St. Rupert Mayer's High School, Makonde

St. Rupert Mayer's High School, Makonde
Location
Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West
Zimbabwe
Information
Type Jesuit, Catholic
Motto Education through Christ
Denomination Catholic
Established 2000 (2000)
Rector Fr. C. Matsilele, SJ
Headmistress Ms. Mudzingwa
Teaching staff 14
Grades Form 1-6
Gender Coeducational
Enrollment 328
Color(s) Blue, White
Sports Dominates within the district
Rival Hombwe
Accreditation Ministry of Education
Tuition US $25.00 per term
Affiliations Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council, National Association of School Heads, Jesuit Education Office, Chinhoyi Diocese Education Office
Website RupMayerZimbabwe

St. Rupert Mayer’s High is a Catholic School in Makonde District, Zimbabwe. The school aims at offering quality education inspired by the Catholic ethos. It is part of the bigger St Rupert Mayer Mission which, in addition to the high school, comprises a primary school, a hospital, and a parish. St Rupert Mayer's High School was founded in 2000, thirty six years after the German Jesuit Fr. Kensy, SJ founded the Mission in 1964. The primary and high schools for a long time served a community that showed little interest in education; the rate of those dropping out and marrying was very high. For the high school, this situation improved from the time the school began to draw from a wider area.

General background of Mission

Makonde is a remote, poor, undeveloped area about 95 km from Chinhoyi town and 208 km from the capital Harare, with poor connecting roads.[1] Some students walk up to 15 km and cross sizeable rivers such as Mupfure River to get to school. While the school belongs to the diocese of Chinhoyi, it is administered by the Jesuits of Zimbabwe-Mozambique Province.[2] The namesake of the school and mission is the German Jesuit St. Rupert Mayer, who was jailed for his resistance to the Nazis in Germany.

Mission's brief history

The Mission was founded on the 16th of July in 1964 by Fr. Rudolph Kensy S.J. (1909-1981). "After he failed to be given land to build on, [Kensy] asked Blessed Rupert Mayer for help" and succeeded, and so named the Mission after him.[3] It has two martyrs, Br. Bernard Lisson S.J. (born 1909) and Fr. Gregor Richert S.J. (born 1930), who were killed at the Mission on 27 June 1978 during the Zimbabwe Liberation struggle.[4] After their deaths the mission was temporarily closed, then reopened by Fr. Wolfgang Abeler in 1981.[5]

School history

2000-2005

The school was founded in 2000, 36 years after the mission's founding, following a request by the local community for a mission boarding school. Seeing the need to start a high school, Fr. Chazunguza (first diocesan priest to serve the Mission after the Mission was handed over to the diocese by the Jesuits in 1999) in collaboration with Fr. Wolfgang Tamm, SJ (the then Education secretary of the Chinhoyi Diocese) established the school.[6] The foundation of the school "was pegged by the late Bishop Reckter [S.J.]."[7] The foundation of the mission high school was approved by the ministry of education on the basis that it was to be a proper boarding school. Fr. Mabiri replaced Fr. Chazunguza and served from 2000 till May 2002.[3] The Jesuits were asked to return and run the Mission in 2002. The late Fr. Masina S.J. became the Mission superior, Fr. Stephen Silungwe S.J. assistant pastor, and Br. Herman Thoma S.J. pastoral assistant.[3] Fr. Karl Hermann S.J. took over in 2004, when the school was just 4 years old, "with two school blocks, two teacher houses and the building material for a third [school block].... The parents molded the bricks" and despite a money crisis the third block was finished in 2005.[3]

Because of financial challenges, Fr. Herman visited Munich (Rupert is considered the "apostle of Munich") during his 2006 home leave. After seeking Blessed Rupert's intersession, he was linked with the "Technical University of Munich who were looking for a place in Africa where they could help the Church. It was the department of architecture (Lehrstuhl fuer Raumkunst und Lichtgestaltung, TU Munchen under Prof. Deubzer, and the assistants Mrs. Schelle and Mr. Graf)".[8] Technical University of Munich, together with the "Verein Ausstellungshaus für christliche Kunst" (chaired by Mr. Erhard Fischer) helped develop the school from 2005 until 2010: two more teachers' houses in 2007, and "a modern school-block from 2007 to 2010 [which contains] two classrooms, staff room, library and computer room".[8] The University then established an association called "Learning from the Roots",[9][10] aiming "to give the project sustainability and for fundraising".[11]After 2011 (the project is ongoing) Technical University of Munich's Department for Energy and Applied Technology (Lehrstuhl fuer Energiewirtschaft und Anwendungstechnik) sent its students to investigate the possibilities for sustainable energy. This correspondence started under Prof. Hamacher. They have installed solar systems to pump water in various areas of the Mission. In 2013, a solar system (established in 2012) was enlarged to supply water from the solar water pump and electricity to the makeshift boarding facilities, which by then accommodated up to 30 students, both boys and girls. With the growing number of students, the facilities came to serve around ninety boys. In May 2016, the girls moved to the Mission Hall, 800 meters away from the boys hostels. TUM is still sending its students for research and development. In April 2017, the TUM team which visited the school gave a one-week workshop (6-13 April) on renewable energy to some selected students. They also assessed and repaired photovoltaic systems and the biogas system at the Mission Hospital. During part of this maintenance work, the selected St Rupert's students learned how the systems work.

2014-2017

Mission superior farming

In December 2014, Fr. Chrispen Matsilele S.J. replaced Fr. Herman. Under his term, the boarding enrollment grew from 30 students to more than 160. This has also extended the overall enrollment of the school from around 170 to more than 320. With more student revenue the school is expected to become self-supporting. In the mean time Fr. Matsilele has increased agricultural projects to sustain both the school and the Mission itself. He has named the project "Father Richert Farming Project"; it includes poultry production, piggery farming, gardening, maize crop production, and beekeeping. He completed the Head's house and planned to start construction on a new boys hostel in 2017. A good number of locals participate in the construction, helping with brick-making, collection of river-sand, and building.

This growth is facilitated by the fact that at $212USD per three-month term for tuition and boarding, St Rupert Mayer's High School is the most affordable boarding school in all of Zimbabwe. A parent with a child at a typical Zimbabwean mission or government boarding school might be able to send three children to St Rupert High for the cost of one child at other schools. Also, in a country where teacher wages are generally low, many government schools and small private colleges are offering poor education. St Rupert, carefully run by the Jesuits with strict academic and moral discipline, as survived the economic crunch in the country. With the hope for science laboratories, more classrooms, and the further development of the boarding, St Rupert Mayer's looks to develop into an even bigger school, with the short term projections of establishing more hostels and extending the boarding enrollment to 300.

Academic development and awards

Upon its opening, St Rupert High was offering five basic ordinary level (‘O’ Level) subjects (i.e., English, Shona, Mathematics, Geography, and Science). The school expanded in terms of curriculum in 2008, adding “O’ Levels in Commerce, Literature in English, Agriculture, Computers, and Accounting. In 2011, the first advanced level (‘A’ level) class was added making the ordinary secondary school into a high school. The commencement of ‘A’ levels had difficulties in taking root because only four students enrolled, not allowing for an exam center to be set up at the school: the four took their exams at Sacred Heart High School in Banket (one of the Jesuit schools). The first group to sit for their ‘A’ level exams at Rupert was in 2014. The group recorded a 90% pass rate, and after that enrollment in the high school increased.

Students' residence development

A boarding facility was envisaged from the start, but it has suffered the vicissitudes of a strained economy and changing perceptions of the need. It opened with "30 pupils, of which the majority were from the capital Harare". But it had been conceived as offering temporary shelter to local pupils during the rainy season only, when the rivers flooded. It grew to accommodate 160 pupils, both local and from a distance, developing into a formal boarding school. The Jesuit ethos of preferential option for the poor and faith that does justice has been instrumental behind the development, which saw Rupert High transformed from a backward rural school into a typical, developing Mission school. The impact of this transformation is evident within the local community and local pupils whose value system in regard to education has greatly improved. A growing number of day scholars are joining the rest of the boarding students in evening studies. These evening studies also make use of solar energy during load-shedding, and they have significantly developed the study culture at the school.

Forecast: possible impact of boarding facility with science labs in Makonde District

Makonde district is vast, in excess of 150 square kilometres, but has no school offering pure science subjects. Potential engineers, doctors, scientists, and researchers have no option but to take GCE A Level in commercial subjects and humanities. Rupert High is the only boarding school in Chinhoyi outside of the district capital. It is envisaged that with boarding facilities and the addition of science labs, Rupert High will offer students access to the government's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programs/scholarships.

Logo of St Rupert Mayer's High School

Coat of arms

The shield together with the color blue symbolize the security felt from having the Virgin Mary as one's mother. The blue and white stripes at the bottom left quarter are from the coat of arms of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. A gold chalice and white host in the background symbolize the body and blood of Christ, central to the Eucharistic celebration of Catholics. White symbolizes virtue and the gold symbolizes the one we value most, God. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is symbolized in the handle of the sword, with the crown of thorns surrounding it. The book symbolizes both the word of God as well as the knowledge attained from schooling. The sword piercing the book symbolizes the zeal inspired by Jesus. Also we are reminded that God's word is sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews, 4:12), suggesting also discernment that is integral to Ignatian spirituality. The IHS are the first three letters for the name "Jesus", the Jesuits' namesake. As a whole, the coat of arms represents the school's motto, "Education through Christ".[12]

Activities

Christian, Catholic, Ignatian

The whole school has Mass on a Wednesday after every fortnight. Boarding students also join the parish every Sunday for Mass or Eucharistic Service. The school has classes on the Catholic ethos and Ignatian spirituality. Daily Examen is also mandatory as a key to personality growth in the Ignatian discernment of spirits. It goes for five minutes before lunch. The boarders also have Examen at night before sleep. Students also have daily a morning Christian meditation in the chapel for 15 minutes, just after breakfast and before classes.

The school has a very active Christian Life Community group.[13] The members of this group have the mandate to guide the school in an Ignatian spirituality and lifestyle, Catholic ethics, charitable works, and in student leadership. They also have Faith Sharing Sessions every Sunday afternoon – Faith Sharing is when the students share their personal reflections, focusing on where they found desolations and consolations[14] during the week.

Arts, sports, and culture

The school also participates in different artistic and cultural showcases. In September 2017, at the AMDG Festival of Music, Dance, and Theatre hosted by The Jesuit Education Office in collaboration with the Zimbabwe College of Music, the school participated and took the third prize out of the fifteen schools represented.[15] St. Rupert's also participates in the festivals of the National Institute of Allied Arts Literary and Visual Arts, as well as in Catholic school choir competitions.

Sportswise, students participate in athletics, soccer, volleyball, and netball competitions in the district and in the Chinhoyi Diocese.

A newsletter covering the high school is published by the Mission.[16]

Interactions with Jesuit sister schools

The Companionship program links St Rupert Mayer's High School with some other Jesuit schools. Companionship focuses on friendship being established between the schools. The first interaction at the Companionship level was with Canisius-Kolleg Berlin. The Kolleg has been financially assisting St Rupert Mayer's High School for years now. "Companionship" is a term which for long has been limited to that association with Canisius-Kolleg. It has since extended to include the school's interactions with other local schools at different levels, including in arts and spirituality. The main local Jesuit schools St Rupert's interacts with are St George's College Harare, St Peter's Mbare, and Visitation Makumbi.[17]

Canisius-Kolleg, Berlin

In September 2015, three of St Rupert Mayer's High's members of staff visited Canisius-Kolleg, a sister Jesuit school in Berlin, Germany. The trip was funded by Canisius-Kolleg. The trip was meant to deepen the relations between the two schools. St Rupert's representatives, Sister Felistas Mandinyenya (school Head), Mr. Waraza, and Mrs. Jana, were joined for the trip by the representatives from Makumbi Visitation High and St George's College Harare.[18] Then from the 10th to the 17th of June 2016, the Kolleg sent a delegation of teachers and students to both St Rupert Mayer's and Visitation Makumbi High.[19] The visit was part of the continuing efforts to cement a lasting relationship/companionship between the schools. One teacher, Mrs. Haux, and two students, Luise and Simon, represented the Kolleg. The Kolleg has been financially supporting St Ruprt Mayer's High School. In 2017, they raised funds for three students and two members of staff of St Rupert Mayer's High to visit Canisius-Kolleg in July 2017.[20]

St George's College, Harare

For a number of years now, St George’s has been sending to St Rupert Mayer's its "Saints" (colloquial term for students from St George's College Harare) for service projects during the first three weeks of the first term. The Saints who are sent to different places are those who would be on their long vacation after O levels, awaiting their O level results to get back to St George's for A level. Hence, they help in tutoring juniors (forms 1 and 2), studies, sports, and general work. They also take time to socialise and make friends with the students of St Rupert's. After their stay, they can promote the school in different ways. In 2017, the service team fundraised money ($1,200) which helped the school build toilets and bathrooms for boarding girls.[21]

Visitation Makumbi High

In March 2016, A level students from St Rupert Mayer's visited Visitation Makumbi Mission for an academic weekend workshop. Visitation has a huge advantage of having qualified Zimsec markers. The visit was essential in the development of St Rupert's A level humanities teachers and the students.

In August 2016 during the annual Christian Life Community National Congress held at Serima Mission, Visitation Makumbi CLC team offered transport to St Rupert Mayer's C.L.C. members.

References

  1. ↑ "Yearbook of the Society of Jesus" (PDF). p. 30.
  2. ↑ "Jesuits ZIM Province".
  3. 1 2 3 4 Upenyu weMusande weRupert Mayer Mission. Jubilee Edition. 2014. p. 52.
  4. ↑ Barry, S.J., David Harold (2000). They Stayed On: The Stories of Seven Jesuits Martyred in the Struggle for Zimbabwe. Gweru: Mambo Press. p. 62.
  5. ↑ Upenyu weMusande weRupert Mayer Mission. p. 58.
  6. ↑ Upenyu weMusande weRupert Mayer Mission. 2014. p. 59.
  7. ↑ Upenyu weMusande weRupert Mayer Mission. p. 59.
  8. 1 2 Herman S.J, Karl (2014). Upenyu weMusande weRupert Mayer Mission. Jubilee Edition. p. 61.
  9. ↑ "Learning from the Roots".
  10. ↑ "Learning from the roots".
  11. ↑ Herman S.J., Karl (2014). Upenyu weMusande weRupert Mayer Mission. p. 61.
  12. ↑ "Description of the Coat of Arms: The... - St Rupert Mayer's High School, Makonde Zimbabwe | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
  13. ↑ "Catholic schools in congress | The Sunday Mail". www.sundaymail.co.zw. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
  14. ↑ "Discernment of Spirits".
  15. ↑ "AMDG Music Festival".
  16. ↑ "St Rupert Mayer Newsletter #1". issuu. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
  17. ↑ "St Rupert Mayer's High School, Makonde Zimbabwe | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
  18. ↑ "Canisius-Kolleg Berlin Visit".
  19. ↑ "Canicius-Kolleg Visitors".
  20. ↑ "Friendship-Ushamwari-Freundschaft".
  21. ↑ "Saints at St Rupert's".

Coordinates: 17°46′3.34″S 29°41′34.62″E / 17.7675944°S 29.6929500°E / -17.7675944; 29.6929500

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