Skip to Main Content
The student news site of Bloomington High School South

The Optimist

The student news site of Bloomington High School South

The Optimist

The student news site of Bloomington High School South

The Optimist

A board displays gas prices amid the ongoing conflict with US-Israeli conflict with Iran,  in Washington D.C., U.S., March 15, 2026. REUTERS/Aaron Schwartz
News
$50 to Fill a Tank
Kaye Adams, Staff Writer • April 17, 2026
Gas prices are steadily growing nationwide, partly due to the war with Iran. Over the last month, the U.S. has
Continue Reading
Prom!
Have a fun prom night

How are you planning to mark Earth Day?

Loading...

Sorry, there was an error loading this poll.

News
Hoosier Youth Philharmonic goes on Chicago Trip
Finn Nicholson-Crotty, Writer • April 17, 2026

As it has done every year, the Hoosier Youth Philharmonic (a philharmonic made up of the Bloomington High School South and Bloomington High School North Orchestras) is going on a trip out of Bloomington.  These trips have many different purposes ranging from high profile competitions to practicing...

Continue Reading
Weather


  • 5 AM
    38 °
  • 6 AM
    37 °
  • 7 AM
    38 °
  • 8 AM
    41 °
  • 9 AM
    44 °
  • 10 AM
    50 °
  • 11 AM
    52 °
  • 12 PM
    54 °
  • 1 PM
    56 °
  • 2 PM
    58 °
  • 3 PM
    58 °
  • 4 PM
    58 °
  • 5 PM
    59 °
  • 6 PM
    58 °
  • 7 PM
    56 °
  • 8 PM
    52 °
  • 9 PM
    49 °
  • 10 PM
    47 °
  • 11 PM
    46 °
  • 12 AM
    45 °
  • 1 AM
    44 °
  • 2 AM
    42 °
  • 3 AM
    40 °
  • 4 AM
    39 °
  • 5 AM
    37 °
Sunday, April 19
60°/ 37°
Patchy rain nearby
Monday, April 20
58°/ 35°
Sunny
Tuesday, April 21
70°/ 44°
Partly Cloudy
Recent Stories
Feb 19, 2026; Milan, Italy; Kendall Coyne (26) of the United States and Hilary Knight (21) of the United States celebrate after winning the gold medal in women's ice hockey after defeating Canada during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Sports
Women’s vs. men’s hockey
Kaye Adams, Staff Writer • March 23, 2026
Both the men’s and women’s United States hockey teams brought home gold in February in very similar final games. However, the way they were treated after the games could not be more different. In a conversation with the men’s Olympic hockey team current U.S. President,
Continue Reading
Indiana Marching Hundred performing at the Peach Bowl.
All in for the Hoosiers
Ella Short, Staff writer • January 14, 2026
Future Picasso: Becca Baxter's art journey in 4K
Features
Future Picasso: Becca Baxter’s art journey in 4K
Clare Grumbling, Editor • April 16, 2026
Senior Becca Baxter started creating art when she was little and many of her favorite memories about art involve creating doodles and comics as a kid. 

She stepped back a bit from her artistic endeavors through middle and the
Continue Reading
Stricter school cell phone ban coming next school year
Opinion
Stricter school cell phone ban coming next school year
Ella Pizzo and Emma Kehr April 15, 2026

Last month  a new state law passed… no cellphones, tablets, smart watches, and headphones in schools beginning July 1, 2026. No, this is not a joke. April Fools Day has passed.  Senate Bill 78 (Bell to Bell Cell Phone Ban) states that all school corporations “must adopt a policy on the implementation...

Continue Reading
Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Jerry O'Connell, Wil Wheaton, Fred Savage, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore, Kevin Pollak, Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga onstage during a tribute for the late Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner during the In Memoriam segment at the Oscars show of the 98th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 15, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Let’s Keep Cinema Alive
Addie Racek, Staff Writer • April 3, 2026
Reduce your screen time
Reduce your screen time
Liam Brown, Video Editor • January 22, 2026
Future Picasso: Becca Baxter's art journey in 4K
Features
Future Picasso: Becca Baxter’s art journey in 4K
Clare Grumbling, Editor • April 16, 2026

Senior Becca Baxter started creating art when she was little and many of her favorite memories about art involve creating doodles and comics as a kid.  She stepped back a bit from her artistic endeavors through middle and the beginning of high school, but is currently participating in Advanced Placement...

Continue Reading
Donate to The Optimist
$160
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Activate Search
The student news site of Bloomington High School South