St Mary’s learners on air
St Mary’s DSG Kloof has given their learners an opportunity to explore broadcasting with their newly launched online radio station.
WHAT a fun time the St Mary’s DSG Kloof learners had exploring their different talents when launching their very own radio station. The Saint On Air Radio is an online radio station hosted by the learners in the school.
Speaking to the Highway Mail, the school’s head of music, Burton Naidoo, said the radio station has always been the principal’s vision.
“My colleague and I in the department were in a meeting to try come up with creative ideas. That’s when the radio station idea came up. It was well received by the school’s principal as this has always been his vision, and we got the go-ahead to initiate it,” said Naidoo.
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He said they opened up the applications for radio presenters for all the learners who have a passion for broadcasting, journalism and deejaying. “We opened up the opportunity to all the learners in the school. They signed up, and the first six months of this year were for training on how to present, curate content, to write, to be confident behind the mike, how to engage in an interview, and how to use the software,” said Naidoo.
He said the girls were put into groups of presenters, deejays and people who gathered information for the content.
“We currently have 11 girls. We are also happy that we have Grade Eight learners, as they will grow with the station for the next five years. Currently, we have a hosting site that is only available on the school’s app. We only broadcast in the school. It completes the picture of American schools where there is a radio that is running through the whole school,” he said.
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The station has started small where they only run an episode once a week. Naidoo said they will eventually pick it up to twice a week until they broadcast it every day as there is still a lot to learn about representing.
The content they air varies on different days, depending on the events of that day. Their recent airing was on Friday, September 2 entitled Spring Has Sprung.
“With this episode, we will be playing some feel-good songs, and we will be having a chat about Heritage Month,” he said.
One of the presenters, Sabusiswa Mjwara, said it has been exciting for her to be part of the station. When asked if broadcasting will be her career path, the Grade Eight learner said she has interests in a number of things, and she is exploring broadcasting as an option while doing the radio station.
Naidoo said it is beautiful to see their vision come to life, and they are excited to witness the growth of their learners in this new initiative.
