Internet safety is the knowledge of how to stay safe online by being aware of the nature of the possible threats that you could encounter while engaging in activities on the internet.

Students use the internet both at School and  at home. It is important for Students to be aware of the risks and drawbacks of the internet while benefiting from it.

Here are some tips for students on how to stay safe online.

 

Share with Care.

The internet never forgets.

Once something by or about you is online, it could be there forever.

Ensure you leave a positive digital footprint for future reference

Keep personal information private. This is information such as ; Your Email, Home address and phone number, Passwords, Your school work and other private documents.

 

Don’t Fall for Fake

Content found online isn’t necessarily true or reliable and could involve malicious efforts to steal personal information or identity.

To avoid falling for a fake, It’s important to ask yourself some questions before clicking on a shared link. Here are some questions you could ask; 

• Does it look professional like other websites you know and trust, with the product’s or company’s usual logo.
• Does the site’s URL match the product’s or company’s name and information you’re looking for
• Are there any spam pop-ups?
• Does the URL start with https://with a little green padlock to the left of it?
• Does the message sound a little bit weird?
• Is the email or site offering something that sounds too good to be true,like a chance to make a lot of money?( it’s almost too good to be true)

And what if you fall for a scam what do you do?

• Tell your parent, teacher or other trusted adult right away
• Change your passwords for online accounts.
• Use settings to report the message as spam if possible.

Secure your Secrets

Protecting yourself, your info and your devices means doing simple smart things like screen locks, building strong passwords and ensuring you log out from devices, especially shared devices.

Strong passwords are based on a descriptive phrase or sentence that’s easy for you to remember and difficult for others to guess.

 

It’s Cool to Be Kind

Behind every username is a real person with real feelings. We should treat them as we would want to be treated.

Be kind while interacting with people online.

In the case where you find yourself as the target here’s what you should do ;Do not respond, Block the person and Report them.

In addition to using the app reporting tools, ask your teacher or your parents for assistance.

 

When in Doubt Talk it Out

Recognize that asking for help for oneself is a sign of strength.

Seek the guidance of the Teacher whenever in doubt of anything online.

A school Menu helps us plan healthy and nutritious meals for our students.

Children perform better when their bodies and minds are powered by a balanced and nutritious diet.

Parents and teachers agree that brain power, concentration and general well being are unequivocally improved when kids eat decent meals.

At Nova Pioneer we believe that creating a menu that our students enjoy and look forward to, increases their Joy of Learning. 

As Term 2 kicks off, we have a menu ready for our students.

Click here to view the  NPTP-School-Menu-July-2021-1-

Looking to find the best school for your child can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be according to Malcolm Gladwell, The Outlier. He advises parents to start their search for the best school by focusing on what they want a school to do for their child.

Here are 5 questions that parents can ask themselves to help them focus on finding the school that aligns with their child’s needs:

  What do I want my child to learn?

This question will outline the specific subject matter, curriculum, level of academic difficulty, teaching style and assessment methods that the school uses. A lot goes into establishing a school’s approach, model and selecting its curriculum.

How does my child learn best?

Establish what your child’s particular learning style is and their challenges. While a lot might depend on the parent and their values, it is important to look at your child’s personality and strengths. Different children will thrive better in environments that are suited for their personality and individual needs.

Will the school be practical for my family’s daily schedule?

This question will provide you with answers relating to distance and location of the school, school hours, and affordability as well as extra curriculum activities so that you can plan around a practical schedule that works for both you and your child. It is important to ensure that you have the means, can maintain a schedule for your child to attend that specific school and support them in their school schedule.

What is the school’s behavior policy?

Some parents might value the whole structured discipline approach while others want a school that encourages and values the student voice. It is important to consider how different school policies and values fit with family values and family life, but most importantly, look for a school that complements and supplements who your child is.

How does the school prepare my child for the real world?

You’ll want to find out whether the school will equip your child with skills to survive and thrive in a constantly changing environment. Schools need to be able to prepare your child for tertiary education and beyond. What’s important is that your child has skills to cope in the real world long after leaving that school.

Whatever questions that parents decide to focus on when looking for the best school for their child, it is essentially about what will work best for the child’s personality, strengths, needs and interests. Also, making the right choice on a school will allow parents to focus on supporting the child and their school in doing the best they can to equip the child for their future.

Original blog post: https://www.novapioneer.com/sa/blog/what-to-consider-when-looking-for-your-childs-school/

At Nova Pioneer, We are keen to keep up with our alumni who are in turn happy to share their post- school journey.

We  caught up with one of our Alumni from the class of 2020, Mark Bilahi an animal advocate and environmental enthusiast who has been volunteering at The Nairobi National Park during his gap year period.

Mark shares with us highlights from his experience volunteering at The Nairobi National Park.

 

What does a typical day for a volunteer at the Animal Orphanage look like?

 

 I start off at 8.am with tending to the baby animals. This involves warming milk and pouring it into the specific bottles for specific animals. The bottles are made to imitate their mothers. I then head over  to the bigger animals where I set up and replace hay, clean up and fill water ponds.

The rest of the day is spent in the park cleaning and generally taking care of the animals.

 

What are some of your best moments working at the Animal Orphanage?

 

 Taking care of the baby animals i.e. lion cubs  and dik dik.  Feeding large mammals e.g. lions and hyenas was frightening but exhilarating .Occasionally,  We  received juvenile animals it was always exciting to see them go back to the wild while full grown and healthy.

 

What’s your favorite animal?

 

That’s a tough one. Top on the list was the striped hyena.  I also felt a deep connection to a baby tortoise that really struggled fitting in. I took him under my wing and nursed him back to health in a safer environment. I also enjoyed being with the lion cubs since I got to watch them grow as they got their vaccines and their weights were measured.

 

Why Animal Advocacy?

 

I enjoy seeing how the animals in the ecosystem balance out each other with their own niches.

Some animals  will never acknowledge each other despite crossing paths but they’re all involved in balancing the ecosystem so if you take one out,one aspect will be overpowered just like when you take something from one end of a seesaw.

 

How Did Being at Nova Pioneer Bring Out Your Passion? 

 

We had Life skills lessons on Monday. These taught me a bunch of out of class skills that I apply on my day to day. 

Team work is one of the skills that has worked so well for me.

 

Which Nova Pioneer culture principle are you living  up to?

 

Greater Together. This is because the endangerment of these animals is something that affects all of us and I believe that we should work together in the conservation of animals.

Joy of Learning, I learnt a lot about taking care of these animals and because this is my passion I am always excited to learn something new from my supervisors and fellow volunteers. 

 

What do you think can be done differently in regards to animal and Environment conservation?

 

We should all take personal initiative in taking care of our environments starting with the basics of for instance recycling and /re-using plastics.

People should also take initiative to visit local National parks and conservancies.

Supporting the conservancies through donations, raising awareness and volunteering for clean ups. 

 

As I write this, I think of my younger self, in the late 1990s, with only a  few years of working experience. (Yes, that was ages ago and I am giving my age away!). I can vividly recall my father – who was my greatest role model – telling me that I didn’t need to become “hardened” as a woman in business to “make it”.

Hardened 

 

When I looked “up the ranks” (ironically a  phrase that I detest but which was a pertinent reality in my early career), in the various organisations that I was part of, for the first 15 years of my career, the women in senior leadership were few, relative to their male counterparts. They were also mostly in fact “pretty hardened”, ambitious-at-all-costs and fiercely driven. Many of them made their jobs their “whole life”. 

Feminine

 

Thankfully I had my dad whispering in my ear on how important it was not to “lose (feminine) self” in the quest for career success or model success in a predominantly male persona (which I think at that time, many women assumed was the only route).

 

Admittedly there were times, when I have/did put my roles of “being a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a friend” on hold and de-prioritized these in favour of work, work, work.  Perhaps the subliminal narrative inside my head was that in a business context, feminine roles and qualities were in fact a handicap or sign of weakness.

Grateful 

 

Fast forward a couple of decades to where I find myself now, in the wonderful world of education and as part of the Nova Pioneer family. I truly never even think of my gender in my workplace context – I don’t think twice about being a female. How grateful I am to think that gender is just an irrelevant demographic, right now in my work life.  I don’t feel embarrassed about needing to “rush off and be a mom to my own kids” during a working day or in fact anything else that comes with the territory of my role as mother, wife, sister and daughter. These roles are equally respected and appreciated by the teammates that I work with. How very grateful I am for that, when things felt quite the contrary some decades back for “women in business”. 

At Nova Pioneer we believe that a strong educational foundation in pre-primary school is vital to not only shaping your child’s academic success but also in paving their road for success in life. How your child learns and develops mentally, emotionally, physically and socially is critical to us.

At Nova Pioneer, we use a unique integrated approach to support our youngest of students’ growth. We offer vast opportunities to develop your child’s intellectual curiosity and love of learning. Here are the 5 skills that you can expect your child to develop in pre-primary school:

 

Independence

 

We’ve realized that children become more independent in pre-primary school. Naturally, becoming more independent enables children to take care of their own basic needs, to be mindful of their belongings, and to develop their self-confidence. Nurturing your child’s independence is vital in pre-primary school because it encourages them to not only be resourceful and to learn how to solve problems on their own, but it also gives them the confidence to build up their student voice.

 

Language skills

 

Language develops rapidly during pre-primary school years. There is an increase in the scope and function of speech, and children start to use words to resolve conflict. They understand the conversation and volunteer their own ideas and opinions. Their concentration, memory and attention span increase and they begin to participate in discussions to make sense of the world that they live in.

 

Social skills

 

Consequently, children become more socially aware in pre-primary school, and they learn how to get along with others. They share more readily at school, take turns with one another more easily, and begin to work through conflict peacefully. Their play evolves from parallel to interactive play and they are comfortable forming friendships in a pre-primary school environment. Also, pre-primary school is where children begin to learn more about social cues and it’s where their individual personalities begin to unfold as they are exposed to different people from different backgrounds.

 

Physical development

 

Children attending pre-primary school learn how to intentionally use and control their bodies through the various physical activities they engage in at school. There are also striking physical changes in their body proportions during this time as they grow and partake in challenging physical undertakings when they play with their peers. They become capable and confident of more strenuous activities and learn to have greater endurance. Pre-primary school is also where children start to develop dominance and learn to have control over their hand muscles, which is an essential part of physical development during this phase of their lives.

Emotional Maturity

In Pre- Primary School, children learn to outgrow the heightened emotionalism of temper tantrums. Emotions being  to colour their lives. They become better at controlling their emotions and  can be reasoned with. They overcome problems with separation with their parents more easily as they interact with other children and they are able to build trust with their teachers and Peers.

Lastly emotions become more evident in children’s facial expressions in Pre-Primary School. Their body posture, movements and tone of voice help both parents and teachers to easily identify the Children’s emotional cues.

 

Every Year parents make a decision for their children to either join Public schools or a private school.Here are the  benefits of private school education.

Enhanced Opportunities

One key benefit of private schools is the enriched educational experience that pupils obtain.This is thanks to numerous additional initiatives offered at Private Schools including; extra-curricular activities and a variety of  programs for gifted students.

At Nova Pioneer,in particular, our students are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one of our co-curricular activities. These Includes; Debate & Model UN, Journalism,Blogging & Photography, Drama/music club,Computer club, Entrepreneurship Club, Music Creation Club, Dance Club,Scouting, First Aid & Presidential Award club, Robotics & Maker club,Chess & Indoor games.

We also offer coaching for a variety of outdoor games including; Rugby, Basketball, Hockey, Football and Swimming.

Private schools can create their own teaching methods. At Nova Pioneer, We have a learning design team composed of subject matter experts. They are responsible for crafting all lessons around the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development objectives.

Lessons at Nova Pioneer are delivered using the 5-E lesson plan. This is whereby students discover content for themselves about the lesson( They Get to explore their leadership potential), They are encouraged to be innovative and make connections of their findings with the real world.They then share their findings with the teacher in class who then gives clarification and finalizes the topic.

By the end of every topic, Our learners have done their research, engaged with each other and this enhances their understanding and mastery of topics.

Reduced class Sizes.

 Studies  have  shown that the smaller the class size the higher an average grade a student attains.

At nova pioneer, Our primary class size for Pre-Primary Class is 24 students per class where each class has 2 teachers, For the Upper classes, our class capacity is 32 with 2 teachers per class as well.

This has proven to be a very helpful teacher student ratio whereby each Student gets attention from the teacher depending on their strengths and or weaknesses.

Expectation of Success

The high  quality of education offered at private schools results in very good academic results. The mission of private schools attracted students with similar interests, passions and talents.

At Nova Pioneer, we have seen a steady improvement in our K.C.S.E grades. 80% of our candidates qualify to join Universities as the others join tertiary institutions.

Networking Opportunities

At Nova Pioneer, We have a Post School Success Team. The Team Organizes exchange programs for our students between Kenya and South Africa. The team also offer student job shadowing and internship opportunities in a variety of professional fields depending on each students’ interests.

Our students have earned  international scholarship opportunities to pursue their dream careers.

The Nova Pioneer community is also a source of networks.

Community Feel

Many Private schools make an effort to create a community environment. When school feels more like a community, students can feel safer, more comfortable and more passionate about learning.

At Nova Pioneer our culture principles create such a great bond between students and staff. We call ourselves Novaneers.

The strong feeling of community at Nova Pioneer nourishes the student’s social skills and encourages good behavior.

Excellent Resources

Most private schools have excellent resources and facilities to support learning. From well equipped classrooms to multiple sports facilities. 

At Nova Pioneer, We have world facilities that offer a great learning environment for our students.

Get in Touch With Us

If you’d like to enroll your child for the 2022 academic year, Then please get in touch with us. Visit our website to learn more about Nova Pioneer.

There are several tips that will help a student excel in exams. Examination period can bring a lot of pressure and anxiety hence the need for students to prepare adequately. Studying effectively is very key in Exam Preparation.

Start Your Preparation Early

Starting early with your exam preparation will give you ample time to review everything you have already studied. So do not leave anything for the last moment and make sure you understand your subject thoroughly. This will make revision much easier.

Setting up a timetable early enough will also assist in proper time management. First note down the exams you have and schedule appropriately.

Organize Your Space for Study

Before sitting down to study,ensure your space is well organised and that you have enough space to place your study materials.Ensure the room is also well lit and there’s nothing around that might distract you.Keeping everything in order helps you remain focused throughout the study session.

Review and Practice old exam papers

This will help you familiarize yourself with the format and structure of the exam paper.

Set your Study Goal.

Goal setting is the best way in attaining any sort of targets.Utilize your study time to achieve your goals.

Get together with friends for a study session

Organizing study sessions with your friends is one of the most crucial exam study tips for university students as it helps you get answers to all your questions and vice versa. However, you need to make sure that you do not waste time and stay focused on learning the importance of preparing for exams.

Studying with your friends or your fellow students is also a great way to challenge yourself and keep moving forward towards your goal

Study to Suit your Learning Style 

Your learning style will help you to know what are the best ways to prepare for an examination. For instance, if you are an auditory learner, you may benefit from recording your notes and then listening to them later, or you can even listen to class recordings.

On the other hand, if you are a visual learner, pictures and diagrams can help you remember. So explore what your learning style is so that you can memorize significant facts and understand key concepts.

Read More about learning styles here

Ask for Help 

In case you face trouble understanding a specific concept or subject, then do not hesitate to ask for help. Talk to your teacher, tutor, or your friend to understand the concept better before it’s too late. Rather than trying to memorize or cram, taking guidance from someone can help you remember the concept for a longer time.

 Plan your Exam Day and Sleep Well

Make sure you have everything ready before the day of your exam and do not leave anything for the last day. Check all the requirements and make all the other necessary arrangements.

 Besides, do not forget to take at least a minimum of seven hours of sleep before the exam. Remember, exams are designed to test your thinking ability. So if you are sleep deprived, you might not be able to complete your exam in time or justify your answers correctly.

Do Not Evaluate Post Examination

After finishing your exam, if you realize that you have given an incorrect answer to one of the questions, it may cause anxiety.

So avoid evaluating your question paper because, at that point, you will be able to do nothing to change your answer or your score. Instead, stay focused on your studies and prepare for the next exam to ensure that you do not repeat the same mistake again.

Drink Lots of Water

As one of the most vital tips for exam day, always remember that keeping yourself hydrated will add to your overall positive mood and will make your brain work at its best.

So make sure to drink plenty of water while preparing for exams and even during the exam.

Read more on exam preparation tips

Academic Excellence is important because it is strongly linked to the positive outcomes we value at Nova Pioneer.During the Alumni Virtual connect event here ,Nduta Gicheru from the Alumni class of 2020, shared her top  5 tips which she used while in school for academic excellence

Nduta Gicheru scored an A of 83 points. In addition to her exemplary performance in the KCSE Class of 2020,  Nduta was the Team Captain of the swimming club, The inaugural school president, and was also part of the music club where she played Piano.

She was very keen on mentioning the importance of being an all rounded student, which she indeed led by example.

Here are her top 5 tips;

 Start the race as soon as they say go.

This journey is not going to be about who the fastest runner is or who has the most talent. It’s about who is the most adaptable and keeps a steady pace. Like a race, as soon as you get on campus keep a moderate but constant exertion in your academics and outside classroom activities. As long as you start now, you will be closer to your goals than you were yesterday. Adopt self mastery sooner rather than later. 

Build a community.

 Find friends who are a few steps ahead of you and will keep you going forward daily. Healthy competition makes all the difference. It creates accountability as well as support during the trying times. 

Set out to fail. 

The greatest lessons come from the biggest mistakes. The ones that stick with us forever. Put your arm up each and every time to answer a question, what’s the worst that can happen if you get it wrong? So what if they judge you? They certainly will not be laughing when you learn something new and eventually achieve your goals. Remember winning and losing are just trajectories in the journey which are dependent on only you. 

Go, go, go the extra mile. 

They wake up at 5:30, you wake up at 5:00. It’s half an hour more in one day but three and a half hours in a week. And so much more in a year. Make the sacrifices early. The journey will become easier. In the end it will be a cruise. Additionally, go the extra mile in applying for all the opportunities that you are interested in. They will come and go, don’t agree to let them pass you by. Aim to be a holistic individual. 

 Lastly, serve in whatever capacity you can. Find a place to be of service to others. It will help you build relationships, learn to work with people and to respect the people around you. From big positions like School President to smaller positions like Class Environment lead. Lose yourself in service to others. 

Now, if you do not remember any of these things just remember that you have what it takes to be a success. The first thing you must do is believe it. 

To catch the full video on the event, click below;

 

 

The first five years of your child’s life is critical, as this is the period in which early childhood development takes off. Parents can find it difficult to decide on when the best time is to send their child to school. No one wants to send their child to school prematurely, neither do they want to send them to school too late.

One of the things parents need to know about school readiness is that it involves two types of indicators: an eagerness to learn and an enthusiasm for school. School readiness is thus a measure of how prepared your child is to succeed at school. Check out these 5 key indicators of school readiness to look out for in your child:

1.Physical and Motor Development:

If your child is able to crawl or walk, it means that they are getting ready to explore their physical environment. Parents can look out for gross motor development, which includes running, skipping and standing on one leg. Furthermore, parents can look out for fine motor development in their child. When your child is comfortable using a pair of scissors, successfully able to use zips and buttons and they are able to use cutlery, this is an indicator of school readiness. Moreover, visual as well as auditory development and your child’s ability to take care of themselves by being able to go to the toilet alone, is another strong indicator of school readiness.

2.Emotional and Social Development:

A child who is emotionally well-adjusted has a significantly greater chance of early school success. Your child is most likely ready for school when they get along with their peers. They are ready for school when they can interact within a group, they show an interest in other children and they willing help others. Also, if your child can express feelings and needs, can sit still long enough to listen to a story and can concentrate on a task for a reasonable amount of time, they are most likely ready to be placed in a school.

3.Cognitive Development:

Every parent knows that mental ability is essential in the cognitive development of a child. How a child thinks, makes independent decisions and figures things out for themselves is a good indicator of school readiness. It is the ability to take direction and following instructions that helps children navigate the world around them and that also encourages an interest to learning.

4.Language Development:

A child is ready for school when they can express themselves through speaking and vocabulary as well as literacy and listening. Furthermore, they should be able to communicate effectively in their home language, be able to sequence or recite a story or a set of events comprehensibly, and identify similarities and differences between objects.

5.Emotional Development:

Last but not least, your child is most likely ready for school when they show emotional maturity. When your child can reasonably control their emotions and handle separation well, that means they can handle being in a school setting with other children. Other emotional development indicators include confidence, independence and displays of being responsible.

Sources:

https://helpmegrowmn.org/HMG/HelpfulRes/Articles/WhatMotorPhysicalDev/index.html#:~:text=Motor%20development%20means%20the%20physical,and%20touch%20his%2Fher%20surroundings.&text=Motor%20development%20is%20important%20throughout,tied%20to%20other%20development%20areas