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Hayley, a fourth-grader at Hartem Elementary, was writing stories as
soon as she learned to write. Her grandmother, Darla Buss of
Hartsburg, said: "She would write about all kinds of things. She
would come home and report on her day by writing things down."
Hayley recalls writing stories about "the imaginative things
little kids think of: things like flying dogs."
Hayley began showing a more serious interest in writing this year
while watching and reading the anniversary reports on our country's
9/11 tragedy with her mom. Her mother, also of Hartsburg, recalls
Hayley asking questions like, "How old was I when that happened?"
And her curiosity kept going from there. "I just kept reading the
newspaper articles and watching reports about it on TV," Hayley
said. "I wanted to know all kinds of things about it."
Hayley has been fascinated by the top news stories for a few
years now. During the 2008 presidential election, she was fixated on
following the election results. "I loved watching the candidates'
poll numbers change every day," she said. "On TV, the reporters were
everywhere, getting the real information first."
And she is impressed by the newsrooms she sees on TV. "The
reporters are in these big rooms full of computers with so much
going on. It looks so interesting," she said.
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When Hayley's fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Marilyn Willmert, learned
of her pupil's interests, she decided to help Hayley find some
school news that she could report on. Every month Hartem Elementary
puts on a "STAR party" for the students. Those who get to attend the
party are students who have met or exceeded their reading goal for
the previous month. And as long as Hayley meets her own reading
goal, she not only gets to attend the special party, she is also
allowed to report on the happenings and maybe get a few interviews
in. Her reporting then is featured in a newsletter produced by the
kindergarten teacher, Miss Sarah Fleck.
Hayley hopes to one day be a writer for a newspaper, covering the
"Area Briefs" and working with law enforcement. She says she wants
to one day report on the big cases. "I hope I can interview a
policeman about crime," she said.
"I've never really talked to a cop," Hayley added. "It would be
so cool to interview one."
For now, Hayley will concentrate on the news at the playground.
And no doubt, will continue to receive great support from her family
and schoolteachers to achieve her future goal of becoming a
journalist.
[By JANELL WOOLARD] |
