An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
An upbeat website for a downtown school

the Southerner Online
Kate Durden

Kate Durden, Lifestyle Managing Editor

Kate Durden is a senior and this is her fourth year writing for the Southerner. She enjoys volunteering at an animal shelter, running the 21st Century Leaders communication, helping register students to vote with Midtown High Votes and hanging out with her friends.

All content by Kate Durden
CREATIVE CORAL: Wertheim sisters Margaret, a renowned science writer, and Christine, a poet, came together for their featured collection in the “Threads of Change” exhibit, “Crochet Coral Reef,” which will be there until May 25. Displaying recycled materials to create coral reefs, the sisters incorporate hyperbolic geometry, a technique that made the replication of coral twists and curves possible through crochet.

MODA’s ‘Threads of Change’ showcases environmental issues

Kate Durden
May 21, 2025
The lower Flint basin has the highest biodiversity of reptile and amphibian species in the country.

Finding the Flint fights river misuse, educates community

Kate Durden
April 10, 2025
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Senior Talia Pivoshenko (left), alongside her father Alex Pivoshenko (right) volunteer with the Russian group 'Russians for Ukraine' and help Ukrainian refugees at the Przemsyl Glowny Train Station in Poland. (Courtesy of Talia Pivoshenko)

Senior Pivoshenko gathers supplies, supports Ukrainian refugees

Naomi Duke and Kate Durden
April 3, 2025

[Video] Soap lab emphasizes STEAM collaboration

Kate Durden
March 27, 2025
Senior Sophia Li gathers her bags after finishing her 21st Century Leaders meeting.

Sophia Li, senior

Kate Durden
March 20, 2025
STUDENT SONGS: Midtown students participate in the Jan. 9 workshop with professional recording artist David Ryan Harris. These workshops offer feedback for students to help them build skills.

First songwriting workshops and competition drive creative collaboration

Kate Durden
February 14, 2025
Junior Gabriela Waldman designs pages for the Latin Club's first coloring book, enjoying the opportunity to combine her interests for Latin stories and art. She encourages others to create their own submissions until Jan. 1 when the club begins to piece the book together.

Latin Club creates unique opportunities for artists

Kate Durden
December 20, 2024
After school junior Noah Williams sits outside the library.

Noah Williams, junior

Kate Durden
November 18, 2024
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FIRE IN ACTION: This painting from the

CULTURE IN BLOOM: At the Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys exhibit at the High Museum of Art, Senior Thalia Smith observes American painter Kehinde Wiley’s “Femme piquée par un serpent,” which portrays an African-American man posing as if he is the subject of a Renaissance painting.

SHOW OF GIANTS: Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz is a 2024 exhibition and book that celebrates the art collection of Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz.

[Photo] Swizz Beat and Alicia Keys showcase impact of contemporary in new exhibit, celebrate Black artists

October 30, 2024
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Atlanta City Councilman District 6 Alex Wan, and others gave speeches on Oct. 6 to the Virginia-Highland community gathering to celebrate Fire Station 19’s 100th anniversary, making it the longest operating station in Atlanta.

Fire Station 19 celebrates 100 years of service

Kate Durden
October 25, 2024
The mineral coltan can be found in a variety of electronics. To combat the amount of habitat loss caused by the mining of coltan in gorilla habitats, Zoo Atlanta’s electronic recycling initiative opened a resource for the community to donate their used electronics.

Zoo Atlanta recycling electronics event sparks community conservation

Kate Durden
September 30, 2024
Freshman Cali Smith helps to decorate her class hallway on e200 for homecoming spirit week.

Cali Smith, freshman

Kate Durden
September 23, 2024
Impact Teen Drivers Club Adviser Mary Van Atta and Vice President Wavey Hodge advertise Impact Teen Drivers on the Beltline. They spread Impact Teen Driver's message through having people sign a safe driving pledge.

[Photo] Impact Teen Drivers event promotes safe driving

Dylan Seinberg
September 20, 2024
Located in Inman Park, Julianna’s Creperia has been in business since 2013, having a wide variety of Hungarian style menu items, including crepes and rich brewed hot coffee.

[Photo] Inman Park cafe Julianna’s continues legacy

Julia Diener
September 17, 2024
Robert Bass is helping improve financial literacy with students such as Gigi Highlander through assisting as the co-teacher in the 2B Advanced Financial Algebra class. One of the goals for the added course is that all students leave with a working budget they can refer to when making financial decisions.

New course expands financial literacy

Kate Durden
August 23, 2024
Junior Fatem Grady smiles while preparing to leave after school.

Fatem Grady, junior

Kate Durden
August 6, 2024
With a degree in musical therapy, Dawn Clement has focused on writing children's songs. Clement (left) has tried to surround her daughter Caroline Bell (right) with music throughout her life.

Clement reflects on songwriting for local schools

Kate Durden
May 22, 2024
After 24 years of educating and fostering fellowship in students, the Atlanta Girls School (AGS) plans to close at the end of the semester.

Atlanta Girls’ School closes doors after 24 years

Kate Durden
May 6, 2024
Freshman Jakia Griffin sits outside the library after school.

Jakia Griffin, freshman

Kate Durden
April 13, 2024
Junior Addy Bricker has been cultivating her own designs while selling a wide range of accessory products through her business, Addy Art.

Junior Bricker pursues passion while starting business

Kate Durden
April 11, 2024
END OF AN ERA: The original location of Highland Bakery in Old Fourth Ward has served as an anchor in the community. After 20 years, owner and CEO Stacey Eames was forced to close the doors due to the transfer of the building to new landlords.

Original Highland Bakery closes doors after 20 years

Kate Durden
March 26, 2024
Junior Melina Welch runs in one of her fitness groups' more recent runs, the Hot Chocolate Run. Welch describes the community she’s found through running as the most rewarding part of a 5k race.

Reaching new distances: junior Welch builds community through running passion

Kate Durden
March 18, 2024
Painted Pickle restaurant is set to open this month in Armour Yards, Midtown. Following the end of construction, its sister restaurant, Painted Park, will open its doors in April along the east side of the BeltLine in Inman Park.

Painted Hospitality restaurants open new doors

Kate Durden
February 16, 2024
Freshman Demario Hunnicutt sits in the library after school.

Demario Hunnicutt, freshman

Kate Durden
February 28, 2024
Atlanta Botanical Garden has taken its first official steps toward its largest expansion since its founding in 1976. The expansion will include an additional 8 acres along the BeltLine to increase pedestrian connectivity.

Botanical Garden expansion increases pedestrian connectivity

Kate Durden
November 27, 2023
Sophomore Jordan Gomez sits outside the library afterschool.

Jordan Gomez, sophomore

Kate Durden
November 15, 2023
After an absent year due to COVID-19, and two years of renovations causing the event to be hosted at Virginia Highland Elementary school, the annual Monster Bash returns to its original location at Morningside Elementary school.

Annual Monster Bash haunts Morningside again after renovation

Kate Durden
October 27, 2023
Junior Shayne Anthony-Walters sits as his Spanish 3 class begins.

Shayne Anthony-Walters, junior

Kate Durden
August 31, 2023
Along with her two daughters, Kendra Bauser is opening the second location of her dairy-free gelato and coffee shop, Three Peaches, at the intersection of Monroe Drive and 10th St. on Sept. 13.

New gelato shop opens in Midtown Promenade

Kate Durden
August 24, 2023

Perpetual project builds joy for craftsman and community

Kate Durden
April 28, 2023
Sophomore Troy Lee waits for the bell to mark the start of his geometry class.

Troy Lee, sophomore

Kate Durden
April 21, 2023
Virginia Highland restaurant, El Taco, closed on March 19 after serving as a family-friendly restaurant for the neighborhood since 2008.

Virginia Highland restaurant El Taco closes after 15 years

Kate Durden
March 30, 2023
In light of the recent urgency for adoptions, community members have rescued 554 animals over seven days.

Low adoption rates for animal shelters pilot urgency

Kate Durden
March 8, 2023
Seniors Salaam Awad and Hunter Graves are among 20 honorees for the Atlanta Intown newspaper section “20 Under 20” that selects students under the age of 20 for their dedication to assisting others.

Seniors Awad and Graves among 20 honored by Atlanta Intown newspaper

Kate Durden
February 8, 2023
As the new head coach of color guard, Tre Griggs plans on continuing to grow the program through Winter Guard, a new activity he has been promoting through holding audition clinics.

New color guard head coach Griggs is ‘taking this program to the moon’

Kate Durden
January 16, 2023
After years of sketching, the art club finishes their first printing of a coloring book, giving students the opportunity to display their artwork. President of the art club, senior Aisling Mahony, colors in one of her own designs she contributed to the coloring book.

Printing of Coloring Book presents opportunities for Art Club

Kate Durden
November 4, 2022
The Little 5 Points Halloween Parade returns to the community after a three-year hiatus. Rainy Day Retrieval Freak Show’s ginormous skeleton puppet spread across the road.

Little 5 Points return of Halloween Parade brings community together

Kate Durden
October 29, 2022
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