In 2020, East Campus remodeled its media center, the Port, and added a podcast studio. At the time, there was a lack of media-related forms of expression for students to exercise their interests, learn new skills and develop relationships with their peers. Some elective classes, like Art, offered a similar outcome; however, not all students are interested in the painting, drawing, and sketching parts of art, and Club CREATE filled this gap, covering various interests such as music, editing, filmmaking, photography and script-writing.
“Researching topics, using editing software, utilizing camera equipment, conducting interviews, writing scripts, among other tasks, are all opportunities I would have never gotten if it weren’t for Club CREATE,” says sophomore Isabella Potter, head of broadcasting in Club CREATE , when asked about her experience in the club.
As our world’s technology and media advance, the need for students to learn these forms of media increases. Lockport Township High School has expanded its media-related resources drastically in recent years. When Media Specialist Kevin Conway, who studied filmmaking, joined our school six years ago, major advancements were made to update Lockport’s creative outlets.
“I wanted to increase opportunities for students to actually check out books through the fun stuff,” Mr. Conway said. Media was his background, as he had previously attended film school and learned a lot about collaborating, thinking critically and solving problems, which he wanted to bring into our school. “Media literacy has become a big focus for libraries all around the world, and it is definitely my focus. I know that if we can create media, then it’s easier for us to be able to read and analyze media. We want to work with media, so it is not working against us.”
Read for a Lifetime, an Illinois statewide reading program for high school students, was a program Mr. Conway introduced in recent years. It’s program that includes a list of 25 books of varying genres that are recommended to high schoolers, where they can earn a certificate signed by the Secretary of State for reading four of the books on the list. If students read all 25 books, they receive a higher honor certificate.
The program meets during COMPASS and discusses the RFAL books that they read. It was one of Mr. Conway’s favorite programs to include at Lockport, as he enjoys bringing students together in a reading community. It helps bring students into the love of reading through fun activities, food, raffles and hanging out with their friends during the meetings.
“As library aides, we tell people about stuff going on in Lockport and fun activities! There are so many ways to get involved and have fun at Lockport. We have music studios, podcast areas, movie recording rooms and so many books and workshops, so you’re never bored! I love being a library aide so much and being part of the media team, which helps influence others to read and be a part of the many things happening in Lockport and in the Port!” Chloe Kouba, a freshman Central Campus Library aide, member of Club CREATE, and member of Read For A Lifetime expressed, showing her appreciation for Lockport’s various opportunities.
In addition to the Read for a Lifetime program, Mr. Conway wanted to create even more opportunities for self-expression. Thanks to financial grants from programs like the CITGO Innovation Academy and support from Lockport administration, the goal to expand media activities became attainable. This started by allowing Central students to create their own podcasts about their interests, whether that be book reviews, sports teams or truly anything students want to talk about and highlight.
Students loved this opportunity and wanted to make it into a club called Club CREATE. It started small, but as years went on, there became more and more areas to expand upon, and more students joined. In fact, Club CREATE, only within the past year, has doubled in size with currently 130 students participating, and Read for a Lifetime started with only eight students and this year nearly 160 students are involved.
Throughout the years, a music recording studio, several podcast studios, and a news-broadcasting room were added and took over a lot of Central’s Port and the entire fourth story. These studios are accessible for Central students during COMPASS and homerooms, and for all LTHS students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during Club CREATE. This scheduling allows for students who are participating in other clubs or sports to have several opportunities throughout the week to attend.
This school year, a Media Production class was offered to freshmen as an elective course taught by Mr. Conway. He hopes to add a second level of the class as “Media Production 2” after students take “Media Production 1.” The goal is to offer upperclassmen at East Campus the same elective opportunity, perhaps by busing students over to Central.
In addition to opportunities to participate in the media options offered at the Central Port during Club CREATE, COMPASS and homeroom, many core classes at Central, such as Biology, English, and Digital Pathways, have integrated these studios into their curriculum. For example, last school year, biology classes did a review activity where students had to take an element of the unit and create media for future students to use as study material. Even teachers have utilized the spaces; for instance, English classes used the green screens to perform a “Romeo and Juliet” recreation.
After interviewing a few students who are a part of Club CREATE, all students expressed positive experiences. For example, sophomores Jayden Santiago and Isabella Potter were eager to share their experience of the opportunity.
“If I had to choose one part of Club CREATE to be my favorite, it would be seeing everything that other people make,” said Isabella, “and being able to make an impact on LTHS in the most creative ways I can.”
“The club is open to anyone who has an idea that they’re looking to bring to life!” sophomore member of Club CREATE, who is also head of broadcasting, conveyed. Lockport has so many new and exciting opportunities and there is something for everyone’s interests, making it something worth trying out!
