New Media Lab Up at Coronado Middle

Coronado Middle School has had a media lab for a long time, but this summer something magical happened.

It was transformed into the GoMacLab, complete with new computers and digital equipment. The room also got a facelift.

Eighth-grader Holden Hollenbeck, who worked in old media lab, said it “wasn’t even comparable” to what students have now. 

All this was due to the generosity of parents Bernardo and Luzma Gomez. In June they gave the school district $110,000 to build the new lab. It opened in August and was dedicated Thursday.

“To us it is just a way to say thank you,” she said at the dedication. “We are blessed to have our children in such a wonderful school where everyone works together.” 

There's more to come. Amy Steward, who runs the lab, hopes to provide campus webcasts soon, and off-campus feeds via the Internet by mid-October.

She also plans to have her digital media classes create “21st century scavenger hunts to discover and learn about a new subject,” for youngsters at Village Elementary.

For now students are busy creating content. “We covered volleyball games and cross-county events,” Stewerd said. The students have also created backdrops for their news and shot 6,000 images for the yearbook.

Some are creating documentaries and features, not just scripting, storyboarding, shooting and editing, but also composing music.

 “It cost money to use recorded music, so the kids are providing their own ... music for their soundtracks,” Steward said.

They don’t seem to mind. “It makes coming to school everyday exciting,” said Jacob Asher, an eighth grader. 

Competition to be a member of the broadcast and yearbook team is fierce.  “One hundred students applied, but only 27 were selected,” Jay Marquand, the principal, said.

The rewards extend well into the future, Marquand pointed out. “Students can take what they learn here to high school, to college and beyond. It puts them ahead of the game.”