MANALAPAN — Upgrades will be made to the Wemrock Brook School television studio with help from donations made by the PTA.
At a recent meeting, the Manalapan- Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education accepted donations from the PTA that amounted to $9,268 worth of equipment and included three video cameras, two tripods, one teleprompter, one video switcher, one audio mixer, three microphones, one preview monitor, and more.
Superintendent of Schools John J. Marciante Jr. said there is a TV studio in each of the district’s schools.
“It is something that has been part of our daily programming in the district,” he said. “It is a great opportunity for children to create content and make announcements. It is a very 21st century activity that prepares children in different types of media.”
Marciante said the PTA in each school has supported the TV studio in its school. He said he supports the improvements and upgrades being made in the studio.
Wemrock Brook Principal Beverly Wilpon said she is thrilled about the upgrades that are being made to the TV studio, which was initially equipped in 2003.
She said students use the studio for daily announcements, weather alerts, student campaign practices and more.
“The current technology and software is not exactly supported by the hardware,” Wilpon said. “With new and more sophisticated technology, and with new additions thanks to the PTA donations, our broadcasts will be heard throughout the entire school and we will be able to do a lot more with our TV studio.”
PTA President Jennifer Babbino said the donation of the equipment was necessary because of the outdated technology in the TV studio.
“This is a really great investment for our students and our school,” she said. “Wemrock
Brook uses this equipment in many different ways and it is a truly wonderful learning experience for the students.”
Wilpon said the school enrolls 700 pupils in grades one through five. She explained that the fifth-graders are behind all of the productions that come from the TV studio.
“Even though we are a one through five school, our fifth-graders do the announcements, are behind the teleprompters, operate the computers and more,” the principal said. “They audition and are chosen for different positions at the end of fourth grade and it is an honor for them once they enter fifth grade.”
Wilpon said teacher facilitators organize the productions and get as many children involved as they can throughout the school year.
“One parent told me her daughter was so shy until she became the weather announcer at school, and it really helped her open up,” she said. “Children take turns throughout the year and it is one of the highlights of their elementary school careers.”
Babbino, who is in her second year as PTA president, said donations such as these are made on an as needed basis. She said the TV studio helps the entire school.
“Public speaking is a beneficial skill to have as a child and as an adult,” Babbino said. “In addition, by hearing the announcements, the students, teachers and staff are apprised of all events taking place for the upcoming week.”
Wilpon said the district has been supportive in joining with the PTA to make sure the students have wonderful facilities.
“It could be an expensive ordeal, but it really is relevant and worth the cost for our children,” she said.