By Kate MacLeod

Each school day at Oyster River Middle School kicks off with the Middle School Network News, a live student-run broadcast produced in the ORMS Studio and viewed in every classroom.

The studio, located in the Makerspace, is outfitted with a green screen, professional lighting and cameras, and a switchboard. About 25 dedicated students arrive before the school day begins to prepare the program. They rotate through roles such as anchors, camera operators, sound crew, and teleprompter operators. Eighth-grade students take on the role of producer, coordinating the production.

The daily announcements cover clubs, sports, upcoming events, lunch menus, and weather updates. Once a week, the broadcast spins the “Wheel of Parking” to award the coveted Bobcat of the Week parking spot to a lucky staff member. Students and teachers from outside the news crew sometimes make special guest appearances, helping to highlight school activities and events.

Seventh-grade student Maddie Subach, a regular news anchor, shared what makes the news crew meaningful: “I like the sense of community—seeing each other every single day and collaborating to make something the whole school will see.”

The news is supervised by ORMS librarian Mr. Bellows but is primarily student-run.