Nick News at Horizon

The voices of several Horizon Middle School will be heard on national television in April.

The Central Valley school was one of eight selected nationwide to be part of a news show on Nickelodeon, a children’s cable network.

On Thursday, 13 students in grades six through eight were selected to “sound off” in front of a camera for Nick News, a news show made for kids between the ages of 11 and 15. The show, hosted by journalist Linda Ellerbee, airs once a month.

“When they called us, I couldn’t believe it was happening to us,” said Stacie Davis, 12.

The students gathered inside the school’s library, and in groups of three took turns in front of the lights and camera.

In general, the show will be about what kids think of school. A producer for the show quizzed the kids about several subjects, including standardized testing, gossip, lockers, and dress codes, to name a few.

“Most of the time we just have to go by what our parents and teachers tell us to, but they aren’t the ones that go to this school,” said Kendra Telin, 12. “It’s nice to be heard.”

“You get to be free minded and let people know what you feel about school,” said Darion Marlin, 11.

School officials learned last week they had been chosen for the show. They had one day to pick the students that would represent the school on the show, said Principal Laurie Sheffler.

“It all happened so fast,” she said.

Teachers and school officials decided to select students who wouldn’t normally be in the limelight, she said.

“It’s really a great opportunity for the kids,” said Sheffler. “I think it’s going to be a lifelong learning experience for them.”

Each student had to be pre-screened during a conference call with a producer, and had to have permission from their parents.

“When they called me down to the office I thought I was in trouble,” said Taylor Keeton, 12.

“Yeah, my mom cried when I told her. She didn’t believe me,” said Kyle Magers, 11.

The students quickly became the envy of the entire school, they said.

“I think my friends were kind of jealous,” Telin said.

Magers was so excited that he woke up at 6:30 a.m. Thursday to get his hair done at a salon. Telin also had her hair done professionally on Saturday.

“I was really excited to learn we were one of the top eight,” Telin said. “It makes me so proud of my school.”