This article was co-written with Aaron Hanson The phone box that the students turn their phone into at the beginning of the day. Students must turn in their phone in the morning and put it in the phone box. Photo courtesy of Aaron Hansen. The start of the 2026-2027 school year at Vashon High School introduced a controversial new phone policy requiring all students to turn in their phones and other smart electronics to their first period teacher at the start of the day. Admin

Freshman Carter Harrington on the field at Muckleshoot Tribal School. Photo courtesy of Carter Brannan In the first quarter, the VHS Pirate football team and the Muckleshoot Tribal School were tied. With one touchdown, momentum started for Vashon High School Pirates winning the game. Scoring one touchdown after another, the team eventually won the game sixty-nine to 8 against Muckleshoot Tribal School. The Vashon Pirates football team had been struggling for three years, lo

A VHS student works on a Chromebook. Chromebooks are used frequently in nearly all classes at VHS. Photo by Cassius Requa. Last year, one class I took stood out to me for a very particular reason. Mr. Marsh's world history was unusually easy to focus in. It was like the things that typically prevent me from being productive just weren't there. Looking back on this, the answer to how he achieved that environment of calm and focus seems all too clear. He actually removed the d

This article was co-written with Willa O'Reilley and Emma Shampain Students gathered earlier this year, walking out protesting ICE. Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Shepherd, Vashon Beachcomber By many measures, the world is a turbulent place right now. In politics, voting, and civic engagement, young people are often written off as apathetic and disinterested. Students would beg to differ. From ICE to budget cuts, VHS students have big opinions on what policy should look like

Public school funding in Washington comparison between 2019-2021 and 2025-2027. This further supports Dr. Moccia’s explanation of funding reductions since COVID. Courtesy of Washington State Fiscal Information. Funding cuts are impacting Vashon Island School District (VISD) with increasing prominence, and they’re beginning to dictate the quality and values publicized by our school. But to what extent can investments be reduced while maintaining a successful district and wel

The image is representative of how our government doesn’t allocate enough funding for education. The photo relates to the article because it addresses the topic of government funding being cut for education. Photo courtesy of Memeing Wiki. In March of 2025, the Trump administration filed an executive order to functionally abolish the United States Department of Education. Although a department of this significance cannot be entirely disbanded without a majority vote from Co

VHS Sophomores enjoying the super nachos served at lunch As of the 2026 to 2027 school year, the prices for school lunches at Vashon Island High School have gone up by about 5.3%, meaning lunches are no longer the $4.75 they used to be, and instead $5. To some, this may not seem like a significant increase in pricing, but the compounding cost adds up throughout the school year. This can raise issues for numerous families. Another issue many students have noticed here at VHS

Junior Josie Reiling intercepts the ball during a match against Fife High School. The girls soccer team is on an impressive winning streak, with only one loss, ranked #1 in the league, and undefeated in league matches. Photo courtesy of Owen Meade. The Vashon Pirates 2026 sports season has set sail, and many teams have big expectations this year. The fall season consists of many sports: football, girls soccer, volleyball, boys tennis, and cross country. Teams have already be

A Google data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. IT infrastructure, software, hardware, and cooling algorithms run constantly. Photo courtesy of MIT Technology Review. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been on the horizon of human invention for quite some time. From the compass, to the internal combustion engine, to the computer, to AI, human technology continues to improve and advance. From movies about evil sentient machines to comics about the human race being controlled by r

Dancers from Vashon Dance Academy take a bow. After an emotionally and physically taxing performance, their community is even stronger. Photo courtesy of Aven DeVoght. Since prehistoric times, people have enjoyed the performing arts. From Greek plays to Shakespeare’s theater, the thespians, dancers, and musicians of the world have always held a special place in our lives. In 2026 however, many people wonder if live art is still relevant. Now that we have technology at our f

Dolly Parton photographed in Nashville on October 21st, 2020 for an ad campaign. Dolly Parton passed away on the 25th of August, and left behind a legacy we won’t soon forget. Photo by Craig McDean, sourced from the New York Times. Beloved singer, activist, and entrepreneur, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, known lovingly as Dolly Parton, passed away on August 25th, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee of cancer. Her death touched the hearts of many people across the world. President Don