Orange Grove Middle School

Tonight, we're taking you to center stage at Hillsborough County's Orange Grove Middle School. This magnet school for the performing arts opened its doors this fall.

As you will see in tonight's "Assignment: Education".. the students are ready for an encore.

--[Teacher says:] "Quiet on the set!!.. Five..Four..Three. .And this gives us action!"

Life and school are a stage for students at Tampa's Orange Grove Middle School. The renovated 65-year-old building just re-opened as Hillsborough County's newest Magnet School for the performing arts. Principal Anthony Perone says Orange Grove bridges the gap between the system's elementary and high school performing arts program's.

--[Anthony Perone says:] "We boast of saying we have a one-through-twelve program. K, first grade, through 12th grade program.. and when the kids finish here in eighth grade they can audition for some positions over at Blake High School, because that's where the 9-though-12 performing arts school is."

Many students hope to continue their special studies through high school and in a plan to reach loftier goals.

-- [Joanne Quraishi says:] "Well I do want to do acting. And I want to travel and go on to blake and act." [ Audrey Haber says:] "I hope that one day next year I'm going to get into Blake.. and then go on to be in Hollywood and a famous actress." [Marcelle Trzcinski says:] 'If I don't get to be on Broadway, I want to go to Hollywood and persue an acting career. If that doesn't work, maybe broadcasting or I want to be a lawyer."--

--[Teacher says:] "...And a one...two..three..four...up on five..." --

Inspiring the children here is relatively easy at Orange Grove. But preparing them for life's realities is also part of a teacher's challenge.

--[ Anthony Perrone says:] " We have many students here that understand that maybe they won't be that dancer or that Broadway singer, and so we have to understand that their academics must come first." --

--[Teacher says:] "Ready? Prewrite! Rough draft! Edit/revise!..."--

From Reading and Writing...

--[Teacher says:] "Touch the bottom of your grid."--

To Math and Geography... learning is an entertaining experience at Orange Grove Middle School. Bill Ratliff, Newschannel 8.

This article was brought to you
straight from the desk of

in the Newsroom of