Stories

In January, first graders in Mrs. Gilmartin’s and Mr. Stedman’s classes kicked off their annual newspaper project. With the newsrooms now up and running, their monthly editions will be written, printed, and delivered across campus through May.

Students learn that producing a monthly paper requires teamwork, and they share the workload by rotating through different jobs. The class votes on a campus staff member to feature, and one team of students interviews them. Another group takes on the role of researchers, diving into non-fiction topics. Finally, a dedicated delivery crew ensures the finished product reaches its readers. Because the roles rotate with every issue, every child gets a chance to interview, write, and distribute the paper before the end of the year.

Mrs. Gilmartin has organized this project for many years at the schools she’s taught, and the core lessons hold true. When students see their hard work published and printed, they learn that their effort serves a purpose and that their voices matter.

Our first-grade newspapers are child-directed, but the reach extends beyond their classrooms. The delivery crew hands out copies to teachers, administrators, and staff members across the school. The first graders especially love sharing their work with older students, who are always excited to receive the latest issue.

These young journalists have their own favorite parts of the process. Levi is looking forward to his upcoming turn on the delivery crew and has actively been asking classmates who have already delivered the paper for their best tips.

Another student perfectly summarized what makes the newspaper project a treasured memory: “It's fun to interview and write about a person, then get to deliver the paper to them! We get to see the middle school students and the different school offices on our route.”