IPALELE LION NEWSLETTER

FROM THE EDITORS

Let me welcome you to this issue of Ipalele. This is a great newsletter, full of wonders. If you want to increase in knowledge, just read Ipalele and the world will appear like a movie. We need your contribution and support to keep our standards up. We want to thank God giving us the time and for blessing our efforts to make this newsletter prosper.

Ipalele is an educational newsletter which provides you with a lot of basic information. We encourage students to read because the more you read, the more you know.

We would like to thank the students who have contributed in different ways to Ipalele. Your contribution is what makes us what we are. Nothing for you without you. So keep on contributing.

Ipalele also provides guidance/advice through Aunt Lolly. Remember that when you write to Aunt Lolly, your identity is kept confidential. That is why we don’t mention names, only initials. If you write about your problems you can also help someone who is going through similar problems. So Aunt Lolly is here for you.

Lastly, we need two or three form 4’s (Lions only) who will continue with this newsletter next year. If you want to be part of this team, contact Leokeditswe 5P or Lollies 5P so that you start as soon as possible.

OUR MOTTO

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”

This Ipalele motto is dedicated to all students of Maun Secondary School. As we write our examinations, we have to know that the first step to take is to prepare. If you are well prepared you will be able to finish this journey and at the end of it you will be rewarded with good marks.

NEWS

Antiretroviral Treatment

The long awaited antiretroviral treatment has started in Princes Marina Hospital and in Maun General Hospital. The Minister of Health, Mrs Joy Phumaphi, said that the supply of drugs they had been waiting for has finally arrived.

Wedding Bells

Batawana paramount chief, Kgosi Tawana Moremi II, has confirmed his impending marriage to the media. The lady in waiting is Tsitsi Orapeleng who originates from Palapye. The couple have a two-year-old son. Tawana said that he is waiting for his uncles to consult his potential in-laws. They are planning the marriage for January next year. The two are said to have been together since 1998.

Zimbabwe Suspended

At last Zimbabwe has been suspended from The Commonwealth. But who cares? A defiant Robert Mugabe still presides over the ruins of his country. Morgan Tsvangirai, defeated by Mugabe in a rigged presidential election, has been charged with high treason.

MUSIC WORLD

Will Smith

He put his best when he said that since he ventured out into the world of acting every rapper and his mother want to join in.

Split Of The Year

Famed to be the most adorable celebrity couple, sport presenter, Tshepo Mabona, and ex-Boom Shaka singer, Thembi Seete, are no longer a pair. Since the release of her debut solo album the couple’s relationship has reportedly been under stress. They opted to take a break from each other, but time has taught us that more often than not, a little break leads to a bigger one. ALL GOOD THINGS DO COME TO AN END AFTER ALL.

Age Is Nothing But a Number

First to face child sex allegations was US R&B crooner Robert Kelly. The master producer/artist is in trouble after the recent surfacing of a video tape showing the singer sexually engaged with a 14 year old girl.

INTERVIEW

Welcome to our interview with the headmaster.

Ipalele: We understand that the school will celebrate 30^th anniversary this year, what is the exact date for this?

Headmaster: Saturday 5^th October 2002. This is three weeks later than originally planned, at president Mogae’s request.

Ipalele: How will the celebrations be done?

Headmaster: Ideas are still coming in. I hope Ipalele readers will also make some suggestions. However, the basic outline is that there will be a dinner for special guests on Friday evening. There will be a special tour on Saturday morning, then a lively ceremony followed by lunch and an afternoon of activities and entertainment.

Ipalele: What is the importance of celebrating the anniversary?

Headmaster: We want to open the new buildings, acknowledge the progress the school has made, thank people involved and look to the future.

Ipalele: Have you celebrated before, and what was the day like?

Headmaster: Not at this school but I have attended many clebrations and openings. Generally you can say that the better the organization and planning, the better the day.

Ipalele: Who will be the guest of honour?

Headmaster: We are pleased that His Excellency the President will be with us on that day.

Ipalele: What are some of the things the students should be proud of as we celebrate 30^th anniversary?

Headmaster: Our Christian foundation, our good facilities, our good relationships in school, the participation in the school of our boards(trustees and governors), the generally good level of discipline and our system of student leadership. We can also be proud of excellent achievements of many past and present students.

Ipalele: What do you expect from students during the celebrations?

Headmaster: Their full cooperation and involvement. The students will be major players in the celebrations and we need their full involvement. This will be a big team effort.

Ipalele: How are the celebrations expected to affect the school both before and afterwards?

Ipalele: This is a general question. We have seen many students on greys punishment this term. Does this mean that discipline is going down in the school?

Headmaster: We have seen, since second term opened, a total of 20 students on greys punishment – but we must remember that 1620 students did not go on punishment. I think it points to discipline, that offenders are being caught and brought to justice while the vast majority continue to behave properly.

Ipalele: Any general comments you want to make?

Headmaster: I would like to see many Ipalele readers getting involved in the planning for the anniversary celebrations, and encourage the Ipalele staff to stay active with their newspaper.

POEMS

WHAT DO PEOPLE REALLY WANT (By Concerned student 4Q)

People say you are stubborn,

I you don’t.

People say you are gossipy,

If you stand for the truth.

If you dress smartly,

People say you are proud.

If you dress simply,

People say you are old fashioned.

If you like responsibilities,

People say you like things.

If you don’t

People say you are good for nothing.

If you like talking and laughing,

They say they cannot trust you.

If you are cool and polite,

People say you are dull and boring.

If you walk with girls or boys,

People say you are a bad boy or girl.

If you don’t,

They say you are anti-social.

If you are rich,

People envy and hate you.

If you are poor,

They despise you.

WHAT DO PEOPLE REALLY WANT?

WAITING UPON THE LORD (By Goodwin Zainga)

Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,

They shall soar on wings like eagles,

They shall run and not grow weary,

They shall walk and not be faint.

Make us wait upon you Lord in this new century,

Make us listen to your words of comfort in times of sorrow,

Make us be peacemakers in our communities,

Make us be instruments of love to all.

Direct us in ways of righteousness and truth,

Direct us in prayers and devotions,

Direct us in serving and following you sincerely,

Direct us in trusting and obeying your commands.

Help us assist those in need of support,

Help us pray for others and feed the hungry,

Help us speak to cheer up the lonely,

Help us wait upon your second coming in faith.

ASSEMBLY MESSAGES

OPPORTUNITY (By Mr Msukwa)

Many times people miss opportunities because opportunities are not clear when they come, but are very clear when they have passed. We therefore have to be very careful to identify and utilize every opportunity that comes our way, otherwise we shall regret later when they have passed. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man realized that he had missed the opportunity to go to heaven only when he was suffering in hell.

To page 5

MATURITY (By Mr H Butale)

Maturity is shown by the ability to act responsibly. Some people are mature at seventeen years while others are immature at forty years. A young person who acts in a responsible way is mature while an adult who acts irresponsibly is immature.

KNOW THE TRUTH

(By Mr Komakech)

If we believe a lie, we suffer for it. The only thing that can protect us from lies is the truth. For any issue of life, there is one truth and many lies. Therefore there are more lies than truth. We therefore have to be very careful if we want to avoid lies. If you start by rejecting the truth, then all you are left with are lies – and nothing to protect you from them. Jesus said if we believe his teaching, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Lies bring bondage while truth brings freedom.

GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

(By Ms Baker)

A lot of time we do things which are not right. In that case we are guilty. When we are guilty there are two possible results we get from it; we either face the consequences or obtain mercy from the one who has authority to punish us. When we sin, we deserve to be punished by God. But he has given us a way to receive mercy by believing in Jesus Christ. When we believe in Jesus, God forgives all our sins and forgets them.

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

(By Mr Msukwa) Lion Assembly

What we get in life is normally the direct result of what we do. In the past God punished children for the sins of their parents, but now he declares that no one will be punished for the sins of another. It therefore follows that if we sin, we face the consequences ourselves, if we don’t repent. In the same way, what we get out of our stay in the school depends on the amount of effort we put in our schoolwork. If we put in little effort, we get poor results and if we put in much effort we get good results.

FOOLISH CRITICISM

(By Headmaster)

Reading from the story “The Jealous Ministers”, he said sometimes we make foolish criticisms out of jealousy. In the story, the king’s ministers unfairly criticized the work of a craftsman who had made the image of the king on horseback. They were jealous because the king had excitedly congratulated the craftsman for doing a perfect job. The craftsman however made a fool of them by pretending to make the changes on the horse as they had suggested while actually not making any changes. The ministers then said the image was perfect after the changes. We have to be careful that when we criticize people, it should be with good intentions.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED (By Rev Chitewere)

People are remembered by what they do, good or bad. In the bible we have many people being remembered in different ways. Moses is remembered as a good leader for leading

The Israelites from Egypt to the promised land. Joseph is remembered for his faithfulness to God even in times of difficulty. Judas Iscariot is remembered as a spoiler because he betrayed Jesus. It is up to us to create a good memory for ourselves.

FIND TIME TO THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE (By Mr Maokaneng)

It is very important that we find time to reflect on our lives. In the bible, Jacob was faced with his past life as a cheat when he had to meet his powerful brother Esau whom he had cheated in the past. He sent all the people who were with him ahead and he remained behind all by himself to have a good reflection of his life. If we do likewise, we will discover a lot of things that need to be changed in our lives.

EMPOWERMENT

(By Mr Morokotso) Lion Assembly

Empowerment means knowing what you can do and what you cannot do. It involves identifying opportunities and using them for our benefit. We have to be enterprising. Being enterprising does not mean that you have to start big, but that you could start small and grow big. Many of us come from poor background and it is up to us to work hard and bail out our parents from poverty. Besides we have to seek high quality performance so that we are globally competitive. The world has become a global village, which means that whatever jobs you are looking for you have to compete with people from other countries.

EASY THINGS DO NOT LAST

(By Rev Chitewere) Lion Assembly

Most people would prefer to do easy things and avoid difficult ones. In the story of the wise and foolish builders in the bible, the wise builder built his house on the rock and it withstood the storm. But the foolish builder built his house on sand and when the storm came the house collapsed. It is much easier to dig a foundation on sand than on rock but the house founded on sand does not last. In the same way, if we build our lives on easy things, it will not help us in times of difficulty.

SHORT STORY

PRINCE VALIANT

(By Leokeditswe Mokunki 5P)

The Saxon asked about the garden of Eden.” What is this place , where is this place and why should anyone wish to find it?”

Prince Valiant replies, “According to ancient teachings, the garden was a place of perfection where the first man and woman made their home. It was a place of no illness or death, of no toil or injustice. But the man and woman did not keep their promises and were expelled.

“Ever since it has been the lot of men and women to struggle bitterly just to obtain food and shelter. Nature itself has been a hostile force. Human beings must also fight against their own terrible imperfections.

“No wonder people have yearned to return to the former state of paradise, but it is nowhere to be found. Some say it never existed. Others have spent their lives in fruitless quests, going for doomed expeditions into the deserts of Arabia.”

Queen Aleta interrupts with a smile, ”And some say paradise at best is a place in the human heart, which makes it no less difficult to get to.”

STUDY BETTER

(By the Advisor 4R)

Alternate activities

When doing chores or homework, alternate things you don’t mind doing with those you don’t like to do.

Ask Questions

If you don’t understand something, ask the teacher. If you feel funny doing this in class, then wait until after class. But don’t just make excuses let it slide. Avoid excuses like, “I can figure it out on my own” or “I probably won’t be in the test.”

Complete Homework Quickly

Remember there is a thin line between “quickly” and “efficiently”, and also “haste makes waste.” Find where the line is for you and work at optimum speed and efficiency.

Class Participation

Improve your grade by participating in class discussions on current affairs. Take a few minutes each day to find out about important issues in the news. Share your new findings during class discussions.

Improve Reading Comp rehension

Do you forget what you have read before you get to the question? When answering questions over written section, read the questions first. This will help you focus on what is important and improve your comprehension.

Improve Your Vocabulary

Use new words you hear or read. Write down any new words you encounter then find out its meaning. Stick/paste the new words to the door, wall or any other place where you can see it regularly. Use a new word three times in conversation and/or writing and it is yours!

Read, Read, Read

Always read the assigned literature. Read through the first time without taking notes.

Rest, Rest, Rest

Getting good rest is a very important thing to put in your study agenda. Not only for your body but also for your brain.

AUNT LOLLY

AIDS WATCH

(Sponsored by COCEPWA)

QUESTIONS YOU MAY ASK

Qu. I have been HIV positive but the virus can no longer be detected in the blood. Am I cured?

Ans. No, this does not mean you are cured of HIV/AIDS. It means that the amount of HIV in your body is so low that the viral load test cannot detect it. You are still infected and should continue to practice risk-free behaviour. You need to see your doctor on regular basis.

Qu. My doctor and I have decided not to treat my HIV infection. Do I need to have my viral load and CD + T cell count tested again?

Ans. Yes. HIV infected people who have not started drug therapy should have a viral load test every 3 to 4 months and CD4 – Tcell count every 3 to 6 months in general. Talk to your doctor about when you should be tested again.

Qu. I went to the doctor because I had flu-like symptoms. The doctor recommended an HIV test. Why?

Ans. The doctor wants to rule out HIV inferction as a possible cause of your symptoms. Between 50% and 90% of people infected with HIV will have flu-like symptoms after infection. Some of the symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, skin rash, body aches, diarrhoea and vomiting. Most experts support starting therapy during acute primary infection. This is based on the theory that starting therapy earlier keeps an infected person healthier for longer.

JOKES

You Will Get Used (By PKL 4Q)

Mandy: Hey! There is a terrible smell from those toilets.

Candy: Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.

Mandy: Hey, transport is a problem! Taxi drivers ba kgweetsa botlhatswa, buses play music very loud, o ka re ditonkofela, di-condye ….. very rude.

Candy: Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.

Mandy: Potholes on the roads are just too much.

Candy: Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.

Mandy: Our country these days is full of corruption.

Candy: Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.

Mandy: I hope this year 2002 things will change for the better.

Candy: Ijo!! Ishhhh! A needle in my buttocks.

Mandy: Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.

Candy: How can you say that?

Mandy: Remind me of your words please.

I Fooled Them (By Botshelo Sianga 5P)

There was a man who raped a 14 year old girl. According to the law, he faced a death sentence. He was given four options to choose from: to be hanged, to be shot, to be buried alive or to be injected with HIV. He chose HIV injection. On the appointed day, he came wearing a condom. After the injection he said, “These people are fools. They didn’t even realize that I was wearing a condom.”

NOBODY (By Lesego)

I’m just a nobody

Trying to tell anybody

About somebody

Who can help anybody

I’m just a what?

I’m just a nobody

Trying to do what?

Trying to tell anybody

O yes, about what?

About somebody

Somebody who can do what?

Who can help anybody

O yes, I’m just nobody

Trying to tell anybody

About somebody

Who can help anybody.

July/August 2002