Platteview High School drives for the power of sharing, informing, and connecting the community about what is happening within the school and town of Springfield. With the world increasingly being shaped by digital platforms, Platteview now has The Oracle, PHS’s very own radio station, now streaming live on a platform called Live365. Named after the school’s iconic Trojan theme, Ada Heneger (12) says, “It was an effort from everyone in the class to decide on a name. We were going for a trojan theme, and it took a lot of debating and numerous ideas, but we all agreed and settled on the name ‘The Oracle.’”
The Oracle represents a fusion of creativity, students’ voices, and community engagement. It broadcasts everything from music to local news about sports, events, and so much more. With its presence on Live365, The Oracle offers a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in broadcasting while connecting with listeners both in school and around the world. Whether you’re a student trying to listen in between classes or an alumni reminiscing about your time at Platteview, The Oracle delivers a dynamic listening experience that highlights the spirit at Platteview High School.
Creating a radio station isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially when it’s powered by the energy and creativity of high school students. Behind The Oracle lies a story of collaboration, innovation, and learning. From brainstorming concepts to recording pieces, the journey to bring this station to life is a hands-on experience for everyone involved. The process starts with Platteview’s publications team all brainstorming together to figure out what is going on to the radio later in the week. They then write the scripts for each feature. Once the scripts are written, Ada Heneger (12), the radio manager at PHS, then goes through the editing process and looks everything over. After it gets checked, then it’s time to start recording. Ada Heneger (12) commented, “The hardest part about doing the radio is the process up to recording, but once we get to recording it turns into a breeze.”
Once the content is ready, the next step is preparing the radio station’s equipment. Though the station may not have the advanced setup of professional stations, it provides students with everything they need to produce quality broadcasting. Their equipment includes microphones for clear voice recording and interviews; mixing consoles to balance audio levels, add sound effects and ensure smooth transitions between segments; and broadcasting software for managing live shows, pre-recorded content, and playlists. Once the room is silent, students can record their voices for features between songs.
Creating a broadcast schedule is also part of the station’s operation. Students are responsible for ensuring that songs and news portions air at the correct times, which requires them to develop organizational and time-management skills. Being involved in the PHS High School Radio Station offers an abundance of benefits, not just for students interested in radio, but for anyone looking to build valuable skills. Some of these skills include hands-on experience, creative expression, teamwork, collaboration, communication skills, and community engagement. The Oracle Radio Station is more than just an extracurricular activity – it’s an essential learning experience that allows students to explore media, creativity, and communication.
Whether they’re producing a live talk show, creating a playlist, or covering a school sports event, students gain experience that will serve them well in their future careers. By providing a platform for students to express themselves and engage with their community, the PHS radio station plays a key role in shaping the next generation of communicators, broadcasters, and creative leaders.
