As the second bell approaches at Lakeland High School, a different kind of class is hard at work. Cameras are being adjusted, scripts are being written and revised, and students are making final edits before the school’s daily broadcast goes live. While most students are on their way to the second period of the day, the Hello Hawks team is busy producing the program that helps keep the entire school informed.
From announcing upcoming events to highlighting student achievements, Hello Hawks is an important part of the daily procedure here at LHS. The student-run news broadcast serves as more than just a source of announcements. It gives students hands-on experience in journalism, video editing, production, and teamwork while helping connect the school community.
Every broadcast requires planning, communication, and collaboration. Roles and responsibilities for students include anchors, scriptwriters, producers (creating images and diagrams), tech directors (operating the live broadcast on YouTube), and audio. When students don’t have an assigned job, they’re busy creating videos and ideas. In the process of all this, students gain real-world valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom.
For many students, Hello Hawks is one of the most unique learning opportunities offered at LHS. Through storytelling, reporting, and media production, participants learn how to inform an audience while developing confidence, leadership skills, and technical expertise.
Unlike traditional classes that rely heavily on lectures and assignments, Hello Hawks operates much like a professional newsroom. Kids are responsible for making content, gathering information, filming segments, editing footage, and making a good livestream for the school to watch.
The process begins with teachers and other staff members sending emails about important information in the coming days or weeks that affects our school. Kids divide responsibilities, conduct interviews, gather footage, edit footage into a compact video that’s easy to watch, and send the files to the folder for the tech director to access and broadcast during the livestreams. Because information is constantly being changed and rearranged, collaboration is one of the most important parts of the class. Students quickly learn that working together is the only way to make the best videos and livestreams happen. It requires communication, organization, and accountability.
According to student AJ Mura, the creative opportunities provided by the class are one of the biggest strengths. “It’s given me the chance to be creative and come up with new funny ideas to entertain kids but also inform people about important things in the school. It’s cool to know that everybody sees the hard work we do.”
The ability to create meaningful content for a large audience gives us kids a sense of ownership over our work. Rather than completing assignments that are only viewed by the teacher, students know their efforts contribute to the school population and community.
One of the most valuable lessons students gain from Hello Hawks is the importance of teamwork. If we don’t communicate and stay up to date with what’s going on, the entire production can be affected.
Because of this, students must learn how to communicate with each other and meet their deadlines. These are skills that will benefit them in the future throughout high school, college, and future careers. Ms. Hall does a great job of making sure everyone is held to a high standard.
Carmine Sciascia believes teamwork is one of the most important aspects of the class.
“A huge benefit of this class is learning how to come up with ideas together. Also working on scripts and getting information together is fun,” Carmine said.
This environment encourages leadership and accountability.
Public speaking is one of the most common fears among kids. Speaking in front of a classroom can be intimidating, and appearing on camera can feel even more challenging.
Hello Hawks gives kids the chance to overcome these fears by regularly presenting information to a large audience. Through practice and experience, many students become more comfortable communicating in front of others.
Craig Burruss says the class helped him gain confidence in this aspect that he didn’t have before
“Before taking this class, I wasn’t really used to speaking the way we had to for the class, and I realized it helped in a ton of ways that apply to real-life situations. I find it a lot easier to have discussions with people while not sounding dumb,” Burruss states.
Confidence is a skill that applies to many areas of life. Students who become more comfortable speaking on camera often find it easier to participate in class discussions and learn how to communicate more effectively and clearly.
The most important function of Hello Hawks is helping students stay informed about what is happening throughout the school.
Broadcasts often include information about sporting events, club meetings, dances, assemblies, community activities, and other important announcements.
Many students, staff members, and even parents and members of the community get their central source of information from Hello Hawks each day.
Kandice Molitor believes that the program plays an integral role in connecting the Lakeland community.
Kandice had this to say about it: “I enjoy that Hello Hawks keeps students informed about what’s happening around campus. It feels good knowing that our work helps connect students to events, clubs, and other important announcements. Especially as someone who is a part of clubs, it definitely helps.”
The broadcast also provides recognition for student accomplishments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Whether highlighting athletic victories, academic achievements, or community service projects, Hello Hawks celebrate the successes of LHS students.
Beyond journalism and broadcasting, Hello Hawks develops real-world practical skills that kids can use long after graduation.
Modern media production requires knowledge of cameras, audio equipment, editing software, graphic design, script writing, and digital communication. Kids gain experience using professional tools and techniques while producing content for LHS. These skills are increasingly valuable in today’s world, where digital communication plays a major role in education, business, and marketing.
Giovanni says the technical side of production is his favorite part of the class.
“I definitely like being a tech director the most; it’s pretty easy once you get the hang of it and it applies to a lot of things,’’ Gio said.
Even students who pursue different career paths leave with valuable abilities related to communication, teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.
The benefits experienced by students in Hello Hawks are supported by research from journalism and education organizations across the country.
According to the Journalism Education Association, student journalism helps students develop communication, leadership, critical thinking, and problem solving skills that students can apply to both inside and outside the classroom.
The Student Press Law Center explains that student media encourages civic engagement by helping students become active participants in their communities while learning the responsibilities that come with sharing information.
Research from the National Scholastic Press Association shows that journalism programs strengthen writing, interviewing, reporting, and media literacy skills. These skills are becoming more and more important in today’s world filled with digital media and information.
The Poynter Institute, a nationally recognized journalism organization, notes that journalism education teaches students how to evaluate information critically and distinguish credible sources from misinformation. This ability has become especially important in the modern media landscape.
The American Press Institute highlights how student journalism promotes news literacy, research abilities, and effective communication. Students involved in media programs gain experience gathering facts, verifying information, and presenting stories accurately to an audience.
While many students may view Hello Hawks as a daily announcement program, those involved understand that it is much more than that.
The class serves as a platform for storytelling, creativity, and community engagement. Students learn how to identify meaningful stories, communicate effectively, and produce content that informs and entertains their audience.
The experience also helps students understand the responsibility that comes with sharing information. Accuracy, professionalism, and integrity are essential components of journalism, and Hello Hawks provides students with opportunities to practice these principles firsthand.
Overall, the experience of Hello Hawks has been life-changing. From making and editing videos with my friends to creating broadcasts. Hello Hawks has been a huge part of my development as a person and my high school experience as a whole. I recommend it for anybody who has the urge to express their creativity with others and make an impact. Every video I have made has been made with my all, and I hope that people will consider joining it.