NEW YEAR AND SCHOOL RE-OPENING
Last year the school had a long end of the year school holidays, almost two months, November and December. Although there are many festivities at the end of the year people are always mindful of the ending year and the coming of a New Year. By tradition it is at this time of the year that results of public examinations are expected and this brings anxiety to both parents and the exam students. There is hope that this would go well and fear just in case the students did not make it. This is also the time for the parents to begin preparing their children to go back to school for the new year and new grade. Things that come to the mind of parents are like school fees as in the case of a school like Father Ntaiyia or other private schools where fees have to be paid; there may be need to replace school uniforms, stationeries and other necessities for life in a boarding school.
Schools in Kenya resumed studies January 2017 after celebration of New Year day at home. At Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School, when weather is good for public transportation most parents bring their children without much delay for beginning of each trimester and learning. As per our tradition our teachers and other staff members were ready to receive the students as their parents brought them. This is a welcome back to school that is very much appreciated. Learning begins as it is required by the curriculum and syllabus that aim at covering 14 weeks of school work during the first trimester that will end on 7th April 2017.
OUR 2016 FINAL CLASS EXAMINATION RESULTS
As was reported in our last blog, our students who graduated last year all made their final public examination known as Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). Father Ntaiyia Jubilee school, over the last five years, has consistently had practically all the students pass making it possible for students to continue with studies in High Schools. We are glad and happy with parents and our benefactors that our efforts have brought hope to many children and their families. The results are very much appreciated by the parents. Father Ntaiyia, who always follows very closely every step geared towards the success of learning program in his School has informed us that he has shared the news with Friends of the School. We are informed that all our students got places in various government High Schools in our country. We wish them and their families well as they prepare for their promising future careers.
FIRST TRIMESTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
As we embark with our school life, this trimester has its outstanding activities. In the first place it is during this term that we register our candidates for the final public examinations. Each year the Ministry of Education gives the date when this exercise is to begin and end and for this year it was 18th January and will end on 28th March. Unlike in the past when this registration was done manually, we are doing it online. With all the information required for each candidate, they have a chance to select the High Schools, and that is how they end up being selected and sent an invitation letter if they qualify to go to the school they choose.
This year, unlike in the past where this registration fee was paid by the parents, the government is paying for every candidate who will take this examination in both public and private Schools. Registration fee will be paid by the government though processing fee may be charged by the schools. In Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School 62 candidates this year (8th graders) will also benefit from this government offer.
This trimester has its official extracurricular activities as well; ball games and drama have been scheduled for February and March before the students go for competitions, which begin with inter- school level. Teachers play a big role in involving and training students in various games so that we can pick the best to represent Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School in competitions. These trainings do not interfere with learning because they are taken after class work and during free time.
NEWS FROM FATHER SYMON NTAIYIA
To all our friends and well-wishers, as I mentioned last year, I am encouraging most of our monthly blog letters to come directly from the teachers in the school. In the past I use to ask them what is happening, then I would write the report. It is easier for me to edit the report they send to me, and ask them for clarification where it is needed. If any of our readers may have a question on any of the subjects in our blog letter, please call or e-mail me.
RELIGIOUS SISTERS: It will be remembered that I wrote on Sisters leaving the Father Ntaiyia School because their new Superior for some reason did not want to have another house in Narok. After they left I consulted with the Bishop of the Diocese where the School is and he was willing to welcome any other congregation that would agree to come and work in the School. I had to look for the Sisters, invite them and then inform him. I requested another congregation of Sisters and after initial correspondence with them I invited them to visit the school in Narok so that they may know where they are being invited to. They visited the school before my visit to Kenya. After their first visit we involved the Bishop of the Diocese where they are based and my home Diocese Bishop. The two Bishops communicated on the issue and graciously allowed the nuns to come to Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School. It was made very clear to them that the School is private and so Sisters contract and terms of work there have to be made with Fr. Ntaiyia and the School.
Sisters made another visits to the School when I was in Kenya. We looked at the house they were to occupy and things that needed to be done before they came. Before we had two teachers housed ready to be used by 3 sisters. We have 4 sisters now and there is room enough for them. I asked them to continue for a month and make a list of things they may need or to be done. Their congregation is working on a draft contract on terms of their work in school.
We have two teachers, a cateress (domestic) and an accountant and so far they have settled in well.
STUDENTS: As usual we have new students who have transferred to every grade even. We did not get the expected number of 3rd graders which is our primary intake class. We also experienced the same last year and it is clear now that most parents are now having their children start school at an early age such that they are still too young to leave home for a boarding school as 3rd graders. In the future we may have taken our boarders from class 4. This year we have 68 new students, a number that represents about 24%. We have 282 children in Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School now. I have also been informed that students who graduated from our school first who did their High School final examination last year, four of them will join University for Higher Studies.
DOUBLE CLASSES: Because of having large numbers of children we had to split 3 classes into two for easy learning and teacher attention to children. We have room for about 280 in the dormitories and the other facilities can accommodate the same number.
TEXT BOOKS: My initial plan when I started the School was to have about 35 children per grade and two children sharing one text book of each course taught in that class meaning: for English there would be 17 text books, same for mathematics. When a class therefore ends up having more students we have to buy new text books for each subject or course, this is not considering when there is change to a new book by the Ministry of Education and when we have to replace the old books (used for a long time).
TEACHERS: Two of our teachers were employed by the Government; we have recruited two more to replace them and are teaching already. The other staff members are as we had them last year but for a new employee.
NEW ADMINISTRATION OFFICES: We started using the new administration offices, and they have been allocated for the various departments of administration. Teachers have been using their new staff room for almost a year now and soon each will have own desk there.
|
BOYS |
GIRLS |
||
|
3 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
|
4 |
24 |
16 |
40 |
|
5 |
26 |
34 |
60 |
|
6 |
28 |
23 |
51 |
|
7E |
18 |
12 |
30 |
|
7W |
17 |
12 |
29 |
|
8E |
18 |
13 |
31 |
|
8W |
19 |
12 |
31 |
|
282 |
|||
Fr. Ntaiyia