The Student News Site of Vel Phillips Memorial

Sword & Shield
VPM Drama
October 31, 2025
Winter Sports Starting Soon
October 31, 2025
Student Support Foundation
Student Support Foundation
October 31, 2025
Wisconsin Youth Climate Conference
Wisconsin Youth Climate Conference
October 31, 2025
Join the Spartan News Team!
October 31, 2025
Black History Month: 10 Hidden Figures in African American History
Black History Month: 10 Hidden Figures in African American History
February 1, 2025
Lewis Howard Latimer
Black History Month Spotlight: Lewis Howard Latimer
February 5, 2024
Check out the Special Edition Senior June Issue!!
June 1, 2023
Seniors!! Don't miss out...
Seniors!! Don’t miss out…
May 14, 2023
Some Things to Know about the Construction
Some Things to Know about the Construction
August 26, 2022
Some Things to Know about the Construction
Some Things to Know about the Construction
August 26, 2022
Who was Vel Phillips?
Who was Vel Phillips?
August 6, 2022
Students: Vote Here for Your Favorite VPM shirt!
Students: Vote Here for Your Favorite VPM shirt!
August 1, 2022
The Construction Saga Continues
The Construction Saga Continues
October 1, 2023
Spartan News, Episode 2
September 18, 2023
Spartan News, Episode 1: Welcome back Spartans!
September 11, 2023
Spartan News, Episode 0 (Freshmen Episode!)
September 1, 2023
Spartan News, Episode 24
April 5, 2023
Monthly Crochet Pattern - New Series!
Monthly Crochet Pattern – New Series!
October 31, 2025
Fiction Book Club - October Review!
Fiction Book Club – October Review!
October 31, 2025
Smiling Friends Season 3 Review
Smiling Friends Season 3 Review
October 31, 2025
Shelby Oaks: The Best Horror Movie You’ve Never Heard Of
Shelby Oaks: The Best Horror Movie You’ve Never Heard Of
October 31, 2025
Smosh Summer Games
Smosh Summer Games
September 30, 2025
Top 3 Summer Tik Tok Food Trends
Top 3 Summer Tik Tok Food Trends
August 25, 2022
Pumpkin Muffins
Best Costco Muffin Flavors, Ranked
August 25, 2022
5 Simple Snacks for Student Athletes to Eat Before, Between, or After a Sports Activity
5 Simple Snacks for Student Athletes to Eat Before, Between, or After a Sports Activity
August 4, 2022
7 St. Patrick's Day Facts You May Not Know
7 St. Patrick’s Day Facts You May Not Know
March 1, 2024
History of Halloween!!
History of Halloween!!
October 1, 2023
Musk vs. Zuck
Musk vs. Zuck
August 30, 2023
Holodomor: How Stalin Starved Ukraine to Death
Holodomor: How Stalin Starved Ukraine to Death
August 25, 2022
Who was Vel Phillips?
Who was Vel Phillips?
August 6, 2022
The official album cover of A Matter of Time.
Great Timing! – Laufey’s New Album Hits the Charts
September 30, 2025
Pop Stars Are Taking Over The Summer
Pop Stars Are Taking Over The Summer
August 31, 2024
Back And Better Than Ever: The Diary of Alicia Keys 20
Back And Better Than Ever: The Diary of Alicia Keys 20
December 1, 2023
2023 Autumn Playlist
2023 Autumn Playlist
October 3, 2023
My *Correct* Ranking of SZA’s SOS
February 27, 2023
2022 October Playlist
2022 October Playlist
October 9, 2022
2022 Back to School Playlist
2022 Back to School Playlist
August 25, 2022
The United States Capitol Building
The Government Shutdown
October 31, 2025
A bottle of extra-strength Tylenol.
RFK Jr.’s Promised Autism Report Blames Tylenol With Little Scientific Basis
October 31, 2025
Image credit to Times of Malta.
The Israeli Navy Intercepted the GSF Aid Flotilla–Here’s What Happened Next
October 31, 2025
La Follette High School
Student Arrested After Gun Brought To La Follette High School
September 30, 2025
President Trump's Current Health Issues
President Trump’s Current Health Issues
September 30, 2025
Leo XIV Elected As New Pope
May 31, 2025
Sao Paulo Race Clinches Max Verstappen F1 Championship
December 1, 2024
Liam Payne's Death
Liam Payne’s Death
November 1, 2024
France Bans All Soup to Prevent Mona Lisa Damage
France Bans All Soup to Prevent Mona Lisa Damage
April 1, 2024
COP28: Moving Towards Renewable Energy
COP28: Moving Towards Renewable Energy
January 1, 2024
The United States Capitol Building
The Government Shutdown
October 31, 2025
A bottle of extra-strength Tylenol.
RFK Jr.’s Promised Autism Report Blames Tylenol With Little Scientific Basis
October 31, 2025
President Trump's Current Health Issues
President Trump’s Current Health Issues
September 30, 2025
A smartphone with social media apps
School Phone Bans Become a National Education Issue
September 30, 2025
Needle syringe with a vaccine bottle, credit NIH
The State of Vaccines in the United States
September 30, 2025
La Follette High School
Student Arrested After Gun Brought To La Follette High School
September 30, 2025
A smartphone with social media apps
School Phone Bans Become a National Education Issue
September 30, 2025
West High School
West High School Swim Team Cuts Resolved
September 30, 2025
Governor Tony Evers, who earlier this month announced he is not seeking a third term.
The Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race Begins
August 31, 2025
MMSD Keeps Schools Open After Black Hole
MMSD Keeps Schools Open After Black Hole
March 31, 2025
Is Nuclear Energy The Future For America?
Is Nuclear Energy The Future For America?
December 1, 2024
Redbox Bankruptcy, Whats Next?
Redbox Bankruptcy, Whats Next?
December 1, 2024
A cargo port.
Dock Workers Strike
November 1, 2024
104-Year-Old Sky Diver Breaks Record
104-Year-Old Sky Diver Breaks Record
March 1, 2024
Signing Elf Allows Deaf Girl to Meet Santa for the First Time
Signing Elf Allows Deaf Girl to Meet Santa for the First Time
January 1, 2024
"Lancaster Amish on taxpayer highways" by Ted Van Pelt
Why Aren’t the Amish a Cult?
October 31, 2025
Created by Elsie esq
Your AI Memes are Hypocritical
October 31, 2025
"food::" by neXtplanaut
Why are picky eaters picky?
October 31, 2025
I Hate Curly Hair Dogs
October 31, 2025
Image credit to See-Ming Lee
The Gender Division Of Sports Is A Problem. How Do We Fix It?
October 31, 2025
Winter Sports Starting Soon
October 31, 2025
QB Blake Adams hands the ball off to RB AJ Danso.
VPM Football Narrowly Misses Playoffs: Season Recap
October 31, 2025
Busted - How NBA Tipoff Week Was Spoiled by a Series of Arrests
Busted – How NBA Tipoff Week Was Spoiled by a Series of Arrests
October 31, 2025
Engagement photo from Swift’s announcement on Instagram
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce; How the Hollywood Engagement Came to Be and What it Means Going Forward
September 30, 2025
Red Bull RB14 / Max Verstappen / Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
Symbolism Behind the Dutch Grand Prix Cups
September 30, 2025

Sword & Shield

Sword & Shield

The Student News Site of Vel Phillips Memorial
All content by Max Knight

June Editor’s Note – Congrats On Making It Through The Year!

Max Knight
May 31, 2025

2025 Senior Honors Convocation Overview

Max Knight
May 31, 2025
"Heart Eyes" Review: A Tropey, Fun Genre Mish-Mash

“Heart Eyes” Review: A Tropey, Fun Genre Mish-Mash

Max Knight
March 1, 2025

February Editor’s Note – Welcome to Second Semester!

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
February 1, 2025
"Cast of Emilia Perez at TIFF 2024 the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (cropped)" by Frank Sun is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Emilia Perez and the Limits of Awards Ceremonies

Max Knight
February 1, 2025

Getting to Know The Cast of “Something Rotten”

Max Knight
February 1, 2025
The 10 Best Movies of 2024

The 10 Best Movies of 2024

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
January 1, 2025
Ranking My First Semester Classes - Senior Year Edition

Ranking My First Semester Classes – Senior Year Edition

Max Knight
January 1, 2025
Adapted from official stills on arcane.com.

Arcane Season 2 Review: A Beautifully Imperfect Tapestry of Love and War

Max Knight
December 1, 2024
Smile 2 Made Me Pull A Muscle In Fear

Smile 2 Made Me Pull A Muscle In Fear

Max Knight
November 1, 2024
The Cast of Lend Me A Tenor (from left to right), Daniel Mueller, Nylah Kleiss, Lars McKillop, Zane Yeazel, Benjamin Thom, Marguerite Penning, Mable Miller, Varnika Arianathan.

Getting to Know the Cast of Lend Me A Tenor!

Max Knight
November 1, 2024
"Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice-06550" by Harald Krichel is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

BeetleJuice, BeetleJuice. Fun or Flop?

Ben Thom and Max Knight
September 30, 2024
"Francis Ford Coppola dirigiendo" by Guillermo Tomoyose is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Megalopolis: An Egomaniacal Disaster

Max Knight
September 30, 2024
Second Assassination Attempt Against Trump At Florida Golf Club

Second Assassination Attempt Against Trump At Florida Golf Club

Max Knight, Editor in chief
September 30, 2024
2024 Homecoming Schedule + Spirit Week Themes!

2024 Homecoming Schedule + Spirit Week Themes!

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
September 9, 2024
2024 Spartan Football Themes and Schedule

2024 Spartan Football Themes and Schedule

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
August 31, 2024
September Editor's Note: Welcome To The New School Year, Spartans!

September Editor’s Note: Welcome To The New School Year, Spartans!

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
August 31, 2024
How to Start High School Off Right: Advice from a senior to freshmen

How to Start High School Off Right: Advice from a senior to freshmen

Max Knight, Editor-in-Chief
August 31, 2024
"Robert Downey, Jr." by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. "File:Deadpool 2 Japan Premiere Red Carpet Ryan Reynolds (cropped).jpg" by Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Deadpool and Wolverine, RDJ, And The Empty Void Of Cameo Culture

Max Knight
August 31, 2024
Abigail!

Abigail!

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
April 30, 2024
What Should Win and What Will Win At This Year's Oscars

What Should Win and What Will Win At This Year’s Oscars

Max Knight
March 1, 2024

Getting to Know the Cast of The Addams Family

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
February 1, 2024
From Complete Comedies to Atomic Bombs: Top Ten Movies of 2023

From Complete Comedies to Atomic Bombs: Top Ten Movies of 2023

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
January 1, 2024
Into the Future: 10 Movies to Look Out for in 2024

Into the Future: 10 Movies to Look Out for in 2024

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
January 1, 2024
Reviewing My First Semester Classes - Junior Year

Reviewing My First Semester Classes – Junior Year

Max Knight
January 1, 2024
January Editor's Note: Happy New Year!

January Editor’s Note: Happy New Year!

Max Knight
January 1, 2024
MMSD Director of Assessments Tim Peterson

“It does not describe you as a person and as a learner,” A Conversation on Standardized Testing with MMSD Director of Assessments Tim Peterson

Max Knight
December 1, 2023
A Complete WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike Recap, and What It Means For The Future of the Industry

A Complete WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike Recap, and What It Means For The Future of the Industry

Max Knight
December 1, 2023
Two Student Editors Discuss Inspiration, the Writing Process, and How to Deal With Writer's Block

Two Student Editors Discuss Inspiration, the Writing Process, and How to Deal With Writer’s Block

Max Knight and Sophia Jiang
December 1, 2023
A Colassal Canvas of American Greed - Killers of the Flower Moon Review

A Colassal Canvas of American Greed – Killers of the Flower Moon Review

Max Knight
October 31, 2023
An adaptation of the following works: "Halloween decoration" by Free Flower is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse. "Halloween Decorations" by www.metaphoricalplatypus.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse. "Halloween decorations." by MIKI Yoshihito. (#mikiyoshihito) is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse. "Halloween Decorations" by www.metaphoricalplatypus.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

The Definitive Halloween Decoration Ranking

Max Knight
September 30, 2023
6 Horror Movies, New and Old, to Set The Season With

6 Horror Movies, New and Old, to Set The Season With

Max Knight, Opinion’s Editor
September 30, 2023
A Haunting in Venice: Rows by on Vibes Alone

A Haunting in Venice: Rows by on Vibes Alone

Max Knight
September 30, 2023
AI in Art

AI in Art

Max Knight
August 30, 2023

The Movies of Summer 2023: What’s Worth Watching and What’s Not

Max Knight
August 30, 2023

A Review of Scream 6 (Minor Spoilers)

Max Knight
March 31, 2023

A 95th Academy Rewards Review: An (Occasional) Success

Max Knight
March 31, 2023
Review of Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania: Too Big for Its Own Good

Review of Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania: Too Big for Its Own Good

Max Knight
February 27, 2023

Review of Avatar: The Way of Water

Max Knight
February 3, 2023
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