Student voice is taking center stage at Ladera Palma through Dragon Tales (Cuentos de Dragones)/School News, an afterschool EPIC class led by teacher Alexis Jaimes. What began with just 10 student spots has grown to 16 enthusiastic participants, reflecting the excitement and impact of this innovative program. Meeting on Mondays and Fridays, the class has already produced two student-led broadcasts and aims to publish new episodes every two weeks.
Students use digital tools such as Green Screen, Do Ink, and Canva to design graphics, add sound effects, and produce polished broadcasts in both Spanish and English. Along the way, they build interviewing skills, confidence, and collaboration while exercising strong student agency by selecting interviewees, developing questions, and choosing topics that engage their audience.
While every student plays an important role, Editor-in-Chief Penelope Barriga has gone above and beyond. She created the broadcast intro used in every episode and led a recent holiday special by assigning roles, purchasing costumes, writing a bilingual script, arranging music, and independently editing her own segment.
Another standout is Audrey Au, whose natural interviewing skills, independent editing, and joyful on-screen presence shine in every broadcast. She is also expanding into comedy segments, adding creativity and humor to the program.
Through Dragon Tales, Alexis Jaimes has created a space where students grow in confidence, creativity, and leadership while strengthening school culture and Dragon pride across campus.