The student news site of Portage Northern High School

The Northern Light

The student news site of Portage Northern High School

The Northern Light

The student news site of Portage Northern High School

The Northern Light

Ileana Oeschger, a freshman at Kalamazoo College, has developed a website showcasing art by queer youth in Michigan and advocating for more LGBTQ+ inclusion in Michigan’s curriculum.

“Overall, everyone just wants to be included”: creating safe spaces and increasing representation and inclusivity for LGBTQ students

Astrid Code, News Editor December 18, 2020

Ileana Oeschger, a freshman at Kalamazoo College, has developed a website showcasing art by queer youth in Michigan and advocating for more LGBTQ+ inclusion in Michigan’s curriculum. Oeschger started...

As LGBTQIA identity vocabulary increases, some students, like senior Haily Lonsbury, are choosing to drop their labels altogether.

Senior Haily Lonsbury commits to living life beyond a label

Lizzie Sheldon, Staff Writer November 10, 2020

There is a lot to figure out about yourself as you move through high school.  For senior Haily Lonsbury, a person who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community, the primary thing she sought to figure...

Learning to live with the endless loop of anxiety and depression

Learning to live with the endless loop of anxiety and depression

Chloe Malik, Staff Writer November 5, 2020

Everyone’s eyes stare at me as the room begins to spin. I can’t seem to find any air; it’s so hard to breathe. “Deep breath in, and deep breath out,” someone says. I can’t seem to figure out...

Still breathing: senior Hailey Funk undergoes lung surgery during a pandemic

Still breathing: senior Hailey Funk undergoes lung surgery during a pandemic

Allie Miller, Staff Writer November 5, 2020

“I went in thinking I had corona, and I came out knowing that I almost died,” says senior Hailey Funk. It’s easy to take life for granted when you’re stuck in the rut of a pandemic, but Funk had...

The rationale provided to the school board at the Oct. 12 meeting.

Students express concerns and hopes amid return to learn discussions

Bryana Quick, Staff Writer November 3, 2020

In October, students got the shocking news that they might have to go back to school hybrid. Many seemed to like the idea, but others feel this decision is not what's best at this very moment. “This...

KBeaZy is pictured in his natural environment for his Genius profile. It reads, KBeaZy, born Keegan Bach, is a 19 year old producer from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He quickly rose to fame in 2019 after various creating beats for established artists. His eponymous YouTube channel has racked up over 120,000 subscribers and over 12 million views.

If the name Keegan Bach doesn’t sound familiar, there’s a chance you just don’t know who he is. There’s also a chance that you know him by the same name that most of the world does: KBeaZy. Graduating from Portage Northern High School in 2019, KBeaZy now lives in California and he just went #1 on the Billboard charts with his newest production: Mood by 24kGoldn ft. iann dior. If you didn’t know him before, you would do well to get familiar.

Just two years ago, Bach was a student at Portage Northern High School. He played tennis and took IB classes. But if you ask his family, they knew he was going to make it big in music. “His main focus throughout highschool was education until his music business really picked up. I think we all knew that if he did decide to fully pursue music he would be successful,” shares his brother, PNHS freshman Kirby Bach. “One cool thing that sticks out in my mind was when he first flew out to LA alone to make music for a week. That was when I personally realized that he was going to make it.”

KBeaZy may have started small, but you would never know it by looking at the work he’s done. Genius.com shows him with production credits with artists like iann dior, 24kGoldn, Chief Keef, Baby Keem, The Kid LAROI, and Roddy Ricch. He is even credited with the production of unreleased tracks with Juice WRLD, who died in 2019 before much of his music was released. KBeaZy worked with artists like Baby Keem and Roddy Ricch before

Class of 2019 grad KBeaZy produces Billboard #1 hit

Liam Fagan, Editor in Chief November 3, 2020

If the name Keegan Bach doesn’t sound familiar, there’s a chance you just don’t know who he is. There’s also a chance that you know him by the same name that most of the world does: KBeaZy....

TikTok’s future uncertain as Oracle deal attempts to avoid ban

TikTok’s future uncertain as Oracle deal attempts to avoid ban

Astrid Code, News Editor October 15, 2020

“A lot of people were scared and sad. Most people had no idea what was going on […] It was pretty much chaos for a while because everyone kind of lost hope,” says senior Derek Halloran. He is one...

An air of tension surrounds Portage Public Schools after the assignment.

Learning together: district commits to cultural responsiveness after controversial online learning assignment

Kylie Clifton, Feature Editor October 2, 2020

It was 9:15 on the morning of September 23rd, and eighth grade Portage North Middle School student Pablo Fraga was ready to return to a new kind of normal with his online history assignment. The content...

Senior Rachel Church completes her virtual learning in the school building from the media center.

Virtual learners experience school at home and in-building

Natalie Grinder, Digital Media Editor September 25, 2020

The 2020-2021 school year has had quite a unique start. With the pandemic still underway, PPS students found themselves learning virtually either from their own homes or from designated learning spaces...

The physical and mental effects of online learning

The physical and mental effects of online learning

Astrid Code and Dra'Noscha Jett September 14, 2020

Online school has forced students, parents, and teachers alike to make a tremendous change in their daily routine. Although logistically, video calls work well to replace each period of classes, they have...

Google Drive folders are replacing traditional notebooks and binders in 2020s virtual learning environment.

Students adjust to online learning

Melissah Morris-Adkins, Staff Writer September 14, 2020

With the new school year starting, students are figuring out ways to adjust to online learning. PNHS students have the option to do online learning in the building or at home. Whether the students are...

The history of the five main instrument groups

The history of the five main instrument groups

Kai Pennington, Staff Writer June 12, 2020

 Music has a huge place in society. From wind, brass, string, keyboard and percussion, instruments have made music what it is today. Many tend to overlook the progression of instruments through history....

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