It’s reward time
. . . touching ceremony at Mother Touch
IT WAS yet another celebration for the speech and prize giving day as well as prefects’ inauguration at Mother Touch High School in Tynwald last weekend.
Students and parents thronged the high school auditorium to witness some of the students who excelled in their studies and other disciplines being awarded prizes for the good work they have been doing throughout the year.
The event started off with singing from the Christian in Action Choir as parents and invited guests arrived.
The students’ choir then took over and serenaded the whole auditorium with mellow harmonies awaiting for the commencement of the day`s business.
After welcome remarks, Mother Touch High School drama club entertained guests with a well scripted play sending revellers to a lighter laughter moment.
School headboy, Eugene Nyanhongo then delivered a breath-taking speech about his delight after assum- ing the position to lead other students throughout the year as the leader of all prefects among other things.
He said this position required organisation, discipline and resilience and none of these were his natural attributes.
“When I was appointed the head boy of this illustrious institution, it was a sweet and bitter feeling of joy and fear, I was not convinced I was fit for the role,” Nyanhongo said.
“It requires organisation, discipline and resilience, none of these were my natural attributes but I realised that everyone has room to grow.”
After the speech the founder and CEO for Mother Touch group of schools Mrs Salome Mutsinze and Pastor Mandembo led the prefects’ inauguration which saw several students being nominated as they awaited for their official positions to operate for the coming year.
Several candidates who included Form Threes and Lower Sixth were appointed as prefects. The new head boy for the coming year is Victor Manyere and the head girl Rosemary Zvabaya. Vice head boy and head girl are Arshel Chirurumwa and Shantel Mutsindikwa respectively.
Senior prefects are Masline Madambo and Tadiwa Chikuni while other prefects include Arter Chimwanza, Kudakwashe Madanhi and Cliffton Munengami. Finally, it was time which everyone had been waiting for, the prize presentation for the best students in their different categories.
Parents and students cheered as students from the form ones to upper sixes, were awarded for excellent academic results, sports and deportment.
Among the students who excelled and took the first position in their academics was Praise Mutandwa, Ian Dandajena, Michelle Charamanda, Kelvin Pairamanzi, Tadiwanashe Chikuni and Tinashe Masimo from Form One to Upper Sixth respectively.
From the sporting disciplines was team of the year which was awarded to the rugby team, Tinashe Bhasopo was the overall sports person of the year. Parents and teachers could not be left out as they also received awards for contributing to the success of school programmes.
. . . 100 girls honoured in Hatfield
COOL lifestyle had the chance to witness Hatfield Girls High speech and prize-giving day on Thursday which took place in their school hall.
The awards were given according to academic excellence, smartness, sports, arts, best behaviour and entrepreneurship. The event saw more than 100 excelling students being awarded vouchers such as text books and exercise books and those who were awarded based on behaviour and smartness walked away with extras of T-shirts and toiletry hampers. Several performances were given by the school girls in partnership with their sister schools, Cranborne Boys high and Morgan high.
The ceremony opened with a smartly-dressed dressed accapella group in their school uniform who led in singing the national anthem and presented the school’s welcome song. It was followed by an act by the school’s marimba band and IYASA dance group and a number of poems and speeches. Form Two pupil Kufara Danda who was awarded with seven prizes for being the best in all seven subjects was very happy with the achievements.
“I am very proud of myself. It shows that hard work pays and I am pleased to make my family proud of me as well,” she said joyfully.
Headgirl, Michelle Karoro and vice-headgirl Sabina Zhakata also won prizes leading by example. To add on to the “leaders leading by example” list, Harare Junior City Councillor Valerie Chaniwa was awarded with two prizes.
“It is a good thing that I got to prove to others that you can do it all and do it well. My secret is being principled and focused,” Valerie said.
Speaking at ceremony, district schools inspector for Mbare-Hatfield district, Absolome Chinoona applauded the job done by the school head Ms Tsungai Makura ever since her appointment.
He said, “A big bus was purchased; poultry project was introduced in the school thus promoting the new curriculum; educational trips are being organised and our pupils are exposed to educational environments. Sporting is also excelling with some of our students participating at national level.”
He highlighted how stakeholder involvement is pivotal for the successful implementation of the new curriculum.
“It is a fact that parents have the mandate to educate their children and vice-versa expect them to be self-reliant. The skills which will be taught at this school will enable our students to be entrepreneurs and this can only be achieved through the implementation of the new curriculum with the assistance of our parents, stakeholders and corporate world,” he added.
The DSI also encouraged the students who did not win anything to work harder.
“Ralph Marison in one of his scripts commented, `Do not lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations’.” Chinoona said.
The school head Ms Makura said they are proud of what they have achieved.
“As we speak, our soft ball team is the current Harare Champion, our hockey team played and won in SA, our Rugby team is in the first division and fielded Anna Siwedu and our A-Level pass rate is good,” she said.
The event was graced by ministry officials, heads of schools and corporate world members.