Step into the vibrant world of student journalism at Dunecrest American School as we embark on an exclusive interview featuring the dedicated Grade 10 student editors, Eyas Malaysheh and Jad Abu Ghaida. From the exhilarating brainstorming sessions where ideas take flight to the meticulous late-night edits, they extend a warm invitation for you to join them on their remarkable journey. Get ready to peel back the layers, uncover their unwavering passion, navigate the thrilling challenges, and bask in the glory of their triumphs as they navigate the intricate landscape of running a student newspaper. Learn more about the inspiring role a school’s community can play in empowering students to achieve their goals. 

What inspired you to launch a newspaper for students?

Jad: We wanted to create a student-led newspaper to highlight what happens inside the school and also to shine light on some of the amazing initiatives from our students and staff.

What challenges did you face?

Eyas: Well, there are definitely many challenges when creating a newspaper. From getting people to submit the articles on time to  finding the format and design that would work best. However as a team we found ourselves overcoming these challenges which has been our most important learning. 

What were your goals whilst creating the Eagle Express? 

Eyas: One of the main goals was to reach students all over the campus  from Elementary all the way to Senior school. I feel this publication helps to unite us and bring us all together as one. 

Jad: The second goal was also to make it easily accessible and go digital. We achieved this by creating our own website, and also have the Eagle Express on the school’s official website. 

How did the Dunecrest community support your initiative?

Jad: We received a lot of support from the Dunecrest community. As an example, after we we published our first issue, we received a whole bunch of congratulatory emails from parents, staff and students who told us how much they liked the issue and told us to keep going! That’s how the school came together as one and inspired us to continue our efforts. 

What’s been your learning objective? 

Eyas: Our learning objective was to set ourselves a challenge. We came together as a team to create something the school has never seen before!  

According to its founders, the Eagle Express is more than just a school newspaper; it's a testament to the power of unity through words. The publication’s mission is to serve as a bridge between students, faculty, and the community, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared experiences and diverse perspectives. Eagle Express strives to inform, entertain, and inspire while upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Every student has a unique story to tell and a distinctive perspective to offer, and the paper’s dedicated team of student journalists, photographers, designers, and editors work collaboratively to bring these stories to life. Through rigorous reporting, thoughtful analysis, and creative storytelling, we aim to cultivate a new generation of media-savvy individuals.

One of the main goals was to reach students all over the campus  from Elementary all the way to Senior school. I feel this publication helps unite us and bring us all together as one.