1 week Ago By Todd R. Hansen
FAIRFIELD – Chanel Costley has been bouncing back and forth between California and Arizona for six years. She lives and goes to school in Fairfield one year – this year at Rodriguez High where she is a freshman; the next year she is in Arizona – splitting her time with each of her parents. While the routine may be unappealing for many students who would prefer a more stable routine and the same group of friends with whom to meet the challenges of adolescence – not Costley "It's fun," she said.
The primary difference between the two worlds, she said, is folks in Arizona mind their own business. Californians want to know everything about everyone, invited or not. Costley prefers the Arizona mantra.
Costley wrote a story about her life as part of the Rodriguez High journalism class, in this case as part of a program with KQED radio. Her story was not selected for broadcast. The selected piece aired on Friday.
Still, for Costley, it is the funnest story she has written for the class. Of the 29 students in the class, only two actually aspire to be journalists: Anthony Powell, a junior, and freshman Melina Stage. Both enjoy chasing the stories and then writing down what they have learned.
It's a combination of the challenge and the fun they have doing the work. The more controversial the story, the better for Powell. "I think giving a student perspective is very important given all the chaos going around," said Powell, who will likely go to Merritt Community College for at least a year, with designs to transfer to UC Davis.
That is why the piece he and freshman Ethan Sinay wrote about the potential impact of the Trump administration's cuts to education could have on the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, is his favorite to date. (The Daily Republic agreed to publish that story.) Powell's history with his father being a former bar owner in Suisun Valley also peaked his interest in the Solano Landing project at Rockville Corners, a development he has heard will "industrialize" the area best know for the iconic Ice House and rural tone.
He thinks finding that story would be fun, too. Shelby Gill is in the class because her English teacher recommended it. "She likes my writing," said Gill, a junior.
The course is taught by Tim O'Donnell, who spent three years as a profession journalist in Wisconsin. While he was never convinced it was the profession for him, his coverage of school issues led him to what has been a 20-year career as teacher. The last five of those have been at Rodriguez High.
"When I got here, there was no (journalism program); there had been in the past," said O'Donnell, who also is the adviser to the yearbook. Now the students put out a magazine-like publication called, "Manestream," a student-chosen title that plays on the school mascot, the Mustangs. This year, they are producing three editions, though in the past there has been four.
One student serves as editor of each edition. The one that was released on Friday was edited by senior Sa'Naiyah Howard. The other two editors are junior Samuel Goodwin and Jonae Terrones, a senior.
O'Donnell said he likes the fact the class produces a paper publication, something tangible that the student body can pick up and read. "Students have to go look for (an online version); it's passive," O'Donnell said. The teacher was particularly impressed with the latest edition of "Manestream," telling the students "the stories in there are a cut above; they are really good.
So take them to your friends.".
