Grade 6 students read the St. Andrew’s Times, published inside the April 20 issue of South Peace News. Left-right are Kassiandra Hamelin, Jade Coats, Ethan Smith and Jacob Rich. Students wrote all the stories in the mini-newspaper as part of their journalism unit.

SPN Staff

It was so much fun they would do it all over again.

It’s the verdict from St. Andrew’s School Grade 6 teacher Maureen Wilson, after students wrote stories for a mini-newspaper they called the St. Andrew’s Times.

“It was definitely worthwhile,” says Wilson.

The project began when the school started sending students into the community to see how local businesses operated. Journalism was one of many included.

South Peace News editor Chris Clegg agreed to visit the classroom and had a surprise in store for the students. The offer was made to write stories to be published which the students agreed to.

“I thought there was no better way to give the students a real hand’s on experience than to get them to actually write some stories,” says Clegg. “The teachers were fully on board with the idea. South Peace News publisher Mary Burgar also liked the idea.”

Clegg visited the classroom and the students received tips and chose which stories to write. Only one rule was implemented.

“Seeing this was a paper for St. Andrew’s School, all stories had to be about St. Andrew’s,” says Clegg.

Students also visited South Peace News to see the office and receive further instruction from graphic artist Jordan Koski and advertising manager Jennifer Auger. A final visit was made to the classroom so students could decide on layout of the Times.

Wilson says it was a good experience for students to experience how a newspaper is actually put together.

“I thought I piqued their interest,” she says.

Clegg says that was the goal.

“Other than just another assignment, students realized their work would actually be published. I believe this gave them more incentive.”

“Seeing their work was going to be published excited them,” Wilson agrees.

Wilson had taught the unit before but never visited South Peace News.

Clegg was pleased with the efforts of students.

“There was no question they understand the basics of journalism,” he says. “They were quick to pick up on the basics and understood how to implement them. They did a fine job.”

Wilson says she would be open to trying the project again next year.