Media Programs

Morning News

Each morning, students at our school begin their day by tuning in to Tarpon Talks, our student-led morning news program. The broadcast is anchored and produced by a team of talented fifth graders who write scripts, share important school updates, and welcome daily guests. Through this experience, students develop professionalism, strengthen public speaking and communication skills, and participate in an engaging, real-world media production environment.

In May, current fourth-grade students receive an application to apply for the following school year’s news team. Selected students are prepared to take on leadership roles as anchors and broadcasters in fifth grade. Students may also participate in both Tarpon Talks and Safety Patrol, as Mrs. Morris and Coach Smith work together to coordinate schedules and ensure students can successfully serve in both roles.

Cyber Ambassadors

The Cyber Academy Ambassador Program is a student leadership initiative that supports our school’s digital responsibility efforts. Selected students serve as ambassadors by promoting safe, responsible, and respectful technology use across campus. During meetings, ambassadors collaborate to develop key digital responsibility topics they believe are important for their peers, and they create and record student-led podcasts to share these messages with the entire school community. Through this program, students build leadership, communication, and digital citizenship skills while making a positive impact on their peers.

Battle of the Books

Battle of the Books is a fun and engaging way to inspire students to read a wide variety of books while strengthening their understanding of what they read. As one of our district’s literacy enrichment programs, it encourages students to dive into great stories, pay attention to important details, and enjoy reading beyond the classroom. The competition is set up in a “quiz bowl” style format where teams work together to answers high level questions about some of the  15 Sunshine State Young Readers Award books. Questions focus on story elements such as plot, setting, and characters, helping students think more deeply about the books they’ve read.

Students who choose to participate have several months to read the selected books and quiz one another to prepare. In February and March, qualifying tests are given to determine each school’s team. School battles and semi-final rounds follow, leading up to the district competition in April, which takes place during National School Library Month.

At our school, the official competition team is made up of students in grades 3–5. However, we encourage all students to read the Sunshine State books each year. Whether competing or simply reading for enjoyment, students grow as readers while building confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong love of books.

Boys Read

Boys Read is a program similar to Battle of the Books, designed specifically to engage boys in reading through friendly competition. Like Battle of the Books, students read a selection of high-interest books and work together to discuss and quiz each other on what they’ve read. The program encourages boys to build reading skills, develop comprehension, and enjoy the challenge of competition, all while fostering a love of books and reading for fun.