The Bulldogs are coming to a screen near you.
Banks Elementary School students began live morning broadcasts six weeks ago to delve into real-world technology.
Each Friday, a rotating team of fourth graders hosts morning announcements on student television station WKIDZ.
Northeast Elementary School is the only other elementary school in the system that also hosts student broadcasts.
“It’s a great way for the students to be a part of the school and know what’s going on,” said Banks Principal Cynthia Faulkner. “This is something we wanted to get started for the last couple of years.”
The school’s video production room previously was used for media happenings, such as green screening and sound checks, but it’s always been utilized as a production room.
In a room across from the site now designated for the live student announcements, parents are invited to watch on a projection screen.
“It gets them used to the technology out there,” said parent Nikki Scott. “It gets them used to public speaking in front of other people.”
Scott’s 9-year-old son Nikolas Scott opened and closed the 20-minute morning announcements on Friday, hosting with two other fourth-graders, Jessica Riggs and Kamryn Sutton, both 10.
“My favorite part is telling people all over the school what’s happening and how things are going to flow,” said Riggs after she read her assigned parts of the broadcast, which included calendar activities called “Bulldog Bits.”
Opening with the standard Pledge of Allegiance, the announcements touched on birthdays, breaking news and weather.
“We highlight relevant information for them,” said fourth-grade teacher Caren McCarter. “We’re trying to move (students) forward with technology so they can see how live news occurs and how it changes.”
The students used an Apple iPad to read the weather and call up sound bytes between items related to Lenoir County’s Positive Behavior Intervention and Support initiative and “Did You Know?” segments. The latter highlighted Martin Luther King Jr. Day since it was the most recent holiday.
“I think (the announcements) are important because, like with ‘Did You Know?’, you learn stuff you never learned before,” said Fendi Jones, 9, who read a section about King.
Vraj Shah, 10, read a selection on self-discipline to align with PBIS efforts.
“I think it’s important because it shows everybody how to behave and what self-discipline is,” he said. “You should always be a solution, not the problem.”
The student team seemed to have no pressure issues brought on by the live newscast.
“They’re learning how to talk on the fly and to adjust and keep going,” said Ashley Hood, Banks technology teacher. “Part of our standards is literacy through speaking, so this definitely helps them feel comfortable.”
The broadcast team meets Thursdays to run through the announcements. The broadcasts began with the fourth-graders but now incorporate every grade level by alternating Pledge of Allegiance leaders and highlighting recent student achievements on the air.
Some Banks teachers have noticed the need for a new microphone and tripod while they are working to eventually post each cast online.
“I am very proud of them,” Faulkner said of her students and staff. “It’s a great way for students to be a part of the school and know what’s going on.”
She added while students are filming the broadcast, their fellow classmates are completely engaged.
“We can get more stuff done by doing this,” said Sutton. “(We can) get more information out there.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
BREAKOUT BOX:
WKIDZ Station Broadcast Team
Teachers:
Lorene Bell
Carol Edwards
Betty Jo Hughes
Caren McCarter
Candy Beaman, media specialist
Ashley Hood, technology specialist
Jan. 26 student team:
Hosts:
Jessica Riggs, 10
Nikolas Scott, 9
Kamryn Sutton, 10
Pledge of Allegiance:
Caleb Richardson, 9
Noura Zayyad, 8
Did You Know?:
Fendi Jones, 9
PBIS Segment:
Vraj Shah, 10