Broadcast journalists-in-training have been working at Bergen Valley Elementary School, creating the Bergen Broadcast to inform The Bergens community about school news.

The students meet weekly during lunch to create the monthly broadcast, discussing story ideas, interviewing students and staff, editing the interviews and preparing the stories for broadcast. Once videos are done, the crew members personalize them, pick music and finetune them so the stories look just right.

The Bergen Broadcast is created by the Cyber Crew, fifth graders who want to be involved in more technology, according to club adviser Kirstin Pulioff, who is The Bergens’ digital teacher-librarian. The show has different segments: things important to the school, interviews with new teachers and staff, jokes, facts, trivia and more. The November broadcast, for example, also had a list of 10 things people are thankful for.

“They have a lot of fun working together and building that collaboration,” Pulioff said. “They take ownership of what they are working on, and they are building confidence.”

In early November, Abbi Laursen and Isabel Lott prepared to interview Janel Glines, a third grade teacher who is new to The Bergens this year. Isabel did the interviewing while Abbi operated the camera — a Chromebook on a stand — and held the cue cards.

They asked her about her favorite food (tacos and milk chocolate) and animal (cat), and what is her favorite subject to teach (language arts).

Glines enjoyed being interviewed, noting that being highlighted on the Bergen Broadcast made her feel like what she had to say was important.

“I love to see (the students) taking ownership of their work,” Glines added.

Isabel, who is new to The Bergens, said being part of the Bergen Broadcast helps her get to know more staff and students in the school, and it’s a fun, new experience.

Abbi explained that she gets to interact with more people through the broadcast, working with fifth graders in other classes.

Another group of students prepared to interview teacher Stephanie Buchanan for a “would you rather” segment. Fifth grader Annie Matheny said working on the broadcast was fun because she liked to create content and it was fun to create questions.

Her partner, fifth grader Ivy Hayes, likes the technical aspects of the show, noting that she watched the broadcast last year and wanted to get involved. She also liked being part of something at school that was outside of the classroom.

“It’s really cool when girls and boys from younger grades say, ‘I saw you on TV,’” Annie added.