Richard Haynes students keeping informed

Early in the morning before school, while most students are playing at morning recess, the Husky TV News crew is preparing for the daily morning broadcast.

Updates on school activities are noted and scripted, photo images to enhance the daily messages are Googled and inserted into the schedule, and a brief rehearsal is conducted before going live at 7:50 a.m.

Chris Ryerson, technology coordinator and broadcast coach, prepares for the broadcast team and is ready to go when the team arrives.

Always proactive and enthused to provide guidance to students as they prepare their morning comments, Mr. Ryerson gets the camera set and the computer turned on in anticipation of the flurry of morning news activity.

"Good Morning Richard E. Haynes Elementary School!! This is Ciera Ruiz and Alyssa Gutierriez, here to give you the news you need to know!"

After leading the Pledge of Allegiance, sending out Happy Birthday wishes and informing the Student Body about the all important lunch menu for the day, the Husky broadcast news team makes announcements regarding other school activities.

Currently, Haynes School is preparing for the annual Fall Festival and Red Ribbon Week.
The broadcast news presented in all classrooms over Husky TV serves to bring the school community together for school-wide events such as these.

Husky TV also allows for teachers and administration to celebrate school-wide successes and address concerns that all students need to be aware about.

A daily Project Wisdom motivational message is read to reinforce personal responsibility, good decision making and the benefit of demonstrating kindness and concern for others.

The purpose of the morning message is to establish encouragement and a positive mind set for a productive learning day.

Jered Phillips, second-grade teacher and Husky Broadcast News team coach, shared a few insights.

"Since we have been running our broadcast news program over Husky TV, we have experienced much higher levels of participation in every activity we have promoted," he said. "As an example, a few years ago, when we asked for yearbook volunteers, only four students came to the meeting. This year, forty students came!"

For the last Classified Employee week celebration, students were asked to bring in a flower to help fill vases for office staff, Phillips said.

On the appointed day, children from all corners of the Haynes community were observed walking to school, getting out of cars and off busses holding flowers in their hands, Phillips said.

"The office staff was surprised and appreciative of the gratitude expressed by students for the service they provide to support kids at school," he said. Children like being aware of what's going on. They feel special when they hear their birthday being announced and they enjoy seeing their class mates on TV."

Haynes Husky TV has been a real asset to improving school connections between students and adults on campus.

After a student appears on the morning broadcast, other children can be overheard saying, "I saw you on TV! You're a star!"

Haynes School is a very large school with lots of students and staff members. Kids that didn't know a staff member before seeing them on the news, learn who they are and say hello freely during the course of the day.

In addition, academic focus areas for specific grade levels are also embedded into the broadcast regularly to reinforce skills and the daily instructional program.

Haynes School campus is enriched when the school community is informed and kids to feel connected to a variety of adults on campus. Soon, you will be able to view a Husky Broadcast news segment on the Haynes web site.

To check out the Richard E. Haynes Elementary School web site, visit the OMSD site and then click on Haynes School.