Youth Newspaper Article

This is an article I wrote in January.  This article reflects the writing skills that I learned throughout the year. 

Youth Groups to Meet with RCSD Superintendent

Gena Driscoll-Brantley

On January 2^nd 2013, youth groups will meet with Superintendent Bolgen Vargas and school district staff.  At the meeting, teens will discuss problems within the school district, and present ideas to make them better. 

            Many youth groups from across the city will be in attendance. Youth from Safe Sex Inc., a youth leadership program promoting the sexual health of young people, plan to present their concerns.

Youth from Safe Sex Inc. will present to the superintendant their ideas on health education, harassment and bullying, and youth-adult communication and relationships.  The leader of Safe Sex Inc., Junior Dillion said, “One of my students said he didn’t even know he had a counselor.”

The youth from Safe Sex Inc. hope to strengthen relationships between students and adults within schools. 

            Dillion said, “I grew up in England, and my sister, who is in high school there, has gotten tremendous help from her school in choosing a university.  That doesn’t always seem to happen in the US.”

Also in attendance will be a club of students from North East College Prep who meet at lunch to discuss problem solving, as well as their teachers, grades, and goals will speak.

Demetrius Battle, the leader of the youth group at North East College Prep, said his students will present ideas on “what would make a great school.”

Teens from THRIVE, (Teens Helping Reinvent Identity, Values, and Empowerment) will share their ideas at the meeting.

            A number of kids from THRIVE will tell the superintendant about a variety of issues within the district.  One student will talk about the problems caused by substitute teachers lacking the knowledge to adequately teach a subject, and another will speak about bullying.   THRIVE youth will also express concerns with extended school hours. This year, North East College Prep extended its hours; the school day now starts at 7:10 and goes until 5:15, to mixed results.  

            One student from THRIVE said, “Superintendent Vargas spends a lot of time in my school, and it’s great to have another chance to talk with him.  He’s not a stranger to us.”

            Finally, students from SOAR, a youth leadership team working to reduce teen pregnancy, will also attend the meeting. 

            The meeting between youth groups and the Superintendent will be held on January 2^nd at Central Office, third floor, at 4:00pm.  All City residents are welcome to attend.