We wanted to look for something students could do for the rest of their lives whether they went into a media career or just an every day citizen inundated with news.”

Principal Marcianne Hessler

Countryside Elementary School
15034 N. Parkview Place
Surprise, AZ
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Signature programs across campuses in the Dysart Unified School District, along with school choice for families, allow students to find their passion.

With communications everywhere, the Countryside Elementary School of Mass Communications, at 15034 N. Parkview Place, Surprise, is on track to prepare students for a multi-media world. Principal Marcianne Hessler said the signature program was designed last school year as a grassroots program exposing students to media literacy and multimedia analysis.

“We had tech buddies, which are kids from the older grades, working with younger grades to look at commercials, analyze them and identify what is appealing and which product to buy,” she said.

Ms. Hessler said media is not just being a reporter; it’s also production, sports and social media. She said the students are exposed to multimedia all day long. Throughout the day students are working through in-depth analysis of media around them and how it impacts them.

“We wanted to look for something students could do for the rest of their lives whether they went into a media career or just an every day citizen inundated with news,” Ms. Hessler said about the program. “Teaching them how to look at it and using multiple resources. Our parents looked at the writing and reading analysis taking place and understood students will need it in any job and life in general and even to run a household.”

It will take a bond to pass for the Countryside Elementary campus to get a professional studio, but for now they are continuing the grassroots approach of laptops, pen and paper and cellphones for immediate access to mass communications.

“The students teach us when it comes to technology and they do like to create and start things from scratch and that is a part of exploration,” Ms. Hessler said. “They all want to be YouTube stars. And now they are learning how hard it really can be. They have to know who their audience is, how to market it and even edit it to send the right message. It really is a process for them to understand (what) all those YouTube stars go through to be successful.”

Ms. Hessler said blending the signature program of mass communication into everyday curriculum is a smooth transition. Students use references in their analysis to prove evidence.

“ELA standards are used daily, and science, math and social studies can easily be incorporated to mass communications,” she explained. “Watching the news stations and seeing how reporters deliver stories and the message they are sharing with audiences. Our curriculum is happening every day in communications.”

iExplore teacher and signature program ambassador at Countryside Elementary Tatianna Baka said students have taken part in many projects.

“I tell my students they will be making a video and part of the projects is a five-paragraph essay,” she explained. “They like being able to choose a topic and research things they like such as gaming or toys. It is a lot of work and they love to learn how to order and create a timeline, add music and even use their own phone and apps to make it personalized.”

Ms. Hessler said the students are learning collaboration, and while technical skills are important, communication skills are vital to success as they journey through life.