North Carolina Triad Elementary School starts student-run newspapers to help practice writing

Photo byTown Talks

Fox8 News reported that Cash Elementary School's Media Coordinator, Jessica Schaeffer, noticed a gap in students' writing skills and found a creative solution: launching a school newspaper called Crucial Cougar News.

The student-led publication, featuring 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders as reporters, quickly became more than just a writing exercise—it turned into a community-building tool.

Fifth graders like Ryleigh Matthews and Elle Peay found it fun and rewarding to cover topics they hadn’t explored before, while Ella Pennington shared how overcoming nervousness helped her engage in meaningful conversations.

The paper also strengthened ties within the school, as classrooms that often felt isolated learned about one another’s activities through the students’ reporting.

The success of Crucial Cougar News caught the attention of more students, including those in the exceptional children's classes, who now serve as the Circulation Crew. Rolling and distributing the paper helped these students develop fine motor and social skills, while providing a hands-on experience in journalism.

Through digital platforms, students are gaining skills in editing, layout, and content creation. They’re also learning the importance of accuracy, unbiased reporting, and asking the right questions. Their efforts even earned the newspaper recognition as the best student newspaper in Community Engagement—an international achievement.

Schaeffer is thrilled with the paper's success and excited to see where the next year takes these young journalists.