• Monday, Oct. 27 - Freshmen Parent / Guardian Info Session (McNeil Cafeteria), 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Monday, Oct. 27 - Friday, Oct. 31 - Red Ribbon Week (Say No to Drugs)
  • Wednesday, Oct. 29 - McNeil High School Blood Drive
  • Wednesday, Oct. 29 - McNeil High School: Annual Halloween on the Farm!
  • Tuesday, Nov. 4 - Staff / Student School picture retake day, during all lunches.
The student news site of McNeil High School

The Trailblazer
The student news site of McNeil High School

The Trailblazer
The student news site of McNeil High School

The Trailblazer
Amanda Beeler

Amanda Beeler, News Editor

Hi, my name is Amanda Beeler and I am a junior this year. This is my second year on newspaper, I am the news editor and I am happy to be a part of  The Trailblazer for another year. Outside of school, I like to read, crochet, music and love to watch Grey’s Anatomy and Gilmore Girls. 

All content by Amanda Beeler
Junior Arpita Rangesh and Junior Mina Wares working together on their final sketch.

Forensic Students Finalize Final Crime Sketches

Amanda Beeler, News Editor
October 16, 2025
Senior Audrey Raybould examined the crime scene to more accurately document her sketch of the crime scene.

Forensic Students Finalize Initial Crime Sketches

Amanda Beeler, News Editor
October 14, 2025
Book bans have typically targeted books containing LGBTQ+ or race-related themes. In recent years, the surge in these bans has been caused by activist groups with thousands of books being affected.

Banned Book Week Sparks Discussion about Censorship, Student Rights

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
October 10, 2025
ASL teacher Britni Stephenson starts teaching high school students at McNeil on Sep. 17. “I realized I wanted to challenge myself and step outside of my comfort zone by teaching hearing students for the first time,” Stephenson said. Students face excitement yet challenges ahead due to differences in communication skills. Photo Courtesy of Britni Stephenson

New ASL Teacher Comes to McNeil

Amanda Beeler, News Editor
October 10, 2025
Forensic crime scene created by teacher Carol Seng

Forensic Students Begin Sketching Crime Scene Project

Amanda Beeler, News Editor
October 10, 2025
Judge Holmes and the constable, each discussing their contributions to the justice system to the class. “I think these guest visits are a great thing,” junior Tuscany Morthole said. “Because while we are learning and connecting to real humans and what they do for a living. It also gives you a perspective into that type of job, to a day to day, it doesn't just romanticize the job but shows you the rough and real side of the job.” With Judge Holmes explaining different parts of the courtroom procedure, and the constable showing her equipment.

Forensic Class Hears from Guest Speaker on Legal System

Amanda Beeler and Aarya Manchikanti
October 2, 2025
Forensics teacher Carol Seng explains the context of the crime scene to seniors Ornith Jahid, Rachel Abraham and Meagan Nguyen. "In that moment, we were getting engaged on what we're supposed to do in the crime scene," Jahid said. Students paid close attention to their teacher's instruction in order to assess the situation properly.

Forensic Starts Day One of Crime Scene Lab

Amanda Beeler and Aarya Manchikanti
October 1, 2025
Senior Sophie Singer and sophomore Aleksandra Ivanov check the mass of their potato cores.

AP Biology Performs Water Potential of a Potato Core Lab

Amanda Beeler, News Editor
September 27, 2025
Image via National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Eight Seniors Earn National Merit Semifinalist Honors

Amanda Beeler, News Editor
September 24, 2025
Image by Amanda Beeler

New Addition to the AP World History Department

Amanda Beeler, News Editor
September 2, 2025
Upcoming Events: 7/28-8/12

Upcoming Events: 7/28-8/12

Amanda Beeler, News Editor
July 25, 2025
ACC Offers Dual Credit Program

ACC Offers Dual Credit Program

Amanda Beeler, Captions Editor
April 11, 2025
AI Grading in STAAR Assessments

AI Grading in STAAR Assessments

Amanda Beeler, Captions Editor
April 11, 2025
NTHS logo and stoles on a light yellow and purple background.

CTE National Technical Honor Society to Join McNeil

Amanda Beeler, Captions Editor
March 7, 2025
Senior Arturo Ramos, Junior Megan Nguyen, and Senior Shennie Ye performing the crumple zone lab in AP Physics. “We were figuring out how to use the vernier extension since that is how we would be able to calculate the force time and impulse. The lab was fun, simple, and good practice.”

AP Physics Perform Crumple Zone Lab

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
February 3, 2025
AP Physics Performs Momentum Lab

AP Physics Performs Momentum Lab

Amanda Beeler, Captions Editor
January 24, 2025
Senior Sofia Blue and senior Chloe Cifreo performing dissection on a chicken wing.

Anatomy and Physiology Preform Chicken Wing Dissection

Amanda Beeler, Captions Editor
January 21, 2025
Co-presidents sophomore Jananisri Ravikuma and senior Chaithrakshaya Suguru discussing the agenda for the third meeting.

Ink and Quill Society Club Holds Third Meeting

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
December 13, 2024
Junior Megan Nguyen, senior Arturo Ramos and senior Pedro Vianna drop a car down a track during the lab.

Physics Performs Loop Da Loop Lab

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
November 13, 2024
Forensics Teacher Carol Seng explaining to senior Tigerlily Broomfield and senior Megan Chandonia how to tell the difference between different blood types.

Forensics Performs Kastle-Meyer and Blood Typing Lab

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
October 23, 2024
Junior William Curp watching as sophomore Gawdham Ramesh spins a string with a rubber stopper to show centripetal force.

Physics Performs a Centripetal Force Exploring Uniform Circular Motion Lab

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
October 23, 2024
Band Wins First at Vista Ridge Marching Festival

Band Wins First at Vista Ridge Marching Festival

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
October 11, 2024
Overpopulation in the classroom leads to education troubles among students and teachers.

The Effects of Large Class Sizes

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
October 11, 2024
Junior Rachel Abraham and junior Janani Pragalbha pulling the shoe with force sensor connected to their computer as it draws the graph, which they use to find kinetic and static forces.

AP Physics holds Mu of a shoe lab

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
October 11, 2024
Junior Abhinav Devarakonda, junior Urjith Mishra, MHS teacher Gijs Landwehr, and senior Trent Bauman at NTX competition.

FRC Robotics Finishes First in NTX Tournament

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
October 11, 2024
Services of the ASL 3 and 4 classes have been metaphorically "cut." The classes have previously worked within the deaf ed program, including last year's deaf ed Halloween party.

Overabundance of Students Causes ASL Three and Four to be cut

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
September 26, 2024
While creating their dioramas senior Maxfield Rotches is making string lights out of pipe cleaners while senior Lila Brown is tearing part of an old magazine to decorate her diorama with.

Debut Library Lunch and Learn Focuses on Canadian Folk Art

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
September 11, 2024
Jones at the Longacre Theatre in New York on Sept. 16, 2014. (Jesse Dittmar/The Washington Post)

James Earl Jones, Voice of Darth Vader Dies at 93

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
September 10, 2024
During a Projectile Motion lab for AP Physics, teacher Akshara Sudhakaran helps Juniors Harvey Flynn, Yasser El Anssari, Luca Uritu, Owen Rhea and Timothy Li measure the height of the launch ramp.

AP Physics Holds Projectile Motion Lab

Amanda Beeler, Reporter
September 9, 2024
Graphic by Cooper Seaver

Late Buses and Their Effects on Students

Amanda Beeler and Bentley Krizin
September 7, 2024
The group was just starting their hike down the mountain, lighting torches to stave off the creeping dark. The group had just traveled up the mountain during the last days of their trip to Europe. “It was the last day we were in Switzerland, we went up to a family-owned restaurant there and dined," Hannigan said. "When we finished up all the food and drink, we lit torches and walked down the mountain as it was getting dark.”

German Students Travel to Europe for Educational Trip

Amanda Beeler, Bentley Krizin, and Hannah Bland
September 5, 2024
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