Angaza 2013

KAG School Board of Management

• Chairman: Joseph Gathonga
• Manager: Rev. Mohamed Jerumani
• Coordinator International links: James G. Kairo
• Treasurer: Mr. Mulinge

School Administration

• Headmaster: Harrison Kamere
• Accountant: Alphonce Okumu
• Curriculum Heads: Mr. Billy Pepela and M/s Doris Bagubagu
• Student’s Councilor: Nicholas Kimani; Christine Mogaka
• Games Patrons: Mr. Ngaira, Malova and M/s Elizabeth Katuthi

Message from school Manager

Rev. Jerumani Mohammed manager KAG School

At KAG School we have chosen the motto; rise and shine because it encapsulates our passion. Each word brings to focus an important element of our work

Rising has to do with one’s location perspective and surrounding, where one is in relationship to the situation around him or her. From the start, our school has been striving to raise the level of education in our location. With God’s and leadership of Mr Harrison, our school has risen considerably in the national exam performance. There is still room to do better than that but we are faced by challenges.

One of our challenges is that most of our students come from less privileged families. Their home environment is not conducive to proper studies. Their problems range from lack of food, study facilities like study tables and chairs. Some of them are limited by sunlight because if it gets dark they cannot study because they lack lights in their small huts. In order to overcome such challenges we propose that boarding facilities are provided. This would cater for the less privileged and students who come from far.

Security has become an issue all over. Without a fence, our school remains venerable to attacks. We cannot completely stop those attacks but fencing would definitely minimize them.

Shine means to send out or reflect light, if security will be assured and boarding facilities provided, the KAG staff will strive to develop students who will shine as they pursue their bright future

Message from the Head teacher

Mr. Harrison Kamere, Headmaster KAG School

Our dear reader welcome to our 11th edition of our Newsletter. The Year started with election mood in the country and everyone including institutions were not very sure of the hidden future based on the last general election. The election was held and it was one of the most peaceful elections we have ever had in the country. I recall one cartoonist drew a cartoon in one of our leading newspaper showing some journalists boarding the plane back saying there was nothing to be reported. The question was, is it that peace was not important to them?

In our school the mood was not different from the country but we kept our faith high. We undertook our professionalism a notch higher, our staff and school management carried on the school activity like any other year. This year we participated in ball games, athletics and Music festivals of which we emerged first in the county. We were very proud as everyone else was.

I am proud also to note that the dream of having a modern library that started three years ago was becoming a reality and this year it will be officially opened by our strong supporters from UK who have made sure the school dream comes true. I would like to thank most sincerely Rosemary and Jim, Dilly’s and Mike who have been leading a group from UK in realizing this dream. May the almighty God shower them with all the blessings they deserve.

I must also thank Jim’s Rotary club, Horbury and Osset Phoenix Rotary Club for supporting some students who came to school without l breakfast by donating funds for a breakfast club

Breakfast. A child with an empty belly cannot concentrate in class. The breakfast programme has really made a lot of difference to those students.

This year again ,through Rosemary, our scouts are very proud of having secured scout uniforms, it has always been their dream to have them but due to financial constraints they were unable but now smiles are all over their faces. I am optimistic that in future our girl guides in school will also be lucky.

I am also optimistic that in the near future we shall be having a fence around the school for the security of our students and the security of our school premises.

To sum it all the year started with a low note but due to the faith we had it ended with a high note

It has not been smooth running but I must thank the school management, teaching staff, subordinate staff, parents and students for playing their respective roles diligently and focused in the same direction, without which life would have been a nightmare to me.

I wish everyone Merry Xmas and happy new year 2014

If you want to help a child at the KAG School….

• School fees per child per year is approximately US$ 300 (equivalent to £150 or €200). This money is also enough to buy lunch and school books for one year.
• You can also give your donation in the form of desks (1 desk will cost £35).
• Sponsors are encouraged to send their support through Mrs Rosemary Donnan, 15 Tyburn Lane Emley, Huddersfield, HD 8 9SR ENGLAND. 01924 848142
• Or directly to the school account using the address below:-

KAG SCHOOL MSAMBWENI SECONDARY BURSARY

EQUITY BANK LTD

A/C No.: 044 029 4907929

Swift code: EQBLKENA

*for a follow-up please let us know when you send donation directly into the school account

Sponsors Page

Message from Rosemary Donnan

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Ndugu na Dada,

I cannot believe it has been nearly 12 months since Jim and I were with you all, and 2 years since Dilly’s and Michael were in Kenya. This year as well as Michael and Dilys, we are bringing another Doctor, Dr Brian Hill who, with his wife Carol, has sponsored 2 children for many years, and sponsors Joe and Mary who are my college friends. It is interesting to note that some sponsors have now done so for over 10 years and some sponsored pupils this year have completed Secondary School. A wonderful commitment and on behalf of the pupils I thank you.

In January 2013 the new breakfast Club started for children identified by teachers as arriving at school in the morning without breakfast. Thanks go to Horbury and Osset Phoenix Rotary club who have financed this for 12 months. This has been very successful and the charity will certainly continue to support it whilst it has funds. There are of course many more needy children who could benefit, but we just don’t have the funds. Similar breakfast clubs have also started in the UK in our present economic difficulties.

The Emley African Educational Project teams in the UK have been extremely busy this year with film shows, book sales and the African fayre, raising money to finish the Community library. We have also sent out 10 boxes of children’s books donated by a local Primary School. The carrier we used was DHL and each 10 kilo box cost £75. Thanks go to Morley Rotary club and a few individuals who donated money for transport. Any other UK residents who wish to donate an adult fiction or nonfiction book, along with £1.00 per book for carriage, can leave them with Dilly's or Rosemary.

The library is nearly completed and the team in Kenya will be painting, erecting shelves, covering books, and cataloguing them.

Thanks again go to Horbury and Osset Phoenix Rotary club who have donated £1500 to buy desks and computers for the library. These will be supplied by a charity that refurbishes old computers and trains the teachers.

KAG School is reaching out into the local Community with a Community library and it was the vision of our dear and very much missed friend, Rev Francis Ndoro.

I am sure, if he were still with us, he would be pleased to see that the project is near completion and that through love for one another, irrespective of color or religion, we can share this great gift of knowledge and hope for the future.

God Bless you all

Mungu awabariki wote

Rosemary

Message from Mike Gill

To the children of KAG School

I had one of those jobs where I was always jumping on planes and going to new countries around the world and I can say that the question I have been asked most often is “which country do you like the most”?

Well how can I answer such a question?

There are countries I have been to which are very hot and very dry and you have to watch out for camels and scorpions, there are other countries which are also very hot but where they have rainy seasons and there are lots of trees, they eat ugali and maybe you will see a snake.

But there are countries where the mountains are so high that they have snow on their peaks the whole year but when you go into the countryside, if you are very quiet, you can hear cow bells ringing, some places have buildings so high that the streets are permanently in the shade and through the day and the night you have to listen to the noise of the traffic and the sirens of the police cars.

I remember one country where the traffic noise was terrible and people drove like flies round a jam pot but when you entered a temple and climbed to the top there was tremendous calm and all you could hear was the tinkling of tiny bells

As I travelled I got used to eating different foods, one country enjoys wine and some people eat frog’s legs, some like to eat pierogi and drink vodka, others drink vodka but like to eat a soup called borsch, one country eats duck which is named after their capital city and they have a wall which is 8,850 km long, that’s like building a wall around the whole of Kenya twice.

Some people eat witchetty grubs; others roast beef and Yorkshire pudding whilst some have pasta with every meal

But the countries I enjoyed visiting were without exception the ones where I was made to feel welcome, where the local people greeted me with a smile and invited me to their homes and I met their families and that describes very accurately the welcome I received at KAG School with your head master, your teachers and most of all from you the children of KAG.

Its several years since I last visited you, in that time you will have grown up, maybe I wouldn’t recognize you now, some of those I met will have left school and I hope are putting into good use the education you gained in school.

You made me very welcome and the best way I can repay that is to help some of you in your education and in your general life, helping to protect you with clean water and mosquito nets.

In this little letter I have mentioned eleven different countries; can you work out which ones they are?

Mike Gill

Photo page

Pupils in creative art 2013

Making Pancakes 2013

Emley African fayre UK 2013

Let’s all appreciate the work done by Emley African fayre group in UK in soliciting the fund to develop our KAG school

Teacher’s corner

Did you know that

Mr. Ngaira

• Success is simple. Do what is right, the right way, the right time
• Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something
• A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty
• Our greatest glory is not I never falling but in rising every time we fall
• When it obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust your actions.
• It is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.

Lessons about money

Mr. Pepela

• Money has never made man happy, nor will it; there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants
• Whoever who is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money
• Money is only a tool, it will take you wherever you wish but it will not replace you as the driver
• A wise man should have money in his head but not in his heart
• A man is usually more careful of his money than of his principles
• A simple fact that is hard to learn is that the time to save money is when you have some

WAYS TO HAPPINESS

MR MALOVA

• Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today
• Never trouble another person for what you can do yourself
• Never spend money before you have it
• Never buy what you don’t want because it’s cheap
• Never repent of having eaten too little
• Never do anything that you are not willing
• Never let the devil that can push you towards pain.
• Never show haste in your routine activities.
• Never speak when angry
• Never think there is nothing special today

REMEMBER

• S-set your goals
• U-use your talents well
• C-commit your goals and plans to God
• C-character should be Godly
• E-expect challenges from anywhere
• S-sacrifice your time, money and yourself to achieve
• S-seek advice and success anywhere

Funny!!!

When you optimize your talents very well, you can pick money from people’s pockets and nobody will ever get the guts to call you a thief

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Wildlife/environment

What we are doing to the forest of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another. By cutting them down, we are cutting our living days down and vice vasa

Sooner or later we will have recognized that the earth has rights too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings can not live without mother earth, but the planet can live without human

BIBLE CLUB

BY CINDY CHUMBE

This is one of the best clubs in KAG School. It was started in 2007. It has always been active. Madam Kwekwe was the patron of this club but When she left Mr. Kimani and Md Mwali took over. The chairperson is Faith Mueni and her assistant is Robert Mutua.

Its members are from std 1 to std 8. The other leaders of this club are Mr. Omuse and Mr. Malova. Every member is doing his or her best to make this Club more lively. The aim of this club is to strengthen the faith of Christians. It is its Number one priority. By so doing it makes us know the bible well.

We often have rallies in every term where we visit certain places to be able to meet with fellow Christians from neighboring schools. Some of these schools are Matunda Bora, Msambweni Primary, Mwaroni, Jomo Kenyatta, St Mercy just but a few. Members of the scripture union always come to teach us more about the bible. These rallies also help us know each other better.

So far we have visited many places like Shimoni, Shimba hills, Bodo, Mwaembe, Ukunda, Mombasa and other schools. We also learn other things apart from C.R.E like the time we went to Shimba hills, we learnt about wildlife, we also went to Wasini Island and had a good time too. We do thank God because our club’s plans are always successful.

As we, the STD 8 pupils leave KAG school, we hope that this club will continue being better and better in the near future. Everything is possible before the lord. May God who started it make it more successful and even better.

We also thank the school administration for always assisting us financially. God bless Bible club, God bless KAG and God bless Kenya.

Wishing all the 2013 candidates success in their K.C.P.E

Games and Sports

MR NGAIRA

KAG School Msambweni is a learning Institution that provides education to the young people. Besides the teachable subjects we also encourage our learners to participate in co-curricular activities. We nurture young talents and provide favorable atmosphere in games and sports.

In KAG, our pupils participate in a variety of games such as football, volleyball, netball, rounder’s, cricket among others.

This year we participated in football, netball and volleyball up to regional level. At regional level, in football, boys played against Nice View Academy in the finals where we lost 1-0. We also played against Matunda Bora in the volleyball boys finals, where we could not make it.

We thank the school administration and all bodies concerned for providing facilities that we had requested for games and sports. This has helped our young boys and girls nurture their talents. We would also like to thank the teacher and pupils for their cooperation during the completion.

In athletics, we participated up to district level where we competed in both field events and track events at Mivumoni primary school. We too thank the bodies concerned for providing us with equipment’s requested such as javelin boys and girls, short put both boys and girls and discuss for both boys girls. This quality equipment’s motivated our pupils and aroused their interest as far as athletics are concerned.

Finally, we thank everybody who participated either directly or indirectly in promoting co-curricular activities in our school since …….

‘’Work without play makes Jack a dull boy’’ Thanks, and God bless you.

JOURNALISM CLUB

CINDY CHUMBE STD 8

It is one of the best clubs in school. It started a long time ago but it was not very active. Members just used to meet and read newspapers.

Thanks to its leaders Mr. Omuse and Mr. Sifuna, it has now become more active. The chairperson of that club is Cindy Chumbe and her assistant Edwin Mogaka. Members of this club are also active; they give real and informative news. On Monday, news is read in English. On Friday, news is read in Swahili. The aim of this club is to develop the language of its members. This helps them develop skills in composition and Insha writing.

We had planned to visit some places of interest but we were not able to. We hope that the remaining members will be able to visit those places next year.

Even as we the STD 8 leave, we are certain that the club is going to be more and better. We wish this club all the best

GIRL GUIDES CLUB

BY ROSE K. BARASA (Girl Guide leader)

The Girl Guide club is one of the most active clubs in KAG primary school. The club has 36 members. I greatly appreciate the programs implemented in our school through the support of the Kenya Girl Guide Association (KGGA). It ensures that the youths are empowered with knowledge and potential that build leadership capacity and provide the necessary life skills which change their practices and attitude. We also practice Essay writing competition, peer education whereby some of the pupils teach the other pupils and also do educative skills. Sometimes we go for rallies in which the girl guides are educated on issues that affect the youth. I sincerely appreciate the support of the school management and look forward to a stronger continuity in future.

Scouts club

By Mr. Omuse (scouts patron)

The most active movement in the KAG fraternity is the scouting club. We highly treasure the value of hard work and always move with motto ‘be ready always’

2013 has been a smooth ride in the movement. We have had a number of camps within the Msambweni zone. Members have been actively groomed in the spirit of care for the environment. A few have had the desire to move into initiating tree planting ideas.

The main challenge facing the club is lack of scout’s official uniform. Besides we have a number of issues to be proud of: first aid knowledge, journalism which has served a lion’s share in the sourcing of information to better the movement.

THE CRACK OF THE MIND

Once upon a time, there lived three deeply knitted friends. These involved a man, a dog and a donkey. The three lived in complete fear of God. They always went to prayer. One day, a man was left behind by his dear allies. While on the way, the donkey and the dog decided to come to a conclusion. Donkey said, ‘’ if I will see God today, I want to ask Him to give my 30 years to man.” ‘Well-spoken friend” replied the dog. “I will in return give my 30 years too” the dog exclaimed. This was not just a blessing. It turned into a curse. The years added to the man symbolically took the character of the animals who gave the same. Man later had a hard time to struggle, take donkey responsibilities which had very meager profit. The dog’s portion of years to man, took a tall wall too, the last 30 years became chaotic and of noisy experiences to man. As a matter of fact, take care of what a friend will give you, it may turn up to be of harm to you.

My promise

On my honour I promise my dedication to the service of the school, keep the members on facts that give realities to life, take them to the beauty of knowledge and influence the society around me with the scouting knowledge that proves care to the environment and always allow God to lead all around me

Bits and pieces

JOKES

Teacher: which dog can jump higher than a building?

Student: any dog, buildings can’t jump

Teacher: could you please pay a little attention here?

Student; yes sir, I am paying as little attention as possible

Teacher: Name one mammal that has one tooth

Answer: my grandmother

TONGUE TWISTERS

• She saw Sheriff’s shoes on the sofa, but was she so sure she saw Sheriff’s shoe on the sofa?
• A big black bear bit a big black bug and the big black bug bled black blood
• Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely
• I thought a thought but the thought I thought wasn’t the thought I thought I thought.

STORY TIME

Mike STD 7

Mgema liked drinking beer. Sometimes he would go the local shopping centre and drink until it was very late in the night. One day he drank until very late as usual. As he walked home, the alcohol started getting the better of him. He fell on the ground and fell asleep

Later that night it started raining. A lot of water started running down the path across which Mgema lay. Some drops got into his mouth.

‘No more beer!’ he said. Then he looked up and saw the moon. ‘Switch off the lights!’ he shouted, thinking he was at home and in bed.

The origin of the Luo of Kenya

The Descent of the Luo

The Luo also called Jaluo are an ethnic group in western Kenya north of Lake Victoria. They originated from Wau in southern Sudan near the confluence of the Meride and Sue rivers. Their arrival came in at least four waves arriving at different times; The joka jok,jok owinyi, jok omolo and Luo abasuba The Luo are the 3rd largest ethnic group in Kenya after the Kikuyu and the Luhya.the main Luo lively hoods are fishing farming and pastoral herding. They speak Dholuo language which belongs to the western Nilotic branch of the Nilo-Sahara

One of their favorite meals include fish especially tilapia and dagaa (omena) which is mostly available in Lake Victoria. Unlike many ethnic communities in Kenya the Luo do not practice the ritual circumcision of males as initiation. Instead, children formerly had their six lower front teeth removed at an initiation. This ritual has largely fallen out of use and many have come to the practice of circumcision at birth.

Traditionally, music was the most widely practiced art in the Luo community. It was used for ceremonial, religious, political, or incidental purposes. the most played music is ohangla dance which is played during ceremonies like beer parties, welcoming back the warriors from war, wrestling match and during Courtship. The commonly used instrument is nyatiti, an eight-stringed instrument. The other instruments include ongeng’o (shakers), horn (asili) and Abu (the flute)

Another unique Luo custom is wife inheritance whereby, if a man dies, one of his brothers or close relatives inherits his widow and must meet all of her marital requirements.

The Luo worshiped a single God, understood as being manifest in many everyday including the sun, moon, the lake and some wild animals such as the python. There were traditional healers, witchdoctors and sorcerers all of whom were concerned with the powers of spirits

A good loan is from a pessimist, he lives knowing that you might not pay back

ART CORNER

Not only are our pupils learning theory but are encouraged to nurture their talents:

Painting in the library

Covering and cataloguing books

List of KAG School Sponsors

The following individuals and organization have been recognized for their continued sponsorship of the students in the school.

• Nick and Jan
• Barrie Bowden
• Jim and Rosemary
• Michael and Dily’s
• Juliet and Clara
• Marijike De Boar
• Mark & Sarah
• St Peters School
• Helen and Aidan Downes
• Shirley Jackson
• Algie and Sue
• Brian and Pam
• Bill and Pat
• Gillian and John Emms
• Rita
• Jan Edgar and Tony Shannon
• Malcolm Wild
• Nigel and Glennis Le Page
• White chapel Church
• Anita Leversidge
• Horbury and Osset Rotary Club
• Dianne Hughes
• Jonathan and Julia
• Beryl Brookes
• Chris and Annette
• Jane Waldron
• David Grenier
• Christine Cummings
• Malcolm and Gill Wheeler
• Dianne Grenier
• Morley Rotary Club
• Rotary Club of Morley
• Mike and Flo
• Wayne and Clare Meehan
• Mike and Penny Yates
• Lt. Col and Mrs. Nieboer
• Mike and Leslie Miller
• Jim Huggins
• St. Helens School
• David and Susan Walker
• Mary Roberts
• Jonathan and Julia
• Felicity Pape
• Mike and Val Robb
• Lindsay Haycock
• Mike and Lisette
• John and Judy Blakey
• Mike Enns
• John Faulkner
• Anne Wibberley
• Graeme and Jenny Chalklin
• Brian and Carol
• Rachel and Robert Cave
• Phyllis Jubb
• Brian and Carol
• Mary and Joe Guerin
• Douglas and Helen Metcalfe
• Lisa Mills
• Peter Cypret
• Francisco
• Nico Koedam
• Harry and Olive Ellis
• Ian Siragher
• John Bullimore