June is the second month of the second trimester in Kenya’s School year trimester. It has been a busy month of uninterrupted learning as there were no extracurricular activities in the way. In Kenya this month starts with a public holiday June 1st, the day when we commemorated attainment of our internal self-rule in 1963 from British colonizers. Father Ntaiyia School, like any other school, takes leave to join other Kenyans in the celebrations that are led by the Head of State at national level while he is represented by leaders at local level. Our students and staff assemble with the other Kenyans at public stadiums where after entertainments of all kinds and from all walks of life and institutions, the celebration is marked by the Head of State speech to the Nation that is read on his behalf by his representative. For our students it is a day out and an occasion to hear more on the history of our country that encourages sense of patriotism which is expected of every Citizen.
Academic
Teachers have reported that this trimester students have placed more attention on learning and class work and this may have been brought about by academic reports at the end of last trimester. These reports are always in the first term of the new academic year and children get to learn their position and may want to work hard. It is also encouraging that the teachers give children some tests which they call tune up soon after they come from holidays. These tests bring the children to learning disposition placing them back to books. At the end of first trimester all prospective candidates for public examinations at the end take a joined sub county examination with other schools, and the results were out last month. Mr. Chepkwony who is our deputy Head teacher has informed me that Father Ntaiyia School was among 47 other schools with candidates for this examination and was ranked number 2 (two) in overall results. This is good news for children, their parents and friends of the school and gives us hope that we might have good results again this year.
Our teachers and other staff members are happy with the learning environment and have commended the perimeter wall that takes the outside distractions away from children. The School is also able to provide learning materials, especially text books, and what teachers need to do their work for education of children. “We ensure that the academic input needs of our students are given a special attention. This is done through a collective effort by all who assist Father Ntaiyia School including our benefactors,” reported the deputy head teacher.
School Year Calendar
The government of Kenya through the ministry of education has announced a raft of changes in the school academic calendar. Our academic year has been comprised of 39 weeks divided into three trimesters of 13 weeks each. However, this calendar was reorganized into 14, 15 and 10 weeks respectively. The current term will therefore run from 2nd May to 12th August. In addition to these changes, the government has also banned all social activities including annual candidates’ prayer days and parents’ visiting days in third term. This, according to the ministry, is aimed at giving the candidates uninterrupted time to prepare for national examinations as well as trying to stop public examinations irregularities that are reported each ear in various parts of the Country. The third trimester will end on 29th October 2016 when all the other students will go home leaving the candidates to take their examinations before going home.
Parents’ visiting day
Parents’ visiting days attract a large number of visitors in school, parents, guardians and friends. Father Ntaiyia School gives this day respectable attention as we welcome those who have entrusted us with the care of their children. We always want them to be at home in this school even if it is for one day or some hours. There is always joy and tears of joy, and we all understand it is not easy for parents to have their children away from home for one or two months. Father Ntaiyia says that this is the only way now as he recalls his boarding school life as a first grader in 1958. This term’s visiting day was on Saturday June 18th. About 180 visitors came to school though many were inconvenienced by rains experienced in the region. Rains cause transportation problems especially in public means. However, parents and students had a good time sharing learning experiences with the teachers who were ready to receive them and share the report on their children.
Co-curricular activities
This trimester usually has athletics and music festivals, activities which require time for preparation. This involves identifying children who have talents and training them as directed by the Ministry so that they may become participants. Teachers play a big role in identifying the student contestants who may have taken part previously or who have shown interest. They are then taken through practice sessions in the late afternoons after academic classes. This must be done to avoid interruption of learning. The office in charge of sports in the county has the responsibility of drawing the programs for these events.
Music festivals began early June and were to proceed through July and the beginning of August. Father Ntaiyia School was well represented in most of the competitions and our 26 students have proceeded to Provincial level that is the second highest level of these competitions. This level usually draws participants from the best performing schools in the counties.
Sisters: The sisters who for the last three years have provided a Head teacher for my school were called back by their new superior. For the three years they were in the school we had no contract between the school and their congregation. Their superiors were to see the Bishop of the area who may allow them to have a third house in Narok where the school is. The Deputy Head teacher is acting as the Head teacher as required by the system of Education in Kenya.
Development: As I mentioned in the last blog letter, excavation for construction of a new toilet for boys is going on and may take a few more days before the actual construction because of the hard rock they are chipping now. The masons have also resumed construction of the perimeter stone wall and by the first week of July the front border of the school that has a public road will be complete. Visiting parents were pleased that we were building this wall to keep the children away from the growing habitation by plot owners around the school. Now traffic of people, animals and vehicles especially motorbikes.
Thank you all for supporting my Jubilee School
Fr. Symon Peter Ntaiyia