LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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ELENA GILBERTSON HALL Editor-in-Chief
he ODYSSEY Media Group is a student-produced news source for Clarke Central High School that I have had the pleasure of being a part of for three years now. Next school year, I will serve as Editor-in-Chief in our production class. I am looking forward to continuing the legacy this program has built since its founding in 2003, and hope to continue expanding the reach and purpose of our news coverage.
Working for the ODYSSEY is a tremendous opportunity for mentorship and personal growth, where students will be pushed outside their comfort zones and expected to maintain a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility to their fellow staffers and community. The 2019-20 school year will be the third year in which we have run our Journalism 1 class, which is an introductory class for first-year ODYSSEY students. Throughout their year in J1, students will learn the basics of journalism, including writing, multimedia, marketing and technical skills. This class will be facilitated by five veteran leaders of the ODYSSEY program, providing an opportunity for cross-grade mentorship and friendship.
"Students will be pushed outside their comfort zones and expected to maintain a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility to their fellow staffers and community."
Being a part of the ODYSSEY program is demanding -- students will be expected to attend Tuesday and Thursday after school workdays and put in many hours of hard work on their own time. But this effort is rewarding, and students will leave ODYSSEY with a much more advanced grasp of all aspects of journalism. Most importantly, ODYSSEY provides a strong support network for students entering high school that remains for years after graduation. Students from both classes, production and J1, will be invited to attend state and regional conferences, where they can attend a variety of sessions, network with other journalists, participate in on-site competitions and bond with their teammates. The Georgia Scholastic Press Association holds a fall and spring conference at the University of Georgia and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association holds a spring conference in Columbia, South Carolina.
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I am excited to get to know all of our incoming J1 students and to work with them in the coming year. I can’t wait to see the work they produce and the unique paths each of them forge as they begin their ODYSSEY careers. Looking forward to a great year!
FROM THE STAFF AUDREY ENGHAUSER News Writer
MAYA CORNISH News Editor
I do ODYSSEY because I love all the people in it and the opportunities it holds. Even if writing isn't your thing, ODYSSEY provides students with the chance to learn skills, such as editing, photography, podcasting, designing websites and other aspects of media that you couldn't learn on your own. Additionally, having a support like ODYSSEY makes all the difference, because you have motivators and friends supporting you in all your endeavors. It also teaches you how to work on a team/staff, which is extremely helpful and necessary for most career paths one might pursue. It has provided me with valuable insight into myself as a writer and team member. It has been such a rewarding experience and has changed the way I look at the work I create.
I do ODYSSEY because it gives me a place to go when I have nowhere else to be. I have a feeling of purpose when I am in here. It's listed as a class, but it isn't just a class. When I'm in math class, I feel like I am going through the motions, but when I am Mr. Ragsdale's classroom, I feel like I am free. I feel free to do what I want (within reason), free to pursue stories and ideas that I wouldn't have a chance to in my other classes. Unlike other classes, this isn't so "cookie-cutter," where students are expected to do everything the same. I have met so many people here that I wouldn't have without ODYSSEY, and I can call on them for anything. The relationships I have made here are once in a lifetime. I do ODYSSEY because it gives me a freedom to explore, both ideas and different types of people, as well as experience into workforce.
GERARDO NAVARRO Photographer
Tecoya Richardson Variety Writer
The communications with staff in ODYSSEY is what I treasure the most. I was never a talker in my two years of high school, but ODYSSEY has helped me come out of my shell and make eye contact with people. Writing has been one of the things that I struggled the most with, including my grammar, but ODYSSEY has helped me improve on it and I have been grateful for that ever since. I have made friends here in ODYSSEY I hope to keep for the long run, even when our school career ends. I have enjoyed all the opportunities ODYSSEY has to offer: news writing, editorials, photography, etc. Though I cannot lie that ODYSSEY will be tough, you are gonna hit rough patches along the way but I promise, everything will be okay. Everyone here cares about you.
I do ODYSSEY because I enjoy interviewing and telling that stories of others within the community. Unlike most classes, ODYSSEY motivates me to do better, not only as a writer, but also as a scholar. ODYSSEY has helped me become social and create unbreakble bonds with people I never thought I would communicate with. In the class, it is more than just doing work. It is applying the skills in real life situtations. Without ODYSSEY, I'm not sure where I would be. Although that's cliche, I truly believe that ODYSSEY has made me who I am today and has shaped me into who I will be in the future.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS MACKENZIE CAUDILL Senior Copy Editor
Is ODYSSEY a club or a class? It's both! There are two journalism periods at Clarke Central High School. First-year students are enrolled into the introductory course, J1, and returning students are enrolled in the Production class. Both classes give the opportunity to be published on the media group's platforms including social media, the newsmagazine, the literary-art magazine, on broadcast or on the website. In order to create content for these platforms, students are encouraged but not required to attend after-school workdays on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30. Snacks will be provided. This is the time that the two classes use to interact with each other and recieve feedback on assignments.
What trips do students take? Journalism students will go to 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 spring and in the fall for a single day and normally costs around $20, varying year to year. The Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) conference is in the spring in South Carolina and is held for three-consecutive days. All conferences are beneficial to students' growth with classes taught by distinguished 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, mini-profiles and engage in photo explorations. The entire purpose of the introductory class is to provide students work with a variety of aspects of journalism to get them familiar and comfortable with the ODYSSEY production work flow.
What materials are needed for class? Students will need their school-provided laptop, a recording device for interviews (phone, iPod, recorder, etc.), pens, a binder and paper daily. Students will also need to keep track of materials given to them at the beginning of the year, their press pass and their ODYSSEY manual or stylebook. The student will be charged $8-$10 for these items if lost. Students wil be provided cameras on a case-by-case basis.
For a first-year student, how much of a time commitment is Journalism? Each staffer will be given time in class to complete assignments. Deadlines for major 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. Weekend workdays 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 cope with that commitment.
Who should my J1 student talk to if they have questions or need help? Commmunication is key in ODYSSEY. If a parent of student has a concern, they should consult Mr. Ragsdale. However, for a 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.
FUN!RAISERS EMMA CRANE Business Manager Annually, members of the ODYSSEY Media Group’s families have a variety of opportunities to help raise money for the program. The largest source of income for the ODYSSEY is our concession stand at Sanford Stadium at UGA. We need both student and parent volunteers to help shuttle workers to and from the stadium on game day, and to work in the stand. There are seven games throughout the course of the year, and we need as many people to work as possible. Every production staffer will be expected to contribute and work at least five out of seven games during the year. At the end of the season, there will be a raffle drawing for prizes in class based on a ticket system. The more games worked, the more tickets will be put into the drawing pool with the workers name on them. If you can’t work a game, you are expected to ask a friend to work in your place, and need to have a legitimate reason for your absence. These games are very important, and generate around $15,000 for the ODYSSEY each year. The revenue from games is put towards equipment, field trips, scholarship opportunities, production and publication of the magazines and upkeep of the website. All students benefit from this money. In addition to the football games, the ODYSSEY/ iliad Booster Club hosts a Silent Night auction in December and will need parent volunteers to help with this initiative. Fundraisers are a vital part of our program. Without them, ODYSSEY wouldn’t be able to thrive.
JULY WORKSHOP NAOMI HENDERSHOT Managing Editor Every year, the ODYSSEY holds a summer journalism workshop for incoming production staffers and returning staffers. During the workshop, incoming staffers will be able to get a sense of the expectations, demands and the flow of the program to prepare them for the year ahead. The workshop will be held on July 16-19 from 8-4 in Room 231 at CCHS. Staffers on production will review the content of each section through a session presented by editors of this upcoming year. Staffers will also review programmatic goals and workflow. ODYSSEY production staffers (incoming and returning) will be expected to attend all four days of the summer workshop. This is a great opportunity to learn and bond with the other members of ODYSSEY and to start the year off right! J1 students are invited to attend a potluck-meet and greet with the production staff on July 19 at noon. The luncheon will be hosted at Hendershots Coffee, located at 237 Prince Ave. in Athens. Attendees will be asked to provide a covered dish. Mr. Ragsdale will provide a sign up form. If you are not able to attend please email Mr. Ragsdale. If you can attend, we can’t wait to see you there!