What’s the Buzz: W’burg Independent launches its new student-led newspaper

What’s the buzz at Williamsburg Independent School lately?

Thanks to the enterprising efforts of a handful of the school’s students, that question is beginning to be answered.

“The Buzz,” Williamsburg Independent’s official student-led newspaper, published its first-ever issue last Thursday following weeks of planning, writing and designing.

The four-page inaugural issue, launched with oversight from both a group of faculty advisors and a member of the News Journal staff, contains a variety of student-centered content based around current events at the school. Additionally, it highlights students and teachers who are making a difference throughout the district. There’s even a section catered toward the youngest students in the district, with a coloring page and word search activities.

Superintendent Tabetha Housekeeper lauded the time and energy put into making the newspaper a reality, which has been in discussions and planning stages since last October. Further, Housekeeper noted that she thought that students being able to tangibly see the result of their efforts will inspire more to get involved with not only future issues of the newspaper, but also spark ideas for other projects.

“I think kids were genuinely impressed that this paper happened. I just believe in no hypothetical learning. It’s got to be real and it’s got to be purposeful and I think that’s literally the winning ticket with this,” said Housekeeper.

The school district has had something in the vein of a student newspaper in the past, according to school officials, though not quite in the capacity that many would consider a traditional newspaper.

The students comprising the “newspaper club,” as it has been deemed for the time being, consisting of Elijah Muse, Cabela Johnson, Jacob Durham, Caleb Nichols, Zaden Housekeeper and Laylee Wyatt. A small group of faculty helped coordinate the work of the students as well, including Mrs. Becky Hamilton, Mrs. Kacey Hensley and Mrs. Kristy Stewart.

While the group that launched the paper is relatively small, it is expected to grow. Since publication of the first issue, more students have expressed interest in getting involved with the newspaper. The community has also shown an interest in the newspaper, according to Housekeeper, who said she has received a lot of feedback since announcing the arrival of the first issue last week.

“People are texting and messaging me asking if they can buy these or if we can mail these, and that’s a big deal,” said Housekeeper. “We might have to have more copies printed.”

 “The Buzz” is expected to be published one more time before the end of the school year, and is currently anticipated to be completed during the second week of May.

Moving forward, Housekeeper has several ideas for keeping the newspaper going strong. Among the possible plans, is adding journalism to the curriculum next year to allow students who are interested in working on the paper be able to do so collaboratively during school hours instead of during their spare time as it is currently being done. If that is feasible, the newspaper could be published as frequently as once per school quarter.

“We have so many extracurriculars after school, it’s hard for students to be able to have that time. But if it’s just part of the school day, it gives them meaningful, purposeful work,” said Housekeeper. “I want to be able to walk through the building, see kids with their newspapers out, taking pictures, walking in classrooms; I want it to be a learning hub, not school.”

Anyone who is interested in picking up a copy of “The Buzz” can do so by requesting one at the school’s front office.