Community News

Belpre students explore journalism during newsroom visit

PARKERSBURG -- Belpre City Schools students explored how newspapers report local news and evaluate sources during a visit to the Parkersburg News and Sentinel and Marietta Times newsrooms.

The visit was part of a history-focused enrichment day for students in the Eagles Nest gifted program, connecting lessons on primary and secondary sources with a planned visit to an American Revolution traveling exhibit.

City Editor Evan Bevins answered students' questions about newsroom operations and gave examples of primary and secondary sources. He also discussed how journalists assess the accuracy of information.

Meridith Greene, who provides supplemental gifted services for Belpre City Schools, said the trip offered students an opportunity to learn about local journalism and explore potential careers.

When she asked students that morning whether their families received a newspaper at home, none said they did, she said.

"They had some understanding of the news, but I think it's important for them to see locally what people are doing, how news is being reported," she said.

The lesson also emphasized verifying sources and reading information from a variety of news outlets.

Belpre's gifted services extend from kindergarten through 12th grade for students identified in areas including math, reading, language arts, visual and performing arts, and creative thinking. Eagles Nest specifically serves second through sixth grades and has 27 students.

Students come together once a month for an intensive enrichment day, with activities focused on different subjects.

Past topics have included outdoor education, math and a study of Martin Luther King Jr. Last month, students focused on the economy, learning about goods and services, setting a budget and considering the expenses involved in reaching a goal.

The monthly gatherings also give students across grade levels an opportunity to learn alongside one another.

"The camaraderie is amazing between the students," she said.

The activities supplement gifted services provided during the regular school day. Students identified as gifted in a subject are grouped with other students identified in that area, and general education teachers receive professional development to provide enrichment, she said.

As a part-time employee, she serves as a supplemental resource for those students.

She said the monthly program gives students time with peers who value learning and opportunities beyond their usual classroom experiences.

"They get to experience things that they might not be able to experience in a general education classroom," she said.