Monte Cassino Girls High School

Monte Cassino Girls High Chapel

Monte Cassino Girls High School is a Catholic boarding school 7km south-east of Macheke in the Mashonaland East province of Zimbabwe. Unlike the monastery in Rome,Italy the school was built between two mountain ranges with its entrance coming in from the west side after crossing the Macheke River.

The school was founded as part of the Catholic Mission at Monte Cassino in 1902. The founder of the school received his inspiration while he was at Monte Cassino, a hill in Italy where Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery. Like many mission schools in Zimbabwe, Monte Cassino was one of the first schools which provided education to Black African people. In the 1960s the school's administration was taken over by the Precious Blood Sisters, most of who were from Germany.

The girls school has flourished over the years under the headship of Mr Johannes Michael Chingonzoh who recently retired, and Sr Yvonne. Before the year 2000, the school only offered 'Ordinary Level' Education. The year 2000 saw the opening of the Advanced Level Suite. Over the years Monte Cassino has established a rock solid reputation well associated with its Academic Excellance. The students bred at the school are known to have strong ethical and intellectual characteristics that distinguish them from students from other school.

To this note, much of this success can be attributed to certain individuals such as Sister Sturmia and Mr J. Chingonzoh, with the help of many others who have worked on the teaching and non-teaching staff. The school has benefited from the dedication of Precious Blood sisters and the Benedictines.

Not only is Monte Cassino an academic power-house but has also over the years produced excellent student athletes who have competed at national level in individual athletic events such as discus, high jump and short distance track events and team sports such as volleyball. There are four houses at the school: Nightingale, Boeckenhoff, Chaminuka and Kizito.

Some of the longest serving staff are Sr Pia, Sr Yvonne, Sr Sturmia Dent, Mr Gwena and Mr JM Chingonzoh.

References

• http://www.mhet.ac.zw/colleges/registered_colleges.htm