Semester Exam 24-25. Posted 12/10/24

  1. Final exam with reflection

If you were in Newspaper last year, please skip to #13. If you were not in newspaper last year, please start at the top!!

Make a GOOGLE DOC and email me the link (MAKE SURE IT IS SHARED) to bowie.journalism@gmail.com

DON'T USE YOUR SCHOOL GMAIL, YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT!!!

You may have to watch the videos on your phone!!

Please watch the video until 1:22 and then stop the video and answer question 1:

Please watch the video until 1:22 and then stop the video, on your google doc please answer the following questions:

1. What did she write?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU


Now continue watching the video.

2. How did this video make you feel inside?

3. Why would I show this video to you?

4. How can you "Change your words" to impact the readers of your school newspaper?

Now watch this video:




https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2012/feb/29/open-journalism-three-little-pigs-advert

Answer the following questions about the video on your google doc, go back and watch if you need to:

5. How many different ways did the Guardian cover the story of the three little pigs?

6. Is the story the same as you remember it as a child?

7. Who did they interview?

8. What aspects of the story did they cover?

9. Were there any aspects of the three little pigs story that were not covered?

10. Did the Guardian ever offer their opinion of what happened, who was guilty, who was not guilty?

11. Can we do this for events on our campus on a daily basis?

12. How can you help make this a reality?

Finally,

It's reflection time. Please write at least two paragraphs on the following prompts on your blog:

13. What is the most important thing you have learned this semester being on newspaper staff?

14. What can you do next semester to continue your scholastic journalism career in a fulfilling and positive way?

15. What suggestions do you have to improve any part of this class? For example, you could address editor/staff relations, editor/editor relations, staff relations with the advisor, how we can better serve our community, direct suggestions on the newspaper itself, equipment or supplies we might need, computer program instructions you need, or even stories we should cover. I am open to anything. Part of my job is to make this a positive experience, yet it is also an educational opportunity for all of you and the other part of my job is to teach you new skills.

If you do not write enough, I refuse to give you a 100. PERIOD. Please make sure you write enough. A sentence or two is NOT ENOUGH!! I will not reward you with a 100 for garbage. No matter how much I want to be Santa Clause and give everyone a 100, I can turn into a Scrooge really fast when I see half-ass effort on this reflection.

Writing Contest - scholarship money available - posted 12/10

I sent this out on Remind a week ago, but I wanted to remind you that you could be working on this. I will pay for anyone who writes this piece and shares it with me. I will submit it for you.

For more information, talk to me.

Funko-Pop!!

 6th period - click the link

https://forms.gle/ZAnUxLgzVmndEiXc7

2nd period - click link

https://forms.gle/qaALbgpbE2YMBBA49

Teaming Form

Please fill out this form ASAP so I can make seating charts and start teaming you with your area.

https://forms.gle/fnWaz5HH3PWMm1BB9

New Voices and SPLC summer New Voices student leaders workshop

 New Voices Texas Needs Your Help

We will be heading into the 89th Texas Legislative Session in January 2025, and we are seeking a group of student leaders who will lead the charge in passing a New Voices bill like HB 5266 in the 2024-2025 school year. 

We are proud of the work of our current crew of student officers who have led New Voices Texas this year, but many of them are set to graduate soon. That means it is time to pass the leadership torch to new officers, which could include YOUR STUDENTS!

We have at least seven student officer positions that we will need to fill for the coming school year. And we are open to having additional students serve as "Specialists" for things like regional organizing and social media and all-around promotion.

New Voices Officer positions include:

• Legislative Officer
• Communications Officer
• Regional Organizer
• Educational Officer
• Club Development Officer

Read more about becoming a New Voices Texas officer or volunteering your support on the NVT website. The deadline to apply for an officer position is May 31.

New Voices Texas Officer Application and Volunteer Interest Form

SPLC Summer New Voices Student Leaders Institute Applications Open

Participants in the all-online program will be joined by Student Press Law Center staff, New Voices leaders and special guests to learn their unique capacity as organizers, deepen their understanding of civics, lobbying and press freedom, and expand their ability to act as advocates. By the end of the Institute, Student Leaders will identify the pressing needs in their state and local communities and the unique ways in which students can respond, as well as possess the tools necessary to combat these challenges. 

The Institute will run from July 16-25. Last year participants participated from Tuesday – Thursday from 1 pm - 4 pm Eastern/10 am - 1 pm Pacific time, with optional sessions until 5 p.m. Eastern/2 p.m. Pacific.

Participation in the Institute is free, but students will commit to serving as student leaders in the New Voices movement during the 2024-2025 advocacy year. For more information about the summer institute, visit the SPLC website.

The deadline to apply for the SPLC New Voices Institute is May 17.

Application for SPLC's summer virtual New Voices Institute 

Non-Senior NOT RETURNING to newspaper Final. Posted 4/24/24 - Due by the end of your classes final exam period

  This is the non-senior NOT RETURNING to newspaper final exam for 2022-23

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 2024. 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 2023-24:

In 2023-24, 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 ??, 2024 (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 4/24/24 - DUE be the end of your classes final exam period

 This is the non-senior, RETURNING to newspaper, final exam for 2022-23

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 2024. 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 2023-24:

In 2023-24, 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 ??, 2024 (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.

2023-24 SENIORS final exam - posted 4/24/24 - Due before you graduate

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 2023-24 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?

Awards for 2023-24

 Here is the link to see all of the awards for the year.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11ronOMbPZdd_9Wrj8JUe3t4izCeUpVw1/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107026036783498740087&rtpof=true&sd=true

Results:

https://www.uiltexas.org/journalism/ilpc/results

IAA results:

https://www.uiltexas.org/files/academics/journalism/2024_IAAsfinal5.pdf

First place winners gallery:

FIRST PLACE GALLERY

Tops in Texas slide show:

https://www.uiltexas.org/files/academics/journalism/Tops_In_Texas_24.pdf

Issue 6 page editors

Issue 6

Pg 1     News front       Peyton D.

Pg 2     News               Savannah R.

Pg 3     PE1                 Arden R.

Pg 4     Feature 1         Isabella V.

Pg 5     Feature 2         Charlotte S

Pg 6     PE2                 Ryan Z.

Pg 7     ID                     Elizabeth Y.

Pg 8/9    DT                  Liberty P. 

Pg 10     Sports 1         Michael V.

Pg 11     Sports 2         Caroline B.

Pg 12     Ent.                Katie G.

Pg 13     Review          Bentlee T.

Pg 14     Opinion 1       Vivi L.

Pg 15     Opinion 2       Sam B.

Pg 16     Seniors          Kate and Mazzy

UIL contest information - posted 3/27/24

Please click on this link:

https://www.uiltexas.org/journalism/uil-contests

On the right side near the bottom are power points helping to explain the contests. There are judging criteria at the bottom.

More prompts at the bottom under Additional Resources.

Issue #5 assignments - posted 3/4/24

 We are making some big changes going into Issue #5. We need to make these changes to make sure people are getting fully trained as we close out 2023-24. The leadership team and I came up with these plans together and this is what we will be doing for until Issue #5 is complete. We will continue to make changes as needed to the assignments list as we go into Issue #6 as needed.

If you are returning to the Dispatch next year, these next few months are prime opportunities for you to learn new schools, and start the transition into leadership positions. We need ALL OF YOU to make this transition successful. The Dispatch will remain among the best in the country, even if the majority of page editors are juniors. WE GOT THIS.

For those of you not returning next year, you will be working on a variety of tasks to make sure we are finishing strong with other adventures, like Directive and continuing to make content for the Dispatch Online. I want to create at least ONE Directive this year and I believe the majority of the work is in place and it can be finished at the same time as the 5th Issue. Some of you will have expanded roles for this product and your titles for those roles will change from page editor to some sort of leadership position based on what you create for the product. These are always good things to put on college applications and other applications for scholarships, other clubs and organizations, etc. FYI - Teachers talk....

We are still working on some assignments for the Directive. I will have exact assignments added to this doc by the end of the day on Tuesday.

Here is a link to your assignments: Issue #5 assignments

Returning next year? Please click and fill out.

 https://forms.gle/oKMjAwxb5hoahcBU7

FYI - just sharing cause its cool

 

NSPA awards

This afternoon the National Scholastic Press Association announced the winners of their annual Fall Clips and Clicks Contest winners. The Bowie Dispatch earned 49 points, good for 5^th place nationally, just behind AISD's own McCallum HS who scored 51 points. 

Individual winners were:

Mazzy Warren - Infographic - 2nd place

Mazzy Warren - News Story - 2nd place

Asher Hagan - Opinion Writing - 3rd place

Ben Tillisch - Newspaper page/spread - 4th place

Mazzy Warren - Newspaper page/spread - 5th place

Elizabeth Yowell - Feature Photo - Honorable Mention

Sam Vane - Sports Writing - Honorable Mention

If you have one of these people in your classes, please give them a big high five. This is a very competitive contest with some of the best programs in the country participating.

More information can be found here, including the entries that won for Bowie as clickable links: https://studentpress.org/nspa/clips-clicks-fall-2023/