Build A Community School for 200 Kids in Nguluni

Dear friends and partners,

The school calendar in Kenya and indeed in most parts of the world underwent major shifts as the world began the arduous journey into a future characterized by “new normal” after the debilitating effects of COVID -19. One year after re-opening, we are yet to return to our normal school calendar.

Despite the non-normalcy, our learners have continued to learn as we all inch forward into life’s journey. 2022 March saw 17 of the learners, 47% boys and 53% girls, we hoped to sit for their national examinations transition into post-primary education and life. Follow up showed that 90% transitioned into post-primary education.100% of girls transitioned into post-primary education.

The total school population in March 2022 was 114, up by 2% from 112 at the same time last year. However this is just 76% of the total school capacity. Our current Learner to Facility space use is 1 learner to 38 sq/feet of space. The support we received to construct more space each year through GlobalGiving has enabled us to have sufficient quality classroom learning space. A few years ago we had classrooms with earthen floors but this is now a thing of the past. All our classrooms are tiled and thus learners are assured of a dust-free learning environment. In addition to a healthy environment, we would like to construct a perimeter wall around the school to ensure safety of school resources even as the school continues to grow.

As the school grows infrastructure-wise, we also are working on expanding our curriculum offerings. Our digital literacy plan conceived in May 2021 was to equip the maker space with ICT equipment. The school has a 256 square foot library/maker space, that still needs equipping. We are working on setting up a simple robotics maker-space and have identified a partner to help our learners begin developing coding and robotics skills. Current skills being passed on to the children include problem solving and creativity skills, through our scholastic chess program that runs every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Learners are also being helped to develop their sports skills and currently the school focuses on soccer development for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18 years.

We are now working on ways to enroll at least 150 students each year for Pre-primary 1 up to Class 8 to access these skills and more from our education program. The new Curriculum system is set to see the first cohort transition into Junior Secondary School at the beginning of 2023 when the school calendar normalizes.

At the end of 2022 November, the first Grade 6 class will do a summative assessment under the new Competency-Based Curriculum. Our school has currently taken a decision not to venture into Junior Secondary School (J.S.S). Our current focus is to build our ability to effectively deliver a competency-based curriculum in partnership with concerned stakeholders. The above programs are supporting our vision of nurturing every learners potential.

For our partners, it never is enough to thank you. I’d therefore like to thank you for staying with us along this journey, for standing with the children and for building a better future for them and for us, for making the world a better place. Together we are making a difference.

Dear friends and partners,

Thank you so much for your continued support! We have been able to literally change the face of the school environment during the months beginning October through to December 2021.

We have not just ensured the old roofing was replaced, but have also painted all the classrooms to become more aesthetically appealing to our learners! We have also been able to ensure that the open well that had poor protection (covering) received a face lift.

The students continued to be supported through the provision of an all rounded education, tthrough active participation by teachers in providing both academic teaching as well as helping nurture the talents and skills of the learners at school.

Most children were also able to get meals especially the vulnerable learners in Pre-school to Grade 5 level as identified by their class teachers. This dedication has seen children growing in their knowledge  and practice of chess, soccer and responsibility through taking care of the environment, engaging in Young Farmers Clubs and participating in Performing Arts. Learners were able to showcase these skills during a School Cultural Day show organised by themselves and their teachers in the month of December.

Indeed, despite the challenges of the past year, the school has been able to grow and we, together, have continued to build the Acres of Mercy community school.

In the month of March 2022, the Class of 2021 will be transitioning to their respective next level classes. Class 8 will be sitting their national examinations from March 7th and transition to secondary school by May 2022. However, the school will be transitioning to the new CBC system fully in 2023 January and we are looking to set up a Junior Secondary School. The government has had a challenge meeting the demands of the change in curriculum and has called upon private schools to share the burden of education provision. For this reason, we plan to set up the school which will require additional capital fundraising beginning May- August 2022, so we can finish setting up at least 2 extra classes and recruit the right staff for the school, and source for all the learning resources by end of November 2022.

The task seems gargantuan but together we will be able to complete this in time and ensure we help our students transition without losing out during the transition period.

Thank you for your continued support and I sure do look forward to partnering with you more in this new direction in the coming months!

Dear friends and partners,

The days have run by so fast and now we are in the middle of another school term already! The school population now stands at 112 with a consistent attendance of about 95%. However, the school had days when daily attendance was as low as 78%. This was mainly due to what seemed like a measles outbreak and the school had to take the necessary precaution of letting some children stay away from school.

The school is still observing set COVID-19 protocols and working to keep children safe and learning. The school feeding program still continues with all children deserving of meals being served lunch, thanks to our partners’ support.

Students, especially boys in eighth grade have been growing through a mentorship program that seeks to help them develop skills and abilities that will help them succeed through primary school and beyond.

This year we have 17 students registered to sit for the Kenya National Examination Council national test at the end of March 2022. The students have already been taught through 62.8% of content. Students’ motivation to learn is fairly high given the strategy to incorporate and respect physical education time within the school routine. Students have been more willing to push themselves with the reward of ensuring they don’t miss physical education lessons.

In the next months we will continue student mentorship and also involve the parents more in their children’s school life. The pre-school students will also most likely get an extra playing section to enhance play including gross motor skills. We trust that this will build the students’ socializing skills, co-operative learning and playing as well as improve their physical, emotional and mental health.

Thank you for being a part of these transforming experiences for the students and making them happen!

Dear friends and partners,

It was in November 2020 that we last had a report to share. A lot has happened at the school, as we work on completing building physical structures and a learning environment that will help learners learn in an ever changing environment. With COVID-19 forcing us to begin finding new ways of working and living, it has taken us time to adjust to some of the necessary changes that we had to make.

The school reopened on January 4^th for 2^nd term and 3rd term respectively. For the first time in Kenya, our school calendar saw us having two years in one. This was confusing for teachers, management, children and every stakeholder had to be constantly reminded on the differences.

The school’s improvement goals remained as had been previously reported in the November 2020 report, namely; -

1. Pursue student mentorship to motivate students and support them during their time at school
2. Improve the level of Parental Involvement in their children’s learning
3. Improving students’ fluency in reading and comprehension
4. Improve teacher capacity to improve curriculum delivery and raise achievement of students and close achievement gaps for students not meeting expectations.

 Though interactions had been minimized in the school system as we followed COVID-19 management we still managed to still prepare students for their final examinations.

 We were also able to complete $4129 of buildings and sanitation, which also helped to expand the class capacity of class 8 students. The amount represents 40% of all spending in quarter three.

 Our library that supports literacy was also made more accessible, close to 2000 titles/ books were read by students, from the borrowed books records while 40 had been borrowed by staff members.

 The school was able to hold one parent’s meeting where 63% of parents participated. This is great progress from the 47% figure of previous attendance for the same period when we started implementing the school improvement plan. As at 25^th February 2021, parent to children ratio averaged 1:2.

 In March, Class 8 completed their National Examinations, with 21 students, 12 girls and 9 boys transitioning from Primary level to secondary level. The rest of May will see them being selected to either join secondary education or tertiary training schools.   

 Grade 4 also completed their school year and will be starting Grade 5 in July 2021. The school is in the process of acquiring resources for the new year and needs about $500 for textbooks for this cause as it’s a pioneer class in the new CBC (Competency Based Curriculum) system.

 A new term begins on Monday, 10^th May 2021. We look forward to partnering together as we try to achieve the goals aforementioned

Dear friend/partner,

When the government announced an impending return to school, we set to prepare our learning environment to comply with the basic health protocols given by the Ministry of Health.

We have ensured we have the following: -

1. Handheld infrared thermometers to screen students. We purchased one
2. Sufficient sanitation, hand washing points and water storage tanks
3. Sanitizers and soap
4. Spacing within classrooms and staffrooms
5. Nutrition and food safety
6. Manning the point of entry/ recording health data for screened individuals
7. Complete building of library and makerspace

The measures have been sufficient, allowing us to reopen school for 26 students, and 10 staff as we prepare for the rest who are expected to rejoin school in January 2021.

I take this opportunity to thank you our partners for enabling us meet the above-mentioned protocols thus ensuring our children are safe and protected, both within the school and outside of the school.

I look forward to our continued partnership to do more in terms of innovative interventions for to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 within schools, school systems and the home.

We celebrate you!