Following an introductory contact from an Adopt-a-School Pen Pal representative, both teachers and their students will find the following support materials, designed to assist the implementation of the “Pen Pal” program, very useful.

Pen Pal Curricular Expectations Grades 5 and 6 curricular links for Reading, Writing, Visual Arts and Social Studies

Sample Letter to Parents This is a template for informing parents of the Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School pen pal program.

Pen Pal Procedures This document outlines the pen pal program and step by step instructions.

The schools which we have adopted are located in Ol Joro Orok, in Central Province, Kenya.

Kenyan School Calendar (all specific days are approximate)
School Breaks:

• December 1 – January 7 (students return in January and move onto the next grade).
• March 4 – April 4.
• August 3 – September 3 (traditionally students assist with farming responsibilities).

This is a rural part of the country. They grow coffee and raise dairy cattle in the district. Here are a few pictures of life there.

Kenyan Education Facts

• In Kenya there is no specialization implying that any primary school teacher can teach any subject in any grade.
• In Kenya, there are six core subjects and 2 compositions which are:

English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies,
Christian Religious Education and English composition, Kiswahili composition.
These subjects are tested at the end of year for one to graduate to the next Grade.

1. Textbooks:

• The Government recommends a textbook-pupil ratio of 1:2. Currently some of our schools have a of ratio 1:4.
• Once the text books are in the school, they are supposed to be properly covered and well maintained to last a minimum of 4 years.

1. Notebooks:
2. For student notebooks, the Government recommendations per year:

• Grades: 1-5 = 16 books/student of 64pages.
• Grades: 6-8 = 16 books/student of 120pages.
• Each subject including the 2 compositions require 2 notebooks per year.

1. Desks:

• Required desk-pupil ratio is 1:2 students.
• Some of our adopted schools have a current ratio is 1:3 students.

A Pencil Pocket is a pencil holder that is worn around a child’s neck. It resembles a single finger from a glove. This simple device is used largely by Kenyan students in the junior and younger grades to ensure their treasured pencils are kept safe. John Kariuki, Head teacher from Madaraka Primary School in Kenya, stated in a recent email… “We love them… send more.”

In the 2007-2008 school year, over 300 Pencil Pockets were manufactured by students from 3 local Southern Ontario schools: Viscount Montgomery School, Hamilton; Ryerson Public School, Burlington; and Lee Academy, Lynden. We hope to see this program grow in the coming years.

This program was designed to link Canadian and Kenyan school students through their exchange of cultural information. Building personal relationships lays the corner stones for partnerships thereby strengthening student global citizenship education. In short, the creation of new personal relationships tends to build stronger partnerships.

When Donating: Select Pen Pal Designation.

We have been focussed on building latrines in Kenyan schools from the very start. We will continue to focus our attention to improve the sanitation conditions at our adopted schools in Kenya.

When Donating: Select Sanitation Building Program.

Road Race to Kenyan Relief, the school project that became the catalyst for establishing Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School, was recognized in the Canadian House of Commons by MP Wayne Marston in 2006.

We have had a lot of positive feedback on the Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School program.