Northside Primary School, Gaborone, Botswana

Northside Chess Team Shines at World Schools Team Championship Qualifiers

This past weekend 30–31 May 2025, the Northside Chess Team proudly represented our school at the World Schools Team Championship Qualifiers, held at the University of Botswana.

Competing against 16 school teams from across the country, our students demonstrated determination, resilience, and strategic thinking throughout the tournament. We are delighted to share that Northside Team A finished in an impressive 5th place, while Northside Team B secured 10th place.

We are especially proud of our players, many of whom were participating in their very first major chess tournament. Beyond their achievements on the chessboard, they displayed outstanding character by engaging positively with other teams, showing respect for their opponents, and embracing every challenge with confidence and enthusiasm.

This experience beautifully reflected the IB PYP Learner Profile attributes of being risktakers and Principled. Our students approached a new and highly competitive environment with confidence and determination, demonstrating courage as they took on challenging opponents and unfamiliar situations. They also showed integrity and fairness by playing honestly, respecting the rules of the game, and standing up for themselves appropriately when needed. Their ability to understand the nuances of the game, advocate for themselves respectfully, and uphold the spirit of chess reflected a mature understanding of both competition and sportsmanship.

Congratulations to all our chess champions for representing Northside with excellence, integrity, and grace. We are incredibly proud of the way they conducted themselves both on and off the chessboard and look forward to seeing them continue to grow as players and learners.
♟️

Happy Africa Day

What a day of mixed emotions as we wrap up the term!

This morning was a celebration of how far we’ve come and where we are going. Our students were treated to a sneak peek of the brand-new auditorium, a space where future memories will be made.

However, today also marks the end of an era. We bid a very fond farewell to Mr. Watlala, a true IT pioneer who has been a cornerstone of our school for many years. From the first computer labs to the digital world we navigate today, Mr. Watlala has led the way with dedication and vision. We thank him for his long service and wish him the very best in his next chapter.

Wishing all our families a safe and restful holiday. See you next term!

Checkmate: Vinah Secures National Spot.

Vinah Mesotlo has earned her place in the Botswana National Youth Chess Team and now proudly represents her country on the national stage, an exceptional achievement that reflects both her talent and dedication.

This follows her impressive performance at the Botswana National Team Qualification Chess Tournament in the Under-12 category, where she advanced to the finals through hard work, focus, and determination.

Competing against strong opposition, Vinah rose to the challenge with confidence and resilience, ultimately securing an outstanding 3rd-place finish.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18M2LVJk2w/

NPS Colts Victory : U9 Cricket Victory

Our U9 team delivered an impressive performance against Baobab this week. Baobab were restricted to 50 runs in 15 overs, thanks to disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. Northside responded with confidence, reaching 51 runs in just 10 overs to secure the win. Congratulations to our players and coaches, Mr Gwatiwa and Leo on a job well done!

*On the 7th of march 2026, 8 Players from Northside played in the Chess Interaction Series.* Two were playing in their first-ever tournament, which is a big step in their chess journey.
From those 8 players, we managed to bring home 4 medals:

*2 Gold Medals* (both with perfect scores) – Chang Qi (under 6 boys category) and Yanaya Chakamba (Under 10 girls category)

*1* Silver Medal* – Manoella De Jesus Freitas (First time player in the under 6 girls Category)

*1* Bronze Medal Ernah Mesotlo (Under 10 girls category)
In addition, two of our players finished 4th in their respective categories, narrowly missing the podium – Well done Vinah Mesotlo and Hans Shaneberger.

The team played with courage and determination. We are proud of every single one of them.

And as always, a big thank you to our amazing and supportive parents — we truly appreciate you

The library came to life today! 📖 From brave heroes to magical characters, our Upper Primary learners transformed into their favourite book characters for Dress Up Day. Thank you parents for the creativity and effort behind these fantastic costumes. Reading has never looked this fun! 📖📝📚

Today our Lower Primary classrooms turned into the pages of a storybook 📚✨
From brave heroes to magical dreamers, our little readers brought their favorite book characters to life. What a beautiful reminder that stories inspire imagination, confidence, and creativity!

A huge thank you to our incredible parents for the creativity, effort, and love poured into these amazing costumes. You truly made the magic happen!

Spotlight on Excellence: Lereko Keraang

We proudly celebrate Lereko Keraang, a Standard 2C learner at Northside Primary School, for his outstanding achievement in karate. Over the weekend, at the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) selection tournament, Lereko demonstrated exceptional skill, discipline, and determination. Competing in the 6–7 years category, he secured gold medals in both Kumite (fighting) and Kata, an extraordinary double victory. His remarkable performance is bound to earn him a well-deserved place on the Botswana National Karate Team, marking the beginning of what promises to be a bright future in the sport. Lereko’s achievement is a true reflection of hard work, courage, and excellence. We are incredibly proud of him and look forward to seeing him represent Botswana with honor and distinction.
Congratulations Champion and to your Coaches at Active Africa Karate Club! 🥇🏅