THE LUSITÂNIA TIMES www.lusitaniaprimary.co.zw 26 January 2024 NEWSLETTER
FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO/PRINCIPAL The school is now in full swing and the children have been busy settling into their new classes or even their new school. It’s a big step for each child but our caring teachers and staff have done an amazing job making them feel welcome and secure. The new Prefect leadership members for 2024 were inducted on the first Friday of term in a fitting and uplifting ceremony that emphasised the ethos of “servant leadership” that is encouraged at Lusitania. By this, we mean that leaders are there to support and guide others, to build a culture of teamwork and loyalty. We look ahead to working with this group of young people who already show remarkable maturity and commitment. If you managed to attend the “teach-in” or meet the teacher afternoons we trust that you found the experience positive and informative. Getting to know your child’s teacher and the learning journey ahead is extremely beneficial for everyone. A good number of questions were asked, especially at the upper end of the school where there are milestone events ahead. These include Cambridge Checkpoint, Common Assessment Paper (CAP) for ATS Form 1 and the Zimsec sessions for Grade 7. Our Grade 7s are highly valued by leading high schools and are offered places according to choice in the majority of cases. Clubs and sports are now well underway with plenty on offer, as usual. The Inter-House Cross-Country will be held on Friday 26 January. This is exciting and fun but it also shows the depth of talent that Lusitania has in this sport. From the Inter-House, our school team will be selected for the various crosscountry events held against other schools. Very shortly, the school will host the annual Carnaval, always a colourful and entertaining event. It should be a lot of fun with the theme being “DC and Marvel Comics” – so many great ideas and costumes to look forward to so please feel free to join us. Finally, thanks to CAAST Media for their production of the 2023 school yearbook, bigger and brighter than ever. Work has already begun on the 2024 edition that will build on this edition and offer everyone a wonderful record of their activities and involvement in school life. It’s a book to keep, to look back on, for many years to come. Thank you for your support and loyalty! Remember to download the D6 Communicator app for all important news updates from the school – it’s free on the Google or Apple stores online. Melhores cumprimentos Bill Annandale CEO/Principal Greetings to you all and best wishes for a fulfilling, engaging and successful 2024.
HEAD OF ACADEMICS DESK Dear Parents / Guardians, Welcome to a new year of learning, growth, and community involvement at Lusitania Primary School. We welcome you all parents and students. As we embark on the first term of the 2024 academic year, our monthly newsletter keeps you abreast of all the updates, developments, and important notices. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the key information provided below: Academic Updates and Achievements We are delighted to announce the introduction of the CEM Primary Basic Insights Assessment for our Grade 5/6 students. This assessment will play a crucial role in identifying the unique learning needs of each student, enabling our educators to tailor their teaching strategies accordingly. Our students continue to excel, as evidenced by the recent ZIMSEC examinations, where our Grade 7 ZIMSEC class of 2023 achieved a 100% pass rate as per units. This success spans across disciplines, with 100% pass rates in English, Mathematics, Social Science, and PE/Arts and 96% in Agriculture, Science, Technology and Shona. Our Grade 6 class of 2023 impressed us with a 93% pass rate in English and Mathematics and a 95% pass rate in Science in the Cambridge Checkpoint assessments. These achievements are a testament to our students’ and staff’s hard work and dedication. Our Term Theme and Communication Platforms This term’s theme is “Life Skills: Nurturing Young Leaders.” We aim to equip our children with the necessary tools to become confident, responsible, and proactive in their communities. Stay updated on our activities and school life by following us on our social media pages, including Instagram and Facebook. We have a new website to keep you informed. We also encourage every parent to download D6, our official communication platform. Our WhatsApp groups will now be restricted to admin posts only, reducing disruption and ensuring clear, concise communication. Dismissal and Visitor protocol We remind parents to ensure timely pick-up of their children after afternoon lessons and activities. It is important for the safety and well-being of our students that they are collected promptly at the end of the school day or after any scheduled activities. Parents should check the schedule to confirm when their child is staying for afternoon lessons, as per the calendar, or ask the teacher for clarification if unsure. For the safety of our school, parents and visitors are kindly reminded not to proceed directly to classrooms. All visits must be prearranged through the office, and we ask that you check in at the reception upon arrival. To maintain a structured and safe school environment, we must enforce a late pick-up fee of $5 after 5:00 pm. Weekly bills for these charges will be sent to the concerned parents. We understand that schedules can be demanding, and we appreciate your cooperation in ensuring your children are picked up on time. Uniform Update The school introduced fleece jackets in 2023 as part of the official uniform. If your child still needs to obtain one, please place your order with their class teacher. Place your order through the class teacher to ensure the best fit for our students. Refer to the attached sample below with the sizes and prices. After Care Program Announcement We are excited to expand our After Care program to include Grade 1/2, responding to requests from parents. Initially offered for ECD, this program provides a supportive and supervised environment for students in the afternoon. Contact the office for further details. Food Policy Reminder We request that parents provide their children with morning nutritious breaktime and lunchtime meals from home. To avoid double food handling and ensure accountability, we ask that parents refrain from sending food to school after the children have left home. Reminder Regarding Payment Plans We kindly request parents who are on payment plans to adhere to their agreements. Please note that after the halfterm break, students whose fees are in arrears will only be allowed back into the classrooms with a gate pass. We urge you to settle any outstanding balances on time to avoid any inconvenience. Upcoming Events and Important Dates Looking ahead, we have a variety of day trips, fixtures, and the anticipated NIAA Eisteddfods and Drama Festival on our calendar. These events are integral to our students’ holistic development, and we encourage parents to show their support and get involved in these enriching experiences. Important Dates Date Event 26 January 2024 Interhouse cross Country 9 February 2024 Carnaval Parade 15 February 2024 KidsCan Orange Day 16-20 February 2024 Half Term In conclusion, the dedication of our staff and the remarkable accomplishments of our students set a promising tone for the year ahead. We are confident that with the collaborative effort of our Lusitania family, we will continue to achieve great heights. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact the school office. We value your partnership and support in making this term a resounding success. Together, let’s nurture the young leaders of tomorrow. Dr Patricia Gonde
MERITS Merit - Week 2 Merit WEEK 2 - TERM 1 - 2024 - Week 03 2024-01-15 to 2024-01-21 Created 23 January 2024, 5:28 pm Page 1/5 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Mutambira, Tawana 1 East Portuguese Takaendesa, Princess 1 East Neat writing of the figure 1. Chibaya, Ruva 1 South Academics Kulumu, Ryan 1 South Portuguese Masvinyangwa, Amaryllis 1 South Good citizenship Ndebele, Matipaishe 1 West Behaviour - for good manners and being well behaved in class. Vandira, Adrian 1 West Academic - for neat drawing and colouring. Vandira, Adrian 1 West Portuguese Magumise, Tatenda 2 North Good Handwriting and neat presentation of work. Mutasa, Mukundi 2 North Portuguese Tigere, Matipa 2 North Good reading. Gweru, Elin 2 South Good hand writing. Mushakwe, Miguel 2 South For neatly presented work. Runavanhu, Shekinah 2 South Portuguese Chigodora, Lionel 3 North Portuguese Manyonga, Issy 3 North English Mazango, Shalom 3 North Mathematics Murombedzi, Adriel 3 North Shona Nyaruvanga, Munyasha 3 North ICT Merit - Week 03 2024-01-15 to 2024-01-21 Created 23 January 2024, 5:28 pm Page 2/5 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Nyaruvanga, Munyasha 3 North Agriculture Science and Technology. Chigunhah, Matida 3 South Agriculture Kadyamurandu, Asriel 3 South Portuguese Kadyamurandu, Asriel 3 South Maths Kamusoko, Matifadza 3 South Shona Musakwa, Mutsawashe 3 South ICT Mwakutuya, Kutenda 3 South English Gatsi, Karen 4 East Mathematics Honde, Lauren 4 East Content Mhlanga, Nandipha Siyabonga 4 East ICT Mutakuramombe, Tinashe Mutakuramombe, Tinashe 4 East English 4 East Portuguese Ndlovu, Alex 4 East Shona Kasingarirwi, Anthony 4 West Mathematics Mandoza, Celine 4 West Shona Manyara, Hayley 4 West ICT Matanda, Misiyashe 4 West Social Science Matanda, Misiyashe 4 West Portuguese Mhako, Nenyasha 4 West ART
MERITS Merit - Week 03 2024-01-15 to 2024-01-21 Created 23 January 2024, 5:28 pm Page 3/5 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Munzvengi, Krystal 4 West English Chimbetete, Rufaro 5 East English Matare, Nokutenda 5 East Cambridge Science Mugwisi, Golden 5 East Social Science Mutema, Kudzai 5 East Portuguese Ndlovu, Gabriella 5 East Mathematics Njaravaza, Lorrietta 5 East ICT Kwenda, Tawananyasha 5 West English 5 West ICT Mandove, Panashe Mapfumo, Tendai 5 West Content Nyagadza, Shanice 5 West Maths Saungweme, Nzwirashe 5 West Portuguese Toronga, Anenyasha 5 West Shona Chirumiko, Tayenda 6 East Shona Gore, Kimberly Runako 6 East Mathematics Masunda, Malven 6 East ICT Matanhire, Junior 6 East Social Sciences Muonde, Anesu 6 East English Mupanguri, Mutsawashe 6 East Portuguese Merit - Week 03 2024-01-15 to 2024-01-21 Created 23 January 2024, 5:28 pm Page 4/5 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Chanaiwa, Mikyla 6 North Maths Chiguvari, Shanelle M. 6 North Portuguese Gweshe, Makomborero 6 North Shona Masaiti, Gugulethu R. 6 North Content Masango, Zion 6 North English Moyo, Nokubonga N. 6 North ICT Chidoma, Corey 6 South Shona Chivandire, Melody 6 South English Kulumu, Nkazimulo 6 South Portuguese Mapako, Charnelle 6 South ICT Marumazvitsva, Matipaishe 6 South Mathematics Ruziwa, Bradley 6 South Social Sciences Banda, Tawonga C. 7 East ICT Choto, Zoe 7 East English Choto, Zoe 7 East Mathematics Choto, Zoe 7 East Portuguese Madziva, Tawananyasha K. 7 East Shona Vandira, Andriella 7 East Social Science Chiparausha, Atipaishe 7 West Mathematics Merit - Week 03 2024-01-15 to 2024-01-21 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Chitsa, Ethan 7 West Science Mangoro, Tafara M. 7 West English Munetsi, Princess 7 West Portuguese Muridzo, Anesu A. 7 West Shona Siwela, Liam Sante 7 West ICT Pow ered by TC PDF (ww w.tcpdf.org)
Merit - Week 04 2024-01-22 to 2024-01-28 Created 24 January 2024, 10:44 pm Page 1/4 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Makombe, Denise 1 East Neat presentation of work. Takabvakure, Anne 1 East Well behaved during ICT lessons Watungwa, Shona 1 East Reading all “my kite” words. Gumbeze, Dexter 1 South Improvement in Handwriting Mugayi, Asharelah 1 South Settling in well to Primary School ICT lessons. Munjeri, Malachi 1 South Reading Chagadama, Takudzwa 1 West Settling in well to ICT lessons in Primary School. Chirozva, Isabella 1 West Academic - for good letter formation. Gezimati, Kunashe 1 West Academic - for good reading. Chitsa, Jeremy 2 North Participating well in oral lessons in ICT. Muzite, Mukudzeishe 2 North Good behaviour in class. Sewera, Diezel 2 North Active participation during lessons Manyika, Megan 2 South Neat handwriting Marufu, Travis 2 South Well behaved in the lab during ICT lessons. Ntungakwa, Elaina 2 South Completing assigned work on time. Choto, Jereif 3 North Social Science Madziwa, Rejoice N. 3 North Mathematics Mutambira, Matifadza 3 North English Nzombe, Vanav 3 North Shona Merit - Week 04 2024-01-22 to 2024-01-28 Created 24 January 2024, 10:44 pm Page 2/4 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Perekwa, Zawadi 3 North ICT Gorogodo, Minana 3 South English Kadyamurandu, Asriel 3 South ICT . Kanojerera, Jair 3 South Mathematics Mavodza, Arlene 3 South Shona Muchengi, Christian 3 South Science Honde, Lauren 4 East Content Mhlanga, Nandipha Siyabonga 4 East Mathematics Mutakuramombe, Tinashe 4 East ICT Savanhu, Ruvarashe 4 East English Tashayawedu, Danai 4 East Shona Guvakuva, Kendrick 4 West Maths. Makurumidze, Rayden 4 West English Mwale, Nolan 4 West Shona Ncube, Mayibongwe 4 West ICT Round Samukange,Tinodaishe 4 West Social Science Jonga, Michelle 5 East ICT Madondo, Ryan 5 East Maths Matare, Nokutenda 5 East Portuguese Merit - Week 3 WEEK 3 - TERM 1 - 2024 MERITS
Merit - Week 04 2024-01-22 to 2024-01-28 Created 24 January 2024, 10:44 pm Page 3/4 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Matare, Nokutenda 5 East Maths Mugwisi, Golden 5 East Science Ndlovu, Gabriella 5 East English Chitate, Riley 5 West English Kutesera, Alora 5 West Content Mapfumo, Tendai 5 West Shona Saungweme, Nzwirashe 5 West Maths Tsoriyo, Eugene V. 5 West ICT . Chikwata, Tariro 6 East ICT Chikwata, Tariro 6 East Portuguese Mafuse, Tatendaishe 6 East English Mukaro, Tiffany M. 6 East Shona Mwanza, Tinashe 6 East Agriculture and Science Ndumo, Jeremy W. 6 East Maths Chanaiwa, Mikyla 6 North ICT Chanaiwa, Mikyla 6 North Portuguese Chiguvari, Shanelle M. 6 North Shona Masango, Zion 6 North Maths Moyo, Nokubonga N. 6 North Content Merit - Week 04 2024-01-22 to 2024-01-28 Created 24 January 2024, 10:44 pm Page 4/4 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Muchenje, Danai 6 North English Kulumu, Nkazimulo Siyanda 6 South Maths Kulumu, Nkazimulo Siyanda 6 South ICT Makombe, Dante Mufaro 6 South Presentation of work Mapako, Charnelle 6 South Creative writing Mazvito, Matida 6 South Science and Technology Chapinduka, Kylah T. 7 East ICT Chapinduka, Kylah T. 7 East Social Science Chosani, Raphel 7 East Maths Choto, Zoe 7 East English Madziva, Tawananyasha K. 7 East Shona Majakwara, Jamie 7 East Portuguese Chiparausha, Atipaishe 7 West Science Chitsa, Ethan 7 West Maths Gorogodo, Mukundi J. 7 West English Munetsi, Princess 7 West ICT Munetsi, Princess 7 West Shona Sithole, Micah T.E. 7 West Portuguese ww. t cpdf . or g) MERITS
PREFECTS INVESTITURE
Performing Arts And Culture Dear Parents, We are delighted to extend a warm welcome you all to our upcoming cultural activities and events that promise to add color and creativity to our school term. Our much-anticipated Carnaval event, a lively celebration that promises to bring joy and excitement to our students, is taking shape as we have witnessed a hype of activities with costumes being made. This year’s Carnaval event will be running under the theme DC vs Marvel. Our clubs swiftly took off Tuesday 23 January and these will continue every Tuesday afternoon until the end of the term. Compulsory clubs will offer our students a chance to explore new interests and develop valuable skills in a fun and supportive environment. Furthermore, all students from grade three to seven must pack their sports attire for sporting and cultural activities during the afternoon activities. No child is allowed to be in summer uniform during afternoon activities. In March, we are proud to participate in the National Institute of Allied Arts Eisteddfods festival, where our students will showcase their talents in singing and playing instruments. As usual, our students will participate in both African and Western music classes. Lastly, we look forward to culminating the term with a special parents’ concert, where our students will have the opportunity to shine on stage and share their musical achievements with you. Our one-on-one instrument lessons for piano, guitar, mbira, drums and violin group lessons have also resumed and are available for an extra cost. Please contact any of the music teachers if you want to register your child to learn any of the mentioned instruments. Our students will also get an opportunity to go for music exams and be certified by the University of West London. All western instrument lessons follow the London college of music syllabus which is affiliated to the University. We believe that these activities will not only enrich the cultural experiences of our students but also provide valuable opportunities for our school community to come together and celebrate the talents and creativity of our young learners. We look forward to your enthusiastic participation and support as we embark on this exciting cultural journey together. Yours Sincerely, Mr. Blessing Mutasa Head of Culture
SPORTS DEPARTMENT Dear Parents, Welcome to the New Year. It has been a very busy start for the students who have worked really hard to gain full fitness and prepare for our Inter-house cross-country. Please find below our house captains for the year 2024. HOUSE BOY GIRL GAMA Ethan Chitsa Michelle Chirokote DIAS Mukundi Gorogodo Tessa Kajau VIRIATO Astar Mapfumo Alexa Zinjiba Afternoon Sports NB: All afternoon activities are ending at 4.30pm. Sports results 1st team Cricket vs The Heritage School Lusitania scored 43 runs. Heritage scored 39 runs. Lusitania won by 4 runs 2nd team Cricket vs The Heritage School Lusitania scored 43 runs. Heritage scored 39 runs. Lusitania won by 4 runs Colts cricket vs Celebration International School Celebration International scored 47 runs. Lusitania scored 45 runs. Lusitania lost by 2 runs Results Update Cricket vs Heritage • 2nd team scored 43 runs • Heritage scored 39 runs • Lusitania won by 4 runs • 1st team scored 61 runs • Heritage scored 38 runs • Lusitania won by 23 runs Upcoming fixtures • Thursday 1 February: 1st team cricket vs Celebration International School @ LPS grounds Upcoming Events • Friday 26 January: Inter-house cross country (All grade 1-7 students) • Friday 2 February: Inter- schools cross country @ Eaglesvale (A Team) • Friday 2 February: Inter- schools cross country @ St Micheals (B Team) • Friday 1 March: Inter-house Athletics Field events • Saturday 2 March: Inter-house Athletics Compulsory Yours in sports, A. Ndabambi H.O.D Sports
Cricket at Celebration 22 January
Indoor Cricket at Heritage 18 January 2024
Grade 5 Museum trip 18-01-24
ECD Department
Grade 4 trip to Met Department 23 January
IMPORTANT SCHOOL LINKS. Tap on any logo to visit the links PARENTS PORTAL