IN THE CLASSROOM:Young reporters learn the craft

Although it was only the first reporting assignment of the year for Rochelle Lang’s publications students, they were faced with a weighty subject: 9/11.

Last week, the associated student body at TeWinkle Middle School created an art project for the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks: a 10-foot banner in the commons with student comments posted all over it. Afterward, Lang sent her newspaper staff into the field for the first time. On Tuesday and Wednesday, each reporter wrote a one-paragraph summary of the banner project — covering the who, what, where, how and most importantly, why.

“They were the observers, and some of them did a really good job of talking about the emotions it brought forth,” Lang said Wednesday as her students sat around the computer room and typed their reports.

Students had to operate under a tight 15-minute deadline, describing the campus artwork and adding their own memories of the terrorist attacks. Seventh-grader Linette Soberay, who was new to journalism, said she kept a close eye on accuracy.

“You have to be able to tell the truth, because if you don’t tell the truth, no one will understand what really went on,” said Linette, 11.

A year ago, TeWinkle Principal Dan Diehl revived the publications class as part of a sweeping update of the school’s programs. The class, taught by Lang for the second year, puts together the Trojan Thunder newspaper and the yearbook, with students serving as writers, editors and photographers.

Many of the students in Lang’s class have already planned their newspaper projects for the rest of the school year. Eighth-grader Bertha Ramos, 13, said she wanted to write a column on favorite teachers and had already conducted a student survey to find popular picks. Eighth-grader Laurel Hinson, 13, had an idea for an extended feature story: interviewing Estancia High School students who graduated from TeWinkle about life as a high school freshman.

“I’m interested in knowing about what’s going on and sharing it with others,” said Laurel, who had posted a tribute of her own on the Sept. 11 banner.

Seventh-grader Zuleyma Guzman, 12, aspired to cover school sports — particularly her favorite, soccer. Zuleyma said she was new to journalism, but had a feeling that she might be a natural.

“Sometimes things just come into my head, so I write them down,” she said.