Things to complete - a checklist - posted 9/3

1. BIOS

All staffers must complete a BIO by Monday, Sept. 8. 

Please go to the following folder: Online Bios

Make a new doc in there with your name on it. Write your bio.

Write about your experiences so far in newspaper, things you want to work on, things your are involved in here at Bowie, etc.

Examples can be found here, click anyone's name and you can see what they wrote: 24-25 Bios

2. STAFF PHOTOS

Each of you should have your photo taken sometime this week. We need to make press passes. These photos will also go online with your bio. We will also use these photos in the paper if you write an opinion story.

We need those ASAP so please make sure you get one taken today or tomorrow. Anyone who was absent on Wednesday will have to take this photo on Monday.

3. CAMERA CHECK-OUT

I will be bringing small groups back to the locker room today to learn how to check out camera equipment. It is important that you learn to do this correctly and that you use our systems properly. I also need you to return equipment immediately after you complete your assignment even if you don't have me that day. You can bring it in the morning, FIT or even lunch. That would help us a lot.

4. SYSTEMS

We have a number of systems that I will be going through with you in the coming classes. This includes organization in the Drive, how to upload images, create folders for social media, where to put your story docs, as well as art and podcast audio files. We will also be talking about recording interviews and how to get those audio files in the right place. I am trying to get Otter working and I plan to purchase a yearlong professional account that you can all use. This is new, so please give me time to make that happen. Remember you cannot use your devices to record interviews during school, but you can use them away from school. I would like you to put those audio files on the drive.

5. STAFF MANUAL

We will be going over the staff manual in the coming days. That is your go-to for information about how to do things in this class. Always start there and then move to your team to get support. You can always bring your needs/concerns to leadership people as well. Anyone who has been here before should be able to get you to someone who can answer your questions.

You can find the latest staff manual here - it has not been updated since last school year and I will need to take a look to see if there is anything that needs to be changed or updated.

Dispatch Staff Manual

6. FIRST ASSIGNMENTS

You should be getting your first set of assignments this week. We are on a short deadline, and will be for the first 4 issues. You will have to get used to the cycles. You might only have 6-7-8 classes to get your assignments done. In some cases you might be on a team that is doing work daily, but your work will be done on that day, example social media. Page editors should be able to see pages by the end of the week. We will go over the cycle soon, but if you have a story assignment, you need to get started ASAP.

7. DRIVE ACCESS

I am working diligently to get you all access to the common Dispatch Drive. You should have access to Adobe programs at this point. Once you get access, you will be linked to the drive and should use it regularly. Some of you will run into problems with syncing and making sure you are on the correct email to access the Drive. Make sure you get help as needed.

8. 3x5 CARDS

Each of you will need to fill out a 3x5 card with some information for leadership on the card. These are things that are only accessible by myself and leadership and will be used to contact you as needed for information, etc. What you need to put on those 3x5 cards is written on the board today. When you have filled those out, please come and put them in the blue box on my desk in the correct tab. Let's put them behind the tab with the correct letter - make sure you use your LAST NAME for organization.

9. DISPATCH CONTACT SHEET

We also have an electronic version of the 3x5 cards, but with some different data that I sometimes need to access. Please link to the following file and fill it out appropriately sometime during this class period.

Dispatch Staff Contact Sheet 25-26

All 1st year staff members must complete ASAP. Posted 5/19

This class articulates through ACC. That means if you enroll at ACC at any point, you can tell them you took this course, and they will give you college credit for this course.

1. Go here: https://austincc.tfaforms.net/f/HSStarsStudentLinks to an external site.

2. Complete the form - note you only have to fill out everything with a red asterisk *

3. If you are a freshman, your anticipated graduation is 2028. Sophomore: 2027. Junior: 2026

4. At the bottom, match yours to this:

 

New Voices - posted 5/16

As the 2024-2025 school year is wrapping up, New Voices Texas needs your help.

We will host a Zoom meeting on Sunday, May 18 at 8 p.m. for any student who wants to learn more about what it means to serve as an officer and how you can become a leader in the New Voices movement in Texas.

Please use the Zoom info below to join the meeting:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/89608953380?pwd=MGRFWnc2elJPYk5ESEh1RlYxVGNtdz09

Meeting ID: 896 0895 3380

Passcode: x3bVab

Outgoing student NVT officers and David Doerr, NVT's faculty adviser, will be on the Zoom call to answer questions.

Non-Senior NOT RETURNING to newspaper Final. Posted 5/15/25 - Due by the end of your classes final exam period

 This is the non-senior NOT RETURNING to newspaper final exam for 2024-25

You will write 3 letters today for your final exam. 

Your grade will be based on the amount of care you take writing these reflections. If you give half effort, do not expect a 100. Length and thoughtful writing are two of the criteria. If you give me 1/4 of a page on each letter, do not expect a 100. I am asking you to reflect on your year here in my program. Even if you are not returning, you should have learned something this year that you can take away for future use.

AIt the beginning of next year, I will email your letter 1 to you, or if you are in my class, I will print it out for you. At the end of next year, I will email mail you your Letter 2. Hopefully your email still works.

Please make ONE Google Doc and write the first TWO Letters. When you finish these letters, please share the link with me at the following email address: bowie.journalism@gmail.com. 

DO NOT SEND ME MULTIPLE EMAILS. 

Letter 1 – write a letter to yourself that you will read the first week of school next year. I expect this one to be at least 300-350 words. Don't short change this one. Here are your prompts to reflect/write:

I did a lot of great things last year that should be repeated: (think of at least 4)

Here are some things to remember: (think of at least 4)

What are some of the problems you had in newspaper this year in terms of meeting the expectations of the class?

Are there things that you think would have helped you be more successful in newspaper?

In a simple statement, give me the biggest reason you are not returning and what you could have done to keep that from happening.

Letter 2 – write a letter to yourself that you will read in 10 years. Write at least 350 words here. Here are the prompts for that letter and you can start with this:

This is me 10 years ago. I’m sure I’ve forgotten all about this email by now, and I’ve probably forgotten a lot about who I was in 2025. I’m sitting in my newspaper class final right now and Mr. Reeves is making me write to myself in the future, so hello future me, I hope everything is great in your life right now.

1. Here’s some fun stuff to remember about me in 2024-25:

In 2024-25, I have the following goals for my:

2. Education

3. Family

4. Career

5. Other

6. In case I need some words of encouragement, here’s some things about me now that I like a lot, that I hope you still have:

7. There are also some things about me now that I know I’m still working on that I hope you have figure out by now.

8. At (age) when I write this letter I’ve…..

Love, me on May ??, 2025 (name)

NOW FOR LETTER 3 - PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING ON PAPER NOT ON THE COMPUTER. I have lots of materials for you on the table up front like paper, markers, etc.

Letter 3 – write a letter to an important teacher you had this year. You can choose anyone you want that is a member of the Bowie faculty and staff.

Write a greeting, paragraphs, a closing (Sincerely, or Yours, or Thank you) and your signature.  Tell them what they meant to you. Give specific examples and details! One page will suffice. This is not a specific request for you to write me a letter, please pick who you want.

If you need some help, here are some prompts:

“You might not know it, but…”

 “Even though you ________, I want you to know that _________ “

 “I think the most important lesson I learned from you was…”

“The thing I respect most about you is….”

 “One time, when I was _________, you _______ and I……”  

“I have a hard time with _______, and you helped me _______”

“I know you ______, but for my classmates and me, it ________”

 “I appreciate it when you ____________”

“It means a lot to me that you take the time to ____________”

“When I look back on __________,  I realize that you ___________”

When you are done - you can put it into one of the envelopes I have provided and I will make sure they get these in their boxes before school is out. Teachers need this kind of letter. Make it real. Make it mean something.

Non-Senior, RETURNING to newspaper Final. Posted 5/15/25 - DUE be the end of your classes final exam period

  This is the non-senior, RETURNING to newspaper, final exam for 2024-25

You will write 3 letters today for your final exam. 

Your grade will be based on the amount of care you take writing these reflections. If you give half effort, do not expect a 100. Length and thoughtful writing are two of the criteria. If you give me 1/4 of a page on each letter, do not expect a 100. I am asking you to reflect on your year here in my program. Even if you are not returning, you should have learned something this year that you can take away for future use.

At the beginning of next year, I will email your letter 1 to you, or if you are in my class, I will print it out for you. At the end of next year, I will email mail you your Letter 2. Hopefully your email still works.

Please make ONE Google Doc and write the first TWO Letters. When you finish these letters, please share the link with me at the following email address: bowie.journalism@gmail.com. DO NOT SEND ME MULTIPLE EMAILS. 

Letter 1 – write a letter to yourself that you will read the first week of school next year. I expect this one to be at least 300-350 words. Don't short change this one. Here are your prompts to reflect/write:

I did a lot of great things last year that should be repeated: (think of at least 4)

Here are some things to remember: (think of at least 4)

Remind yourself of something that didn’t go so well in newspaper this year and tell yourself how to avoid them in the future. Explain how you worked around the problems.

Letter 2 – write a letter to yourself that you will read in 10 years. Write at least 350 words here. Here are the prompts for that letter and you can start with this:

This is me 10 years ago. I’m sure I’ve forgotten all about this email by now, and I’ve probably forgotten a lot about who I was in 2025. I’m sitting in my newspaper class final right now and Mr. Reeves is making me write to myself in the future, so hello future me, I hope everything is great in your life right now.

1. Here’s some fun stuff to remember about me in 2024-25:

In 2024-25, I have the following goals for my:

2. Education

3. Family

4. Career

5. Other

6. In case I need some words of encouragement, here’s some things about me now that I like a lot, that I hope you still have:

7. There are also some things about me now that I know I’m still working on that I hope you have figure out by now.

8. At (age) when I write this letter I’ve…..

Love, me on May ??, 2025 (name)

NOW FOR LETTER 3 - PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING ON PAPER NOT ON THE COMPUTER. I have lots of materials for you on the table up front like paper, markers, etc.

Letter 3 – write a letter to an important teacher you had this year. You can choose anyone you want that is a member of the Bowie faculty and staff.

Write a greeting, paragraphs, a closing (Sincerely, or Yours, or Thank you) and your signature.  Tell them what they meant to you. Give specific examples and details! One page will suffice. This is not a specific request for you to write me a letter, please pick who you want.

If you need some help, here are some prompts:

“You might not know it, but…”

 “Even though you ________, I want you to know that _________ “

 “I think the most important lesson I learned from you was…”

“The thing I respect most about you is….”

 “One time, when I was _________, you _______ and I……”  

“I have a hard time with _______, and you helped me _______”

“I know you ______, but for my classmates and me, it ________”

 “I appreciate it when you ____________”

“It means a lot to me that you take the time to ____________”

“When I look back on __________,  I realize that you ___________”

When you are done - you can put it into one of the envelopes I have provided and I will make sure they get these in their boxes before school is out. Teachers need this kind of letter. Make it real. Make it mean something.

SENIORS FINAL. Due before May 27th at the end of the school day. Posted 5/15

For your final you will write 3 letters and a response to an article you will read. Get this done ASAP. Don't forget to write your senior goodbye for publication.

Please create ONE Google Doc and compete the following tasks:

Letter number 1

Write a letter to yourself that will be read one year from now. Reflect on your current life situation. Have you changed this year? How will you be different in the next year? Have your goals changed for your future. In 2025-26 where do you want to be in life? Write about your goals, where you expect to be next year. Things I would like you to address include: fun stuff to remember from senior year, education, career, other, things about your family and friends, words of encouragement to yourself. You may need a little boost or maybe you need a pat on the back. Then – please write a short reflection about this year in newspaper class. Are there things you could have done differently, that you wanted to change? Are there things that you wish had happed differently? What things did you like about class? What things did you dislike? A few paragraphs will be fine on this section of the letter. I will send these to you at the end of next year, after your first year of college. 

Letter number 2

Write a letter to yourself that will be read 10 years from now. Reflect on high school, especially your senior year. Address the topic of your current goals for yourself. What do you want to be doing, where do you want to live, who do you want to be in contact with still? Write about fun things you remember from this year (while they are fresh in your mind), remind yourself of those moments of importance from senior year, and address those things you would want to tell yourself 10 years from now. Things I would like you to address include: fun stuff to remember from senior year, education, career, other, things about your family and friends, words of encouragement to yourself. You may need a little boost or maybe you need a pat on the back. This needs to be different than the first letter so don't cut and paste. I will also send this to you next year, and then it will be up to you to keep it for a few years!! :)

Letter number 3

Write a letter to a teacher that meant something to you during your high school career. Thank them and tell them why they were important to you. Maybe you could write about your first encounter with them, or maybe an important moment that they were a part of. Try to write as close to a full page as you can. Teachers need these kinds of things. I would prefer that you do this by hand, I have lots of paper, markers, etc for you to use on the table. Please pick anyone you want to thank, this is not a specific request to write me a letter, unless that is something you want to do.

Reflective response:

Please read the following article and respond to the questions and share that with me as well:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/keith-m-parsons/message-to-my-freshman-st_b_7275016.html

Reflect on the article:

What information could you use next year?

What changes can you expect to encounter next year, based on what you read?

What skills will you need to work on to be a successful post-secondary student?

What are you most nervous about as you think about college next year?

What are you excited about when it comes to college?

If you could send Dr. Parsons a one paragraph response to this article, what would your write?

Summer virtual academy - posted 4/23

 Hello Dispatch team,

My name is Ranvith Adulla, and I am a board member at The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn's student-run newspaper.

We are hosting the Summer Press Academy, a 3-day virtual summer camp for high school students interested in journalism and media. Participants get to learn real reporting skills through hands-on workshops and guest lectures featuring journalists from CNN, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and POLITICO. At the end of the camp, students will also be given the opportunity to publish a piece through The Daily Pennsylvanian! You can learn more about the program here: https://dppressacademy.com/.

We think this is a great opportunity for your students at the Dispatch, and we'd love for you to share this information with anyone who might be interested. Please also let me know if you have any questions about our program!

Thank you,
Ranvith Adulla
The Daily Pennsylvanian