TV kids get inside Washington scoop

Interviewed US Treasury, Agriculture and Interior secretaries WASHINGTON - On June 1, 2, and 3, Delaware Valley Elementary School’s DVE-News and DVE-TV fifth grade reporters went to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Arlington, Virginia to interview important people and see popular sights and attractions. In case you don’t know what DVE-TV and DVE-News reporters do, they come to school an hour early each day to produce a daily, live television show that airs throughout our school each morning and weekly on public television in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. They also stay after school to produce a monthly newspaper that goes home to all of the families of our school. Some of their stories, like this one, and photos, are submitted to local news media, like the Pike County Courier. Both school’s fifth grade journalism programs were started by Principal (Sonya K.) Cole, about 15 years ago. To go on the trip, they had to earn all of their own money by having their families sell things, and with their Tricky Tray, their Mother’s Day breakfast, candy sales, and many other projects. They wrote letters to people they wanted to interview in Washington, Maryland and Virginia and were very lucky that so many agreed. One interview was with Alma Powell, the author of two children’s books, co-chair of America’s Alliance for Youth/America’s Promise and wife of General/former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Mrs. Powell was great. She gave each of the reporters that interviewed her a signed copy of her book and other gifts. She was very nice to talk with, reporters said. Other special interviews included: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury John Snow: Kids found that Secretary Snow signs our country’s currency and makes decisions about money issues in the country. He has recently gone back to the private sector, and the press conference the reporters attended was his last regularly scheduled weekly Friday meeting with the press. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, who makes decisions about our country’s farming, trading, and food supplies: The reporters felt he was very nice to take time to meet with them even when they arrived a little late and he had another meeting to attend. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Interior Lynn Scarlett: Kids thought Scarlett was really nice. They found out, among other things, that the deputy secretary loves the outdoors and wildlife and she hopes to write books some day. They also interviewed a volunteer at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., a projectionist at the Museum of Natural History’s Imax Theatre, astronomer Bill Dedmond of the Einstein Planetarium at the National Air & Space Museum, Arlington National Cemetery historian Tom Sherlock, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine superintendent Gaye Vietzke, and Ford’s Theatre rangers. In addition, they toured the U.S. Capitol Building and the White House.