Extra, extra read all about it! Students at Dutchess BOCES’ Resilience Academy (RA) have their own newspaper called “BOCES Newsletter,” where they report on everything from the use of artificial intelligence in video games to profiles of new staff.
The first issue printed this fall and is proudly displayed in the RA hallway close to Principal Kiesha Tillman’s office. The articles are compiled and formatted by student editor Alexandra Varble to create the final product, which comes out of a new journalism elective for the 2025-2026 school year taught by Stephen Blair. Rather than assign stories or beats, Blair allows students to write about their interests.
“The way I saw the class was, why don’t we do it around them choosing things that they want to write about and have them explore those topics,” Blair explained.
The class utilized the school’s new computer lab to write and produce the newsletter. The next issue is anticipated to be released during the week of Jan. 26 with a goal of having a new issue every quarter. Blair hopes that one of the future editions can be printed to resemble an actual newspaper, using Southern Dutchess News’ printing press or another source. “We’re figuring out how that can be paid for so that there will be an actual newspaper that people could have in their hands and look at,” Blair said. “That’s what we’re aiming toward.”
Senior Isabella Salomone joined the class to be able to share about her interest in animals and she plans to do a feature on Blanding’s turtles as they are only found in Dutchess County. The class has also helped her think of different ways to format her work. “I’ve been looking at news articles and trying to see how they’re written so I can better replicate that,” Salomone said. “I want to educate and entertain people.”
Junior Mia Fountain is working on the first of a series called “Real Talk,” where she will interview fellow students about what changes they want to see in how they are being taught and how RA has benefitted them. She came up with the idea after being involved with student government and realizing that students need to be represented in different ways, including in print. “It’s good to get input on everything; if teachers are giving input on you, we should be able to give input on them,” Fountain said. “I always thought newspapers were pretty cool and it always gives you new information.”
