Jumpstart News

Jumpstart News is broadcast live each morning from Stone's own TV studio, UUSAN, "Unique and Upbeat Stone Academy News." Fourth and fifth grade students make up the Jumpstart crew, as directors, anchors, reporters, camera operators, etc. Each show includes the moment of silence, the value word of the month, student and staff birthdays, the lunch menu, announcements, weather, sports (once a week), and a weekly contest. Periodically, there are special features by student commentators or reporters. Multimedia segments are used daily. There are also frequent talent features, award presentations, and special guests.

Jumpstart crews are chosen from the fourth and fifth grades. Students audition for on and off camera jobs. Due to the high level of interest, three to four crews per year divide the year between them. In a typical year, 71 students participate on Jumpstart, out of around 150 applicants. Jumpstart participants are a diverse group, academically and culturally.

Faculty/staff producers are Alice Littlejohn and Charlie Slate, with drama teachers,Nicole Ackerman and Ashley Kerns consulting. Jumpstart News was made possible by a grant, "Prime Time Learning," written by former Stone teachers, Stephanie Price and Mary Berry.

The professional backdrops were donated by WYFF Channel 4 news in 2001.

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