CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- The graphics are slick.
The intro music is attention-grabbing.
The news anchors are groomed and smartly dressed.
It is recording day for Falling Creek Elementary School’s journalism class.
Ms. Ramona Carper and Ms. Startlette Anderson work with 21 students, teaching them how to write and produce a weekly newscast that airs on the school’s in-house cable system.
"They watch the news on TV and they want to emulate that," Ms. Carper said. "It makes them feel good that they're providing this service to their school."
The anchors and reporters announce birthdays, what's on the cafeteria menu, and keep students up to date on happenings around the campus. They also provide a weekly weather forecast.
The equipment used in recording the newscasts came through a “Donor’s Choose” fund.
“They’re not only building confidence, but they're learning how to communicate effectively. They're learning how to collaborate and really how to use their creativity in a lot of ways."
Yolissa Vasquez said she hoped to be a reporter one day. She has learned interviewing someone wasn't as easy as it looked.
"It was hard because we needed to know more information. We had a lot of bloopers!"
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