The Student News Site of McLean High School

The Highlander
The Student News Site of McLean High School

The Highlander
The Student News Site of McLean High School

The Highlander
Sakura Mogami

Sakura Mogami, Features Editor & Head Cartoonist

Sakura Mogami is a senior at McLean in her second year of journalism. In her free time she enjoys watching movies, reading, visiting museums and antique shops, making accessories and listening to music.

All content by Sakura Mogami
Cards decorated with American flags and classic symbols associated with the United States scatter atop a table. In preparation for Veteran's Day, NAHS students gathered to create cards to honor Americans who have served the nation.

Artists for American veterans

Sakura Mogami, Features Editor
November 10, 2024
Junior Indi Melvin adjusts a camera while shooting a short film on set. Since she first dipped her feet into film production during the pandemic, Melvin has created seven short films.

Indi’s endeavor in Indie Filmmaking

Sakura Mogami, Features Editor
October 26, 2024
The McLean NAHS made accessories to be sold at the Celebrate McLean event held earlier this year. Looking forward, NAHS aims to foster a welcoming environment for young creatives this school year.

Art Department commences activities

Sakura Mogami, Features Editor
October 11, 2024
This fall, the NOVA area will harbor numerous film-related events. From breath-taking Ghibli Film animations, horror and Afro-futurist films, to outdoor classic RomComs: there is a wide range of genres to be enjoyed. (Images courtesy of D.C. Website, Lunise Gerin Instagram, GhibliUSA Instagram respectively)

Fall festivals for film fanatics

Sakura Mogami and Gabriela Herrera
October 5, 2024
The Asian Night Market also allocated space in Lotus Plaza for individuals to gather with loved ones, lay picnic blankets, enjoy food and listen to various Asian and Pacific Islander artists/songs/performances.

Diplomacy with the District of Columbia

Sakura Mogami and Mae Bilegee
September 22, 2024
British-Filipino rising alternative soft rock musician Beabadoobee does it again with her Aug. 16 2024 album "This is How Tomorrow Moves."

“This is How Tomorrow Moves” through heartbreak, introspection and nostalgia

Sakura Mogami, Gabriela Herrera and Minsong Ha
August 28, 2024
Released in April of 2024, the new Amazon Prime series Fallout–based on the video game of the same name–is proving to be widely successful among critics and audiences alike.

Fallout extraordinarily executes dystopian science fiction

Sakura Mogami, Features Editor
June 6, 2024
Individuals accusing others of cultural appropriation despite not being a part of the culture themselves can cause more harm than good. It is important for people to do their research and consult those who belong to the culture at hand before leaping to potentially damaging conclusions.

Ignorant accusations of “cultural appropriation” are detrimental

Sakura Mogami, Features Editor
June 6, 2024
Students threw their caps into the air following the symbolic turning of their tassels. Led by Senior class president Aiden Shaughnessy, the class of 2024 celebrated their graduation.

[Photo] McLean graduation ceremony celebrates class of 2024

Aaron Stark, Editor-in-Chief
June 6, 2024
An image capturing the George Washington campus U-yard encampment before being taken down on May 8. The immediate community has felt the impacts of student activism and the conflict itself in varying ways.

Palestinian student activism directly impacts communities in NOVA

Sakura Mogami and Gabriela Herrera
May 29, 2024
Released to theaters on Feb. 2, 2024, Argylle is an action-packed spy film featuring an all-star cast of Hollywood big names. Directed by Matthew Vaughn the movie received mixed reviews from viewers and critics alike.

Argylle: A film so absurd it’s amusing

Sakura Mogami, Reporter
April 17, 2024
Members of the TeensForFoodBanks club posed during their November event. The club is currently accepting applications for leadership roles.

McLean TeensForFoodBanks fight against Fairfax County food insecurity

Sakura Mogami, Reporter
April 10, 2024
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[Photo] Embryos to deservingly enjoy personhood status

Aileen Wu and Jessica Purevtugs
March 23, 2024
An array of student-art pieces adorn the walls of the McLean Community Center. In honor of Youth Art Month, the McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) organization hosted their annual Youth Art Show. The exhibition will continue until Mar. 30.

Art department prepares for spring events

Sakura Mogami, Reporter
March 21, 2024
The Northern Virginia (NOVA) Community College exhibition for 2024 Scholastic Art award silver and gold key winners.

McLean artists sweep Scholastic Art Awards

Sakura Mogami, Reporter
March 6, 2024
The teacher shortage is taking a toll on McLean High School, even two years after schools returned from the virtual format.

The Educator Exodus

Minsong Ha, Zakareya Hamed, Nimera Shanil, Allie Deutsch and Sakura Mogami
February 7, 2024
Sophomore Alan Wang's submission for the annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. This piece is intended to be submitted to the "Drawing and Illustration" category.

Student-Artists prepare submissions for Scholastic Awards

Sakura Mogami, Reporter
January 31, 2024
The Thai Me Up drink from the Pekoe tea bar.

Pekoe Tea Bar brings a twist to Boba

Aileen Wu and Sakura Mogami
January 25, 2024

[Video] Adjusting to American public schools

Sakura Mogami
January 24, 2024
NAHS members gather to paint the rock after school.

National Art Honors Society to participate in Holiday Bazaar

Sakura Mogami, Reporter
December 9, 2023
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species in the United States native to parts of China and Vietnam. It is often identified by its gray wings with red undertones.

Spotted lanternflies return to East Coast

Aileen Wu and Sakura Mogami
November 2, 2023
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