Hello!
My name is Frances Packman and I am enthusiastic to be working with the new staff of our print and online newspaper, The Stampede and Mustang, Magnolia West's yearbook. Our staff looks forward to improving the quantity and quality of stories and photos.
Please feel free to contact me regarding stories you feel the community of Magnolia will enjoy reading online or in print.
Print copies are available four times a year, two in the fall, and two in the spring. The online edition is updated on a daily basis or as news occurs.
In addition to writing more stories this year, the journalism staff will be selling ads to help raise funds for our acquisition to more chrome books and possible journalism staff trips next summer.
Feel free to contact me if you have any issues you wish to discuss. A number can be left with the front office but my email of fpackman@magnoliaisd.org is a much quicker way to contact me.
This school year, I will be teaching all journalism classes. This ability to teach the basics of working journalism helps prepare the next year's staff for newspaper and yearbook.
More information will be given to students about duties, responsibilities and different expectations for writing and being a member of the journalism staff this year.
Students enrolled in either production programs will be expected to sign a contract as if they are 'employed' by an employer. Fundraisers and ads are a necessary part of the process towards learning skills associated with holding down a 'real' job.
Students will build and add to the newspaper and yearbook with articles, photos and video. Editing stories, improving all aspects of writing, learning basic photography skills, designing pages, and selling and creating ads help students take ownership of the paper.
Building a UIL team of writers to participate in district meets is another element of journalism. Students learn to write on the fly, just as if news is happening. Each student is expected to participate in writing with as much excellence as possible to place in the meets. These meets produce a wide variety of scholarship opportunities for all participants.
Again, thanks for allowing me to work with your student, and I look forward to another prosperous year in journalism and with the UIL journalism team.