Friends School Kamusinga

Friends School Kamusinga
Address
P.O. Box Private bag- 50204
Kimilili, Bungoma
Kenya
Coordinates 0°47′39″N 34°42′24″E / 0.794150°N 34.706620°E / 0.794150; 34.706620Coordinates: 0°47′39″N 34°42′24″E / 0.794150°N 34.706620°E / 0.794150; 34.706620
Information
Other names Kamu/Frischka
School type National, Public
Motto Use Common Sense
Established 1956
Founder Allan Bradley (British Native)
Principal Alex Maina (since 2018)[1]
Staff 80
Gender Male
Number of students 1200
Campus type Suburban, on the slopes of Mt Elgon
School color(s)                     Blue, Black, Grey & White
Phone +(254)-055 - 21014/21245
Website www.fsk.sc.ke

Friends School Kamusinga or (FSK) popularly known as Kamu/Frischka is a Kenyan Quakers National High School[2] established in 1956 & located in Kimilili, Bungoma County, Kenya.The school is located 400 kilometres from Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, Kenya.It is ranked among the top schools nationwide in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education[3] and has many notable alumni across business, creative arts, sports,[4] engineering and political divides in Kenya.[5]

Kamusinga is regarded as an academic and extra-curricular giant for its performance in National examinations and Nationwide extra-curricular competitions of Hockey, Basketball, Science Congress, Drama and Music Festival Competitions over the years.[6][7][8][3][4][5]

History

The school was established by Allan Bradley (a British Native who died aged 90 in February 2000) in 1956 as a transfer unit for Friends School Kaimosi from Kaimosi in Vihiga County. He is remembered by the school by holding an annual intra-school sports tournaments dubbed 'Allan Bradley's Day', held on 18 February of every year.The first Allan Bradley's Day Tournament was on 18 February 2006.[9][10]

The school continues to maintain relations with members of the Allan Bradley family such as Ruth Bradley and Peter Bradley who find possible ways to support the school whenever possible.[10]

Peter Bradley-Left (Son of School Founder) with Former School Principal Edwin Namachanja-center
The School Administration Block Building

Academics

National Exam Performance

The school produced the best 2006 K.C.S.E. (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) national candidate Dickens Omanga.[11] Due to scrapping of school rankings nationwide by the Ministry of Education, the ranking of the school is not available since 2017. But based on performance comparison the school boasts production of the highest number of A, A- and B+ grades compared to most schools in the country making it still one of the top schools in the country.[12] In 2011, before ranking was abolished, the school has ranked 12th nationwide.[13] In 2016 it ranked 4th.

Current Staff

The school is headed by Alex Kariuki Maina, who took over the helm in January 2018, formerly the Principal of Ololaiser High School in Kajiado County.[14] The school was previously headed by Edwin Namachanja from 2010 to January 2018 who was transferred to Maranda High School in Siaya County.[1][15]

The teaching staff comprises department heads for every subject together with department members. Non-teaching staff includes office messengers, typing pool handlers and laboratory personnel. Boarding staff are headed by the boarding master and comprise groundskeepers, cooks under the cateress, school drivers and the guards.

Notable Former Staff

The school was previously headed by Simon Nabukwesi who headed the school from 1998 to January 2009, when he was appointed as Kenyan ambassador to Canada in a series of diplomatic appointments by Kenya's 3rd president Mwai Kibaki.[16]

Before Simon Nabukwesi's helm at the school, Christopher Khaemba was the principal from 1995-1998 before transferring to Alliance High School as principal, and thereafter to African Leadership Academy as the school's founding dean in Johannesburg, South Africa.[17] He is currently the Director and Co-founder of The Nova Pioneer Academies, which operates both in Kenya and South Africa.[17]

Departments

The School Comprises 10 departments that oversee the school programs and curricular activities. They include the Examination Department, Technical Department, Sciences Department, Math Department, Swahili & Other Languages Departments, English & Libraries Department, Games Department, Boarding Department, School Worship Program Department, and Guidance & Counselling Department.[18]

The Heads of Each Department are appointed by the Teachers Service Commission

Board of Governors

The school has a board of governors (B.O.G.) and Parents Teachers Association (P.T.A) organs that assist the school administration in leadership and management.[10]

Student Admission

Every year, 300 students are selected based on academic merit and quota as per the Kenyan standard education policy. Academic merit is based on performance of the K.C.P.E (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) exams. Its quota system sees to it that the school admits boys from every county in the country though with bias to students from public schools as the current education policy requires.

Students are admitted on a need-blind basis. At any given time, there are needy students whose tuition and boarding fees are paid by parties other than their parents or guardians.

Matriculation & University Enrollment

On Average the school's final year candidates get up to 98% admission into top universities in the country by merit through standard Kenyan public university placement procedures for students who have excelled in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. By virtue of the school's ranking over the years with most students scoring A, A- and B+, most of the students get into university through merit.

Emblem

Kamusinga School Gate with the school emblem

School Seal

The emblem is a Cheetah poised on its back limbs and appears to be clawing the air. It is believed by the staff, students, and locals, that the area was once a niche for the feline before being wiped out by the encroachment at the foot of the Mount Elgon.

A banner is floated below the emblem thus:

         "Use Common Sense"

Uniform

The students wear white shirts (previously beige), grey trousers and black sweaters.

Student Life

Former School Principal Edwin Namachanja in the Principal's Office Showcasing some of the School's Accolades

Faith

Having been founded by Christian missionaries, most notable of which was Allan Bradley, the school holds Christian values with high esteem. The weekly Sunday Chapel Service (except on Saturdays) is compulsory for all students.

However, being a national school that draws students from all over the country, Friends School Kamusinga has a small population of non-Christian students, mostly Muslims. These students have the liberty to practise their faith.

Culture

The Friends School Kamusinga community is rich in culture. Upon arrival, every form 1 student is assigned to a ‘guardian’ who is a form 2 student who will help the new student find his way around the school in the first few weeks.

Over the years, the school has opened and closed its term calendar on Thursdays. The first Saturday of the term is often marked with a cross-country race. Closing days are characterized by a school dinner on the closing eve, where students are treated to a sumptuous meal and an award ceremony held.

The most popular form of entertainment in the school is the Saturday movies. Every Saturday the entertainment committee, consisting of Form 2's, Form 3's and form 4's, the entertainment department, consisting of about 5 prefects, organizes and prepares the Saturday movies. The school Worship Department also organizes Christian Union sessions that are optional on every Saturday evening.

The school has a compulsory use of full cutlery set - fork, spoon and knife - during meals, which was resisted by shagz-modos, but most students and alumni are now grateful as it accounts for their refined etiquette.[5]

Various platforms like the drama and music competitions provide students with a chance to showcase their talents. The drama club organizes the biggest comic show of the entire year called "Talent's Night" where students simulate the Monday morning School assembly and try to imitate their teachers. The school choir also organizes the Music Night which features presentations not only from the choir but also dances from all the communities in the country.

Houses

The school has thirteen houses, which house almost 1200 students. The houses are, in order of age, and with the reason for their name:

  • Victory House.
  • Elgon House.
  • Kenya House.
  • Amugune House.
  • Allan Bradley House named after the school founder Allan Bradley.
  • Kenyatta House.
  • Nakhisa House.
  • Chetambe House.
  • Harambee House.
  • Nyayo House.
  • Mailu House named after old boy Cleopa Kilonzo Mailu who is the current Cabinet Secretary of Health in Kenya.

Many activities within the school are based on the house system. This includes the arrangement at the parade ground where assemblies are conducted every morning and role call parades conducted. Inter-house competitions include music, science congress, elocution, drama, math contest, Swahili contest, essay writing contest, battle of the blocks writing challenge, cleanliness competitions, and sports such as soccer, rugby, racquet games, swimming, and others.

At the end of every term, during the school dinner, awarding sessions are held where the winning house in every category receives a carton of biscuits. First and second runners up receive half and quarter a carton respectively. The winning house in standards and athletics, K.C.S.E., and cross country is awarded a bull or a number of pigs which are slaughtered and offered for a party.

Prefects

The prefects are key to the running of the school. It is they who see that the school routine and school rules are adhered to. They have the authority to punish culprits via the prefect’s punishment department. Punishments include washing corridors and rooms, slashing fields and in some extreme cases, working in the school farm or uprooting tree stumps. Punishees are announced on parade everyday of the week and assigned for punishment

A total of about 90 prefects are chosen each year and among the 90, 24 of the most outstanding prefects are given top honors in becoming Senior Prefects or Captains. These Captains are allocated various major departments in the school. The school's departments include:

  1. Dining Hall
  2. Entertainment
  3. Games
  4. Library
  5. Computer Lab
  6. Medical
  7. Academic

Extra-curricullar activities

Sports

Kamusinga offers its students opportunities to play various sports and join teams that participate in various tournaments. The sports include Swimming, Badminton, Table Tennis, Hockey, Basketball, Rugby, Volleyball, Handball, Volleyball and Soccer.

The School Swimming Pool

Hockey

The school has won Kenya National secondary schools games in hockey 18 times as well as East Africa regional hockey games 18 times since 1999, save for 2010 and 2015, since the introduction of the game in the school in 1997.[19][20][21][22]

Basketball

The school has a basketball team referred to as the Tigers.[23] The school has represented the Western Province at the nationals since 2004. In 2009 it was the first runners-up while in 2011 it was the 2nd runners-up at the K.S.S.S.A. (Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association) national term 1A ball games. Over the years the school has continued to be one of the best basketball teams in the country and east Africa games because of its sterling performance.[24]

Drama

They represented the Western Province in the National Drama festivals in the Narrative category, winning in the whole country and entertaining the head of state since that time until 2006. The drama club at the time was headed by Mark Mutali Chetambe[25] and Isaac Shitubi. They produced various narrators and actors including Isaac Mwaura, Augustine Oluoch, John Paul Wafula and Jimmy Wanjala.[26]

Music festivals

The School has a music department which has won several times in the National Music Festivals in the Band and Choir categories.

Science Congress

The school has a Science Congress team and is currently ranked 'The Best Boys School in Kenya', 'Best School in HomeScience' nationally in the field and overall ranked fifth nationally.

Clubs and societies

There are over 20 clubs and societies including the Amateur Radio Club, The Dramatic Society, Law and Debate Club, the White Fingers Peace Initiative, the Computer Club, Science Congress, the International Information Exchange Program Club, the School Choir, the Science and Robotics Club, the Integrity Club, the Writers’ Club, the Poetry Society, Kiswahili Club, the Model United Nations, the Christian Union, and Muslim Association, among many others. These clubs usually meet on Tuesdays from 16:16hrs to 17:30hrs. and sometimes Thursdays 16:16hrs to 17:30hrs.

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 Wanjala, Raphael (11 January 2018). "MCAs move to evict new principal". The Standard. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  2. ↑ Mutegi. "New national schools challenge old order". Business Daily.
  3. 1 2 Kyanda, John (12 March 2018). "Kamusinga, academic and hockey giants". Citizentv.co.ke. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 App, Daily Nation. "OLOBULU: Where do talented players go after high school?".
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Psirmoi, Daniel. "Where billionaire Chris Kirubi and CORDS' Wetangula used common sense". Standard Digital News.
  6. ↑ Team, Baraka FM. "Perennial sports giants felled in just concluded national secondary school games in Mombasa. | Mombasa County News | Baraka FM 95.5 FM". barakafm.org. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  7. ↑ Team, Nation (1 March 2006). "Kenya: Discontent As Giants Tumble". The Nation (Nairobi).
  8. ↑ Mburugu, Elizabeth. "BATTLE OF GIANTS: Kamusinga set to defend crown in annual tournament". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Luchetu, Calistus. "Friends Kamusinga to host Allan Bradly Memorial tournament". The Star, Kenya.
  10. 1 2 3 "Friends School Kamusinga". Friends School Kamusinga.
  11. ↑ "KCSE: Top marks for Alliance School". Daily Nation. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "Kamusinga Principal lauds abolition of school ranking | Kenya News Agency". kenyanewsagency.go.ke. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Standard, The. "Western produces 10 best schools in county list". The Standard. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  14. ↑ Ngina, Fay. "PHOTOS: High School principal shocks many by wearing uniform". UREPORT-CITIZEN JOURNALISM.
  15. ↑ "Kamusinga Principal shows up in full school uniform and netizens can't keep calm". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news.
  16. ↑ Mugonyi, David (15 January 2009). "Former MPs named in new diplomatic line up". Daily Nation. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  17. 1 2 Njagi, Anthony (15 October 2017). "Ex-Kamusinga and Alliance Principal Lands Big Job". Daily Nation. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  18. ↑ "Kamusinga Departments". fsk.sc.ke.
  19. ↑ Pilipili, -Oscar. "Hockey: Kamusinga off to flying start at Lenana Open". Standard Digital News.
  20. ↑ Mburugu, Elizabeth (31 August 2016). "Kenyans too good for Ugandans as Sinyolo, Kamusinga show class in hockey battle". Standard Digital News.
  21. ↑ PILIPILI, By OSCAR (1 September 2013). "Kenya schools' Sinyolo, Kamusinga clinch hockey honours". Standard Digital News.
  22. ↑ Mburugu, Elizabeth. "KAMUSINGA EYE TITLE DEFENCE: National boys' hockey giants chase 17th regional trophy". Standard Digital News.
  23. ↑ "Kamusinga win basketball opener". Daily Nation. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  24. ↑ Standard, The. "Captains Michael Owino of St Austin's Academy and Kamusinga's Tylor Okari during their national championships basketball semi-final match at Kangaru B". The Standard.
  25. ↑ Njagi, Anthony (24 March 2018). "Senator Malala's play emerges top in western region". Daily Nation. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  26. ↑ Makeni, John (19 August 2011). "New theatre group out to tap talent from drama festival". Daily Nation.
  27. ↑ Ciuri, Simon (2 September 2011). "Investor shuns Harvard to pursue tech dream". Business Daily.
  28. ↑ Wanjala, Chris (25 March 2016). "Going down memory lane with doyen of publishing". Daily Nation.
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