By Siddarth Tumu ’18 and Charles Pan ’18, Middle School Editors

The last two months of school are here and our time as newspaper editors is coming to an end. As we look ahead to our high school years, it’s time for some reflection on our run as editors. We have learned a lot about responsibility and what it takes to work as a team to produce high quality articles for the Middle School’s reading pleasure. Our writing skills have improved and we look forward to being productive members of the Upper School paper. It has been a pleasure working with our fellow writers; bright minds that will no doubt bring pride to the Academy in the writing spectrum.

It has been an interesting experience for us, exploring various aspects of the NA community with our wonderful set of writers. We have hit upon many prevalent topics and have been able to get the Middle School’s perspective on it. We have covered topics across the board, ranging from arts/entertainment reviews to social and fashion trends in the Middle School. It has truly been an enlightening process to explore different issues from the Middle School perspective, learning what Middle Schoolers had to say about the events that affect them.  The process of journalism has really expanded our horizons and encouraged us to think in new ways.

Working with the writers was one aspect of being editor; the other one is working with the teacher advisor, Ms. Graham, one of the eighth grade English teachers. Our previous faculty advisor, Ms. Morin handed over the reins to Ms. Graham, and she learned the ins and outs our group quickly and has assisted in many processes. Without her, we couldn’t have been as organized as we are and we probably couldn’t get even one set published. Witty but serious, Ms. Graham was the engine that drove our newspaper forward.

It has been rather difficult keeping up with the Upper School newspaper in publishing sets as there isn’t much contact between the two groups besides our Middle School Managing Editor, Thomas Pan. However, our writers were able to persevere and everyone managed to contribute multiple, impressive articles. As almost all of our writers were 8th graders, most of staff will be leaving for the Upper School paper next year. We encourage all 6th and 7th graders who read this article to consider joining, because there are many benefits that come out of writing for the paper, as we have found out since we joined the newspaper in 6th grade.

Newark Academy is a place where people can expand horizons and immerse themselves in the “outside world.” As we are about embark on the long and stressful journey of high school, we 8th graders look back on our enjoyable time in the Middle School. Before we worry about SATs and college applications, we will remember all the lessons we’ve learned and skills we’ve acquired since 6th grade. The class of 2018 has come a long way since we walked into Newark Academy as frightened 6th graders. We owe an invaluable debt to all our teachers for giving us life lessons that would stay with us forever.

Well, we guess that’s it! Our time as Middle School editors have come to an end, and it’s time to pass the position to the new editors, David You and Drew Flanagan. We give them our luck and hope for the best. Thanks to the whole staff of the newspaper.

This is Siddarth Tumu and Charles Pan, signing off.