Friday, April 29, 2011

News and Notes: 4.29.11

Don't forget...if you're not in first period and want to attend the Tom Barnidge talk for professional development points, sign up on the list on the black table. I need to send the excuse list today.

Worknight is May 25. Please adjust your schedules accordingly. The final paper of the year will be distributed June 3.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

News and Notes: 4.28.11

Today is a modified testing day. Freshmen, Juniors and Seniors go about your day as regularly scheduled. Sophomores go to your testing room at 8:20. Do NOT go to your first period class, go to the testing room. You will be finished by third period and will resume your regular schedule.

The final testing date is next Wednesday for grades 9-11.

Tom Barnidge, a columnist for the Contra Costa Times, will be on campus next Monday at 8:40 am to talk about working for a newspaper and being a columnist. This talk will count for professional development for fourth quarter. If you are interested in attending, but NOT in first period, please sign up on the sheet taped to the black table.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

News and Notes: 4.26.11

Testing today. Don't forget your story deadlines.

A period, I'll see you tomorrow at 7:40.

Monday, April 25, 2011

News and Notes: 4.25.11

I hope everyone had a restful vacation. Those of us who went to JEA had an AMAZING time!


Testing begins this week. Grades 9, 10, and 11 test Tuesday AND Wednesday. Grade 10 tests on Thursday (that means that grades 9, 11 and 12 have a regular schedule). Next week grades 9, 10 and 11 test on Wednesday. All other days are regular schedule for all grades.


Even though we have testing this week, you are expected to continue working on your deadlines. Your deadlines are still in effect.


Before vacation, you read some information about Overland High School's newspaper and its ongoing struggle to be published. At JEA I met an adviser from a neighboring school whose program is also being threatened. Now, the principal at Overland has issued an apology for using the work of others without attribution in his monthly updates to the community.


Ms. Taylor Oliva will be in for me tomorrow as I head off to Skywalker Ranch! WooHoo! Really, I'm there to meet the folks at Edutopia, but still....

Thursday, April 14, 2011

News and Notes: 4.14.11

WASC is done...for now.

Here is a powerful talk on the importance and power of images. Thank a photographer:

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

News and Notes: 4.13.11

Be sure to read the email from your editors. All drafts need to be in on Friday. If, for any reason, you will not make that deadline, email your editors now (check in with ALL of editors who will be reviewing your piece).

Make sure to check your email and GoogleDocs over the vacation to keep up on your story.

URGENT: If you are planning to attend the field trip to the SF Chronicle on May 25, you must bring your permission slip tomorrow. I have to fax the form downtown.

Worknight is May 6. (Just two weeks after vacation).

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

News and Notes: 4.12.11

In preparation for your assignment, please read the following article on the face veil ban in France. Please also review the French Constitution to see how the veil ban fits in with individual expression in France. Finally, please review the U.S. Constitution as it relates to individual expression. Hint: You're looking in both constitutions for what the government says individuals can and cannot do. Take notes.

Assignment: Write an opinion piece in which you compare and contrast the French and U.S. constitutions on the issue of individual expression (this is directly related to free speech). Would such a ban work here in the United States? Why or why not?

You may consult other sources for your piece. Be sure to correctly attribute material from ALL sources. Be sure to reference the face veil ban in France as the starting point for your work. Your response should be between 300 and 500 words. You will PRINT your essay before you leave class today.

WASC Work: Some of you may be called out to a student focus group meeting during your third period class today. The Visiting Committee will ask you questions related to the work we did last December about school culture and climate.

Monday, April 11, 2011

News and Notes: 4.11.11

Story pitches today. Please make sure you have, on paper, at least three story ideas with possible angles, who to interview and questions that need to be answered. You will be turning in your paper before you leave.

In preparation for class on Tuesday, please read the following article on the face veil ban in France. Please also review the French Constitution to see how the veil ban fits in with individual expression in France. Finally, please review the U.S. Constitution as it relates to individual expression. Hint: You're looking in both constitutions for what the government says individuals can and cannot do. Take notes.

Friday, April 8, 2011

News and Notes: 4.8.11

Worknight is TODAY. If you are an editor (current or incoming) or your work isn't done, you need to attend worknight. Worknight will begin by 2:30.

Wojo is out today. Finish up your stories. Get those final edits completed.

Assignment for Monday: STORY PITCHES. Yes, it's that time again. Bring at least three story ideas with possible angles and interview subjects (specific people not 'the cafeteria lady' or 'someone in AP Gov'). Include as much detail as you can. This needs to be in hard copy when you walk in the door. You will NOT be able to print in class. You MUST turn this in by the end of the period.


It's field trip time! Yes, you read that correctly. If you are interested in visiting the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle for a little bit of history, a tour through the offices and an editorial meeting, then grab one of the NEWSPAPER STAFF permission slips on the black table. Make sure you have the correct slip. There are spots for 20 staffers, so don't delay in getting that form back. The event is May 25. We will be taking BART. Tickets for BART will be ordered on Monday.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

News and Notes: 3.7.11

Grab a partner and clean, clean, clean. Our WASC visit starts on Sunday, the WASC visiting committee will visit starting Monday morning and the room is a mess! All loose papers and trash needs to be recycled as necessary. Surfaces need to be cleaned and/or dusted. Excess newspapers need to go to the recycling bin. If everyone chips in, it will only take a few minutes!

It's field trip time! Yes, you read that correctly. If you are interested in visiting the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle for a little bit of history, a tour through the offices and an editorial meeting, then grab one of the NEWSPAPER STAFF permission slips on the black table. Make sure you have the correct slip. There are spots for 20 staffers, so don't delay in getting that form back. The event is May 25. We will be taking BART. Tickets for BART will be ordered on Monday.

Worknight is TOMORROW. If you are an editor (current or incoming) or your work isn't done, you need to attend worknight. Worknight will begin by 2:30.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

News and Notes: 4.6.11

TODAY: After school journalism meeting. Attend for Professional Development credit. We will begin at 4 pm. George Kelly from the Contra Costa Times will be our featured speaker on online journalism. Mr. Kelly manages the Twitter and Facebook presence for the Times as part of his job. Get your professional development out of the way early by attending this one hour session that begins at 4 p.m.


It's field trip time! Yes, you read that correctly. If you are interested in visiting the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle for a little bit of history, a tour through the offices and an editorial meeting, then grab one of the NEWSPAPER STAFF permission slips on the black table. Make sure you have the correct slip. There are spots for 20 staffers, so don't delay in getting that form back. The event is May 25. We will be taking BART. Tickets for BART will be ordered on Monday.

Worknight is April 8. If you are an editor (current or incoming) or your work isn't done, you need to attend worknight.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

News and Notes: 4.5.11

April 6: After school journalism meeting. Attend for Professional Development credit. We will begin at 4 pm. George Kelly from the Contra Costa Times will be our featured speaker on online journalism. Mr. Kelly manages the Twitter and Facebook presence for the Times as part of his job. Get your professional development out of the way early by attending this one hour session that begins at 4 p.m.

Assignment today: get a half sheet of paper from the black table. Put your name on it. Go through the visualizing exercise we did yesterday as you read the sentence below. After visualizing it, write the revised sentence to provide more sensory detail.
The cat went for a walk.
Turn in your paper once you have completed your revision.

It's field trip time! Yes, you read that correctly. If you are interested in visiting the offices of the San Francisco Chronicle for a little bit of history, a tour through the offices and an editorial meeting, then grab one of the NEWSPAPER STAFF permission slips on the black table. Make sure you have the correct slip. There are spots for 20 staffers, so don't delay in getting that form back. The event is May 25. We will be taking BART. Tickets for BART will be ordered on Monday.

Worknight is April 8. If you are an editor (current or incoming) or your work isn't done, you need to attend worknight.

Monday, April 4, 2011

News and Notes: 4.4.11

April 6: After school journalism meeting. Attend for Professional Development credit. We will begin at 4 pm. George Kelly from the Contra Costa Times will be our featured speaker on online journalism. Mr. Kelly manages the Twitter and Facebook presence for the Times as part of his job. Get your professional development out of the way early by attending this one hour session that begins at 4 p.m.

Assignment today: grab a copy of the most recent issue of the Titan Template. You will also need a paper and pen.



Worknight is April 8. If you are an editor (current or incoming) or your work isn't done, you need to attend worknight.

Friday, April 1, 2011

News and Notes: 4.1.11 No Foolin'

April 6: After school journalism meeting. Attend for Professional Development credit. We will begin at 4 pm. George Kelly from the Contra Costa Times will be our featured speaker on online journalism. Mr. Kelly manages the Twitter and Facebook presence for the Times as part of his job. Get your professional development out of the way early by attending this one hour session that begins at 4 p.m.

First they came for the journalists...
   Overland High School recently lost their student newspaper. The principal shut it down because he didn't like a story the newspaper was going to publish. Read more about the case here. The students have the backing of the ACLU and the Student Press Law Center. Despite the powerful backers, this type of situation could happen anywhere.

   If you are moved to sign the petition to support the students and their paper, please feel free to do so. Use the school's address for your petition.


Worknight is April 8. Please plan to attend if you are an editor (including editors for 2011-2012), layout editor or if your work isn't finished.