There's no untruth a young journalist won't try to uncover, even if that reporter is still learning multiplication tables and getting rides to school on a yellow bus.

From hard hitting news revealing elevated levels of lead in the water at several Seattle Public schools last year, to profiles on teachers and new textbooks, the students at North Beach Elementary School have it covered in their thrice yearly edition of the North Beach Chronicle.

With the professional help of a "journalist in residence," every student, third-through-fifth grade, participates in developing and writing stories for the 12-page newspaper as part of the schools writing curriculum, said Martha May, publisher and third-grade teacher.

"The idea is that it's a structured way to write," said May. "The kids are familiar with story telling, but not all are familiar with expository writing - telling ideas and facts."

The journalism program was started in 2000 as a way to boost the school's failing Washington Assessment of Student Learning writing scores. When former principal and founder of the Chronicle Niki Hayes came to North Beach, only 36 percent of fourth graders were passing the exam, she said.

A former newspaper reporter, Hayes thought the students might begin to feel more pride, and therefore more responsibility for their work if it were published. Most problems stem from not knowing or understanding the mechanics of writing, she said.

Hayes, a Texas native, would have the students close their eyes and visualize the tastiest bowl of southwest chili they could imagine. But when they opened their eyes, the bowl it was in was covered in grime.

If the presentation is bad the content becomes less important, she would explain to the students.

The students are responsible for all aspects of the paper, with the help and guidance of parents, teachers and the journalist in residence. They sell ads, develop and write stories, take pictures, write cutlines, set up interviews and record notes.

Hayes would pour over each story to check for accuracy and grammar.

"I wanted it presented in a clean bowl," she said, over the phone from her home near Waco, Texas.

One of her goals was to teach the "ABC's of journalism - accuracy, brevity and clarity."

"We taught them this was the essence of good communication if you wanted to 'get something across' quickly and successfully, whether in writing or talking," Hayes said.

When she left the school in 2004, the fourth grade writing scores had increased to a 91 percent passing rate. About 87 percent of fourth graders met the writing standards this year.

Hayes credits much of that improvement to the program because the students gained an enthusiasm for writing that wasn't there before.

"There was excitement, because let's face it, people like to see their names in print," she said. "For the first time they saw the importance of precision, not perfection."

Hayes saw progress particularly among the boys, who often score behind girls in reading and writing.

"It was a really important part of my life," Hayes said. "If I were to die tomorrow I'd feel like I did something worthwhile."

For the past five years, freelance writer Leah Kohlenberg taught North Beach students how to read and write for newspapers. This year, that job has been passed to Larry Johnson and his wife, Fran Somers. Both are writers and editors for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

They are paid about $4,000 from North Beach Parent Teacher Association funds to come in a few times a week and work with students on clarifying their writing and editing.

May said one of the biggest values of the program for the students is being able to learn from and gain feedback from professional writers.

"That's valuable for any writer," said May, who has a degree in journalism from Western Washington University.

They also gain confidence and flexibility in thinking through developing the story and discovering facts as it unfolds.

"For kids... it's the process," she said. "They develop a lot of independence in the process. You can see that growth year to year."

The paper is published less frequently than when Hayes was in charge, down from five to three issues a school year. Stories range from school specific topics to what's going on in surrounding neighborhoods like Loyal Heights, Blue Ridge and Crown Hill.

Usually, stories are assigned to groups of three or four and the students work together researching, interviewing and finally writing the story. One of the biggest challenges for the young journalists is note taking, so, one reporter usually asks questions during an interview while another writes furiously.

The students are in the writing process for this year's first issue of the North Beach Chronicle, which will be available Dec. 17 and distributed around Ballard and at the school.

Not all students get published, but they all go through the writing and editing process, which is where the real academic value is, said May.

A lot of time is spent on the difference between fact and opinion, as well as what constitutes a quote from a source. The students often have to be guided when crafting a lead sentence by blending sentences to form the most important point of the article.

"It builds their resourcefulness," said May. "It's definitely a value as a way to really approach any kind of work."

Rebekah Schilperoort may be contacted at 783.1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com