When Kendall Elementary School tuned into their morning news program recently, they had to check their dials. Was it the Kendall news they were watching or News Source 13? Could that really be WOKR news anchor Don Alhart sitting with student anchors John Steadman and Laura Rowley? It was, thanks to special education teacher Vicki Spurr. She had won lunch with Don Alhart at the Lakeside Foundation's annual dinner and silent auction, and instead of having lunch, she asked Alhart if he would be willing to co-anchor the Kendall Morning News. He agreed. In addition to reporting on the new computer lab and May Day dress-up event, Alhart agreed to be interviewed by John and Laura. The students prepared the questions themselves, such as "When did you begin your career?" "Where did you go to school?" and "What keeps you interested in this field of work?" Alhart encouraged students interested in journalism to take plenty of English and writing courses. Before the broadcast, Alhart was treated to breakfast with staff in the cafeteria. Students also prepared a song for him, which they pre-recorded and played during the broadcast. Kendall students have been starting their day with their own morning broadcast for more than three years. Two teams of sixth-graders write, produce and anchor the very polished broadcast of important announcements, feature stories, the lunch menu, Pledge of Allegiance, and the day's weather forecast. The video broadcast is sent to one channel that can be seen on television monitors in each of the classrooms. The equipment, which is called the Ranger System, is set up in the library and students have transformed a former band room in the school's basement into a studio. Ten students work on each team with each student being assigned to a specific job, such as anchorperson, field reporter, music technician or meteorologist. "It's really a team effort," said teacher Eileen Grah. "Not everyone appears on camera, but everyone on the team is needed and they all must work together for the broadcast to happen." |
