The cheer team finished third in a recent competition.
Two students celebrated birthdays.
And all were urged to give Lilac Stahley a high-five for National Assistant Principal Week.
Those were some of the top headlines Tuesday, April 7, at Lasselle Elementary School in Moreno Valley, where students and administrators host a daily morning newscast.
“The SPOT” – which takes its name from the school mascot, the Leopards – is run by students, who pen the scripts and produce an approximately 10-minute show that’s livestreamed.
The program features an intro with a hip-hop-influenced theme song that includes the lyrics: “Here we shine real bright. Repping every morning. Starting the day right.”
The program includes a Song of the Week (Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” for this week), a Fun Fact trivia question, birthday recognitions, and messages from Principal Katie Ermert.
“‘The SPOT’ isn’t just ‘morning announcements,’ it’s rooted deep into our school culture and climate,” teacher Brian Pawlowski, the studio adviser, wrote in an email. “All students start every day with positive energy and enthusiasm for our school.”
In the broadcast, Lasselle administrators join with students to share messages and news about the campus, which is part of the Val Verde Unified School District.
It all takes place in the school’s video production studio, which livestreams the broadcast. The setup includes a control room, a teleprompter, and a video switcher.
A crew of nearly 20 students – from second to fifth grade – prepare for each of the shows, which require 12 jobs to produce, Pawlowski said.
By the end of the school year, every Lasselle student will have had the chance to appear on “The SPOT” at least a handful of times, usually as a Pledge of Allegiance leader, he said.
The broadcast has proven popular around campus.
“How many students do you think ask DAILY to work or be on the show?” Pawlowski wrote. “Hard to find a better example of ‘student impact.'”
