WHS Students Compete in Technovation Challenge

For the past three years, girls from Waddington High School have taken part in the Technovation Challenge.  The challenge requires participants to identify a problem in their community and create a mobile app solution that addresses the issue.  The challenge is open to girls from all over the world, and many schools in Nairobi are taking part.  The winners receive the opportunity to visit Silicon Valley in the United States and meet with leaders in technology innovation.  

Waddington High School was selected to participate because a former WHS alumnus, Leonida, was involved with the program while she was at University.  In Kenya, the challenge is sponsored by Safaricom Telco.

The linked YouTube video is the WHS entry, which describes a mobile shopping app that would allow shoppers to buy groceries online for later pickup or delivery.  The girls featured are (from left to right): Ruth Kavata, Michelle Okatch, Susan Wetendi, Victoria Akinyi, and Faith Mutheu.  The WHS team is coached by Madan Peris and Mr. Joseph.  

Additional information on the Technovation Challenge 2017 is available at www.technovationchallenge.org.  

Curriculum Update

Every few years the Kenyan Ministry of Education updates the books that are included in the curriculum for English and Kiswahili classes throughout Kenya.  Having a thorough knowledge and understanding of these "set books" is critical for Kenyan high school students as they are examined upon their comprehension of these texts on their KCSE examinations.  

Recently, the Ministry announced changes to the "set books" that children will be required to read in 2017.  The new texts adopted by the Ministry include the following:

English Texts:

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Memories We Lost and Other Stories compiled by Chris Wanjata

Swahili Texts:

Kigogo by Pauline Kyovi

Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine by Ken Walibora and Said A. Mohamed

Competition among publishers to have their books named as one of the "set books" is fierce in Kenya.  Publishers lobby relentlessly for their books because being named a set text guarantees huge book sales and a financial windfall for publishers.  There have even been accusations of corruption from publishers who feel their books were not given due consideration by the Ministry of Education. In recent years, the Ministry has also been under pressure to change set books less frequently in order make the cost of education in Kenya more affordable.

Fortunately for the children at Waddington High School, a donation was recently made which covered approximately half the cost of the required set books.  The teachers determine in which order the books are read, but each student will read all of the required books before they sit for the KCSE.

Sponsors of  high school students in Forms 3 and 4 may wish to ask them about their set book reading in their letters.  The Pearl, in particular, is easily accessible in libraries in English-speaking countries, and there is quite a lot of information available about the book online as well.

GPS Fun Day

Fun Day at Galilee Primary School!

Earlier this week the children at Galilee Primary School experienced a very special event called "Fun Day!"  This is a full day devoted to fun, laughter, and friendship on the Galilee school campus.  This is the second year that the school has done the event, and it is something that the children very much look forward to.  The school brings in a large wading pool, which is filled the evening before Fun Day.  The day also featured a trampoline, bounce house, and face painting.  Fun Day was also filled with music and dancing, with frequent "dance offs" among the children.  To fund the day, parents were asked to contribute 200 Shillings (a bit less than $2USD), but the majority of parents were not able to contribute.  All Galilee students are welcome to attend the event, regardless of whether their parents contributed.