A Plan

One of the staff models created and shared by Kristy Roschke.

Kristy Roschke encouraged us to publish our news online because that is where teens go for information. I had already decided during these last two weeks that for a new high school, with no established tradition of print, a strictly online newspaper made most sense. Thankfully, she went beyond theoretical advice and told me exactly how to get there.

First, Roschke said you will need a plan. Students and advisers must decide how often to publish, where to publish and they must determine a mission or purpose for their publication. Beyond planning, she told us step by step how to start the process. For a publishing platform, thanks to the advice of Alan Weintraut, Sarah Zerwin and Kelly Robinson, I know that we will use School Newspapers Online. Since I have a combined Newspaper and Yearbook class, I think I'll be using a structure similar to the one above. Photographers attend a different class period, but they will be contributing to both publications. With our principal already updating the school's Facebook page regularly, we have begun to build an online community before the building has opened. We'll be targeting the online community to promote our paper and yearbook, as well. Planning eases the anxiety.

To be honest, during several sessions the past two weeks, particularly the ones about the logistics in the classroom (mostly Alan's sessions), I felt entirely overwhelmed. The amount of new things to learn and incorporate into my curriculum overcomes me. How can I remember it all and do it right when none of it will be second nature? Then, I remember that Roschke said start small, give yourself time and celebrate your successes. All of you get it, and I know that I have a supportive community in you.

After class, I ran into Roschke in the hallway and we thanked her and shared a little about our situations. She said she thought that I had chosen the best option for my school, and even though I knew I had done so, it felt good to hear her encourage me a bit. I look forward to the Reynolds 2012 fellows encouraging each other from a distance and sharing all of our new plans.

Rhonda Dickens
Chisholm Trail High School
Fort Worth, Texas