The student newspaper that once convinced McCullough High School to bring back post-game parking lot parties and expand its AP offerings is entering its 50th year at The Woodlands High School.

The Caledonian, TWHS's student-run publication founded in 1976, published a retrospective on Thursday, Aug. 20 marking the start of its anniversary year. The 2026-2027 school year brings new cameras funded by the PTO enhancement fund, a new advanced journalism class at the Freshman campus and a new adviser pushing the paper into podcasts and social media.

"When students hear the term 'newspaper,' I think they picture their grandparents reading the paper in an old photograph," adviser Ashley Chotain said. "I hope to help to change that and help students recognize what current journalism is — it is everywhere."

Chotain took over after Laura Landsbaum retired in 2024 following a 20-year run as adviser. Before Landsbaum, Barbara Frazier led the publication.

From 1,000 copies to digital-first

In its early decades, student staffers printed 1,000 copies per issue and drove them to restaurants and waiting rooms around The Woodlands. The paper sold ad space to local businesses. Around the pandemic, Landsbaum oversaw a shift to digital-only publishing, which she said made the staff more timely in its reporting.

Samantha Friedman, who served on staff from 1986 to 1990 at what was then McCullough High School, remembers standing over a long, narrow table with fellow editors, arranging stories like puzzle pieces. By her senior year she was managing and news editor.

Friedman's column carried real weight. When the school dropped its post-football parking lot parties, she lobbied in print for their return.

They came back.

When McCullough offered only one AP class, she wrote about the need for more options. The school added them. Friedman said the experience taught her that her voice mattered and she could make a difference.

What's new for 2026-2027

Chotain plans to keep writing at the publication's core while adding regular podcasts, broadcasts and a stronger social media presence. The new advanced journalism class at the Freshman campus is part of that push. Chotain said she hopes the class will bridge the two TWHS campuses so the paper can highlight events at both locations.

The Caledonian competes annually in UIL journalism, which sponsors five contests including News Writing, Feature Writing and Editorial Writing. Students advance from district to regionals to state. Chotain also wants the staff to pursue recognition from the Student News Organization, which hosts the paper's website.

Landsbaum, looking back on two decades of advising, said the publication has launched alumni into journalism careers and beyond, adding that strong writing skills open doors in any field.

The stuffed bobcat that a staff member's father donated to the journalism classroom? It stayed until Landsbaum retired. The paper keeps publishing.