During the week preceding winter break, the students in Ms. Russell’s journalism I CP class spent time interviewing community members, students, staff, and faculty members with one simple question: What do you love about Oley?
The answers spanned from five seconds to five minutes, but there were some common themes. Using these videos and the information gathered from them, students are now hard at work designing a newspaper that correlates with the values of the Valley. Here’s what they found.
- Students are our #1 priority.
“The teachers adore the students,” Stephanie Hildebrand wrote after conducting her interviews. This quickly became a theme. “Our students are our greatest factor here,” Mrs. Rowe reported when asked. They “seem engaged and [...] willing to try things, and that’s what I ask of my students,” said Mrs. Lust. Mr. Kallis agreed, saying that his favorite part of Oley is the “amazing, extraordinary kids that we have here.” Almost every adult asked said their favorite part of Oley was the students we get to teach, and the data shows how truly extraordinary our students are. Oley students earn more awards than can feasibly be mentioned here, and in terms of standardized test scores, they often score well above the state average. But the best part about our kids is their kindness, which leads to value #2.
2. Community matters.
Chris Bertolami reported that “One of the reoccurring [values] when it came to student answers was how tight-knit the community is.” Natalie Faust’s interviewees agreed almost verbatim, reporting how this atmosphere has led to making many friends along the way. Teachers and other school staff echoed this, mentioning that many have found life-long friends in their colleagues. Brayden Samuelsen found that “knowing everyone, being able to walk to some fun places in town, and the rural scenery and local farms,” were also common threads he wants to focus on in his reporting. Bevanne Fischer interviewed Mr. Weston, superintendent, who said he clearly sees “how passionate everyone is about the mission, the community, [and] its values.” When someone’s in need, “everyone comes together” to lift them up, Mrs. Fischer (elementary secretary) reported--even if it means sacrificing time, money, or labor.
3. Our teachers are focused on the greater good.
Steven Miller hopes to write “uplifting articles [about the] sacrifices, big or small,” that many of our teachers make. “The teachers have time for people [...] and they actually care,” Tayla, a senior, said. After school, it’s not uncommon to find teachers coaching, leading club sessions, or volunteering for pre-/postseason workouts with students. That’s not even accounting for all the other school day activities such as guest speakers and field trips that teachers organize to enrich their students’ lives. Teachers giving of their time is a sacrifice that students are aware of and grateful for. But teachers aren’t the only ones who were brought up in conversation. “I’ve had such supportive admin,” Stephanie went on in her own interview. Every designation of school employee, from cafeteria staff to buildings and grounds to secretaries, were specifically mentioned by students.
The main takeaway? Our interviewees agree: the Oley Valley is a great place to live, work, and learn because of our people.
