School

Schooling in Kenya is VERY different from in NZ. 

The boys attend Logos Christian School which has more of a focus (than local Kenyan schools)  on developing children's gifts. They have a great Arts programme of music, and art.  The classes are small - Jesse has 11 in his room and Finlay has 18. The rooms are small - repurposing an old house with some extra classes added later. The library is in a treehut!:)

The obvious differences include as you can see wearing a uniform and catching a bus. The children and I wake at 6:15 to catch the bus at 7am. It takes an hour to zigzag our way around the bumpy roads collecting children from their estates (Multiple apartment blocks enclosed by security walls and gates). School officially begins at 8am and ends at 3:30 but allowing for traffic issues this usually means the boys are there by 8:30 and don't get to be picked up til 4:30 and are finally home by 5:30 at the latest. Other differences are schooling from 18 months (Kindy is 18 months- 5years) and Primary school from 6-14). There is strict discipline: 2 year olds line up with their hands behind their back before walking in straight lines to the playground, they learn to sit cross legged and are expected to be toilet trained! Lunches are monitored so there is no biscuits or sweet foods allowed. School lunches are encouraged (Chapati and greens, or Rice and bean soup or Ugali and fish). It is run on a high school timetable with different teachers for different subjects. The teaching style is very textbook orientated and teachers talk while children take notes. There is a big focus on fact learning. Exams happen twice a term: Maths, English grammar and composition, Science, Social Studies: Kenya focussed , Kiswahili - both reading and writing and CRE Christian Religious Education.

Finlay found his feet very quickly making new friends and loves learning Kiswahili. Jesse finds it difficult because of the teaching style and is pleased there is a football tournament to look forward to.

Below are some of Emily's classmates: (There are 9 if they are all there that day and 2 lovely teachers:)  ).