As early as 700 BCE, humans have been catching and training birds of prey for the purpose of hunting. The earliest records were discovered in…
Posts published in “Features”
The Debated Origin of the Potato Chip
By OLIVIA HAO on March 2026
Potato chips are a staple snack that can be found just about anywhere. They can be spotted in gas stations, school lunches, picnic baskets, and…
Student Burnout
By ASHLEY PARK on March 2026
When school ends, most students aren’t actually “done” with school—they’re just switching to a second shift of work that includes homework, sport practices, rehearsal, family…
A Pie Like π
By ASHLEY PARK on March 2026
March 14 is Pi Day because, when shortened to 3/14, the date is the first three digits of the number π. This is the perfect…
Unsolicited Advice: Five Tips for Enjoying High School
By ACE DUFRESNE on March 2026
In no particular order, here are five tips I wish I had been given (or taken seriously) years ago.
The Rich and Colorful Traditions and Superstitions of Chinese New Year
By OLIVIA HAO on February 2026
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, has been celebrated for thousands of years and marks the beginning of the lunar calendar. Typically, Chinese…
The School Board Can’t Listen If Students Don’t Speak: An Analysis of What Happens at BoE Public Comment Sessions
By OREN MILDER on February 2026
This past year, there have been many calls for the ICSD Board of Education (BoE) to listen to student voices and to value student input.…
The Story of Real Life Cupid
By YUTHIKA TARAK AZMEERA on February 2026
The origin of Valentine’s Day takes us to third-century Rome. During this time period, Rome was going through religious turmoil, with many Romans converting to…
A Year in Bingo Squares
By ZADIE WANG on February 2026
On New Year’s Eve 2024, my family and I swapped out the traditional New Year’s resolutions for a new approach to self-improvement: a five-by-five bingo…
Hall Monitor
By BEATRICE OWENS, LINNEA NIEMACK on February 2026
“If you could add any word to the dictionary, what would it be and what would it mean?” “Emonstipated: emotionally constipated. You just need to…
From the Archives: Excerpts from the Tattler Issues of Yesteryear
By COCO HAMILTON on February 2026
Nestled away at the very back of E-wing rests a dozen old, rusted filing cabinets. Within these cabinets are bundles upon bundles of bygone editions…
Finding Your Event: Science Olympiad Offers Students A Chance to Apply Their Interests
By CORNELIA YE on February 2026
Every Monday after school, a group of students crowds into H104, gathering around a whiteboard as their officers deliver rousing remarks in preparation for upcoming…
STEM Feature of the Month: Ig Nobel Prize
By LILY WANG on February 2026
Can you levitate a frog? Are cats solid or liquid? What type of pizza do lizards prefer? These are real questions that guided award-winning research.…
The Great Guide to Gift Giving
By TAKUO KAWATE on December 2025
As the final leaves fall to the ground, the first snowflakes fall, and the cold wind hits your face. You know winter is here. One…
The Impact and History of FeederWatch
By SUSANNE GUIMBRETIERE on December 2025
Bird feeders are a staple of suburban America, whether they are window-mounted or hopper feeders, filled with sunflower seeds, peanuts, or thistle. Hundreds can be…
Candy Canes: Sugar Made to Shush
By MIA CHO on December 2025
My parents have always teased me on how quickly I could go from having a full-blown tantrum to being completely silent. The trick? A sweet…
STEM Feature of the Month: Hot Chocolate
By LILY WANG on December 2025
I love hot chocolate. It’s the perfect winter drink, with endless possibilities of festive flavor. Due to its lack of caffeine, it has honestly become…
Hot Buns Served Up by Two Hot Buns
By FRIDA JEFFERIS on December 2025
If you take a stroll past the normal hibernational storefront of well-loved Ithaca staple Sweet Melissa’s, you might catch the scent of cinnamon in the…
The “Walking-to-Waterfall Ratio”: My Scale for Ithaca’s Gorge Trails
By CORNELIA YE on November 2025
Whenever a friend visits Ithaca, there’s always one thing I have to show them: a gorge. It’s the most quintessential Ithaca experience. Over time, I’ve…
My Favorite Fall Activities
By LILY WANG on November 2025
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in Ithaca. The leaves change into varying shades of orange and red, and the weather finally comes…
STEM Feature of the Month: Gel Nail Polish
By LILY WANG on November 2025
I, like many other teenagers, love to get my nails done, whether it’s a simple color or a fun design. I’ve always known that gel…
Staff Picks: What is the Tattler Editorial Board’s Dream Superpower?
By OLIVIA HAO on October 2025
Zadie Wang ’26, Editor-in-ChiefSelective mind-reading. I’d want to know what any person thinks at any time, but not what every person thinks all the time.…
New School Year, New Start
By TAKUO KAWATE on October 2025
A new school year could mean different things for everyone. It could mean more stress, anxiety, new opportunities, and so much more. I would say…
The Tattler Class of 2025: What Our Recent Grads Are Up To
By ZADIE WANG on October 2025
As I settle into this school year with the Tattler Editorial Board, I can’t help but miss the cheerful faces that graced room A106 not…
Hall Monitor
By ASHLEY PARK on October 2025
“Phone Ban: Yay or Nay?” (Left to right) “Nay. I see the reasoning and ideology behind it. However, since it’s a statewide policy, I can also…
What Inclusion Looks Like at Ithaca High School and How We Can Keep Improving
By CAMPBELL WRIGHT on October 2025
On an autumn afternoon at IHS, you might see a Unified Soccer practice on Deebs Field—all types of students passing, dribbling, and celebrating together as…
From the Archives: Excerpts from the Tattler Issues of Yesteryear
By COCO HAMILTON on October 2025
Nestled away at the very back of E-Wing are a dozen old, rusted filing cabinets. Within these cabinets are bundles upon bundles of bygone editions…