On Sunday 12th December 2021, a group of 37 girls and 3 teachers from our Tatu Girls Campus traveled to Dubai, UAE for World Scholars Cup, Global Competition 2020 Edition. The World Scholars Cup competition was founded in 2006 with the aim to attract students interested in learning beyond the typical school curriculum. Students from different cultures come together to discuss issues and ideas relevant to today. 

The students qualified for the global competition after successfully competing in the Regional Round at Light International Academy in February 2020.

The students had an opportunity to compete with other students from over 15 countries in Team Debates, Collaborative Writing, Creative Writing, Scholars Bowl and Scavenger hunt. The main theme of the competition, A World Renewed, is broken down into thematic areas including: Science, Creative Arts, History, Arts and Music. Out of the 13 teams we presented, 11 qualified for the Tournament of Champions, usually hosted at Yale University, USA. 

The girls were awarded a total of 55 silver medals and 11 gold medals for their outstanding performance. Ivy Wanja Mwaura , from our Tatu Girls Campus  was recognized as the top scholar from the institution for her outstanding performance in writing and debate.

Above, Tatu Girls Students During the World Scholars Cup Competition.

The Nova Pioneer Community is extremely proud of our students for High expectations.

Click here for a virtual Tour of our Tatu Campus.

 

We are excited about the great Milestones Our Eldoret Campus has achieved and extremely proud of our students who consistently embrace the Nova Pioneer Culture Principles.  Here are some of the Milestones.

 

Our First ALA Camp

Our first time participating in the African Leadership Academy saw us produce 8 students out of the 12 students from the Nova Pioneer Kenya network. Massive shouts to our students who exhibited high Expectations and joy of Learning in the application process. The students had an opportunity to participate in a fully sponsored 5-day leadership camp in Nairobi. The students had the most amazing time learning, playing, and discovering their purpose. They developed courage while enjoying the company and innovative ideas of peers from around the beautiful country of Kenya.

Above Eldoret Campus Students at at the ALA Camp -Nairobi

 

Model United Nations Conversations

Model United Nations is an activity for those interested in learning more about how the UN operates. We  registered our presence for the first time in the Model United Nations (MUN) conversations. Our students made their debut in the MUN scene by stepping into the shoes of diplomats representing assigned countries in committees (UN organs or special agencies) and participated impressively in the rich conversations during the last year’s Sub-Saharan Africa International Model United Nations (SAIMUN). The experience molded their confidence, patience as they get prepared to be the next generation of global leaders.

Above MUN 2021 Delegates

 

Our Scouts Officially Joined the World Wide Fraternity of Scouts

At Eldoret Boys, we have 2 troops consisting of 8 scouts each named River Nile and Mt. Zion. All of them are in one patrol called Mwamba of Nova Pioneer Eldoret schools consisting of the boys and the girls. The Mwamba scouts completed their basic training and were invested in a colorful ceremony. 

Above The First Eldoret Campus Scouts Troop

 

Commissioning of Our First St. John’s Ambulance Troop

We  had the first cadets of the St. Johns Ambulance Kenya being commissioned. The young men were trained in First Aid and Healthcare and are fully equipped to handle emergencies and occupational hazards. We are incredibly thankful for the success and the superb support from our parents during the Scouts Investiture and St. johns Ambulance Kenya Commissioning. 

 

Above The First St. John’s Ambulance Troop

 

We Launched Our Swimming Pool!

There was so much excitement among the Boys when we first launched our swimming pool. We could tell that this had been awaited with great anticipation. As a school, we are also happy that this is now working. We look forward to producing World Champions in swimming.

Above Eldoret Campus Students during the Swimming Pool Launch

 

Music Club

We launched  Music lessons. The students grabbed the opportunity with so much enthusiasm. The sessions shall continue in 2022. We hope to form the school band and compete with others on local and international platforms in Music.

Above Music Session in Progress

 

The Student Government at The Uasin Gishu County Assembly

As part of our vision to nurture the next generation of Pan- African leaders, the student government council had an opportunity on the 17th of November to visit the County Assembly of Uasin Gishu. The students managed to get to the county assembly chambers and had an educational session on devolution. During the visit, the students learned about the following;

• The arms of the county assembly and the roles they play in the operations of the county.
• The various qualifications for the position of MCA, nominated MCA, Deputy Speaker, Clerks, and the Speaker. 
• The role of the County Leadership in promoting the welfare of its people. 

They also interacted with the Public Relations Officer for the county assembly of Uasin Gishu, who answered their questions on communication matters

 Above Eldoret Campus Students At The Uasin Gishu County Assembly

Click here for a virtual tour of our Eldoret Campus.

 

 

Dear Novaneers,

 

Happy new year!  I am writing you this letter from Johannesburg, where the final rainy week of December has given way to a new year’s weekend of sunshine and brilliantly clear blue skies.  I am thankful to have been able to spend the December holidays with family, and to have rung in the new year together as a family.  While 2022 will no doubt have its challenges, the year has started with a great new energy.  May this early sunshine be a sign of a positive year ahead! 

Looking back to 2020 and 2021, I am incredibly proud of – and deeply grateful – for the Nova Pioneer community: for our students, families, and teammates.  Your commitment to our students and to our culture principles of Greater Together, Solutions First and High Expectations, enabled us to reach new educational heights, even as we persevered through the shocks of the pandemic.  In 2021, Novaneer students published books, won gold and silver medals in the Yale World Scholars Cup, placed 1st and 3rd place nationally in Kenya’s Junior Achievement Entrepreneurial Company Programme, travelled internationally, organised inspiring campus programmes, conducted community service, studied diligently, supported each other and experienced great personal and academic growth.  Across all our secondary schools, our graduating students in 2021 built on and surpassed the exam success of their predecessors. In Kenya, the May 2021 graduates of Tatu Girls and Boys Secondary schools did us all proud by achieving an 8.0 composite average, including a number of superlative individual results, and doing so in their 1st and 2nd KCSE sittings respectively.  Well done to all our students and teachers, and to the families and teammates who support them!   

So what lies ahead?  In 2022 we will continue to focus on the intention we set 12 months ago: to build every Nova Pioneer school into a Beacon of Excellence and Value.  Here is what we wrote last year:

In 2018 former South African President Kgalema Mothlanthe visited Nova Pioneer and challenged us to become beacons of excellence, demonstrating what is possible in African education.  The transformational power of institutions of excellence resonates with us.  They stand out for doing distinctively good work and are beacons of possibility. 

Being Beacons of Excellence and Value means sharpening our focus on educational excellence, with an attentiveness to understand what our students and parents value.  It means making clear choices about which of those we can best serve and how, and then visibly delivering on it.

That vision served us well in 2021 and the early feedback from our families was very positive.  Twice a year we seek our families’ feedback and voice through a biannual survey.  In 2021, across Kenya and South Africa, our family positivity rating grew by a remarkable 50%, from an already strong base!  

Through those surveys, Novaneer families told us they valued [1] Nova Pioneer’s academic rigour and 21st century preparation, [2] the care and individual attention shown by our teachers for each of our students, [3] improvements in communication, and [4] the way our schools and teachers adapted to the pandemic, ensuring safe and continuous learning.  Once again, I am grateful for the deep commitment and care of students, teachers, and support teammates alike; and especially for our parents’ generous and steadfast partnership.

However, we have more work to do.  We must work to further grow our students’ achievements, shine brighter as beacons, and thereby deliver on our mission of developing innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century.  As we do so we also need to do what we can to protect affordability for families, by striving to be even more efficient in the way we work and judicious in prioritising what matters most to our students’ education.    

In the 2021 surveys, our families asked that we stay focused on excellence in each of the areas mentioned above, and that we expand the opportunities that our students have to explore and develop their interests and talents beyond the classroom.  Informed in part by that feedback, a few points of focus in 2022 will be:

• Invest further in our student experience. Specifically, we will [1] selectively expand the opportunities our students have beyond the classroom to pursue passions and connect with each other (including across schools and enabled by technology).  Nova Pioneer schools currently offer a wide range of extracurricular and cultural opportunities, some of which may be specific to your school.  Therefore I will defer to your school to communicate over the course of this year about the opportunities that are available, and any new ones that become available as a result of further planning.   [2] We will invest in our Post School Success programme and personnel so that we continue to give Novaneers a ‘leg-up’ in preparing for tertiary and other post-school opportunities.  
• Refresh each Nova Pioneer schools’ Individual School Strategy. Each Nova Pioneer school will review its medium term educational programme plan (including the points noted in above); while also planning for long-term fiscal health and school growth.  While Nova Pioneer schools are made consistent by our shared mission, culture principles, and distinctive educational approach, each school is a unique community of students, faculty, and families, in a unique local context.  That offers each school unique opportunities to manifest our shared vision for Novaneers, and so we will identify, prioritize among, and pursue those.  
• Operate efficiently. Even as we continue to prioritize educational excellence, we must remain focused on value for families.  We already see the signs of growing inflation in both Kenya and South Africa, and we are likely to see that inflation accelerate as economies work back from the effects of COVID-19.  While protecting our commitment to educational excellence, we will seek out opportunities to work even more cost effectively, to mitigate the impact of inflation on families wherever we can. 

As we do all that, we will keep true to our foundations as Nova Pioneer: [1] our mission to develop innovators and leaders, [2] our culture that is built on our six culture principles; [3] our commitment to academic excellence; and [3] our vision of learning, where every Novaneer discovers that he or she is fundamentally capable.

With gratitude and best wishes for a positive 2022,

Chinezi Chijioke
Founder and CEO, Nova Pioneer

Going back to a school routine can be challenging . Here are some back to school tips for Kids and Parents that will help ease the transition.

Early to bed Early to rise

Getting back into a school sleep schedule is very important. It helps your child get enough rest time. Gentle winding down activities such as bath time and bed-time stories can help your child relax.

 

Encourage Independence

Children who play a active role in preparing for school- such as choosing and organizing school supplies –  are more likely to be excited about going back to school which in turn eases their jitters.

Daily age appropriate tasks will help your child gain independence and confidence.

 

Limit Screen Time

Help your child unplug from the screen earlier than holiday time. .This will help them get into a school bedtime routine easily.

 

Re- Establish A routine

Establishing a consistent routine is important for kids. Write out the steps in the routine and rehearse them with your child. With time  the kids will adjust to the routine making it easy for their school schedule.

 

Talk about First Week Jitters.

Reassure your child that being nervous is normal. Especially for kids joining a new school. Let them express their fears and perhaps share with them your own experiences. Discuss the scenarios that worry them without dismissing their fears. 

 

We are currently open for 2022 enrollments . Click here to submit your application

Due  to the increasing cases of fires in Kenyan high schools, the National St. John’s Ambulance Office decided to focus on Fire Safety as part of the training curriculum this term. Cadets went through a training that included classification of fires, how to combat them, how to use fire extinguishers and hose reels, how to calm and evacuate casualties, First Aid and calling for ambulance services.

Fires Safety Training at Tatu Girls

 

This culminated in a symposium at Othaya Girls High School where schools from the larger Mt. Kenya Region gathered. The Cadets were tested on what they learnt during the training and had to take a theory paper, a practical session and do a presentation that showed their Fire Safety skills.      

Our Cadets outdid themselves and were the overall winners in the Mt. Kenya region. This was a great achievement since our senior cadets in form four were not part of the event as they were preparing for the KCSE Mock Examinations.

 

Our form one cadets did extremely well in the theory paper with Jeanette Kaari and Faith Mwende taking the first position while Maya Adhiambo (Form 1) and Ladona Ochar (Form 2) tied in second position. Our Cadets will represent the Mt Kenya Region in the National Fire Safety Symposium in March next year in Mombasa.

We are excited to see our new academic square at Tatu Girls come together.

In the spirit of creating a strong academic culture and more consultation among students and teachers, we are setting up outdoor study spaces, where our students can enjoy nature and fresh air as they study.

In this initial phase, we have dedicated the green space between the Administration block and Classroom block A to become our “Academic Square”. So far, we have about 7 benches, which have been generously donated by some of our parents. 

This initiative was initially discussed during the 2019 AGM, and picked up again this year. The PTA agreed that willing parents can support the initiative by donating a bench. We have identified a local supplier who makes and delivers the benches at a total cost of Kshs. 7,500 per bench. If you would like to support the idea of beautiful outdoor spaces our students can use for study and relaxation, please channel your contributions via Mpesa to our former PTA Chairman, Mr. Patrick Keta (0717 656 265).

We will share a list of all contributors to this worthy initiative by the end of the term.

 

Students enjoying nature and fresh air as they study

Click here for a virtual tour of our Tatu Girls Campus.

A team of  15  girls from Nova Pioneer Tatu Girls have been participating at the X-culture Business Competition.

X- Culture Business Competition is an educational project that aims at preparing students for global careers and effective performance in the multi-culture work place.

X-Culture Business Competition prepares students to real life problems in the business world and trains them how to come up with sustainable solutions to enhance international business.

The girls qualified to participate in the global round.  This involves working with group members from across the globe. They will be submitting their final proposal next week.

Their tremendous performance saw one of the girls, Getrude Muthoni , selected to present a virtual tour of Kenya to all participants. We applaud her and the entire team for flying the Nova Pioneer and Kenyan flag high. You can access a recording of her presentation via this link ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qObdp1kNK1E&ab_channel=X-CultureEducation

At Nova Pioneer Tatu Girls, we commit to continuously expose our students to opportunities that enhance their leadership, communication,collaborative,innovative,creative and research skills throughout their high school lives 

 

Participants at the X-culture Business Competition

Interested in becoming a Novaneer?  2022 enrollments at our campuses are ongoing.

Apply to Nova Pioneer today and save on your 2022 Tuition fee.

At Nova Pioneer we are focused on developing a generation of leaders and Innovators.

The Hallmark course is a unique course designed for learners at Nova Pioneer. 

The Hallmark course focuses on students’ character, capabilities and connection through purposeful weekly lessons and culminating projects each term.

All Nova Pioneer secondary students attend two Hallmark lessons each week centrally designed by a team of learning designers, post-school success teammates, and instructional leaders. It’s facilitated by a dedicated team of teachers at each campus.  Each Form has a different focus- we hope you enjoy learning more about each year’s course below!

 

Form 1: Looking Inward

In Form 1, students hone in on Character, reflecting deeply on their  values and beliefs, how their life experiences have shaped them, and their personal strengths. They work to deepen their connections with one another, exploring how they can work with others, appreciate others’ diversity, and resolve conflicts with one another. Finally, they look outside of themselves to identify a cause they care about that they want to pursue further.

 

Form 2: Learning From Our Past, Re-Framing Our Future

In Form 2, students develop their Capabilities through the Big Africa History Course, exploring world history from an African perspective and learning how the past has shaped our present. In the first two terms, students study the history of the Continent, global interconnection, and economic and technological acceleration.

In the final term, students look to the next threshold and explore how they as young Africans can reclaim the African narrative and shape the African century.

 

Form 3: The Many Ways of Making Change

Form 3 students complete the Change maker Academy course with a focus on further developing their Capabilities, learning how to solve real-world problems through the frameworks of innovation, social entrepreneurship, and leadership.

In the Innovation pathway, students practice using the human-centered design process to tackle a community problem.

In the Entrepreneurship pathway, students get acquainted with the Business Model Canvas tool and design their own social business.

Finally, in the Leadership pathway, students learn leadership competencies such as ethical leadership and decision-making, communicating effectively, managing and leading others, and mobilizing change.

At the end of their Changemaker journey, students select a Changemaker pathway to pursue into their Form 4 Capstone Experience.

 

Form 4: Putting Ideas in Action

In the Form 4 Capstone Experience, students make Connections beyond their immediate school environment by identifying a real-world problem they’d like to solve, putting together a project plan and proposal for their solution, and then implementing their projects throughout the course of two terms.

Each week, students work with their Capstone groups on their projects, documenting their work and checking in with their Capstone Mentors to tackle any challenges that arose during implementation.

At the end of implementation, students then present their projects to the greater Nova Pioneer community in a Capstone Showcase event.

We are currently piloting Nova Pioneer’s first Capstone Experience at our Tatu Boys campus this term with our Form 3 students, and will launch with our Tatu Girls Form 3 students in January. Stay tuned for a more in-depth blog post on their progress!

Parents make plenty of sacrifices so their children can live a life where they are free to live out their full potential. While parents sacrifice their sleep, hobbies and much more, one of the most important sacrifices parents make is towards their child’s education.

Nova Pioneer understands the sacrifices parents make towards their children’s education and that’s why we are giving interested families looking to enroll their children for the 2022 academic year the chance to save up to KES 15,000 for Primary School tuition and KES 25,000 for High School tuition if they secure their spots by 15th December 2021.

 

How You Can Save On Your Child’s Tuition for the 2022 Academic Year

Families interested in enrolling their child(ren) for the 2022 academic year and who reserve their spots by paying the deposit amount by 15th December 2021, are eligible to receive a discount towards their term 1 tuition of the 2022 academic year. 

 

Terms and Conditions

1. Confirmed enrollment at Nova Pioneer will be subject to all admissions requirements being met. We draw your attention to the following specific requirements:
   • Space being available in the requested grade
   • A successful entry assessment to establish grade readiness
2. The following discount will be applied to the tuition to fees for term 1 of 2022, due to commence at the end of April 2022, specifically, equivalent to the following amounts:
   • Primary School — for those who secure their 2022 spots by 15th December 2021 (and meet all stated requirements including full deposit and enrollment fee paid) KES 15,000 will be credited towards the student’s term 1, 2022 academic year fees.  
   • High School —  for those who secure their 2022 spots by 15th December 2021 (and meet all stated requirements including full deposit and enrollment fee paid) KES 25,000 will be credited towards the student’s term 1, 2022 academic year fees.  
3. In order to benefit from the offer, the student needs to be enrolled at Nova Pioneer in April  2022 and all other contractual requirements and conditions of this offer met.
4. The discount can only be applied to the April  2022 tuition for the specific child for whom a deposit is paid before 15 December 2021 , and not to the tuition of a sibling.
5. All other admissions, enrollment and financial terms remain enforceable. We draw your attention to the following, specifically:
   • Any portion of the deposit paid will be foregone (plus the enrollment incentive reversed) if the student does not take up their place in the 2022 academic year 
6. In order to qualify, a parent would need to pay the deposit amount by 15th December 2021. Should  this requirement not be met in full, the family will no longer qualify for this offer.
7. The offer is non-transferrable and cannot be substituted for cash or a refund.

To start your journey on saving on your 2022 tuition, remember to place your application in just a few steps here.

Thriving in high school is an important part of a student’s success both academically and personally.

We gathered 5 tips on how to thrive in high school

 

 Your Mental Health is Important

Your mental health should be a top priority.

Do not be ashamed to approach  your school counselor  for help.

Guard your mind and consume only what is healthy for you.

 

Choose Your Circle Wisely

It’s okay to have a small circle.

Make friends who influence you positively and inspire you to be your authentic self.

You also need to be a great and supportive friend. 

 

Excellence in Class Work

In Form 1 & 2, it’s important to closely monitor your performance and align it with your interest in order to choose your majors wisely.

Make your notes personal, it will be easier to revise for exams.

Outline your study goals and make sure you live up to them.

Participate in class as much as you can. Ask and answer questions frequently. This helps with mastery.

Explore the different reading strategies and identify what works for you. You’ll not only be set for High School but for life!

 Work hard, not smart.

Check out this blog on how to study for exams

 

Extra- curriculum Activities

Join a club, a sport or even both!

Being active recharges your energy and keeps your mental health in check.

Clubs bring out your strengths and skills that you will utilize beyond high school.

You could finally discover your talent by joining clubs and sport activities.

 

Make Technology your friend

Do not be afraid to do your research online. Make the best out of it.

Remember to also be safe while at it