At Nova Pioneer, we know that the best marker of our success as a school group is the success of our alumni. We currently have 1169 alumni and counting, with 349 more joining as the school year closes at the end of this year. Investing in our alumni programming is a top priority for Nova Pioneer as our graduates transition from high school to their academic and professional lives, and one way we have invested in our alumni is through our annual Alumni Summit.

The purpose of our Alumni Summit is to provide a platform for our alumni to create and strengthen meaningful connections with one another, learn from field experts across the Continent and to engage in personal and professional connections to serve them in their futures.Throughout the day, alumni have the opportunity to hear from African leaders about their growth journeys, engage with leaders in small-groups through Master Classes, hear from other alumni through the Alumni Panel, and connect with fellow alumni through breakout “Speed Dating” sessions and a school-specific global impact planning session.

On Saturday, 22 July, 2023, Nova Pioneer held its second annual Alumni Summit, bringing together over 150 former students, current teammates, and guest speakers under the theme, “Reunite, reconnect, reimagine, reignite”.  Alumni of Nova Pioneer Ormonde, Tatu Boys, and Tatu Girls gathered virtually and in-person on campus to mark the day. 

This year’s Alumni Summit was hosted by Michelle Bochaberi (NPTG 2021), Sinovuyo Titi (NPO 2022), and Brandon Chisika (NPTB 2020), and opened with speaker Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Managing Director of Spotify – Africa. In a conversation moderated by 2019 NPO alumnus Jabu Mtwa, Ms. Muhutu-Remy spoke about her journey into leadership, and encouraged the group with her message that we each move at our own pace and some find their “big role” later in life.

After Ms. Muhutu-Remy’s opening speech, alumni had the opportunity to attend a small-group Master class led by an industry leader on the Continent. Master class facilitators included Dr. Stephanie Chesire of Signature Smile Dentistry, Gentamu McKinney, author of Keep Calm and Bring Your Carry-On, Elvis Maneno of Mobius Motors, Catherine Kiama of She’s The First, Lina Gichure of Roamtech Solutions Ltd., Mbuki Kasema of Wowana Ltd., Mthokozisi Madonda of NBA Africa, Likeleli Monyamane of Standard Bank Group, Stephen Wanyingo of Wezesha, Mary Onguko of Avanti Communications Group, Weldon Siele of Kecher Africa, and William Yakah of Wavy Ventures. In these tight-knit sessions, alumni were able to learn from a field expert about their professional journey and ask questions of the expert. 

Next, alumni headed into their school breakout rooms to plan an Alumni Reconnect Day – a chance for alumni to head back to their alma maters to lead in a Humanities and STEM competition and provide mentorship to current students. This was followed by an update on ways for alumni to stay involved with Nova Pioneer heading into 2024, including joining our alumni committee, becoming an alumni mentor, participating in an alumni speaker series, coordinating a service project, volunteering and a Nova Pioneer Open Day, applying for professional development opportunities, and nominating a fellow alumnus for the Nova Pioneer Alumni Culture Awards.

The summit closed with speaker William Kamkwamba, inventor and author of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. Mr. Kamkwamba shared his childhood story of problem-solving for his community in rural Malawi by building an electricity-generating windmill, and how that eventually led him to where he is today, heading the Moving Windmills Project.  In a question and answer session facilitated by 2022 NPTG alumnus Hazel Ochieng, William spoke about how he has become a stronger public speaker and communicator as a young adult, who inspired him (his grandmother, who taught him that you can solve your own problems), and his greatest fear (failure – but this is also what keeps him going).

Coming out of the conversation with William Kamkwamba, several alumni shared their interest in William’s Moving Windmills project – particularly his forthcoming Moving Windmills Innovation Centre, a centre aimed at growing African innovators and supporting their ideas to solve problems in their communities. Our Post-School Success team is currently exploring opportunities for our alumni to be involved in this exciting work, as well as other exciting opportunities to further partner with some of our Master Class speakers for future initiatives.

We sincerely hope that our alumni engagement does not end with the summit, and encourage our alumni to keep in touch and let us know how they would like to stay connected! Interested alumni are encouraged to fill out this form to register their interest.

Once a Novaneer, always a Novaneer!

 

International Women’s Day is celebrated each year on March 8th to recognize the social, economic , cultural and political achievements of women. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Gender Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” 

At Nova Pioneer, we are empowering our young women to bravely take up opportunities.  We equip them with 21st Century skills that prepare them for the future.  In them we see a generation of great Leaders who will shape the African century.

This Year as we celebrate the International Women’s Day, we are celebrating these brave young women within the Nova Pioneer community.

 

Our Brave Young Women

We are Proud of Avery Muoki a Grade 5  student at our Athi River Campus who published her first book titled Amber The brave. At 10 years old Avery has already discovered her prowess in writing. She is passionate about the environment. Her book is about a young girl determined to save her village from air pollution caused by toxic fumes from a steel factory. 

We are  proud of Jeanne Sere an alumni of our Tatu Girls Campus who is the founder of tabasamu.ke a company she started while at Nova Pioneer in 2018. She grew from collecting several kilograms of bags with clothes donated by Novaneers to selling re-cycled Ankara waste from local tailors. She uses 20% of her profits to give back to the community.

We are  Proud of Shakira Mwakitawa an Alumni of our Tatu Girls Campus who joined the Nova Pioneer Marketing team as an intern. she has continued to embody the Nova Pioneer culture principles and bravely offers support to the team. 

We are proud of Apetronila Maina, Maya Hawi, Shanice Kituu and Tatyana Murila Students at our Tatu Girls Campus who emerged position 1 in this Years Junior Achievers Company of The Year Competition. Their project “Yoof” aims at  promoting mental health among young people by creating a safe space to express themselves.

Above, Apetronila, Maya, Shanice and Tatyana

 

We are proud of Rehema Amor and Michelle Atika, Form 4 Students at Tatu Girls who took part in this Years National Youth Agri challenge. They emerged among the top 10 finalists in all schools across the country. Their project led to our school being identified as an Agricultural Centre and winning an Agric park worth Kshs.30000 to help Amor and Michelle begin the implementation of their project.

Above Rehema and Michelle giving their presentation

We are proud of Ivy Wanja Mwaura from Tatu Girls who emerged top in the the World Scholars Cup for her outstanding performance in writing and Debate.

We are proud of Getrude Muthoni from Tatu Girls Campus who presented an excellent Virtual tour of our country during the X-culture Business Competition. At the Competition, 15 girls from Tatu Girls gave a tremendous performance. The students will be proceeding to the global round later this year. 

We are proud of our Form 4 class who have been supporting each other, believing in themselves throughout the tight academic schedule and are currently focusing on their KCSE exams.

Join us on our next Virtual Open Day Session to learn more of the amazing stories.

Remember to celebrate yourself and the women in your life today by calling out gender inequality.

 

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.

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

The True Talents of Africa Football Academy, is set to launch Kenya’s first fully residential International football academy in partnership with Nova Pioneer Boys Secondary School based in Tatu City, Nairobi.

 

The program is designed to develop young ‘ student-athletes ‘ from all over the continent ages of 13 – 19 in a professional football academy environment whilst schooling at Nova Pioneer Secondary school. Essentially, students will live and train on one campus with the goal of pursuing a career in football. 

Since 2018, TTA’s partners have sent over 7 students on soccer scholarships to places around the world and these are the opportunities that the TTA Academy prepares Nova Students for.

“Having played professional football myself, I would say this is an opportunity which I would have loved to have growing up…” – Karuga, Nova Head Coach 

“This is a big opportunity for aspiring footballers, not just in East Africa, but all over the continent. In my career, football opened doors for me that academics could not. We are simply giving the same opportunity to the students of today. At Nova, we have created the right environment to develop and mentor students as they pursue football at the highest level.” – Kimathi Kaumbutho, TTA Director and former player and USA NAIA National Champion.

The intensive format of the program will see students train 4 times per week on campus in tandem with their studies. The program also includes weights, resistance training, and  ‘mental conditioning’, and character-building sessions. 

“Mental conditioning is where we mentor our student-athletes off the pitch in a classroom setting. We discuss matters regarding their mental health and character. It’s important to realize that football is simply a tool we use to educate the students and equip them to succeed in life—that’s the real goal of the academy.”

The True Talents of Africa Football program starts this coming July Term 2021 @Nova Pioneer.

 

 

 

Nova Pioneer students from our Tatu City Girls Campus Wangari and Shirleen, recently made an awesome video showcasing their High School experience. We caught up with the two ladies to find out more about their experience making the video.

 

What excited you about doing a video project like this? 

We have always had a passion for film so working with the film equipment and doing a project like this made as feel like “real” directors.

 

What inspired you to do it?

We wanted to make something different, something that’s not just about academics or the world- class facilities of the school. We wanted to showcase the moments we share in school with the other girls. We wanted to show how we enjoy every single second of High School.

 

Were there any challenges you faced when putting it together? If so, how did you overcome them?

Firstly, finding a camera of good quality was the first step. Once we did, we experienced a few glitches in how to use it. Secondly, some of the students involved were camera shy and we had to make them comfortable. It was our first time editing so getting the music transition right was an issue but we managed to get the the hang of it.

One of the greatest advantage was having a partner. This way we motivated each other going by our culture principle of  ‘Greater Together’. We collaborated by dividing the work and tasks, and this made filming faster.

We learnt how to edit from YouTube, although it included a lot of frustration and sleepless nights because we had set a deadline for ourselves. We would do it all over again though.

 

Give us a fun fact or two about yourself.

Fun- ish facts about us:

I (Wangari) always make really good food, the trick is to add honey or soy sauce if it doesn’t taste good. Try it sometime…hahaha.

I (Shirleen) acted in my first play when I was only 8 years old.

 

In The End

Being able to make something that tells a beautiful story and immortalizes a good memory or experience is always fulfilling. Wangari and Shirleen have embodied the spirit of ‘Greater Together,’ and in the process have set High Expectations for themselves and others. We definitely look forward to more stories they will tell from their high school experience and even beyond!

 

 

 

“I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it ceased to be one.” Mark Twain

Perhaps, I would least wish any enthusiastic learner to make the above utterance.

I share my four tenets which I would have paid quality attention to in my younger years to achieve most out of them. Grab a pen and a journal as we walk through my school memoir as I reflect on what I wish I knew in my younger years.

Exploration

What if I had developed a unique set of skills in my high school days that would make me a versatile person equipped with necessary foundational skills, competences and character qualities that would have made me more prepared for this world of a technological revolution?

During ‘those days’ the light I was focused on was my academic goals, getting those assessments done and “pass” have the good feel and be ready to join campus after the robust four years period.  Wait! Was I getting it twisted?

I definitely wish I sought more solid guidance in my career path options. Believe it or not, I had three non-related career options with a major emphasis on getting a lucrative job after joining college. Being more deliberate would have worked great for me. 

I have come to a realization that critical thinking, collaboration, curiosity, adaptability, social and cultural awareness are just as important as literacies like numeracy, scientific literacy, financial literacy, and ICT literacy.

The opportunity to participate in an array of beyond-the-class walls activities during my holidays would have impacted the society tremendously.

Collaborate with Peers

I wish I had more meaningful group interactions as opposed to being overbearing. Expecting everything to be done right was good but doing them in the right manner is the best experience. Being unaware that everyone executes tasks at their own pace was not a welcome thought to me. Working in a group was most times frustrating but the light of the day comes in when everyone has a chance to equally participate. It is a vital skill knowing how to collaborate with peers.

Partnership With Educators

Understanding that there is a need to have a cohesive relationship with my educators as they are among the greatest resources we have. I would ideally wish to connect more with my teachers since influence is the next step beyond control in achieving the best in the un-ending field of education.

Exposure

I wish I was involved in blended learning activities like exchange programs with students across the globe. This would be a point of no return in pursuit of academic excellence. I would definitely have emitted my energy in building international connections so that problems facing the African continent can tactfully be countered.

Make a Move to secure your Future! Make it worth-while.

Nova Pioneer broke ground in Eldoret in July. The new campus will host a Girls’ High School and a Boys’ High School.

Press Release: Speaking at the event, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago welcomed the investment in the county, committing the support of the county government to the project.

“As a nation and county, we have been lagging behind in terms of innovation, to the extent that we seem not to understand the resources we have at our disposal. We believe Nova Pioneer Schools is going to be that catalyst that we need in this century to enable us to realize the enormous resources we have within our boundaries and how to utilize the same” added Governor Mandago.

Nova Pioneer East Africa Managing Director, K. Danae Pauli noted that the move was informed by the rising need for world-class education to compete in today’s world, thanks to the technology that has made it a global village.

”We are a Pan-African network because we believe that change that will make a difference in the continent goes beyond a single school. By connecting our students across our network and the world beyond through our international standard education adopting the Kenyan curriculum, we will make the necessary difference in our students’ lives” added Pauli.

Above: Our Director, Mr. Khaemba, Managing Director Ms. K. Danae Pauli, LAPTRUST CEO and MD Hosea Kili, Governor of Uasin Gishu county Hon. Jackson Mandago and other stakeholders during the groundbreaking ceremony in July.

On his part, LAPTRUST CEO and MD Hosea Kili noted that the institution is indeed a welcome move in Eldoret following the establishment of the first Nova Pioneer School in Tatu City.

LAPTRUST, through the partnership, will enhance returns for its members and continue to ensure a healthy funding level for sustainability for the fund. The organisation will own the land and the buildings accordingly.

Located near Eldoret town, the full-boarding secondary schools will be developed separately across 20 acres of land. The facilities will include modern classrooms set-up with technology that enhances learning, boarding facilities as well as grounds for sports and club’s activities.

The partnership between Nova Pioneer and LAPTRUST ensures that the school focuses its resources on its core strength; delivering world-class education to transform the lives of all students across its network.

Nova Pioneer’s current schools have had a rapid impact. The high school students have won business competitions against university students and developed software applications launched on the Google App store as well as featured strongly in innovation competitions such as Innovate Kenya organized by GM in where their students emerged as some of the finalists in the country, among other major early achievements.

In the months gearing up toward the start of the 2020 school year, Nova Pioneer will be conducting various open days in 2019 to give parents and students a chance to learn more about how to apply for enrolment.

Article published by Capital News