takeaways from the 2020 vice presidential debate

Finnegan Belleau, Isabel Kachappilly, Mustafa Valika, and Lucas Freitag
October 12, 2020
A mural of Breonna Taylor at a memorial in Minneapolis. “Say their names” became a rallying cry for activists, referencing the many victims of police brutality.

York Black community reacts to recent charges regarding officers involved with Breonna Taylor’s death

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
October 3, 2020
Graduate Sydney Mountcastle works on project in Manufacturing class. With remote learning, students are unable to work in the York Family Consumer Science and Industrial Technology classrooms. Oct. 1, 2019.

Industrial Technology and Family Consumer Science departments encourage enthusiasm during remote learning

Isabel Kachappilly, Reporter
September 21, 2020
Load More Stories