Opening First Term Newsletter – Victoria Falls Int School 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians

Greeting to you all
Mother Touch Victoria Falls International School would like to welcome you all, to the first term of 2023. We thank you for entrusting the young ones with us. We will ever work diligently to ensure we nurture the boys’ and girls’ talents to produce Great, Global God-Fearing Leaders. The school has done all opening preparations to ensure that all necessary measures are in place to guarantee a safe environment for our learners and staff.

Our Curriculum
We offer a rich and wide curriculum taking up ZIMSEC and Cambridge syllabi that run concurrently. ZIMSEC competency-based curriculum has 6 examinable subjects namely Mathematics, English Language, Shona or IsiNdebele, Social Sciences, Agriculture, Science and Tech, and Visual and Performance Arts & Physical Education. The school has practical subject teachers to enhance specialization for effective learning to get excellent results. We have put programs in place to ensure effective syllabus coverage.

TERM 1 NOTICE

Timetables
Lessons start at 07:30hrs ending at 15:00hrs (Morning work daily from 07:00hrs-07:30hrs). Monday to Thursday we have remedial lessons and the reading program in the afternoon. On Friday, school ends at 13:00hrs. Monday and Friday are assembly days and all junior learners should put on the correct, complete, and clean Mother Touch uniform with a blazer. Wednesday is sports day and learners put on MTGS clean tracksuits and white takkies. Our club day is Thursday, learners come with their club attire, and all uniforms are supplied at school by our administration office.

Meet the Teacher

This is an opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with the learners’ class teachers on Wednesday 25 January 2023 from 13:00hrs to 14:00hrs. On this platform, the teachers will explain their operations and the requirements they may need from you to have a smooth run of the learning process.
EDUCATIONAL TOURS
United Kingdom (UK) tour ~ Grade 2 – 7. We are excited that our United Kingdom (UK) tour is on this year after a long break due to the COVID Pandemic and it improved before. MTGS learners will have yet another chance to travel to Wales for the annual music festival and will have the opportunity to tour Wales and London. They will compete with seasoned performers around the world. Registration is already in progress. Tour tentative dates are 4 July to 14 July 2023. The trip cost is estimated at USD$ 2 980 for 10 days.
This amount covers the following:
·Air fare
·Accommodation
·Visa application
·Insurance
·Food
·Transfers, road and rail transport
·Activities
·Tour kit

The payment plan for those learners who intend to go and are not able to raise the whole amount at once for the trip is as follows:

Due date                     Amount USD
January 30/01                   500
February 24/02                 500
March 31/03                     500
April 28/04                       600
May 31/05                        600
June 16/06                        280
Total                              2 980
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL TOURS

Trip DestinationParticipantsTrip FeeFull payment by       Trip Date
Victoria Falls International Airport plus lunch on the boat cruiseECD-Grade 2$4010 March 202317 March 2023
Jabulani (Shangani)Grade 3-7$25014 June 202328-30 September  2023

              
Clubs
We have an exciting list of clubs to enhance essential life skills which include Young farmers, Robotics, Marshal Arts, Entrepreneurship, Textile and Design Chess, and French. Learners are encouraged to participate in at least one club.

Year of Perfection.

2023 is MTGS’ year of perfection. We achieved very good Grade 7 results and need to diligently continue to perfect and surpass others’ past successes. We also need to push and perfect all other no academics and improve our school tone. The school humbly invites you to support this cause by supporting learners in providing all requirements. This term we have lined up sports events that will require parents to come and support the child and team.
The school is implementing a competence-based curriculum to ensure all learners are equipped with necessary life skills and molding them to be Great, God-fearing global leaders. After the assessment tests currently underway learners will be grouped according to needs, which will allow individual attention. We encourage you to support the learners as you may find there will be a lot of work given by the teacher according to the learners’ needs. Parents are urged to avoid unnecessary learners’ absenteeism so that they will not miss out and lag. Class teachers will be available for all your communication. Kindly book appointments with the administration on the office contact +263 77 402 1660/ +263 71 902 1660.

Uniforms
All learners should put on the correct, complete, and clean uniform with neat hairdos as they come to school. We remind parents that our School Uniforms are available at the school. New learners should purchase the school starter pack, which includes all uniforms such as formal school attire, sports attire, bags, and other items. Branded satchel is compulsory. We made this decision based on the need to improve quality and excellent school tone. Be advised that plastic bags are not accepted as book bags or kit bags. School hats are compulsory. School hat is for the wellbeing of the child as direct sunlight can lead to serious health challenges. It is the School Policy for all learners to put on hats outside the classroom. All learners (ECD A – Grade 2 and Grade 3-7) should put on Mother Touch clean work suits on practical days according to grade.
ECD Dress Code – will be provided at the Meet the Teacher event. For health and safety reasons our learners are to put on masks in the classrooms and they are provided at school.

Transport
School transport is available on a first come first serve basis. Parents are therefore encouraged to book transport as soon as possible to avoid inconveniences and to allow the school to plan on routes early for smooth operations. On that note, we would like to remind our old and notify our new parents that we do not do door-to-door pickups. On booking, parents are encouraged to check for the nearest possible bus stop and the timetable.

Civvies
This is an exciting moment for the learners as they enjoy freedom from the strict school uniform trend. We always applaud you parents for the creativity and the efforts you make these days. Looking forward to attires that are more exceptional. Each learner brings in USD$3 for the civvies. This includes activities and ice cream.
Date Dress code 3/02/23 Funny foot ware. 3/03/23 Royalty dressing. 27/03/23 Funny dressing.

Exeat Weekend

Our midterm break is from 17 -20 February. School will resume on Tuesday 21 February.

ZIMSEC Registration

Parents are encouraged to prepare for ZIMSEC registration for the 2023 October-November Examinations, dates will be advised. Registration fee communication will be availed to the respective levels once we receive the requirements.
Cambridge
Be advised that we will be starting our Cambridge curriculum this year and each child is expected to pay USD 132 for a set of textbooks and workbooks. 2023 and onwards candidates are now taking a new syllabus and this calls for a new set of textbooks The school has ordered the new books and these should be taken as personal books. Grade (1-7) Payment for the books should be done at the office.
Development
Our school under construction is at an advanced stage although progress was hindered by the continued rains and limited resources. We hope to move to our new site starting the second term of 2023. Fees and Levies As a school, we strive to continue working diligently to bring out academic and non-academic excellent results for our learners. For this to happen we need parents’ support. We would like to thank the parents who diligently paid their fees on time, which enables the school to plan on time ensuring the provision of necessary resources for smooth operations in the term.
Our banking Account details are as follows:
Mother Touch Group of Schools ~ Bank: CBZ, Account Number 11123814680015: (ZWL).
Mother Touch Group of Schools ~Bank: CBZ, Account Number: 11123814680035, Selous Branch (Nostro).
For more inquiries kindly call +263 77 402 1660/ +263 71 902 1660 or visit our website: www.mothertouch.ac.zw. Our e-mail address: is inforvicfalls@mothertouch.ac.zw

In conclusion, we would like to thank all Parents and Guardians for choosing MTJS for the education of God-fearing global leaders and for the continued support of the school. Term 1 ends on 31 March 2023.
Let us keep working together for the common good of our children.
Best wishes in 2023.
Regards

C. Mapenzauswa (Mrs.)
(A/Deputy Head)