Gabriel Nito, Martina Kleis, Angelika Bilbao, Manvis Wong and Niamh Walsh have been an integral part of the News Centre team since they joined as young Year 10 students. Now, at the end of Year 13 they are preparing for their final examinations before leaving us to head off to tertiary education.
As part of the core team, and for the last two years as News Centre leaders, they have taken the College’s reporting of events and personalities to new heights. Four years ago we were celebrating having posted 200 items on the website. The output per year grew to a little over 300 in 2017 and this year we will have gone well past 350. And since March we have also taken on supplying material on an almost daily basis to the College Facebook page. You will also find several of their news stories gracing the pages of the 2017 and 2018 College Year Books. The team of senior students number about 20, while a junior group of reporters is being readied to take over once the seniors head off on study leave.
It is not just quantity of writing but the quality that has developed. They are producing mature, intelligent pieces of journalism.
A big thank you to Gabriel, Manvis and Niamh, who as part of the leadership team have not only written reports but have also inspired and led younger team members, being responsible for assigning stories and following up to make sure deadlines are met. Niamh also acted as our ‘overseas correspondent’ while on the 2017 College trip to France, sending through stories and photographs every second or third day to keep the community updated.
A very special thank you to Martina Kleis who not only wrote many news stories but for almost two years was responsible for posting the items on the website. A not inconsiderable amount of hours spent in service of the school and the News Centre and putting up with the countless emails I sent her way.
Lastly we come to Angelika Bilbao, who for the last two years has been the leader of the student team, making sure reporters and photographers were in place and covering events herself when nobody else was available. Always with a smile, Angelika has shown herself to be an amazing young lady, organised, resourceful and resilient. In 2017, while I was overseas for six weeks, Angelika kept the team moving like a well-oiled machine as we kept in touch via email. Long distance planning can, and did, work.
It has been a delight working with this talented and loyal group of students and on behalf of the community I thank them for their contribution to the life of the College and wish them all the very best for the future.
Kevin Saunders
