KIANDA SCHOOL E-NEWSLETTE May Issue 2019 MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents Happy Easter. Welcome back to Term 2. Term 1 went by pretty fast but was jam-packed with amazing activities. We had the parents’ seminars and courses which were well attended. We appreciate the effort you make to avail yourselves for these sessions. The students took part in various sporting activities some of which we have highlighted. Unfortunately, we are not able to include all of the them in the newsletter since we don’t want to make it too long. If you wish you can visit the school website: www.kiandaschool.ac.ke and get up to date with all the happenings in the School. The main events of Term 1 were the Eucharistic Procession and the Primary Creative Arts Show at the end of the term. I’m sure that you will agree with me that the pool of talent in the School is vast and waiting to be tapped. We were delighted to have an item from the Std 4 moms. Kudos to you. We look forward to having more items from parents in future. This term, our focus is on athletics which will culminate in what has now become a much looked forward to tradition – the Kianda Family Sports Day. I think I should add the word fun because that is what it is all about. We envisage a

wonderful day as has been in the past. The students will also be taking part in the Music Festivals. We wish them all the best. We will end 2nd term with another important event - the Parents’ Graduation Ceremony. I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very good term and thank you all for your continued support. Miss Odera Primary Creative Arts Variety Show (Saturday 6th April) Intense preparations, dress rehearsal, costumes selection and a lot of hard work from teachers went into the 6th April Creative Arts Variety Show in Kianda School. The event contained an African mix of items such as the Class 7P Rwandese Dance-Irabyuka, Sarafina by 5T, Kikuyu singing game by 2T, Mamushungola, a Giriama dance by 7T and Kunani a Luhya traditional dance by 8P. Class 4T treated the animated audience to a choral verse, Sina Makosa. Prepared by Miss Mary Gitau, author of the choral verse, it sent ripples of laughter through the school hall. Wendy Jelimo (Grade 1T) played Gu-Zheng, a Chinese string instrument and gracefully danced Lingbo, a Chinese dance that won a huge round of applause. For the first time there was an item by Standard 4 mothers who recited a humorous shairi: ‘Sheng in Lugha Gani?’ causing lots of laughter. The event ended with a Scottish Dance, Strip the Willow, produced by Mrs. Pamela Odengo, Head of Co-Curricular Activities. The lively item, complete with Scottish costume, led to a dance for parents, at the invitation of Mrs. Albina Kamau. All was smiles and dance steps in a wonderful grand finale.

Music Recital The Music Department registered excellent performance in this year’s International exams (ABRSM). To celebrate the outstanding results, the Department organized a recital. Students who had scored above one hundred and twenty marks performed some of the pieces from their exam. A good number of parents were present during the performance. The climax of the recital was a father- daughter duet of Neema Mbindyo 8P and her father Mr. John Mbindyo who entertained the audience with an instrumental from the song, ‘Time

to Say Goodbye.’ It was a short-

KIANDA SCHOOL E-NEWSLETTE May Issue 2019

event but superb. The students that participated were: Laura Wabomba, 8P – guitar, Juanita Achieng', 5T- piano, Samantha Muthui, 6T – violin, Mumbi Kebuchi, F4- guitar, Ivanna Githinji 8T- piano, Atemei Ikol, F3- guitar, Shalom Omufila, 7T- violin, Brigid Midwa, F4K – piano, Leila Amadi, 6P- violin, Gloria Ogutu, 6P- violin, Faith Sukantet, 8P- drum set, Neema Mbindyo, 8P- piano

Eucharistic Procession (21st February)

An annual event in the school calendar is the Eucharistic Procession. On this day, paths around the school are strewn with beautiful patterns made of flowers. The patterns are designed by the students. This year the flower carpet had as a theme the four seasons -winter, summer, autum and spring. They were spectacular. At each altar the chaplain, Fr. Fernando Jimenez, read some verses from the Gospels and said some prayers for different intentions. He was assisted by Fr. Conor Donnelly.

A Rising Tennis Star

At a very young age, Karita Munene a Class 5P pupil, has asserted her love for tennis. During a recent Mini-Tournament, she easily scooped a gold medal. Karita understands that to be best in the world at anything is great but requires more than a little effort. A fast rising star in tennis, Karita has already been selected to join the National Junior Tennis Team. During a free-wheeling interview with Tamara Kinyumu 6P, Karita discusses tennis life, her dreams and how she balances her love for tennis and academics.

Q: What is it like to be a tennis player?

A: Tennis calls for internal toughness, grit. It can be tiring, you can get injuries, there are moments of defeat but then there are moments when you banish all those hurts at one go, with a great win! Q: When did you realize your love for Tennis?

A: When I was a little girl in kindergarten. Q: How do you prepare for your matches to ensure you win?

A: I mostly do my practice at Parklands Club or at the school court with the help of the school’s tennis coach, Mrs. Cynthia Kamau.

Q: You have been selected to join the National Junior Team. Tell us more about this. A: It was pretty amazing! Well I would say it’s commitment, training and practice. I practice a lot. This has inspired me to keep

working hard and to remain focused. Q: How do you balance academics and tennis? Is it difficult?

I have a great coach who is concerned about my success in academics and tennis. It’s usually difficult to juggle everything but fortunately I have an amazing coach who is quite flexible, understanding and supportive. Q: Is there a star tennis player that you look up to for inspiration?

A: Serena Williams. She’s an exceptional player. She really plays so well.

Well done Karina. the sky and beyond is the limit.

STEM Interhouse Competition –

High School Secondary Section

This year’s STEM Inter-House competition was a march to a different drummer. The first part of the competition was a Kahoot related activity. Kahoots! is an internet game-based learning platform. The competition comprised questions linked to core subjects namely; English, Kiswahili and Mathematics as well as the three science subjects Physics, Biology and Chemistry. Each house had four participants from Form I to Form IV. An example is a physics related activity in which members of each house competed to create the tallest structure in 5 minutes, using playdoh, straws, some weight and cello tape. This activity elicited quite some puzzlement. Blue House won the competition.

KIANDA SCHOOL E-NEWSLETTE May Issue 2019

Parents’ Courses and Seminars

First term is traditionally a parenting term, mainly because it is marked by a beehive of activities organized by the Parenting Office. The programme includes sessions on First Letters, Married Love, Adolescence and Teenage courses. The aim of the program is to foster GLUE in couples. GLUE is an acronym for G- Growth in unity, L- Learning how to be united as a couple, U- Understanding of self and others. E- being a good example. Grade 3, Std 8, and Form 2 had half day seminars on the topic “Navigating the Digital World with my Daughter”, while the Std 6, Std 8, Form 3 and 4 had one on “Walking with my daughter through academic and social challenges.”

First Aid Training for Staff On 4th -5th February some members of staff underwent a 2- day First Aid Training by St. John’s Ambulance. The focus of the training was on how to deal with choking, fainting, injuries, burns and how to stop bleeding when an accident occurs.

New Members of Staff

Cheryl Ogweno, Assistant Teacher Grade 2P

Mrs. Angeline Chanzu Assistant Teacher Grade 2T

Mildred Onyango, Assistant Teacher Grade 1P

Mildred Adhola, School Nurse

New members of the Kianda Family Staff Sara Baraza Class Teacher Grade 2P Celestine Omukhulu (Head of Studies Lower Primary). Faith Kimasia (Housekeeper) Parents Mr & Mrs Wanjohi parents to Shery, 7P.

Mr & Mrs Kirabo parents to Joan, 3P. Mr & Mrs Orina parents to Valeria Orina, 2T.

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby and to any other family we may have inadvertently left out.

Other Activities in Term I

Whole School

Beginning of the year Mass Thanks Giving Mass for KCPE and KCSE

Secondary

F2-4 School Retreats Class Seminars

F1 & 2 Recollections

F3 & F4 Career Talks

F1-4 Leadership Seminar

F1 & 2 Bonding Trips

F1 Form 1 reporting

Whole School

Basketball, Hockey, Athletics & Swimming League Matches Public Speaking Swimming Gala

Primary

Std1-8 Academic Trips

Std 5-8 Class Seminars

Whole School

Inter-House Spelling Bee

Grade 1 Reporting

Staff Staff Talks KVATT Training for Managers Staff Seminar Class Teachers& Form Mistress Seminar Occupational Health Safety Training New Staff Orientation Seminar

Parents Team Leaders Couples breakfast Meetings First Holy Communion Meeting Form 3 & 4 Parents’ Academic Meeting Form 1 Parents Orientation Seminar