Nov. 24, 2025
Our past three editions
Nov. 3, 2025 SNAP • AI chatbots • Word of the year
Oct. 27, 2025 Halloween • Government shutdown • ‘Wicked’
Oct. 6, 2025 Measles • Halloween • ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
THE LEAD
Polar vortex approaches, bringing huge drop in temperatures
Help readers prepare for winter weather
An atmospheric change in the weeks after Thanksgiving is set to bring a colder and snowier early December than normal to much of the country. The potential cold weather in the coming weeks is caused by a rare Sudden Stratospheric Warming event and the La Niña current disrupting the polar vortex.
The polar vortex winds, which usually keep frigid air near the poles, are weakening briefly, letting the frigid air spill down south.
Changes in the polar vortex aren’t unusual, but they do not often happen in November, according to ABC News. The cold snap, which would affect much of the United States, isn’t a guarantee yet, but it is showing up in the forecast.
Along with cold weather, a change in the polar vortex can sometimes lead to more snow, especially in the Great Lakes region.
What you can do —
Before the cold hits, check in with local meteorologists about what the forecast is showing for your region — and why. Weather stories are a great chance to explain science that happens all around us every day.
Winter is just beginning, so it’s a good time to cover your schools winter policies and best practices. What are the rules about closing school or cancelling activities for weather? What is the school doing to prepare for the winter? How is your city preparing?
Talk to cold weather experts about how to stay safe in winter conditions including what to store in your car and what to do if you get stranded. These recommendations will vary based on where you live and the extremity of your weather.
Noteworthy
As holiday’s approach, protect yourself from scams
Warn community about common scam approaches
Fake retail websites, false job offers and charity scams are just some of the scam methods Visa’s 2025 Holiday Threats Report pointed out, CBS News reported.
Artificial intelligence is contributing to scam rates, as it helps criminals move faster and reach more victims. Websites that look real but just exist to scam customers are popping up, according to Visa. It can be safer to go directly to the website instead of clicking on an advertisement.
There are also reports of scam artists sending package delivery alerts claiming there is a problem with an online order and asking for credit card information. Travel fraud and fake seasonal work offers are also included in Visa’s report. Reporting by CBS News recommends always using trustworthy websites to avoid running into trouble.
What you can do —
Scams might feel far away, but every holiday season thousands of people are targeted. Take some time to cover common scams and how to avoid them. Visa’s report is a good starting point, but take some time to dig into research and statistics surrounding scam rates.
Talk to experts about how to avoid scams and what to do if you do fall victim to one. AARP also has guidance to reference.
What’s viral
‘Wicked: For Good’ opens to mixed reviews, box office records
Capture student, staff reactions to film
The long-anticipated second half of the Wicked film duo opened in theaters Nov. 21. Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the film is expected to break box office records, even as it receives lackluster reviews from critics.
“‘Wicked: For Good’ is Very, Very Bad” reads one New Yorker headline. NPR’s reporting emphasizes that the two movies could have been condensed in one. At the same time, Vulture heralds the second part as an improvement over last year’s release and Variety praises Grande’s performance.
What you can do —
Regardless of the film’s quality (or lack thereof), people in your community are almost certainly going to see it. Check in with fans and capture their reactions to the new release. Did it impress them? Will they watch again? For fans of the Broadway musical, how does the new film compare?
There are plenty of themed releases, foods and viewing parties being hosted across the country — are there any in your community? Talk to hosts and attendees about their events and the movie.
100 years of Quill & Scroll
Take a look at design from the archives
In the Society’s 50th anniversary magazine, published in December-January 1976, they included an order form for a series of publications Quill and Scroll had produced. The publications, listed in the bottom left, covered everything from advertising, to equipment needs, to how to keep a staff alert. It had resources for advisers, principals and editors.
Read through the list of resources that Quill and Scroll leaders deemed important 50 years ago. Would your student media and Quill and Scroll chapter benefit from any of these? If so, take the time to make a staff manual or other documents to be passed down year to year. Also check out the activities and members-only resources Quill and Scroll provides today.
The magazine also featured a collection of cover designs highlighting different aspects of Quill and Scroll. Take a moment to look at the design principles at play and see how they have changed. If you have access to old copies of your publication, spend some time perusing them and see what you can learn.
Share your Quill & Scroll story
In honor of the centennial, Quill and Scroll is collecting testimonials, memories and stories from Quill and Scroll from student members, advisers, former staff and friends.Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your experiences on this form! Your answers may be used in marketing and communications materials.
Please share with others in your network — we want to hear from everyone.
IT’S AN HONOR
It’s always membership season
Don’t forget you can nominate members year round
If you’ve thought about having a more active Quill and Scroll chapter, we suggest initiating members in the fall. (And don’t worry, if you’re worried that having chapter activities will just add another to do time to the list, we have several suggested chapter activities in “lesson plan” format so students can lead these!) While you’re ordering, don’t forget to include any cords and other Quill and Scroll materials and memorabilia.
We haven’t changed the ordering process from last year. For those wanting to ditch the paper version, you just need to select the form based on how you would like to pay. We have one version for credit card and another version for check or purchase order. (We’ve added buttons for ease of finding these.) As usual, credit card payments are charged $4.49 per order for processing.
YEC entries announced next week!
We will announce the 2025 Yearbook Excellence Contest winners starting at noon Dec. 3. Please watch our social media for the announcements. We will have the full list posted by 4 p.m. Dec. 3 on our site.
Special thanks to our sponsors this year: Picaboo, Varsity and Walsworth. We couldn’t run this program without them.
Writing, Visual, Multimedia contest open
Due date is Feb. 6
The entry form is live and we are accepting submissions. The cost is $8 for all entry types and you may submit live links. If you would rather make a PDF of the submission, you may still do this as well. Please make sure to allow anyone with the link to view. Remember, we don’t accept a Google document as an entry. We only accept published work.
Please make a note — all entries and payments will be due Feb. 6.
Make sure to include either your credit card payments or check or purchase order when you enter. The link provided on the site will take you directly to the credit card or check/purchase order page for the order. The WVM category payment option is at the bottom of the page.
Please reach out if you have any questions. We’re happy to help!
Take advantage of our advisers-only resource area
Quill and Scroll has expanded its advisers-only area, which includes bellringers and lesson plans for advisers who have initiated members within the past school year. We will be highlighting a helpful resource in each Weekly and Month Scroll.
Advisers, if you inducted members in the 2024-25 or the 2025-26 school year, check your email (and your spam!) for a message from [email protected]. That email should contain your login information. Please be sure to accept cookies when you log in! If you have trouble, you can contact us at [email protected]. If you have inducted members this school year, we update access every few weeks, so keep an eye on your email.
We will be highlighting specific content from the advisers-only area in each Monthly Scroll, so keep reading for some ideas.
Advisers-only resource area highlight
Learning from student exemplars (Part 2)
In this lesson, students will show how they applied what they learned after examining winners from one of Quill and Scroll’s Contests. Students will show the exemplar piece of award-winning student journalism and their SMART goal. They will show and annotate how they achieved the goal and annotate how they applied what they learned.
YEC contest results will be released next week and could be used with this lesson plan.
School of the New York Times Summer Academy opportunity
We know it’s early, but for those looking for a 2026 journalism learning opportunity, it’s not too early to begin planning. The School of the New York Times Summer Academy is one of the nation’s most competitive journalism programs — and Quill and Scroll members get an exclusive discount.
Summer Academy is open to high school students (grades 10-12 and Graduating Seniors based on the grade the student is entering in the Fall 2026 school year). Students must be 15-years old by the first day of their session. Program graduates have been recruited from some of the top journalism schools in the nation. Please see this link for the course catalogue.
All students applying to Summer Academy for the first time are required to complete an online application. Returning students do not need to reapply. As a member school, Quill and Scroll chapter members will have access to pre-registration, which is now open. Last year this program received more than 14,000 applications for 1,700 seats. By going through pre-registration, your chance of being an attendee increases.
Students from schools with a Quill and Scroll Charter can receive $500 off enrollment in the Summer Academy. And, if you register by Dec. 1, the early bird discount applies, bringing your total discount to $1,000.
Additionally, the winning entries from our News Writer of the Year (Category 16 in Quill and Scroll’s Writing, Visual, Multimedia Contest) are eligible to compete for a School of the New York Times scholarship to its Summer Academy. This scholarship (valued at $7,500) includes room and board but not transportation to New York City. Student entries will be evaluated by faculty from the New York Times.
The School of the New York Times will host a Virtual Admissions Information Session later this fall.
The round 1 deadline will be in mid December and the admission information and application portal are posted.
First Amendment Press Freedom Award entries due Dec. 15
The Journalism Education Association has opened applications for the First Amendment Press Freedom Award, sponsored by JEA, NSPA and Quill and Scroll.
This award recognized schools who actively support and honor the First Amendment through its student media programs. The award focuses on press freedom and a jury looks at the entire student media program at the school: digital and print news, yearbook and student broadcast.
Please see the link for details. Please read and respond carefully to all questions. Even if your school has received FAPFA recognition before, you must reapply each year.
Opportunity from the Freedom Forum
The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference June 21-26, 2026, provides 51 students (one high school junior from each state plus the District of Columbia) with an all-expenses-paid program that includes panel conversations with journalists and multimedia storytellers, newsroom visits, networking events, a chance to meet students and industry leaders who share a passion for news, and a unique Washington, D.C., experience.
Participants receive a $1,000 college scholarship and ongoing support from a community of more than 1,700 alumni. Students build their skills, grow their network and get a head start on their future.
The due date is March 15.
Upcoming Weekly Scroll pause dates
We will pause the Weekly Scroll during the weeks of Dec. 1, 15, 22, 29 and Jan. 5. We will be spending the week before, when we amass these, either traveling or with our families. We will resume Jan. 12.
Some advisers and students have found linking to our Weekly Scroll page beneficial.
Thank you for understanding.
Just a thought
It was great to see and to talk with so many of you in Nashville! Thanks for stopping by our booth — or catching me in the hallway!
As you may know, this year marks 100 years of Quill and Scroll — and we want to celebrate with you. We included a QR insert with all those who have active Quill and Scroll charters. Please take time to record or send your testimonials, memories and stories so we can include them in our centennial celebration.
Thank you, in advance, for taking a few minutes to share your experiences! Please remember, your answers may be used in marketing and communications materials.
We look forward to celebrating this anniversary with you in Minneapolis at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Convention from April 16-18!
— Lori Keekley
