Encouraged by young achievers

We got word last week from the proud parents of four Knik Elementary School fourth-grade students who were honored at their school’s quarterly awards assembly.

Since neither parents nor school principals tend to call us and ask for coverage when things are going badly, so we love getting these good-news calls.

Whether it’s a principal or a parent who invites us to cover this or that activity at a local school we go gladly. And it’s not just because it’s way more fun to spend part of the day surrounded by the enthusiasm of the young that we love covering schools stories.

These stories give us a chance to brag about the meat and potatoes of schools: education.

Each issue of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman includes a B section that is largely devoted to the accomplishments of high school athletes.

Admittedly, we devote a lot of resources to covering high school sports.

But thanks to a partnership with Mat-Su Borough School District, Valley readers are getting more schools coverage of academics and athletics this year.

We’re proud of the student writers who produce professional-quality photos and stories for our Schools and Sports sections. These students receive no payment for their efforts. Their only remuneration is a byline and kudos from the public for their good work.

That’s changing, though. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of school district teachers Emily Forstner and Susan Brunner, students who wish now may also enroll through the district to earn Independent Study credit for their work on the Frontiersman. And we’ve had so much positive response from the students and teachers involved that now there is talk of continuing our partnership during the summer months.

This partnership isn’t just limited to the Frontiersman’s weekly School’s pages. Palmer High senior Tim Rockey writes a sports story in nearly every issue. He plans to continue his education this fall as a journalism student at the University of Montana.

On this week’s Schools page you can read all about what four fourth-graders at Knik Elementary did to earn their spot in the newspaper. You can see what students at Wasilla High School are learning in their Advanced Human Relations Class, as documented by photographer Rachel Clark. You can read the story by Casey Branch about a fund-raiser to benefit Advocates for Dog and Puppy Wellness. Or, you can learn more about Colony High School’s new tardy policy, called “Safe Transitions and Reduced Tardies,” by Eva Colberg.

And as always, you can read the Sports section and catch up on Tim Rockey’s coverage of local sports.

We know that these are the voices and faces of our future. Here in the newsroom, some of us even remember when we were those starry-eyed Valley high school contributors to these pages. In fact, that’s how Sports Editor Jeremiah Bartz got his start.

We are privileged to feature their words on our pages and pleased to have even the smallest hand in helping them reach their dreams. We hope you are as proud as we are of our Valley’s talented youth.