Hi’s Eye, the award-winning weekly newspaper produced by Westfield High School students, celebrates its 80th anniversary this school year. According to the article by Journalism II student Stella Billek in the special anniversary issue, Hi’s Eye is a tradition that has been with Westfield High School through five principals, two buildings, 15 football state championships, five major wars and sweeping changes in American culture.
Junior Zoe Rader, also a contributor to the anniversary edition, states, “The most significant difference in the school newspaper’s content has been the addition of social media.” Today, Hi’s Eye continues its traditional print format but also has an online presence in its web edition, a blog, and communicates through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Journalism II teacher Nicole Scimone explained that her class decided to produce the commemorative issue by writing about “the biggest story trends from the last 80 years, with a page for each decade of Hi’s Eye existence.”
In comparing the articles which have appeared throughout the decades to now, teacher and Co- Advisor, Warren Hynes, describes the current Hi’s Eye approach as “getting more into the how and why behind the news.”
With the exception of this special edition, Hi’s Eye is produced by Journalism III students, who are seniors who have completed Journalism I – usually in 10th grade, and Journalism II – typically enrolled by 11th graders.
Hi’s Eye annually is the recipient of top medals by the Columbia and National Scholastic Press Associations awards.
“Celebrating 80 years of a curriculum that strengthens writing skills, encourages communication and debate, and earns awards is a great accomplishment, “stated Superintendent of Schools, Margaret Dolan. “I congratulate past and current students and staff of Hi’s Eye on an anniversary worthy of celebration,” she added.
(above) Junior, Ben Albert-Halevy, enjoys reading the 80th anniversary issue of Hi’s Eye, which his class produced. Ben, who co-wrote an article which referenced the 1940’s WHS junior prom, explained, “Getting published definitely made me be much more careful when structuring my articles and design because I wanted to make sure I was proud of my own work before others saw it.”
