Four Form 4 boys won the first prize in the Kenya National Music Festivals in Nyeri beating a field of 15 other groups in the Quartet Own Choice Category and garnering 94% in their rendition. The quartet made up of Daniel Abate, Simon Bakibinga, Kennedy Maina and Anslem Murimi is set to perform in the winners’ gala on Thursday 16th August in the morning. Join us in congratulating these boys, who’ve been part of the school choir (Vox Leonis) since Form 1, for their sterling performance.
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Jul
Jul
The show kicked off with Caden Maina, Nathan Njenga, Bart Mugambi, Gabriel Kanja and Justin Karanja (S 3) who played a song by Them Mushrooms, ‘Jambo Kenya,’ on recorder. Next came Haydn Nyori Mathew Njogu, Liam Maina, Hugh Nyori, and Gregory Mogesa all in Grade 1, hitting the stage with the famous Christmas season carol ‘We Three Kings’. The first rap song to be presented was ‘Santa Disstrack’ by Logan Paul. It was catchy and was performed by Nathan Njogu, Jeremy Murimi, Dante Echessah, and Kyania Kyule (S 4).
This was closely followed by a piano performance by Owen Bett (S 2), who played ‘Gospel Flare’ and ‘Allegretto.’ Other piano performances were by Emmanuel Njenga (S 3) who also played ‘Gospel Flare’ and ‘Allegretto.’ Kerama Nyanyuki (S4) performed ‘Waltz in G,’ while Alvin Kimathi (S 5) entertained us with the piece ‘Swans on the Lake.’ The trio of Aidan Muiga, Dylan Mungatta and Jeffrey Kamau (G2) later took to the stage with the rap ‘Mans Not Hot’ by Big Shaq, which we must say they did well to pull off.
After that piece of entertainment came Ignatius Maina (G 2) & Enock Maina (S 5), (not brothers) who took a shot at Eric Wainaina’s patriotic song ‘Daima Kenya.’
This year we had a magician all the way from Puerto Rico, (according to our fancy master of ceremonies). This young boy called Caesar Okumu astonished us with the trick ‘I know your card’ revealing the judge’s card, which was a nine of spades.
Jeremy Gitiba (S 7) later performed a song titled ‘Mama’ by Jonas Blue after Jonathan Mwangi’s (G 2) piano performance, ‘Piano Surlisse.’
The Akwaaba Dance was the climax of the show. Seven boys went on stage filled with energy and danced to the recently released song by Mr. Eazi. They were: Gabriel Kariuki, John Paul Musundi, Nigel Otieno, Leishery Munene, (S 6), Michael Odhiambo (G 2) and Elvis Githinji (S 5).
Jimmy Mathenge (S 5), sang in a powerful soprano, ‘All of Me’ by John Legend.
Julian Mayieko, Jermaine Muchiri and Michael Karanja (G2) performed a gospel song titled ‘Chosen Generation’, which is a popular hit from 2 years ago.
Then, it was interesting to have a class 5 pupil, Enock Maina, put away his cowardice and sing ‘Coward of the County’ originally by Kenny Rogers, and typically any parent’s favourite artist.
Roman Mburu, Leo Mwagambo, Ryan Khafafa, Adam Otieno, Christopher Kiai and Tyler Maina treated us to a comical skit which they organised on their own, thanks to an idea they got from one of their teachers.
The last performance was by a group of class 5’s who treated us to a rap ‘Black’ without instruments but instead tried having someone beatbox for them.
Truly, the second edition of the Primary Talent Show will be remembered for a long time.
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Jul
Jul
This year aside from the wonderful songs presented, we had a variety of presentations that showed that Strathmore’s got talent:
SPOKEN WORD
This category had two performances, the first titled “Keep on Keeping on” by Douglas Kabui (F 1A). In it he tried to bring out the struggles of a young person who is facing a tough situation at home. He was quite dramatic, dressing up in hospital attire, wrapped in bandages and projecting his voice with great confidence. If any of us ever face a difficult situation we can recall the words of Douglas.
Despite some hiccups, Kennedy Maina (F 4&) braved it out and got back on stage, seizing his second chance and making the best out of it. His message was beautiful; certainly one to hold on to for a long time.
PIANO
Three delightful piano pieces were presented to add variety to the performances. Ian Karanja (F 1&) played “Seven Years Old’ by Lukas Graham, while Ryan Chironga (F2&) played an exotic piece by Andrea Bocelli titled ‘’’Con te partirò’ or ‘Time to Say Goodbye’. Kyle Odula (F 1A) made us hold our breath by playing ‘Turkish March’ which he did almost flawlessly.
RAP
Arthur Lugalia (F 4&) was the only rapper of the day with an own composition. He is really taking his passion to a higher level.
DANCE
The two dances were the more exciting performances of the day. Phillip Njoroge showcased several dance styles. Later, Curtis Oluoch (F 4A), Samuel Gatebi (F 4&), Alex Maina (F 4A) Trevor Mutisya (F 4A) and Kevin Mungai (F 4&) really left the audience cheering with their well synchronized mashup.
BALL JUGGLING
Away from song and dance, we had two soccer lovers Alain Murage (F 4A) and Felix Kikuyu (F 4& ) compete in this category. They displayed their skills before an admiring crowd.
ACCOMPANIED SONG
This category undoubtedly had the most performances; about nine in total. Each performing group was incredibly gifted as the performers showcased their raw talent ‘live on stage’. Here are some of the most outstanding performances in our view.
‘California King Bed’ was the first item of the day. It was performed by Lewis Muriuki (F 3&).
The song ‘Reckless Love’ by Cory Asbury was incredibly performed by Anslem Murimi (F 4A), with Phillip Njoroge (F4&) providing accompaniment on the keyboard. The song featured as the first and only gospel song proving to be in a league of its own. Indeed, the song proved to be a success passing on its message on God’s love clearly.
Storm Gachoki (F 4&), Andrew Muthotho. (F 4&), Daniel Njuguna (F 4A), Trevor King’ang’i, Michael Kamae and Kevin Miungai (F 4&) sang ‘Kuliko Jana.’ Their rendition of the 2015 hit song by Sauti Sol, was creatively done, with an additional spoken word from Trevor to spice it up. It was indeed ‘from another world’.
Originally done by The Neighbourhood, ‘Sweater Weather’ was performed by Anslem Murimi, Louis Kiguta (F 4&) and Muriithi Mwenda (F 4&). The trio has been performing together ever since they walked into Strathmore, freshly minted from primary. Certainly they did not disappoint in this performance, as their amazing group work spoke volumes for itself.
The song ‘Till The Love Runs Out’ was spectacularly performed by Daniel Abate (F4A) with Louis Kiguta, Michael Kamae and Phillip Njoroge as a worthy accompanying team. Abate’s voice clearly rang out with each rise and drop in tempo proving he is among the more gifted singers in the school.
‘Dark Times’ performed by Hillary Kangethe. (F 4 A) and Daniel Abate proved to be a huge success. The instrumentalists comprising of Muriithi Mwongo, Louis Kiguta and Michael Kamae offered the best support the duo could get.
‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen was brilliantly performed by Nezar Gatere (F 4A), Gico Ndegwa (F 3A) and Jeremy Njoroge (F 3&). Despite one glitch (which undoubtedly teaches about the danger of trying to hit high notes with a scratchy throat), the song was still well done.
The song, ‘I Have Nothing’ by Whitney Houston was brilliantly performed by Mark Gitaka (F 3&) whose voice was spectacular. To add on to that, there was an act by Victor Mwendia (F 3A) and Nezar Gatere to go with it.
UNACCOMPANIED SONG
This category had only one performance, truly befitting to stand on its own.
The song titled ‘Shosholoza’ was performed by Hillary Kangethe, Anslem Murimi, Simon Bakibinga (F 4A), Emanuel Gacheru (F 4A), Michael Kamae, Phillip Njoroge, Louis Nduhiu (F 4&) and Daniel Abate.
The song is of South African origin and was usually sung to express the hardship of working in the mines. The word ‘shosholoza’ means go forward or make way for the next man. It is very popular among South Africans and is often considered as “South Africa’s second National Anthem”.
The voice output from the singers was great and they consequently received a huge round of applause. Congratulations to all the performers!
05
Jun
Jun
Every student in Strathmore is assigned a teacher who acts like a father, big brother and friend all in one. The tutor can call his tutee out of class at any time and discuss the student’s spiritual, academic, and social life and, when conditions are favourable, even do a post-match analysis between Man U and Arsenal!
In some cases, the tutor becomes the only adult that the boy can freely talk to. This helps the students by availing in their lives someone who can help contextualise their successes, failures, joys, frustrations and fears.
A typical conversation with a tutee will revolve around school work and grades, study habits, how to spend leisure time, virtues, friendship, responsibilities at home and spirit of service, prayer, responsible use of the gadgets, university and careers etc.
The relationship between the tutor and tutee does not end when the boy leaves Strathmore. There have been cases when past students have come back to seek the advice of their former tutors, especially before making important decisions in life.
22
May
May
Education is more than passing on of knowledge. Education is about the passing on of a culture. Our culture both represents and shapes who we are. Although inescapably exposed to the general culture in our society, while they are living at home, your sons’ most influential cultural experiences should be dictated by home and school. To this effect, we at Strathmore seek to collaborate with you in providing a culture for your sons that will shape them according to your expectations and hopes.
The most important agent for surrounding your sons with the culture you desire is the home environment you create. Given how much children learn from the environment around them, you parents have a special power to form and deform. Of course, you could not hold the former without also risking the latter. Your values and example have an impact. If you put away your own phones when you sit at the dinner table, then you form your children into believing that phones should not interrupt the sacredness of dinnertime. If you keep your phone with you and check it, even furtively, while at the table, your sons will learn that constant access to their phones is accepted (you do it).
Much the same way as contaminated water is passed through a filter to remove harmful elements, a number of technical devices (filters, routers, timers …) that impede the passage of negative elements have been developed for the Internet. These devices produce an “immediate prevention”, which presupposes the “remote prevention” of a cultural and ethical nature that fosters in the person the decision to want to use devices and the Internet well.” Without this cultural and ethical component, filters will be of very little use. So, here are some ideas – both ethical and technical – for creating a healthy formative culture at home. This is by no means an exhaustive list, or a final list. Read it, rather, as a sample of what a list of family cultural traits could be like, in no particular order of importance.
- Have a Library at home
If you want your sons to develop into readers, then you need to present a culture of reading at home. It may occasionally be more convenient to read a book on an iPad, or to listen to
Audio-books, but there is no substitute for having physical books at home that stare your sons daily in the face. Your sons benefit from seeing you, on a regular basis, grab a book from a shelf or from a side table and sit down to read. That image conveys to them that reading is for adults, and that through hard work and habit, they are making themselves capable of sharing that activity with the civilized, educated world. If they never see you reading, no matter how much you counsel them to do so, they will invariably believe that reading is for kids in school but not something grown men do.
- Establish and protect order in common areas of your home.
This way you can teach your sons that you have the expectation of order in all areas of the home, including his bedroom. After all, the bedroom is not really his room but rather the room in which he sleeps. Order is a way for us to make the space we inhabit available to others. Order is not only an act of self-discipline; it is also an act of charity.
- Aim to have dinner together every day.
An occasional failure to this plan will still ensure that you have family dinner most of the time. There is just no better way to teach your sons about the importance of making time for family. Only by adamantly protecting this time, will you teach them that being together for dinner is the best use of time no matter how busy you are. Given that deciding when career and social obligations or demands weigh more than family time is a hard balance to strike, parents need to be the wise arbiters.
- Dedicate a nightly time to family prayer.
It does not have to be long, as a matter of fact, it is better if it is rather short. Maybe not even five minutes. But there is something powerful about a family gathering at the end of the day – just before the youngest goes to bed – and praying together. Everyone has an opportunity to mention one or several intentions for which he would like the family to pray. This teaches your sons both that men pray for what they care about most, and also what it is that you most care about.
- The use of any media in our home should be consistent with our beliefs and values as a family. Below are examples of rules that parents can enforce for various media and devices. It’s wise to write them out, in a posted “Media Contract” that – if necessary – everyone signs:
a. TV: Watching TV is a special event, not a regular routine. In general, it is also a family event, not a private pastime. No TV before school, before homework is done, or during meals. Always ask permission to turn on the TV; watch only approved programs. Certain nights are “quiet nights”; the TV stays off so we can focus on family activities and doing other things. (Choose these nights together as a family).
b. Video Games: All video games must be previewed by a parent and limited to agreed-upon times.
c. Phones: No mobile devices at meals. Unless permission is granted, no use of mobile devices after agreed-upon times (set a reasonable curfew).
d. Laptops: parents should create a guest profile for students who need laptops for school projects. If a student needs to install a program or an application or download a resource, they need to go through the parents – who retain the administrator password.
e. Movies & Series: No R-rated movies or series and no PG-13 or PG movies without parental permission.
f. Internet/Wi-Fi: Every internet enabled device should have a filter – including video games – e.g. PlayStation, Xbox etc. No use of the Internet without parental approval. You must have parental permission to download anything. Do not share your password with friends or over email. Never physically meet someone you have met online. If a stranger tries to involve you in an online relationship, tell Mum or Dad right away. Pornographic and hate web sites are off limits and blocked by an Internet filter installed by the family.
(NB: Digitally savvy kids know how to get around most of these controls, which is why our talking with them about these issues is essential for developing the most important control – their conscience).
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Mar
Mar
The French embassy in Kenya and its partners, the Institut Français, RFI Savoirs and Arte Radio has developed a pedagogical project with both a linguistic and an audio part.
This year, the 2018 contest involved making a 1 and a half minute podcast in French. The contestants had to make an audio recording, discussing the topic: “The Ideas of the Night”. These podcasts will then be published on the Institut Français’ website for a “mapped” listening of the nights of the world.
We are happy to announce that for the Kenyan Secondary School’s category; the first prize went to Daniel Abate, one of our Form 4 students. Congratulations Daniel! Bravo et Félicitations !
Daniel will receive his prize on the 25th of March 2018 during the Francophonie Day at the Catholic University of East Africa in Nairobi (CUEA).
21
Mar
Mar
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Felix Saiya. I have a P1 certificate and diploma in education and I have taught for 9 years in three different schools: Irigithai in Githurai 45, Makini School and now at Strathmore. I teach Swahili, Math and Science to class 2 to 4 pupils.
What inspired you to come to Strathmore School?
I desired to be part of a team that instils discipline in their students.
What is your experience in Strathmore School so far?
It has been minimal for I have been here for only a month but I was in a teacher’s seminar in Lukenya and the teachers were warm and welcoming towards me.
What mode of correction do you use?
I believe in dialogue so as to know what the problem is.
According to you what are the elements of a good student at Strathmore School?
To me a student has to have the following elements: discipline, willingness to learn, honesty and hard work. I like to focus on the whole formation in nurturing a child not only in academics but also in sports.
How do you like the facilities in Strathmore School?
I have not seen the whole school yet but so far in my opinion the facilities are excellent.
How would you improve the learning experience in Strathmore School?
I would improve the school by bringing creativity to the leaners through writing and reading of story books.
What do you think about our tutoring system in Strathmore School?
I think it is really good as the tutor mentors and advices the student and he always has time for the student.
What sport activities do you participate in?
I play handball mainly and football.
What are your hobbies?
I am an author of K.C.P.E C.R.E and the new curriculum text books. I also like watching movies and football, listening to gospel music, travelling and am also a church singer.
As we wind up our interview, any advice you would give a student?
Yes. Students should know themselves first; make their own decisions and avoid peer pressure and choose their friends wisely.
21
Mar
Mar
The school transport system will face a major overhaul. A raft of changes were announced by former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i in a bid to guarantee safety of minors as they commute between learning institutions and their homes.
School bus yellow is a colour that was specifically formulated for use on school buses in North America in 1939. The color is now officially known in Canada and the U.S. as National School Bus Glossy Yellow and was originally called National School Bus Chrome. The pigment used for this color was, for a long time, the lead-containing chrome yellow.
The color was chosen because it attracts attention and is noticed quickly in peripheral vision, faster than any other color. Scientists describe this as follows: “Lateral peripheral vision for detecting yellows is 1.24 times greater than for red.
In April 1939, Dr. Frank W. Cyr, a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York organized a conference that established national school-bus construction standards for the U.S., including the standard color of yellow for the school bus. It became known officially as “National School Bus Chrome”. The color was selected because black lettering on that hue was easiest to see in the semi-darkness of early morning.
The conference met for seven days. The color was adopted by the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology] as Federal Standard No. 595a, Color 13432.
The conference approach to school bus safety, as well as the yellow color, have endured into the 21st century. Dr. Cyr became known as the “Father of the Yellow School Bus.” Nowadays the color is used by almost all countries in the world.
The color the school chose to use is Panton 012C School Bus Yellow, Lead and Chrome free.
30
Jan
Jan
As we embrace the new curriculum, Standard 1 and 2 have acquired new tags. They will henceforth be referred to as Grade One and Grade Two. Our Grade 1 boys reported to school on Tuesday, 16th January 2018. Fresh and enthusiastic faces thronged the school main entrance in the company of their parents. This was going to be 2018’s Grade 1 the pioneers of the new curriculum’s first day of school . They enjoyed the company of their parents right up to the registration table where they were welcomed by the Head of Section and their Class Teacher. They were later taken through the class procedures and also familiarized themselves with the new school environment.
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Jan
Jan
Tuesday, 9th January 2018 marked the beginning of Form 1 2018. Fresh and handsome faces full of expectations milled around the Form 1 classes in new uniform and carrying bags full of new books. They were ushered into their classes by their Class Teachers at around 7:10 am ready to start the journey of 4 years. We wish them success.
