Club Herald founder Marlene Grant started the student newspaper 10 years ago when she had children in the Newberg schools.   Each month for the past decade, teachers across the Newberg area have sat back and watched as excited elementary and middle school students tear through 16 pages of the Club Herald student newspaper to see if their own work has been published.

It’s a gratifying feeling for teachers and for Club Herald editor and publisher Marlene Grant, who has been covering school events, taking photos and collecting students’ short stories, poems and artwork as a way to reward their hard work.But with both of her children now in college, Grant is stepping away from the project and will publish the last edition of the Club Herald later this month.

“I’m ready to move on,” Grant said. “My husband and I have been making wine for the last two years and want to get licensed and go commercial. It’s a hobby we really enjoy doing together, so I’m kind of moving my time into that.”

Already an active volunteer at Mabel Rush Elementary School, where she was president of the parent group, Grant was inspired to start the Club Herald after seeing her sister publish a similar product through her newspaper business in Tennessee.   As opposed to the kid-friendly content she saw her sister use, Grant chose to use the Club Herald as a showcase for student writing, using it to fill about 90 percent of each issue.

“It’s been a really good community asset,” said Mountain View Middle School language arts teacher Tom Willing, whose classes have been among the biggest contributors over the years. “Kids see themselves as part of the writing community.”

Mary Jane Bachmeier, who teaches fifth grade at Dundee Elementary, said the Herald has been a great motivational tool for her students, who not only look for their own work, but that of their peers as well.

“They want that little bit of being seen and read about,” Bachmeier said. “Last year I had a little girl and her biggest dream was to get in the Club Herald. When her name was in there her mom said she’s wanted that since first grade and when she did, it was such a great accomplishment for her.”

The paper’s introduction coincided with the Newberg School District placing an emphasis on improving literacy skills and Grant was honored with the Partner in Education Award in 2010 in recognition of her exceptional service to education in Newberg schools.

“Kids don’t always realize what they have to write makes a difference,” Bachmeier said. “This was their shot for making writing real for them, giving them that chance to share.”

Grant, who also serves as a substitute teacher in the Newberg School District, said it will be bittersweet when she distributes the final issue, likely this week or next.
Bachmeier, for one, is hopeful someone will step up to continue the project.

“It started off as this little thing and now all the kids know what it is,” Bachmeier said. “Just the sheer amount of lives she’s touched and kids she’s gotten to write is amazing. It’s a great celebration of what kids can do. She’s just worked so hard. We’ll really miss it.”

By Seth Gordon, Newberg Graphic