Ten Lester fifth graders give up their lunchtime once a week and instead meet with colleagues and write and edit stories. These enterprising students have created a mini newsroom and newspaper for their school.
Four students initiated the idea with Principal Katie Novosel. “They brought an entire presentation to me with a drawn-up version of a newspaper and I couldn’t say no to that,” she said. She opened up the opportunity to other fifth graders and six more volunteered.
The first issue has already been published, included in the Lester parent newsletter and on Seesaw. It covered a review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which students saw performed at the Paramount on a field trip, comics drawn by students, puzzles and mazes, and interviews with teachers. It has articles that are informative for students like a conversation with Sixth Grade Teacher Mr. Smokes that asks him his expectations for students next year; and insights for parents and staff like the article: “What do we do at Lester that is fun?”
Novosel gives the newspaper staff deadlines and helps students design the publication. As one student told a visitor recently, “You’re going to be so excited to read this.” And, we were. Read it yourself.