August, 2008

Dear 7^th and 8^th Grade Journalism Students,

Congratulations on being selected to be a part of the 2008-2009 yearbook/newspaper staff! Get ready to learn the fine art of publishing and documenting the events of Jag life in a way that will make all students here feel important.

You may be called a yearbook nerd—it’s okay. You may hear me call you a “honey bun” as you leave for your next class. It means I think you work hard. I may ask you to “hit the halls.” I don’t mean for you to go on a tear—but rather want you to go digging for the story of the year. If I ask you about your “beat”, I want to know if you remembered your press pass to get into the game you are shooting for—or the fine arts performance you are reporting on. If I forget your name, correct me. If I am in a bad mood it usually means we might not meet a deadline.

We will be using Creative Suite 3-InDesign and Photoshop-and YearTech plug-ins to create our 8 inch trim yearbook and our tabloid 8 - 12 page newspaper. This elective is as much a business class as it is a writing and photography class. You will learn to interview, write in journalistic style and master digital photography. At the end of the year you will be able to create advertisements, design magazine layouts and edit photos like the professionals. Your photos may win awards; your copy will give us more than details and you will design like a graphic artist.

You can view the yearbook and newspaper staff manuals—online. I encourage you to view the CeVMS journalism website at www.schoolsinsession.com. You may access my site using this URL OR via the school site by going to the CeVMS home page (www.roundrockisd.org/cedarvalley) and clicking on the faculty tab and then my name.

We use Junior High Journalism by Homer L. Hall, The Radical Write by Bobby Hawthorne and The Ultimate Yearbook Book published by Jostens. Projects and exercises using InDesign and Photoshop will take you into a new arena—that of reporting and keeping history alive.

This is my fourth year as the journalism teacher at CeVMS and my 12^th year teaching. I have a B.S. in Education with a concentration in English and have been a yearbook and newspaper advisor for eight of those years. In addition, I have been a school administrator and a campus technology specialist.

I am looking forward to a GREAT year!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nikki Dowd

nikki_dowd@roundrockisd.org
class website - www.schoolsinsession.com
Classroom - 2145
Direct line - 428.2385

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site created by Nikki Dowd
last updated Sunday, November 30, 2008