MAYFIELD, Ohio — Friday is a big day in the Mayfield City Schools District. Not just because it signals that another weekend is at hand, but because it is the day when the latest edition of “Wildcat Weekly” is released.
Named for the district’s mascot, the Wildcat Weekly is a video that uses interviewing, reporting, humor and the latest in media technology to tell of the happenings within the district during the previous week.
“It’s all student-driven,” explained digital media productions teacher Michael Bokovitz, known to the Wildcat Weekly student staff simply as “Bok.”
As for Wildcat Weekly’s creation two years ago, Bokovitz said, “I just wanted something for people to see what the students do and what’s going on in Mayfield Schools. But, it’s the students who control the show and what goes in it.”
As most things do, the WW grew slowly from humble beginnings and its initial class of juniors, who went on to graduate last year. But, WW’s growth with its succeeding group of students has been steady and impressive.
Each Friday, a new video, hosted by a revolving group of three of Bokovitz’s 37 students in two advanced production classes hosts the show, a video of about 15-20 minutes in length.
The show might deal with something interesting a student is doing, a report on a science project, or a just plain fun segment dealing in jokes.
Teachers, particularly in the district’s elementary schools, show the WW during Friday’s class, while others might catch it on their own time, on You Tube.
The high school juniors and seniors who appear on the show have become well known within the greater community.
Junior Beata Warren, of Mayfield Heights, has served as host twice, as well as handling other story assignments.
“My brother, Gavin, is in the fifth grade at Millridge School,” Warren said. “He watches it every week. When I tell him, ‘Hey, I’ll be on Weekly this week,’ his face lights up. He says, ‘Hey, that’s my sister.'”
Bokovitz said a WW staff member recently applied for a job at Mayfield Village Civic Hall and was astounded when she was recognized by a village employee.
“The (village employee) said she watched (WW) all the time and that it was the favorite part of her week,” Bokovitz said.
Putting together Wildcat Weekly isn’t all fun and games, however. In Bokovitz’ two classes, students learn methods of video production and skills that they are already using on a professional level.
Bokovitz calls junior Genna DiPippo, of Mayfield Heights, the “boss” of Wildcat Weekly. DiPippo began as a sophomore working with the nine original WW students who have since graduated. As such, the take-charge student is the most experienced staff member.
“I never thought I would have been into something like this,” DiPippo said of video production. “Now, I’d like to go into broadcast journalism in college.”
As for her Wildcat Weekly duties, DiPippo said, “I do a lot of making sure everything is getting done — that all the segments are getting done in a timely manner.”
As part of her classwork, and on her own, DiPippo has gained the skills to have conducted feature stories at all four of the district’s elementary schools, shot a wedding video, and handled production for the Mayfield High Class of 1966 reunion.
She said that, like some of the other students, she spends three class periods a day, including her lunch period and study hall, working on video production and Wildcat Weekly.
Warren, who worked with other students on a St. Baldrick’s charity “Moustache for Cash” event, said the experience has led to her desire to become a filmmaker. Speaking about Bokovitz’ class and WW, Warren said, “It’s a large part of who I am now.”
Junior Bryant Caporale, of Highland Heights, said working on Wildcat Weekly is something to which he looks forward every school day.
“You get a chance to express yourself,” he said. “After I’ve been sitting in classes all day, memorizing math equations and reading, you get to express yourself.”
Caporale said he has also learned a couple of valuable life lessons.
“I’ve learned about meeting deadlines,” he said. “I used to wait until the night before a test to study, but now I do things earlier.”
Caporale said he has also learned about making sure all he does is quality work.
“If a segment isn’t good enough, Bok will tell you it’s not up to Wildcat Weekly standards and you’ll have to work on it some more to make it right.”
Junior Joe Vargo, a Mayfield Village resident, said he has made videos for the digital media class, including one for School Board Appreciation Month, fo which he was recogniozed. Vargo is also known on WW for his monthly “Joe’s Jokes” segment, in which he speaks on camera with students and gives them a joke setup, and has them try and finish it with a punchline.
Vargo said students submit segment ideas to Bokovitz, who then gives them the go-ahead, helps them refine an idea, or vetoes it.
“It’s definitely not a competition,” Vargo said. “You just give Bok your ideas and you work on them. I like the whole process. You’re working with friends and you have a lot of fun.”
Wildcat Weekly has a fan in Mayfield Schools Superintendent Keith Kelly, who said, “Wildcat Weekly is enjoyed by our entire community. It is informative and entertaining. I watch it every week because it puts a smile on my face. Mr. Bokovitz and his kids are awesome.”
Said Mayfield High Principal Jeffrey Legan of Wildcat Weekly, “The students and the community love it.”
Many of the 37 students who put together Wildcat Weekly also have worked on producing video for former Cleveland Browns coach Sam Rutigliano’s annual Coach Sam’s Inner Circle Foundation Awards, in which area football coaches and other notables are honored for their efforts.
Bokovitz said Rutigliano was also instrumental in getting 2016 Mayfield High graduate and former Wildcat Weekly staff member Alex Balog a position with the West Virginia University sports video team, a position not normally available to WVU freshmen. Rutigliano recommended Balog after liking the student’s work with last year’s Inner Circle Awards.
The Wildcat Weekly students entertain and inform the community, while working within the community, which prompts Bokovitz to state, “They make me look good.”
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