POLOKWANE – Learners at Northern Academy don’t just read about school news, they write it too.

Thanks to Northies Voice, the school’s own newsletter, learners, teachers and parents are kept up to date with achievements, talents and events.

The newsletter was launched in 2023 when Révandro Harmse joined Northern Academy.

He invited the English teacher to nominate the top paper 3 learners, and from there, the very first editorial team was formed.

Today, the team consists of 12 learners. Each year, the current group interviews Gr 11 learners who would like to be part of the following year’s team, ensuring the project goes from strength to strength.

Northies Voice has expanded into three active teams:

The Newsletter Team: The original team, divided into four committees – sport, culture, academics and social. Each committee has three learners responsible for articles in their field for the termly newsletter.

The Media Team: Established in 2024, this group of writers and photographers cover events, capture pictures and publish a weekly newsletter.

The Social Media Team: The newest addition, launched this year, runs the school’s TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp Channel, keeping the community updated in real time.

Like any newsroom, challenges do arise.

“Meeting deadlines is often tricky. We’ve learnt to set clear due dates and remind learners that the process only works if everyone plays their part. Editing and design were also a heavy load at first, but now five teachers assist with spell checks, while I handle the layout and design,” Harmse said.

Looking ahead, he hopes to introduce more multimedia elements such as podcasts, video interviews and interactive features.

“Expanding learner involvement across more grades and offering leadership roles within each team will also ensure continuity and growth,” he concluded.