08 December 2020
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The Weekly Peponi School
Headmaster’s Address In this season of Advent dreaming, we anticipate the coming of Jesus, whose ministry began with what is sometimes called the Nazareth Manifesto, promising freedom from oppression.
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The History of Beethoven This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig Van Beethoven, who was a popular and revered composer. Born on the 17th December 1770 in Vienna, Austria..
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Recipe from Chef Sylvester Spicy Aubergine Salad Page... 12
Striped Skink (Trachylepis striata) Page... 11
Sixth Form at Peponi School Page... 7
08 December 2020
Headmaster’s Address
Last week the world witnessed a number of days dedicated to particular causes - days such as international day for people with disabilities, a day for the those suffering with HIV infection and AIDs, and a day called international tree dressing day were part of a fairly wide ranging set of days that drew our attention to the plight of people and the environment. One day that stood out for me was the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. You might think, given that slavery in a number of countries was abolished, banned and certainly considered inhumane in the nineteenth centuries that this is an awareness-raising day whose ship should have sailed some time ago and its shocking existence should now be sent to the history books never to return. This is sadly not true. The International Labour Organisation estimates that more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery which includes forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking. Also, more than 150 million children are victims of child labour. Women and girls are disproportionately affected.
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The United States is one of the most advanced countries in the world yet has more than 400,000 modern slaves working under forced labour conditions,” said founder of the World’s Global Index, Andrew Forrest, in a press released published in 2018. The report also argues that the US figures are in themselves deceptive because the US, along with many other countries, exacerbates the global slavery problem by importing products, including laptops, computers, mobile phones, garments, fish, cocoa and timber. These are all products that are at risk of being produced through forced labour. In this season of Advent dreaming, we anticipate the coming of Jesus, whose ministry began with what is sometimes called the Nazareth Manifesto, promising freedom from oppression. Over the weekend, I tried, but did not succeed to complete Samuel Wells’s book “A Nazareth Manifesto. It is not an easy read – as it is so rich in ideas, it takes time to digest them and develop any thoughts around what is being discussed. Sam Wells suggests that Jesus came to Earth as a baby to be part of a family that was about to become refugees, to be cared for and to be loved, as well as to care and love, not just to mark time for his death at Easter. If that had been the case, he may as well just ‘beamed down’ as an adult ready to go.
In a country such as the United Kingdom, who abolished slavery thorough its then empire in August 1833, slavery is closer than we think. Antislavery.org says that the number of victims in the UK is rising, with more than 10,000 people referred to the authorities in 2019. Forced labour, fuelled by a drive for cheap products and services is the most common form of modern slavery throughout Europe and the United States.
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08 December 2020
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Prayers Liberator Lord, Whose promise is freedom to captives, Free us from complacency And empower us To resist evil and seek the good of all In one section of the book the discussion focuses on this idea that humanity should or should be working towards a goal of no oppression. So with the evidence illustrated by various groups today, we should always try to not sleepwalk past signs of exploitation in our daily living, and may our ‘new normal’ resist trapping the economically vulnerable and reducing them to commodities. Putting this into practice will be difficult for many of us whose lives seem to revolve around possessions but it is something we should endeavour to work towards. This advent let us make every attempt to be aware of those less fortunate than ourselves and be particularly alert to those who might be being oppressed.
In the name of Love. Amen.
Mark Durston Headmaster
The following video puts the argument for the exploitation and oppression quite simply.
https://youtu.be/jaIQj76l_00
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08 December 2020
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Shell Paintings This half of term our pupils have been learning the Theory of Colour. They have completed colour wheels, learnt tinting, shading and the significance and impact of colour. This technique was used to produce floral paintings.
Beatrice Wakhu Head of Art
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Our Boarding Term
Peponi School
Despite the challenges that Covid has brought, our return to Boarding at Peponi has been fantastic. Everyone has pulled together to embrace the new restrictions and settled down to life at school. Individual rooms for all, temperature checks and the cleanest hands we have ever had are all part of the new normal. Evening and weekend activities have still been numerous and varied providing excitement for all. From cycling and assault courses on the Ranch to Pizza and video evenings, table tennis, pool and archery, the fun has never stopped. Culminating with our own Bake Off style Inter House ‘BBQ Off ’ - it has been great to be back!
Tel: +(254) 0733 615 139; +(254) 0722 287 248 | Email: info@peponischool.org | Website: www.peponischool.org
08 December 2020
The History of Beethoven By: Maya Oluoch-Olunya This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig Van Beethoven, who was a popular and revered composer. Born on the 17th December 1770 in Vienna, Austria, Beethoven was a composer who was ahead of his time, pushing the classical norms and bridging the gap between the Classical and Romantic periods. Having figures such as Haydn and Mozart as a basis for his music, he took their ideas and made them his own whilst even incorporating Baroque period features such as the fugue in his music. The main reason for this was that all classically trained piano players in this period were all trained using the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, who was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. It is well-known that Beethoven gradually started to become deaf at the age of 20. However, this would mean that in the later parts of his life, when he was deaf, is when he composed some of his better-known pieces like his last five Sonatas and the Ninth Symphony, better known as the Choral symphony.
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Personally, I feel as though Beethoven is my favourite composer for a variety of reasons. I would firstly say that, besides learning exam pieces and the occasional contemporary pop song, the Moonlight sonata first movement was the first well known ‘classical ‘piece which I learnt in year 7, and later went on to perform at the Young Musician’s Competition, in which I came first in the junior category. As well as this, his orchestral piece, Egmont Overture Op. 84, is one of my favourite orchestral pieces since it was part of my repertoire for one of my first big orchestral performances with the Kenya National Youth Orchestra. In addition to that, I was also a part of another KNYO performance, that played the well-known 5th Symphony, which I greatly enjoyed taking part in. Beethoven is a composer who has had great influence on the musician I am today.
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08 December 2020
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Sixth Form at Peponi School
Our aim at Peponi School is to help pupils develop their self -confidence both personally and academically so they can achieve the very best results and take responsibility for their own success. We work closely with each pupil to carve out a unique education programme that best suits their needs and ambitions, offering them the flexibility, choice and comprehensive support and guidance necessary to reach their goals. Pupils are offered extensive support outside of the classroom through weekly personal tutor sessions, subject-specific clinics, support classes and peer group mentoring. They work closely with their teachers, personal tutors, head of sixth form and the director of studies to monitor and discuss their academic performance and progress throughout their time at Peponi school. We celebrate impressive results year-on-year and pupils gaining university places at a range of subject specialist, Oxbridge and Russell Group institutions, Canadian, American and other institutions around the world.
Being at sixth form is a crucial development period for young people, in both an intellectual and personal sense. This is why we offer an extensive programme of individual support, mentoring and enrichment activities to build pupils’ confidence and prepare them for their next steps. At Peponi we embrace a friendly, informal but disciplined, adult approach to education. Pupils take lessons in small groups where they are encouraged to explore and test their ideas with the teacher and other pupils, becoming more independent thinkers. The small class sizes enable our teachers to offer greater individual attention, set more homework and provide feedback.
David Kimani Head of Sixth Form
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08 December 2020
End of the Year Traditions Wherever the Gregorian calendar is used the year 2020 is almost coming to an end with all that it has brought along. The good and the not so good!
Let’s take a look at how the New Year is celebrated in different parts of the world. In Spain, 12 grapes are eaten at midnight to ward off bad luck for the New Year. At midnight, practically every Spaniard will stuff their mouths with 12 grapes, one each second after midnight, for good luck in the New Year. Every grape represents one month of the year and must be eaten right at the stroke of midnight. If you don't manage to eat all 12 grapes, it's considered bad luck.
Colombia On the last night of the year, Colombians place three potatoes one peeled, one unpeeled, and one half-peeled under their bed. At midnight, they pull out the first potato they grab. Peeled means they’ll have financial problems, unpeeled indicates abundance, and half peeled…well, somewhere in between. Instead of potentially cursing yourself for the year ahead, it’s recommended to leave this tradition to the Colombians and enjoy au gratin potatoes instead.
The Philippines Filipino culture celebrates the New Year by serving twelve round fruits. The round produce symbolizes coins which represent prosperity and wealth for each month of the upcoming year. Apples, melons, oranges, and grapes are popular picks, but any round fruit will do. Also, before the clock strikes midnight, all the windows and doors, including cabinets, cupboards, and drawers, are left open to allow good luck to enter.
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South Africa In South Africa, they’re all about out with the old and in with the new. During New Year’s Eve, it’s customary to throw old furniture out the window and into the street. This isn’t as heavily in practice today, instead being replaced with great firework displays and all-night parties. Cape Town in particular holds a special carnival with singing, dancing, bright clothes, and face paint.
Chile New Year’s Eve in Chile is meant to honor the dearly departed. Families in Talca spend the night in the company of their deceased loved ones by sleeping at the cemetery. Beforehand, they all gather for an abundant dinner that includes stuffed turkey or some kind of other meat. When it hits midnight, they celebrate with eye-catching fireworks and wear certain colors as is a tradition in South America to indicate hope for the future. For the night, they bring along small snacks and drinks and light fires next to the graves.
Estonia If you want to ensure you don’t go hungry make sure you celebrate New Year’s Eve in Estonia. Traditionally, people eat seven, nine, or twelve meals a day with the goal of having abundance in the next 365 days. These numbers are considered the luckiest so it’s completely encouraged to cheat on your diet and start the New Year with an extra pound or two. Rest assured, leaving some food on the plate for ancestral spirits is encouraged.
Whatever your celebrations, do enjoy your holiday as we look forward to the year 2021! References: https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com /blog/new-years-traditions-facts-aroun d-the-world/
Hellen Kanyiri School Librarian 8.
08 December 2020
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Dreams By: Nicole Asiimwe
I’ve recently begun experiencing immensely vivid dreams, and I often find myself being able to recall and later explain them to my friends in great detail. Now dreams have always been a topic of interest to me, I understand that they are usually based on the conversations that had been had the night before, or a previous traumatic experience etc. So I started writing them down, and did some research. I came across an interesting fact about how in the pre-colonial Buganda kingdom in Uganda, dreams were used to shape social processes. They could provide both inspiration and material for communities to invest and challenge authority. This practice rated spiritual possession and vision to develop military strategies and chart regional campaigns. Walter E. Owen observed that in the early twentieth century, communities obtained counsel from deceased elders through their dreams. All the different ways in which dreams can be interpreted continues to fascinate me, because as dramatic as it may sound, they are not something that should be taken lightly. Sadly, I’ve internalised the probable reality that as a black woman about to leave the safe space that is Africa, I’ve made myself believe that somehow by dreaming too hard and too far, I won’t deserve the success that could come unto me, and I’ve thought countless times about the types of things that I want to aspire toward, but my blackness inhibits all that. So here’s my advice to the black girls and boys listening right now, and anyone else who needs to hear this. Dream, and dream vividly. Use those dreams as fuel for your hard work and your ambition. Write them down and revise them because we will always be reminded that the world outside is a vessel filled with setbacks and challenges laid meticulously out for us. Once again, keep on dreaming.
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08 December 2020
Inter House Dramatic Monologue Competition Pasha Haria - Shell On Friday afternoon, we were surprised with an amazing series of dramatic performances. This was my first time watching a dramatic performance in P2 and my mind was blown away. The skills, time, and effort put into it were clearly shown. The performance was very relaxing and enjoyable. Some performances were tremendously funny and others were very scary. One that really caught my eye was James and his comedic portrayal of a very awkward character. Also, Louise’s performance was very creepy, as she portrayed a serial killer! I really enjoyed the exaggeration in some performances. The excellent use of vocal projection from performers awakened me in my seat. Monologues were presented from different extracts for example someone did one looking at the fictional story of Robin Hood, while others explored the real life situation of divorce. It was incredible to come together for the first time in many months and watch the show socially distanced. Even those online had a chance to present their phenomenal talent. I loved it!
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08 December 2020
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WILD PEPONI
Striped Skink (Trachylepis striata) Skinks are small lizards, usually active during the daytime. They can often be spotted on sunny days basking on rocks. They are shy animals and difficult to approach. They are harmless and mostly eat insects - therefore providing a useful service to us. Great to have around!
08 December 2020
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Recipe from Chef Sylvester
Spicy aubergine salad Ingredients (Serves Eight)
Chef Sylvester
2 large aubergines, thickly sliced
1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
100ml olive oil
2 tablespoons sultanas
2 large onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chopped fresh coriander
8 tomatoes, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Method Salt the aubergines before cooking them by placing them in a colander and tossing them in the 2 teaspoons of salt. Place over a bowl or in the sink, then leave for 30 minutes. Wash the slices under the tap and pat dry. Meanwhile, heat half the olive oil in a frying pan and cook the onion and garlic until brown. Add the tomato and the spices and cook over a medium heat for 8 minutes before mixing in the sultanas. In a large frying pan, warm the remainder of the oil over a high heat then cook the aubergine on both sides till tender and golden. Stir in the onion mixture, season and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour. To serve, pour away any excess liquid and mix in the fresh herbs.
Peponi School Scholarships Peponi School welcomes applications for scholarships and exhibitions at 13+ entry. There are a number of awards available in a wide range of pupil activity. The aim is to reward and encourage pupils to excel and to strive for the very best in their endeavours.
Award Categories Academic Specialist All-Rounder Awards. To apply, visit our website www.peponischool.org
APPLICATION DEADLINE
11th December 2020 For more information, contact our Registrar Hannah Winstanley Tel: +254 (0) 794 586733 | Email: registrar@peponischool.org
Please return to registrar@peponischool.org Deadline – Friday 11th December 2020 Please note – a full Peponi School application form is required before applying for the Peponi School Scholarships.
08 December 2020
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Peponi School PO Box 236, Ruiru 00232 +(254) 020 354 6456 +(254) 0733 615 139; +(254) 0722 287 248