THE GRACE NEWSLETTER – JULY 2023 ISSUE

It is with great pleasure once again to share

with you the highlights of the just ended
academic year. We thank the LORD for taking
us through to the end of this academic year.

Undoubtedly, it was one the toughest year

with one challenge after the other, especially
during our second term. It all started with
cholera outbreak as if that was not enough
came Cyclone Freddy to our nation that had
not yet started recovering from the impact of
COVID 19, that negatively affected all of us;
socially, economically, spiritually and
academically. In the midst of all this, the LORD
has been so good and faithful to us.
His Grace is indeed sufficient for us. We are
very thankful to God and we shall remain
grateful to Him.
May I also thank all our esteemed parents and
guardian for entrusting your child/ward under our
care to educate them holistically, we do not take
this for granted.
Many people before choosing us had concerns
and questions, while others wanted to see our
results first but you took a bold step to say GGA is
the school for my child/ward. The overwhelming
support that you gave GGA will always be
appreciated, starting with charity work, Family Fun
Day, Africa Day and Sports Day, Class of 2023
Graduation Day just to mention a few.

The academic year has also be exciting besides the ups and downs, starting with the school’s
accreditation by Cambridge without any conditions, writing our first Checkpoint exams and IGCSE
brought moments of joy and excitement. The peak and highlight of GGA’s achievements was when
Cambridge Checkpoint Exams for April, 2023 results came out and all our candidates had done
well. We are also sure that the IGCSE results will also be outstanding.
May I implore, all our esteemed parents and guardian that we continue working together in
educating our children, the school cannot do it alone without you and your support. Moulding the
future of a child requires the efforts of both parents and the school, together we can go a long
distance in inspiring, engaging and empowering each student to achieve excellence as a learner
and a citizen. I like this quote by C.S. Lewis, “Education without values, as useful as it is, seems
rather to make a man a clever devil.” It is the duty of both of us to impart moral values into our
children. The School by itself cannot succeed.

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 THE GRACE NEWSLETTER – JULY 2023 ISSUE

Key Dates for Next Term (TERM 1) 4th September to 8th December, 2023

 all new students (boarders) report at the hostels by 4pm

Sunday 3 September, 2023
rd
in School uniform
 First meal to be served will be supper

 School Assembly at 07:00 am

Monday 4 September, 2023
th  Orientation and induction of all new students to
Saturday 9th September

 All boarders report at the hostels by 4pm in school

Sunday 10th September
uniform and first meal to be served will be supper.

Monday 11th September  Assembly for the whole school

 Visiting day, Consultation day and PTA Interim

Saturday 7th October
committee meeting.

Wednesday 11th to 13th October  Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint exams.

Saturday 14th October  Students leave for Mid-term break

Sunday 22nd October  End of Mid-term break, boarders report for school.

Friday 27th October  Charity work

 Closing day of term one, Speech and Prize

Friday 8th December
giving day

Saturday 9th December  Family Fun Day.

Parents and guardians, you may all wish to know

that GGA is fully accredited by Cambridge
International Assessment Education as one of the
more than 160 international schools under
Cambridge education as a full examination
Centre.

The school was accredited without any

conditions and we are proud that Cambridge
has confidence in the school that we can offer
Cambridge curriculum and conduct their exams
as a lone centre. This milestone achievement goes
to long way to assure you parents of the high
quality, excellent and international education
GGA has to offer.

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 THE GRACE NEWSLETTER – JULY 2023 ISSUE

Although this was our first public

examination to be conducted at GGA,
we are proud of our first results, which
are superb. We are happy to achieve
100% pass rate. We are proud of the
students for putting in their all and all
their teachers for the effort they applied
in assisting the students excel. Teachers
committed themselves to an extent of
offering lesson during the holiday when
other teachers were resting.
Bravo to all our Checkpoint teachers, we
are proud of you.

GGA successfully administered its first

inaugural IGCSE exams for our first cohort of
students. The examination session was
professionally conducted following an
invigilator’s training to impart Cambridge
requirements and expectations regarding
public exams. The exam session was a
resounding success. All the teachers and
students worked tirelessly in preparation for
the exams are commended for the hard work
and sacrifice. We are certain that by the
grace of God GGA will achieve results at
IGCSE.

Generally, there is an improvement in the learners’ performance although we are still working towards
most of our students excelling to greater heights. We have witnessed a number of students embracing
the hard working spirit, especially those in the boarding. They have been committed to their studies
marking a big difference and improvement from mid- term examinations. As the school, we will not tire
pushing students until they reach their fullest potential. We urge you dear parents/guardians to keep
check on progress of your wards and give all the necessary encouragement and support you can.

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 THE GRACE NEWSLETTER – JULY 2023 ISSUE

All GGA students have been assigned with

ample holiday homework from all subjects
across the GGA curriculum.

This is done with the hope that learning

students should not completely throw away
their books during the summer holiday. Let
them rest and have as much fun as possible
but at the same time continue learning.

Some of the homework requires students doing

some research on the internet or in the real
world, it is important that they should get
enough support from home. We are appealing
to all parents and guardians to assist them
where necessary but above all, ensure the
homework assignments are completed and
neatly done demonstrating excellence.

Ensure that your children take pride in their

work by asking them to rewrite if the work is
sloppily done. All homework assignments are
due on the first day they return to school.

2023
On the 28th of May, 2023. GGA held its inaugural graduation ceremony for the first cohort of IGCSE
class, Year 11 (GGA Class of 2023). It was a glamorous and memorable event as parents, teachers,
management of GGA and the graduands converged in the well decorated main school hall. The
graduating class serenaded into the hall adorned in the black and gold academic regalia moving
in well-rehearsed grain march steps to the jubilation and ululation of the guests in attendance. It was
a great moment of moving, inspiring and insightful speeches from the Guest of Honour (Mr M. Kasitomu),
the managing director (Mrs V.Chiocha), The Principal (Mr. T. Mbale) and the graduating class
representative, Makanaka Mavhunga. Guests were later treated to a tantalizing and scrumptious three
course dinner. Parents’ testimonies were the highlight of the event, everyone was taken aback by the
appreciation and love parents have for GGA.

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This term, the students in Year 9 and 10

embarked on an educational trip to Press Cane
Limited in Chikwawa. It was an expedition that
exposed the students to a real - life situation of
what they had been learning in classroom. Press
Cane Limited is an ethanol distillery, a subsidiary
of Press Corporation Limited, established in June
2004. The zigzag winding road from Blantyre
descending the frontier to the area gave the
God’s Grace Academy focuses on holistic
students a feel of the topography of the region.
education of a child. To this end, the
It was education mixed with pleasure; the
students were allowed to mingle with the
students had an opportunity to chat with the
workers there, have a look at how the
workers at the factory and learn things, which
equipment function and learn about the
they could not have learned within a school
production process. They saw molasses,
environment. There was an interaction session
which is extracted from sugar cane as a by-
where the students asked questions touching on
product of sugar from IIlovo Sugar
several aspects of life ranging from academics
Corporation and supplied to Press Cane
to entrepreneurship, management, engineering
which in turn converts it to ethanol. The
work, architectural infrastructure and career
students learned that Press Cane Limited has
prospects which might not have been part of
helped to solve the environmental disposal
the school curriculum but which helped to
issues by converting it into ethanol.
broaden their knowledge.

One outstanding thing that struck the students was the fact that fuel ethanol is blended with petrol in the ratio
20% ethanol to 80% petrol by the petroleum companies such as Puma Energy Malawi Limited, Petroda, Engen,
Energem Petroleum Limited and Total Malawi Limited. It is interesting to note that fuel blending with ethanol was
first started in Malawi and is now being copied by other countries. This innovation by Malawi has helped to solve
many problems in the country, which include keeping the environment clean, helping to reduce depletion of
natural resources by enhancing the use of renewable energy resources and helping the country to save on
foreign exchange. The surplus ethanol is exported to other countries helping to generate foreign exchange for
Malawi. At present, the students learned that the company is currently diversifying its products to include fertilizer.
It was an experience that the students will not forget!

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GGA students had an opportunity to

take part in the Malawi Spelling Bee
competition this year, a competition
organized and funded by various
organisations and companies in
Malawi, which gave our students a
platform to raise the GGA flag high.
In the preliminaries of the contest,
which was at Zone level, 9 students
enrolled for the competition and all of
them made it to the Regional level from
which 4 students emerged as National Though our students did not make it to the African
finalists [Nthanda Muyaya, Favour Championships as a school we are proud that we have
Mbale, Alfred Chaloza and Wakonda national finalists. We extend our gratitude to our
Chibwenzo] who travelled to Mzuzu students for the effort and hard work, members of staff
for the Malawi National Spelling Bee for the direction and to parents for you unwavering
competitions finals. support. Malawi National Spelling Bee Competition
2024, here we come!

The subject covers needlework,

housecraft, home maintenance, cookery
and gardening. As a club we have tried
empowering these young minds to be
entrepreneurs even at their tender age
and this helps them to focus on their goals
and also have a sense of purpose. We are
proud to say that after several fundraising
activities of selling food stuffs such as
cupcakes, samosa, ice cream and
Malambe yoghurt we managed to
The Home Economics subject was introduced in the purchase the club a mini-cooker.
school in order to impart basic life skills into the
The Home Economics Club has received
students at home, community and the country at
large. The basics of survival are important regardless great support from the school and the
of one’s occupation, hence the need to include Home community and we look forward to
Economics in the GGA curriculum for the holistic achieving greater heights.
development of our students.

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The mission of the Science Department is to

present science as a rational and
systematic observation, identification,
description, experimental investigation, and
theoretical explanation of natural
phenomena. Application of these principles
in the natural sciences to include Physics,
Chemistry and Biology is emphasized.
To achieve this, The Science Department use
Experimentation and field trips “Lab days”
are the most fun days for any science
student at GGA. A learner gets to see in real Students did dissections in the Biology lab to see
life, how science works. Whether it is a basic the structure of organs such as the heart and
litmus test or producing a rainbow-like effect
kidneys. Year 10 students also came up with an
from a mixture of acids and alkalis we use in
our homes in the Chemistry lab or an amazing glasshouse model, we are looking
experiment of the laws of gravity in an open forward to building an actual glasshouse in the
field, these are the moments that stay in the
next academic year.
learner’s mind.

The department also has a vibrant Science Club that is into innovations and as of now they are working
on biogas energy. Let us stay put as the Science department brings you more in this new academic
year from excursions to places like The Reserve Bank of Malawi, Water board and many more.

The book of James chapter 1:27

admonishes Christians to visit and help
the less privileged. The Bible describes
such action as true worship to God.
This academic year the students,
parents and teachers put resources
together to reach out to Bvumbwe
Reformatory Centre, which is a prison for
young offenders. We managed to
reach out to 428 juvenile inmates with
assorted items such as note books,
pens, soap, clothes, salt and soya
pieces.

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 THE GRACE NEWSLETTER – JULY 2023 ISSUE

In February this year, Malawi was hit with a natural calamity

in the name of cyclone Freddy, which claimed a lot of lives
and left many homeless and destitute. Together with
teachers, parents and well-wishers, students of God’s Grace
Academy, mobilized resources such as maize flour, rice,
sugar, soap, and clothes which they shared with the people
who had the whole village swept away with flash floods in
Chiradzulu and were being kept at Nguludi Boys Primary
School. At Lumbira CDSS in Chilomoni the school managed
to feed about 100 cyclone Freddy victims with rice
porridge. These donations went a long way in helping the
victims who were lacking many basic needs at the same
time teaching our students that they have a responsibility
to help the less privileged in their communities.

This is an annual event, which aims at bringing GGA family and community together (parents, students,
teacher and staff) to have fun, share and make memorable moments as one family. This year’s event took
place on Saturday the 3rd of December, 2022 and it was a wonderful and successful day. It was a very
colourful event,full of fun for the families that attended despite their ages. We are forever grateful to
all parents and guardians who attended the event and made it unforgettable. Just be reminded that
Family Fun Day will happen again at the end of this term on Saturday, 9th of December, let us mark our
calendars and attend in our great numbers and have fun as one big GGA family.

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On the 25th of May 2023 God’s Grace Academy joined the entire African continent in commemorating
Africa Day, the birthday of ‘African Union’ (formerly OAU). On this day in 1963, the founding fathers of
Africa: Nyerere of Tanzania, Nkrumah of Ghana, Kenyatta of Kenya, Kaunda of Zambia and many others
met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and formed OAU. Its chief objective was to foster the unity amongst the
African states and spearhead the total political and economic liberation of the African continent. This
inaugural event on our school calendar was a huge success. All the preparations were right on spot
and the ambient weather on that day did not disappoint either.

It was a very colorful and well attended

event with all the GGA family:
management, parents/guardians, staff
and the learners dressed in their vibrant
African attires- the kaleidoscope of
colors was truly amazing and will remain
etched in the minds of all those who
attended.

MBC NEWS crew and other press outlets

for the whole world to see duly covered
the entire event! On show was an array
of mouthwatering traditional African
cuisine, which included mbewa. thobwa,
mbalame, utaka, masamba otendera,
bonongwe, mphalabungu, chimanga
chokazinga, kondoole, among others

Everyone in attendance had an

opportunity to taste these dishes to
their hearts delight and there was more
than enough as shown by the leftovers.

The arena décor had a rich African theme with many traditional African artifacts on display.
The students and staff show-cased the” African Story” from the pre-colonial era to the present through
various interesting activities which included music, dance, drama and poetry.

All the activities carried the theme that Africa, despite its sad history is actually very rich in terms of
resources and hardworking spirit of its people. It’s about time for it to rise and claim its rightful place
and stop peddling its begging bowl which is the root of all its problems.

It was truly a memorable event and many thanks to the GGA family for a well-planned and executed
event and we cannot wait for the 2024 edition.

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2022/23 academic year will go down in the

sports history of God’s Grace Academy for the
decades to come as the most successful year.
It is the year the academy managed to
assemble soccer, netball and basketball teams
and managed to play its first ever competitive
game against Bedir International High School.

This marked the first step in building formidable

teams that will conquer this nation and go
beyond. In addition, the Academy’s first sports
day held on 3rd June, 2023, was accorded the
most tremendous highlights both in the
electronic and print media since the inception
of the academy. This was witnessed by the
patronage of parents and national media
houses coverage across the nation.

The sports day made up of

competing teams of David, Daniel
and Ruth houses was seen as a
great success and breakthrough to
all those who attended it including
teachers, parents, guardians and
other visitors. The event comprised of
different sporting activities including
athletics, high jump, tug of war,
skipping race, sack race and kick
race.

The house of David emerged

champions followed by the house of
Daniel on second position and the
house of Ruth coming last.

The house of David secured a

glittering gold trophy for their
success. Prisca Kumwenda was the
sports girl of the day as she amassed
seven medals in total.

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“Our hostels are more than places where

students go to sleep after a busy day.
Students learn, grow and connect with
each other; build and maintain lifelong
positive relationships”
GGA boarding provides learners with
pastoral care, academic support and
balanced diverse programs aimed at
nurturing students to be God fearing,
hardworking, independent and respectful
of others. To us every child is special and
we provide every child with all the support
he or she needs to enable him or her meet
and excel when faced with challenges
presented by the modern world.
Imagine a vibrant interdenominational
Christian ministry led by students!

Yes, we have it here at God’s Grace Academy. We

believe in Proverbs 22:6, ‘Train up a child in the
way he should go and when he is old, he will not
depart from it’. Our boarding students with
guidance from faculty members organize and lead
our Sunday services.
In the words of Hippocrates that sport is a preserver
of good health, we have a well-equipped gym,
basketball, football, netball and table tennis to help
keep our students fit and add to the fun of boarding
life. Enabled televisions and a variety of board
games give our boarding students a wide range of
choices to keep them engaged during free time.

Travelling to places of interest such as national parks,

shopping trips, taking part in charitable events, adult-
supervised braais and parties spice up our students’
social life in boarding.

Our boarding is a true second home, away from home

that accords students with lifelong important skills
such as time management, positive work ethics and
independence. See you on 11th September for the
2023/2024 academic year. Happy Holiday!

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The world economy is getting tough and even

worse in Malawi such that prices of goods and
services have been volatile. With the high inflation
rate, no one is spared but the Academy is doing
everything possible to keep school fees low. In
order to continue proving excellent services,
management has adjusted school fees upwards
starting from September, 2023 as follows:
 Tuition fees from MK750, 000.00 to 825,
000.00 per term and;
 Boarding fees has been adjusted upwards
from MK1, 400,000.00 to 1,525,000.00 per
term.
May I urge parents to make sure that school fees
are paid on time to avoid any inconveniences. ‘No
fees, no school’. The Academy reserves the right
to send students back home if their school fees are
not fully paid.

Bank Name : Eco Bank, Limbe Branch

Account Name : GGA Academy, Current Account Number: 5445000005427

In the case of parents paying fees in instalments, the

schools fees are expected to be paid up and in full in
three instalments. Within the first two months of the school
term, 50% of the fees should be paid on or before opening
date of the term and the remaining 50% should be
completely paid up by end of the second month of the
school term.

All school fess for first term must be fully paid by end of
October, second term end February and third term end
May. Fees must be deposited into the school fees bank
account and students should submit, or scan and send a
bank deposit slip as proof of payment to the administrator
and a receipt will be issued by the Accounts Office.

May I also remind parents that all late payments of fees

attract a 10% penalty of the school fees balance being
owed and a 15% penalty shall be charged (of the
amount on the cheque) on any bounced cheques.

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As one way of giving back to clients, it pleased

management to offer 10% discount on tuition fees for
a second child or ward and 15% on the third child or
ward. Any parent bringing in a friend or referring
someone to enroll with GGA will also be offered a
discount on tuition fees in the 2023 - 2024 Academic
Year as follows:
 1 to 4 enrollments, 5% discount
 5 to 9 enrollments , 10% discount
 10 enrollments and above, 15% discount

Pocket money should be deposited into

the Academy’s Mpamba Account as Cash
out through:
 Agent Code: 438969
 Agent name is God’s Grace Academy.

If the transaction is successful, share the

transaction message with the School
Administrator on 0999 101 006.
The school will not take responsibility for
money kept by students in the hostels. We
recommend K6, 000.00 to K8000.00 per
week as reasonable amount of pocket
money.

The Academy accepts white sports shoes and white socks only for sporting activities. Parents are
encouraged to buy any proper whites sports shoes for their child or ward. The sports socks should be
purchased at the school at MK10, 000.00 and we do not allow any other brand, quality or length of
socks for uniformity. All students should have white sports shoes when returning to school in September,
2023. Please be reminded to check the sizes and fitting of our girls’ sports uniform, for some the uniforms
are now too tight and very short as well, let us buy and replace the uniforms with the correct sizes now
and preserve the dignity of our girl child.

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As the popular saying goes, ‘Charity begins

and home’, parents and guardians have the
highest responsibility to check on their child’s
behavior and inculcate acceptable morals
and values. You should be the first ones to
support and reinforce school rules and
regulations on your children or wards. Almost
everyone is complaining that our society is
rotten, corruption is rampant and it is almost
difficult now days to get justice. But you know Where children know that parents are not in
what, we are all equally guilty, the truth is agreement with the school rules, it gives them thumbs
people that are doing all these vices come up also to break school rules and regulations. Such
kind of behavior will always go a long way in life.
from homes where they have been raised
It is actually surprising that sometimes we accept
without morals and values and some of them some misconduct from the same children and
are our brothers, sisters, cousins and even our reprimand them for some which we think are too
own children. much.

God is very clear on obedience, he demands total

obedience from all of us. We should demand the same
on our children, they actually need to know that
partial obedience is no different from total
disobedience. We implore all our dear parents and
guardians to encourage the spirit of total obedience
in our children and wards. Together, let us uphold the
rules and regulations of the school.

Parents and guardians are hereby reminded once

Dear parents be reminded that the
academy will not tolerate and accept the
smuggling of ‘illegals’ into the school which
includes gadgets, phones and drugs
amongst others.
again that GGA is not a reformatory centre, but we
do everything possible by the grace of God to help
those that are willing to be helped. We actually
reinforce what you parents and guardians have
already started teaching your children/wards at home.
We believe that where there is a will there is away.

Be informed that students use very creative and have sophisticated ways to smuggle contraband items
into the school and hostel, despite rigorous and thorough searching by the school staff. Students can
watch pornographic and violent content on their mobile phones coupled with acts of indiscipline from
use of drugs, which brings serious problems and burden on the school and parents. These are very
grievous offences, which warrant students’ dismissal from the academy and in the case of drugs; it involves
police intervention, very unpleasant and embarrassing situations to both parties of the GGA family. We
therefore call for concerted effort from both the school and parents to curb these threats.

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The school will continue providing transport at a

fee of MK180, 000.00 per term. The transport fare
has to be paid before a student starts using the
school bus. Pick - up time is 6:15 am; therefore
students have to be at the pick - up points by or
before 6:15 waiting for the bus because the bus
will not in any way wait for students who are late.
Students who miss the school bus will find their own
means of transport to school.

On the same note, let me once again remind our

dear parents/guardians that no late comers will
be allowed into the school. Gates close at
07:00am. Thereafter, students who are late will go
back home and come the next day in time. Please
do not get annoyed if your child is sent back
home for coming late because you have been
informed in advance. If there are any challenges,
please communicate to the school through the
administration.
It is mandatory at GGA for exercise books
that students use to be covered in a clear,
transparent, stick or loose plastic covers.
We urge you parents/guardians to ensure
that you purchase plastic covers for your
child/ ward to make sure that the books
remain neat and well maintained.

Please ensure that your child/ward is provided with

the following school stationery items on their return to
school: blue ball point pens, mathematical instrument
set, graph books, tracing papers, coloured pencils,
plastic covers, a pair of scissors, transparent cello-
tape, pencils, eraser, sharpener and a 30cm ruler, and
calculators for Year 9 to Year 11 are mandatory.
There is need for enough notebooks (hard covers) for
their personal study and check for full notebooks that
need replacement and purchase enough when school
opens.

The Academy provides hot meals at a fee of MK 180,000.00 per term. No student will be allowed to
eat meals on credit. Parents, therefore make sure that payment for meals should be done before or on
the first day of the term in full amount.

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It is a requirement for all students when leaving the

Academy for whatever reasons, be it going to the
hospital, mid - term break, holidays and excursions to
be dressed in school uniform the same applies when
students are coming back to school. You also need to
know that it is mandatory that every Monday GGA
students be dressed in full school uniform, blazers
included. The Academy expects students to uphold and
wear the school uniform with decency, dignity and pride.
Alterations to any uniform items for the purposes of
shortening or making them tighter will not be tolerated,
students who attempt such acts will be asked to buy
new uniforms items.

NB: Care and attention should be put in the length of the girls skirts. All skirts lengths should be
below the knees. The academy will not accept short skirts by all means. Let us train our girls to observe
decency and modesty in their dressing for their safety and pride.

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