School broadcast spreads Wemrock Brook news
Students are learning how to use equipment and conduct news show
BY AMY ROSEN
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Sixth-grader Matt Minski, 11, reports sports during the morning closed-circuit broadcast at the Wemrock Brook School, Manalapan.

MANALAPAN - Gone are the days of faceless public address announcements providing the happenings of the day at the Wemrock Brook School. With a new television studio installed last spring, morning announcements at the school look more like CNN than a fourth- through- sixth-grade school.

"Quiet, please, on set and roll" is not a phrase one would normally expect to hear first thing in the morning at a typical elementary school, but that is what music teacher Laurie Bischof says to her pupils as they begin their live broadcast of the "Wemrock Brook News" each day.

The "Wemrock Brook News" is viewed by students and teachers in the school every morning. Almost every classroom in the building has a TV on which the live closed-circuit broadcast can be seen.

The "Wemrock Brook News" is more than just morning announcements. It is a production run entirely by sixth-grade pupils under Bischof's supervision.

Maya Ramachandran (l) and Sabrina Vigliotti, along with Principal Jacqui Martin, broadcast from the Wemrock Brook School television studio.

Bischof said the pupils who run the TV studio are chosen based on teacher recommendations. They must show self-control, responsibility and leadership. Tech crew members must show an affinity for operating computers and equipment with ease. Anchor people must be personable, have strong reading skills and be able to speak clearly. They must also pass an audition. Everyone involved must be able to remain calm under pressure.

"My goal as director is for the crew to be able to do it without me if I can't be there and these kids can do it! They're great at it," she said.

Bischof speaks highly of her technical crew, which has saved the day on several occasions.

"The kids must be quick and cool under pressure," Bischof explained. "One day [some equipment] shut down as the show was about to start and the crew solved the problem quickly. The plug had fallen out. Without the technicians, the whole thing falls apart."

There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make the "Wemrock Brook News" run smoothly. Bischof receives information from administrators and teachers on a daily basis. She processes it and e-mails the news script to technician Jared Goldstein, who formats the text and runs it on a machine that projects the script where the news readers can see it. Jared's job is also to cue the anchors when it is time for them to read the news.

Jason Oesterle performs a similar job when handling special segments such as weather, "Project Wisdom" and sports.

"Project Wisdom" is a special segment created by the school counselor during which a guest speaker passes along words of wisdom that encourage compassion and positive thinking, such as "stop violence and let's live in a world that's safe and fair" and "let's start treating each other with respect." The messages are accompanied by quotes from famous people such as Albert Schweitzer who said, "The future of mankind depends on being fair and kind."

The studio employs high-tech graphics on a daily basis. One such example is the spinning globe with the words "Wemrock Brook News" written across it which marks the beginning of the news. Graphics technician Mikey Rosen handles the computer-generated graphics for each show.

Special graphics are also used during the Pledge of Allegiance, which shows an American flag, along with a prerecorded audio version that leads the students in the pledge. Professional-looking graphics are employed for special segments as well, including the backgrounds for the weather. On Mondays, a list of people who are celebrating birthdays that week is shown.

Mikey also cues video technician Greg Yip, who controls the video mixer board. Greg's job is to smoothly transition the various segments that are broadcast during the show.

There are two camera operators; Samantha Loures runs the camera for the anchors and Jessica Bartlett runs the camera for special segments. Jessica is also the sound technician. She runs microphones from a sound mixer and cues the special segments.

On-air news anchors Carly Zucker, Sabrina Vigliotti, Maya Ramachandran and Austin Tymeck take turns presenting the news. Gabrielle Silinsky, who provides the weather forecast for the week, and Matt Minski, who discusses the world of sports, are the newest additions to the on-air team.

Carly, who says she hopes to become an anchorwoman in the future, enjoys being a part of the television studio at her school. She and Sabrina agree that "it's really fun and a good experience."

The TV studio is also used for special programs such as Back to School Night when parents visit the school and meet their children's teachers. This year's edition of Back to School Night began with a television presentation in each classroom that featured Principal Jacqui Martin, Assistant Principal Jayme Orlando and PTA President Dawn Oesterle welcoming the parents.

In addition, prerecorded special segments on Teacher Appreciation Week are created in the studio. Last year's segment featured one of the anchors interviewing students about what makes a teacher special. The segment was also used during the orientation program for incoming fourth-graders and their parents.

According to Bischof, plans are in the making for other short programs on upcoming holidays and days of significance on the school calendar, as well as educational videos for the staff and students.

"Our TV studio is not only helpful in offering our students information to start the day, but it's a great educational tool," Bischof said. "Our studio also provides us with the ability to show a program to our entire school. For example, school counselor Patricia Daccurso and I will be putting together a video project to educate our students on peer mediation. Our goal is to broadcast this educational video to the staff and students."

Bischof credits colleagues Rose Cruz, the school's computer technician, technology teacher Valerie Hecht and teacher Scott Roskos with helping her to set up, learn and use the equipment in addition to providing her with support throughout the year.

According to Martin, the television studio is school funded. The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District provided funds for the original television studio equipment used not only in Wemrock Brook, but also in the other two fourth- through sixth-grade schools in the district (Lafayette Mills and Pine Brook), in addition to the Manalapan Englishtown Middle School.

Martin is proud of this new educational tool in the school.

"I think the best of it is that it's an avenue for the kids to have a part in [the operation of] their school," she commented. "They know technology better than us. It's their world."

Bischof, who fancies herself a bit of a "tech geek," is grateful for the opportunity to work with the children in the studio.

"I like to see them do something they enjoy," she said. "As a teacher you hope to inspire someone. I would be thrilled if one of my students went into the television field as a result of this experience. That would make my day. That would make my life."

That's the news for now and "Have a Great Wemrock Brook Day!"