Published in the December 9 – 22, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By the Oakwood Outlook Staff
Oakwood School’s digital newspaper, The Oakwood Outlook, engages students in a dynamic club that teaches how to effectively communicate and distribute school activities’ information through various media.
The Oakwood Outlook gives students a chance to display the well roundedness of the campus’s students and staff, while giving the school’s community a student’s perspective. We write about spirit events, fundraisers, sports and clubs. In short, we cover anything and everything happening on and off Oakwood campus. In our latest issue we featured Maggie Burback’s story on the Oakwood performance of “The Three Musketeers.” In December, we will report on the High School Holiday Dance and basketball season.
The Oakwood Outlook provides opportunities for students to establish important skills and experiences. Reporters learn to better express themselves in writing by publishing articles for their teachers and peers to enjoy and then incorporate the resulting feedback into their articles. All club members learn to work with deadlines as well as with other people on collaborative projects, providing them with valuable life skills.
As part of the staff, reporters are given a chance to write about topics that interest them. There are reporters who specialize in reporting on certain clubs or on a particular sport. Additionally, in the final pages of the paper, a student artist is spotlighted, and often a short comic is included. Photographers are also given a chance to get involved taking pictures of the events which are incorporated to make the newspaper more visual and engaging. Before being published, formatters perfect the paper, transforming it into an aesthetically-pleasing, easy-to-read document.
The Oakwood Outlook is a great asset to Oakwood students who wish to improve their skills as writers, photographers, formatters, and, most importantly, as involved members of their community.
After a Junior Journalism workshop by Morgan Hill Life Publisher Marty Cheek, Oakwood School’s newspaper club members wrote this column. Are you interested in hosting a Junior Journalism workshop? Contact publisher Marty Cheek at [email protected].
