What began as a photocopied newsletter to parents has transformed into a polished, student-produced magazine. Thanks to a community partnership between Yankee Custom Marketing (YCM), Cummings Printing and school leaders, The Hawk, Hillside Middle School’s quarterly student magazine, is now a high-quality, engaging publication written, edited, and designed by middle schoolers in Manchester, New Hampshire.
“I just think it’s a really amazing example of what the community can do when we come together for kids,” says Assistant Principal Adrian Newton. The experience, she says, is unique.
Launching a student-run magazine
The transformation began in 2017 when Jack Cummings of Cummings Printing, an alumnus of Hillside, donated computers and design software. He aimed to help Hillside enhance its communication efforts following a request from Principal Brendan McCafferty. Yankee’s Jodie Hall met with Newton to provide hands-on InDesign training and guide staff in the basics of publication layout. YCM and Cummings also provide pro bono production and printing of the school’s student handbooks.
The Hawk launched as part of the school’s advisory program: a 40-minute block where students join interest-based clubs. Each year, about 15 students sign up to join the editorial team, and they take ownership.
“They run all aspects of the magazine. They get teacher updates, they run special articles on different things that are happening in the school/student-interest stories, they edit all of that work, they do all of the layout and design, they choose the colors, they pick the cover,” says Newton. “It’s probably 80 percent student-done with my 20 percent watchful eye over the rest of it.”
The content varies each quarter with sports recaps, spirit week photos, polls, event coverage and student artwork and poetry. Every issue includes updates from every teacher. Students get to find roles that suit them; some gravitate toward photography, others toward layout and design, and a few dive into writing or editing. Newton provides guidance at the start of each school year, but students shape the final product.
The next generation of creatives takes over
In the early years, Yankee’s staff remained involved, providing design feedback and support. Over time, the Hillside team has become more confident and independent. Cummings Printing continues to handle the professional printing of each issue, which is sent home to families along with report cards.
The real-world skills students gain go beyond basic publishing.
“It’s a really easy introduction to that kind of editing work that they can do in high school,” Newton says. “I have students, because they’ve worked on this magazine, they are like, ‘I want to be a part of the yearbook’ or ‘be a part of the student newspaper.’”
While middle school students may not immediately recognize the long-term value of layout tools or editorial workflows, the sense of accomplishment is undeniable.
“The students love to take ownership of anything, so they feel a huge sense of pride when our magazines come out every quarter,” Newton says. “They know that their hard work went into this.”
For Yankee Custom Marketing, it’s also a reminder of why our work matters.
“Yankee is proud of its role supporting the Hillside team in the start-up phase of The Hawk,” Hall says. “By giving students real tools to share real work, we’re investing in the next generation of creatives.”
In an era when so much content is fast, disposable and digital, The Hawk is something different: thoughtful, student-driven and tangible. It’s a product of collaboration, but more importantly, it’s a platform for young voices, made possible by community partners that believe in the power of storytelling.
At Yankee Custom Marketing, we can help organizations create stories worth sharing. Whether you’re building a brand, connecting with your community, or inspiring a legacy like The Hawk, our team is here to help you bring your content to life.