The Scarlet Scroll is a student-run newspaper program at Mater Dei and a branch of Student Publications. From Campus Ministry and campus life to sports, culture, news, and activities across Orange County, The Scarlet Scroll covers a wide variety of stories pertinent to the Monarch community. Since the start of this school year, the publications team has already been busy developing interesting stories for students, faculty, and alumni. 

A wave of new and eager students have joined the program this year, ready to meet the challenges of producing stories efficiently. These new students are ready to face the demands that come with being on the staff of The Scarlet Scroll. Fortunately, there are seasoned student editors in the program to help guide these new members to excel. 

Senior Charlotte De Leon is in her third year in the newspaper course and has deservedly earned her title as Editor-in-Chief of The Scarlet Scroll. Her role is to also help lead the class, in addition to helping Journalism and Yearbook Adviser, Nicole Howard ‘85 assign deadlines, maintain the content ladder, and assign stories. This role is multifaceted and acts as both a liaison between the adviser and staff as well as editing, and ensuring all members are on task and completing assignments according to deadlines.

Being a part of the newspaper enables De Leon to pursue her passion for writing, as well as gaining valuable leadership experience guiding and mentoring other students in journalism and working together in a team environment. 

“As Editor-in-Chief of The Scarlet Scroll, it’s a lot of work but I love what I do: helping others learn the ropes of newspaper and journalistic writing,” De Leon said. “Certain aspects of publications, such as taking photos at school events, have helped me to become more involved at Mater Dei and immerse myself into student life, enjoying these fun experiences with my friends.”

De Leon has gained valuable experience in balancing the demands of her workload and multitude of activities with personal time, a challenge she faces as a student editor. A key strategy she shared involves prioritizing leadership and delegation.

By working effectively on guiding her peers and assigning tasks efficiently, de Leon manages to maintain a balance between her editorial duties and other commitments. This approach, she says, not only helps her stay organized but also enhances the team’s overall productivity. 

“Being an editor for The Scarlet Scroll has taught me so much about leadership. I’ve learned to speak up and guide others by teaching them how our newspaper runs through hands-on learning, as well as using my people skills in delegating jobs and tasks to others,” de Leon explained. 

Senior Sam De Guzman is another one of the student editors who has returned to The Scarlet Scroll. De Guzman has been a member of the newspaper staff since her junior year and is now the Copy Chief. Her role is to help manage the staff workflow, ensure the writing follows the proper journalistic format with newsworthy topics, and help edit and monitor social media posts.

“It is important to not overlook the workload that comes with newspaper,” De Guzman said. “It is easy to manage and balance the work because there are so many people who are here to support you.”

As a Copy Chief, De Guzman is now required to supervise and guide the staff under Howard. Student editors utilize past journalism courses, guidance from previous editors, and continued consultation with Howard, as the adviser, to help effectively lead the staff. 

“Last year, I turned to my editors, who were experts at their craft and very approachable,” De Guzman said. “Now as Copy Chief, I try to take what they have taught me and apply it to [today’s staff]. The most important thing for me is to always be encouraging and let people know they are doing a good job. It’s important that people feel like they are seen and are in a safe environment.”

Sophomore Boston Crenshaw is in her second year with the newspaper and serves as a Copy and Art/Design Editor. Her role is to help out with instruction for print design, manage and organize cameras, and ensure that photos and artwork meet publication standards, ethical usage, and editing requirements. 

Crenshaw emphasizes the unique, student-led structure of Mater Dei’s newspaper program, which allows students to take ownership of the publication process. The program is a blend of leadership development and real-world experience, allowing students to not only refine their skills but also explore new interests and uncover hidden talents. 

“Our newspaper has a whole website and we print [one version of the paper each semester]. I know of newspaper classes that only write articles but do not publish them,” Crenshaw said. “We are also basically led by students. Ms. Howard (the newspaper adviser) gives her input but she likes us choosing our things and running the class as [staff members].”

The program is not just a class but also an extracurricular activity that enables students to discover and participate in different activities on campus and across Orange County. Crenshaw’s role with the program not only fuels her passion but also provides opportunities to attend a multitude of school events and meet many new people for exploration and new experiences. 

“I gain some freedom because of newspaper and I get chances to go to new places I’ve never been while getting to do something I love,” Crenshaw said. 

The unique nature of the newspaper course is that it is both a team effort in which students work to plan stories, and ideas and help each other grow as journalists yet students also have the opportunity to work independently on stories that speak to their interests. 

“I like collaborating in newspaper as a team but prefer to write the articles by myself,” Crenshaw said “I enjoy talking [to the staff] and [like] when people ask me for help with the cameras. I especially like the cameras since I’ve better understood how they work.” 

Overall, The Scarlet Scroll is a collaborative, team-oriented environment that provides students with leadership experience, a strong foundation in writing, and business skills that can be used in college and beyond. Students who have been engaged in the course for a year or more find not only a class that provides educational growth but also a group of people who become like a family. 

“My favorite part about The Scarlet Scroll is helping others to foster a love of writing for truth and getting to know so many cool people on staff,” de Leon said.