Before the COVID-19 pandemic, middle-school students felt they were rarely offered a chance to express their passions, their interests, on a page. Post-pandemic, they feel like they can barely talk about anything at all. So, why not try writing about them? That’s precisely what rising eighth-grader Santo Raggiri did with The Fieldstonian. “Around the end of the seventh grade, while reading the Upper School Newspaper, I had a vision to create a newspaper for middle-schoolers. When it was approved over the summer, I was ecstatic to finally be able to articulate my thoughts eloquently and share them with people.” Fellow eighth-grader Alistair King wanted to join to share information and ideas that might not be easily accessible to middle schoolers with his peers. “Being part of the middle school newspaper has allowed me to become part of a community of students who all enjoy putting down their thoughts on paper. Moreover, due to a diverse population of students, being part of this community has widened my view on writing and thinking in general. This has been a great opportunity to be a part of a process, in which I can witness and be a part of a group of thinkers who inquire into real-life events and present their ideas and opinions through writing.”
New to the middle school this year, Clara Tripp came to the paper with experience from her previous school. She jumped at the opportunity to bring together two important areas of her life, as well as to collaborate with like-minded peers, especially during a time of separation. The current political climate also motivated Clara: “I find that access to (accurate) information is always crucial, but specifically, at the current moment, when misinformation and disinformation abound, I feel fortunate to be part of an organization working to provide community members with factual news in addition to new ideas.” Will Barrett, a new ECFS sixth-grader, is another seasoned staffer who wrote for the paper at his last school. “The middle school paper is a way that I can share thoughts and information with the rest of the middle schoolers. In this way, they can learn about our community, our city, state, country, and the world around us, which is extremely important to us and our lives.”
Caitlin Neidow and Alexa Citron both joined the paper a few months later. Their first piece is about the Covid-19 vaccine and distribution, which they are working on, interviewing for, and writing together. Caitlin was looking for a fun experience where she could create pieces she was passionate about. “I’ve really enjoyed working with peers to interview members of the Fieldston community and turning the information we have acquired into an intriguing article that students and faculty would be interested in.” Alexa joined The Middle School Fieldstonian as an eighth-grader, to gain more experience in the literary community at Fieldston. Her intention was to write one article but “One thing led to another, and here I am, a member of the club. And although it wasn’t my intention, I have no regrets! I have gained a lot of knowledge and understanding from my fellow peers and teachers.”
Alkis Karmpaliotis is another eighth-grader who believes that the practice of sharing ideas is essential, especially in such difficult times like these. Conversing with his friends about a wide variety of topics, from sports to politics every day is something that he looks forward to. “Now, in a tempestuous time during which I hardly ever see most of my classmates, I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to continue sharing and communicating with others through writing. To be part of a community of writers who share the same interests and passions as me is a privilege, and to read their work and share my own is an honor.”
The staff hopes to publish monthly featuring student and teacher profiles, local Riverdale stories, and state and national stories through a Fieldston lens. Currently looking for photographers and writers, those interested in should contact sgill@ecfs.org!
