Better late than never in posting this!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! We wish you all a wonderful break over this season. Well we did it! Another year down and another 8 students have left us!
What a term it has been. The majority of the term was consumed by the final examinations AS for Lower 6 (L6) and A2 for Upper 6 (U6). The exams are spread over a long period of time and it really is a test of endurance for each of the students. We were proud of them all at how well they coped during this very pressured time. We now wait for the results in January and we know that they all have done their best!
All our U6 students had their various leavers’ dances at the 3 schools – what a great opportunity for them to dress up and have a wonderful fancy evening! They all looked fantastic.
Each school held their annual Prize Giving – these were all incredible evenings acknowledging the students hard work and achievements. Listed below are their achievements:
St Georges Prize Giving
- The Rectors A-level certificate – Awarded to a pupil who obtains 15 points or more (equivalent to 3A’s ) in the mock examinations at A-level – Taringana Guranungo
- The Major A-Level certificate – awarded to a pupil who obtains between 12 and 14 points (equivalent to 3B’s) in the mock examinations at A-level – Collen Gondo
- The Rectors Lower Sixth certificate – awarded to a pupil who obtains 15 points or more (equivalent to 3A’s) in the mock examinations at A-level – Joseph Nyajina and Bright Zenda
- The Major Lower Sixth certificate – awarded to a pupil who obtains between 12 and 14 points (equivalent to 3B’s) in the mock examinations at A-level – Clive Matsika
- The Duiguid Prize for Chemistry – Joseph Nyajina
- The Denis Anderson Memorial Trophy for best results in Lower Sixth – Joseph Nyajina
Gateway Prize Giving
- Lower Sixth Merit Award and Subject Prize in Mathematics and Chemistry – Ntombizodwa Makuyana
- Lower Sixth Merit Award, Subject Prize in Physics and the Lower Sixth Maths Cup – Tinashe Marera
- Upper Sixth Subject Prize in Biology – Pamela Saidoni
- Upper Sixth Subject Prize in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and the Upper Sixth Maths Cup and Science Trophy – Blessing Musungate
- The Ednah Makusha Plate – Awarded to a Sixth Form student who showed most evidence of the fruit of the spirit within the school community – Blessing Musungate. Blessing received a standing ovation from both staff and pupils as he went to receive the Ednah Makusha Plate, recognising his humble spirit and giving generously of his time to help others who might be struggling with their work. We’re incredibly proud of him.
Hellenic Prize Giving
To complete the trio both Lisa and Nyasha won prizes for their
work at Hellenic.
- Upper Sixth Biology Prize – Lisa Luka
- Upper Sixth Commendation for Chemistry – Nyasha
We ended the year with a fantastic Christmas Party. What fun was had by all – we played games, received presents, sang carols, ate wonderful food prepared by Mrs Banga and Patricia and just enjoyed all being together. These kind of functions make us love our students even more as we share special memories and laugh together. We had a lucky dip where Taku won the iPhone which had been donated by one of our sponsors – he was speechless!!! They all thought it was a forfeit prize!
Our annual Graduation was a very special afternoon celebrating our U6 students. It was a joyful occasion as we looked back over their two year and reflected on their accomplishments but also on how they have matured, grown in confidence and really do believe they have a purpose in life now. Many tears were shed as we bid farewell to these precious students who we have so grown to love. We had inspirational guest speakers – Dr Chiura and Dr Maraire. Wow these guys are what Zimbabwe needs and we know that our students were so incredibly inspired by them!!
At the end of term Nyasha was selected to represent Zimbabwe on an all expenses paid trip to Soputh Africa to take part in the International Mathematics Olympiad in Cape Town. We are so proud of him and know that he will have a wonderful time and will enjoy representing his country.
All three schools had their leadership camps/days with our L6 students and this really helps the students to build relationships and really feel part of their new school and year group.
We are in the middle of our scholarship testing. This process starts in October and finishes in January. We visit 70 high density schools delivering and then collecting application forms. We had a total of just under 500 forms this year. We drop to 140 students. We do a first round of testing on these students. We have now dropped to 40 students and are in the process of finishing our second round of testing. It has been an incredibly heart breaking and tough process so far. Each and every of these students is so deserving and each application form holds a story that shows such determination against tough odds. It is a humbling process but exciting too. We find this last phase particularly difficult and are trusting for such clarity as we make our final decision.
Thank you to our incredible team – Mark for his vision and drive even at the end of the year, Joan for her admin help, Mike for running around, our 6 subject specialist teachers who have volunteered their time and to our students who have helped with everything from administering tests, to making refreshments! We can’t do this without you guys!
A huge congratulations to Tari and Lisa (our USAP students) for being given full scholarships to the States – Tari to Dartmouth and Lisa to Wellesley. We are so thrilled for them and proud of them! We think back on the students they were when they joined us and look at them now and are amazed. What an incredible opportunity for them! Thank you Mai Mano!!
We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year, thank you again for your continued support of Makomborero Zimbabwe and the work that we do. We could not do this without you. We are thankful to God for another year. We look back and are amazed at how everything has come together and are really seeing lives changed. We look forward to another year!
