To our readers, you will notice as you read through that this is in the form of a report by our Deputy Head Teacher who is responsible for the administration of Father Ntaiyia School. We edit the report together to make it easier for readers in Kenya and those outside who may not be familiar with some terminologies used in the Kenyan system of Education.
The month of July inherited June’s cold weather which is well understood here as the Sun is in North giving summer to Northern hemisphere during this time of the year. Such change of weather brings common cold and other related minor health concerns not only to Father Ntaiyia School but to other schools and institutions in the area as well. We make sure that students are taken care of and those who need to visit the Hospital are taken in time in order to avoid anything becoming chronic. Students, especially the little ones, are seen to keep warm and indoors. The cooks try to serve warm meals and a cup of hot tea is always appreciated by all. Most learning activities are usually indoors. As a result of these interventions, our students are able to cope with such weather changes.
SCHOOL LIFE
Fr. Ntaiyia School is not just a learning institution but also a social institution that has for years brought together students, teachers and other workers into one unified family. Our backgrounds are diverse but we uphold unity and teamwork despite our cultural differences. This unity of purpose has not only strengthened our school but also provided a peaceful coexistence which has been transmitted to our students as well. We now boast of students who treat others with dignity and respect. To be able to do this, all those in charge of the various departments have a duty to provide good role models for our students to emulate.
This school environment has made it easier for those joining our institution, especially the third graders to cope with school life as it has become “another home’’ away from home, as they are integrated into the boarding life. Most of our students who are now in their final year have shared their life experiences in school since they were enrolled in the year 2009. They have expressed their gratitude to all those who have supported them materially, morally and spiritually through the years. One of our students, Moses Rinka a Maasai, (now 8th grader), who was enrolled to 3rd Grade 6 years ago has narrated how Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School has prepared him to be a hopeful student who wishes to exploit his academic potentiality. This is the case for many of our past students who are now in high schools. Whenever they visit us here in School, they always have a good story to tell about their life and preparation they got at Fr. Ntaiyia Jubilee School.
ACADEMIC
As expected of any learning institution, Fr. Ntaiyia School pays a lot of attention to the academic development of our students. It is through education that we prepare our children to face the future with confidence. It has always been our staffs’ core responsibility to approach and pursue this goal with undivided commitment. This month provided another chance for our students and teachers to fully utilize the teaching and learning materials made available through the assistance of our school proprietor, Fr. Ntaiyia and many friends and well-wishers he has always talked about saying, “without whom development of the school would have been a long journey.” This communal duty is gradually bearing fruits as evident by the results of the various assessment tests done internally and also jointly with our neighboring Schools in which our students performed exceptionally well. We recently had a joint examination (commonly known as Round Test) for 8th graders with 9 other schools; an exercise which brought together 170 students preparing for the final national examinations in November. Once again the results of the examinations ranked Father Ntaiyia School in position 2 and also produced the best candidate overall. This has greatly motivated our students, teachers and parents to continue working towards attaining the highest level of academic achievement.
As we approach the end of this trimester all students will sit for end-term examinations before they go on a two-week holiday from 12th August to 29th August according to the Ministry of Education Trimester dates.
It is our hope as teachers and other school staff and indeed our benefactors and parents that Fr. Ntaiyia Jubilee School will continue to inspire the present and future students through provision of quality education.
RELIGION
Although it is clear that the founder and proprietor of Fr. Ntaiyia School has very much stressed that no child should be discriminated against their faith during recruitment, we uphold the values of our Nation that Kenya allows for freedom of worship and the wish of the parents that the children be instructed in religion as allowed by the Ministry of Education in Kenya.
We strongly believe that an institution that upholds moral uprightness thrives in its mission. To develop this, we have regular sessions of gatherings every day as permitted, beginning with morning assemblies where we share in scriptures and their applications in real life situations. We also have an official program for religion instructions (PPI) for Christian faith every Wednesday morning. The catechist from our Parish and teachers usually handle these programs. There is also a Catholic Mass celebrated every Saturday evening to allow students to go to Sacrament. These spiritual teachings have enabled the students to know and practice their faith and it our hope that positively shape their characters as expected by their parents.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Our students’ leadership composition is an annual event that involves identifying students who can provide leadership in the various sections. The process usually begins at the beginning of the 2nd trimester and ends just before the school closes for August holidays.
The administration announces the openings and the aspiring students submit their written applications to the school administration within the given period. This is then followed by a vetting exercise where teachers play a big role. This is done by conducting interviews to test on their suitability for the applied posts.
To ensure that the rest of the students have a say in the selection of their leaders, we also provide a chance for them to give their views concerning those who have applied. This will ensure a cordial relationship between the student leaders and the other students. Once the council is properly constituted, the leaders are given an orientation on what is expected of them for the good of the School.
EDUCATIONAL TRIPS
These are meant to take learning out of the usual classroom situations. They enable the students to access supplementary methods of learning by visiting places of interest. This year, the students, especially the 8th graders, have requested an educational trip to Nairobi, the Kenya’s capital. They are interested in visiting an animal orphanage that is there, the national museum, the airport and some industrial firms. In the event of such visits our Local Education authority is informed and the place intended to be visited are informed early enough in order that they may prepare to meet and talk to the students and teachers as well as showing them whatever needs to be shown. The parents of each student are expected to meet the calculated cost of transport, meals and other little charges. Father Ntaiyia School anticipates taking the students sometime in September 2016 if all the arrangements are successful.
END OF TRIMESTER AND SCHOOL’S CLOSURE
As the trimester ends, Father Ntaiyia School community looks forward to joining their families back at home. To our students, this means going to be with their families and resting after being in school for a long trimester. Although they will be away for only two weeks, this time will give them a chance to be away from books and school bell.
DEVELOPMENT: In the second week of July excavation of a new boys’ long drop toilet was completed 22 feet deep. I asked the Mason and his team to move from construction of ongoing stone wall to construction of the walls of this toilet. Things seem to have been moving very well and the boys will use their new toilet when they return from August break. Meanwhile a meeting with the Friends of Fr. Ntaiyia Jubilee School BOD meeting deliberated on our ongoing little projects in the School. After relocation of the girls’ and boys’ toilet the perimeter wall will continue as we prepare to construct water tanks base next to the new building (Administration and Library). We hope to harvest rain water from this building by placing plastic water tanks next to it. We thank our generous donors on this water project, a priest and a friend of his from Rochester. This will increase clean drinking water for the students and staff.
The congregation that had Sisters working in Father Ntaiyia School for three years has withdrawn them. The new superior felt it is the right thing to do. I am in discussion with the Bishop of the Diocese Ngong who has to allow a religious order to work in his Diocese that I may look for another congregation. Such a situation is not unusual and must not raise any anxiety regarding the leadership in Fr. Ntaiyia School. The children have had a very successful trimester under the leadership of our Deputy Head Teacher Mr. Chepkowny, teachers and other staff members and as you read this they will be having their August break at home with their families.
Thank you all for supporting my Jubilee School,
Fr. Symon Peter Ntaiyia