Lights, camera, IN-tech

Some extracurricular activities help students learn public speaking skills. Others give them an outlet for all their energy. And some turn them into campus celebrities.

“People just come up to me and hug me and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, you’re the fashion girl!” explained Leah Martin.

Leah is the fashion correspondent for IN-Tech Academy’s daily morning announcements. While most schools use their PA system to broadcast the news each morning, this year, IN-Tech administration and students launched a daily video that teachers play on their Smart Board in homeroom.

That means every single day, a team of students — overseen by school computer technician Driss Atlagh — write a script, shoot the scenes and edit it together. The finished product is uploaded to the school’s website for the next day.

“Every day after eighth or ninth period, we get together in Room 202… and just put together a script for that day. We compile information the administrators gave us along with any extra things that we like to add, because we like to have our creative freedom and just liven up the morning announcements,” explained senior Timothy Correa, who co-anchors the show for two weeks every month. He and his partner, fellow senior Roman Harrison, are the most recognizable faces on the show.

The announcements follow a typical news format, anchored by two students — often Timothy and Roman — who then toss to different correspondents for weather and interviews with other students. The anchors deliver campus news and a host of extras, including health tips, tech tips, a “word of the day” taken from SAT vocabulary lists and Leah’s famous fashion tips.

“I basically talk about [what] is a better way in your own style to wear your uniform, and still be in uniform, not getting in trouble,” she said. “People in the hallways will stop me and ask, ‘How can I make my uniform more cool?’”

Sixth-grade student Leilani Agostini saw the morning announcements and thought, I want to be on those. Her friends who had already joined up encouraged her to audition, and in early December, she made the cut.

“My favorite part is reading the words off the screen fast because it helps with my reading,” she said.