Every year, Skyline High School students create something extraordinary: The Satorian, the school’s literary and art magazine. Filled entirely with student-submitted writing, photography, and artwork, the magazine is the result of months of creative exploration, collaboration, and design work. For students curious about joining next year, The Satorian is more than a publication class; it’s an experience.
Senior Kiana Reid said the class had interested her long before she joined: “Satorian had been on my radar since my Freshman year, when they came around and did their little talk about submissions.” As someone who enjoys creative writing, she knew it was something she wanted to try once she had space in her schedule. This year, she finally did.
One of the biggest reasons The Satorian matters, Reid explained, is its role in the school community. She said, “I think it’s really important for giving students a creative outlet […] where they can make something that means a lot to them or show off their creativity and have that be rewarded and appreciated by other people.” Unlike traditional academic work, the magazine allows students to explore creativity.
The structure of the class is unique. Reid explained, “The first semester is just creative writing.” Students respond to prompts, write poetry, and experiment with different styles. Later in the semester, students research literary movements and present them to the class. “Everyone did their own thing,” Reid said, describing how students explored styles like postmodernism.
English teacher Lisa Thornbrue emphasized how intentional the environment is, saying. “It is a ton of fun, very safe space where we can explore and create and laugh and have a great time and learn things without pressure.” She also noted, “There is no homework.” Instead, class time is used for writing, sharing, and discussion.
Second semester shifts gears toward producing the magazine. Thornbrue explained, “We gather the submissions from all over the school, art, literature. Then we figure out what design we’re gonna do and lay it all out, […] and then we digitize it and put it into a printed form.” Submissions are judged anonymously, which Reid said can feel strange but fair. She said, “We don’t know who wrote it.”
One thing students may not realize is how much effort goes into the design. “They don’t use any clip art or anything,” Reid said. “They have to make every little side decoration themselves.” Thornbrue admitted this can be challenging but added that students improve every year.
For students who enjoy writing, art, or creativity in any form, The Satorian offers a chance to create something meaningful and see it published for the whole school to enjoy. Thornbrue summed it up simply: “It is delightful. And I love it.”
