FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The editors have
very kindly asked me to write a few words for publication in
the Magazine. They suggested that it should be called the Editorial
but I felt that since they and the Magazine Committee had done
all the hard work of editing the Magazine, it could not be
called
an editorial. What I really wanted to write was a sincere message
of thanks to the editors for I owe much to their efforts in
preparing the School Magazine.
When I arrived in Kongwa in July, all the children were on
holiday and many of the Staff were on home leave. Those who
were here were
most helpful in making me feel at home and they gave me lots of
information about the School. On my second day here I found
a copy of the last
year's magazine in my study and I read it through. As I did so
I began to know you all and started to learn something of the
traditions
of
the School, of its annual sporting events and of the “Houses " of
which you are so justly proud. Since that day I have often referred
to the Magazine for information about the School, and I congratulate
the Editors on producing a chronicle of school events which gives
to all readers, whether they are pupils, old pupils, parents or
friends of the School such a true picture of our life here
.
Looking back on my first term here I feel that it has been full
of activity. There were the exciting cricket matches on Saturday
afternoons,
the excellent Sports Day with so many records broken and a battle
for the Championship Cup which kept our interest to the very end;
the varied
programme of games at half term and the inspiring Festival of Nine
Lessons and Carols which the choir gave at Dodoma Cathedral. Towards
the end of the term there were the examinations which took place
in really tropical heat. I wish all School Certificate candidates
every success and hope that the worries of the examination did
not interfere with their enjoyment of the other end of term events,
the house parties and the Going Down Dinner and Ball which I enjoyed
so much. Other end of term events included the charming and impressive
.Nativity Play performed by the Pr i-mary School children which,
together with the Carols and Lessons given by the choir brought
the message of Christmas to us all.
Finally, I would like to thank you all, pupils and staff, for the
welcome you gave me and to say how much I have been impressed both
by the way in which you have overcome the task of adapting the
scattered and widely spread buildings of the area into a live and
integrated School, and by the way in which you have built up the
worthy School traditions from the start. May these ever continue
to flourish and may the School go on from strength to strength
so that when the time comes for the opening of St. George's School,
we may each one of us feel that we have played our part in the
founding of worthy School traditions.
C.W.G
SCHOOL NOTES
This year the School has again been
in a considerable state of flux, some desirable, some undesirable
in that it was mainly represented
by numerous changes of staff.
Mr. Whitehead, the Headmaster, left for England where he is now
holding an appointment as Welfare Officer at a steel works in
S. Wales To
take over his duties there came Mr. C. W. Gillham of Mbeya School,
to whom we extend a hearty welcome together with Mrs. Gillham,
who quickly found that she had to play a part, not only as the
Headmaster's
wife but also as a member of the teaching staff.
Miss Powell moved to Mbeya where she found the school buildings
and abundance of grass most pleasant.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson left for long leave in U.K. in December.
We trust that they will endure .with fortitude an English winter
after
avoiding it for six years.
Miss Frost, too, left for long leave, travelling to England by
way of Australia. To a geographer such a journey must be exceptionally
interesting and in future her teaching on a large part of the world
will no doubt be supported by personal reminiscences.
Miss Hambleton left to take up a post at the Primary School at
Oyster Bay, while Miss Garnham left on long leave.
Mr. Bijl has gone to S. Rhodesia and Mr. Shuttleworth has taken
over his duties as Housemaster of Nightingale.
Of the matrons, Miss Barcas was the only one to leave permanently
but the Catering Department suffered the loss of both Miss Webb
and Miss Williams.
However, serious as these departures were replacement staff was
arriving throughout the year. Miss Evans came to the Junior School,
Miss Benington took over in the Domestic Science Room, and Mr.
Chambers arrived to assist Mr. Simms in the Science Department.
Miss Rogerson was the only new permanent matron but Mrs. Tapscott,
Mrs. Gatti and Mrs. Dodd all assisted. Mrs. Dodd has been here
since January, 1955 when her husband, Mr. John Dodd, came to take
up duties as Maintenance Inspector.
In the Catering Department Mrs. Brownlow and Mrs. St. Claire-Barrass
assisted Miss Hughes. Finally Mrs. Phenix has for over a year,
been the Headmaster's secretary. We welcome these new members of
the community and trust that they will enjoy their stay in Kongwa.
But although this has been a year of change, some of it has been
part of the School's natural development. For the first time there
was a small sixth form without which no secondary school is worthy
of the name. Messrs. Riddy and Tait arrived from U.K. to study
non-Native Education in this Territory. This School naturally demanded
special consideration particularly as it is the forerunner of the
new school being built at Iringa. The Riddy-Tait report has been
published and is being considered by Legislative Council.
Another important visitor was Mr. Rusbridger, the new Director
of Education, who, accompanied by Mr. Spencer, paid his first visit
to the School. Mr. Emms, Assistant Director of Technical Education,
also found time to spend a few days here.
The Boy prefects were returned to their respective houses and for
their accommodation, kitchens behind the boys' flats were converted
into pleasant quarters.
Mr. Dodd also took on the task of building courts for Fives and
Squash, games which will increase in popularity as the players
increase in skill.
Although these games are at present Group Activities, it is the
intention that pupils should play in their free time on a more
informal basis.
During the summer vacation, new kitchens were constructed by the
P.W.D. The cooking installations in these are a great improvement
on the old kuni stoves.
Half-term activities have been as numerous as usual. An Octathlon
is now a regular feature, while last half-term was spectacular
enough to be reported in the Sunday News
.
Church Services on Sundays were this year held in the Gymnasium
instead of at St. Andrew's which is both too small and too far
away. Mr. Short was the visiting Padre as Canon Wiggins was on
leave. Next term Mr. Beesley will be conducting the services as
well as taking the usual confirmation classes. This year 12 pupils
were confirmed.
School Committees have continued to meet during the year. Their
function has been primarily to transmit to the Houses decisions
taken in Committee but the School Representatives on the Magazine
Committee have assisted in the collection of material. It is the
intention that pupils shall take an ever increasing part in the
production of this Magazine.
G.S.-A.B.
