Thursday 30 March 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians,
RE: FROM THE RECTOR’S DESK
The Easter holiday is upon us; the Lent Term seems to have past us in a blur. A third of the year is behind us during which time we have enjoyed some remarkable successes this term. In our final Assembly, this
week, we were able to reflect on a full programme of activities and events which paid tribute to the endeavours of both the pupils and staff. Incredibly this is the first term since 2019 that we have had no
disruption to our Lent Term calendar barring a momentary glitch associated with Cyclone Freddie!
In the classroom, we have reflected long and hard on our 2022 Cambridge results. These were, in the main, consistent with our expectations albeit we would have liked a few more A Grades. In conversations
with Heads of Department we have put into place strategies with the intent of raising the bar and building mechanisms which will facilitate ways in which we can achieve higher grades. Linked to this we received
from our HMC (The Heads’ Conference) accreditation/inspection some invaluable feedback. To this end the Director of Academic Advancement, Mrs Scott Elliot, will be travelling to the United Kingdom in the
Easter holiday. She will be visiting a number of top independent schools to review their academic programmes and classroom developments. Additionally, she will be looking at some of the newer and innovative curriculum developments taking place in the United Kingdom. We look forward to her return
in May.
Our sports teams have enjoyed considerable success with some significant individual achievements. For example Emmanuel Magutakona has broken a number of sprint records during the course of the term. The
most significant being last weekend with a 10.48, record breaking, 100m sprint at Lomagundi. The school also hosted the National Schools Athletics meeting which included young athletes from every province in
a two day “festival” of track and field sports. This in essence brought to a close the Athletics season.
Since my last letter, our cricketers played the Oppenheimer XI in Johannesburg where they, playing some courageous cricket, forced a draw. At the same time our rowers were competing at Roodeplaat outside
Pretoria. After an absence of two years all our rowers proved that Zimbabwean teams continue to remain highly competitive. We bid Mattie Schoenfeld farewell as she returns to the United States. In her six
months with us she has done wonders for lifting the sport and building capacity. In the last couple of weeks the winter sports season has started and we have been involved in a number of pre-season fixtures
all of which point to some exciting prospects next term.
Culturally, the second half of term has been dominated by the NIAA Eisteddfod. Given the quality of the Peterhouse Highlights Concert this week our musicians can feel immensely proud of their efforts. Both
our choirs and instrumentalists took away a good number of Honours and were, in some cases, rewarded with a number of “best in category”. During the course of this holiday a group of our music pupils will be
travelling to the United States to visit and perform in Tennessee.
On the development front, the astro turf is complete with the carpet having been laid after half term. Use of this facility will commence at the beginning of next term. There is still a fair amount of ancillary work
to be completed in terms of the areas surrounding the facility as well as the pavilion/change room areas.
After nearly a year in the planning and construction we are looking forward to hosting our first games on this world class facility next term. Construction on the aquatics area was halted during the rains as they
had the potential to compromise the building integrity of the pool. We are hoping that with the return of drier weather we will be able to start working on this site after Easter; it is hoped that this will be finished
by early July. This will be followed by a three week period in which the pool will be filled. In the planning phase are upgrades of the Snell and Tinokura dormitories and accommodation. This work can
only be done in the school holidays starting in August.
As the term drew to a close we were faced with a number of challenges on the disciplinary front. I have expressed my concerns to the school and hope there will be some serious introspection during the
holidays. At half term, I raised our concerns with respect to vaping and the use of recreational drugs. Not wanting to repeat that message we continue to be concerned at the growing availability of vaping
paraphernalia and drugs. Our approach to this continues to be two pronged and built around educational interventions and, where appropriate, disciplinary action.
Ms Davy who, in January, stepped in at the 11th hour to teach English will be leaving the school. We are grateful and thank her for her willingness to assist the school and for her work in teaching junior English.
Mrs Bernice Carinus will be joining the school next term.
Your sons and daughters will, as will their reports, be home by the time this letter reaches your inbox. The reports will have a good overview of what the term has been like and will offer some good advice for next
term. I do hope that the upcoming holiday will offer a good time for all our pupils to recharge batteries and enjoy time away from school routines. For those travelling may all your journeys be safe.
May Easter blessings be with you all.
Jon Trafford
Rector