As a senior project achievement, a Woodstock High School senior took on the task of preparing an informational video on the Cherokee County School District. The six-and-a-half minute video was viewed by educational professionals evaluating the school system during its recent district accreditation review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS-CASI).

The district was recommended for reaccreditation after the visit by the quality review team, and Hannah Robbins has received accolades from district administrators and school board members on the video, which outlines the district’s achievements with carefully assembled interviews, voice-overs and footage.

Carrie Budd, coordinator of community relations and publications at the district, served as Hannah’s mentor for the film project, on which Hannah served as producer, videographer and editor.

Carolyn Mathews | Ledger-News Woodstock High School teacher Jeff Wagner helps senior Hannah Robbins on a video-editing project in his advanced broadcast video class.

“I found Hannah to be an extremely bright and gifted young woman.  Working with her was a great opportunity to see the school district through the eyes of one of our students,” Budd said. “The video thoroughly exceeded my expectations, and I really appreciate the time she devoted to this project.”

All seniors in Cherokee school district are required before they graduate to complete a capstone project that encompasses what they have learned in their high school areas of interest with a substantial effort involving a real world involvement, which results in a tangible achievement.

While most seniors are in the midst of their project, with final presentations done in the spring, Hannah virtually is finished.

“I was approached with the need for a video,” said her video production teacher, Jeff Wagner. “I asked Hannah if she was interested because she is a student who could finish it within a short time frame, with a minimum of supervision.”

Since Hannah had a mission trip to Ireland planned for spring break, when most seniors are consumed by their projects, she was happy take on the video as her task, because it was not only interesting to her but it would allow her to finish up her project on an accelerated timetable.

“I love doing things fast, on deadline,” she said. “And, I love the creative medium of video. I’ve been into visual arts my whole life and video for the last couple of years.”

Hannah said she had a lot of good support from Budd, Wagner and district administration, as well as from principals at several schools, who allowed her to shoot footage.

The video features interviews with and footage of Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo, principal, teachers, parents and students, as well as a virtual tour of the school district’s facilities and day-to-day operations. It showcases several of the school district’s successes, including academic achievements of students and the qualifications held by 
district educators.

“Our parents expect nothing but the best, and we are working diligently to achieve that,” Petruzielo says at the conclusion of the documentary.

Carolyn Mathews | Ledger-News WHS senior Hannah Robbins and teacher Jeff Wagner view a film Hannah has shot for the news magazine produced for the school, in the school’s broadcast studio. Robbins prepared a film for the school system to use during its district reaccreditation review.

To make the video, Hannah used a Canon XL2 camera, and the production equipment in the advanced broadcast video studio at Woodstock High School, home of WTV7, a weekly news magazine program produced by Wagner’s students. She edited her film using Final Cut Pro and iMovie, as well as Photoshop. Much of the voiceover by Petruzielo was taken from an Internet Podcast he made. The studio is filled with the latest in video technology equipment, including iMacs, and now, a new video camera that uses an HD card instead of mini-cassettes. Hannah said she used the broadcast “green screen” to provide backgrounds in her film.

Wagner assisted with the editing, noting that preparing the film was a real-world experience for Hannah.

“The county was her client, and the feedback they provided helped her shape the final product, to ultimately meet its needs,” Wagner said.

Hannah said she’d like to continue her love of video production in college, and wants to be on the video team at the University of Georgia. She plans, however, to make her career in the education field by becoming a middle school teacher.

“It’d like to major in English and creative writing, with a minor in psychology,” she said.