The
Peponi Post
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Michaelmas 2017
News from across the Peponi community
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The closing weeks of the August school holiday always brings with it the news of how our pupils have done in their examinations. As with most years, there were causes of celebration as well as moments of commiseration and reflection. I would like to congratulate the vast number of pupils who did exceptionally well.
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I was also struck by the story of Waheed Arian, a doctor who ended up in the United Kingdom from Afghanistan as a 15-year-old asylum seeker. A childhood spent dodging rockets, plus three years in a refugee camp in Pakistan left him with very little education, but he taught himself English and eventually, got five As at A Level and a place to study medicine at Cambridge. He flouted university rules by I was struck by two sets of results this holiday; one after continuing to take on jobs to support himself and his family completion of examinations in June and the other a set back home, and now, as a radiologist, he’s set up a charity of results that were delivered some years ago and a story through which volunteer doctors use smartphones and tablets that took my attention on the day of our IGCSE result to communicate with medics in Kabul, providing advice publication. Neither of these performances were of Peponi and training and saving numerous lives. Dr Arian limits the pupils but they are of interest to us as examples of two young amount of paid work he does so that he has time to serve people who–against the odds–triumphed. those suffering in Afghanistan, also risking his own life by making return visits to the hospitals and refugee camps there. The first set of results were the publication, four weeks This man’s sacrificial approach reminds me of another person ago, of Malala Yousafzai’s A Levels and her consequent devoted to serving those who suffer, whose birthday was acceptance by Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford University. celebrated a few weeks ago. Mother Teresa was a controversial Malala is a Pakistani young lady whose school was shut figure, who faced criticism as well as being greatly admired for down by the Taliban. In 2012, she was injured by a Taliban her work amongst the poorest of the poor. Her entire ethos gunman who had tried to murder her. Her campaign for girls’ was based on love inspired by the love of Jesus, and although education and right of access to education had clearly upset her example, and that of Malala and Dr Arian, can seem hard somebody. Her murder attempt–at the age of sixteen–sparked to follow, Mother Teresa put it within everyone’s grasp when a national and international outpouring of good will and she said: Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do support for Malala. She became the most famous teenager ... but how much love we put in that action. in the world. Her subsequent work and writings have done a great deal to raise the awareness of female education in the I think there are messages here, to which we should all listen. world and the publication of her book, I am Malala, is an Three people–all with the ability to be famous, rich and enjoy international best seller. She has received countless awards the luxuries of life; all three caught up in the grimmest of from her home country, Pakistan, and the international ideologies and cruelest of environments; and all three out community have been equal in their praise for her work. shone those from worlds where books, education and caring She is the youngest person ever to have been awarded the support are abundant. We will yet see how young Malala Nobel Peace Prize. She has been invited to talk to several continues in her future, but two have given their lives for the world legislatures, including the Canadian, British and Indian good of those who have very little. All three have enriched Parliaments. I think her tweet to her followers, when her the world. Whose example will we follow as we face the Oxford place was confirmed to read PPE, says a great deal challenges of this new term? about her and about us: so excited to go to Oxford!! Well done to all A Level students–the hardest year. Best wishes for Mark Durston life ahead. Will this year be your hardest year? Headmaster
From the Director of Studies
From the Head of Year 9
At the end of last term, we watched a very special cohort of Upper VI pupils leave us, however, as each year group moves up I am absolutely delighted by the maturity and dedication already demonstrated by out new Upper VI. In addition, a group of dynamic and able Year 9 pupils have graced the halls, classrooms and boarding houses of our School.
The orientation weekend gave the new Year 9 pupils an opportunity to get acquainted with their new school environment, as well as meet and interact with their form tutors and their subject teachers in an environment without the tension and intimidation of the older and bigger boys and girls.
We are very fortunate to announce that five new staff members have joined our Common Room to continue to enhance our academic and pastoral programme. Dr Eliud Mulanda joins the Science Faculty to teach Biology and a little Chemistry. Dr Alexei Du Bois joins the English Faculty to teach the subject and head the faculty. Ms Terry Raichenah and Mr Richard Mbithi join the Humanities Faculty to teach Psychology and Business Studies respectively. Mrs Karen Coyne joins us as the School Counsellor, supporting the careers department and the teaching and coordination of PSHE.
I must say that I am very impressed with the way in which the Year 9 pupils have settled into the Peponi School community; interacted with each other and formed new friendships. As a team of Year 9 tutors we are committed to motivating, inspiring and educating the young boys and girls in order to become confident citizens eager to make a difference in the world around them. As Claire Fagin says, knowledge will bring you the opportunity to make a difference. Mercy Wambugu Head of Year 9 mwambugu@peponischool.org
In addition to the new members of the Common Room, there are a number of internal appointments that we would like to share. As you know, from the Headmaster’s earlier communication, Mr Joseph Njuguna joins the Senior Management Team as the Second Master. Ms Sylvia Meruh has been appointed Director of Teaching and Learning. Mrs Rose Njuguna is now the Housemistress of Jipe. Mr John Njoroge Welcome back to a new academic year, especially to those new will now head the Mathematics Faculty and lastly, Mr David pupils who have joined us this year. Kimani has been appointed the Head of Sixth Form.
From the Head of Year 10 & 11
Michelle Mathews Director of Studies dos@peponischool.org
From the Head of Sixth Form Firstly, I would like to introduce myself as the Head of Sixth Form. I am delighted to be taking up this position at Peponi School, having undertaken a similar role for many years at my previous school. The Sixth Form marks a new stage in a pupil’s educational career, one in which greater emphasis is placed on personal resilience and independent organisation. The academic curriculum in the Sixth Form is narrower but deeper, as pupils pursue their subject interests. There is a greater need for pupils to organise their own work and extend their knowledge. The Sixth Form also offers fresh opportunities and challenges outside the curriculum. Sixth Form life actively encourages team spirit and leadership skills, responsibility for themselves and others, and a feeling of pride in their endeavours and those of their peers. Peponi School Sixth Form pupils are encouraged to focus on their own independent learning, whilst enjoying the support of the School’s inclusive and caring community and, as Head of Sixth Form, I believe that they have a key role to play as leaders and shapers of the School. David Kimani Head of Sixth Form dkimani@peponischool.org
The IGCSE years of 10 and 11 are very important as our pupils approach their public examinations. These IGCSE examinations will, for many of our pupils, be the basis for their A Level choices and also the results on which Universities will base their entry decisions. This year the Year 10s will discover that they have to be more independent learners and the Year 11s are already realising that their IGCSEs are closer than they think. As Head of both Year 10 and 11 it is my responsibility to ensure all pupils are working towards their goals and that they push themselves to achieve their full potential. Some pupils are eager to excel while others need reassurance that they are capable of excellence. The tutors and I, along with all teachers in the School, are keen to work alongside parents to make sure each pupil is not only happy and settled, but that they also fulfil the promise that each of them has. Even Stephen Hawking needed help to understand what he was capable of: I was never top of the class at school, but my classmates must have seen potential in me, because my nickname was ‘Einstein.’ Stephen Hawking. Alongside the academic work, we would also like to see our pupils becoming involved in all aspects of the school from music and sport to debating and drama, from outdoor activities and camping to helping the community. With cooperation between home and school, I hope that this will be a productive yet happy year for all our IGCSE candidates. Claire Nightingale Head of Year 10 & 11 cnightingale@peponischool.org
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From the Headmaster Over the past few weeks, I have been reading a great deal about the use of mobile telephones. Much of the research done by universities and government agencies, including many articles form Kenyan institutions, has been focused on the use of telephones by those people of school and university age. Personally, this is slightly unfair but I understand why this age range has been examined. We want to try to help, guide and work with young people to ensure that mobile telephones, iPads, tablets and computers remain very powerful and useful tools and do not become a hindrance. Demonising mobile telephones is not a practical way forward but allowing children to develop a good sense of use must work in their favour. The following article, published in the Guardian (30/05/17; www.theguardian. com/) is an excellent beginning to discussions about some of the concerns raised in the academic literature. I have asked the pupils of the school and members of Common Room to take a note of their use of electronic gadgets over the course of the weekend. Please be truthful in your approach and face the discussions with tutors next week positively. It will help us in our formation of new rules and guidelines. No, we are not planning a whole scale ban, this would be counter intuitive and unproductive educationally. However, good discussion is needed. Teenagers’ late-night mobile phone use is harming their sleep and potentially their mental health, say researchers who advised that “physical boundaries” be set over use of such devices in the bedroom. A longitudinal study of 1,101 Australian high school students aged between 13 and 16 found poor-quality sleep associated with late-night texting or calling was linked to a decline in mental health, such as depressed moods and declines in selfesteem and coping ability. Lead researcher, Lynette Vernon of Murdoch University in Perth, said her findings were evidence of the need for curfews for teenagers to be established around use of devices in their bedrooms. Adolescents who used their phones as alarms should replace them with clocks in order to maintain “physical boundaries”, she said. Researchers examined teenagers’ mobile phone use and their subsequent changes in wellbeing over four years of high school from 2010 to 2013, and found increasingly unencumbered access led to increases in psychosocial maladjustment. Vernon said mobile phones had become entrenched in young people’s lives, and many did not have their use restricted. She pointed to international research that found about 80% of the young had access to a mobile phone. The former high school teacher said she had observed her own pupils coming into the classroom tired. “I noticed it was affecting their performance – that was a few years back, too.” Though the link between late-night phone use and sleep, and between sleep and wellbeing, had been established in previous research, this was the first study to assess all three together, she said. “It’s important to have the research to translate to parents
and teachers, who probably haven’t experienced to the same extent what kids are doing. “If you’re finding your son or daughter is more moody and not coping at school, you often put that down to adolescence – but it could be as simple as them not sleeping at night.” The study specified sending and receiving messages and/or phone calls, so did not distinguish between mobile phones and smartphones or social media. Students in Year 8 who reported higher levels of night-time mobile phone use also reported higher levels of depressed mood and externalising behaviour and lower self-esteem when surveyed one year later. Few teenagers indicated that they never used their phone after lights out, and on average, younger teenagers’ healthy mobile phone habits became more problematic as they advanced through high school. “The outcomes of not coping – lower self-esteem, feeling moody, externalising behaviours and less self-regulation, aggressive and delinquent behaviours – the levels increase as sleep problems increased.” Advertisement Teenagers who reported “constantly texting into the night” said when surveyed a year later, the problem had worsened. “It’s escalating – they’re highly invested in it ... Some kids are staying up until 3am.” The study, Mobile Phones in the Bedroom: Trajectories of Sleep Habits and Subsequent Adolescent Psychosocial Development, was published in the Society for Research in Child Development on Tuesday. Teenagers need eight to 10 hours of sleep for healthy development, Vernon said. Phones disrupted sleep in two ways, with the bright light from screens disrupting natural circadian rhythms, and messages received before sleep spiking “cognitive and emotional arousal”, said Vernon. Education was the best prevention, Vernon said, and it was most effective if it began before children were given their first mobile phone. “As a mother of teenage kids, I think you’ve got to negotiate, and negotiate early.” Parents could also set a good example by demonstrating good habits around phone use themselves. “Back when they’re aged seven to 10, you have to role model – you put your phone in a basket at night, it doesn’t go into your bedroom, it becomes normalised in the household and you have a much easier job.”
Teenagers who reported ‘constantly texting into the night’ said the problem had escalated a year later. Photograph: ljubaphoto/Getty Images; www.theguardian
From the Director of Music We are absolutely delighted to announce the ABRSM results for the June/July 2017 examination period Candidate Norah Wachira Chantal Thenya Marie Taylor Rhea Shah Banita Dodhia Anya Meehir Shah Shay Shah Aarnav Hindocha Nyakio Wainaina Gianluca Albano Silva Meer Gudka James Laight Anya Meehir Shah Rhea Shah Rachel Heath Savannah Tawk Mercy Wambugu Aman Vora Dylan Shah Aahuti Hindocha Aarnav Hindocha Aekum Mhajan Aadit Shah Priya Sharma
Instrument Violin Singing Piano Alto Saxophone Alto Saxophone Clarinet Clarinet Piano Piano Violin Piano Violin Piano Piano Cello Violin Clarinet Alto Saxophone Piano Piano Violin Voice Piano Oboe
Grade PREP 5 1 5 2 4 6 7 5 5 5 8 6 7 6 6 4 8 4 6 6 4 8 ARSM
Mention Pass Pass Merit Merit Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Distinction Pass Merit Merit Pass Pass Pass Pass Distinction Pass Pass Pass Pass
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From the Head of Science
From STEM to STEAM Exactly 60 years ago, Sputnik 1, orbited around the Earth for approximately 90 minutes. This came as a huge surprise to the Americans who did not even have a space programme in place yet. Four years later, John F Kennedy, made a passionate appeal to Congress and pledged that Americans would ‘go to the moon before the end of the decade’. Soon after the shuttle programme was launched and after many successful missions and some failures, it was retired in 2011. This ‘space race’ opened up a new area of study for scientists interested in all kinds of space technology from space food to the ISS, a habitable satellite in low earth orbit. School curricula also incorporated space education into its programmes. At the outset, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics were the core study areas. This has since evolved from STEM to STEAM.
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In space science, Newton’s laws apply in the physics of flight; Technology uses CAD or Computer Aided Design to give the shuttles an appropriate design for flight; Engineering is the core of the design process; Art contributes to the logos, designs and multimedia used during the flights and Mathematics determines the rocket inclination and calculations of altitude and velocity. STEAM has opened opportunities for ‘Generation Mars’ to participate in educational programmes at the U.S. Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville Alabama. Here, life-size models of Mars rovers, Atlantis, Saturn V, Apollo and micro-gravity machines are on display. Pupils and adults can experience ziplining, weightlessness and varying g-forces on their bodies. The Space Centre gives pupils and adults a lifetime experience with regard to space travel and associated technology. Visits can be organised all year long. George Were Head of Science
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Week 5A
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11 UVI Field Trip to Ol Pejeta Returns 4:00pm
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Peponi ‘A’ v ‘B’ Tennis Colts ‘A’ Cricket v Colts ‘B’ 2:00pm
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1st XI Boys’ Football v West Nairobi (A) 3:00pm• U17 Boys’ Football v Strathmore (H) 3:30pm• Open Girls’ Basketball v Rift Valley Academy (H) 4:00pm
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Open Girls’ Basketball v Hillcrest (H) 3:00pm• 1st XI Boys’ Football v Hillcrest (H) 3:00pm
Colts ‘B’ Cricket v Hillcrest (A) 1:00pm
14 Colts ‘B’ Rounders v Nairobi Academy (H) 3:00pm• Peponi ‘B’ Tennis v ISK (H) 4:00pm
20 Open Girls’ Basketball v Nairobi International School (A) 4:00pm• 1st XI Boys’ Football v Nairobi International School (A) 4:00pm
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1st XI Boys’ Cricket v Hillcrest (A) 1:00pm• 1st XI Boys’ Football v Brookhouse (A) 3:00pm• Open Girls’ Basketball v Rosslyn Academy (H) 4:00pm• Peponi ‘B’ Tennis v Rosslyn Academy (H) 4:00pm
Colts ‘B’ Cricket v Oshwal Academy (H) 1:30pm• Colts ‘B’ Rounders v Rusinga School (H) 3:00pm• U19 Girls’ Basketball v RVA (A) 3:30pm• Peponi ‘A’ Tennis v RVA (A) 3:30pm
Open Girls’ Basketball v Brookhouse (A) 3:00pm• 1st XI Boys’ Football v Braeside School (H) 3:30pm• Upper VI ParentTeacher Meetings DML 7:00 to 8:30pm
Peponi School
07 Anti-Doping Presentation 3:00pm
21 Colts Boys’ Football v St Christopher’s (A) 2:30pm• Colts ‘B’ Rounders v St Chris. (A) 2:30pm• Colts Girls’ Basketball v St Chris. (A) 2:30pm• Peponi ‘B’ Tennis v ISK ‘B’ (A) 4:00pm
28 Colts ‘B’ Cricket v Braeburn Gitanga Road (H) 1:30pm• Senior Inter House Debating Competition, 1st Round DML 5:20pm
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08 PESTs Expedition Departs 6:00am• Colts ‘B’ Cricket v Greensteds (H) 1:30pm
Colts ‘A’ Cricket PESTs Expedition v Greensteds (H) Returns 4:00pm 10:00am• UVI Field Trip to Ol Pejeta Departs 6:00am
15 Inter House Cross Country• UK Universities Fair Braeside• Lower VI Options Discussions DML 2:00 to 4:00pm deadline for AS subject changes 4:00pm
22 1st Quarterly Reports for all Years Emailed to Parents• 1st XI Boys’ Cricket v Braeburn Garden Estate (H) 1:15pm
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Peponi Ten10 Cricket & Rounders Tournaments• Colts Boys’ Football v French School (H) 10:00am• Colts Girls’ Basketball v French School (H) 10:00am
White Water Rafting Trip
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Peponi U14 Rounders Rock Climbing Wall Tour.• Rosslyn Ac. Trip U19 Boys’ 7-a-side Football & Girls’ Basketball Tour.s• 1st XI Boys’ Cricket v BGE (A)• U17 Boys’ Football v RVA (A)• Colts Boys’ Football v RVA (A)• Colts Girls’ Basketball v Rift Valley Academy (H) 10:30am
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Open ‘A’ & ‘B’ Rounders v Greensteds (A) 2:00pm• Colts Boys’ Football v St Andrew’s, Turi (H) 4:00pm
1st XI Boys’ Cricket v Oshwal Ac., (H)• Rosslyn Ac. U14, U17 & U19 Cross Country Meet• Hillcrest U15 & U17 Boys’ Football Tour.s• Hillcrest U15 Girls’ Basketball Tour.• NASA Sen. Gala GEMS School 9:00am
Michaelmas Term
www.peponischool.org
Examination Results
We are so delighted to announce the launch of our new website: www. peponischool.org; please do let us know your thoughts. Please follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/peponi_school Please follow us on facebook:
A Level
https://www.facebook.com/peponischool/
Calendar Dates MICHAELMAS 2017 Boarders Return: Monday, 28th August Term Begins: Tuesday, 29th August Half Term Begins: Friday, 13th October Boarders Return: Sunday, 22nd October Term Restarts: Monday, 23rd October Term Ends: Friday, 8th December HILARY 2018 Boarders Return: Sunday, 8th January Term Begins: Monday, 8th January Half Term Begins: Saturday, 10th February Boarders Return: Sunday, 18th February Term Restarts: Monday, 19th February Term Ends: Friday, 23rd March
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TRINITY 2018 Boarders Return: Monday, 17th April Term Begins: Monday, 16th April Term Ends: Friday, 29th June
Peponi pupils, their families and teachers are celebrating A Level successes, following a strong set of A Level results. With 79% of all A Level grades awarded at A* to C, these results are particularly impressive. In addition 20% of our candidates scored A* to A in all of their A Levels.
IGCSEs
Thirty-five percent of all grades awarded to the class of 2017 were A*s. Eleven pupils scored 8 or more A*s in their exams. In Mathematics, 99% secured a pass, and 80% achieved A*/A.
Contacts Should you need to contact the School, please email both the Head of Year and your child’s Housemaster/ mistress, using the following addresses: For all academic matters please contact the Director of Studies dos@peponischool.org For all Sixth Form matters please contact Mr David Kimani dkimani@peponischool.org For pupils in years 10 and 11 contact Mrs Claire Nightingale cnightingale@peponischool.org For pupils in Year 9 contact Ms Mercy Wambugu mwambugu@peponischool.org
Chala House chalahouse@peponischool.org 0700 019 819 Elementaita House elementaitahouse@peponischool.org 0735 270 575 Jipe House jipehouse@peponischool.org 0733 690 395 Magadi House magadihouse@peponischool.org 0701 210840 Senior Girls Boarding House seniorgirls@peponischool.org Senior Boys Boarding House seniorboys@peponischool.org In the event that you need to contact the school urgently, please call the main office.