It was January of 1987.  As editor in chief of the first school paper, senior Christine Lew (then Christine Martin) eagerly watched as the Cal High Newspaper was distributed on campus.

For the first time in the history of the school, an after-school club had been established in order to create a newspaper on campus.

Lew’s 11th grade English teacher Biff Barnes, a former newspaper reporter, organized and advised the club.  He asked Lew if she wanted to be the editor in chief.

Lew eagerly accepted his offer and began working because she liked to write, was inspired to start something new and wanted to contribute something to the school and gain leadership skills.

“I don’t remember exactly how many times the club met per month,” said Lew.  “It was at least twice a month, with one [meeting] for planning and the other for editing.”

The club, which was open to any student interested, amounted to about 25 students and published one issue per month.

“I think the paper was a success,” said Lew.  “Teachers and students appreciated the news about the school.”

But the club had to face many challenges before finding success.

“We didn’t know what we were doing,” laughed Lew.  “There were no authors in the first edition.  It was just a paper of anonymous articles.  The next six papers were better, though.  We learned as we went.”

Lew co-authored an article in the first issue that announced a contest for the best name for the new newspaper.  After the first issue, Cal High Newspaper was dubbed The Paw Print.

Besides being editor in chief, Lew wrote a few other articles, including one that introduced the newspaper to Cal High.

Lew has read all of the current issues of The  Californian and believes the school paper is now more professional than the ones back then because of the limited technological resources of her time.  For example, Lew recalls there being only one computer in the newspaper classroom.

The reporters first had to hand-write their stories and then type them later.  Basic computer software allowed the club to make a two-column newspaper.

Empty spaces for photographs were maintained so, after printing the written sections, editors could place pictures onto them.  The whole thing was then photocopied into a finished product by the school graphics department.  All copies of the paper were printed on campus.

Cal High Newspaper and The Paw Print contained articles limited only to school subjects, such as current school events and school sports.  It also contained an advice column and a comics section.

On a monthly basis, the comic section featured a character named Twinkie, a high school boy, and his antics.  Twinkie was drawn by one of the staff artists.

Meanwhile, the advice column, which remains in the school paper to this day, was more serious than it is now,  but it was still humorous, Lew said.

After the first couple of issues, advertisements from local businesses appeared in The Paw Print in order to pay for paper and copying costs.

Up to this day, Lew has no regrets about being the first newspaper editor in chief.  She kept all the newspaper issues from her school days, including the first one which students can  read online at www.thecalifornianpaper.com.

“It’s neat to think we started something that lasted,” said Lew.

Although Lew did not pursue journalism after high school, she believes being editor in chief was a valuable experience, helping her tackle writing skills and giving her an opportunity to be in a leadership position.

Lew’s daughter, sophomore Kathryn Lew, is a first-year reporter for The Californian.

“My mother told me about being the first editor before my freshman registration,” said Kathryn. “At the time, I said, ‘Wow, I’m never joining newspaper then.”

“I guess I felt a lot of pressure in that regard and I wanted to distance myself from my mother’s accomplishments.”

But Kathryn changed her mind after having Brian Barr, present newspaper adviser, as her ninth grade English teacher.

Contrary to her fears, Kathryn has not felt any pressure since joining the newspaper staff.

“I did not force her to take the class,” said Lew.  “I encouraged her after she expressed interest.  It is a good experience to write for the paper.”

Advice Lew has for the current newspaper staff is to take pride in one’s work, have fun, and remember writing for the paper is a great contribution to the school.

“I don’t have any favorite memories of being editor,” said Lew.  “I just remember enjoying it.”

Christine Lew was  the first editor in chief of the school newspaper, then called The Paw Print.