Student Newspaper Expresses Need for Money

It has been a year of firsts for : First time with all four grades on campus, first graduating senior class and the first student newspaper to hit the presses.

Eighteen students produced four print editions and one PDF edition of the Express (a name that pays homage to the school's mascot, the Stallions), according to teacher and newspaper adviser Bill Kaiser. As with so many other high school activities, money has become an issue.

“We must be self-supporting. [ does not fund publication costs of student newspapers,” Kaiser said. Each edition in a print version costs $375 to $475 to produce.

And so—as do many other student groups—the newspaper staff is holding a fundraiser. Between 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, the (there’s that name again!) restaurants in San Clemente and Ladera Ranch are donating 20 percent of the proceeds from patrons who have a fundraising flier, which can be found here. 

Kaiser hopes that between the fundraiser and advertising, the editorial staff will be able to produce six editions next year.

“Ideally we would like to break even and also have enough surplus revenue to invest in computers and cameras,” he said.

Like so many  and newly established traditions the first graduating class accomplished, naming the paper was one of the year’s highlights for Editor-in-Chief Tanza Loudenback.

“Back in September, we brainstormed ideas for the name, and we wanted something that related to the mascot or name of our school, San Juan Hills Stallions—maybe a play on words,” said Loudenback, a senior. "We decided on the Express, which came from the Pony Express."

Loudenback plans to major in journalism when she heads off to college next year, Elon University, a private liberal arts school in North Carolina.

“I am grateful to have been a part of the Express staff this year, especially holding a leadership position, because I know the experience will certainly help me with my journalism career,” Loudenback said.

Kaiser said there’s still room on next year’s staff, if there are any students out there who would like to try their hand at journalism. Meanwhile, he’ll spend two weeks of his summer attending a seminar especially for high school newspaper advisers. 

“The application process was competitive, and I am one of 175 people selected nationwide to go to trainings at five campuses around the country. It's funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. I don't get paid for going; I'm doing it on my own time to improve the program we offer students at SJHHS,” Kaiser said.

To advertise your business in the Express next year, contact bgkaiser@capousd.org.