Poland 2nd-graders hope you’ll watch their video and vote

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INFORMATION OVERLOAD: Mitchell Frederick displays being “toast” as he stumbles along before being helped by classmates with technology as students at Poland North made a video for a contest.

By Denise Dick

The videos will be posted and people can vote at www.eimakeover.com.

POLAND — Twenty-five Poland North Elementary School second-graders show their vocal and theatrical talents in a music video promoting the use of technology.

But you won’t see their work on a music television station.

The pupils in Cheryl Saculla’s class, with help from several parents, grandparents and other volunteers, are entering an interactive classroom makeover contest sponsored by einstruction and Interwrite Learning. Winners will get a $25,000 classroom makeover.

“I stumbled on this about a year ago,” Principal Michael Masucci said.

A relative showed him online videos submitted by other pupils, and he watched the contest to monitor who won.

“I thought, ‘We can do that,’” the principal said.

The stipulations are that the song lyrics include “einstruction” and the song’s conclusion must direct viewers to www.eimakeover.com. to vote. The completed video must be submitted by Friday and visitors to the site may vote on the videos once posted.

Masucci hopes the community logs in, rates and votes for the video.

Masucci and Saculla wrote the lyrics, “Start of Learning New,” sung to the tune of “Start of Something New” from the movie “High School Musical.”

“It’s about technology,” said Eric Shipsky, 8.

“A boy gets an assignment in school, and he’s scared of technology,” added Tyler Morrison, 7.

The boy, portrayed by Mitchell Frederick, 8, learns about the benefits of technology from his classmates.

“It’s more than just a cute song,” Saculla said. “They’re learning valuable lessons about the use of technology and about being good students.”

The video features Mitchell as his class gets an assignment to complete a biography on a famous person. Mitchell’s assignment is the Wright Brothers.

In the video, Mitchell doesn’t know much about how to conduct research, and the assignment causes him a sleepless night.

“What am I going to do?” Mitchell worries. “I’m toast.”

But his classmates lend a hand, showing him all of the ways technology can be used to help with the assignment — from computers to digital cameras.

He says the singing and acting were fun.

Brandon Torres, 7, agreed.

“I’m just a singer,” Brandon said as the video shoot got under way. “That’s all I know.”

Cheryl Kekel, who along with husband Gary owns Mainsail Music and Audio Production of Canfield, volunteered her time with the eight young singers last week recording the song. She has a grandson in kindergarten at North.

Kekel says Brandon has a lot of soul.

He doesn’t know what that means but grins at the assessment.

Sophia Gawdyda, Shelby Fournier, both 7, and Daniel Kramer, 8, all gave the experience high marks.

Chip Atkins, creative director and CEO of Accent Media of Youngstown; parents Jill Jenkins and Lori Gawdyda; and Tom Dowlin, a graphic artist, all volunteered to help with the video.

Even if the video doesn’t garner any prizes, Masucci says it was worth the effort.

“This is something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives,” he said.