End of the Year Activities

As in the United States the final weeks of the school year are filled with many extra activities. Of course there is the academic side with final examinations. However, students and teachers alike have a multitude of additional responsibilities and celebrations.

Click here to see some photos of these special activities.

When the Form IVs (seniors) complete their KCSE examinations they leave school. Most of them left about a week ago. Depending upon their elective classes, some had to stay about a week longer to take their last exam. There is no such thing as high school graduation.

The faith based groups held a special banquet to honor the Form IVs before they left. John and I were invited to the Young Catholic Society (YCS) end of the year banquet. As is typical of most Kenyan celebrations there was a Chief Guest invited to speak, cake and a complete meal served afterwards.

Form I, II and III students at both St. Anthony’s and St. Monica’s finished their end of term (finals) about a week ago. Report cards are to be sent home with students on the day that school is dismissed. That means teachers must have the exams marked (graded) so the report cards can be prepared. At St. Anthony’s the report cards are prepared by computer, but that is not the case at St. Monica’s. To give teachers time to get the exams marked, special activities are planned to keep students busy, active and out of trouble.

One of the tasks done by students is the harvesting of maize (corn). Schools try to grow as much food as possible to feed themselves to cut down on the boarding costs. Casual labors are hired to do the planting, weeding, and cutting and stacking of stalks. The students then take the cobs off the maize stalks and carry the corn to the store where it is kept until needed.

St. Anthony’s organized football (soccer), basketball and volleyball tournaments. St. Monica’s was only football. Each class played the other classes to determine the Form champion. Then the champions from each Form played to determine a school champion.

St. Anthony’s choir also prepared and held a Christmas concert. We were hoping to go, but it didn’t work out. John was so surprised when they asked for the words to Jingle Bells. They have no concept of our cold and snow. We understand they also sing Frosty the Snowman!

Of course there is thorough cleaning to do: desks, classrooms, dorms, grounds, etc. Students are allowed to leave their metal lockers at school in their dorm during the December holiday, but everything must be locked inside.

The final day they hold a Closing Assembly. At the Closing Assembly they recognize top students.