Along with stories, science facts and games it also presents an opportunity for kids to gather research for a major online debate on the controversial issue of whales in captivity. These students produce excellent multi-media stories, which include print and broadcast components for both SNN and mainstream media. With a cable connected TV and VCR in each classroom, the school set an agreement to control the local channel five station. Now, students are placing ads on TV and streaming live feed to surrounding communities on events that are happening at Roncalli. Teen TV involves students in many aspects of TV production and presentation.
Students also create ten-minute productions two to three times a week.
The shows are aired during the afternoon home room session, so that all 286 students in the school can watch it. Videos on teen issues like date rape, abuse, drinking, smoking, school violence and bullying are created as a way of students teaching students. Roncalli Radio is run through the local community channel, which means that anyone at school or in the community tuned to channel five can hear it. Students do radio disc jockeying in the morning before school starts and during the lunch break. They air ads, make school announcements, and play songs - even requests that are made by students or phoned in by the local community people who may be listening.