“Sea Sky” Student Broadcasters Get The Scoop

John S. Martinez School eighth graders perfected the lights, turned on their camera, and were ready for the action of bringing back the school’s Sea Sky News broadcast. 

That was the scene this past Thursday as the Fair Haven middle schoolers took STEM teacher Alyssa Basso’s audio visual (AV) class and practiced bringing school community news to their peers at their 100 James St. school.

Last week’s lesson focused on learning about the elements of interviewing. The AV students are preparing for an upcoming scheduled interview with New Haven Public Schools Supt. Madeline Negrón at the end of the month. 

The class puts to practice what the students learned about broadcast media and its technology last year when Basso taught the seventh-grade section of the AV elective. 

This is the second year the school has held the AV course as an official elective.

During Thursday’s class, the students began by discussing not only what questions to ask during an interview but also how to introduce themselves to an interviewee when meeting for the first time. 

“What’s the first thing we do when we meet someone new?” Basso asked. 

The students suggested asking the person their name, how they are doing, and, if relevant, what grade they’re in. They also discussed how to introduce themselves with their name and title as a Sea Sky News reporter. 

Next, they agreed that they should ease into their questions so they are ​“not too personal at the beginning.” 

A student suggested one question to ask an interview is: ​“What do you do?”

Basso agreed and posed the idea for students to think about how to make the question sound more professional. The students rephrased the question to specifically ask: ​“What is your profession?” 

“Now what are some fun questions we can ask to get to know someone better?” Basso asked. 

She tasked the students to brainstorm questions in randomized pairs that are more interesting than simple questions that require one word responses. 

For five minutes the group came up with questions like: What is your favorite genre of music? What’s your daily morning routine? Do you like the date you were born on? Do you prefer 2D art or 3D? Do you prefer Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? 

The class then got time to practice asking their questions in brief recorded interviews Thursday. 

This year’s Sea Sky News on-air personalities Anthony Lopez and Mateo Trelles volunteered to do the asking of the questions while eighth-grader Luimir volunteered to practice as the interviewee. 

“We have to keep practicing our set up,” Basso called out, causing students to begin setting up and adjusting the studio lighting. They then turn on and set up the camera, clipped microphones onto the interviewer and interviewee, and set up the recording display monitor. 

As eighth-graders Binaney and Kattian Drea set up lighting on the right side of the news desk, Basso reminded them to ​“check for shadows” cast onto the green screen. 

Binaney reminded Kattian Drea that ​“when there’s shadows it means there too much light” and turned one of the lights slightly away from the set. 

Eighth-grader Roselyn set up the mic packs while Jordan and Tye controlled the computer’s Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) Studio.

The students ran a sound check and adjusted the news table to look perfect on camera. 

“I love that you guys are noticing small details,” Basso complimented. 

Once Anthony and Luimir were ready, a student called for ​“quiet on the set.” 

Camera man Isaac counted down from five and Yamileth clapped the clapboard to initiate the start of the take. 

For the first take, Anthony and Luimir practiced an introduction and segway into the question of ​“do you prefer to watch the sunset or the sunrise?”

The class watched the practice recording back and noted that Anthony and Luimir kept great eye contact with each other and the camera, Luimir gave an efficient answer, and they didn’t have too many pauses during the interaction. Something the class noted needs work is a stronger introduction with the students saying their first and last names. 

Then eighth-grader Mataeo switched places with Anthony to also interview Luimir. 

The students again tweaked final touches on the set then began recording. 

“Hello John S. Martinez community,” Mateo began then introduced Luimir. 

With a sticky note in hand, Mateo then went to ask Luimir a different question drafted by his peers but paused briefly once realizing he could not read the handwriting on the note. 

Without missing a beat, Mateo improvised and made up a new question for Luimir on the spot which was why did you choose to attend Martinez? 

Once the practice was complete, students complimented the duo’s confidence and Mateo’s flexibility when it came to asking a new question on the spot. 

“If this was live that’s exactly what Mateo would have to do, you did that so well,” Basso said. 

Before class ended Basso tasked the students with a final lesson in ​“what goes with set up is take down.” 

As students wrapped the equipment up Basso reminded eighth-grader Josiah to wrap the camera cord around his sounder to avoid damaging the wiring and Isaac to always put the lens cap back on the camera. 

Basso’s class is one of many electives for eighth graders to pick from based on their interest. Band and audio visual technology teacher Jose Lara teaches the sixth- and seventh-grade sections of the AV course. 

Other electives for students include Rock Band, 2D and 3D art, photography, and a dance team. 

In Lara’s classes students learn the basics of the film and editing technology. 

Basso’s class spearheads the school’s YouTube broadcast of school events. As students perfect their skills with the different broadcast systems, Basso’s goal is for the school community to provide her class with assignments around the school to put their work into practice. As they work at it students have learned to cover events like the school’s Hispanic heritage celebration and a live question and answer session the school hosted with student council candidates on Thursday. 

During Basso’s and Lara’s classes the students learn all of the broadcast roles like interviewing, recording, and editing to figure out which they enjoy most. 

The first video of this year was a recorded one of campaign speeches for the student council race. 

“These students have strong beautiful voices that should be heard,” Basso said. 

The class also gives students the opportunity to directly contribute to their school community. 

Student Council Candidates, On Camera

After class Thursday, Isaac manned the camera at the school’s student council race question-and-answer session in the school’s cafeteria. 

Sixth through eighth graders vote in the student council election. 

This year one candidate is running for treasurer, two candidates are running for secretary, three candidates for spokesperson, five candidates for student outreach, two candidates for vice president, and five candidates for president. 

During the Q&A session students got the chance to ask the candidates their own questions. 

Questions ranged from how they plan to address bullying and cleaner bathrooms to how they will make students feel comfortable speaking to them.

Candidate responses included creating a student anti-bullying group, having a private room for students to talk privately, helping motivate students about academics by introducing student council tutoring sessions, hosting fundraisers, encouraging students to come to school by helping address their home needs, creating a volleyball team, providing rewards for students who keep bathrooms clean, having school-wide talks about bathroom vandalism, having culture days for students to learn about student cultures, and creating daily academic contests to get students excited about learning. 

Election results will be broadcast live Tuesday, Oct 17. 

During some recordings the team will include a blooper reel of outtakes with mistakes. ​“It’s a celebration of them really because mistakes are a necessary part of growth,” Basso said. 

Basso added that the AV courses teach the students not only tech skills but create a person who is confident, a leader, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic and passionate about their community. 

During the kindergarten’s weather unit, the class records kindergarteners giving weather reports for the school. This month Lara’s seventh graders are creating spooky films. 

Basso’s next unit will be focused on podcasting which was suggested by students last year. The students pick topics of their interest like interviewing teachers, sports highlights, or the latest with pop culture. 

The AV students often spread the message to other students that giving back to their school is important, and so is keeping students and the school community informed.

See below for other recent Independent articles about teaching, reading, working and studying inside New Haven Public Schools classrooms.

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