About us

We are proud and fortunate to be part of this great institution hat was established 120 years ago. Our opening assembly marked the commencement of our 120th anniversary. Below, I give a brief history of what it is that we are celebrating; a story of many people’s hard work and determination that led to the establishment of this school. Bulawayo Dominican Convent School, the first school to be established in Bulawayo in 1895 was set up by the Dominican Sisters. It was named after St. Dominic who founded the Order of Preachers (OP) and established the first Dominican Convent at Prouille in France in 1206. The objective was to provide primary and secondary education for settlers who had established themselves in Bulawayo.

On 28 October 1895, Sisters Sebastian Hill and Pancratius Webster opened the first School in a wood and iron chapel rented from the Jesuit Fathers. On the first day, 10 little pupils attended the school. By January 1896, enrollment had gone up to 70. Construction of the first buildings commenced in November 1897 when the foundation stone of the present Convent and school was laid by Mrs. Arthur Lawley, wife of the then Administrator. As enrollment figures continued to increase, a second storey was added for boarders. In 1930, a separate block of eight classrooms was erected, followed in 1938 by the construction of rooms for Domestic Science, Needlework, Music and a spacious hall. Up until 1958 the school catered for primary and kindergarten pupils. By then, the need for a senior school had become apparent, therefore construction of the high school classrooms, swimming pool, hockey field and tennis courts commenced on 1 November 1958 and opened its doors in 1959. In 1960, the new Senior Block was blessed by His Lordship, Bishop A. Schmitt.

In short, this is our story and we are glad that, 120 years later, it has also become your story and together we continue to build on that story. All those who have gone ahead of us have left a legacy of high standards guided by, veritas, prayer, study, community and service- our Dominican Motto and Pillars. I have reminded our girls not just to study history but, to make history. I extend the same invitation to you to continue to contribute meaningfully and positively to the Dominican Convent story.

• The History of Dominican Convent

Dominican Convent High School was opened on Monday the 28th of October 1895 and has since earned the title of being the oldest as well the first ever school to be built in Bulawayo.

With the rapid growth of the new township in the still developing city, there was an increasingly large number of European school age children. With this realisation the Jesuit Fathers, Kerr and Daignault, prompted the Dominican sisters to consider opening a school to cope with the ever increasing population of ready to learn children.

Originally, the school was a small chapel which the Sisters rented from the Jesuit Fathers. Over the years, that small chapel has continuously been renovated, revamped and reconstructed into the school we know and love today.

• Origin Story

The founding fathers, or in this case, founding Sisters Sister Sebastian and Sister Pancratius- from King Williams town in South Africa.

In 1206, St Dominic de Guzman founded a Convent of contemplative nuns at Prouihle, France. Pope Leo XIII had asked the Jesuit Order to start a mission in the Africa, specifically the southern region. First attempts, some years earlier, had failed (one of them being ). The proposed expedition of the Pioneer Column of Cecil Rhodes seemed to offer a new opportunity.

Fr A. Daignault asks Mother Mauritia for Sisters to join the expedition in support of the new missionary enterprise: initially, by nursing the sick and the wounded, and eventually, by engaging in teaching and other missionary tasks in the mission field.The group successfully hits the shore of South Africa and establishes it’s new base in King William’s town. A small group is later on deployed to Zimbabwe, formally known as Rhodesia, where they volunteer in hospitals helping the sick and spread the Gospel.

In 1889 the rising controversy between Western and African religion leads to the the Jesuit Fathers fearing for the church. The propose the idea of Dominicans in Rhodesia becoming independent of their Motherhouse in King Williams’ Town. This would enable them to adapt themselves better to local conditions by looking for and train their own recruits, and in this way ensure and promote the growth and development of the Church in Rhodesia. The two Jesuits put their proposal before Bishop Dr. Hugh Mac Sherry of Grahamstown, and the Prioress, Mother Euphemia Koffler at King William’s Town; unfortunately, they do not discuss it with the Sisters in Rhodesia. Assuming the Sisters in Rhodesia are aware of this new proposay, the head of the Motherhouse in King William’s town agrees. When, at last, Mother Patrick and the Sisters in the north are informed of the decision, they are utterly dismayed and deeply afflicted. Their request for its cancellation is in vain.

Each Sister has to decide on: either abandoning the mission and returning to King William’s Town, or declaring in writing that she wants to belong to the new congregation, and that she surrenders the right ever to return to the Motherhouse. Nineteen Sisters- Sister Sebastian Hill and Sister Pancratius included- “desiring only God’s greater glory” decide to remain in Rhodesia.

They continue they hard work, managing to save lives through Christ and through their medical work and eventually in 1895 they build the first school in Bulawayo with Sister Sebastian being the Headteacher. Veritas – meaning truth in latin- was chosen from the three mottos of the Dominican Order to be the school’s motto. In addition the 4 pillars were and still are Prayer, Study, Community and Service.