The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi
HILLCREST Prep School enrols pupils from as far as neighbouring Mozambique. Did you know?
Two girls from Mozambique, Denyse Shakara and Cidia Feniasse, now at the home-away-from home recently spoke to The Manica Post paying tribute to the school that changed them and left them over the moon, in the seventh heaven. They are only two of many.
Denyse Shakara
“Hillcrest Prep School has played an important role in my school life,” said Denyse. When I joined Hillcrest School in Grade 4, I did not speak any English word. However, through determination I managed to grasp the English language. My new school has modelled me into a star in sporting activities such as hockey, tennis and swimming. In hockey I made the Provincial Hockey team, also known as South Eastern Districts (SED), proud. The team comprises Murray McDougal School of Triangle, Hippo Valley School, Kyle Prep School of Masvingo, Mvurachena School of Chipinge and Hillcrest Prep School.”
Denyse’s amazing feat occurred twice in a row to the envy of many pupils at Hillcrest Prep. Swimming was one of her greatest challenges, she confessed. “At first I thought swimming involved just kicking, floating and water splashing. I later realised that physical fitness and mentally alertness were important. To date, I’m one of the fastest swimmers in the school.”
Apart from sport, Denyse, her teachers say, has done extremely well in academics. She is also well-behaved and culturally sweet, they added.
Cidia Feniasse
Cidia Feniasse
Cidia Feniasse joined Hillcrest Prep School from Mozambique after realizing the exploits made by Denyse and Ihara Napido, a friend, who is now at Hillcrest College. She joined Hillcrest Prep School as a Grade 5 pupil in 2015, unable to communicate in English. Through persistent effort and encouragement by teachers at the school she managed to come out of her cocoon and started to learn and grasp English and Shona words slowly discarding the Portuguese vocabulary. For the past three years she has been at Hillcrest, she has managed to learn new sporting activities such as Hockey, Netball, Swimming, tennis and music where she has become a force to reckon with. All this has happened owing to her determination to succeed and hard training exerted by all individual sporting coaches.
Said Cidia: “This year 2017 marked my greatest achievements. I scooped all the first positions in the Over-13 girls at the Inter-house Swimming gala winning the Victrix Trophy. Like my counterparts, Denyse Muchine and Ashingue Mtee, I was chosen to become prefect. Hillcrest has groomed us from nonentities to stars in academics and sporting. I have learnt that teachers at Hillcrest Prep encourage every child to do what he or she can do best at school. I will forever be grateful for that.”
Panashe Nhenga
Panashe Nhenga
“Attaining my education at Hillcrest was something overwhelming after being given a scholarship. I achieved many goals.
Being the athletics house and school captain in the inter-house athletics competitions, I broke the record when I became number one in the 100, 200 and 400 metre events, long jump and high jump.
As if that was not enough, I broke another record in the Invitational Athletics competition again coming out number one in the same events,” said Panashe.
The all-round sports star broke yet another record in the SED Athletics competition coming out number one in the 100-metre dash and number two in long jump. The handsome, calm and facially calculating boy was awarded full athletics colours for undisputed and outstanding performance. In Cricket he was awarded the best bowler award at the Double Wicket tournament, Seven-aside tournament and Hillcrest Tournament.
“What I admire and love most are the veteran coaches at Hillcrest Prep School. They are simply the best,” said Panashe.
