The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Post Correspondent
THE answer to the above question is, ‘There is nothing better than the best.’ This is the story of Hillcrest Preparatory School. A school that exudes a full life of the best of everything: wise and able leadership, competent teaching staff, perfect learning environment, serious sporting skills development, coordinated interactive learning involving Non-Zimbabwean pupils, especially from neighbouring Mozambique.
In an end-of year interview with The Manica Post this week, the headmaster, Mr Joshua Mutangadura and his deputy, Mr Godwin Nyakudzuka demonstrated infinite mental stamina and visionary leadership to take this school to dizzy heights.
“More up-skilling, more work-shopping, more learning and doing the best. That is the way to go,” said Mr Mutangadura. “We have no limit in our wishes hopes and aspirations. Even the sky will not limit us.”
The beautiful story started with the perfect boarding facilities.
Some schools struggle to manage the transition from home/day school to boarding school.
This is not the case with Laverock House where the art of helping pupils to settle in has developed considerably over the years and is now highly skilled. Hillcrest Prep offers full time boarding at Laverock House as well as hot lunches for day scholars.
Busy parents can enjoy a full life and quality time with their children at fixture free weekends.
An upward trend of boarding enrolment has been realised with a 4 percent increase joining Laverock House only in the third term of 2017.
Hillcrest Prep School is certainly a little oasis in the desert. The home away from home is administered and functionalised to lead to greater efforts set to ensure that boarders enjoy every day and moment at Laverock.
A well laid out warm hostel atmosphere, lovely balanced meals supported by intermediary snacks to keep energy levels high.
Supportive staff assists with homework and study habits during prep times.
Laverock House has been on the front foot to ensure a healthy and productive lifestyle for all pupils from Grade 1 to Grade 7!
House community have now promotion of mutual support, healthy relationships among boarders’ own willingness to establish meaningful relationships across the age range.
A busy child is a happy child and this is where a boarding school, with the range of extra-curricular activities they offer, comes into their own. At Laverock House the teachers strive to keep the boarders self-occupied, not only with lessons but with ICT skills, swimming, tennis, cricket, soccer and tours.
A highlight of the pupils’ attraction is visiting places like Nyangombe Falls and La Rochelle for a combined hostel outing with the college Farm-crest Boarders.
“Next year, 2018, in February our UK exchange-partner Middlethorpe visits Hillcrest Prep School,” said Mr Mutangadura.
“We look forward to a great time and opportunity to tighten our friendship and to learn from each other how to make schools the best environments for learning.
‘‘I put extraordinary effort to the provision of resources to my teachers to help me achieve that ultimate goal. I encourage more and more staff-development workshops. There is no better way achieving the best than continuous learning.”
Hillcrest Preparatory School teaching staff
Answering the question, “What school in your fight to achieve the best is your role model…the school you emulate/” Mr Nyakudzuka, the deputy head had this to say: “There is not one school to learn from. Every school offers something different to learn from.
‘‘And our pupils in this ICT and research driven education, knowledge-hungry world, are ever demanding.
‘‘Many of them are far ahead of us in ICT nativism and to keep abreast we need to learn every day…and learn from what not one school does, but as many as we can befriend and reach.”
“This was a milestone festival. Hosted by Hillcrest Prep for the first time ever, the festival was a rugby jamboree to remember for a long time to come,” said Mr Mutangadura.
“It boosted business in Mutare as fully booked hotels and lodges made brisk business throughout the festival. In the third term seven parents who had seen the Hillcrest Prep School home-away-from-home splendour, transferred their children to our school.”
Among other accolades, national organisers admitted that this was the best organised committee spearheaded by the school head, the deputy, MrNyakudzuka, Mr A. Ndangana (TIC Sport), Mr L. Makanya (ICT teacher) and the Hillcrest family and friends.
On the fields Bulawayo Province snatched victory from the jaws of Harare North in a dramatic sudden-death-round, a feat the Matebeles had last achieved more than eight years ago.
Several disciplines are eyeing Manicaland to host future maiden events staged on our God-given scenic environs, in warmth, in a professional approach exhibited in natural hospitality.
Hillcrest Prep School enrols pupils from neighbouring countries especially Mozambique.
Do not miss next Friday’s edition of your Education Page in which Denyse Muchine and Cidia Feniasse share their love-story with The Manica Post.
In the same edition, Panashe Nhenga chronicles his story of all-round success and voracious appetite for awards.
To cap it all the deputy head, Mr Godwin Nyakudzuka himself a long-time avid reader of The Manica Post, shares his impressions of this writer’s long contribution to education and the newspaper’s unwavering support and interest in education.
Watch the space! Do not miss your copy of The Manica Post.
