Weber Relaunches ‘The Rampage’ Student Newspaper

Every great community tells its story, and at The Weber School, it’s the perfect time for the students to tell theirs.

Stories connect people, inspire new ideas, and strengthen the bonds of community. Stories help us celebrate achievements, learn from mistakes, and capture our identity. That’s why The Rampage, Weber’s student newspaper, is being proudly relaunched as part of The Weber School’s Writing Project (WWP). The first issue will launch in the 2025–2026 school year, offering the Weber community a student-driven lens to see itself through.

Rabbi Ed Harwitz, Weber Head of School, reflected on the deeper tradition that having a newspaper represents: “Thoughtful, erudite, and passionate expression through the written word has been central to Jewish civilization for at least 2,000 years. The student leadership behind The Rampage exemplifies this tradition in powerful and innovative ways, providing a platform for students to reflect on and report current events and issues that matter to our school, the Jewish community, and the world around us.”

Although The Rampage was last published in 2018, the passion for student journalism never disappeared. As Weber has grown and changed in exciting ways, from the opening of the new Eitan Force Athletic Center to major renovations across campus, now is the perfect time to bring The Rampage back to life. This new chapter also brings new opportunities, not only for the school but also for the broader Atlanta Jewish community. The newspaper will cover sports, school and community events, student achievements, Jewish life, world news, opinion pieces, and more.

The idea to relaunch the paper began with a new course offered this year, “Writing for Publication,” a class designed to give students real-world writing experience across multiple genres. The course is part of the Weber Writing Project, a broader initiative supporting student writers and forming a pathway towards the WWP Honors Diploma Distinction. As part of the Writing Project, students Sadie Kitey and Nuriel Shimoni-Stoil recognized the opportunity to revive The Rampage. By sharing the editor position between them, they took it upon themselves to spearhead the relaunch.

Beyond its academic goals, the paper also embodies Weber’s core values of “Head, Heart, and Hand.” Principal Shlaina Van Dyke shared how closely the newspaper aligns with these ideals:

“When I think of Head, Heart, and Hand at Weber, I immediately think of the school’s mission to facilitate student growth to become knowledgeable, thinking, and responsible young Jewish adults. A school newspaper, and the hard work, the ‘Hand,’ required to publish it, necessitates that the editors and contributors work together with a shared commitment to community; the ‘Heart,’ as the paper will inform the community at large and unite us through common language, celebration, and information. Ensuring that The Rampage adheres to the highest level of ethical journalism requires a steadfast commitment to continual review and evaluation, the ‘Head.’ I can think of no better mission-aligned pursuit, and I look forward to reading the first edition of the 2025–2026 Rampage.”

As The Rampage prepares to return next school year, it represents more than just a student publication, it reflects the value of student expression, a commitment to honest reporting, and the spirit of a school focused on growth, leadership, and purposeful living.