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
All content by Yei Bin Andrews
The Southerner interviewed eight notable members of the Class of 2022 to celebrate and commemorate the first graduating class of Midtown High School.

First class of Midtown High School graduates

Yei Bin Andrews, Stella Mackler, Anna Rachwalski, Ava Smith, and Kelly Tran
May 23, 2022
AT ATTENTION: Perla Rodrigues, pictured in her JROTC uniform, plans to enlist in the U.S. Marines.

Perla Rodrigues, Enlisting in Marines

Yei Bin Andrews
May 23, 2022
MUSICIAN: Jonathan Fuller smiles after performing in the Georgia All-State 11th-12th Full Orchestra.

Jonathan Fuller, Music School

Yei Bin Andrews
May 23, 2022
The Posse Scholarship was founded in 1989, and the Atlanta branch of the Posse Foundation was started in 2007. The current schools partnering with Posse Atlanta are Boston University, The College of Wooster, The George Washington University, Brandeis University and Bard College.

‘Posse’ Scholarship impacts students, forges opportunities

Yei Bin Andrews
March 18, 2022
Freshman Kate Berg plays for both Midtown and her club's soccer team.

Kate Berg, freshman

Yei Bin Andrews
January 28, 2022
The NextDoor app allows for discussion on neighborhood happenings. Lucy Fred, a Morningside-Lenox Park resident, values the app’s ability to broadcast suspicious behavior to neighbors. “The other day, I got a notification warning me of ‘suspicious activity’ on my Ring doorbell camera, and I was terrified,” Fred said. “There was a tiny girl standing on my porch carrying a clipboard and wearing strange, possibly gang-related patches. I posted on NextDoor just so everyone was aware — please be mindful of the criminal activity infecting our neighborhood.”

NextDoor app creates neighborhood connections

Yei Bin Andrews
January 27, 2022
Senior Benne Ackerman developed a pedestrian walking path in Lennox-Wildwood Park, at the heart of the Morningside neighborhood

Eagle Scout Ackerman paves way in community

Yei Bin Andrews
January 19, 2022
Senior Lili Carlomagno is a dual enrollment student at Georgia State University, and she plays for Midtown's varsity lacrosse team.

[Photo] Lili Carlomagno, senior

November 10, 2021
Comedian Dave Chappelle's "The Closer" (2021) standup show has sparked criticism, citing transphobic comments made by Chappelle.

Comedy isn’t an excuse for offensive humor

Yei Bin Andrews
November 29, 2021
APS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring presents words provided by audience members, describing the audiences' general feelings towards the future of APS. Some of the most popular words from the audience include "innovation," "equity" and "greatness."

[Photo] APS hosts APS NEXT event, discusses state of the district

Ava Smith
November 26, 2021
City Council District 6 candidate Katie Voelpel (left) and volunteer Melissa Shaughnessy (right) campaign together in Virginia Highland.

Candidates campaign for City Council District 6 seat

Yei Bin Andrews
October 29, 2021
Seniors Brody Weiss (left) and Georgia Rice paint a Pride flag for the Gender-Sexuality Alliance Pride event. The event will take place on Oct. 29, from 5:30-8 p.m.

Gender-Sexuality Alliance provides inclusive environment for Midtown community

Yei Bin Andrews
October 16, 2021
The district is hosting a pep rally event to encourage juniors and seniors from 12 different high schools to register to vote. This event has raised concerns regarding Covid implications.

District-wide ‘Rock the Vote’ field trip raises Covid concerns

Lindsay Ruhl, Ava Smith, Yei Bin Andrews, and Stella Mackler
September 27, 2021
Weiss is seen posing in the courtyard before school. He enjoys having music as an outlet to relax.

Brody Weiss, senior

Yei Bin Andrews
September 8, 2021
Renderings of the police academy released by the Atlanta Police Foundation show the 150 acre proposed establishment. Additional facilities include the Atlanta Police Leadership Institute, the Atlanta Fire/Rescue Academy and 30 acres for urban farming.

Atlanta City Council scheduled to vote on controversial police, fire training facility development

Lucia Gravel, Kelly Tran, Ava Smith, and Yei Bin Andrews
September 7, 2021
The new addition of the "A Wing" has given Midtown an opportunity to expand its campus for a new school year.

Midtown reopens with room for growth

Yei Bin Andrews, Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Sayan Sonnad-Joshi, Lucia Gravel, Shay Bowman, and Kelly Tran
September 1, 2021
Seniors Lillian Wilson (left) and Meg McGahan (right) are seen masked along with their peers in AP Art.

A new year for mental and physical health

Yei Bin Andrews, Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Sayan Sonnad-Joshi, Lucia Gravel, Shay Bowman, and Kelly Tran
September 1, 2021
Midtown's visual redesign was undertaken by Art teacher John Brandhorst, with the help of Midtown parents and professionals.

A new name and direction

Yei Bin Andrews, Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Sayan Sonnad-Joshi, Lucia Gravel, Shay Bowman, and Kelly Tran
September 1, 2021
Midtown's new building sits at the corner of Charles Allen Drive and 10th Street. In addition to the building, a new parking lot has been added for students and staff to utilize.

The new building

Yei Bin Andrews, Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Sayan Sonnad-Joshi, Lucia Gravel, Shay Bowman, and Kelly Tran
September 1, 2021
An array of junior girls expressed their emotions regarding the "March Madness" style bracket made over Spring Break by a small group of junior boys.

Students react to ‘bracket incident’

Yei Bin Andrews
April 20, 2021

Finding the American Dream: The path to citizenship presents challenges

Kelly Tran, Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Sayan Sonnad-Joshi, Stella Mackler, and Yei Bin Andrews
April 1, 2021
The John Lewis statue will be mounted in front of the DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur, Ga.

John Lewis statue honors social change and history

Yei Bin Andrews
March 12, 2021
Drive up Covid testing is available in front of the Tara Theatre, located on Cheshire Bridge Road.

Coronavirus runs rampant, vaccine sparks hope

Yei Bin Andrews
January 9, 2021
Juniors Becca Bates (left), Ethan Johnson (center) and Ryan Hamilton (right) were involved in Grady's 21st Century Leaders winter food drive. 1,667 food items were donated by 71 different Grady community members. All donations went to Intown Collaborative Food Ministries.

Intown Collaborative Ministries works to bridge homelessness and hunger

Yei Bin Andrews
January 12, 2021
Like in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's, this summer protesters took to the streets to protest police brutality and racial injustices. However this time they marched under the flag of Black Lives Matter, instead of at the helms of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior (center). (Original image courtesy of public domain).

Lighting the torch: The future of civil rights

Kelly Tran, Yei Bin Andrews, Ava Smith, and Aran Sonnad-Joshi
December 11, 2020
Junior Madeline Moye is seen playing character Deb Thomsen in Grady Drama's, "The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later." The play, directed by English teacher Lisa Willoughby, premiered as Grady Drama's 2019 fall full-length play.

Madeline Moye, junior

Yei Bin Andrews
December 4, 2020
Seniors Griffin Richie (top left) and George Lefkowicz (bottom center) heard about the China Chengdu-U.S. Sister Cities Youth Debate Challenge from Grady Jesters debate coach Mario Herrera (top right). Richie and Lefkowicz represented one out of 14 teams from the United States. The pair made it to the quarterfinals and placed fifth.

Grady Jesters go global amid pandemic

Yei Bin Andrews
November 30, 2020
Grady Principal Dr. Betsy Bockman speaks to volunteers at a food distribution for Grady Cares.

Grady Cares: A year in the making

Yei Bin Andrews
November 20, 2020
Jim Landers, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at The University of Alabama, talked to students last fall at the College Career Center (CCC). Because of online school, the CCC is holding virtual college visits, so students are still able to learn more about different schools.

Grady offers college preparation despite COVID-19 pandemic

Yei Bin Andrews
November 6, 2020
Grady students are working with different organizations and campaigns to help encourage voter turnout.

Grady gets out the vote

Yei Bin Andrews
October 21, 2020
Owen Lear, junior

Owen Lear, junior

Yei Bin Andrews
October 9, 2020
This years AP Government classes provide students with unique connections to current events- a global pandemic and a presidential election.

AP Government connects classrooms to the real world

Yei Bin Andrews
October 3, 2020
The Orator staff meets in daily Zoom video calls in order to keep up with planning and creating content for the yearbook.

Yearbook reimagines itself despite obstacles

Yei Bin Andrews, Lifestyle Editor
September 15, 2020
Panelists discuss the potential name change with moderator journalist Donna Lowry, held on Friday, August 21.

Panel shows diverse views on Grady name change

Yei Bin Andrews, Lifestyle Editor
August 23, 2020
Chair of the Henry W. Grady Naming Committee Leslie Grant outlined the series of Facebook Live meetings that will take place. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 30.

Community, alumni deliberate school name change

Yei Bin Andrews
July 7, 2020
Protestors participate in "lie-ins" to symbolize George Floyd's last moments. Senior Trinity Lewis recognizes the connection between lobbying for House Bill 426 and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. "This bill is meant to serve also as a method of reporting and tracking hate crimes in Georgia," Lewis said. "That would even contribute to law enforcement training and how the police interact with people."

Grady students organize grassroots lobbying in support of hate crime law

Yei Bin Andrews, Lifestyle Editor
June 7, 2020
Avalon Catering's Pastry Chef, Sitara Ward, fills up boxes with mixed greens which are to be sent out to health care workers.

Local caterers serving the community during COVID-19

Yei Bin Andrews
April 26, 2020
Senior Henry Nguyen is seen at lunch with his friends. Sophomore Kelly Tran is the only Vietnamese friend he has at Grady.

Grady provides unique experience for Asian American students

Yei Bin Andrews, Lifestyle Editor
April 16, 2020
Sophomore Sophie Markovic and junior Keontae Gui prepare their speech on voter suppression. "Basically, people's votes were being counted, which is problematic," Markovic said.

Moot Court provides students with important life skills

Yei Bin Andrews, Lifestyle Editor
April 2, 2020
Senior Mia Prausnitz-Weinbaum was involved in activities such as rock climbing in addition to her classes at Outdoor Academy.

Outdoor Academy offers alternative schooling path

Yei Bin Andrews
February 10, 2020
Helping the hungry: Sophomore Will Charlop donates food for the Grady Food Bank Club's food drive. Dry goods and non-perishable items are accepted for the drive.

Food insecurity becomes more prominent during holiday season

Yei Bin Andrews
December 2, 2019
#Here to stay: This mural at the Latin American Association is a design by Yehimi Cambron, an Atlanta based artist and DACA advocate. Cambron uses her platform to promote immigrant rights.

Grady teacher helps immigrants obtain citizenship

Yei Bin Andrews
October 22, 2019
Junior Bianca Weber performs on stage at the first coffeehouse of the school year. Weber sang "Out Tonight" from the musical "Rent" in front of a captivated audience.

Arts program impacts students positively

Yei Bin Andrews
September 25, 2019
A collection of buttons for women politicians and women's rights are showcased at the Atlanta History Center. The styles and slogans of the buttons show how much progress women have made.

New addition to history center inspires young women

Yei Bin Andrews
August 27, 2019
A student watches the show "Friends" on a phone during lunch. The show's continuing popularity reflects the resurgence of many 90's trends.

[Photo] Back to the future: students adopt 90’s culture

Yei-Bin Andrews
January 16, 2019
The bright lights and high ceilings in The Beehive provide a relaxing ambiance for shoppers.

The Beehive gives local artists outlet for works

Yei Bin Andrews
November 15, 2018
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