Students Get the Story for School Paper

At a time when middle and high schools across the nation have scaled back because of budget constraints, student journalists at Robert Frost Middle School in Granada Hills are cranking out a newspaper every other week.

“It’s a marvelous activity for our youngsters and a learning activity to have deadlines and responsibility,” said Principal Ronald Frydman. “I feel [a school newspaper] is a worthwhile expense.”

At two or four pages, depending on the amount of news, the Wolfpack costs from $1,500 to $2,000 a year to print, including “Extra” editions published for special occasions. The school also publishes a 24-page magazine three times a year for about $1,800.

At one time, middle and high schools commonly published newspapers, said Linda Puntney, executive director of the Kansas City-based Journalism Education Assn., a 2,500-member national organization of high school and middle school journalism teachers and advisors.

But, she said, rising costs and cutbacks changed all that. Today, most secondary schools publish monthly and sometimes only once or twice a semester.

The Wolfpack reports on school events, student birthdays and sports teams and publishes editorial cartoons and graphics.

Front-page articles have focused on the lack of cleanliness in campus restrooms and the need for more nutritious food in the cafeteria, contributing to changes in both areas.

Reporters flew into action last year when a water pipe broke near the gymnasium right on deadline. “They came through with flying colors,” said journalism teacher Adam Bratt, 40. “It’s exciting for the kids when that happens.”

Bratt was a sports reporter for radio station KNX-AM (1070) and the Daily News, before he became a teacher. He resurrected the school newspaper after he was hired at Frost four years ago.

“There wasn’t a regular newspaper here for some time,” he said.

Bratt, who also teaches U.S. history, structures his third-period newspaper class of 33 students much like a newsroom. Brainstorming meetings kick off the period and reporters are assigned stories by student executive editors. Photographers use digital cameras and layout is done on a computer. Reporters carry press passes on campus and are often excused--with a written note from Bratt--if an assignment falls during another class period.

“This is their job on campus,” Bratt said. “They take it very seriously.”

The students have never missed a deadline and retain near complete editorial control, except for a final content review by “publishers” Frydman and Assistant Principal Toni Mannino. Administrators have never censored the paper, Bratt and Frydman said.

This week’s edition went to press Monday but not before last-minutes changes were made to a front-page story about school fund-raising. The lead story informs students that final fall semester grades will be mailed soon, and the issue includes a story and photograph of a recent field trip by seventh-grade science classes to the Ocean Discovery Center in Santa Monica.

Today, students will start stapling each photocopied newspaper--some 2,000 to meet the school’s enrollment--for delivery Friday to homerooms across campus.

The student journalists already are planning and reporting for their next edition, which will be published Feb. 9.

“The feeling of responsibility is so great,” said Naomi Cher, 13, a Wolfpack staff reporter. “You know the newspaper is depending on you, and the students, too.” Besides, she said, “I like being on top of the news.”

KUDOS

Spotlight Awards: Four high school students from the San Fernando Valley are among 14 in Southern California to win top honors in the Los Angeles Music Center’s annual Spotlight Awards for visual arts.

Two winners from Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta were Sarah Stevens, 17, and Amy Kong, 16, who won first and second place, respectively, in the poster competition. Jessica Lee, 17, of Glendale High School, received honorable mention. Nathan Jones, 17, of John Burroughs High School in Burbank, received honorable mention in photography.

The Spotlight Awards, formed in 1988, showcase talented students in the performing and visual arts. Finalists in the performing arts categories of ballet, classical voice and jazz instrumental will be announced in April.

PROGRAM NOTES

Career Classes: The Career Center at Glendale Community College is offering free workshops in February on job interviewing skills, resume writing and choosing a college major. The one-hour classes are scheduled at various times and dates throughout the month at 1500 N. Verdugo Road.

For schedules, see https://www.glendale.cc.ca.us/new/services/career/workshops.htm. For information call (818) 240-1000, Ext. 5408.

Class Notes appears every Wednesday. Send news about schools to the Valley Edition, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax it to (818) 772-3338.