Remi Poliquin
Counsel
Beurling Students Find Their Voice Through New Journalism Club
by Marilyn Santucci
Beurling Academy has launched a journalism club to provide students with a space to explore journalism, develop their writing skills, and connect with others who share their interests.
The club’s online newspaper, the Beurling Bugle, features student-written articles and photography.
Approximately 15 students from across all grade levels have joined the club, where they have the opportunity to experiment with different forms of writing and cover a wide range of topics, from school happenings to events and issues in the Verdun community.
Jessica Tedeschi, who has been teaching English at Beurling for four years, says she started the club because she saw a need to place greater emphasis on English writing. While many schools offer math and science clubs, she felt English was often overlooked. A journalism club presented an opportunity for students to explore their interest in journalism while strengthening their writing skills.
“Journalism has always been a passion of mine, and I wanted to introduce it to my students and see if there was any interest, and there was. It was also important for me to provide my students and the community with a voice,” said Tedeschi.
The decision to create an online newspaper was driven by accessibility and the desire to reach a wider audience. Tedeschi explains that the digital format allows people beyond the Beurling community to read the articles, share their thoughts, and engage with the content. Sharing stories on social media also helps extend the newspaper’s reach.
Senior students take the lead in writing most of the articles, while junior students focus primarily on layout and editing. Students from both groups are paired up to encourage collaboration and allow them to learn from one another. The Beurling Bugle is published at the end of each month, following weeks of work and collaboration among club members.
For Grade 9 student Sofie, joining the journalism club is an opportunity to pursue her passion for writing while developing skills that will support her future ambitions.
“I’ve always had an interest in journalism and writing in general. It’s my best subject. Writing for a newspaper really piqued my interest. There aren’t many English-based clubs and, as someone who has a passion for writing, it felt like a good fit. I like writing about things that inspire me. I hope this experience helps me learn new skills. I want to be an author one day, and I think this experience will help me moving forward,” said Sofie.
For other students, the club offers a chance to meet new people while exploring a personal interest. Grade 10 student Addison joined in part to make connections during their first year at Beurling.
“This is my first year at this school, and making friends can be hard. I told myself I would join as many things as I could to meet new people, and the journalism club was one of them. Growing up, I always loved English class and writing, specifically on sports, and so I am looking forward to working on my skills and learning new things that will help me learn more about myself,” said Addison.
Partnership with The Suburban
The club is also opening doors to new learning opportunities through a partnership with The Suburban, an English-language weekly community newspaper. The newspaper approached Tedeschi about collaborating with the journalism club, with plans for its journalists to visit Beurling several times throughout the school year to lead workshops.
The partnership will give student journalists the opportunity to learn from professionals in the field, ask questions, and share their work. It will also help strengthen the connection between the school and the wider community.
Through the journalism club, the Beurling Bugle, and the partnership with The Suburban, students are gaining valuable opportunities to develop their writing, explore their creativity, and discover the power of storytelling.
This is the first instalment in a series exploring the students’ journey into journalism. Throughout the school year, we’ll be joining the club for its workshops with The Suburban to showcase what students learn, the skills they develop, and their experiences as budding journalists.
