What started as a small recess activity led by a handful of fifth-grade boys with dreams of becoming YouTubers has grown into one of the most recognizable student opportunities at Frost.
Now in its fifth year, the elementary school’s News Club gives fourth and fifth graders the chance to step in front of – and sometimes behind – the camera to help create twice-monthly video broadcasts that keep students and families informed while building confidence, creativity and community.
The club was launched in February 2022 by math interventionist Sarah Betancourt, who watched amid the COVID-19 pandemic several YouTube videos featuring children informing other children about certain topics, “and I thought, ‘how cool would it be if we could do that here?’”
With support from school leadership and inspiration from similar student broadcasts across the district, Frost’s first episodes quickly came together using simple equipment. By the following year, the club had expanded enough that Betancourt enlisted fellow sponsor Emily Bochenek, general music teacher, to help grow the program.
Today, the club typically includes between 12 and 20 students each session and rotates participation throughout the year. Fifth graders lead the program until winter break, fourth graders take over through spring break, and the final months bring both grades together for a combined session.
The broadcasts blend school reminders, student interviews, themed segments and community celebrations. Students might remind classmates to bring weather-appropriate clothing, share attendance updates, highlight cultural celebrations or other events around the school, or interview peers.
“A lot of times, we try to match what [Principal Catherine] Joy does with her parent newsletter,” Betancourt said. “Families are getting the information at home, in classrooms, and through the videos.”
The videos have become particularly popular with younger students, who often look forward to seeing the older students on screen during the broadcasts.
For Bochenek and Betancourt, though, the club’s biggest impact goes beyond announcements.
“For the students who tend to be more shy, this gives them a space to become more confident,” Bochenek said. “They can practice in a safe space. We’re totally quiet when someone is filming, and we don’t laugh if they make a mistake.”
Betancourt agreed, noting that students quickly learn how to support one another during filming.
“If you see someone struggling with the words, help them,” she said. “We teach them that if you mess up, you just pick up where you left off and keep going.”
Students practice public speaking skills, facial expressions, teamwork, and presentation techniques while learning how video production works behind the scenes. Though Betancourt and Bochenek now handle the bulk of the editing process, students still help brainstorm segments and contribute ideas for future broadcasts.
“We want them to take ownership,” Bochenek said. “It’s writing, it’s fact-checking, it’s public speaking and it’s planning. We want them thinking about what kind of content interests them and how they can engage the school community.”
That ownership is part of what drew fifth graders Galilea D. and Bhevika G. to the club in the first place.
“When I first saw the channel, I was like, ‘Oh my god, I want to do this because it looks cool,’” Galilea said. “I like practicing before the official recording because you learn how to say things and where to stand.”
Bhevika said being on camera is her favorite part.
“When the green screen is there and they record you, that’s my favorite,” she said. “I wanted to do it because I want my own YouTube channel someday.”
Both students hope to continue building their media skills in the future, whether through interviews, behind-the-scenes production or possibly even broadcasting careers.
The club has also helped strengthen school connections beyond the classroom. Families regularly submit photos from celebrations and events at home to be featured in broadcasts, something the sponsors say has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents.
“The parents love to see it, and students love identifying themselves,” Bochenek said. “It brings in staff, families and things happening outside of school.”
Looking ahead, the sponsors hope to continue expanding opportunities for students to lead more of the creative process — from filming and interviews to producing mini segments focused on topics like sports, school events or student interests.
“We definitely want to keep giving students more ownership,” Betancourt said. “They’re already so excited to be here.
For many students, that excitement starts with the chance to appear on screen. But by the end of the year, the experience often becomes something much bigger: a place to grow confidence, find their voice and connect with their school community in a whole new way.
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