Written by:
4/13/2011 3:11 PM 

 HABARI : NEWS FROM JUBILEE SCHOOL KENYA- MARCH 2011

Since I left Kenya for the US on 7th March 2011 after my five weeks’ visit to Kenya -- and mainly the School, there have been various happenings in the school; notable is the recent participation of the school in the regional sports competition which was held at another School in the central division of Narok County on 25th March 2011. Our boys participated in 400 meter by 400 meter relay while the girls took part in a walk. This was a perfect opportunity for the pupils to better their skills and talents in extra curricular activities. It was also a chance to mingle and exchange topics with students from other schools. Two teachers accompanied the children to the ballgames where students represented their school in the sub zone level.
Our school has also sent one of the teachers, Elizabeth Mwizi, to a school’s music training workshop to train in sets of music in preparation for the music festivals which will be held next term. It is hoped that with the skills she acquired Elizabeth will be able to teach and train the students so that they can participate in next term’s event. This event is held annually and schools all over the country show their prowess in various items they present such as choral verses, traditional dances, skits and short plays among others. It is also presented in different languages; kids get a chance to know other tribal cultures and interact with their peers. This has become an annual event in Kenya and draws a lot of euphoria when the season starts because almost all primary and secondary schools and training colleges in the country participate. It is such a huge event in Kenya and Schools that win get an opportunity to perform before the Head of State. This will be a noble effort to help the kids gain self confidence and to improve their self esteem.
Generally the students have been doing well in their academic and other school activities. We always have challenges during this first term of the year when we get children in class 3 who are transferring from different schools to our school. Most of them come with very poor academic backgrounds for their age and teachers have to keep trying so that all the children may come to one level. Another challenge is that because of the change to a new environment most new children take a while to become acclimated. Children keep getting sick with common colds, malaria and this keeps us visiting the local hospitals and clinics.
This report is coming at the end of the term (semester) when the children take their internal examinations to measure the work of the term before they break for four weeks. Children will be home from 7th April 2011 for four weeks. It is always exciting the night before the children leave for holidays. They sing almost half the night and I believe a warm welcome awaits them at home as they reunite with members of their families and relatives. No bell for a while.
I left Kenya after laying foundation of two dormitories and I have been communicating with the workers who are doing well; four layers of bricks have been rounded up in both dormitories. As I instructed, the carpenter has been fitting the new kitchen with necessary shelves / lockers and this makes it easier for the cook to go about his duties. The school now has six trained teachers, a matron, a cook, a maintenance person and a night watchman besides the construction workers who are not permanently employed. The school has an advisory committee in which I am represented by my niece Grace and has the Head teacher as secretary.

He who is unable to dance says that the yard is stony. Maasai proverb Fr. Symon Ntaiyia

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