The Eagle: March 2021 Edition

Quote of the Month

“You may think I’m small, but I have a universe inside my mind.” - Yoko Ono

The Eagle 2021

Year of Flourishing

First Edition - March

THINK LIKE I DO!

Life as A Student

On page 2

On page 5

The College has never been in better hands?

On page 3

The Art of Teaching On page 12, Culture and Arts On page 6

Stop Slacking!!!!!!

Yes you – Invest richly in your Talents

On page 6

On page 9

5 Reasons Why You Should Write For The Eagle

On page 10

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2021

Year of Flourishing

The Eagle

First Edition - March

Opinion

by Sharon Marangwanda

It's the most wonderful time of the year! *Insert UNO reverse card* The time has dawned on us once again to pack our bags, throw away sleep and welcome back physical school. This year in itself has been pretty tumultuous already. Not only that, we are fast approaching the anniversary of the first nationwide lockdown and shut down of schools. Cheers to Corona's birthday! No one is attending that birthday party.

However, a year on, a lot of developments have been made and precautions set up to enable us to go back to physical school.

No matter how dreadful physical school is, lockdown has garnered personal appreciation for it from me. Most importantly realizing how many kids were deprived of an education during the lockdowns as COVID ran rampant on so many lives and families, when linked to the Bible, we realize others long for our life and our privilege and we should be eternally

grateful to God for such privileges, no matter how much the blessing seems like a curse!

So oh well, here we go again. Although many people may say, “‘I never 1 esperred it’” - schools are reopening! It's time to battle our academic trials wearing the armour of God and a brave and courageous face. Don’t forget your masks, hand sanitizer and caution! It's a new era we are living in, and a new playground has new rules.

We look forward to seeing all the eagles back in the nest, even if we are sitting a bit further apart than usual.

- Sharon Marangwanda

1 A colloquial slant on the phrase “I never expected it!”

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2021

Year of Flourishing

The Eagle

First Edition - March

The College has never been in better hands?

by Alban Sianaga

It’s no secret that a pupil at MCC looks forward to three days in the school year: Opening day, the one day you’re guaranteed you have no due assignments, a great day filled with catching up and early tuck eating and ‘glow up’ checks as well as the last taste of food from the outside 2 world.

Closing day, the only day where you definitely know you don’t have an assignment - unless you’re one of the lucky few science students with an over zealous teacher. It's the day you get to say good riddance to that 900 page textbook that has done your back no good.

And finally, Speech Day, the one day you have an excuse not to do your assignments, resting that you won’t have another big rehearsal until next year and of course and most importantly finding out in whose hands the fate of your entire next school year lies - in other words finding who in your 'stewards fantasy list' actually made it into the elite select. Considering that your entire next year is captained and led by these chosen individuals -it’s a pretty big deal.

2 A colloquial term describing a positive change in someone‘s appearance, usually denoting beauty

But before the harvest a seed must be sown, so we cannot start at Speech Day, thus rewind:

The Campaign Game Second term, the scene is set. Tensions are high; campaigns are even higher.

Potential candidates divided, some outspoken and obvious, some lurking in the shadows too timid to shine. But definitely applications are being slid under Mrs. Chimanga’s door. These are tough times for the Lower Sixes as they weigh their prospects at successfully adding the mark of leadership onto their CVs, but as you all know, tough times never last. Many are called, few are chosen: 60 candidates; 21 blazers. It doesn’t balance. Some have to be subtracted from the equation, bringing us to campaign season 2.0.

Campaign season is at its peak. Students and teachers alike are being battered with compliments, kind gestures and not so subtle reminders to vote. The Lower Sixes are up and about making sure you know them by name and have promised a vote in their favor.

Teachers need not worry about carrying books, monitoring pupils, supervising classes, et cetera, because at every corner there is a Lower Six

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The College has never been in better hands?

yearning to get that extra vote. If they could teach for the teachers, or even breathe for them, they would.

Lower Sixes at this stage are willing to do just about anything. Promises and declarations of a better college echo throughout the corridors and classes. A brighter college seems to be the word on each Lower Sixes' lips, which begs the question why?

First Edition - March

The Stewards of 2020-21 Which brings this writer the drive of this article. It goes without saying that the dominant question asks if the College has never been in better hands. The stewards body of 2020-21 is one that has slowly but surely set itself apart. It has been alive and kicking since speech day.

It is making good on all its promises even having been dealt the worst hand possible by the COVID 19 pandemic, it has the stripes to prove it. Could it be the best we’ve ever had?

What Are They Playing At? Surely a mark of leadership on their CV could never be worth such devout sacrifice. There is greater objective at play, a higher intention that jolts up this profound interest to become a Steward.

It can’t just be the promise of a stewards camp, the title of dorm leader or any other privilege that precedes the title of stewardship.

However, a most unfortunate trend follows after the elect few make it into the common room. The “ginger" and tenacity that was characteristic of the campaign season and days leading to Speech Day dies, in other steward bodies slowly, but in all surely. It’s as if the ideas and change promised in interviews and campaigns remain forgotten. One begins to wonder where and when the vision of The Promised College became a pipe dream. Where and when the promises and declarations that once echoed in the college disappeared. Did the vision die before it was even born?

Are these the same people who made us vote for them? Did they sell us dreams?

Opinions of course differ hence this writer seeks to debate this proposition.

The Facts

It had only been a week after their appointment that the body began to set itself apart. Not only was it executing its diurnal duties in hostel and upschool orderly. It was executing them superbly.

One might say almost too perfectly?

The college seemed to run almost seamlessly, which by any instinct is quite noticeable. This of course came as a shock because not only had they been the latest ever stewards to be sworn in, they also had to navigate their way into their roles without prior guidance from previous stewards as was the trend since the college’s first days. This body had to assimilate itself without guidance or a helping hand from their former leaders:

Picture Day, a day marked with extreme confusion and disorder, ran about differently in the hands of this body. What once was a day expected to guarantee nothing but

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The College has never been in better hands?

headaches and frustration, proceeded almost too well. The day had quite the inconveniencing down pour but yet still the program went on as planned. Students were noted and filed up orderly and ready to get their snapshots. This marked the first of many triumphs.

Christmas Dinner, It’s no lie that with all that had happened everyone had ruled out the chance of having our well famed Christmas dinner to close off the year with a bang.

However, Ma’am Lostancia and Sir Sigauke in liaison with Sir Garwe and Ma’am Mufarowashe, said ney and with a little time and some elbow grease (and despite the terrible COVID restrictions mind you) managed to pull off a Christmas dinner that in my books is to be remembered through the ages. A stunning evening with professional design.

The Worker Donations, The hearts of the body proved to be as kind as ever when in a most heartwarming gesture, the stewards lead the rest of hostel in a program to give back to the staff members that ensured hostel was truly a home away from home. Being the brainchild of Ma’am Lostancia this idea with the stewards body and school administration in liaison become a most beautiful success. Which left the recipients of the donations most grateful.

Online Activities, Schools closed, the holiday sunk in for the little time it lasted. However,

First Edition - March

physical school could not resume.

That had little impact in deterring the effectiveness of this bod... (you pretty much get the idea at this point).

There is much that this steward body has done and continues to do in spite of the adversities it encounters. Thus to conclude, College, keep your eyes peeled and just see.

- Alban Sianaga

THINK LIKE I DO!

Life as A Student

by Kaylee Ncube

Now that I think about it, children can be a bit territorial.

When someone asked who your favorite character was in power rangers you would always have to say someone they didn’t say. It was like an unspoken law: We can’t like the same power ranger.

In high school we didn’t pass on that same law, however we developed something else, popular opinion: If everyone thinks so, then it must be right.

Both laws are equally suppressive, the primary school law makes it seem as though people must be different in each and every aspect of life, even in generalised subjects like favourite colors.

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Year of Flourishing

The Eagle

First Edition - March

The secondary school law forces people to move as though they have the same mind, same beliefs and therefore the same opinion. Just because everyone says geography is an easy ‘A’ doesn’t make it one.

We are all divergent. Similar interests and unpopular opinions must be normalized. Therefore as people wanting to better their high school experience we must declare a new law: A liberated mindset is yours for the taking.

- Kaylee Ncube

The art of teaching, then, is this: the marriage of a teacher’s ability to lovingly orchestrate the subtle strings of classroom dynamics and student expectations into learning with the truth that each class session is a unique, unrepeatable incarnation of shared presence.

So, to put it into simple terms teaching should be what you imagine it to be. For example, I imagine it to be a scrapbook of experience, every memory or detail of information cut, glued and glittered into a giant book of pictures that make me want to casually reminisce and flip through it to let my imagination Kaylee Ncube wonder. Each session is alwaysbyunique and unrepeatable.

The Art of Teaching

by Melissa Ngwenya

The scoop of the day.

Showing heart is showing vulnerability and vulnerabilty brings care and care brings effort.

What is Teaching? ‘’Teaching, the profession of those who give instruction.”

This is the typical definition you will find when you search on the internet.

Teaching is mainly seen as a profession rather than a skill; everyone can teach because every one can give instruction but can everyone display the art of teaching?

TEACHERS VS STUDENTS Who’s the Winner?

It is no secret that there is a civil war between students and teachers, from teachers chasing students for outstanding work to students being bombarded with tasks too many to handle, the tension is thick and it needs to be rectified.

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2021

Year of Flourishing

The Eagle

The Art of Teaching

First Edition - March

So, Who Is to Blame?

In a student’s eyes teachers are knowledge on legs we see you as the body of what you teach, history teachers are always perceived as if they were there when it happened, science teachers are viewed as forever curious about everything and always busy tinkering on something. It doesn’t matter what you teach, students always have a wild idea of what your style of teaching is supposed to be. We have high expectations for the ones who are supposed to satiate our curiosities but when our expectations are not met then the good student-teacher relationship is already in shambles and there will be no interest in what you teach.

Teachers treat your class like you are on a first date every lesson!

Imagine that you are about to go on your first date ever! You’ve been preparing for hours, you have a set list of questions and conversations to talk about, you’ve chosen three different smiles you will display for any joke they may share; your hair is at its finest.

You’ve also turned your closet upside down looking for the best outfit you can fathom so their eyes can’t resist you. The purpose of all this is to impress your partner as much as possible enough for a second date, the same principles apply to teaching a class, remember in the students minds they have never met you; they don’t know what you sound like or what you are going to share with

them. If your first impression falters in even one aspect your time teaching the class for the rest of the year will be difficult, so treat each lesson like it’s a first date striving for perfection always.

So, Who Is to Blame Again?: Students treat your teacher like they are on their death bed and their next few words are of vital importance!

When someone is on their death bed those last moments are very precious because they are never coming back again, you try so hard to get the patient everything they may need to make their moments pleasant before they cross, you try desperately to remember every single thing they may have uttered to you for memory's sake and you try to be everything they need in those moments.

So, students treat your teacher like every word they utter is their last (because they likely won’t repeat the topic again). Be attentive to their needs because teachers need your support to be able to move forward.

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Year of Flourishing

The Eagle

The Art of Teaching

First Edition - March

So, lets answer the question: Who is to blame for the war?

Both parties. Teaching is meant to adapt to the needs of the student, not the student adapts to the needs of the teacher.

Find methods that really help a student grasp a thirst for the knowledge you share with them, they should be so curious that they search for information on their own to have a great discussion with you in the next lesson.

- Melissa Ngwenya

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2021

Year of Flourishing

The Eagle

Stop Slacking!!!!!!

Yes you – Invest richly in your Talents

First Edition - March

by Karl Makahamadze

Coco Gauff also proved her tennis ability when she defeated world number 2 and 4 time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka!

In 2019 the world was taken by storm after a then 15 year old Cori “Coco” Gauff stunned the 7 time Grand slam winner, Venus Williams, in the opening round of the Wimbledon Championships (this being her debut match at the championships after all).

Of course, Coco did not just wake up on the perfect green grass courts (reminds me of the grass in our college quads 😌 ) she definitely put so much work and effort into her talent both time-wise and financially. She took the risk and invested into what she believed was her talent; look at where she is today: 1. Coco Gauff has managed to secure approx. $2.5 million in prize money and endorsement deals (Talk about chasing the baggg!!! She can get that Maserati, Range Rover, Mercedes and a mansion with an indoor tennis court) 2. Currently ranked world number 40 on the WTA tour

Talk about making your parents proud!

College let’s make maximum use of the sporting facilities and top tier sporting events the college exposes us to as well as the highly trained and qualified coaches who are really devoted to helping us reach our full potential. Take time to discover your God given talent and heavily invest in it. The rewards aren’t achieved in a day but hopefully hard work will ensure you enjoy the rewards! #ActivateYourInnerCOCO! - Karl Makahamadze

3. Major endorsements i.e. HEAD & New balance.

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2021

Year of Flourishing

The Eagle

First Edition - March

5 Reasons Why You Should Write for The Eagle

by Kundai-Karl Mpame

From news anchors and radio presenters to your good ol' pen and paper print journalists, there is much to do in the world of journalism (quite a lot actually), and speaking truth to power by challenging prevailing narratives, critiquing the status quo and also just generally having a good time talking about your favourite food or hyping up your sports team is a good deal isn't it?

The Eagle was created to cater for that gap, that school media hole in your heart, dear reader. So while reading the first edition of this monthly paper and you feel like you're on the fence about jumping onto this journalism train, here's "5 Reasons Why You Should Write for The Eagle":

1. You get to express your ideas and tell compelling stories

alive and walking By virtue of being through the school corridor, you'll doubtlessly absorb two or three ideas or stories, and even if you're a social

hermit, living on the edge of College Social Politics, skirting the corners of group conversations somewhere somehow, a certain popular opinion or cool story will latch onto you, it's natural.

So why not be a part of the public discourse? Got an underrepresented idea, why not share it with The Eagle?

Feel like your not-so-secret obsession with anime isn't taken as seriously as other people's obsession with rugby and that new Netflix series (Riverdale, I'm looking at you!), write up a piece and email it to The Eagle.

Or maybe you're of the artistic persuasion, why not just draw a comic strip (gotta use those free periods for something, right? But seriously, guys, don't waste your free periods) or even write a poem or a story!

We write because we wish to spread an idea we believe is worth sharing, and that I believe is the foundation of a truly prosperous society, when people can share, challenge, criticise, debate and propagate different ideas respectfully in a healthy public discourse (I hope this line stirred something deep within you).

2. You can challenge yourself to go to new places and meet new people

Let me tell you something, journalism is a great excuse to talk to people, no seriously. I've found that walking around with a notebook and pen (or a thousand times more conveniently, a voice recording app on my iPad) and asking people questions with journalism as a back cover is an amazing remedy for anxiety, a great way to meet new people and 10

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5 Reasons Why You Should Write for The Eagle

a profound test of your conversation and interview skills.

It's not easy, but it's not dull either. If you go into the print journalism path, you'll find yourself more than likely to do a newsreel for a match over the weekend, or a big event like Speech Day or Allied Arts (these are way more fun than just doing an opinion piece all the time and capture College life as it flows). (NB - This can also boost your CV when you're applying to university).

3. Naturally, you'll be improving your writing

Now, this is a non-starter. Writing and writing well is a skill necessary for everyday life in the real world, you can't escape the written word in this digitalised day and age, whether you're applying for an Eagle badge or Stewardship; University or a job (or maybe a letter of complaint about that cockroach you found in your food), the A-B-C basics are inevitable.

Bonus: If you're into narrative writing and want to improve your story writing skills, The Eagle is a great place to start!

First Edition - March

This extra bout of journalistic stress may just equip you for a long writing career in which seasoned veterans are no stranger to deadlines. So writers beware! This ain't no walk in the park

5. You're making a better world

Sound cheesy enough? Yes, while "You're making a better world" or some other variation of that is the most overused line in the 21st Century, it's not a false premise. By putting yourself to ethical journalistic standards (like not lying or publicly defaming someone's character) and to the Truth, you are making the world a better place. You are slowly nudging society to a perceived ideal, slowly challenging people to be better humans, informing people of what's happening around their world (both the good and the bad) so they become responsible citizens (and isn't that a part of our Creed?). So think about it, this may just become your next big adventure.

- Kundai-Karl Mpame

4. You'll become better at working with deadlines, time management

You'll be hearing a lot about deadlines once you start writing for The Eagle, there'll be no end to them, and why should there be? True to life, if you want to try out student journalism you'll undoubtedly run into those big red block-lettered words: DEADLINE.

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Year of Flourishing

The Eagle

First Edition - March

Arts and Culture Forever

I’ll always dream of immortality The beauty of the tragedy in it The thrill of the impetuous resolves To be friends with the stars To live and live after that To know all and still know nothing.

If wishes were numbers I promise, we’d be lucky Though dreams are just dreams Words are just expression And glee only a moment If you had a minute for it…

I’d give you my lifetime Darling, I love you.

Yes you should smile a little more Only a little I would never ask if I didn’t know how beautiful you looked nah I still would Yes I can be a little amorous But only a little Only for you.

Hope

Life is not how I dreamed it to be: It’s dark, The bright future that I believed, I cannot see; It’s stark, The cold light of the afternoon bleech's my eyes, I am not free

I sit by the Jacaranda tree, Still empty, without a purple-bell; Thoughts wonder to my memory My wizard’s hat, the drawin’ well Of hope and every mystery:

I am not who I am meant to be; My stories still not yet told, And retold to children to shout with glee I walk this road, This road of misery— Tell me

To what end, what rightful end to this mystery?

Only the Jacaranda can tell, Only the Tree once dead, can make me well.

- Kundai-Karl Mpame

I write because I know you’ll read I love because it’s real I believe because you existed Because you loved, and loved fully Because even in your grave... we’re still forever

Love indefinitely, you - Kaylee Ncube 12

The College Needs Your Creative Talent

WE WANT YOU Contact Mrs. Deysel or Kundai-Karl Mpame for further details Writers:

CREDITS

Sharon Marangwanda, Lower Six Alban Sianaga, Upper Six Kaylee Ncube, Upper Six

Melissa Ngwenya, Upper Six Karl Makahamadze, Lower Six Kundai-Karl Mpame, Editor, Upper Six

We'd like to thank Mrs. Deysel and the College Administration for allowing 13 the publication of this edition, we couldn't have done it without you.