Student reporters at Moon Valley High School in Phoenix are continuing to deliver news to their readers despite being out of the classroom.
The students had planned to release the April edition of their paper, the Rocket Reporter, after they returned from spring break with coverage of their school’s spring assembly and other events. But before classes could resume, school was cancelled.
Their adviser, Melanie Allen, said the students were determined to see their product come to life, even in a digital format, and worked hard to update their news stories to reflect the current reality.
The students managed to layout their newspaper and publish it online last week from their homes.
“Obviously this is a challenge that is not foreseeable, but I am thankful for it because that real-world experience that they are not going to get otherwise as teenagers in high school,” Allen said.
The students will release one more edition before the end of the school year. Co-editor in chief Abbi Vargo said they plan to report on how their student body is being affected by the school closure, including seniors like her. Vargo was looking forward to her biological dad attending her graduation after not having contact with him for 16 years.
“He even bought a plane ticket to fly from Oregon to Arizona like right away,” Vargo said. “So I feel bad because he and the rest of my family may not even see me walk the stage.”
Vargo said her principal is not sure yet if graduation will be cancelled or postponed.
