The mission of the Wylie East High School news site is to inform, educate and entertain readers. Established Jan. 13, 2011. Principal: Mrs. Tiffany Doolan; Adviser: Ms. Kimberly Creel

Blue Print

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The mission of the Wylie East High School news site is to inform, educate and entertain readers. Established Jan. 13, 2011. Principal: Mrs. Tiffany Doolan; Adviser: Ms. Kimberly Creel

Blue Print

The mission of the Wylie East High School news site is to inform, educate and entertain readers. Established Jan. 13, 2011. Principal: Mrs. Tiffany Doolan; Adviser: Ms. Kimberly Creel

Blue Print

Casi Thedford

Casi Thedford, Adviser

Heads and tales

I teach my students all the workings of running news publications. This website allows us to showcase all the different journalistic styles of writing that take place in room 826, from writing headlines to telling the tale.

I am a member of  the "Alpha Staff," teachers and faculty who have been at Wylie East High School since the first year we opened. This group, which started around 50, is now down to 12. Though it's already been 13 years since this second high school in Wylie opened, it feels like it was just yesterday. 

I teach yearbook, newspaper, journalism and photojournalism. I also coach six different academic UIL events, sponsor Quill and Scroll and am the campus tech for all campus communications.

We like to be a little Extra! Extra!

I have been the journalism teacher, yearbook and newspaper adviser since the school opened. We started publishing a newsprint issue, The Raider Reader, once every six weeks. Then came along our online site, Blue Print, in 2010. Once Blue Print was up and running full steam, we dropped our print issues to just once a semester. My third newspaper editor in chief, Brooke Vincent, wanted to publish a magazine: The Raid. It debuted in 2015, featuring Tanner Smith as The Cat in the Hat in our first musical, Seussical.

We're always write!

Just as in the 'real news' world, we saw a decline in sales of our news print issue. The Raider Reader's last issue was in 2018. We currently produce online content daily and publish our magazine once a year.

I hope you will find this site as a source of news, entertainment and reference. I know I often advise others to use Blue Print when needing to find out about something that has happened or will happen at Raider Nation. In fact, I used it on four different occasions just to write this biography!

Let bylines be bylines

I haven't written my bio in years. Just for fun, here's my very first one written by my first webmaster, Tiffany Ing.

All content by Casi Thedford
Crowning moment \\ Senior Luis Lopez won the annual Big Man on Campus competition April 5. Hosted by the International Thespian Society, Big Man is a fundraiser for the City House Youth Shelter.

[Video] They’re back

writer: Casi Thedford, Adviser
April 6, 2022
Out with the old \\ The spring pep rally will take place in the new Williams Center during fourth period Feb. 25.

Pep rally in new Williams Center Friday

writer: Casi Thedford, Adviser
February 21, 2022
Zero to hero \\ Using analogies of heroes and villains, Mrs. McKenna Tooke gives juniors a speech about deciding between good and bad. She was the guest speaker at the ring ceremony Nov. 1.

[Photo] Setting the stage

November 15, 2021
Back at it \\ Meet the 2021-2022 Blue Print newspaper staff. Led by Editor in Chief Heath Hadley, Copy Editor Hannah Hansen and Digital Editor Shelby Perry.

[Photo] About

December 22, 2010
Fight or flight \\ Taking a breather from the intense game, senior Jayme Bailey eyes her next play during the Mesquite Horn game Jan. 4. Varsity won 4-0. Bailey scored two of the four goals. “Getting to be a leader on a team full of a lot of young talent makes being a senior on the team so much more enjoyable,” Bailey said.

Varsity girls soccer ranked #1 in state

writer: Casi Thedford, Adviser
February 11, 2021
True blue \\ Decked out in boas and bling, juniors Hailey Gummelt, Ashtyn Arp and Campbell Andrews participated in the annual Ultimate Raider contest.

Back in blue

writer: Casi Thedford, Adviser
September 28, 2020
The crew \\ The third period yearbook staff celebrates their Look Book and Bronze Star awards. (Note the remote learners also appearing on the laptop!)

Time for celebrations

writer: Casi Thedford, Adviser
September 14, 2020
Leading the way \\ The Volume XII yearbook leadership team consists of sports editor Lauren Vasquez, people editor Melissa Wrobel, editor in chief Maddie Smith, assistant editor in chief Emily Wygant, assistant sports editor Whitney Tobias and clubs editor Addie Orr.

Yearbook receives top rating

writer: Casi Thedford, Adviser
March 17, 2020
On a roll \\ Facing juniors and seniors, drumline performs a piece titled “Spice Mon.” The drumline took center stage at the rally, hyping up the student body and football team before they opened their season against North Forney. “It was incredibly gratifying to show off our hard work for an audience,” sophomore snare player Daniel Cline said.

[Photo] Golden age

September 18, 2019
CT-Scott Roper

[Photo] What ifs

March 25, 2019
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