Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) announced that seniors in the Mass Communications Specialty Center at Manchester High School applied their skills hands-on during the State Fair of Virginia on October 1.
According to CCPS, Manchester High seniors acted as reporters by researching events, interviewing participants, and capturing video footage. Each team produced a full news package for MHS Voice, using techniques such as storyboarding, question writing, and on-the-spot interviews. This real-world experience allowed students to practice journalism in a professional setting, combining technical skills and storytelling to cover a major state event.
The Mass Communications Specialty Center at Manchester High offers a hands-on, project-based learning environment where students create media for real community organizations and their own portfolios. Students progress from exploring basics in journalism, photography, design, and video production as freshmen to focusing on graphic design as sophomores, video and broadcast journalism as juniors, and advanced projects and the MHS Voice news show as seniors. Programs include graphic design, video production, and journalism with opportunities to produce professional-quality work for platforms like YouTube and local organizations.
Manchester High School serves over 2,000 students with 155 faculty members and offers more than fifty extracurricular activities including clubs, arts, publications, and sports. The school’s mission emphasizes high achievement through global education, a safe and supportive environment, and fair treatment for all students. Its Lancers mascot reflects core values: being safe, present, responsible, and community-minded.
Chesterfield County Public Schools serves over 64,000 students across 67 schools with a $1 billion budget and full accreditation. The district reports a 91% on-time graduation rate with roughly 4,700 graduates annually and millions in scholarship awards. It includes seven National Blue Ribbon Schools among other accolades. Each year buses travel nine million miles; over nine million meals are served; students use more than 64 thousand devices. Governed by a five-member School Board CCPS follows the strategic plan Imagine Beyond Tomorrow to promote lifelong learning personal growth college- career-ready graduates.
