2022 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR - THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING
By Saber Hanington, Editor
In mid-fall of 2021, I took on the roll of editor of the Rameses student newspaper, not because I had a passion for student journalism but because I had appreciation for the traditions of Cony.And even more so, because I saw the Rameses as a superior method of student representation — a form of representation that was on decline.
At that time, I set a number of goals for the paper to diversify its content, increase articles,improve the quality of the content and increase staffing. As forthe content goals I set out, I believe that we, the staff of the Rameses, have made improvements and therefore success.
Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, the Rameses staff wrote 27 articles ranging from important breaking news on student mask policies, student-led Ukrainian solidarity events and fire evacuations to even video game reviews. This far exceeds what the Rameses has published in recent years.This is printed proof of our success as a newspaper.
In my opinion, the most notable articles written this year includes Ted Campbell’s review of "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which was the first film review that was written for the Rameses.
Other notable articles included Cole Hamner’s piece on the idea of a late bus which would provide after-school transportation for students who participate in clubs and sports. Hamner’s article brought the idea back into the minds of Cony administrators, who later created a connection with the local Kennebec Explorer. The Explorer now provides free after school transportation to Cony Students.
My own opinion piece, “What Does It Really Take To Rebuild Cony’s Community,” triggered a conversation among students in staff which questioned whether Cony was truly taking the correct actions to rebuild our school community after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both Reid DeJongh and Ted Campbellwere key to the success of diversifying the content of the Rameses with their videogame reviews and frequent movie reviews, respectively., It is their work that I am most thankful for because it led the charge to diversify our content, which in future years will diversify even more.
The Rameses achieved three of four goals I set out. We fell short of my goal of increasing staff, however. But this is just the beginning. I am a Junior and increasing staff will be my number one goal as a Senior during the 2022-2023 school year in an effort to involve more students and to also protect the fate of the Rameses and its student voice after I leave.
More than anything, I am excited to see the future of the paper unfold and, with the help of my amazing peers, to set up a stronger foundation for future students to continue to elevate our student newspaper upon.
In recent years, the Cony community almost lost its conduit for student voices — the Rameses. I understand some of the reasons for its decline, but more importantly I understand now that this is a new start for student representation at Cony.
I am massively thankful for our current Rameses team; Mr. DeJongh, Samantha Hogan, Ted Campbell, Reid DeJongh, and Tenzin Denno. I am also thankful for this years contribators; Thea Kanaria, Emma Buccellato, James Mooney, and Cole Hamner
-Editor, Saber Hanington