Sterling High School’s Publications students direct the news, yearbook

STERLING — Teachers and administration may run the show at Sterling High School, but it is the students who command the headlines and shape the yearbook.

Students in SHS’s Publications class manage, write and edit the school’s online newspaper, The Warrior Word. Student reporters and their editors cover school events, clubs, sports, activities, community happenings and more. They also help shoot and produce the school yearbook.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 7

Sterling High School's Publications instructor Jennifer Drew speaks with students Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, on the day’s lesson. (Alex T. Paschal)

However, these students do more than participate, they run the show – with a little help and oversight from SHS teacher Jennifer Drew.

“I try to support any decision that they make and withhold the veto unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Drew said. “If I feel that something needs to change, I’ll let them know. But most of the time, I just let them explain their decision and try to support them. They get to help shape the memories for the entire school, and they don’t take that lightly.”

Warrior Word Copy Editor Victoria Nguyen agrees.

“I’m so passionate about this yearbook, it’s my baby,” Nguyen said. “I look at every detail and read over everything. I want to make everything perfect because this is going out to everyone in the school. If something is wrong, we didn’t do our job.”

Drew said the class also manages and regularly posts to its Instagram account where students conduct interviews and create reels and videos promoting the yearbook, Publications and other school-related content.

“It’s hard to include every accomplishment that everyone had, so that’s where we take to the reels,” Co-Editor Jubran Alkhalaf said. “It’s a quick way to make sure that everyone’s represented. Even though they may not get their own page in the yearbook, they at least get a solid minute or two on social media to recognize their accomplishments.”

Students can begin taking Publications in their sophomore year. Outside of reporting and working on the yearbook, there are also several different editorial positions that students can apply for.

Drew loves seeing her students’ hard work and passion pay off. She is especially proud of her 2020 yearbook group, which worked remotely while schools were locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the challenges of remote work, the students had to figure out how to fill pages in the yearbook that had been planned to feature the spring sports season without changing the layout.

“They ended up taking pictures of the empty ball fields and diamonds, and then they got quotes from all the players about what they were going to miss most in the year,” Drew said. “The way that they managed to make that yearbook beautiful and memorable, and the work that they had to put in to get it done, was remarkable. I will forever be grateful for them.”