‘A news letter for your ears’

By Annette Newcomb – Editor

Students at Salem Grade School aren’t spinning wax platters like days of old, but they are broadcasting local news and music.

Computer science and technology Dan Zackarias completed an externsip a while back and worked with radio that was going computerized. Together, the formula spelled one thing for Salem Grade School: an affordable way for students to learn how to set up a radio stream and at the same time entertain and inform the Salem community of school and community events.

Using two digital voice recorders, a computer and the Internet, Salem School has made the programming accessible on the school’s website www.salem.k12.wi.us, on the On Demand page.

Music and news is broadcast on a two-hour loop. For instance, earlier this month the second grade music class performed the Star Spangled Banner. Also broadcast was the DARE graduation, a 100th Day Poem and more.

Zackarias says the opportunities are endless, noting even spelling bees could be broadcast. That would be a bug plug to parents who could listen to their student’s event while at work or home.

Daily announcements, the lunch menu, reminders about after school events and even weather related announcements are posted. In the future there is a possibly short advertisements could be sold, however, that is still in the planning stages.

Currently seventh and eighth grades are handling the technical end of the steam and even writing their own scripts. The copy is edited by teachers before it hits the cyber waves and Zackarias hopes to get other grade levels involved soon.

You may have already heard the radio streaming in area stores and offices. It is also streamed into the cafeteria during lunch and the school office.

In addition to the two-hour loop, you can also log on and chose past programming on demand and listen in on classroom and all-school events.

The technology is also a help to parents who discover all too late that their student may have lost important printed announcements sent home in a backpack. With the daily announcements repeated every two hours, parents should be up to date on school activities.

There is still a learning curve and Zackarias is taking the slow and safe path. For instance, when students want to play certain songs, they have to make sure it’s legal to use it without any copyright infringement. The school is subscribing to a service that makes sure the right music is available for sue.

Zackarias says this is the natural step for students to take. “They are already computer savvy, they do spread sheets and all kinds of media applications. Doing a radio stream makes perfect sense.”

To learn more contact Zacharias at [email protected].


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