Arundel School T HE A RUNDEL P OST V OLUME 3, I SSUE 1 19 TH F EBRUARY 2015 THE NOTICEBOARD!! I NSIDE THIS ISSUE : HEAD’ S DESK 2 A WARDS L IST 4 A NOTE FROM C AREER C OUNSELLOR’ S DESK 6 S PORTS NEWS 7 I NTER HOUSE S PORTS 9 I MPORTANT DATES 12 Main Sports This Term Swimming Cross–Country Athletics Tennis Rowing Please encourage your daughters to participate in sports, because “a healthy body leads to a healthy mind!” SAVE THE DATE Thursday 26 February Talk to all Parents (6pm in the Kewada Hall) Friday 27 February Arundel Invitational Athletics Saturday 28 February A Division Finals Inter-Schools Swimming Gala at Les Brown Monday 2 March Music Eisteddfod starts Wednesday 11 March Inter-Schools Quiz Wednesday 11 March Spoken Word Evening Friday 13 March Inter-House Athletics Saturday 14 March Form 4 Dance Tuesday 24 March Inter-House Public Speaking Kidzcan Please hand in wool donations to reception Arundel 2015 Diaries Limited numbers of the Arundel 2015 Diaries are on sale at reception. Cost USD 12 EWC “Recycled” Fashion Show Entries are now open. The Show will be held on Friday 27 th March. (it is an Inter-Schools event)
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Arundel School
THE ARUNDEL POST
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 19TH FEBRUARY 2015
THE NOTICEBOARD!!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE :
HEAD ’S DESK 2
AWARDS L IST 4
A NOTE FROM
CAREER
COUNSELLOR ’S
DESK
6
SPORTS NEWS 7
INTER HOUSE
SPORTS
9
IMPORTANT DATES 12
Main Sports This Term
Swimming Cross–Country Athletics Tennis Rowing Please encourage your daughters to participate in sports, because “a healthy body leads to a healthy mind!”
SAVE THE DATE
Thursday 26 February Talk to all Parents (6pm in the Kewada Hall)
Friday 27 February Arundel Invitational Athletics
Saturday 28 February A Division Finals Inter-Schools Swimming Gala at Les Brown
Monday 2 March Music Eisteddfod starts
Wednesday 11 March Inter-Schools Quiz
Wednesday 11 March Spoken Word Evening
Friday 13 March Inter-House Athletics
Saturday 14 March Form 4 Dance
Tuesday 24 March Inter-House Public Speaking
Kidzcan
Please hand in wool donations to reception
Arundel 2015 Diaries
Limited numbers of the
Arundel 2015 Diaries are
on sale at reception.
Cost USD 12
EWC “Recycled” Fashion Show
Entries are now open. The Show will be held on Friday 27th March. (it is an Inter-Schools event)
Arundel School Page 2
THE HEAD’S DESK
Half way through the Easter term and already Lent is upon us. This is my first newsletter from my ‘Room with a View”. From which I can see that the Form 1s appear less bewildered, sporting activity is flourishing and we are all settling into our routines.
Preparations begin next week for Foundation Day and the Combined Choirs Festival. We have the privilege of hosting the Festival in September/October this amazing event this year. Each CHISZ senior school in Harare has a chance to host this event and it provides an incredible opportunity to see over 500 students from these schools participating as one in an evening of musical entertainment. Traditionally all the work behind the scenes is carried out by the APA and the parent body so no doubt you will
hear from Mrs Msipa as she seeks ‘volunteers’.
The APA held a well attended AGM last week with focus on the values we exhibit and examples that we set our children. Unfortunately ‘do as I say, not as I do’ is often the message they hear then we wonder why they become confused. They will emulate our behaviour not so much our words. The school offers a holistic, and not purely academic, education for your daughter that incorporates sport, socialisation skills, manners and respect. We cannot do by us alone as we rely on you to reinforce the values you are asking us to uphold. If we do not buy into the same ethos our job here becomes the equivalent of pushing water uphill. Having voluntarily signed up and agreed by choosing
this school out of the thousands in Zimbabwe, however much your value systems may differ from ours, you and your daughter agreed to adhere to the values of Arundel for the duration of her stay. These values have a variety of expressions and are an integral part of the fabric of the school. As such the staff, prefects and U6 students who have ‘delegated authority’ to ensure that these values are maintained and that the school remains a safe, cohesive and socially acceptable environment for all who work or visit, require your cooperation. Some parents are actively encouraging their daughters to flout their authority and are subjecting staff, senior students and guards to verbal abuse and intimidating behaviour. This is not what we agreed when you signed up. We aim to create a respectful environment conducive to learning so it behoves all of us to act accordingly.
Paraphrasing Emile Durkheim a prominent Social Anthropologist, [School societies are] coherent, bounded and fundamentally relational constructs that function like organisms…[the parts] working together in an unconscious, quasi-automatic fashion toward achieving an overall social equilibrium. The individual is significant not in and of himself, but rather in terms of his status, his position in patterns of social relations, and the behaviours associated with his status. Therefore, the social structure is the network of statuses connected by associated roles.
Please do not encourage your girls to step outside their ‘role’ by breaking our rules and further encourage this behaviour by
permitting them to exhibit disrespectful behaviour. The ‘standards’ by which you selected Arundel lie in its traditions and values
(including the rules and regulations) and as we pass through we should always be cognisant that we enjoy the good reputation built
up by those who have gone before us.
On Saturday 14 February we were privileged to host the Zimbabwe Society of Music Teachers Diamond Jubilee Concert in our
Chapel. The music was of superb quality featuring many of the ‘names’. It is an annual event so there will be more opportunities
to hear the skills of the country’s classical music teachers. Having many classical instruments on our premises that are seeing very
little use, I hope that by exposing the girls to the piano, clarinet and vocal renditions some interest may be raised in attaining
proficiency in an instrument. We will then be able to build up our profile in both the local and international music traditions.
On the sports fields congratulations are in order to all the girls for a very commendable effort in the 3.3km Cross Country
standards, one of the few compulsory sporting events. Many people think any time spent not studying is a waste but the
Volume 3, Issue 1 Page 3
THE HEAD’S DESK cont’d
term ‘dumb jock’ is now seems to be an oxymoron. John J. Ratey, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical
Schoolwrites: "Memory retention and learning functions are all about brain cells actually changing, growing, and working better togeth-
er...exercise creates the best environment for that process to occur.” Exercise also builds up physical stamina and keeps several health
conditions at bay e.g. obesity, cardiac conditions, osteoporosis. 20 minutes vigorous aerobic exercise revitalises more efficient-
ly than hours reclining in a chair thereby increasing profitable study time. A 2009 National Institutes of Health study also con-
cluded: The present review of research findings suggests that systematic exercise programs may actually enhance the development of specific
types of mental processing known to be important for meeting challenges encountered both in academics and throughout the lifespan. http://
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748863/. So encourage your daughter to take up at least one high impact sport and see
the benefits for yourself.
Mention must be made to the parents of our rowers who provided food, carried equipment and hosted the Arundel Regatta at
Mazowe Dam last Sunday. To those parents who, like me knew next to nothing about rowing, but drove down to observe and
support the school our thanks. It was a beautiful day and our rowers appreciated the support as they prepare to go to South Afri-
ca to participate in championships there. To the boarder ‘volunteers’ who I hope enjoyed a day out, a special word of thanks
for ‘flying the flag’ ’ and cheering with gusto for the second week running. The turquoise and white uniforms set against a back-
ground of water and lush green hills was a sight for sore eyes!
Notices
1. After half term we are reverting to an old tradition; all girls not in a First team, not officials for events and not First Aiders are required to attend, in uniform, at least one home event on a Saturday. Each girl must choose a team or competitive club event (if spectators are permitted) and sign up with their house captains by Friday 6 March on a first come, first allo-cated basis. Having done their part, boarders need only sign up if they wish. Failure to attend the event will result in de-tention and compulsory attendance at an alternate event selected by the school. If anyone wishes to attend Away games their presence will be appreciated however please do not rely on our transport as boarders will have first dibs if there is any space on the buses. With effect from next term the compulsory attendance will increase to two events per term one of which must be a sporting event.
2. Parents, please observe the start of the school day. Too many girls are strolling in late which is disruptive for all concerned. Girls are to be in their Form rooms by 7.25am for roll call; as such any arrival at the school gate after 7.20am will be deemed as a late arrival. On one horrifying occasion that has been brought to my attention one of our prefects was almost run over by a parent who refused to stop. If an incident like this happens again and a person’s life is put in danger or parents who are running late continue to harass the prefects and/or guards; the gates will be shut at 7.20am. Remember one day it could be your child on Gate Duty.
1. When collecting your daughters, please do not hoot to call their attention; rather ask them to look out for you. 2. Excuse letters are being written by girls with or without the knowledge of their parents. The contents of any letters not
signed by a parent or legal guardian will be disregarded. 3. Please note that the Term dates in the diaries are incorrect; last year’s dates were printed by mistake. 4. Anglican Confirmation classes will start immediately after half term. If you would like your daughter to be confirmed (or
baptised and confirmed), and she has not already registered her interest, please ask her to inform Reception on Tuesday 3 March as lessons will be starting immediately. A series of 10 weekly courses will be held culminating in a confirmation service in the Chapel in July.
5. House shirts are now available in the appropriate colour, style and fabric at Glen Abbey. They are not to be bought else-where unless they are identical.
6. Hats must be worn whenever a girl is outside. Please remind your daughters, especially Form 1s, to wear their hats as it is part of the full school uniform. Often girls arrive at school without them resulting in unnecessary punishments.
7. Please ensure that any hairstyles are within our regulations and permit the hair to be tied at the nape of the neck.
ACADEMIC COLOURS are awarded to a current Upper Sixth girl who achieved A grades at AS level for her potential A level subjects. Congratulations to NOMALANGA MADYIWA
ACADEMIC COLOURS for IGCSE are awarded to girls who achieve 7 or more A*/A’s, of which 5 must be A*. The following students have achieved Academic Colours
Mercy Chado Kondwani Mkorongo
Natasha Chinhuru Munashe Mombo
Kudzaishe Chitima Tariro Moyo
Rutendo Duri Sei-Kashe M’pfunya
Rufaro Gora Tinevimbo Ndlovu
Harriet Gundidza Jayati Patel
Tanyaradzwa Hungwe Jinal Patel
Aalia Hussein Takudzwa Potsekayi
Ropafadzo Korovedzai Jennifer Willard
Mutsdawashe Malunga
CAMBRIDGE OUTSTANDING LEARNING
AWARDS
This year Arundel achieved the following awards:
IGCSE (Best in Zimbabwe)
Tasnyaradzwa Hungwe =1st (Art and Design)
Dakarai Bonyongwe 1st (Literature in English)
AS (Best in Zimbabwe)
Hilina Da Costa Gomez 1st (Literature in English)
High Achievement
Heziyu Jin AS (Chinese Language)
Club News
Scientia (Quiz) went to Westridge on Wednesday 11th February. Well done to our junior team who came 4th, only 6 points behind the winners, ZRP. Overall Arundel came 7th out of 17 schools.
SCIENTIA FALCON CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Falcon Cultural Festival Medals are awarded to:
Tamutswa Mahari - Choral
Sheena Madzima - Drama
They excelled in their respective workshops over the Falcon Cultural weekend
Volume 3, Issue 1 Page 5
As another year begins, students are quick to try out new activities and are also just as eager to give up some. I'd like to share with you the role of and importance of extra-curricular activities.
My first contact with many students, in the counselling sphere, often takes place in the Sixth Form. By then, decisions have been made during their earlier high school years which can have an effect on how they are viewed by universities. In an article about value of extra-curricular activities published in January 2015, it was stated that “Some heads of admissions say they have placed more value on extra-curricular activities because predicted A-level grades are not always reliable, while others say they help to distinguish between applicants with identical predicted grades.”[1] We cannot ignore this. Your children are applying to universities in an increasingly competitive environment. Grades alone gain a student only a "foot in the door.” It is safe to say that at least 80% of Arundel/all students applying for competitive degree programs will meet the grade requirements of the selected course. Almost all universities will look for something more. Many will want to know who that student is beyond the grades. Getting involved in clubs, sports, work experience or other pursuits outside the classroom develops new skills and helps universities to learn more about who the student is as a person. The things the student does in her free time reveals much information - in ways that grades and test scores can’t. The students’ accomplishments outside the classroom show what they are passionate about and that they may have qualities valued by a specific college.
Furthermore, activities improve the overall student. They help students to receive better grades by teaching them character building lessons, teaching them lifelong skills and helping students develop social skills. “Grades improve not because of what kids are learning in the drama club, but because the drama club is making them enjoy school more, so they show up more often, find a circle of like-minded friends, and become more engaged in school.”[2] A top university in the US noted “We are looking for students who can balance a rigorous and active academic experience with high levels of involvement on campus.”[3] At Arundel there is the tendency to drop extra-curricular activities as students become Seniors (partly due to the rule that as a junior, they must participate in at least two hours of sport and one cultural activity a week, but as a senior they only need to participate in one hour of sport and one cultural activity a week)
Thus when the time comes for students to begin university applications they struggle to find information to show how they have occupied their time beyond the classroom. And so begins the scramble to build information for University applications. One admissions officer noted, “When we say that we like our students to be actively involved, that does not mean that we expect you to sign up for every single club and organization at your school for the sake of beefing up your resume. We would much rather see a genuine commitment to one or a few activities than a student who has spread herself so thinly that she cannot significantly contribute to anything at all.” “What matters most is not the volume of involvement or the number of leadership positions held, but rather the steady commitment to a handful of meaningful activities beyond your required academic coursework. We do make particular note of significant local, regional, and national achievements.”[4]
Whilst meeting academic requirements remains the most important aspect of university applications, institutions are increasingly placing emphasis on the demonstration of extra-curricular activities in applications. Many are proud of having a strong tradition of looking beyond academic grades to spot potential. The real value of extra-curricular experience is seen as not only helping students to stand out and secure a place at university, but also to prepare them to succeed at university and on into the workplace. Extra-curricular activities help to develop the whole student. We cannot just produce one-dimensional students in our school. Many students use their skills in extra-curricular activities like athletics or sports and their academic ability to gain athletic or sports scholarships to various universities.
Over the years I have had to persuade a number of parents to allow their children to continue participating in extra-curricular activities, because they felt that these activities distracted their children from their academic work. Academic subjects and extra-curricular activities complement each other and develop a well-rounded, socially skilled, and healthier student.
Setting: The first six weeks of school, Kewada Hall and any other available location!
Act One, Scene 1
Junior and Senior Drama Clubs begin with a bang. Junior Drama Club, with 70 members, explores acting and audience skills through theatre games, improvisation and performance challenges. Senior Drama club quickly focuses on this year's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and the 2015 NIAA Speech and Drama Festival. Enter Drama Captains, Sheena Mudzima and Ruva Mukonyora.
Act One, Scene 2
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" auditions, casting and crew selection is complete and rehearsals begin! The auditions revealed once again the vast field of dramatic talent among the students at Arundel. Included in the cast are four gentlemen, two from St George's and two from Prince Edward, outstanding actors all!
Act One, Scene 3
Arundel Drama welcomes Ms. Chipo Chikara who will be leading Junior Drama Club and be involved in classes on a part time basis through first and second terms. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" rehearsals are underway. The production will once again include the talents of Tumbuka for some dance sequences. Music is being developed by Arundel's Marimba coach, Zvikomborereo Rwodzi and costumes are being designed by Tanaka Vengere with support from Arundel's Fungai Muzoroza (Form 4).
Curtain closes briefly for Half Term.
Julia Wharton
Theatre Director/Educator
"Theater is life without the boring parts." Alfred Hitchcock
Things have been happening so fast in the Music arena that we did not realise it was half term already. In fact we touched the ground running from the first day it is a surprise that we have not been ticketed for over speeding.
All our musicians have started rehearsing for the Eisteddfod competitions which start on the 2nd of March. We have an increase in the number of entries this year, from the cultural choir, marimbas, instrumentalists right across to soloists and ensembles. There was such an influx of interested form ones that we ended up having two junior choir entries. The Chapel choir has entered to sing in the senior mixed class together with St. Johns. I need not explain any further, the pressure is on and all the engines are roaring in full throttle. Apart from the competitive nature of the Eisteddfod which tears us apart, whether we win or lose we are determined to go there and enjoy ourselves.
The Chapel Choir has been invited to sing an opener at the Zimbabwe Teachers Association concert that takes place on Valentine’s Day here at our school chapel.
I encourage all musicians to use this half term break wisely to learn their words, notes and be prepared to engage into the next gear when we return.
S.Moyo
Sports News
The following Arundel girls were selected for the Zimbabwe U20 Volleyball Team:
Makanaka Chinyemba,
Rutendo Chimbaru,
Rufaro Gora
Ropafadzo Runesu
VOLLEYBALL
Congratulations to the following girls who have qualified to represent Arundel at the South African Junior Rowing Championships in March 2015:
Matipa Mukondiwa Mufaro Mutoti Aadiya White Kate Lavers Matipa Mutoti Shola Swarres Tina Elijah Tunika Mhlanga Tine Ndlovu Tadiwa Mudala Natasha Chinhuru Taurai Madziva Tanya Hungwe Georgie Sampson Hong Ming Tommee Tariro Maguwudze Sandra Chipeta The girls and their two coaches, Miss Swanepoel and Lisa Mhlaba, will be travelling down on tour from the 1st to the 10th of March 2015 with three other Zimbabwean Schools, to take on the South African Schools in a battle of physical and mental strength and endurance, gleaned over the past few months of intensive training and racing!
We wish the rowers all the very best for their tour!
ROWING
Arundel School Page 8
The following girls were selected for the Harare Tennis Teams participating in the Inter Provincial Tournament over half term:
U19A Sarah Geach
U19C Mandile Mpofu
U19D Ivana Kasvosve
U19D Noma Dzowa
U15C Kudzai Mapokotera
U15D Kimberly Mpala
U15D Tinuke Masamba
Sports News CONTINUED….
Well done to the following Arundel girls who have been selected for the Mashonaland Senior Swimming Team to compete at the Senior National Swimming Championships in Bulawayo 19th-23rd February:
Michelle Apollo
Carrie Day (withdrawn from team)
Zoe Day (withdrawn from team)
Sarah Hawgood (Girls Vice Captain)
Michelle Apollo and Sarah Hawgood qualified for the SA Age Group Level 2 Swimming Championships in Germiston. (Sarah Hawgood has withdrawn from team)
SWIMMING
TENNIS SQUASH
Well done to the Arundel girls who took part in the Mashonaland Squash Championships. A special well done to the following girls, who did exceptionally well and came in the top ten overall:
U16 Danai Jongwe 4th
U19 Kuziva Mudungwe 3rd
Kundai Nyandoro 5th
Munashe Charera 9th
Jana Mhlaba 14th
Theresa Chowa 20th
EQUESTRIAN
Zoe and Carrie have had a busy holiday riding……………..
They both did really well at Zimbabwe Riding National Championships winning lots of classes. Zoe was awarded the trophy for the “Top Ranked Pony Rider Champion” and she won the trophy for the Championship Class. Zoe also got the Most Points Shield for CB (Children’s B Grade) for 2014. These were won on her pony Starwood Safhari.
Carrie was the Reserve Champion for the 90cm Championship Class and she won the most points for 2014 for CC (Children’s C Grade); on her pony Savannah.
ARCHERY
On Sunday 15th February, Megan Wright travelled to Peterhouse Boys to take part in an archery competition between some senior and junior schools, in which she represented Archer’s Access. Some good shooting was seen, with Archer’s Access coming first in the senior teams. Megan came runner up in the Senior Girls, and third overall. Only 4 points separated her from the winning archer and 2 points behind Best Senior Girl.
On Friday the 13th of February, Arundel hosted its annual invitational Cross-Country. It was an extremely hot day, and we were all baked under the sun, but even so, smiles and laughter were everywhere. At least it was a good change from last year's downpour! Arundel came 2nd out of 7 schools, providing us with a tremendous finale to our Cross-Country season!
Special mention should be made of: Yemurayi Choto who came 10th and Amani Khalpey who came 14th, out of 56 runners in the U15 age group. Megan Wright who came 4th and Emma Swanepoel who came 7th in the U17 age group. And an especially warm congratulations to our seniors, who ran for their very last time. Tendai Makani came 3rd, Sarah Hawgood came 4th, Sarah Geach came 14th and Rutendo Matukutire came 15th.
Very grateful thanks to all the girls, teachers and parents who came out to support us (despite the heat!), to those who helped with duties, and especially to our runners, who ran their hearts out and made Arundel proud. What a wonderful end to a fantastic Cross-Country season, girls!