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The official student newspaper of Oak Park and River Forest High School

The Trapeze

The official student newspaper of Oak Park and River Forest High School

The Trapeze

The official student newspaper of Oak Park and River Forest High School

The Trapeze

D200 candidates Fred D. Arkin, Joshua Gertz, Nathan R. Mellman, Kathleen O'Dell, David Schaafsma and Audrey Williams-Lee
Safety, detracking top issues at D200 forum
Jonah Clark, Contributor • March 4, 2025

Keeping students safe in school and the “detracking” of the freshman curriculum dominated the discussion at a Feb. 25 forum for candidates...

U.S. flag on display in the Latin room at OPRF
OPRF affirms values after Trump orders
Alex Robinson Bellin, News Editor • March 4, 2025

Oak Park school and civic leaders sought to assure the community that they will stand up for diversity and inclusion in the wake of a flurry...

Several OPRF students alongside students from Noshiro at the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex
OPRF hosts Japanese exchange students
Imani Sanders, Staffer • March 4, 2025

Oak Park and River Forest High School is home to 3,226 American students, according to the Illinois Report Card. In February, the school population...

Back row (left, right): Phoebe Shorney, Julia Mattiace, Elyssa Hasapis, Genevieve Simkowski, Liam O’Connor 										Middle row: Abby Cockerill, Julia Chang, Gloria Hronek, Bryce Richards, Brady Green, Timmy Leark Front row: Luke Fougere, Peter Farren, Gaby Towns, Scarlett Simkowski, Ava Gallagher, Rosie Ondrla
OPRF athletes commit to the next level
Ryan Scott, New Media Editor • March 4, 2025

Oak Park and River Forest High School held its final signing day ceremony of the year on Feb. 5, honoring 17 standout athletes as they officially...

The University of Connecticut Huskies celebrating their national championship victory last season.
March mayhem: madness unfolds
Duke Walsh, Senior Sports Staffer • March 4, 2025

Ask any sports fan, “What are you most excited about in March?” and you could get a variety of answers. Some will say the Masters, others...

Brauc clearing the bar in her high jump event during State last season.
Athlete in focus: Bella Brauc
Sadie Collins, Editor-in-Chief • March 4, 2025

After a successful season last year, senior Bella Brauc is hoping to finish even stronger in her last high school track season before becoming...

Robotics members working on their robot.
VEX Robotics off to state
Sophia Lynn, Opinion Editor • March 4, 2025

A swinging door on the northern end of the first floor conceals a long, narrow hallway. Walking down it, you’ll likely hear the bustling of...

Joshua Tepfer
Q&A with Joshua Tepfer of the Exoneration Project
Clara Lau, Staffer • March 4, 2025

Joshua Tepfer, a community member and Oak Park and River Forest High School parent, is an attorney who founded the Exoneration Project, a non-profit...

Seniors Sonia Lavery, Josie Badrinath and Natalia Joseph on stage at the Winter Formal
OPRF revamps Winter Formal
Grace Williams, Features Editor • March 4, 2025

The relaunched Oak Park and River Forest High School Winter Formal was held on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in the south cafeteria, organized...

A&E
301 N. Tayor Ave.
A Classical Revival gem on North Taylor
Julius Dorsey, Contributor • March 4, 2025

Some architects focus solely on the function of the structure, and in doing so create an expression of necessity.   Others might perceive...

A 2022 oil on linen painting by Luke Fougere
Artist in focus: Luke Fougere
Kate Webber, Contributor • March 4, 2025

From creating art to playing defense on the lacrosse team to managing a demanding academic workload, senior Luke Fougere does it all.  Fougere...

Left to right: Naomi Gutierrez, Teddy Nielsen, Theo Harris, Malynn Widd and Kai Boveri  rehearse.
A “nightmare” onstage
Maddy Hart, Contributor • March 4, 2025

What is an actor’s nightmare? Depends on which actor you ask. To some, it’s forgetting lines. To others, it’s stage fright in front of...

FORECAST
NEW MEDIA
Welcome to the Trapcast, a monthly podcast produced by the staff of Trapeze, the official student newspaper of Oak Park and River Forest High School.
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Vigo Coffee Interior, 1100 Lake St.
Chai, buy or bye: Vigo Coffee
Alex Robinson Bellin, News Editor • March 5, 2025

The corner of Lake and Marion streets is no doubt one of the most bustling intersections in Oak Park. With the Lake Theater down the block and...

Trump in a New York court
Americans elect presidents, not kings
Grace Zoloto, Staffer • March 5, 2025

“With fear for our democracy, I dissent.” This is the final sentence in Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissenting opinion on the recent Supreme...

President Donald Trump
Trump’s health cuts damage America
Conor Powers March 5, 2025

The National Institute of Health, or NIH, is the largest public biomedical funding agency in the world. It supports universities and research...

Current OPRF seniors who might be eligible to vote on April 1
Student voices matter: vote on April 1
Elianna Casselle, Editor in Chief • February 3, 2025

If you are a senior, you’re just at the cusp of freedom, with fewer than five months until graduation. This monumental moment will mark the...