2022 ODYSSEY Summer Mailer

Featured: MENTORSHIP: Upcoming Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell, a rising junior, (left) stands with 2021-2022 ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Editor-in-Chief Audrey Enghauser (right) at Trumps Catering on May 22 to accept an Editor’s Choice Award at the ODYSSEY/iliad Annual Banquet. “It was wonderful to be recognized and mentored by Audrey and the other seniors this year. I am so honored that I was able to be able to work alongside them and I know that I will take what I have learned from them and use that knowledge going forward,” Harwell said. Photo by Lucas Donnelly

LAYOUT AND PACKAGING BY MOLLY HARWELL

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

H

ello! I am Molly Harwell, the upcoming Editor-in-Chief for the ODYSSEY Newsmagazine. This will be my third year in the ODYSSEY Media Group, and it has truly changed my high school experience for the better and molded me into the person I am today. I look forward to furthering the legacy of this incredible program by working with Journalism One and Production students to produce quality content for the Athens community.

The ODYSSEY Media Group is a student-run news organization that operates as a convergence model, where student journalists produce a range of content that is published both in our newsmagazine, social media, YouTube and on our website.

The purpose of the ODYSSEY program is to inform, entertain, and give voice to the Clarke Central High School community. The ODYSSEY program provides students the opportunity to become journalists through rigorous hands-on training. Students will interview stakeholders in the CCHS and Athens community, write a variety of story genres from breaking news to editorials, learn how to create multimedia and quality designs, and explore other areas of journalism such as broadcast, podcast, and photography. Throughout the learning process, students will learn how to work within a team and grow personally and professionally with the support of the Production staff.

BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

The purpose of the ODYSSEY program is to inform, entertain and give voice to the Clarke Central High School community.

Being a part of the OMG requires a solid foundation, which begins with Journalism One. J1 will challenge student journalists and push them outside of their comfort zones in order to foster growth. During the fall, they will engage in lessons on professional communication, marketing and branding, news and opinion writing. By the spring, students will immerse themselves in digital

1

odysseynewsmagazine.com

storytelling, reviews, podcasts and broadcasts. By the end of the year, students will learn to master ODYSSEY and AP Style, as well as how to market to target audiences, how to create quality content of all varieties, how to follow ethical journalism practices, and more.

Being a part of the OMG requires a solid foundation, which begins with Journalism One. The class requires students to stay on top of their work, as we often rely on each other to get work done. This hard work does pay off however, and will leave students with many important lessons and skills even after high school.To support their work, like Production students, J1 students are expected to attend after-school sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and will have to create time outside of class to complete assignments.

J1is not only facilitated by Mr. Ragsdale, but also by veteran members of the ODYSSEY program who will help provide guidance and mentorship. After Journalism One, if they choose to continue in the program, students will apply to join the Production staff and create content for the newsmagazine and website within their staff position.

Throughout the year, members of the Journalism One and Production classes will be invited to journalism conferences in order to gain a better understanding of journalism and learn from professionals in the field, as well as form connections with other student journalists.

Students will attend sessions on a plethora of topics, ranging from AP Style to broadcast journalism to hosting sports media days. Additionally, we’ll have students presenting sessions, as well as competing in on-site competitions as they bond with fellow staff members.

I am very excited to meet all of the incoming Journalism One students this summer and to begin working with this year’s Production staff. We can’t wait to see how you will create your own individual path within the program, and we are looking forward to a great year! O

FROM THE STAFF ANTONIO STARKS Illustrator

AZA KHAN Photographer/Journalism I facilitator

I do ODYSSEY to enhance my writing and journalistic skills. I also find that having a strong sense of community and having people who are willing to support you motivates me to continue to do ODYSSEY. The other members of the ODYSSEY support me by letting me know that I can talk to them, allowing me room to grow and not focusing on past mistakes and they are willing to help me with any projects. The ODYSSEY allows me to be more of myself than I would in a normal classroom because it’s more than a classroom, it’s a family.

I do ODYSSEY because it allows me to strengthen my skills as a student journalist. My first year of production has been quite valuable, since I‘ve learned a lot about social media and photography, along with improving my literary skills. Without ODYSSEY, I would not have had the confidence or level of expertise that I have developed over the last two years. I‘m looking forward to meeting new individuals and building strong relationships with the new staff!

MAYA CLEMENT Lead Copy Editor

WYATT MEYER Sports Editor

I do ODYSSEY for a multitude of reasons. My main reason is because of the sense of community built in the classroom. Being in ODYSSEY is so different from any other class because you always get to interact and collaborate with other students from all grade levels. I have really enjoyed getting to know so many new people throughout the year. While the class can be stressful at times, it has so many positive aspects that I think outweighs anything difficult.

I am a part of the ODYSSEY Media Group for the people. Whether I’m writing about them or working alongside them, the people I get to meet through the ODYSSEY are incredible. I find myself learning not just about events in the community, but also about my work, my friends, and myself. One of the things that’s preached in the ODYSSEY room is having our stories be ‘people-centered,‘ and through ODYSSEY, I’ve become just that.

Above: BACK TOGETHER: Members of the ODYSSEY Media Group, iliad literary-art magazine and Journalism I class pose for a group photo at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association’s “It’s Our Turn” convention in Columbia, S.C. on March 5. Former OMG Digital Managing Editor Natalie Schliekelman, a senior, felt that the convention contributed to staff bonding. “There’s a lot of laughter. There’s a lot of talking. There’s a lot of people hugging each other and all that and that is really great to see,” Schliekelman said. Photo by Lucas Donnelly

2

odysseynewsmagazine.com

FUNDRAISERS

F

rom 2006 until the advent of COVID-19, the ODYSSEY/iliad staffers have volunteered to fundraise at UGA football games in the fall. As such, staffers are asked to volunteer at six (6) games total during the season to staff a concessions booth at Sanford Stadium.

Parent volunteers are also need to supervise during the games and transport volunteers to and from the stadium.

Throughout the year, members who volunteer will be rewarded with prizes. At the end of the season, there will be a raffle drawing for prizes based on a ticket system. If a staff member attends more games, more tickets will be entered in their name.

The importance of these games cannot be overstated. Historically, the OMG has raised around $12,000 through this fundraiser each year.

That money is used for equipment, field trips and scholarship opportunities as well as the production and publication of the magazines and upkeep of the website. All OMG members benefit from this revenue.

Additionally, students will engage in the marketing project each fall semester. Students will learn the principles of branding, and marketing towards their personal spheres of influence. While students are not graded for selling subscriptions, they are graded on marketing the publication to enhance its community reach. Sales from subscriptions go towards mailing the publication to our subscribers - roughly 250 paid subscribers each year.

ODYSSEY/ iliad Booster Club is continually looking for new ideas and opportunities to fundraise to support the program. All parents and gaurdians are encouraged to join. Traditionally, the group has hosted a silent auction each December to O raise money to support the students, which will require parent volunteers. All of these fundraisers play a major role in our program and without them, the OMG would not be able to thrive. O

BY AUDREY ST. ONGE Business Manager

WORKSHOP

E

ach year, the ODYSSEY summer journalism workshop is held so that new J1 students can familiarize themselves with the flow of ODYSSEY. Likewise, the workshop allows returning veterans to acclimate to new roles within the program. By the end of the workshop, participants are able to see what the program is like before the school year starts. This year, the annual summer workshop will be held on July 25-27 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 231 at Clarke Central High School. Our veteran editors will present programmatic goals, begin working with participants on their interviewing and writing skills and immerse students in the skills needed for programmatic success.

We will have breakfast, an afternoon snack, lunch as a group and plenty of breaks throughout the day to get to know each other. All members of the ODYSSEY Production staff and Journalism I students are expected to attend the workshop. Iliad Editorial Board members are also expected to attend to help acclimate themselves to new teammates and the workflow. This three-day workshop is a great way to prepare for the school year and meet other staffers in the program.

A sign-up form for meals will be sent out to ensure the students have snacks and beverages to fuel them throughout each day of the workshop. The workshop will conclude on Wednesday with a potluck luncheon from 1 to 3 p.m. to celebrate the students’ accomplishments from the week. O

BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief

July 25-27 8:30-3:30 Room 231

3

odysseynewsmagazine.com

PHOTOS FROM ODYSSEY ARCHIVES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Above: CELEBRATING SUCCESS: The ODYSSEY Media Group poses for a picture at the University of Georgia’s Center for Continuing Education at the conclusion of the 2022 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Workshop and Awards Banquet on April 11. While on site, students from across the state attended three rounds of sessions, engaged in a keynote speech and took part in an awards ceremony. “I enjoyed the workshop. It was an educational experience that will send our seniors off into the real world with valuable resources and for our younger kids, we’ll be able to implement new strategies with fidelity in our upcoming work,” senior Lucas Donnelly, a Journalism I Facilitator and Photography Editor, said. Photo by Kevin McCage

Is ODYSSEY a club or a class?

What class materials are needed?

It’s both! There are two journalism periods at Clarke Central High School.

First-year students are enrolled into the introductory course, Journalism 1, and returning students are enrolled in the Production class. Both classes give the opportunity to be published on the media group’s platforms including the website, in the newsmagazine, on our social media and in the literary-art magazine.

In order to create content for these platforms, students are expected to attend after-school workdays on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30. Snacks will be provided. During these work sessions, there’s a laid back atmosphere and students from the two classes interact with each other to bond. Likewise, these sessions offer a great opportunity to receive feedback on assignments.

Students will need their school-provided laptop, a recording device for interviews (usually a phone, but their computer will work), pens, a binder and looseleaf paper daily. Students will also need to keep track of materials given to them at the beginning of the year, which include their press pass and their ODYSSEY manual or stylebook. The student will be charged $8-10 for these items if lost. Students will be provided other items necessary to complete journalistic tasks such as podcasting, broadcasting or photography on a case-by-case basis.

What trips do students take?

Journalism students have the opportunity to attend several conferences during the year, two of them being at the University of Georgia. The Georgia Scholastic Press Association (GSPA) conference is held in the fall and in the spring for a single day and normally costs around $25, varying year to year. The Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) conference is in the spring in Columbia, South Carolina and is held for three-consecutive days -- this cost is generally $300 per student. Scholarships are available for both conferences. These events are beneficial to students’ growth with classes taught by distinguished journalism advisers and program leaders from across the country.

What are some typical assignments for J1 students?

First-year students will be assigned a variety of tasks to learn about the different styles of journalistic writing, multimedia, videography, photography, marketing and design. For example, students will have opportunities to craft blogs, profiles, news stories, podcasts and engage in photo explorations. The entire purpose of the introductory class is to offer students a variety of journalism opportunities to get them familiar and comfortable with the ODYSSEY production workflow so they can excel in the Production class if they choose to continue with the program.

4

odysseynewsmagazine.com

ps b uif u nf

stu fbs dpnn uunfou

tuvefou

ipx

Each staffer will be given time in class to complete assignments, but work outside of class will be necessary to produce the best content for all of our platforms. Deadlines for all assignments will be given well in advance and students will be provided with a helpful calendar. Students are expected to attend after-school workdays on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and along with that we have weekend work days that are posted in advance and food will be provided.

There is a time commitment when a student enrolls in journalism, however the ODYSSEY provides means to manage with that commitment.

Who should my J1 student talk to if they have questions or need help?

Communication is key in ODYSSEY, and one of our major ideals is to not suffer in silence. If a parent of a student has a concern, they should consult Mr. Ragsdale. However, for day-to-day questions and help, they should talk to student facilitators that will be in class to cater to the needs of the J1 students.

c h