The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Post Correspondent
NO ONE can count 1, 2, 3 best-practice schools in Zimbabwe excluding Hillcrest College, unless he or she is an enemy. Here is one school that prepares perfect exit profiles for its students to face the world head-on, as it is, after receiving an education that is fit for purpose in every sense.
Recently, The Manica Post visited the college and witnessed the continuous shine and glory of the Hillcrest star.
Hillcrest College is an independent, co-educational, boarding and day high school in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The school was established in 1985 by the Mutare business community with the idea of providing an all-round education for both boys and girls from Form 1 up to Form 6.
Hillcrest aims at not only developing the pupils’ academic ability using the Cambridge International Examination Board but also exposing them to many sporting and cultural activities. The college enrols pupils of different ability groups and has a boarding facility for 200 pupils available for both boys and girls. Hillcrest College is a member of the Association of Trust Schools (ATS)
The following is a story of continuous victory and outstanding achievements by a college stubbornly refusing to be second to none in Manicaland and Zimbabwe in the context of preparing students fit for the 21st century world. The story is told by the institution’s Principal, one Mrs Annie Holman, her deputy, Mr Obed Chipato and senior teacher, Mr Newswell Musikavanhu.
The Manica Post’s general question to the above tripartite torch-bearers was one: “How bright is the Hillcrest star still shining?” The following was the avalanche of revelations and detail unfolding the Hillcrest story. Read on.
“Hillcrest College offers programmes developed by Cambridge International Examinations which include Cambridge Secondary Checkpoint, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS/A Level.
At Checkpoint level we offer Mathematics, Science and English. The pupils take up a total of 10 subjects at this junior level. The content covered prepares the pupils for the very challenging IGCSE Syllabus which they take up in Form 3 and Form 4.
IGCSE
A total of 18 subjects are taken at this level. The pupils are able to choose up 8 to 10 subjects which include core subjects like English, Mathematics, Geography, a Science subject or separate Sciences, a Technical subject, Commercial subjects, Information Technology and Computer Science.
AS/A Level
At this level the pupils select three subjects of their choice. We require them to obtain an A or B to qualify for these subjects. Our strongest department is the Sciences where we have achieved over 90% pass rates in our Physics and Chemistry results. Accounting, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Economics, French, History, Literature in English, Physics and Travel and Tourism recorded a 100% pass rate.
Our achievements in the Cambridge exams are as follows: 2013 Top in Zimbabwe AS Physics — Carly Kies /2013 Top in Zimbabwe AS Mathematics — Krishan Rana / 2014 High Achievement Award in IGCSE Portuguese — Luzia Antunes / 2015 Top in World IGCSE Travel and Tourism — Rachel Muyambo / 2015 High Achievement Award in IGCSE Travel and Tourism — Coralie Hundermark / 2016 Top in World IGCSE Agriculture — Gamuchirai Musumbu / 2016 Top in Zimbabwe in IGCSE Combined Science — Gamuchirai Musumbu / 2016 High Achievement Award in AS History — Gabriella Mashiki.
If the above academic results do not exhibit a shining Hillcrest star, nothing will.
Sport
The following sports are offered at Hillcrest: athletics, basketball, cricket, cross country, hockey, soccer, rugby, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
And these are our Hillcrest stars who represent Zimbabwe in the shown sporting disciplines:
Tafadzwa Keith Mwashita — Tennis / Kayley Jones — Swimming / Nqobi Mbambo — Hockey / Ryan Munaki — Handball / Munesu Muneta-Zimbabwe A Rugby / Munopa Muneta — Zimbabwe A Rugby
South Africa Rugby and Hockey Tour
Hillcrest College Rugby and Hockey teams toured South Africa April 2017 and the rugby team, the Leopards, lost 20 to 22 to Pretoria Boys High, won 65 to nil against Hoerskool Rooderport and held the host school Krugersdorp High School to a 26 all draw.
The following pupils were selected into the joint Zimbabwe- South Africa Invitational team to play in the UK in the Best of West tournament in October 2017:
Rugby Team —The Leopards
Bright Nyanhete, Aaron Mutandwa, Munesu Muneta, Munopa Muneta, Tinashe Mutseriwa, Makanaka Charamba and Rafiq Paulser.
At the Dairibord Rugby Festival Hillcrest College First Team Rugby played Prince Edward and lost 11 to 19, against Kwe Kwe High School they won 60 to 15 and against Kyle College they won 29 to 26.At the festival, Hillcrest tamed the P,E.Tigers and beat Kyle ,to whom we had been losing for the last ten years.
Hockey:
The Hockey Best of the West squad will tour Germany and The Netherlands from 1 October to 10 October 2017.
Trevor Chikotosa, Nqobi Mbambo, Gift Ndenda, Sheikh Zvinowanda, Sean Chioza and Jonathan Van Maarseveen.
The girls’ hockey teams had their pre-season matches at Gateway during the vacation. All of them benefitted from the camp. They played Petra, Hippo Valley, Goldridge and St Johns .It is hoped they will be more competitive during the forthcoming season.
Athletics
We had 11 athletes qualifying for the 2017 NASH athletics in Harare. Of these three won gold medals and represented Zimbabwe at the May 2017 COSASA games where:
(i) Sheila Macheka won gold in the 300m hurdles. (15 & Under Girls)
(ii) Lameck Makwayaura won silver in 100m (15 & Under Boys)
(iii) Nicole Chikosi won bronze in 100m (15 & under Girls)
Cultural Activities
A number of cultural clubs are active in the school. These are meant to help pupils develop their social skills, emotionally and be socially responsible.
Interact, Leo, Crestcan (cancer awareness) Aids Awareness interact with and raise fund to help the needy in different areas and circumstances. Homes such as Jairos Jiri-Rusape ,Mt Selinda Orphange in Chipinge and Chengetai in Mutare are some of the beneficiaries of the pupils effort. Schools fees are also raised for needy pupils especially where the girl child is a case in point.
Choirs
The Hillcrest Choirs took part in the 2017 Eisteddford competitions. The juniors won an Honours grade. The Seniors also won an Honours grade and came out second position in this national competition.
The Marimba club has done extremely well over the year. The band attained an Honours grade at Eisteddford and won the 2017 Marimba National challenge, The Adjudicators Trophy for best performers. The team was invited to tour Argentina and Brazil in recognition of their top of the range performance. They fly off to Latin America on 18 May 2017.The Marimba boys are S Kanyenze, S Chioza, S Chitaka (Head boy), T Pasipamire, N Nemaire, D Muchinguri, B Nyanhete and S Chishakwe.
Bridge and Chess clubs are very active and quite competitive. The Bridge team has won against the best in this wits- game. The fixtures include Prince Edward, St Georges, Peterhouse and Dominican Convent Harare.
Staff
Our staff is our greatest asset. We have a stable staff complement with diverse skills and abilities meant to give off the best for the pupils development in all the areas of the curriculum. It is constituted of very mature, experienced and wise teachers, young and vibrant members who are very eager to do the best for the pupils all the time.
SDC
The school is very proud to have an SDC that is supportive and innovative. Their effort in all areas of school life has created a comfortable learning environment for our pupils. Their upcoming Winter-Fair, an annual event, is aimed at raising funds for further development of the school environment.
Board of Governors
The Board of Governors complements and enhances school leadership by providing the vision and support to the Headmistress and her staff.
When the story of the Hillcrest star was told and concluded, The Manica Post crew left. But this reporter’s mind remained at Hillcrest wondering why some schools and colleges do not take a leaf from this ever shining star.
The Manica Post wishes Hillcrest College more dreams and visions to benefit individual students who are lucky to be at the college, and Zimbabwe at large. Albert Schweitzer said, “In the hopes of reaching the moon, men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.” It is this reporter’s fervent hope that students at Hillcrest and indeed the society at large do not fail to see the flowers that blossom at Hillcrest College year-in-year-out. Well done Hillcrest College!
It is my pleasure to invite Rachel Muyambo-best student in the world (2015 IGCSE Top in the world-Travel and Tourism) and Gabriella Mashiki (Best in Zimbabwe A.S History) to the Head-To-Head with MM DiamondFM Radio talk show with me to highlight how the best is achieved. Make a date with MM on Thursday-1 June 2017, between 8 and 9 in the evening. Channel 103.8! Be my guests! The Radio is DiamondFM-your OWN and ONLY radio station.
