This examination period is of utmost importance to Flying Kites: not only will it determine which students will advance to the next level for the 2010 school year, it will allow us to assess which students are particularly stunted in English literacy and in need of specialized instruction.  There are several children who joined our school from the community who had been promoted in the public schools they previously attended solely because of their age, but are very limited in their English abilities.   Starting in 2010, these students will receive English instruction through our new literacy program that we will fully flesh out during the December break from school.  All of our classes (besides Swahili) are taught in English, so an excellent grasp of the language is essential.

The testing period started very smoothly today, thanks to the help of our volunteers Hannah, Ashwini, and Christina, who acted as proctors and monitors.  The teachers have begun to grade the exams, and on Wednesday I will meet with them so we can start analyzing the results and deciding how to place the children for the next term.

Here in Kenya, the academic year is structured a bit differently.  It is divided into three terms: the first running from January to March; the second from May to July; and the third from September to November.  During April, August, and December, the students are on vacation.  Visitor Day coincided with the end of the third term, when school children across the country prepare to take national exams to determine whether they will advance to the next grade.

The five older kids, Leila, Benson (who owns the FKKCC home), Rahab (a FK Director) and I set off for the school this morning.  I was so impressed by it!  It is massive – three stories tall, with dozens of classrooms.  The day started with an assembly in the church – the boarding students had obviously put a lot of preparation into putting on an entertaining program.  They were such great singers and dancers!

Following the assembly and Mass, we moved to the school grounds, where every grade put on a presentation.  I was so proud to see our children up there.  Finally, the teachers handed out report cards for the term and discussed them with the parents and guardians.  I met all of the children’s teachers, and they had nothing but kind words to say about them!

The best part of the day?  PETER WAS RANKED FIRST OUT OF HIS ENTIRE GRADE!  I wish you all could have seen the pride in his eyes.  What makes this even more amazing is that up until last year when he arrived at Flying Kites, he had NO formal education.  No one is going to hold him back.  I am so proud of him, and I can’t wait to see him excel further during the next school year.