Dear Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School Narok -Kenya,
May this find you and your loved ones safe and healthy it has been a while since my last school’s website blog and School Facebook letters. You can always visit these sites from our Parish websites front page or google Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School and of late we use Facebook
There has been changes with the School News since my letter after returning from visiting the School in Kenya late last year especially the impacts of COVID-19. Each month since March I expected to share on what is going on in Kenya, but all the expected news ended in wait and see next time.
FIRST SCHOOL TRIMESTER 2020:
Before interruption by covid-19, Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School-Kenya had re-opened for the new school year on Monday 6th Jan 2020 for the first trimester. The ongoing student came back last January eager to know how the final class they left in the school taking public examination at the end of 2019 faired on, they wanted to see the results and find out how their former schoolmate did in examinations and what High School each of them has gone to. They came back to changes of repairs and other works that I supervised after they left for the long break in November, painted classroom, repair desks and chairs, repaired floors of their dormitories or classrooms and other development that make the school a better place for their learning. We also have new textbooks for students and especially for the new curriculum that will be needed each year for the next four years we also have teaching materials for teachers.
SEE PHOTOS => SCHOOL REOPENS JANUARY 2020
Our teaching and non-teaching staff in keeping with our custom were in School to welcome the ongoing students as well as the new students who were joining our school for the first time. Some of the new students were third graders our starting grade each year and others who applied to join higher grades. Accompanied by their parents there is always a moment of excitement and the head teachers welcomes them in the office to make sure that they have all the requirements for enrolment before registering them as our new students. Sometimes the excitement for the littler ones is not lived long for their mood changes when they realize that the parents were going to leave them there when they go back home. We try to ease set back by assuring the little ones that their parents use cell phones and can call the office or the matron and talk to them thanks to the technology of our time. This makes the little ones feel … after all my dad and mom are not far away.
SEE PHOTOS => NEW PUPIL
Teachers, the matron, and the responsible students are always ready to assist the new students as they settle in the school for the first time. Learning, Class work and other activities had started and were going on well guided by school timetable and the school bell that does not leave much room for many other activities. However, there are things to learn and get used for the new comes in a new place. This year by mid-March we recorded higher enrolment of students than we ever had before: There are 141 girls and 139 boys a total of 280 students.
SEE PHOTOS => SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
COVI-19 AND SCHOOLS IN KENYA: On March 15, the President of the Republic of Kenya ordered for the closure of all schools in the country after Kenya reported her first COVID-19 case.
On Apr 26, the government announced that Kenyan schools will remain closed for the next one month, following a directive by the government in measures aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus. The extension begun on May 4th; the day students were supposed to return to school from the April Holidays that started much earlier due to coronavirus pandemic that has paralyzed most operations in the country.
SEE PHOTOS => COVI-19 SCHOOL CLOSE
Most of our staff members are at their homes with their families but for seven including 3 Nuns who work in school. We are all concerned about the continuing spread of COVID-19 and fear that it may uncontrollably impact communities in the rural areas more if it gets there. The government of Kenya like any others is reinforcing guidance instructed by her health authorities. One of our school families informed me over telephone conversation that, many families are facing endless challenges because for them to have commodities they need from shops they must go and sale their farm produce or animals in open air markets in order to get cash and this is not possible now.
I have been reaching out to some of our school families on phone instructing them to talk loud and clear to others to take the COVID-19 very seriously.
REOPENING THE SCHOOLS: Although it had initially been indicated that schools would open their doors in September 2020, the government has now ruled that out and has warned that sending our children to school soon might put their lives in danger as the infections are still on the rise.
As it is said here before, there should be no hurry in the reopening of schools until when we are sure there would no danger to the lives of the students. Faced with this uncertain environment, on July 7th, 2020 Kenya resolved to aim at reopening all basic education learning institutions in January 2021. This assumes that the infection curve will have flattened. It is clear, therefore, that there will be no national examinations this year. The 2020 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) public examination for end of elementary school and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) for end of High School candidates will now sit their exams later next year.
DEVELOPMENT: Our readers will remember that one of the projects The BOD of Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee school sponsored Oct/Nov 2019 that Fr. Symon supervised in Kenya was construction of a prayer house attached to the house the sisters use in the School. This prayer room (chapel) was completed in late March 2020. The local Pastor who celebrates Mass for Sisters was available to bless and celebrate the first Mass in this room on Holy Thursday.
SEE PHOTOS =>BLESSING SISTERS’ PRAYER ROOM
The BOD of Friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee Charity had the first meeting this year and deliberated on various projects we sponsor with funds donated by our friends. Records that are necessary were reviewed for preparation of our federal and New York State nonprofit organization annual filling for 2019 that has been successfully submitted.
School Update
- 2019 school year was very successful
- 264 total student enrollments in the year.
- Father Symon did a good summary in his latest Blog.
- Student to teacher balance remains good
- Domestic care staff also working out well
- Food & supplies for students is keeping up well
- Parent cooperation with tuition payments is very good.
- School fees paid for operating expenses reasonably good.
- Students were well prepared for the standardized exams and 38/39 passed the high school entrance exam. The remaining student is looking to attend a trade school
On behalf of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School community I thank all our friends and well-wishers for your prayers, support, and encouragement in all that makes it possible for us to provide for the students and their families. Our benefactors will be glad to know that we have very proficient members of the BOD of the charity that manages your donations. They love the school and are happy to be involved in the mission of the school giving hope to many.
Keep safe and in prayer
Fr. Symon Ntaiyia email: frntaiyia@yahoo.com
School website: https://mhl.hxi.mybluehost.me/website_e30e867a