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The Pepperbox

The Student News Site of Arcata High School

The Pepperbox

The Pepperbox

Ilana Maclay

Ilana Maclay, Editor-in-Chief

Ilana Maclay has been in The Pepperbox as many years as she’s been in high school. Now, she is a senior at Arcata High. Being a news section editor, feature section editor, and a manager of the paper has granted her the experience and confidence to navigate an exciting senior year as Editor-in-Chief with an inspiring vision for the paper. As a writer, she has experience covering a wide range of topics. She hopes to hear and incorporate everyone’s ideas to provide an accurate representation of the school through the publication she feels so much pride in.

All content by Ilana Maclay
From left to right, top to bottom: Coach Griffith, Ilana Maclay, Aliyah Aaron, Kyla Kinyon, Pearl Smith, Betty Miles, Colby Eisner, Nora Brumbaugh, Lucy Deiker, Ava Zavala, Eliana Kanzler, Harper Appy, Josephine Cunningham, and Karely Ruiz

AIVT: One for the ages

Ilana Maclay, Editor-in-Chief September 16, 2025

Arcata Varsity volleyball jogs out of the wrestling room, their sneakered feet hitting the gym floor....

Arthur Yang completes the USC Ice Bucket Challenge as Elijah Gonzales pours a bucket of water on him

What’s on your MIND?

Ilana Maclay, Managing Editor May 9, 2025

Students enrolled at the University of South Carolina (USC) in the MIND club—standing for Mental Illness...

Junior Gemma Caruso playing Block Blast during Orchestra

[Photo] The Block Blast epidemic

Jaime O’Donnell, Website Manager March 21, 2025

Gemma Caruso play Block Blast

Creating comfortable environments for consent

Ilana Maclay, Managing Editor February 7, 2025

Consent is “misleading because, [someone could say] ‘I consent to this,’ but it’s not really...

Cross Country girls get ready to start their race

Arcata Cross Country runs “bye”

Ilana Maclay, Managing Editor December 19, 2024

Arcata High’s Cross Country teams competed in their final event of the season, the Humboldt Del Norte...

AAI Music students performing at Humbrews.

[Photo] AAI: A pathway to a career in music

Ines Shaw, A&E Editor December 19, 2024

AAI Music students performing at Humbrews.

Captains from left to right: senior Quincy Collins (1) and senior Bella Campbell (15) starting game coin toss to decide who gets serve

Arcata Girl’s Volleyball season is serving

Ilana Maclay, Managing Editor October 21, 2024

Fingers scrunching the jersey across your back, sweaty foreheads pressed into a circle of loose flyaway...

Vaper posing in the bathroom

Vaper posing in the bathroom

Cast of "Alice by Heart" bowing at the end of closing night

Down the rabbit hole: A review of “Alice by Heart”

Ilana Maclay, Feature editor June 12, 2024

Lights fade. Drapes open. The audience falls quiet. The Spring musical production of “Alice by Heart”...

Homecoming: A history

Ilana Maclay, Feature editor March 29, 2024

Bass bouncing through the floor, vibrations rising through your feet, dancing bodies pressed all around,...

Is cropped over the top?

Ilana Maclay, Feature editor March 29, 2024

While reading the dance contract for the homecoming dance, did you find yourself thinking, “What is...

Through the years: AHS legacy

Ilana Maclay, Features editor March 29, 2024

My grandma sat out on the concrete curb in front of the school, ankles crossed out in front of her, lunch...

Are love languages worth your time?

Are love languages worth your time?

Ilana Maclay, Feature editor March 29, 2024

If you've found yourself scrolling through Buzzfeed, feeling philosophical and lonely, chances are you’ve...

Leonardo Dicaprio running down the freeway while Arcatans watch.

[Photo] Paid extras still needed to hang out with Leonardo DiCaprio

Anthony Vasek, Managing Editor January 17, 2024

Leonardo Dicaprio running down the freeway while Arcatans watch.

Final decisions have been made: No 1/2 days

Final decisions have been made: No 1/2 days

Ilana Maclay, Feature Editor December 11, 2023
Tuesday, November 14th, the Arcata High bulletin announced something that made first-periods: the new finals schedule. 
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