Students in the Peebles Elementary School newspaper class gather with teacher Jackie Brown, who launched a new school newspaper this year to build communication skills and strengthen ties between the school and the community. Back row(l-r): Trudi Kremin, Ava Smalley, Kailee Setty, Lydia Skaggs, Kole Knechtly, Lydia Myers, Mrs. Jackie Brown, Kanon Craft, Hayes Staggs, Grayson Lawson, Kaiden Fortner, Henry Pertuset, and Gavin Campbell. Front row(l-r): Rayleigh Bumgardner, Skyler Roark, Milani Baer-Stephens, Izzie Mullally, Mikayla Crownover, and Kaisley Musser. (Photo by Ryan Applegate)
By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
Peebles Elementary School has introduced a new opportunity for its students this year with the launch of a school newspaper. The project is being guided by teacher Jackie Brown, who said she was motivated by memories of her own school days. She recalls the sense of anticipation whenever a new issue of the student paper was released and wanted to bring that same experience to her current students.
“I just remember having a school newspaper when I was in school and how everybody anticipated that coming out,” Brown said. “Things going on in the community, things with students in the school, we all looked forward to it. I just thought it would be nice for the kids here to experience that. They can gain journalism skills, interview skills, and learn what it is like to sit down and talk to people face to face. Sometimes the kids get so tied up in technology, they forget what it’s like to look somebody in the eye and have a conversation. That was a big part of it for me.”
Brown explained that her goal was not only to give students a creative outlet but also to encourage them to pay closer attention to what is happening around them. She sees the newspaper as a tool for connecting the school and the larger Peebles community. “The main goal, I think, was to bring the community and the school closer together,” she said. “We want to mold a little more as one. The community will see what is going on in the school and the school will see what is going on in the community. That connection is so important.”
School newspapers have long been a part of American education. In many communities, they served as the first place where students tried their hand at journalism, often imitating the local newspapers their families read. Student papers offered lessons in teamwork, deadlines, and responsibility while also providing a record of school events, student accomplishments, and the issues young people cared about.
In recent decades, the number of elementary and secondary schools with newspapers has declined, often due to budget cuts, shifting priorities, or the rise of digital communication. However, educators like Brown are working to revive them, believing they remain an effective way to teach communication skills and foster civic engagement. The decision by Peebles Elementary to reintroduce a student newspaper reflects that wider trend of returning to traditional, hands-on learning experiences that connect students with their communities.
Brown’s emphasis on communication fits within broader changes across the Adams County Ohio Valley School District, where more programs are being introduced that expose students to career-related experiences at earlier ages. She said these programs help students understand that the skills they are developing now will serve them in the workplace and in life. “I think giving back to the community and working in the community is very important,” Brown said. “It shows kids that what they are learning now connects to their future, whether it is in skilled trades, business, or any other path. This type of project helps them see the bigger picture.”
She organizes an annual sixth grade field trip to the local GE facility, giving students exposure to career opportunities close to home, and also invites Career and Technical Center students to talk about their training. Those efforts show her commitment to helping young people make the connection between what they learn in school and the opportunities available in their own community. Brown said she sees a shift taking place in the workforce, with more demand for skilled trades and practical communication skills.
The school newspaper is one way to prepare her students by encouraging them to practice writing clearly, speaking confidently, and collaborating with others. “Communication skills, both verbal and written, are valuable for any career path,” she said. “The students are building those skills and more by participating in the newspaper. They will learn how to listen, how to ask good questions, and how to put their thoughts into words that others can understand. Those are skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.”
Brown also revealed that her plans extend beyond the newspaper. She has developed a new kindness class that will begin during the next nine week session. The course will focus on community service, with projects such as food drives, visits to nursing homes, and volunteering at local shelters. “We are going to take on community service projects and give back to the community in that way too,” she said. “I want the kids to get out and see what it is like to give back. Whether it is helping the homeless shelter, visiting with residents at a nursing home, or lending a hand at the animal shelter, it is all about reconnecting with the importance of being caring people.” Brown said she believes many in society have lost touch with that responsibility to give back, and she hopes her students will rediscover it through service. Her approach ties directly to her larger goal of connecting young people to the places where they live.
The idea of starting the school newspaper was first discussed at the end of last school year, and Brown said she has received encouragement throughout the process from Principal Jessica Brewer. Having support from school leadership has made it possible for the project to move forward with momentum and enthusiasm. Brown said she is grateful for that encouragement, as it signals that the administration values innovative ideas that give students a chance to grow.
For the Peebles community, the launch of a school newspaper represents more than just a classroom project. It is a chance for students to discover their voices and share the stories that matter to them and their neighbors. It is also a way for families and community members to better understand what is happening inside the school. By reviving a tradition that once played a central role in school life, Peebles Elementary is helping its students learn lessons that reach far beyond the printed page. Brown said the lessons of responsibility, curiosity, and service will remain with her students long after the ink has dried on their first issue.
