NEWS CREW
I think it's fabulous that both the elementary and the middle school I've worked for take part in some sort of morning news broadcast. And, actually, I find it hard to believe that every school doesn't. Morning announcements are an integral part of any school, and the live news method is a fantastic way to express them. Kids like routine, so nothing fancy is truly necessary, although I believe that a little spice now and then will keep the viewers attention.
Students at Hightower Trail Middle School follow a script as follows:
"Good morning
Hightower Trail. Today is
____________________________.
If you are
in the hallway would you please stop and stand quietly, if you are in the
classroom please respect a moment of silence.
(Count for 15 seconds.)
At this time
please stand for the pledge to the flag.
I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the United Stated of America, and to the republic for
which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
Please be
seated for the Words of Wisdom
(Read the
words of wisdom including the “this day in history” event.)
With
something to think about, this is __________(Name)____________, make it a great day
or not, the choice is yours.
Please be
sure that you have read through all of the announcements."
A different home room is picked each week to carry out the news. Then they are giving a character word of the week and required to provide one quote of the day related to the word of the week, as well as a this-day-in-history-fact. In addition to this short broadcast, there are scrolling video announcements that carry on throughout the day with such information as the lunch menu, and which clubs are meeting when.
The principal has expressed that she'd rather nothing be added or subtracted than the prescribed script. I think the media specialist would add more featured segments now and then, and she realizes that she could do so with very little effort, and yet, it would draw a lot of attention. Either way, I think it's a good start, especially when it would appear that many schools do nothing.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it’s surprising every school doesn’t have a morning news broadcast. It’s so easy now with all of the technology freely available at our fingertips to create a quick broadcast. I imagine it’s probably a function of time. Media specialists and administrators may feel there is not enough time to create a broadcast, or they may just not be enough interest in it.
I think you make a good point though that the morning announcements are integral to a students’ day. It lets them know what’s going on and gives the school a chance to show off some of the achievements made by students in the school. I think it’s also a good way to get students ready for the day ahead. It’s kind of like when I have to read-in at work to find out what’s going on in the world.
I like how your school involves everyone in the broadcast by having a different homeroom participate. That seems like a great way to give all the students a chance to be involved, rather than a select few. It could be a good way to reach students who may not feel very connected to school or education. I wonder if all the students in each classroom must participate or if only students who want to be involved do it. Is there a grade tied to it or is it simply for fun? It is too bad that the media specialist has to stick to that same script. It could be fun to do something a little different every now and then. But, you’re right, it’s good the school is doing something in this area.
I believe that morning announcements starts the day with a positive note and can't believe that some schools do not do this. My news crew follows a script, but we add and sometime we take away, depending on the day. At the end of the announcements I have enlisted help from parents, community, and our Partner's in Education to come to the school and read a short segment called "Project Wisdom". Project Wisdom is all about character education and I sometimes wondered whether the students were actually paying attention during the announcements and what was being said. Our intercom system went down one morning and the students had not been dismissed form the cafeteria so we decided to have the morning announcement in the cafeteria. I was surprised how quiet the majority of the students got and when it came time for the Project Wisdom they all shouted out the last few line, "....make it a great day, or NOT, the choice is yours!" This taught me that no matter how we present the morning announcements, whether on closed circuit, over the intercom, or in the cafeteria, they are important and the students expect and actually listen.
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