Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I write to you at the close of an excellent first half of the Trinity Term.
I am delighted to report, above all else, that our recent Mark Order suggested very strongly that at all levels
(with the exception the 5th form) our boys are working with commitment; indeed from A Block to D Block
only 7 Satis reports (for poor academic performance) were given and, by contrast, a large number of RSUs
and Commendations were awarded. The performance of A Block and Founders was conspicuously good. If
your son happens to be at 5th form level it is more than likely that you need to remind him to give his
academic studies (NB AS levels coming up) the priority it deserves.
Construction of the new Megahey Building is forging ahead pretty much on schedule and recently the
refurbishment of two chemistry labs has been completed both projects funded by the generosity of
benefactors based in the UK (one of whom is known to the school, the other of whom is anonymous).
Interest in the Peterhouse Group remains as strong as ever, in spite of the difficult economic conditions
which exist across the country, and I anticipate a large field of Common Entrance (for D Block 2017)
candidates on July 2.
You may like to read my address at School Assembly earlier this week which is at the bottom of this
newsletter.
Yours faithfully,
By now you should have received your child's fee statement. If you have made a payment to Peterhouse
which is not reflecting, please contact Peggy Morgan (debtors@peterhouse.co.zw) for CABS deposits or
Juliette Kwesha (debtors2@peterhouse.co.zw) for Barclays deposits, with your proof of payment so that we
can rectify our records.
Fee Clearance Letters (FCL's) have been issued for the mid-term break to those children who have a balance
of $200 or less on their Fee Statement. If the balance on your child's fee statement is over $200 please settle
this by Monday morning and email Peggy or Juliette with a proof of payment or alternatively make payment
at the Accounts Department on Monday morning. In either case a FCL will have to be collected from the
Accounts Department on Monday morning.
Please note that all pupils will be required to present their FCL at the school gate when they return from the
FFW.
On another matter you may have noticed that the three schools are not looking as green as they normally do
at this time of the year. This is because Peterhouse has introduced a water conservation program as Kushinga
Phikelela (KP) dam, which is our main water source, is currently at 50% capacity. The following measures
have been in place since the end of the rains:
Routine weekly field irrigation has stopped except for the Springvale House field, which due to the
poor soil structure will require more frequent irrigation, the Peterhouse Girls hockey fields, and the
1st team fields at Peterhouse Boys.
Garden water for staff is now limited to 12 hours a week.
For the school gardens:
o Only flowerbeds will be watered.
o Grass watering will be restricted to once a month except for very restricted front of school
designated areas.
Unfortunately we will not have green verges and beautiful green playing fields, especially going into the hot
dry months of early summer, but the steps as outlined are essential to safeguard what water resource we have
for the use of our pupils, staff and families.
Kind regards,
Mark Whitaker
The running team will comprise of ten of the original Petreans, ten Peterhouse Boys and ten Peterhouse
Girls. The entries were open to boys and girls in A Block, 5th and 6th Form. Over fifty boys and girls
have signed up for the challenge and we will have to select twenty pupils based on their character,
commitment to training and their fundraising during the Michaelmas Term (entries have now closed).
The dates for the Run will be from the 12th to the 20th December 2016. We start in the Save Valley.
Any further information on this Run for Wild Dogs can be obtained by emailing Andrew Shoesmith
on deputyhead@peterhouse.co.zw,
2. ACADEMIC
2.1 Congratulations to the following boys who qualified for Commendations in the Mid-Term Mark
Order:
Ironwill is Zimbabwes Premier eco-challenge. Its a four day, multi stage, multi discipline, wilderness
adventure race. Competitors also raise money for various charities in order to qualify to race.
This year, for the first time ever, an U21 side won the event. Peterhouse Two (Strath Brown and
Keegan Smith)
Peterhouse One (Keegan Stubbs, Craig Burl and Bruce Benade) came close second.
My thanks to Mark and Tom Stubbs who came along and helped run the camp at Umfurudzi Park.
3.2 Results
Bridge vs Westridge
As Lost 6 8; Bs won 12 1; Cs won 16 11
Overall Won 18 9
vs Peterhouse Girls
As won 18 4; Bs won 11 4; Cs won 18 0
Overall Won 29 8
vs Arundel
As won 10 6; Bs won 17 6; Cs won 12 4
Overall won 27 12
vs Peterhouse Girls
As won 20 4; Bs lost 7 - 12; Cs Won 14 0
Overall won 27 16
vs St Johns
As won 10 7; Bs won 33- 6 ; Cs won 15 1;
Overall won 43 13
vs Peterhouse Girls
As won 21 11; Bs won 9 1; Cs won 9 3
Overall won 30 12
The following boys have been awarded their Cocks Ties for three years of
exemplary play in the Bridge team:
Debate vs Westridge
Seniors drew: Score - 71%.
Tanaka Nyangwe was the Best Speaker with 74%.
Juniors won: Score- 67%. Westridge - 66%.
Music Munyaradzi Tayi was runner up in the Intermediate Musician of the Year. He was
the ONLY boy performing on a musical instrument in the entire competition.
Public Speaking
Interhouse Public Speaking
We were all thoroughly entertained by six senior public speakers on Wednesday night.
Well done to them for being prepared to go out there and talk on stage it is not easy.
The results are as follows:
vs Hellenic
Peterhouse Juniors came 11th out of 15 schools with 42 points and the same Juniors
attempted the Senior Quiz and came 12th out of 15 schools with 29.5 points.
4.1 Results
Archery Peterhouse Boys hosted the Interschools Archery Competition this last weekend.
Twelve different schools competed, mainly coming from Harare.
Angus Fergusson was the Runner Up Senior Boy with 281 out of a possible 300
points. He is currently ranked 3rd in Zimbabwe.
Peterhouse Boys came 2nd by ONE point after Archers Access, beating Peterhouse
Girls, St Georges, Hellenic and several other schools.
The top archers from a series of nine Interschool Events will be chosen to represent
Zimbabwe in the All Nation Archery Tournament to be held in the Drakensburg
Alpine Heath Resort in South Africa: shooting against countries from all over the
world.
Cricket Dean Milne and Hayden Brain played in the Easterns U19 cricket during the April
holidays. Dean was been selected for the Mashonaland East Men's Team.
A-Division
1st was a St Johns player who grossed 78 playing off a 2 handicap
2nd was Angus Bartlett who grossed 82 playing off an 8 handicap
C-Division
1st was Scott Innes with a nett score of 68
2nd was Matthew Banks with a nett score of 69
OVERALL RESULT
Peterhouse 2nd with 151 points.
St Johns 1st with 137.
Interhouse Hockey
1st Grinham
2nd Ellis
3rd Malvern/Snell
5th Founders
6th Paget
Mountain Biking
Strath Brown and Brett Elliot represented Peterhouse at the 2nd Inter schools Spur
Mountain Biking race in Nyanga
Brett managed to achieve first place in his age group, Strath fell off down a fast hill
while fighting for 2nd place, he then came 4th in his age group.
Rowing Douglas Cox, Kenneth Raynor and Keegan Smith have been selected to represent
Zimbabwe at U18 level.
Triathlon NATIONAL colours awards awarded to Gideon Benade, Rupert Anschutz and
Brett Elliot.
As I drove back from Churchill after watching the 1st and 2nd XV rugby matches on Saturday afternoon I
couldnt help reflecting upon the stark contrast between the presentation of their pitches and our own and,
no doubt, you all now appreciate the wonderful pitches you routinely play on that little bit more than you did
prior to Saturdays away fixtures at Churchill. By the way, lest you are unaware, our pitches are superb by
any standards, not just compared to the ones you played on at the weekend - I have seen many an
independent school and indeed many a government school here and elsewhere and our pitches are top class
so do please thank Mr Borlase and his team when you next see them.
Perhaps fine sports facilities is just one reason why your parents are prepared to fork out large sums of
money for you to be here (about $5,000 per term); after all why bother paying large sums of money for
something that you can get more cheaply? Why pay for an education at Peterhouse when there are cheaper
independent schools and free government schools down the road? The question is all the more pertinent
given the increasingly difficult economic backdrop here in Zimbabwe and it is one which many of your
parents have to ask themselves more often than they would care to do.
Why pay for DSTV when you can watch ZBC? Why buy a Ford Ranger when you can buy a simple sedan?
Why live in Borrowdale Brook when you can reside in a little house in Chitungwiza? Why travel business
class when economy will suffice? Why fly when you can drive? Why drill a borehole when local services are
free? Why have a fancy smartphone when a brick does the job? Why pay extra for a meal in a restaurant
when you can eat at home?
The answer to each of those questions provides an insight into the original question why do your parents
pay for you to come to the most expensive school in Zimbabwe.
Peterhouse is synonymous with a broad minded perspective and the CIE curriculum (DSTV not ZBC);
Peterhouse covers all terrain and take you to exciting places (Ford Ranger not sedan); Peterhouse provides
you with space and individuality (Borrowdale Brook not Chitungwiza); Peterhouse ensures that you arrive
ready and prepared at your destination not stressed, ill prepared and irritated by unnecessary hindrances
(business class not economy); Peterhouse means a high class dependable service (a borehole not the mains);
Peterhouse gives you the ability to communicate effectively (smart phone not brick); Peterhouse is something
special not routine (a restaurant not eating at home).
I could go on and I have only scratched the surface; I havent touched, for example, on the Christian values
which underpin all that Peterhouse stands for and does, and the analogies are somewhat trite (not mine by
Of course your parents and you are fortunate to be able to have the choice to go for DSTV rather than
ZBC; a Ford Ranger rather than a sedan; Borrowdale Brook rather than Chitungwiza; business class rather
than economy etc. most of your countrymen are not able to make those choices; you would be fortunate to
go to a school like this in the UK where approximately 7% of the school aged population attend independent
schools; here in Zimbabwe, where, if my information is correct, less than 1/10th of 1% of the school aged
population attend independent schools you are incredibly fortunate; and this isnt any old independent
school it is Peterhouse.
Of course most of your parents are not so well off that they can send you here without making considerable
sacrifices; few are able to have their cake and eat it and they have made the choice to send you here because
they want to give you the best possible start in life and it is hard to think of anything they could give you,
apart from their love and support, which could compare to a top flight education. Education is a liberating
force and the sort of education you are receiving here will be the bedrock, the foundation upon which you
will build the rest of your lives. To be a Petrean is something that most people can only dream about.
It would be inappropriate at best and disingenuous at worst for me to draw any conclusions about the sort of
education Churchill offers its pupils on the basis of the quality of the rugby pitches you experienced on
Saturday afternoon and Im not going to do so. But I am able to make the obvious observation that you and I
are privileged to be here and that privilege stretches way beyond the quality of our playing surfaces. Cherish
the education you receive in this most remarkable of schools; dont take this place for granted; remember to
thank your parents for the opportunity they have afforded for you; and demand much of yourselves in their
honour.
Gentlemen, this has been an excellent first half of term. Well done and enjoy the half term break.
Conditur in Petra
Link to the PHG Newsletter: http://www.phg.co.zw/newsletters/newsletters-ffw-previous.html
Link to the SVH Newsletter: http://www.springvalehouse.co.zw/news.html