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The student news site of Iowa City High School

The Little Hawk
Kamel Elgiseer has expanded his hobby of cooking to large church groups and events where he brings Middle Eastern flavors to his recipes.
Kamel Elgiseer Looks to Expand Palates with Middle Eastern Cooking
March 12, 2025
The Kitty Corner Social Club opened in downtown Iowa City in late February. It's open every day except Monday from ten AM to nine PM.
Local Business Spotlight: Kitty Corner Social Club
March 10, 2025
Interested in learning more about City High's Student Senate? Meeting recaps are published weekly.
Student Senate Recap: Spring Carnival and Volleybuff Planning Continues
March 6, 2025
Students Maya Shannon '26, Rowyn Mass '26, and Adelaide Newton '26 sell baked goods for a NAMI Bake Sale.
City High Twins Launch NAMI on Campus Club to Support Mental Health Awareness
March 6, 2025
Mr. Kowbel conducts band in Mid-Winter concert
Band Department Holds Mid-Winter Concert
March 4, 2025
Mr. Kowbel conducts band in Mid-Winter concert
Band Department Holds Mid-Winter Concert
March 4, 2025
Photo courtesy of Tommy Haines
PERFORMER PROFILE: Brody Clarke
March 3, 2025
Orchestra Director, Megan Stucky-Swanson addresses the audience before the Philharmonic Orchestra performs their final piece.
City Orchestras Hold Annual Mid-Winter Concert
February 3, 2025
Since she was five years old, Abigail Sigafoose '26 has played violin. This year, she was chosen for the High School Honors Performance Series, which will take place at Carnegie Hall in New York City from February 6-10.
PERFORMER PROFILE: Abigail Sigafoose
January 31, 2025
Emma Plumb ‘26 and Cameron Echols ‘26 unveil “The Book of Memories” at the beginning of the show
Dancing into Show Choir Season
January 17, 2025
Lucas Riley '25 taking a free kick in the teams game last year against Linn-Mar. The team went on to win.
Jack Dancer and Company Lead City Soccer into the 2025 Season
March 26, 2025
Jaxton Schroeder and Parker Sutherland competing in games this season against West and Prairie. The team finished 10-14 on the season.
CITY CONNECTIONS: Jaxton Schroeder and Parker Sutherland
March 10, 2025
Kendall Kurtz wrestles Ankeny Centennial's 120lb Cale Vandermark in the semi final round at the IHSAA Boy's State Wrestling Tournament
PLAYMAKER PROFILE: Kendall Kurtz Achieves Podium Goals and Ends City Career with over 100 Wins
March 4, 2025
The Little Hawk sports podcasting team.
LH SPORTS PODCAST: Winter Sports Wrap Up with Special Guest Kendall Kurtz
February 28, 2025
Davion Luckett '26 makes a bounce pass in the first City High vs. West High basketball game of this season.
PLAYMAKER PROFILE: Davion Luckett
February 28, 2025
The Bad History of Project 2025 and Why It Matters
The Bad History of Project 2025 and Why It Matters
March 25, 2025
LH History Podcast with Alex Norman and Mr. Hellwig being recorded in 3108.
LH HISTORY PODCAST: 1776 with Special Guest Mr. Hellwig
March 12, 2025
Jon Jones Needs To Fight Tom Aspinall
Jon Jones Needs To Fight Tom Aspinall
March 11, 2025
Why I Would Never Watch Xo, Kitty
Why I Would Never Watch Xo, Kitty
March 4, 2025
Free Money
Free Money
March 4, 2025
Why I Would Never Watch Xo, Kitty
Why I Would Never Watch Xo, Kitty
March 4, 2025
LH Book Review: Intermezzo
LH Book Review: Intermezzo
March 4, 2025
LH Review: Squid Game Season 2
LH Review: Squid Game Season 2
February 11, 2025
Best New Artist: Who Will Win?
Best New Artist: Who Will Win?
January 30, 2025
Graphic created with Creative Commons images.
‘Return to Oz’ and the Plunders of Disliking ‘Wicked’
January 30, 2025
The Kitty Corner Social Club opened in downtown Iowa City in late February. It's open every day except Monday from ten AM to nine PM.
Local Business Spotlight: Kitty Corner Social Club
March 10, 2025
De Souza has participated in cross country and basketball and is planning to do tennis and golf.
Exchange Student Profile: Nicole Fernandes de Souza
March 3, 2025
Photo courtesy of Tommy Haines
PERFORMER PROFILE: Brody Clarke
March 3, 2025
Every year, the Iowa Department of Education Performance Profiles rate schools based on how well they meet a set of standards. But in 2024, the standards changed. City High was “Commendable” in 2023, but went down two levels to “Needs Improvement” in November of 2024. Nevertheless, it is still ranked within the top 10 in the state, according to the U.S. News and World Report.
Targeted: New Evaluation System Drops All ICCSD High Schools’ Ratings
February 28, 2025
Kate Meis '25 reads Romeo and Juliet in the library.
To Read or Not to Read?
February 28, 2025
LH History Podcast with Alex Norman and Mr. Hellwig being recorded in 3108.
LH HISTORY PODCAST: 1776 with Special Guest Mr. Hellwig
March 12, 2025
The Kitty Corner Social Club opened in downtown Iowa City in late February. It's open every day except Monday from ten AM to nine PM.
Local Business Spotlight: Kitty Corner Social Club
March 10, 2025
Kendall Kurtz wrestles Ankeny Centennial's 120lb Cale Vandermark in the semi final round at the IHSAA Boy's State Wrestling Tournament
PLAYMAKER PROFILE: Kendall Kurtz Achieves Podium Goals and Ends City Career with over 100 Wins
March 4, 2025
Climbing the AP Capstone
Climbing the AP Capstone
March 1, 2025
The Little Hawk sports podcasting team.
LH SPORTS PODCAST: Winter Sports Wrap Up with Special Guest Kendall Kurtz
February 28, 2025
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The student news site of Iowa City High School

The Little Hawk
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MARCOS GRILLED CHEESE
The student news site of Iowa City High School

The Little Hawk
Tai Caputo

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor

Tai has attended public schools in three different countries. She enjoys eating spicy foods.

All content by Tai Caputo
Every year, the Iowa Department of Education Performance Profiles rate schools based on how well they meet a set of standards. But in 2024, the standards changed. City High was “Commendable” in 2023, but went down two levels to “Needs Improvement” in November of 2024. Nevertheless, it is still ranked within the top 10 in the state, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

Targeted: New Evaluation System Drops All ICCSD High Schools’ Ratings

Tai Caputo and Lily Rantanen
February 28, 2025
Photo courtesy of Gideon Levine

[Video] PERFORMER PROFILE: Gideon Levine ’26

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
January 15, 2025
Photo courtesy of Reyna Roach

Q&A With Reyna Roach

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
January 6, 2025
Never Again

Never Again

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
December 16, 2024
Caelyn Blair '28 chats with a friend

City High Students and Staff React to 2024 Election Results

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
November 7, 2024
In 2020, the race in Iowa was very close. This year, young people will make a difference.

Vote Because the Rest of Us Cannot

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
October 16, 2024
Dr. Anny-Dominique Curtius presents important concepts from "Je suis une maudite sauvagesse / Eukuan nin matshimanitu innushkueu" ("I Am a Damn Savage"), a bilingual French-Inuit book, for her seminar class Quebec Literature. Dr. Curtius is a Professor of Francophone Studies and the Director of Graduate Studies for French and Francophone World Studies at the University of Iowa. She has a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Montreal.

Q&A With Dr. Anny-Dominique Curtius

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
October 10, 2024
Kaden Huntley '25 prepares to attend "Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe" from his regular front-row seat in Van Allen Hall, a lecture hall at the University of Iowa. Huntley's passion for outer space has allowed him to excel in the course, which he takes through the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Program. Huntley believes that this experience will prepare him for next year and the continuation of his college studies.

Attending College, While Still in High School

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
October 10, 2024
NSPA newspaper page design finalist by Rosangel Flores-Rubio and Tai Caputo.

[Photo] The Little Hawk Newspaper Named Pacemaker Finalist and Three Journalists Receive Story of the Year Awards

Lily Rantanen, Opinion Co-Editor
September 27, 2024
Advisory used to consist of 20 minutes every afternoon when all students could choose to get extra help from teachers, retake tests, do homework, or participate in clubs. Now, each teacher sets aside 20 minutes per week for an Advisory specific to the class. The hope for the new system is to make it easier for students to get help because the support is more teacher-initiated.

City Ends Official Advisory Time

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
September 11, 2024
Carmen Maria Machado is the award-winning author of three books, including the bestselling memoir In the Dream House, the graphic novel The Low, Low Woods, and the collection Her Body and Other Parties, which was named by The New York Times as one of fifteen titles in “The New Vanguard,” a list of “remarkable books by women that are shaping the way we read and write fiction in the 21st Century.” Machado lives in Philadelphia and in Iowa City, where she spoke to The Little Hawk. Photo courtesy of Carmen Maria Machado

Q&A With Carmen Maria Machado

Tai Caputo, Executive Editor and Feature Co-Editor
September 9, 2024
STAFF EDITORIAL: Restricting I.V.F. Harms Families

STAFF EDITORIAL: Restricting I.V.F. Harms Families

Tai Caputo and Isabella Young
May 13, 2024
In 6th grade, Sebastian Sauder '24 was the first member of his family to acquire a smartphone. Now, as a senior, his phone has been fully integrated into his life in ways that are sometimes disruptive. Sauder struggles to get adequate sleep and says that, "I’m kind of addicted to my phone, but I’m self-aware about it."

A Look Into Sleep Deprivation

Tai Caputo, Feature and Opinion Co-Editor
May 13, 2024
Brad Kelly became the ICCSD Restorative Justice Coordinator in 2021. Kelly describes his job as requiring him to be “a person who is charged with creating spaces for community when community doesn’t want to be in community." He believes it is essential to create a strong and respectful community in order to prevent many issues from arising.

“Look Past the Hurt”

Tai Caputo, Feature and Opinion Co-Editor
May 10, 2024
James Patterson holds the Guinness Book of World Record for the most New York Times bestselling titles, with over 260. Photo courtesy of James Patterson

Q&A With World’s Bestselling Author James Patterson

Tai Caputo, Feature and Opinion Co-Editor
March 8, 2024

[Video] PERFORMER PROFILE: Tai Caputo

Martha Willard, Reporter
February 27, 2024
STAFF EDITORIAL: What More Will It Take?

STAFF EDITORIAL: What More Will It Take?

Tai Caputo and Isabella Young
February 14, 2024
Esther Puderbaugh '25 was one of only nine classical sopranos from the United States selected to receive the National YoungArts Award

PERFORMER PROFILE: Esther Puderbaugh

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
February 5, 2024
Librarian Jenahlee Chamberlain returns books to City High shelves after injunction on book bans. Chamberlain expressed hope that Senate File 496 will remain permanently blocked in future court cases, saying, “I think I can speak for all the librarians in this district, and probably most of them in Iowa, that none of us agree with [Senate File 496]."

Students and Teachers React to Injunction Against Book Ban Law

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
January 26, 2024
STAFF EDITORIAL: Book Bans Infringe Upon Students' Rights

STAFF EDITORIAL: Book Bans Infringe Upon Students’ Rights

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
December 15, 2023
Brad Kelly is leading a five-year plan to incorporate restorative practices into every school, reworking how students are disciplined, and how they connect. Kelly has worked with several corporations and nonprofits with the singular goal of addressing people’s differences and rebuilding the community within whatever group he was serving at the time.

Students Navigate College Admissions After Affirmative Action’s End

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
December 11, 2023
Pulitzer Prizewinning author Jane Smiley is on the list of banned authors in Iowa high schools. Photo courtesy of Smiley

Q&A With Pulitzer Prizewinning Banned Author Jane Smiley

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
December 6, 2023
Photo Courtesy of Amy Kurzweil

Q&A With New Yorker Cartoonist Amy Kurzweil

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
November 27, 2023
Art by Amy Kurzweil

LH Book Review: Artificial

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
November 20, 2023
Photo courtesy of Megan Stucky-Swanson

Q&A With Megan Stucky-Swanson

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
October 26, 2023
Sahleh Al-Herz '25 describes a complex concept to students in Math Club, which meets on Thursday mornings in Room 1212 and draws math enthusiasts from all grade levels. The club was originally founded in 1997 and is currently sponsored by math teacher Stephanie McLaughlin.

Math Club Seeks Challenges Beyond School Math

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
September 27, 2023
Q&A With Principal Bacon

Q&A With Principal Bacon

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
September 21, 2023
Goals Should Be Impossible

Goals Should Be Impossible

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
September 7, 2023
Empty spaces haunt the bookshelves in my English classroom.

Haunted Bookshelf

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor and Website Copy Editor
June 6, 2023
Kaden Huntley '25 and other members of Astronomy Club work together to design their solar system scale model.

New Astronomy Club to Design Solar System Scale Model

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
May 26, 2023
Several Iowa bills have been passed in recent months banning books with explicit sexual content, racial themes, and LGBTQ+ characters.

STAFF EDITORIAL: Book Banning Is Bad for Education

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
May 19, 2023
Judith Dickson and Esther Oyunge ‘25. Dickson has led her students through more than a thousand years of world history over the past eight months.

AP Testing Season Underway

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
May 4, 2023
Mrs. Borger-Germann Goes Above and Beyond

Mrs. Borger-Germann Goes Above and Beyond

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
May 3, 2023
Zabner signing the oath of office. Photo courtesy of Adam Zabner.

Q&A with Adam Zabner

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
April 17, 2023
Symphony Orchestra was all smiles after the finale to the concert: a medley of tunes from Phantom of the Opera

City High Orchestra Performs 42nd Annual Dessert Concert

Tai Caputo, Opinion Co-Editor
April 4, 2023
Sauder performs at a concerto competition

City Cellist Wins Two Local Competitions

Tai Caputo, Reporter
February 7, 2023
City Alumni and state representative Adam Zabner poses with Matisse Arnone '23 and Lulu Roarick '24 after protesting the voucher bill.

Voucher Bill Passed with Protests and Criticism from City Students and Staff

Tai Caputo, Reporter
January 25, 2023
STAFF EDITORIAL: Why Elon Musk’s Twitter Won’t Work

STAFF EDITORIAL: Why Elon Musk’s Twitter Won’t Work

Isaac Bullwinkle and Tai Caputo
December 21, 2022
Orchestra members Abigail Sigafoose '26, Sebastian Sauder '24, Esther Puderbaugh '25, Marina Escandell-Tapias '24, Greta Stanier '23, Adam Zeithamel '23, Thomas Shey '24, Tai Caputo '25, Lucy Charis-Carlson '24, Kalea Seaton '24, Isaac Bullwinkle '23, Leo Burchett '24, Henry Smith '24, Matisse Arnone '23, Monique Schnoebelen '23, and Ms. Stucky-Swanson at All-State

Students Perform at All-State

Tai Caputo, Reporter
December 2, 2022
Jill Humston, a science teacher at City High, is adapting to the new grading policies by focusing on learning standards.

New ICCSD Grading System Pushes for Equity

Tai Caputo, Reporter
October 28, 2022
Zeithamel spent part of his summer at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp

City High Student Earned Prestigious Interlochen Orchestra Scholarship

Tai Caputo, Reporter
October 28, 2022
Liv Leman '25 poses next to the list of accepted bass clarinets

30 City High Students Accepted Into All-State Ensembles

Tai Caputo and Esther Puderbaugh
October 25, 2022
Sylvia Plank '25 and Lucas Ralston '24 attended the Coe College workshop

Orchestra Students Attend Coe College All-State Workshop

Tai Caputo, Reporter
September 29, 2022
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