The news program is on hold per Covid restrictions and technology updates. We are hoping to offer the club second semester.
I am the facilitator of the WEE5 News Team. Our news program airs every morning at 8:15 am. Only students in the 5th grade are selected to be part of the team. The program is 100 % run by students. The students meet once a week with me to discuss upcoming events and announcements.
How the process works:
In the Spring of 4th grade students are offered the opportunity to apply to the team. The application is online and offered to them during their technology block. The students selected 4th grade year will be named the 1st semester news crew of the following year.
Once students have completed the application the students are then removed from the applicant list if:
1. They have referrals that school year. I believe EVERY child gets a fresh start EVERY year.
2. They have poor attendance or tardies.
3. They are not demonstrating good academic progress.
The "list" of students is then reviewed by all special area teachers and both 4th and 5th grade teachers. The students must have a good recommendation by a teacher.
The students that have made it to this point then are given the opportunity to participate in a in-person interview. This is probably the most anxious part of the process. Students are given the opportunity to see the studio, read from the anchor desk, and ask any questions they may have about the program.
Students are then selected based off of performance. Those students not selected for first quarter are encouraged to apply again in January of their 5th grade year. Teams are determined from those able to show team work skills. A strong student may not be selected for first semester in order to balance out the team. This is why students are encouraged to apply again.
Each student on the team rotates through different jobs:
1.Anchor- We have 2 students a week that anchor our news. These are the students you see on camera.
2. Master- The student with this job is our controller for the week. They control all of the buttons that put the program out to school. They control volume and what is being seen by students. This one of the most important roles during the week.
3.Switch- The student with job is in control of our video screen cutting from program to program. This student works closely with the master and camera person to ensure students are seeing proper images on the screen.
4.Camera- The student with this job is in control of the camera. They must know how to operate the camera which includes zooming in and out. They are responsible for giving hand signals to anchors during the show.
5.Extra- Some have said this position on the team is the scariest. The student with this job is in charge of writing announcements and lunch on the white board that the anchors read. They are also in charge of operating the computer for beginning and ending music. The most important job of the extra is to be able to fill ANY job at ANY time. For example if the student running the master is sick that day then the extra must jump in and do there own job on top of master.
*Trainer: Each student will have the opportunity to train the next team. In sets of 2 , students teach the next crew how to do each job. One or two students are selected to stay an extra week with the new crew to answer questions that may arise.
Students on the team are taken to a local news station for a field trip the second semester of school. Students are also offered the opportunity to purchase WEE5 News Crew shirts.
I have been asked why do I put the students through such a rigorous process to be on the team. My answer is simple: I believe it is a privilege to be a part of this team. The students selected are placed in history as being members of the program. On average I have 40 students apply for 6 positions per semester. Students are seen in the school as leaders. Kindergarten students will end up knowing every member of the team. I also feel that applying for a job and interviewing for a job are important skills students should have the opportunity to experience.
Students are allowed to participate in Chorus during their News Crew position. Mr. Scotland is a wonderful supporter of our program and works with our team to ensure a student is able to participate in both programs.
If a student gets a referral then they are removed from the team
If a student begins to have academic struggles then they are removed from the team until teachers feel they are able to join again.
All what if questions are answered in person when the student is selected to the team. They are instructed what to do in case of absence, problems with the team, or even technology difficulties.
Students once were selected per quarter to be on the team. However, this was very difficult as a facilitator to manage and was changed to the 2 semesters.
A local news channel donated our introduction music. A former parent JD Lewis connected with them to complete the soundtrack. We still use it today.
The WEE5 news crew has been airing since 1993. It went off the air for awhile during renovations at Eastover.
In 2015 Dr. Belter a parent and TD teacher at Eastover thought of the idea to add WEE5 Navy Sports coats to the anchor uniform. To this day anchors still wear the uniforms. It was by far one of the best ideas to add to the program. On air the anchors look classic.
In 2017 head shots began to be taken of each team member. Those pictures now line the walls of the studio to honor crew members of the past. Each student is wearing their anchor uniform.
The WEE5 stands for Eastover Eagles 5th grade
In 2014 Dr. Betler added the weekly news crew meetings to the program. This allowed students to be more involved and control of the daily news program.
In 1995 Dianne ONeal began the process of application and interview to be a member of the team. However, it was not an online application until 2017.
We love to highlight our school pets and once we have had a snake lose in the studio. He was a class pet, but our anchor dropped him on live air!
Previous facilitators: Dianne Oneal, Gale Night, Nancy Betler, Carol Diebolt
Current facilitators: Maida Ciciarelli