NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2024

Chisipite Senior School

Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Dear Chisipite Community

The past six weeks have been packed full of activities including but certainly not
limited to:

· the Form 4 Dance, which was a cheerful and fun experience for the girls
·89 entries from Chisipite into the NIAA’s Vocal and Instrumental Eisteddfod (35 more
entries than last year)
· an astoundingly good production, from the Drama Department, of a pertinent and
illuminating play called Holloway Jones
· retaining the PE Sprints Meet title for the 6th consecutive year
· winning the Individuals Finals Gala, the RAZ Regatta, making our rowing team the
national champs, and winning three out of four cross country meets (a first for our
long-distance runners)
· many hours of community service have been completed in our drive to achieve 70
hours of service to mark our 70th anniversary
· hosting a very successful Science Fair, which saw our pupils design and invent ways
to save the planet and help our community!

The highlight of the term was the opening of the Heart of the School. It has been so
wonderful to see how the space has already become integral to our community. Girls
have been enjoying the space at breaktime with friends, there have been impromptu
lunchtime concerts, music lessons and rehearsals. The parents’ prayer group have
used it for their prayer meeting and the Heart was also a perfect venue for a cocktail
party for prospective parents.

During the April holidays, the Basketball 1st Team is going on tour to Kenya from 8th
to 14th April and the Hockey 1st Team will be playing in the St. John’s Derby during
the last week of the holidays. Both excellent preparation for their respective seasons
and we wish them great success. A group of Form 2s and 3s are going to Dubai, from
21st till 27th April, to attend a hospitality and management course, which will be a
great learning experience for them all.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Work will continue on the Astroturf and we plan to have the official opening during
the first A League home game, which is against Arundel at the end of May. The solar-
powered electricity system will also be commissioned during the holidays.

The School’s administrative offices will be closed from Friday 29th March and will
reopen on Monday 15th April. The offices will reclose on Thursday 18th and Friday
19th and reopen on Monday 23rd April. Office hours are 8.00am till 12.00pm.

Term 2 begins on Tuesday, 7th May at 07.20a.m. We have much to look forward to as
we continue to celebrate our Platinum Jubilee, including the inaugural Fontanians’
Day on Saturday, 29th June.

As this very busy and successful First Term of 2024 draws to a close, I thank all in our
community—academic, support and administrative staff, girls, parents, guardians, and
board members—for your support, encouragement, hard work and commitment over
these past twelve weeks. I wish you all a well-deserved, restful break and a happy
Easter.

Yours sincerely,

Dr L. Reilly
Head of School
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

The Heart Starts Beating

Friday 9 February marked the official opening of The Heart of the School. Guests to this historic
event included members of the Board of Governors, Fontanians, academic, administrative and
support staff, as well as pupils.
In her address, the Head of School Dr Reilly detailed the many twists and turns that marked the
journey to the conceptualization and eventual construction of The Heart of the School.
In a touching rendition of the School Song, the three verses were sung as duets by members of
the Chisipite community who represented the School’s past, present and future. The first verse
was sung by two Chisi Junior girls: India Cochrane, daughter of a Fontanian, and Maita Maphosa,
sister of a Thandeka in Form 1; the middle verse was then sung by two Upper 6 pupils, Emma
Reilly and Sarah Reid, both daughters of Fontanians, and the final verse was sung by Fontanians,
Zoe Nziradzemhuka and Hayley Reid.
The following month saw the hosting of a cocktail to acknowledge and appreciate the different
stakeholders who transformed what started as a dream, into detailed plans and eventually a
three-dimensional reality.

These included architects, landscapers, designers and lighting engineers, gardeners,

craftspeople, and members of the School Board.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Fontanian Boatrace Lights Up

The Interhouse Gala
The Platinum Jubilee edition of the Interhouse Gala featured a special Fontanian boatrace where
alumni representing the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s and Chisi’s most recent graduates from the Class of
2023, paid tribute to what has become a beloved Chisi tradition.

Each team had a theme song applicable to their decade and despite the difference in ages,
current pupils sang along heartily to the Pop songs their parents most likely grew up on.

Information from some Fontanians and School records indicate that in the 1980's teachers from
the different houses would compete in a roll up relay. The traditional boat race debuted in the
1990's. In the spirit of the Gala, House Captains and their respective House Mistresses/Masters
would swim across the pool together, until one year a member of staff ended up using a boat!
This led to the current iteration of the race, where the House Mistress or Master sits in a boat and
House Captains push them across the pool’s length.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Astro Turf Update: Primed and

ready for the next stage
This week road construction company Bitumen World, spread a layer of primer over the surface
of the Astro Turf area. This layer will be left to settle for a period of 48 hours and thereafter
Bitumen World will carry out levelling work. Once they are satisfied, they will then pour out a
layer of asphalt (tar).

After this process, the next stage in the construction of the Astro Turf is the laying of a rubber
surface on which the final “carpet like” astro turf material will be placed on top.

While these developments have been taking place on the main surface, JHS Civils has been
carrying out auxiliary work on the periphery areas. This includes "cutting out" infield drains, laying
out the outer curbing and installing columns for the roof that will be erected over the Grandstand
area. Work on the food and beverage area, where the Basketball court used to be, is taking place
simultaneously.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

SPORTS
Aquatics
They came! They swam! They conquered!
Chisipite’s Swimming Team dominated both individual and relays events, to emerge as overall
winners of the 2024 Interschools Finals Gala. The Interschools Finals Gala is Zimbabwe’s premier
school level Swimming competition as it includes the country’s top Swimming schools.

Chisipite’s commanding performance included shattering a 34-year-old 50m Butterfly record,

courtesy of Anje Van As in the Senior category. This was the only record broken at this year’s
edition of the Interschools Finals Gala and the first record broken since 2015!

Neema Bhulabhai and Alexis Johnsen were in

Chisi Swimmers outstanding form at this year’s edition of the South
make waves in SA Africa National Junior Swimming Championships. The
two Chisi swimmers were part of the Zimbabwe
Swimming Team which participated in SANJ.

Neema achieved personal bests in all in six individual

events she competed in. Her most remarkable
improvement was in the 200m Breaststroke, where
she improved her time by 4.98 seconds. Alexis
obtained great personal bests in all five races she
swam in. She narrowly missed the podium coming 4th
in the 50m Freestyle where she attained an SA Senior
time of 28.14.

The duo is part of the swimming talent the School has

nurtured since inception.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Hard Work Pays Off for Chisipite Boat Club

The intense preparations conducted during two training camps, regular training, and participation
in regattas, paid off well for the thirteen Chisipite Boat Club rowers who participated in the SA
Schools Rowing Champs. They represented the School very well with several rowers qualifying
for the semi-finals and finals. Special mention to Tawananyasha Chakona who either qualified for
the semi-finals or finals in all her events.

In the Singles Events Tawananyasha Chakona (Under 15) and Armanee Madzimure (Under 19) put
in solid shifts in their singles heats and qualified for the semi-finals. Hayleigh Blumears and
Tawananyasha Chakona for came second in their Under 15 Doubles and qualified for the final. In
the Quads Events Matipaishe Matare, Tawananyasha Chakona, Paidamwoyo Chamunorwa,
Hayleigh Blumears and Saleeya Ismail qualified for the Under 15 final.

Hundreds of rowers from schools and clubs across South Africa and the region, participate in the
South African Schools Rowing Championships. This competition is regarded as SA’s leading
competition for young rowers.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Green Machine secures qualification to SA’s most

prestigious Water Polo Tournament
The Water Polo First Team recently participated in this year’s edition of the Old Petrian's Water
Polo Tournament. Of the 28 participating schools, Chisipite finished 22nd thereby securing
qualification to the next edition of the tournament, as its rules stipulate that the bottom two teams
forfeit inclusion in the following year.

Hosted by St Peter's College in Johannesburg, the Old Petrian's Water Polo Tournament is
regarded as the largest and the most prestigious girls Water Polo tournament in South Africa.
Coach Mike Ranken, Chisipite’s Head of Aquatics, says the team’s performance was an important
milestone in the medium to long-term development of the School’s Water Polo programme.

“The team we took to SA featured only three Upper 6s and the rest were juniors. Our goal was to
stay in the Tournament, while we continue to build a strong team which will be competitive over
the coming years,” says Coach Ranken.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Soccer
Soccer Team posts jaw dropping stats

Winning 8 games, while drawing and

losing a game apiece makes for
impressive reading. When it comes
to Chisipite’s Soccer First Team
however, it’s the almost surgical
manner these achievements have
been made, that stands out.

In ten outings the Green Machine’s

players have racked up a goal tally
of 33. Munesu Mhembere leads with
13 goals, followed by Ariella Fourie
on eight, Mazvita Banga with three
and Angelica Mwenso scoring two.

Ameerah Keriah, Ruvarashe

Chiweshe, Sheerece Charters,
Chiedza Dera, Anotida Mukumbira,
Maita Chikuni, Leila Nyamutsamba
and Asial Sial all contributed a goal
each to the first term campaign.
Head Girl Keeana Setoboli has been
solid in goals, maintaining clean
sheets bar the only three goals she
has conceded.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Athletics
Catch them if you can!
Athletics Team Maintains PE Sprints Challenge
Winning Streak

Coach Andy Garwe admits feeling despondent when he first took on the role of Head
of Athletics in 2012. At the PE Sprints Challenge, Peterhouse had virtually taken
ownership of the Girls Trophy in a winning streak that extended back to 2003.

Little did Coach Andy know that from 2012 to 2015, dominance of that meet would
then shift to Arundel. This however did not deter him as the combined weight of his
efforts and the determination of the Green Machine’s athletes, would lead to Chisipite
winning the trophy in 2016.

From 2016 to 2019 Chisi never took its foot of the pedal, with this winning streak only
being disrupted by the COVID enforced break, when the competition was halted. Post
COVID the Green Machine picked up where it had left off, winning the trophy in 2022,
2023 and claiming it yet again this year to make it seven times in a row.

Coach Andy commends the fighting spirit of the athletes, their hardworking coaches
and the School, for this feat. As the Athletics season winds down, he is already
plotting the Green Machine’s next assault on future competitions.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Chisi Athletes Bag Silverware at Nationals

Competing in the National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) Athletics

Championships was fruitful for Chisipite’s contingent of six athletes.

Tanyaradzwa Masamba won Silver medals in the Girls Under 20 4 x 100m and Under
20 Medley Relay. In the same age group Romy Manditsera won Silver in the 4 x 100m
and Bronze in the 4 x 400m races. Tawana Ndimutseyi won Gold in the Under 15 Shot
Putt and Silver for Discuss.

Though they did not secure a podium finish, Zara Fick and Jordan Kunyetu-Lambert
competed in the Under 15 4 x 400m and Michelle Dandara came fourth in the Under
15 Triple Jump

This year’s NASH Athletics Championships were held in Victoria Falls. The national
competition is regarded as an important milestone in the development of the
Country’s next generation of Track and Field athletes.
 Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Indoor Hockey
Indoor Hockey Teams Enjoy Steady Development
It’s all hands on deck for the players, coaches and management of the Green Machine’s Hockey
teams. Coach Kanyiwe Tafuma, who recently came on board and was coaching Indoor Hockey A
Team, says the focus over the first term was on equipping players with solid fundamental skills and
establishing a foundation for continual progress.

Results wise the five Indoor Hockey teams have delivered. The A Team notched up an 80%-win
ratio for their matches and reached the Indoor Knockout Final where they lost narrowly 2 – 1 to
Hellenic. The B Team won 40% of their matches and this percentage includes results for fixtures
they played against some strong A sides.

The C Team won 56% of their matches and the D team, which had a lot of development players in it,
won 80% of their matches. An ambitious E Team played some matches as well. They drew to
Heritage and had a round robin with the C and D team, where the coaches mixed the teams up to
give players exposure to different styles of play.

In terms of the technical aspects of the game, all teams have started adapting to the more
possession-based game the coaches are evolving to. “Indoor Hockey has a different set of
requirements in terms of skills as it’s a faster game, but the need to be disciplined on the court is
very good for our field teams,” says Mrs Costas the Head of Hockey. She is excited about the long-
term prospects for all teams.

“We have had a lot of Form Twos coming to try out and attending practices which is great for
development. That coupled with the experience of the seniors in the higher teams, has been good
in terms of the ongoing development of Chisi Hockey,” Mrs Costas says.
 Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Squash
Chisipite Invitational The School hosted the Chisipite Invitational
Squash Tournament at Highlands Sports Club.
Squash Tournament Though a searing heat wave made players and
spectators uncomfortable, spirits were high and
a good standard of play was on display.

Of the six competing schools, Chisipite A

emerged as runners up while St John's College
A were the winners. Anna Belle Mellor from
Hellenic was recognised as the Most Improved
Player and Natasha Gwidzima from Riverdale
was awarded the tournament’s Best Player
accolade.

Cheers to the Cheerleading Squad!

This term the Cheerleading Squad competed in their first event after a long break. The Cheerleading
competition, which was hosted at the School, treated an appreciative audience to rhythmic
acrobatics and powerful cheers. After an exciting afternoon, the Green Machine’s Cheerleading
Squad won the “Cheer Skit” and “Cheer Presentation”, tied for the “Cheer Battle” and narrowly lost the
“Pom Dance”.

The School’s Cheerleading joined the Zimbabwe Cheerleading Association in 2018. Since then, they
have emerged to become a dominant presence in the local schools Cheerleading community.

Cheerleading requires excellent coordination, strength, stamina, and teamwork. In 2021 the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised Cheerleading as a sport, establishing an important
step towards its anticipated inclusion in future Olympic games.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

Counselling Department
Who Are The Listeners?
The Listeners are peer counsellors trained by the Counselling Department to offer
support to all pupils.

Peer counselling has been found to be beneficial to both the peer counsellor and the
person participating in the counselling as the former develops valuable life skills like
empathy while the latter receives support from a non-judgmental peer.

Like other members of the Chisipite community, the Listeners are involved in
community service within the School as well as in the wider community.

As part of their community service, the Listeners recently spent an afternoon at the
Sunshine Project. The Sunshine Project is vocational school that caters for
intellectually and developmentally challenged children.

Together with the children from the Sunshine Project, the Listeners created Easter
artwork and at the end of the afternoon presented their hosts with a gift of money
they had raised from a bake sale.
 Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

Model United Nations
at ZiMUN 2024
Members of Chisipite Model United Nations Club took
part in the ZiMUN Conference, which was held at
Harare International School.

Our delegates, who were a mixture of experienced and

new members, held their own in research and debate
and were fantastic ambassadors for the School.

Special mention goes to Mazvita Banga who was

awarded the Most Promising Delegate in the African
Union.

Conservation Club
Hosts Akashinga
Akashinga is an all-women anti-poaching unit, which
was the subject of a documentary, “Akashinga: The
Brave Ones”, executive produced by renowned
filmmaker James Cameron and broadcast on National
Geographic.

The Conservation Club was honoured to host these

real-life action heroes who are making a significant
contribution towards conserving Zimbabwe’s wildlife.

Akashinga, formerly known as the International Anti-

Poaching Foundation (IAPF), shared with the
Conservation Club, innovative approaches to
Ecosystem Conservation with an emphasis on wildlife
and community involvement.

The insightful presentation was buttressed by personal

accounts from some of the rangers.
 Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

CHISIPITE IN THE COMMUNITY

Chisipite community finds creative ways to celebrate
70 hours of service
Different classes and members of the Chisipite community continue to find creative ways of
reaching the underprivileged under the banner of the “70 Hours of Service” initiative.

Upper 6 pupils and teachers conducted an intensive cleanup of the School’s surrounding area.
One Yellow provided much needed assistance to the Harare SPCA in the form of pet food, bowls,
blankets, and cash.
Lower 6 4 class visited the Rose of Sharon Secondary School of the Rose of Sharon Welfare
organisation. Here they spent an afternoon interacting with the children and then shared some
groceries with them.
Members of the Junior Drama Team and Band Club performed a variety concert at Pleasantways
Retirement Home. The residents were entertained with poetry, song, drama and music and some
impromptu dancing making it a very special afternoon for them.

Joining in the spirit of service the First Aid Club pitched their tent in the Heart of the School one
afternoon and shared basic First Aid tips to non-First Aid members.
Other classes, clubs and members of the community continue to carry out calculated acts of
kindness in appreciation of the School’s mission to “fill the world with love”.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

CHISIPITE IN THE COMMUNITY

JIFE: Serving With Joy

When the time came to finalise their community service project, the Jesus is for Everyone (JIFE)
Club were spoilt for choice, as members had suggested many good ideas. They ultimately
decided to settle for an idea they felt would best serve the immediate Chisipite community.

JIFE members spent an afternoon cleaning all the classrooms. This gesture gave the School’s
maintenance staff a bit of a break, while acknowledging the important role they play.

There wasn’t just sweeping and mopping involved, but also singing, laughing and fellowship, as
JIFE members rejoiced at the opportunity to serve the community.
 Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

MUSIC
St Paul’s wins inaugural Interhouse Music Competition
The first edition of the Interhouse Music Competition provided all pupils, regardless of their
background in music, with exposure to the joys of creating and performing music pieces.

St Paul’s emerged as the overall winners, followed by Spring and Anderson in joint second place
and Patrons in third position. The competition was divided into four categories: Junior
Instrumentalist and Senior Instrumentalist, Junior and Senior Vocalist, Instrumental Ensemble and
Vocal Ensemble.

Allez La Machine Verte!

Chisi Singers take Silver at the Francophonie Contest

Three Chisipite pupils, Natasha Mlalazi, Chikomborero Murwisi and Alma Chimbwe, came
second at the Francophonie contest at the L'ecole Française.

The trio sang a song in French and their performance earned them a prize which was
presented to them by the Canadian Ambassador to Zimbabwe. Also present was the French
Ambassador and the Belgian Consul.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

MUSIC
NIAA Eisteddfod Roundup
This year the Music Department put forward 89 entries into the Vocal and Instrumental section
of the National Institute of the Allied Arts Festival. We received 10 Honours Grades, 35 First
Pluses, 33 First Grades, 5 Second Pluses, 4 Second Grade, 1 Third Plus, and 1 Third Grade.

Congratulations to the Senior AVA for receiving 2 Honours Grades following on from a similar
result last year. The AVA Sextet made up of Namatai Nhemachena, Tawana Kadyautumbe,
Mutsawashe Muchaka, Samantha Gore, Jannice Sithole, and Ruvarashe Samhembere. Ruva
also received an Honours for her African Contemporary Vocal Solo- this was her first time
entering a solo in the eisteddfod.

Congratulations as well to Chikomborero Murwisi for receiving an Honours Grade in her ‘Songs
From the Movies’ Vocal Solo class and performing in the Official NIAA Junior Highlights
Concert, which she also did last year.

Keeana Setoboli received an Honours in her Jazz Vocal Solo class and competed in the Vocal
Challenge for the Monica Trollope trophy which was awarded to a girl from Watershed this
year. Keeana also was a part of the Madrigals who received an Honours in the Vocal Ensemble
class, along with Emma Reilly, Sarah Reid, Yananai Muteiwa, and Chiedza Matangaidze.

After having played the tuba for less than a year, Chara Ndlovu received an Honours in her
Grade 1 Tuba Solo, Gabrielle Rwambiwa received an Honours in her Grade 4 Violin Solo class,
following on from the Honours she received in the Grade 3 Violin Solo class last year. Mutsa
Munowenyu received an Honours in her Grade 5 Violin Solo class, also following on from the
Honours she received in the Grade 4 Violin Solo class last year.

Congratulations to all Chisipite musicians and their teachers.

Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

SPEECH & DRAMA

Spoken Word’s #MyFreedomDay Event
For the eighth year of the campaign, CNN's #MyFreedomDay focused on Forced Child Labour,
with the project entitled 'Little Hands', The Spoken Word Society participated with an interactive
installation poetry and performance piece, themed on raising awareness about the use of child
labour in gold panning and mining in Zimbabwe.

Members of the team sat along a ‘river'. In the water were multi-coloured sequins. Pupils were
asked to collect 5 gold sequins from the water - 5 to represent the 5 million children working in
artisanal and small-scale gold mines. They took their 'gold' to the collection desk to retrieve a fact
about child labour printed on a slip of paper. This, they added to a paper chain representing the
shackles of forced labour - which was broken at the end of the event as a symbol of our pledge to
do what we can to end child labour.

The final task was to have their hand painted (in the colours of freedom - red, blue, green and
white) and add their handprint to the cloth to show their support in ending child labour in gold
mining and in its various forms around the world. In the background a student composed violin
solo and live mbira soundtrack accompanied a recorded poem written by our Spoken Word
members.

Well done to this intrepid, brave and empathetic group of pupils who have shared deep and
important messages with our community this term.
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

SPEECH & DRAMA

Chisipite’s Musical Theatre Pupils Have Got That Swing!
The Chacapellas have worked hard
this term to achieve their brilliant
result of 88% for their Vocal
Ensemble piece at the NIAA
Eisteddfod. A group made up of
pupils from Form 3 to Lower 6, this
talented group of teens have a lot
of charisma and charm.
During the club sessions we have
been researching and discussing
what makes a Triple Threat, and the
team have been learning about
Stage Presence.

Junior Arts & Culture Evening

Celebrating English, Shona & French
Our Form One, Two and Three Dramatists and Technicians put on a splendid show with their
original scripts and songs, mashed-up spoken word and mbira, tricky tongue twisting poems and
rhymes - and a whole bunch of hilarious anecdotes in the Junior Arts and Culture Evening, held
in the last week of term. The evening celebrated a department at the school (as is tradition) - and
this year the Language Departments were feted. The English, Shona and French Departments
have much to be proud of when these talented young pupils speak so richly and fluently in all
three languages. Well done to all the pupils and staff involved. What a treat!
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

SPEECH & DRAMA

Holloway Jones
A Powerful, Impactful and Brilliantly Staged Play
Our production of Holloway Jones received rave reviews, with many if not all the audience
members commenting on the impact and importance of the play, particularly as a topic for teens.
From the polished technical crew, smart staging, moving music, and incredible performances
from the nine strong cast, audience members were (as promised) on the edges of their seats.

Here are a selection of comments from audience members:

‘The play was an absolute triumph. Great direction, acting, music, set and script.’

‘…blown away by the standard…I got quite teary. Very moving. Perfect play for teenagers.’

‘It was absolutely brilliant, again.’

‘That was such a difficult, complex play. My goodness it was such an amazing evening, so
impressive. You absolutely got us in there. Every fibre of us was in there with the action. The story
worked on so many levels. Those girls are highly trained…they are fine actresses. The cueing was
phenomenal throughout, and it was such a team effort. A wonderful achievement.’

Our many thanks to all those who came to watch and support our team. We can’t wait for the
Musical next term…Watch this space!
Chisipite Senior School Newsletter End of First Term, 2024

UPCOMING EVENTS

·Grade 6 Open Day - 14 May

African Extravaganza - 23 May
Official Opening of The Astro Turf - 31 May
NIAA Speech & Drama Festival - 17June to 13 July
Inaugural Fontanians’ Day - 29 June
CHISZ Soccer Tournament - 13 July
Golden Girls & Silver Girls Hockey Tournament - 2 to 4 August

Chisipite Senior School chisipite_senior_school www.chisipitesenior.com