For the first time since its launch five years ago, JC’s official school website will get a fresh facelift.

According to Director of Communications Sue Cathell, the host of the current website no longer supports the version of software that the school uses.

Therefore, Cathell said the school has decided to make a website through the hosting service Silverpoint that better portrays its new image, rather than simply upgrading the old site.

The new website will “more accurately reflect our brand,” said Cathell.

Due to launch early to mid January, the new site will make use of newer technology. The website will be able to host embedded podcasts and videos from JC’s own YouTube account.

By making the website more visual and interactive, Cathell believes that the website will have more impact and be more effective in conveying information to students. “Because students grew up with this [the Internet], this is how they get information.”

The new website will have automatic updates every day, and be able to sync with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. The Twitter feeds will be right on the site of the site along with a link to JC’s Facebook page.

“Now that we’re able to articulate what John Carroll is, it’s going to be easier to post new items that directly support our brand,” said Cathell.

Another goal of the new website is to be student-friendly. According to Cathell, the color scheme will be black and gold and the site much more “dynamic.”

The website will serve to showcase more students’ work, including art, creative writing projects, and TV news. Cathell said, “We have so many good programs; that’s what sells the school.”

The site will also be updated more frequently. To make this possible, Cathell hopes to have students writing for the website. She would like to see students writing news and “to take leadership roles and be empowered.”

Cathell wants to better convey student life through student blogs reflecting the views of the school. Over the summer, Cathell hopes to get a group of students together to explain how to blog, so that “once the school year starts, we’re ready to hit the ground.”

It will be “as student-run as possible, within the bounds of what we are trying to convey,” said Cathell.

Alex Bahr can be reached for comment at [email protected].