Kids in Bloom!

The Bloom Elementary Media club is a pretty extraordinary group of kids. Along with the help of the group’s grown-up leader, Patrick Fitzgerald, they created “Protect Beargrass Creek,” the winning submission of KWA’s “Show Your Love for Beargrass Creek” video contest. At just over two minutes, the film is a tour de force, kid style.     

The film begins with anchorkid Ahmaad Edmund explaining the state of affairs. Beargrass is a beloved and beautiful creek that runs through the heart of our community. Mae Alice Harrel follows up with a slice of reality – the creek has its share of problems. Annie Bush and Owen Fitzgerald go on to explain, in excellent detail, the situation from pet waste pollution to the fact that what we all do in our backyards affects the creek. At one point, Owen asks the viewer to not let the creek become “Beertrash Creek” while holding up a discarded beer bottle.

The crew used a clever combination of live action shots and green screen work. The Media Club is technologically savvy.  KWA staff was intrigued and decided a follow-up interview was in order. It was discovered that the entire Bloom Elementary Club is made up of about 30 kids divided into three teams.

The club was started this year by Bloom parent and fake news proponent Fitzgerald. He has help from teachers Cherie Keith, Cindy Plappert, Amy Biggs, and Julie Mackel and parent volunteers, Stephanie Hall and Matt Loomis.

Fitzgerald said he started the club because he wanted the kids to have an opportunity to be involved in creative projects. They learn the basics of newcasting and the W’s of journalism to create stories about the world from their perspective.

The kids all have one main role: anchor, reporter, or video techs, with some overlap. They come up with their own story ideas and do most of the work.

I spoke with Annie Bush (AB), Owen Fitzgerald (OF), and Ahmaad Edmund (AE) one day after school. Mae Alice Harrel was not available. Read the Q & A below to hear what the kids had to say for themselves.

Q & A with Ahmaad, Annie & Owen

Q: What do you like most about being in the Media Club?
A (AB): I like filming out in the field and doing research.
A (OF): Giving other people information.
A (AE): We get to share news with our friends.

Q: What is the hardest thing about the projects you do?
A (AB): It’s hard to go out into the field during cold weather, but it’s worth it.
A (OF): Editing the reports.
A (AE): Nothing.

Q: What do you think we should do to help Beargrass Creek?
A (AB): Put up signs that say “This is a very valuable creek!”
A (OF): Canoe to pick up trash and use a hook to get trash down from trees.
A (AE): It has always been my dream to have a local clean-up.

Q: What did it mean to you to win the Beargrass Creek contest?
A (AB): It really helped the Media Club, and it meant that we did a good job.
A (OF): I just concentrated on doing a good job and winning the contest.
A (AE): We put a lot of effort into it, so it was fun to win.

Watch all the winning submissions from the video contest.