Dear Parents and Guardians,
RE: FROM THE RECTOR’S DESK
The curtain on the 2024 academic year has just fallen! As we start to reflect on what has been, we also
look forward to what is to come in 2025. 2024 has, in so many respects, been a fulfilling and rewarding
year, and on reading the year end school reports, there is much to celebrate in terms of progress and
achievement.
The successes of this year are based on a collective effort, and, as a community, we have much to be
thankful for. To all our pupils, I hope you return home having been challenged and stretched and are
ready for a break away from the demands and expectations of school life. Again, in the reports, there is so
much evidence of personal growth and the realization that nothing is insurmountable without hard work; a
lot of that has happened this year.
To the staff, academic, administrative, and service, we owe a debt of gratitude. I am reminded of the
phrase “people of influence” because it has been through the actions of staff that we have realised our
2024 successes. Our staff are the “rock and foundation” of what makes this school thrive; they commit
countless hours to build a platform on which the pupils in the school can flourish. The Christmas Dinner
was marked by an incredible acknowledgement by the boys of the Introwise staff. It was so good to
witness such an expression of gratitude. Sadly, we bid farewell to some staff, and we thank them for their
input into life at Peterhouse. Mr Ncube, who arrived in September, very graciously stepped into a gap in
the French Department. He leaves us to take up a permanent post at Midlands Christian School in Gweru.
Mrs Anderson is truly one of those “people of influence”. She has been an inspiration as head of
Curriculum Support, and a generation of boys leave Peterhouse having been guided and directed by her.
She, and her husband Stuart, head back to their roots in Matabeleland, and we wish them every success in
their new positions. Retiring from the school is Mr Keith Adams, Estates Manager extraordinaire. Mr
Adams has, in his tenure as Estates Manager, done a remarkable job in overseeing the Boys’ School
grounds under some tough conditions. Similarly, he has been a champion of Calderwood Park and the
management of that important environmental asset. We are delighted that, in moving to Marondera, we
will have close contact with him. Mrs Delia Bezuidenhout will be leaving our Accounts staff in
December. We are indebted to her for all her behind-the-scenes management of school finances. After a
year immersed in the Peterhouse sports programme, Robbie Du Rand leaves the school in pursuit of new
business interests in Harare. Internally, we say farewell to Mr Kevan Barbour who steps down as
Housemaster of Grinham. Upward of six hundred and sixty Housemasters’ meetings, Mr Barbour leaves a
lasting legacy at Grinham. Fortunately, we will not lose his presence in the school as he retains his
teaching roles.
Albertus Murambiwa has been a Music JM at Peterhouse and leaves to explore new ventures in 2025. We
hope he might not be completely lost to music at Peterhouse, with the chance of some part-time teaching.
Ralph Waldo Emmerson in reflecting on aspiration observed: “the reward for things well done is to have
done them”. I think this a wonderful overview of 2024 at Peterhouse.
During the course of the last fortnight the school hosted, under the guidance of Mrs de Kock, the
inaugural Reading/Literacy Week. The idea is to emphasise how crucial reading is for academic growth
and cognitive development. Reading builds knowledge and with that, social and emotional strength. The
aim of the week was also to create an environment where a positive alternative to social media and digital
reliance is highlighted. In terms of progression, the upcoming holiday is an ideal opportunity for your
children to develop their reading skills further. Please take an active role in supporting reading and set
aside time in the holiday where reading is encouraged. Whilst in this space, I would like to remind you of
our collective responsibility in terms of managing social media and screen time. Please be vigilant and
conscious of how much time your children are spending, as well as what they are doing, on their devices.
As the term closed, the last Housemasters’ meeting highlighted two areas of concern as we prepare for
This will coincide with the annual Ring Road Relay Race. We invite you to join us that day to
support your sons in their running and thereafter donate blood to the Zimbabwe Transfusion Services. The
drive will start at 11h00 with incentives for those willing to make the difference in helping to save lives.
Please note, on your school account, there will be a charge for the 2024 school magazine. These
magazines will be delivered at the beginning of the Trinity Term.
Firstly, boys need to take more responsibility for their possessions because, currently, it appears
that responsibility and possessions are two mutually exclusive notions for boys. On departure from school
this term we found a mountain of clothing discarded in bins. All this clothing is in good order; the
sentiment held by Housemasters is that boys simply do not understand the cost and value of their clothing.
This is further exemplified by the amount of “lost property” accumulated by Estates each day; this
clothing is largely left behind after sports practices. Secondly, on a recent search in a boarding house we
found evidence of extensive use of vaping and sports performance enhancing substances. Please note, the
use of the latter is illegal, and the school will take strong action against abusers. In terms of vaping, I have
highlighted my concerns in the past and we will be introducing a more rigorous and aggressive campaign
against vaping in 2025. Please be aware that the school intends to take a less empathetic stance in tackling
vaping and the use of illegal substances in 2025.
At the final staff function at Peterhouse Boys, the Chairman of the Board, Mr Simon Hammond, paid
tribute and thanks to staff for their efforts this year. Equally, he also acknowledged the sacrifices parents
make to have their children at Peterhouse. Thank you for your support of the school in 2024. It has been a
remarkable year in a national environment which has been demanding. Drought, coupled with increasing
financial burdens across a frontier of activities, has made 2024 a challenging year. From a school
community perspective, I would like to extend our thanks to the Board of Governors and their subcommittees
for the work they do on all our behalf.
In the spirit of community engagement, Peterhouse will be hosting a Blood Drive on Sunday January 19 This will coincide with the annual Ring Road Relay Race. We invite you to join us that day to support your sons in their running and thereafter donate blood to the Zimbabwe Transfusion Services. The
drive will start at 11h00 with incentives for those willing to make the difference in helping to save lives.
Please note, on your school account, there will be a charge for the 2024 school magazine. These magazines will be delivered at the beginning of the Trinity Term.
Please find below the Calendar dates for 2025:
Lent Term
Begins: Tuesday 14 January
Ends: Thursday 10 April
Trinity Term
Begins: Sunday 11 May
Ends: Friday 1 August
Michaelmas Term
Begins: Tuesday 9 September
Ends: Thursday 4 December
So, as a deafening silence falls across our campus, I would like to convey my personal thanks to every
part of the Peterhouse community for your faith and understanding in supporting the Group of Schools
this year. To pupils, parents, staff, Petreans, and every other friend of this school, thank you. I hope that
you will all enjoy a blessed and restful Christmas. May every journey be safe, and I look forward to
welcoming you back in 2025 and the start of our 70th Anniversary celebrations.
With warm regards,
Jon Trafford
Rector
