Dear friends and well-wishers of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee Comprehensive School Kenya. I trust my July letter gave you news about the school both in writing and in pictures on school life and activities.
THIRD TRIMESTER OF SCHOOL YEAR
August 27, 2024, the schools in Kenya resumed learning after a break of four weeks, and for that reason at this stage of the school year I will share some news on the second trimester of the school that covers the month of May through end of July 2024.
Last May reporting back to school after Easter break was very much interrupted by heavy rains that were all over the country bringing untold sufferings to parts of Kenya, landslides were experienced in some areas of the country coming down to people at nights with flash floods burying people alive in their sleep. About 60 miles from where the school is, over 53 people lost their lives, over 250 families were displaced, and some are still camping in some school compounds. We did not hear about any of our school families seriously affected by these flood but most of the roads from remote places were impossible. It took some days for all the students to report back to school but eventually everyone was there the learning and other school activities were in expected running.
HIGHLIGHTS SECOND TRIMESTER MAY TO JULY 2024
- After converting one classroom into a Science lab the work I supervised in November last year, (see pictures in last blog letter) we also had to purchase teaching equipment and apparatus. There are many items needed for teaching physic, chemistry, and Biology. PICTURES OF TEACHERS RECEIVING THE
- ITEMS
- We also purchased tools that go along with the science and Agriculture courses. PICTURES OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS RECEIVING THE ITEMS
JOINED ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER SCHOOLS : This year the schools were allowed to have activities such as inter-school’s games and athletics that were banned in the years of COVID-19. We share pictures of other schools visiting Father Ntaiyia Jubilee Comprehensive School.
TRADITION AND CULTURE: Besides academic and contemporary school activities we do not forget our traditions and cultures, and these are promoted and encouraged by the new curriculum. Here our students in their customary imitations.
LIVE- STREAM MASS WITH FATHER SYMON 14 THOUSAND MILES AWAY
In my last blog letter mentioned that we bought students a large smart TV . One of the things they love with this news TV is that they can connect and follow live-stream Mass with Fr. Symon on Sunday morning at St. Max Ontario NY. They are ahead of us with 7 hours and so when I celebrate Mass is their late afternoon. My nephew tells me that once they get it going, the children remain glued on the TV until it is over, they feel as if they are part of the congregation with me in the Church at Ontario. (pictures)
EDUCATIONAL TRIP: Each year it is encouraged, when possible, for a school to plan an educational trip for students, especially those in top grades. Such trips should be to areas or places where the students may learn or see things, they have learned in the course book, geographically, or Historically. Such trips have not taken place for the last four 4 years because of COVID-19. This year the school was able to have a successful trip with about 25 of our students. PICTURES
NEW CURRICULUM
We still call it new even though it was implemented eight years ago with then grade one learners who are now in grade eight and second year of junior high. This new curriculum continues to give us challenges at the beginning of each new year as we continue replacing old curriculum textbooks with new curriculum textbooks “Thanks to the friends of Father Ntaiyia Jubilee Comprehensive School who keep donating each year and the Bord of Directors of the charity that manages the donations. We have been able to get new books and learning materials for each new year and next year will be the last one, having started nine (7) years ago. We understand that the new curriculum will continue being new until next year when we shall have our grade nine the top middle or junior school class. After grade 9 the students will be expected to join High Schools in 2026 away from where they will be taking grade studies.
BUILDING AND REPAIRS
The school is now 19 years since the construction of the first building (8) classrooms started and 16 year since we enrolled the first students. There have been repairs and improvements. We have been able to place floor tiles in all classrooms. Before this we replaced concrete cement floors almost every three year after sealing potholes in them a few times. With tiles we will not be doing that for a long time, and it is easier for cleaning.
We have also replaced some old desks and chairs with 105 new ones and for those who have been visiting the school website or Facebook you have seen the work I supervised last year during my visit there. Setting up one of the classrooms to be a Science Laboratory is a major requirement for the new Curriculum and this was an undertaking that needed about five thousand US dollars. With respect to all our donors, allow me to mention that we used a donation of $5,000 from the Will of Margaret Patricia Doyle to set up this Science lab. Most of our readers will remember that we also used a donation for her Aunt Gertrude Doyle to construct a prayer room (Chapel) attached to sisters house in the School. Margret was a teacher and I wanted to remember her by using her gift to educated children in Kenya Africa. She always encouraged me in my efforts to educate children.
A report from the Headteacher and other school staff indicated that learning and other school activities have been going on well since the Third trimester started as they prepare learners for the end of the school year.
We thank all our school friends for your continued support.
Fr. Symon Ntaiyia email: frntaiyia@yahoo.com
School website: https://mhl.hxi.mybluehost.me/website_e30e867a School Facebook is attached to website
Or Google Father Ntaiyia Jubilee School