www,nairobiacademy.or.ke Secondary Bulletin Vol. 7 Term 2, 2017 As most of the school began their half term, appointed senior leaders within the school embarked on Leadership Training with Bluesky this past weekend. The training took place in Lukenya at the Lukenya Get- away, a dry and hot place. Most of us wondered how the Bluesky team were going to effectively train us to lead better, as the day went on we soon learnt as well as realized this. We played games that indeed had a valuable lessons on how we can become better leaders. Personally and also based on what I heard from the majority is that the trip was worthwhile. We arrived, signed in against our names while our rooms were being sorted. We were introduced to the Bluesky team who would be with us for the weekend. We started with a few ice breakers to warm us up, to get our minds active for the activities to come. We had a few activities then had long awaited lunch (the wait was definitely worth it). After lunch, the harder tasks were presented to us namely a game called Di- minishing Resources. Basically, in a circle was a number of mats and between each mat was grass as this was done on a field. The grass represented all bad things while the mats represented all good things in re- lation to being a leader. The aim was to have all mats occupied and no one on the grass (within the cir- cle). The mats kept decreasing while we remained constant in numbers making it harder and harder to have everyone on the mats. We had a set amount of time to plan how we would conquer the amount of mats meaning everyone was in the circle, on a mat and not on grass. This required order, listening skills, innova- tive ideas and a lot more. After this, we sat and reflected as we did for other games. We were essentially done for the day with the Bluesky time which gave us time to swim and relax until later in the night where we had a test on what he learned from the day as well as other issues related to leadership. This was the last course of action of the day leaving the students with time to talk, chill or go to sleep. The next day was solely based on one task…...It was a mentally conflicting, fear conquering task that re- quired everyone, one at a time, to climb up a pole quite high off the ground then stand on it so as to jump off it to catch and grab on to a smaller pole ahead of the standing participant. This task isn’t as dangerous as it sounds, the person jumping was in a full body harness that was supported by a member of the Bluesky team as well as 5 students. Most but not all were able to conquer this which was amazing to see the team support each person. All in all, it was a trip that not many will forget because of the experiences, the bonding that took place and most importantly the lessons learnt. Brian Muraya Inter-House Swimming Gala 2017 The annual Swimming gala was held on Friday 17th February where we witnessed many emerging swimmers and specifically swimmers in year 10 winning in senior category. It was a competitive fun filled event that culminated with Inter-house water polo competition. The combined team scores were as follows: House Points Position NAIVASHA 157 1 MAGADI 123 2 BARINGO 107 3 TURKANA 93 4 Victor and victrix Ludorum In the Junior Girls category, the best swimmers tied between Sian Sitelu of Turkana and Crystal Loyd representing Magadi. In the Junior Boys category, Adil Ombati of Baringo emerged the winner. The Senior Girls Category went to Nicole Makau who was representing Magadi House. The senior boys cate- gory was crowned to Stanley Ndezwa of Naivasha. The Nairobi Academy League kicked off yesterday, the 14th of February with a match versus Year 8 and 9. It was a thrilling and fairly competitive game. 2-1 was the final score, with the Year 9 coming out as the victors. Luqman and Mark scored the two goals for the year 9s while Tunu scores for the year 8s. All in all, it was a good game for both teams. DATE DAY AGE GROUP/SPORT SCHOOL VENUE DEPARTURE KICK OFF 28/2 TUE U19 GIRLS FOOTBALL SWEDISH Home - 3.30PM U15 BASKET BALL HILLCREST A Home 01/03 WED U13 GIRLS HOCKEY NIS Home - 2.00 PM U13 BOYS HOCKEY NIS Home - 2.00 PM 02/03 THUR U15 BOYS BASKETBALL ROSSLYN A 2.00 3.30 04/03 SAT U15 BOYS HOCKEY TURI TOURNAMENT FRI 10.30 04/03 SAT U15 GIRLS HOCKEY PEPONI TOURNAMENT 7.00 East Africa Model United Nations I have attended MUN conferences every year since I started high school. From year 7 to year 10 I attended Middle School Model United Nations and this year I attended East African Model United Nations. During my first year, I attended conference as part of the press corp team which is basically the people who are in charge of the media. For the next two years I attended confer- ence as a delegate and for these last two years I attended as a junior chair. To become a junior chair, you have to go through about 10 weeks of training where you have a various tests and surprise tests then a cut which is basically where people who didn’t pass are cut. There are many people from different schools who are compete for junior chair slots, which are only twenty and so you really have to work hard if you want to make it past the second cut. Once you make it as a junior chair in EAMUN, you have the opportunity to become a senior chair or apply to be an executive committee member. My favourite conference throughout the year was this last EAMUN conference because the quality of debate was really good and there were more com- mittees than MSMUN. I got to debate as well as chair. I was in the economic committee and I enjoyed debating those resolu- tions which were basically about solutions which could help develop a country’s economy. One resolution that I spoke for was Lesotho’s resolution which was about helping farmers increase output and efficiency by improving their farming techniques and equipment. I encouraged the assembly to vote for it. I encourage everyone to join MUN because it is an amazing, eye-opening experience. Malaika Kironde Last week, we attended the 35th annual EA- MUN conference. On Monday, we got straight into the conference as lobbying was under- taken only in the morning. Throughout the en- tire week, we debated various resolutions. Per- sonally, I was in the Economics committee. The economics and political committees shared one conference hall so one resolution My journey to press corps from one committee was debated followed by another resolution from another commit- I first joined the MUN programme in ear 7 tee. The debates were really intense and dele- when I first went as a delegate, I gradually grad- gates openly shared their opinions, especially uated positions year by year until I was an am- on the topic on the privatisation of the main bassador in year 9 where I wrote a resolution companies in the sugar industry in Kenya. I that passed, (the question of eradicating mal- raised a point of information to the assembly as I strongly believed that the privatisation of nutrition in Botswana), in year 10 I opted to go these companies would reduce corruption for a different approach being my final year in which would mean an increase in profits due the Middle school MUN. So, through a strenu- to competition between companies as well as ous and nerve-racking application process I an increase in efficiency and productivity became a member of the press corps team in which raise the value of the sugar industry in ST Kenya as a whole. On Friday, we were able to MSMUN 2014/2015 (21 ANUAUL MSMUN) in unwind and socialise at the dance which took which I was a photographer and a writer. place at Hillcrest. Throughout the week, each and every day, I learnt how to look at things from a different perspective and consider the advantages and limitations of a situation be- fore coming to a final decision. I also learnt not be complacent and to always put myself in an uncomfortable situation, therefore I al- ways remain challenged. Roxanne Makena I wrote an article called fashion statement in The 35th Annual EAMUN program was a tre- the second issue of the daily MSMUN newspa- mendous experience for me. Being the only nd per dated 22 January 2015. The pictures that Securitary representing my school, this oppor- I took appeared in all the daily newspapers of tunity is one of my most treasured exposures. the week as well as the EAMUN Website/ As a Securitary, I had different tasks and du- Facebook page. It was a great experience as I ties to uphold that included manning doors, got to learn how to work as a journalist always note screening and assisting the chair in tim- on my toes and deliver on short deadlines. In ing the parliamentary procedures as well as year 11 I graduated to the more senior part of noting participation of delegations, all which the MUN programme called East African mod- aimed at maintaining order at all times during el united nations in which I was an Ambassa- the conference sessions.