THE LUSITÂNIA TIMES NEWSLETTER APRENDER. COMPETIR. DESEMPENHAR. LEARN. COMPETE. PERFORM. Escola Portuguesa 07 MARCH 2025
VISION STATEMENT “To be THE LUSOPHONIC SCHOOL providing quality eduction and inter-cultural values to international standards” MISSION STATEMENT “We give you educational exellence and value for money by teaching and producing well-balanced citizens in a professional and world-class learning environment” CORE VALUES We live for and practice: High Moral Christian Values Educational and Sporting Exellence Cultural Diversity and Portuguese Ambience Discipline and Fairness Community and Learning responsibility Good Corporate Standards Unique Value Proposition “ WE TEACH AND PRODUCE THE BEST ...........LUSITANIA” Escola Portuguesa
FROM THE DESK OF THE CEO/ PRINCIPAL 01 Dear Parents and Guardians, With the mid-term break already behind us, there is still so much to come and a great deal that has already been accomplished. The annual Carnaval was staged as a celebratory assembly this year and it went off very well with every class interpreting the theme of “flowers” in their own unique way. Even the little ECD pupils showed off their dance skills very well! Appreciation goes to all of our performing arts and teaching staff for their incredible energy and input in getting everything ready. This week the annual Eisteddfod programme got underway. This is an incredibly busy period with many sessions at various venues coming up. As always, we know that our Lusitania pupils will produce excellent results because we have one of the very best performing arts departments at any school. Thank you to those of you who managed to support the annual inter-house cross country. Lusitania has many talented runners and athletes as seen in our inter school results both at St. Michael’s and Bryden. This week the highly anticipated inter house athletics takes place. This is always fun, competitive and exciting! There will also be some extra field events not seen before such as discus, shot put and javelin. These disciplines feature at Golden League athletics meetings that Lusitania is also taking part in (for the first time) this month. They are essential skills for high school preparation – this is what we do very well here: prepare our pupils for the next step after junior school. We do this in all areas of academic, cultural and sporting endeavour. That’s why you chose Lusitania and we deliver! There have been direct and specific invitations to our Grade 6 and 7 pupils to attend top tier high school open days because they have now realised how valuable our pupils are as they are well rounded and capable individuals. We are proud of that and you can be too! Please keep supporting your school and tell your friends who may be looking for a school that totally delivers on what it says it will. If you managed to read the parent newsletter from ATS Executive Director Tim Middleton you will have appreciated how excellently Lusitania meets and fulfils the agreed goal of an education for life in all aspects: pupils and good people who can participate in the wider activities outside of the classroom, as important as that is. Melhores cumprimentos Bill Annandale Principal / CEO
HEAD OF ACADEMICS DESK “ WE TEACH AND PRODUCE THE BEST...........LUSITANIA” We're now just one month away from the end of a bustling and productive term, and it's wonderful to see our students back from the half-term break, refreshed and ready to tackle the remaining weeks. The energy and enthusiasm in the classrooms are palpable, and we're excited to see what our students will achieve in this final stretch. This week has been particularly rewarding, with numerous milestones reached across all departments. Congratulations to all our students and staff for their hard work and dedication! Our sporting teams have been shining brightly. Our cross-country runners have shown incredible stamina and determination, and our cricket teams are displaying impressive skill and teamwork. Dear Parents and Guardians, We're incredibly proud of their achievements and sportsmanship. Our students are developing a remarkable array of lifelong skills through our diverse club offerings. Beyond the sports fields, they are engaging in activities ranging from global awareness in the SDG club and critical thinking in Debate, to creative expression in Sculptor and Visual Arts, practical skills in Knitting and Sewing, strategic thinking in Chess, collaborative spirit in Mass Displays, technological prowess in Coding and Robotics, culinary expertise in Cookery, scientific exploration in STEM, cultural appreciation through Portuguese and Mbira, digital literacy in ICT, environmental stewardship in Gardening, and confident communication through Public Speaking. These clubs are instrumental in fostering well-rounded individuals, equipped to confidently navigate and contribute to the world. Our commitment to experiential learning remains strong. Our day trips, from ECD to Grade 7, provide students with rich and engaging learning experiences beyond the classroom walls. These trips are designed to complement the curriculum and create lasting memories. Looking ahead, we're excited about the upcoming overnight trips. To help you plan and manage the associated costs, we have already sent out the detailed costs and requirements for each trip. We encourage you to begin making payments early to ease any financial burdens and ensure your child can participate fully in these enriching experiences.
03 Helping Hands: KIDZCAN Success! Under our "Helping Hands" initiative, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the parents, staff, and pupils who generously supported KIDZCAN. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised a total of $2300 to support children suffering from cancer. This remarkable contribution will make a significant difference in the lives of those children, and we are deeply grateful for your compassionate support. More Good News and Achievements! We extend a huge thank you to all parents for supporting the Sponsored Spelling Fundraising held on January 27, 2025. It was a resounding success! We raised a fantastic total of $8854. We thank every child who diligently collected funds. These funds will be used towards the construction of a heated pool, benefiting all our children. We are truly grateful for your support and the efforts you made to help our children raise these funds. Special congratulations to Matida Mazvito in 7E, our top fundraiser, who raised $340! Matida has won a complimentary accommodation voucher for two nights with dinner, bed, and breakfast at Troutbeck Resort, courtesy of African Sun. We also congratulate Lauren Honde (second best) and Gugulethu Masaiti (third best) who, along with Matida, received shields courtesy of CABS and Lusitania appreciation packs. All our top ten fundraisers, including Zuva Chibaya, Tinodaishe Round-Samkange, Benjamin Mupfanochiya, Darryl Garufu, Kirstin Temba, Avril Nyahwa and Adriano Neto received a Lusitania Appreciation Pack. The best class, 2 South, which collected $1089, won a shield courtesy of CABS and a box of pizza for each child courtesy of Simbisa Brands.We also congratulate the Portuguese Department and all staff involved in the incredibly successful Carnaval Assembly. The talent displayed was truly amazing. The vibrant attire and beautiful flower props were exceptional, and our children and staff now have a wonderful understanding of the diverse flowers presented. Congratulations to our children in the Choice Children's Choir and the staff who accompanied them for representing our school at the NAMA awards. Their beautiful and unique rendition of the national anthem was truly memorable.On the academic front, our Grade 3-7 pupils are currently writing the Maths Diagnostic Assessment this week. Our Grade 6 students have already completed the Cambridge Primary Insights and Cambridge Attitude Insights, achieving pleasing results. Our staff will now use the next six months to focus on areas needing improvement before the Cambridge Checkpoint Assessments in the first week of October. The remaining grades will take their assessments in two weeks. We wish them all the best! We cordially invite you to our School Interhouse Athletics! The field events begin this Friday, followed by the main event this Saturday. Come and support your children as Dias, Gama, and Viriato compete! Finally, we encourage all Grade 6 parents to begin considering high school options for their children. Open Days have started at various high schools, and information will be shared on class platforms. As we approach the final month of the term, please continue to support your children in their studies and extracurricular activities. Your encouragement and involvement are invaluable. We are so proud of the progress our students have made this term. Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to a successful and fulfilling conclusion to the term.
Merit - Week 8 Created 6 March 2025, 11:23 am Page 1/4 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Chigodora Leticia 1 East ICT Runganga Augustine 1 East Improved letter formation. Ushamba Alicia 1 East Giving clever answers during lessons. Chihuri Tanatswa 1 West ICT Mafaune Channah 1 West Academic - for good work in Shona. Samkange Sienna-Mae 1 West Behaviour - for being well disciplined during learning time. Shuro Jaidy 1 West ART Chimbetete Emmanuel 2 North Honesty Kamunda Brielle 2 North ART Munjeri Malachi 2 North ICT Ndlovu Daniel 2 North Improvement in Shona Gezimati Kunashe 2 South ART Neto Adriano 2 South ICT Nyahwa Avril 2 South Active participation during lessons. Round-Samukange Munotidaishe 2 South Neatly presented work all the time. Bhamu Mukundi 3 North Shona Manyika Megan 3 North ICT Mushakwe Miguel 3 North Social Science Ntungakwa Elaina 3 North ART Samapundo Tinaishe 3 North Mathematics Samapundo Tinaishe 3 North English Merit - Week 8 Created 6 March 2025, 11:23 am Page 2/4 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Chitsa Jeremy 3 South English Kaleso Tadiswanashe 3 South Social Sciences Mutandwa Alex 3 South Maths Ndlovu Thabiswa 3 South Science and Technology Nyamutowa Marvelous 3 South Shona Sewera Diezel 3 South ICT Domingo Edgbaston 4 East ICT Mandara Rachel 4 East English Mlambo Kian 4 East Social Science Murombedzi Adriel 4 East Mathematics Nyaruvanga Munyasha 4 East Shona Chigunhah Matida 4 West Social Science Kadyamurandu Asriel 4 West Maths Marongwe Watipaishe 4 West English Mavodza Arlene 4 West Portuguese Musakwa Mutsawashe 4 West ICT Mwarazi Princess 4 West Shona Guvakuva Kendrick 5 East Maths Liu Jing Yi 5 East English Mazibeli Kerapetsi 5 East Social Science Munzvengi Krystal 5 East ICT
Merit - Week 8 Created 6 March 2025, 11:23 am Page 3/4 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Vintula Bertha 5 East Shona Chigerwe Tinomiranashe Mutakuramombe Tinashe 5 West Mathematics 5 West Portuguese Nyabereka Kuziwa 5 West English Nyabvure Ariana 5 West Social Sciences Tsvuura Mufaro 5 West ICT Vashibe Vivian 5 West Shona Chidindi Tadiswa Malachi 6 North ICT Maruma Makanaka 6 North Shona Maruma Makanaka 6 North Portuguese Matare Nokutenda 6 North Social Science Njaravaza Lorrietta 6 North Mathematics Temba Kirstin 6 North English Kutesera Alora 6 South Social Science Mapfumo Tendai 6 South Shona Nyagadza Shanice 6 South English Siwela kayla 6 South Mathematics Takawira Tavonga 6 South ICT Kulumu Nkazimulo Siyanda 7 East ICT Kulumu Nkazimulo Siyanda 7 East Agriculture Makombe Dante Mufaro 7 East Shona Merit - Week 8 Created 6 March 2025, 11:23 am Page 4/4 LUSITANIA SCHOOL Mapako Charnelle 7 East Maths Marumazvitsva Matipaishe 7 East English Runavanhu Michael 7 East Social Science Chanaiwa Mikyla 7 North ICT Kokera Kunashe 7 North Maths Mandizha Anotidaishe 7 North English Muchenje Danai 7 North Shona Ntungakwa Eliana 7 North Content Taruwinga Fadzai 7 North Portuguese Gore Kimberly Runako 7 West English Gorogodo Munotidaishe 7 West ICT Gorogodo Munotidaishe 7 West ART Matanhire Junior 7 West Mathematics Muonde Anesu 7 West Social Science Mupanguri Mutsawashe 7 West Shona Mwanza Tinashe 7 West Portuguese Pow ered by TC PDF (ww w.tcpdf.org)
KIDS CAN 14 FEBRUARY 2025
PERFORMING ARTS AND CULTURE Dear Parents / Guardians, We are pleased to announce the beginning of the Eisteddfods season for the year 2025. We are pleased to have started on positive trajectory, see the results below, to the new grading system which seeks to further develop the arts in Zimbabwe. We are excited and looking forward to valuable assessments and feedback from international adjudicators. These are from Zimbabwe, Zambia, England and South Africa. At Lusitania, we are expecting over 400 students to take part in both African and Western vocal and instrumental classes. Furthermore, there is a notable increase in entries from twenty-one entries in 2024 to thirty-five entries in 2025. Our students are part of the record 2700 NIAA Eisteddfods entries across the country. Current Eisteddfods Results Performance Date Category Name of Candidates Group Result Wednesday 5 March African Vocal Solo Contemporary Bethel Mazango Distinction Kupakwashe Mandioma Distinction Tadiwanashe Dzaramba Merit Grading Criteria Grade Percentage Honours – Exceptional 95% and above Honours-Outstanding 90-94% Distinction 85-89% Commended 80-84% Merit 75-79% Progressing 70-74% Developing 65-69% Ungraded Below 65% Western Class Choirs Our children in class choirs from ECD B to grade five have been working hard during practice sessions. We are pleased with their performance, which has seen them making significant progress in aural skills development. Given the NIAA syllabus guidelines, we are only allowed a certain number of students per class choir. Therefore, we will select the students on merit, the best per each grade and those are the ones that will represent the school at the festival. However, in order for us to complete these terms, every child from ECD B to grade five will perform at Eisteddfods highlights concert on the 9th of April at school. NB: We will notify parents with children that will make the final selection for class choirs via individual letters. To ensure a smooth flow for the festival, please find the information from the NIAA office, Limited seating is available for parents on the first come first served basis. Parents are encouraged to arrive early as parking is often an issue and they may have to park some distance from the performance venue. If you arrive after the class has begun performing, whether your child is on stage or not, you will not be admitted into the hall until there is a suitable break, between choirs. Tickets will be on sale for USD3 for morning or afternoon sessions. Please bring the correct amount as there will be no change available at the venue.
Lusitania Performance schedule Performance Date Candidate / Group Venue Class Performance Time Wed 5 March African Vocal Soloists Tadiwanashe Dzaramba, Kupakwashe Mandioma & Bethel Mazango Prince Edward Beit Hall 2.45PM Fri 7 March African Mbira Ensemble Prince Edward Beit Hall 9.55AM African Marimba Ensemble Prince Edward Basketball Court 9.00AM Tue 11 March Religious Vocal Soloists Nokubonga Moyo, Dumisile Mukuyu, Prince Edward Beit Hall 4.15PM Wed 12 March Western Piano Solo Anthony Kasingarirwi. Prince Edward Music Centre 8.30AM Western Piano Solo Dumisile Mukuyu Prince Edward Music Centre 9.05AM Western Guitar Solo Unami Nkomo Prince Edward Music Centre 2.45PM Thu 13 March Western Piano Soloists Rachel Mandara, Gabriella Ndlovu & Nokutenda Matare Prince Edward Music Centre 10.05AM Western Vocal Solo Theatre Bethel Mazango & Nokubonga Moyo Prince Edward Music Centre 12.35PM Fri 14 March Western Recorder Soloists Vivian Vashibe, Teffany Mukaro & Alex Ndlovu. Prince Edward Music Centre 10.50AM Sat 15 March African Vocal Duet Tadiwanshe Dzaramba & Elaina Ntungakwa Prince Edward Beit Hall 11.50AM Thurs 20 March African Shona Choir Contemporary Gateway High School 9.00AM Western Violin Ensemble Prince Edward Music Centre 9.30AM Fri 21 March African Shona Choir Traditional Harare International School 10.45AM Fri 21 March African Vocal Solo Nicole Nyakuengama. Prince Edward Chapel 3.35PM Tue 25 March Western Piano Solo Grace Dzawo Prince Edward Music Centre 9.20AM Wed 26 March African Vocal Ensemble Prince Edward Beit Hall 10.45AM Fri 28 March Western Drum Solo Zuva Chibaya Prince Edward Music Centre 8.35AM Mon 31 March Western Grade 1 Choir Harare International School 9.00AM Western Grade 2 Choir Harare International School 10.00AM Western Grade 3 Choir Harare International School 11.15AM Tues 1 April Western ECD Choir Harare International School 9.00AM Western Grade 4 Choir Harare International School 12.15PM Western Grade 5 Choir Harare International School 3.00PM Thu 3 April Western English Choir Harare International School 4.15PM We are looking forward to seeing you coming to support us. The festival will run from the 5th of March to the 4th of April. We would like to wish our students a successful Eisteddfods season. Melhores Cumprimentos, Mr. B Mutasa. Head of Culture
CARNAVAL 2025
ECD A TRIP TO ST ELMO’S 14 FEBRUARY 2025
ECD B Trip to JumpZim 18 February 2025
GRADE 1 TRIP TO KUIMBA SHIRI BIRD PARK 19 FEBRUARY 2025
GRADE 2 TRIP TO EWANRIGG BOTANICAL GARDENS 03 MARCH 2025
KOICA PROJECT HOSTED BY UNICEF ZIMBABWE ON CLIMATE, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ON 1 MARCH 2025 The School was represented by Kulumu S. Nkazimulo and Mikyla Chanaiwa
CODED BINS DONATED BY THE ICT DEPARTMENT - 2025
OPEN DAY FEBRUARY 2025
TREE PLANTING
SDG CLUB CYCLING 18 FEBRUARY 2025
SPORTS DEPARTMENT Dear Parents, As we are now approaching the last part of the term, we would like to thank you all for the support you have shown throughout the term to our sports teams. Athletics Team Captains We are proud to announce our School Athletics Team Captains for the season: Girls Team • Captain: Mutsawashe Mupanguri • Vice-Captain: Shannell Chiguvari Boys Team • Captain: Tinashe Mwanza • Vice-Captain: Makomborero Gweshe We wish them all the best as they lead our teams to success!
Cross Country Achievements St. Michael’s Cross Country Invitational Our athletes put on an outstanding performance at the St. Michael’s Invitational, competing against 23 schools! Junior Girls • Danai Tashayawedu – 4th place (out of 138) Junior Boys • Jayden Muchetu – 5th place (out of 138) • Kundayi Mutasa – 20th place (out of 138) Senior Girls • Tiffany Mukaro – 6th place (out of 138) • Grace Dzawo – 13th place (out of 138) • Shekinah Makurumure – 15th place (out of 138) • Michaela Govo – 17th place (out of 138) • Mutsawashe Mupanguri – 20th place (out of 138) Girls Team placed 2nd overall OVERALL: Lusitania placed 1st out of 23 schools! Well done to all our athletes! Ariel (Trotting Tortoise) Cross-Country Meet Another strong performance saw our students shine at the Ariel Cross-Country Meet. Girls Team placed 2nd overall Boys Team placed 3rd overall Lusitania finished 2nd out of 9 schools! Congratulations to all our runners for their dedication and hard work! U10 Girls Shekinah Runavanhu – 3rd place (out of 45) Matida Chigunhah – 4th place(out of 45) Stacey Mukaro – 10th place (out of 45) U10 Boys Jayden Muchetu – 2nd place (out of 45) Edgbaston Domingo – 8th place (out of 45) U12 Girls Danai Tashayawedu – 2nd place (out of 45) Nandipah Mhlanga – 8th place (out of 45) U13 Girls Tiffany Mukaro – 3rd place (out of 45) Shekinah Makurumure – 4th place (out of 45) U13 Boys Tinashe Mwanza – 7th place (out of 45) Upcoming Sports Fixtures Mark, your calendars for these exciting upcoming events: • Friday, 7 March – Inter-House Athletics Field Events (1:30 PM - 4:30 PM) • Saturday, 8 March – Inter-House Athletics Track Events (8.30 – 12:00) • Friday, 14 March – Golden League Athletics at Wise Owl (Marondera) • Wednesday, 19 March – Golden League Athletics at Eaglesvale • Tuesday, 25 March – Golden League Athletics at Heritage • Wednesday, 9 April – St. Michael’s 7s Rugby Tournament We encourage all students to participate and parents to come and support our athletes! Afternoon Sports Reminder All Grade 3-7 students must bring a tennis racket for afternoon sports. Please ensure your child is prepared. Thank you for your continued support in making Lusitania’s sports program a success! Yours in sport, A. Ndabambi H.O.D Sports
COLTS CRICKETS VS MUBEENA 6 FEBRUARY 2025
CROSS COUNTRY AT BRYDEN 28 FEBRUARY 2025
CROSS COUNTRY AT ST MICHAELS 7 FEBRUARY 2025
TENNIS VS CELEBRATION 4 FEBRUARY 2025
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