The formation

of the station stemmed from a module Didier was teaching his classes on

digital sound where students learned how to work with sound on the computer.

As students were learning to work with sound Didier says the idea for

the station popped into his head.

"I thought

it would be great to have the students broadcast what they were doing

over the airwaves so that they could be heard at home," he said.

Didier was

able to find a FM transmitter that would allow a broadcast to be carried

up to a five-mile radius from the school. The station operates 24 hours

a day, seven days a week and supports a host of programming from information

and announcements to a variety of school appropriate musical selections

including genres such as pop rock, alternative, Christian, country and

movie sound tracks as well as performances of the Rising Starr Middle

School band.

Students at

the school have formed a radio club to maintain the broadcast. Currently

there are seven students who are members.

"Although

we have been operating for a couple of years, the station has really gained

in popularity this year," said Didier.

Throughout

the year the club promotes the station by sponsoring listening parties

and giving out free CDs and band promotional items. The station has a

music supplier that routinely sends CDs of new bands or new releases from

existing ones. The supplier also provides additional CDs, posters, pins,

DVDs, videos, stickers and other promotional items that are used as giveaways

at the parties.

Didier says

the station brings many benefits to both the school's students and parents.

"It is

another way for students to get involved and learn about the radio industry

and it gives us an additional avenue to communicate information to students

and parents," he added.

The station

is run out of the school's technology lab.