6-5-2010
Cub Reporters Launch Walpole Newspaper!
By Chuck and Sue Bingaman
It’s a tough economic time for newspapers! But don’t tell that to two Walpole 4th graders who launched a new broadsheet, complete with hand-colored weather forecasts, town news and movie listings on Memorial Day and set them out on the counter at Burdick’s Grocery and the town gas station!
“Walpole News” hit the streets last weekend courtesy of Chelsey Patch and Sadie Bursky, both 9 and best friends in 4th grade at North Walpole School, and Sadie’s little sister, Ella, 7, in first grade.
The first issue was an immediate sensation in Burdick’s, and townspeople are eagerly awaiting the next issue!
“Ever since they’ve been getting together for a play date or a sleepover since second grade they've been wanting to make newspapers according to Karin Mallory, Sadie’s and Ella’s mother. “They love to research. They love to write. I don’t know how they got interested, but they came up with it all on their own!”
The May 31 issue was the first one that the girls have really wanted to distribute in the town. “They were really proud of this one,” according to Mallory. “It was the most formal looking paper yet that they’ve done.”
“They seem to have a natural division of labor because Sadie enjoys doing the research, Chelsey is a real word-crafter, and Ella comes up with story ideas.”
Last week, says Mallory, the girls had just been to the Friday Farmers’ Market in town and they were gearing up for the Memorial Day parade and festivities. So they were filled with ideas. “But even more than that, they rushed home from the market and they went to the computer. Sadie said she wanted to Google the weather and the movies.”
Asked Friday why they did newspapers, Sadie said, “I don’t know! I just know that whenever Chelsey sleeps over we do a newspaper!”
The town is looking forward to more sleepovers--or at least more editions!-- in the near future!
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