Newspapers in Lynn: elementary

LYNN – It?s good to know from a young age what you?re interested in doing.For fifth-graders at Shoemaker Elementary and fourth-graders at Sisson, they might already know what they want to be when they grow up.Many of the students on the staffs of the newly created school newspaper staff of Sisson Scholars? Scoop want to be writers in some capacity or another. Both school newspapers were founded at the start of the academic year, and Sisson has a new issue coming out this week.Mekayla Poisson, who has written “Secret Advisor,” or “Dear Abby,” and “Fun Spot,” or a crossword puzzle, hopes to become a non-fiction author.?I like writing and working in groups,” Poisson said.Christian Spates, who has written news and feature stories, plans to write non-fiction action books.?I really like working for the paper,” Spates said. “I?m with all my friends, and I like to see how other people write.”Taofeekat Lamina, who also has written “Fun Spot,” “Secret Advisor” and news stories, noted the students chose what they wanted to work on.?I like it very much,” Lamina said. “It helps me with my writing, and it?s also really fun to write articles.”Melinda Veiga, editor and reading support teacher for grades 1 to 4, said students begin to publish the paper during an after-school program Tuesdays until 3 p.m.?We?re all new to newspapers, so we try to rotate it so that no one is doing the same thing,” Veiga said. “They get a taste of it all. We break up into groups to do the writing. I stand at the board and have two children take notes while the rest observe and participate.”Veiga said all students in the building – nearly 500 – receive a copy. Previous issues were released Dec. 23 and Feb. 13.Principal Jane Franklin said the school once published a paper seven to eight years ago, but it became too time-consuming to continue.?It was a good paper,” Franklin said. “We?re excited to have it back. The students are so cooperative and excited about it. No one is off doing their own thing.”Though they write for a hobby more so than Sisson, staffers of The Shoemaker News can see themselves doing medical writing.Grace Patterson, who hopes to become a nurse, writes news stories, poetry and doesn?t want to put her pencil down.?I really like reading, and there?s a connection to writing,” Patterson said. “I especially like imaginative stories, where you can write anything you want.”Katie Dunn, who plans on becoming a plastic surgeon, also writes news.?I like writing stories and sharing them with my family,” Dunn said. “If Our Lady of Assumption, where I?m going next, doesn?t have (a newspaper), I would definitely be interested in starting one.”Julie Maglio said she?s pleased with students? reporting.?It originally started with two pages,” Maglio said. “They take on any assignment with enthusiasm. I?m thrilled with their eagerness. It doesn?t take much motivation on my part.”Like Sisson, the Shoemaker staff, consisting of 12 reporters, also meets during an after-school program from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Tuesdays. They have also had three issues – January, February and March.Maglio said each month has a theme. For January and February, the theme was winter events that occurred in school, and March was music and art. The newsroom began with members of the spelling bee and soon took on new members.