EXPLORE
EXPLORE
The Center for Mass Communications provides students with a creative, project based learning environment.
What is it that we do? We learn how to make stuff. Cool stuff. Stuff that makes people ask, “how did they do that?” Stuff that real people and organizations in the community have used to promote themselves and their goals. But most importantly, we make stuff that we’re proud to show off and claim as our own. So check it out. We don’t mind.
Address: 12601 Bailey Bridge Road Midlothian, VA 23112 Office: 804-739-6275 Coordinator: tracy_obrien@ccpsnet.net
Graphic Design
Students learn the principles of visual communication and produce logos, websites, and promotional materials using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Video production
Do you want to take your video production skills to the next level? Learn how to produce slick videos to communicate your ideas. Students learn how to shoot, write, voice and edit for video.
Journalism
Students learn the essential reporting and writing skills for journalism. Through a mix of study and hands-on learning students produce journalistic stories for a variety of media platforms.
Mass communications seniors produce a weekly news show. Students must research, interview, write, shoot, voice and edit their own news style packages.
Sophomore Mass Communications students created the new logo for Chesterfield County Animal Services, while juniors produced videos to help the shelter’s dogs, cats, and even chickens get adopted.
Each year provides a different focus for students.
Freshman year students dip their toes to experience a little bit of everything. They learn the basics of journalism, photography, InDesign, Photoshop, video production, and career path options.
Sophomore year students envelope themselves in all things print and graphic design. Focus is placed on learning design principles and creating print projects and campaigns using InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
Junior year students begin learning video production and broadcast journalism. Through projects, students are introduced to techniques and practices used in professional productions.
Senior year focuses on continuing the video production of MHS Voice, the school news show, as well as independent projects in a student’s specific area of chosen mass comm focus.
School campaign
Sophomore graphic design students developed a marketing campaign promoting less screen time for teens in December. The campaign included posters, flyers, daily announcements, challenge cards, and stickers.
Diversity Campaign
Manchester is proud of its diverse student body. Mass Communications sophomores celebrated this diversity with a marketing campaign, designing stickers, t-shirts, and posters for the school.
Chesterfield County Animal Services
Sophomores designed the current CCAS logo (above) along with a campaign to debunk myths about shelter animals.
We Create… journalists, creatives, strategic communicators
The Center for Mass Communications at Manchester High School provides instruction in the fields of journalism, advertising and public relations. Included within these realms are video production, photography, graphic design, social media, and media analysis.
Students take mass communications technology courses, English, and for the first two years, history within the specialty center. MC students take all other courses (world language, math, science, etc.) separate from the center at the appropriate level for each individual.
The Mass Communications program seal requires:
Here, students learn about the different facets of the mass communications industry. Students will be introduced to the worlds of journalism, advertising and public relations. They will begin to write and think as journalists, creatives and strategic communicators. In addition to a heavy emphasis on writing, students will learn Adobe InDesign and Photoshop for hands-on projects and real world experiences. Student projects include radio, video, print production as well as an in-depth look at career paths in the mass communications industry.
SAMPLE 9th GRADE SCHEDULE
This is the class for graphic design lovers. Students will learn how to write and design for print and web journalism and advertising using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, as well as how to write and create visually appealing layouts and ads. Print production includes magazine/yearbook/newspaper layout, flyer/poster creation, and advertising campaigns.
Sample 10th Grade schedule
Welcome to a year of video production and broadcast journalism. Students will learn how to write, shoot, voice and edit video using Adobe Premiere. They will produce news style videos, public service announcements and a short documentary.
Sample 11th Grade schedule
This is the year to do it all. Students will practice the skills learned in MC 9–11 for the production of a student produced weekly news show. They will also use their writing and design talents to produce marketing materials for community based non–profits. They will stay abreast of current events and think critically about the media they consume.
Sample 12th Grade schedule
Mass Communications 12 (News Show)
M.C. English 12, Dual Enrollment English or AP English
U.S./Virginia Government or AP Government
Math
Science
World Language or elective
Mass Communications elective
Throughout the four years in the Mass Communications program, students need to take two qualifying MC electives. These electives include any level of yearbook, journalism, photography, graphic art design, as well as many other options.
Many students finish their third year of the world language requirement for the advanced diploma their freshman year, leaving MC elective options available to be taken sophomore, junior, and/or senior year. Required 9/10 PE & health and economics courses may also be taken online during the school year or summer to free space for other desired electives.
In the Mass Communications program you will learn to be an independent thinker, learner, and producer while creating in a hands-on learning environment using professional programs, software, and equipment. You also work with classmates to create lengthy presentations and projects using the skills taught in class. Besides learning Adobe programs and the basics of journalism and video and print production, you learn valuable communication, interviewing, writing, and public speaking skills.
The Mass Communications program will be helpful in giving you a solid foundation for entering any university’s Mass Communications program.
We recently teamed with VCU’s and Brightpoint’s Mass Communications program to expand learning opportunities.
Our alumni include folks working in the fields of graphic design, sports broadcasting, journalism, film, politics, law, education, nursing, and tax accounting!
We recognize that as you grow and learn about who you are and what you want, your interests change. One beautiful aspect of the Mass Communications program is that despite where life takes you, the skills you learn while in our program – especially COMMUNICATION – are transferable to every profession.
ach year approximately 50 students are invited to join the Mass Communications program.
CCPS provides transportation for students to all specialty centers, regardless of home school. Pick up points include other CCPS schools.
Each year we pair classes with one or more organizations within the community and schools to create internships with real world experience. We’ve worked with CCPS Food & Nutrition, American Association of Airport Executives, Chesterfield County Animal Services, CCPS health nurses, the Phoenix Center, to create PSAs, print campaigns, branding campaigns, commercials, and we create multiple campaigns used throughout the school and county.
You will be with fellow Mass Communications students all four years in your production classes. MC English and history will be with the same group of students freshman and sophomore years. All other classes are mixed within the Manchester community.
NO! In our print and video labs we use desktops to learn and create. For video production, equipment is supplied for you to use, and we teach you how to use everything!
Video equipment is available for checkout.
We currently use the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite which includes InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere with our desktops and Mac laptops. These are the same programs used by professionals in mass communications careers.
MC English and history classes freshman and sophomore year pair with each other and your MC production class to create projects. Often we try to blend the three classes together with content, reading, writing, and topics to draw parallels among the three subjects.
Electives include yearbook, journalism, creative writing, graphic art design, and photography. Each year taken of these electives count as one MC elective for your seal. Other electives also include one year of one of the performing arts (band, theater, choir, orchestra).
Now that middle school offers high school credit for world languages, most students finish their three language credits freshman year opening their schedules for the MC electives as well as other desired electives.
Other options to free room in your class schedule is to take 9/10 Health & PE or economics online during the school year or summer.
Absolutely! We have over 24 Dual Enrollment and AP courses available, including photo and computer art graphics.
Let us know!
Email questions to tracy_obrien@ccpsnet.net
Click our Apply Now button to submit a SchoolMint online application October 1 – December 6:
The mass communications application requires a 250 word personal statement and two recommendations from any middle school teachers of your choice. Your personal statement should describe why you are interested in the MC center.
Online applications will be available OCTOBER 1st, on the CCPS/Specialty Center website. You will submit your application using the SchoolMint application program. Follow directions on SchoolMint to complete your application.
Applications must be submitted by December 6th.
Teacher recommendations due through SchoolMint by your teachers.
Acceptance offers and wait list offers will be posted on March 5th.
Student acceptances due by March 17th.
*Acceptance process information can be found on the division’s specialty center webpage which the apply now button will take you to.
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