Looking Back on the Past and Preparing for the Future

​By: Zoë Felfle, Junior

​In the beginning of May, I learned that I will be the next Editor in Chief of the Phoenix Flyer, an  immense responsibility and honor. I will be following in the footsteps of strong leaders like Melanie Rodriguez, our alumni, and the current editor, Olivia Ruiz.

Melanie Rodriguez was editor of the Flyer two years ago. Under her leadership, the Flyer became not just any online school newsletter, but a forum that connected to students throughout the school, informing them on important issues. Her legacy is writing about topical issues and important subjects that otherwise would not have as much coverage. Thanks to Melanie’s influence, our writers reach farther than our colorful walls.

Meanwhile, Olivia Ruiz, this past year’s Editor in Chief, reorganized and reenergized the Phoenix Flyer website, www.thephoenixflyer.com. She streamlined the design and made it more user friendly by grouping articles by genre and by making the design more visually appealing. She is a master editor, and from what Ms. Keller explains, “She is extremely organized and creative.”

I was able to get in contact with one of the original creators of the Phoenix Flyer, Stephanie Oliveros, and had the opportunity to ask her a few questions:

Interviewer: Why did you decide to start the Phoenix Flyer?

Stephanie: “We decided to create this newsletter because we found a lot of students were really talented when it came to writing, but there was no outlet to showcase it. We wanted a special corner for students to express themselves comfortably. It was honestly a fun idea that [Hector Rodriguez, co-creator of the Flyer] and I talked about, and then one day, we said “let’s do it for real.”

Interviewer: Who helped you with this and what was their involvement?

Stephanie: “We recruited all of our friends to write for the newsletter. We were just starting and people needed interesting and trendy topics to read about, so we talked to anyone who would be interested in covering entertainment, sports etc. to make this fun and worth-reading. We asked teachers to promote the newsletter during classes and we even had our math teacher, Mr. Vancol, push the newsletter to students’ computers to ensure everyone read it. The person who helped us the most was Ms. Keller. She was a supporter/believer/guardian angel from day one. She had that “We’re gonna crush this” attitude that just gave us the confidence to do it!”

Interviewer: What were some difficulties you encountered along the way?

​Stephanie: “The newsletter itself was messy at first. We were learning how to use the programs, so I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw one of our first editions and cringed because of the structure. Most of the writers were also seniors and getting them to participate consistently was difficult because it’s senior year! We had to ensure everyone met their deadline and that Ms. Keller got a chance to proof it (you don’t release a newsletter unless Ms. Keller proofs it. That’s just a rule of thumb).”

​Interviewer: What advice would you give for future editors?

Stephanie: “Being an editor is an amazing opportunity that comes with responsibility, so organization is key! I don’t think I was that organized before, but I would say that is very important for an editor. Keep in mind deadlines and set aside time to discuss each piece with the writer or Ms. Keller (sometimes both cause revisions happen). And, have fun! The newsletter is for students to have fun writing their pieces and showcasing their work.”

My previous Editors in Chief have done so much for the Flyer, and I intend to extend our regular “news coverage” to include more from our creativity: I hope to include not only news and articles on school in the Flyer, but also I foresee including more fiction writing. The access to something other than nonfiction could spice up the flyer and provide new opportunities for writers wishing for the opportunity to practice creative writing. Furthermore, my hope is to give the site a more modern or sophisticated look. We want to be taken seriously and make the newsletter look more official and user friendly.

​The responsibility of writing and editing for the Phoenix Flyer is a daunting one. There are some massive shoes to fill in the future and this job will require a lot of hard work and dedication on both my end and the end of the other writers. Still, I am thrilled to have to opportunity to flex and improve my creative writing skills in a nurturing, educational environment and I have no doubt that I will rise to make the Flyer even better than it was before.