Gifted and Talented eye school paper

JFK Middle School’s ECLIPSE program to launch newspaper

By: Jamie Simpson
JAMESBURG — Eager hands shot up as Cherri Lee, a teacher at the John F. Kennedy school, asked for volunteers for the first-ever school newspaper called ECLIPSE, Inc.
   "OK, who’d like to be the sports editors?" Ms. Lee asked as she scanned the group of fifth-graders for potential helpers.
   Timmy Gandy and Eddie Williams were chosen as the chiefs of the sports page. Eddie was brimming with ideas on what will make a good sports section.
   "I want to put the weekly news about sports and any teams and players that are going to be drafted," Eddie said.
   The students are part of the school’s Education With Cooperative Learning in Problem Solving Encounters program. ECLIPSE is Jamesburg’s Gifted and Talented Program. The fifth-grade students meet after school each Tuesday.
   "The students are chosen to participate in the program by teacher recommendations and above average test scores," said Ms. Lee.
   ECLIPSE is an academic program designed to allow students to strengthen intellectual talents and pursue interests in a variety of areas. ECLIPSE focuses on fine-tuning problem solving skills and developing peer communication. The ECLIPSE program is open to students in grades three through eight.
   The students had been studying different aspects of law and have now begun to delve into the ins and outs of journalism.
   Students gave a number of reasons as to why they enjoy ECLIPSE.
   "I like that I am with my friends and Ms. Lee is a good teacher," said Michael Valiant, who has decided that he’d like to contribute to the editorial section of ECLIPSE, Inc.
   Lilly Kramer-Mills offered different reasons on why she enjoyed the gifted and talented program.
   "ECLIPSE let’s us use our brains. It gives us harder problems. The other class is simple for us," she said.
   Lilly was elected to be in charge of the news flash section of the paper, which will concentrate on main events at JFK.
   Kelsie Chasan and Jessica Zirkel have decided to tackle the spotlight section of ECLIPSE, Inc.
   "We’re doing this section for the teachers and the kids," Jessica said.
   The spotlight section will focus on student and teacher interviews. This week, Jessica and Kelsie have decided to interview a teacher.
   "The students can get to know the teachers in case they have them next year," Kelsie said.
   To round out ECLIPSE, Inc., Daniel Foder and Kate Dobromilsky are handling the fun Page.
   "We want to have jokes, crossword puzzles and comics," Daniel said.
   The duo also plan on putting a "Chuckle of the Week" in the newspaper, which will highlight the funniest thing that happened at JFK during the week.
   "We try to make ECLIPSE challenging but as fun as possible," Ms. Lee said.