March update - and soon end of term

Jambo Happy Day family.

We trust you are all fine. We are Happy Day Junior School are fine too and grateful to you all.  This is the last week of the first term 2026 in the school calendar.  Schools are closing by Friday 7/04/2026 for 3 weeks. We will open School on Monday 27/04/2026 for the second term of this year. 

This term hasn't been eventful. Learning went on well and we can report that the staff has done a good job.  Congratulations to all our teachers for all your efforts in making Happy Day Junior School the best and safe space for the kids. 

We were supposed to have taken the kids for a fun day outside of their neighborhood for exposure and exploration of a new place but due to funds limit we didn't.  We are informed by the organizers of the event that they have another one in second term. We hope when that time comes we will be able to take them there. 

The feeding program has gone on very well and we thank you all for the provision and for making it possible. This meals mean so much for the kids and they boost their school morale.  We provide two hot meals a day. Porridge during break time  ( from 10am - 11am). Rice and beans during lunch time. Sometimes we make green grams with rice, other times we make ugali with cabbage. The kids are a happy lot. Again we say Asante sana for the provision. Be blessed for making it happen.  

This term we also had enough stationaries and Learning and teaching went on smoothly.

Our premises are as good as new and it's very beautiful and clean. Thank very much to you all for the renovations.  We have also done repairs on the water piping. The water pipe had worn out and the gate valve too. 

This term we did two exams. Mid term and now end term exams.

Playgroup exams include:

1. Mathematics assessment. (classification and numbers)

2. Language assessment (listening and speaking)

3. Environmental assessment (social environment and health practices).

4. Christian religious education (God's creation and the Holy Bible)

5. Psychomotor and creative assessment (picture making,  colouring,  painting,  printing,  mosaic, collage, modeling,  weaving,  locomotive skills,  non locomotive skills and music (reciting poems, performing and singing games. )

PRE PRIMARY 1:

1. Mathematics activities 

2. Language activities 

3. My family (listening and speaking).

4. Environmental activities 

5. Creative activities 

6. C. R. E 

PRE PRIMARY 2: 

1. Mathematics activities 

2. English assessment 

3. Environmental assessment 

4. Creative assessment 

5. C. R. E

For pp1 and pp2 the thematic areas are very detailed and broken into strands.

For us to fully achieve the above learning areas, we have been improvising where possible, asking the parents to provide a few items and of course you all have been very instrumental in providing for the needs. 

C. B E System of education is very interactive and also very very expensive (most of the learning is through touching , seeing and identifying  items). 

For the mathematics activities,  we should have play objects: brick games, block games, counters, abacus,  bean bags, bottle tops, sticks, etc.

For language activities we should have: story books, charts, cards, plain papers,  colors, water colors, crayons, toys, outside activities (like visiting the market)

For environmental activities we should have charts, cleaning items, and outside activities, toothpaste,  toothbrush,  soap. 

For creative activities we should have pictures of plants, colors and crayons, modeling clay,  mosaic materials,  swings (for gross motor development). 

For CRE we should have charts, plain papers, pencils, crayons,  modelling clay, soap, Bibles.

Every term we write a summative report for every child. A sample is attached herein.  

The results are graded as. 

EE4 - Exceeding expectation

ME3 - meeting expectation

AE2 - approaching expectation

BE1 - below expectation

We will write another report a week before opening day . 

Again we say Asante sana for your continued support.

End of term exams

 

We need money for end of term exams. As the Kenyan system is very different from the Norwegian one, we thought it would be interesting for sponsors to have an explanation as to how it works:

In Kenya, the education system is based on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBE), which focuses on developing a child’s individual talents, strengths, and academic abilities over time. From a very early age, children begin taking simple assessments that gradually increase in complexity as they grow. These are not meant to “fail” or discourage any child but to help teachers and parents understand each learner’s progress and abilities.

Children start assessments as soon as they can hold a pencil. In Playgroup (3–4 years), they color pictures, trace dots to form numbers and letters, and identify common objects. In Pre-Primary 1 (4–5 years), they begin reading simple sounds, numbers, and words, and doing basic addition or counting exercises. In Pre-Primary 2 (5–6 years), they progress to reading full sentences and doing addition and subtraction tasks.

These assessments happen twice per school term — mid-term and end-term — and results are recorded both by the school and the parents.

Under the CBE system, assessment results from early childhood through upper primary school are used to help determine each child’s learning pathway starting in Grade 7 (around age 12–13). The three main pathways are:

1. STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
2. Arts and Sports
3. Social Sciences

This helps guide students toward their areas of strength as they move into junior and senior secondary school. However, the system allows flexibility: when learners reach Grade 10 (ages 14–16), they can choose or adjust their pathway based on their ability and interests. ICT (Information and Computer Technology) is compulsory for all students at this stage.

The assessments are not about failure. Each child is considered unique and “abled differently.” The reports help teachers and parents track progress and identify support needs. Schools keep copies of all reports, and parents receive one too—these records are often required if a student transfers to another school.

Assessments are crucial for teachers to understand how students are performing academically and to ensure each learner’s record is complete.
Currently, the school needs 2,200 shillings to purchase the mid-term assessment tests, and 40 assessment books costing about 10,000 shillings in total (250 each). Without these resources, the children would miss the opportunity to sit for the term’s essential evaluations, which would also affect how well the school can document progress and plan future learning support.

Thanks to everyone who helps make these assessments possible — your contributions truly shape the children’s educational journey and future opportunities. 

Vi fikk dessverre ikke inn nok penger

Vi fikk dessverre ikke inn nok penger til å spandere "Fun day" arrangementet barna på Happy day var invitert til. Men heldigvis fikk vi nok til å kjøpe inn det de ba om under "teaching aid". Vi har også nok penger til å gi de mat de neste to ukene. Det skal vi være veldige glade for. Happy day-personalet uttrykker stor takknemlig for støtten som kommer fra Norge ❤️

Will we be able to take the children on an excursion?

Every year, schools are invited to bring their children to a "Fun Day" where they can meet kids from other schools. Happy Day Junior School has been able to take its pupils to this enjoyable event for several years, and it has been highly appreciated by everyone who has attended.​

The staff would like to give this year's children the same opportunity to enjoy the occasion. Most of the children at Happy Day do not have families who can afford such activities on their own.

The budget for this:

1. Payment... 45 × 500 = 22500
2. Rice 5kg....550
3. Meat 5kg × 700 = 3500
4. Potatoes.... 400
5. Tomatoes..100
6. Onions...100
7. Candy.... 1000
8. Biscuits..700
9. Juice...1500

TOTAL....  30350

In addition they are asking for:

TEACHING AID
1. charts..... 20 × 150 = 3000
2. Activity books..... 5000
3. Skipping ropes... 1000
4. Balls..... 3000

TOTAL... 12000 

Report from start of school year 2026

Greetings to you all..

We at Happy Day Junior school are fine too.
We started 2026 in high spirits and renewed hopes and strength. 
The atmosphere here feels fresh and we are all charged up for the rest of the year.
Our premises are as good as new ..
We say Asante sana to all our friends and partners for the face-lift. 
Our classroom are all newly painted and the floors are so nice ..
Again we say thank you.
Our blackboards too are newly painted!!..
Our roofs are nolonger leaking!.
They are all painted!.
We are very grateful . 
Our kids are back and the ones who outgrew our classes have already joined new schools after we did a follow up.
We gave our partner school ( new horizons) a few names of our kids and we hope they take them in.
We have a population of 4 teachers and at the close of business today we had a total of 38 kids. Some of those who have not reported back have called to say that they will be back by the first week of February. 
We are expecting to reach 50 kids which is always our maximum. 
Meals are served twice a day..
1. Breaktime porridge.
2. Lunch.
Again we say Asante sana for the hot meals.
We have enough Stationaries for this term and enough story books and toys. We feel blessed. 
Most of our kids are in full school uniform because we requested those who were leaving to donate theirs to those who were remaining and those who were joining. 
Only a few don't have uniforms. 
Most of them don't have black school shoes but they have shoes that they come with.
Our teachers are doing a very good work in nurturing the young citizens of the world..
We are very proud of the work they are doing. 
In February we have a fun day coming up and we hope the kids will attend and make memorable memories of their childhood. 
For the fun day every child pays 500 ksh which will Carter for transport to the venue and all activities that will be on the day...
The activities include 
- horse riding
- bouncing castle
- water slides
- face painting
- trampoline
- train rides
- racing games

We will also cooks food at the school to carry to the venue. 
Candy , juice ( soda), biscuits and water is also required for the fun day. ( SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS).

The teachers also require teaching aids.
This include..
1. Charts
2. Activity books
3. Skipping ropes
4. Ball

We are also resuming our weekly meetings on every Friday and we will keep you updated of all happenings. 
Again we say Asante sana for your continued support. 

Have a blessed new month of February.

Nå er vi snart i mål med oppussing, men trenger mer penger!

Se hvor fint det blir! ❤️ Hvis vi får inn noen tusen til nå, så kan vi male gulvene, takene på innsiden, pultene og benkene også. Hadde ikke det blitt fint? Kan du være med å bidra? ❤️ Kontonummer 15039106091 eller VIPPS #104265

Stort behov for oppussing

 Vi ble nettopp ferdig med vårt 16. skoleår! Vi har prøvd å holde bygningen vedlike, men nå er det lenge siden vi har hatt penger til det. Det STORT behov for oppussing: Vi har et stort behov for å fikse taket som kan ramle ned noen steder.  Det er farlig. Dørene er slitte. Murpussen har skallet av på både vegger og gulv. Fargene som en gang var friske og fine, har falma.  Hvor mer penger vi får inn, hvor mer kan vi fikse. Vi ønsker å gjøre skolen klar til nytt skoleår i januar 2026.

Vi kommer langt med NOK 20 000. Kan du være med å bidra til dette? <3 Kontonummer 1503 91 06091 eller Vipps: #104265