November was such a busy but wonderful month. During November one of our long term workers at the school got married, our students in Std 4 did their National exams and we also had some wonderful visitors from both home and abroad. I really hope you enjoy reading all the news and looking at all the pictures in this newsletter
Our second group of students do their National Std 4 exams
This time last year we had our first crop of students do these important National examinations, which every child in the country has to sit.
However this year we have an extra 100 students doing these exams and so it’s been a big job for all our Std 4 teachers to get all the children ready for the exams. They have to sit five formal papers - Science, Maths, English, Kiswahili (which is the national language here) and Social Studies (which is a Geography, Civics and History mix).
Since January, the teachers have been staying back after school each day with the children (and also on Saturday mornings) getting them ready for the exams. Last year we had over 17,000 students sit the exams in this district alone and so even though it was a first time for us, it was a great moral booster for us when we received the news that we had 5 students in the top 20 of these 17,000 students (including number 1!).
I would like to thank all the drivers who would work tirelessly driving all the Std 4 kids home each evening, the cooks who would feed them after school before they started their late classes and of course all the teachers and admin staff who worked in making sure that all the students could reach their full potential. It was amazing to have children running up to me telling me that they thought that the exams were easy!! I NEVER thought an exam I did in the past was easy and so it was a thrill to actually see kids excited about going in to do their exams!
Below are some pictures of the students during the examinations. We look forward to receiving the results sometime before Easter next year.
Happy gets Married!
During November, one of our longest serving staff members, Happy Jonas got married to Mr Douglas Alphayo. Actually it was a true St Jude’s wedding as Douglas’s mother is also the Head of the parents’ committee in this school and so the procession at the wedding was full of St Jude buses! Below is Happy and Douglas standing by their traditional wedding cake! A big roast goat!
Below is a picture of some of the staff who attended the wedding. From left we have Heidi who is one of our computer teachers, Martha who is our kinder teacher and also the longest serving teacher in the school, Mary who looks after all the visitors and Rotary teams who come to the school, myself , Christine, who teaches Prep class and Emma who is our school nurse.
Visitors during november
During November we have had many and wonderful visitors like always float through the school.
Below are Mike and Paula who were a great help to us here at the school whilst they visited us. From playing netball for our school team to helping our welding and electrical technicians solve some big problems. They were a wonderfully easygoing couple and we will miss them greatly.
What a thrill it was to have one of my ex students come to visit me. Belinda Ritchie and her traveling mate were so happy to just get in and help with whatever needed to be done - no matter how boring the job. Even though I am sure they are still covering new textbooks in their sleep, their contribution to the school was greatly appreciated. Actually it was really nice for Belinda to see what we have done as it was her year at school who actually helped me get the buy a brick campaign off the ground that originally built the first classrooms which we started the school with.
Rotary helps us out again!
Eleven hard working Australians came over late November to help out for three weeks. They completed around 200 desks and chairs which will be used for next year’s new newly sponsored students.
No one at the school could have a sleep in as the group would be up at 6am hammering away! However they did a great job and by the time they had left had assembled around 170 desks and chairs. Its great to know that all the new sponsored kids who will enroll next year won’t have to sit on the floor!!
In between all the gluing and screwing, the group had a few moments where they could enjoy local culture like the famous Maasai goat BBQ’s!
I bet you don’t get that close to an elephant in Australia boys!
Welcome to Amy and Freda!
For three weeks from late November to early December two wonderful teacher educators from the USA have been giving professional development sessions with our teachers and leaders of the school. Everyone has absolutely loved the sessions and gotten a lot out of the girls’ visit. The girls have totally revamped the school’s curriculum so I look forward to seeing what our staff produces next year!
Below is one of our teachers, Mr Florian explaining his group’s input into one of the sessions. It was lovely to see all the teachers so enthusiastic about the training
Towards the end of their stay, Amy and Freda joined the 16 leaders of the school for dinner at a hotel in town. It was a lovely night of friendship and fun, which we will all remember. Below from the left is Trainee Head of Department Mr George, Kim (who helps me to run the school), Head of the Computer department Mr Nick, head of the Kiswahili Department Ms Diana and then Amy.
Our head of Mathematics Mr Koringo and head of our Science Depart Miss Belinda having a hug with Freda.
I really hope you enjoyed my November newsletter and I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season!
Hugs! Gemma