School Design

Goals for The Nambale Magnet School

The Nambale Magnet School will:

House, educate and nurture children who are orphaned by the AIDS pandemic
Offer a safe, nurturing environment for orphans and decrease the burden on already strained family members
Provide these orphans the opportunity for successful, self-reliant lives
Create economic stimulus to the Nambale community by providing jobs and a stable future for the students and their community

Description of the School

Distinctive in Design

The Nambale Magnet School will bring a new look to education in Kenya. The school:

Incorporates an academic program that will serve and educate children of all skill levels and aptitudes.
Will provide both vocational and agricultural programs and a college preparatory academic track.
Will include ecologically sustainable features, which will be user friendly, to help preserve the environment.
Is built for permanence. The quality of construction will stand the test of time; it will not need to be re-built in 6-7 years.
Bring the impoverished Nambale community together. The fully integrated facility will have a positive effect on an estimated 67,000 people, through jobs, education, and the use ecological technology.
Be a beacon of hope to the community and, with the conference center in place at the final stage of construction, will serve as a meeting place where ideas, information and knowledge will be exchanged. Additionally, the center will also attract Kenyan businessman to the area, increasing financial stability in Nambale.

Nambale Magnet School: A Premiere School

The Nambale Magnet School will:

Be the first premier, non denominational, magnet school in Kenya

Boarding schools exist throughout Kenya but few are available to provide a quality education to the orphaned population.

Education is extremely valued in Kenya. It is recognized as a means to a better quality of life. Kenyan parents recognize the weakness of the Kenyan public school system, and whenever possible will make sacrifices to send their children to private boarding schools.

The school will attract tuition-paying students from all over Kenya by its rigorous programs and highly qualified teachers. Nambale Magnet School will offer an academic curriculum and facilities that will make it one of Kenya’s outstanding schools for a premiere education.

Hire Highly Qualified Teachers

The Nambale Magnet School will offer a competitive curriculum with top performing teachers to ensure it’s competitive position within this market.

Our intention is to attract and hire very highly qualified teachers, using salary incentives and on-campus teacher housing options as an additional incentive.

Quality teachers will ensure that the school’s national test scores meet the highest levels, and thereby enhance the school’s reputation and lay the foundation for on-going success.

Achieve Recognition with High Scores on National Testing

A nationalized test is given to all Kenyan children in 8th grade. Results determine placement into secondary schools. Children who do well on these tests will go on to higher academic pursuits.

Consequently, elementary schools (1- 8th grade) are competitively ranked, based on student performance of the 8th grade tests. The higher the scores the more desirable the school.

Mixed Student Population

Ultimately, to include grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade

A total student body of 420 students
- 30 students per grade level
- One classroom per grade level
- Each year one additional grade will be added
An equal mix of orphans and tuition paying students.
- Inclusion of a diverse student body will provide orphans with a mainstream experience, and, thereby, minimize social stigmatization.
- 50% orphans due to the AIDS pandemic
  - The orphans will be chosen by a lottery system in order to ensure that everyone gets an equal chance to attend regardless of religion, tribal affiliation, family finances, etc.
50% tuition paying students
- Will contribute to the financial stability of the school
- The inclusion of these two groups will create a bridge to compassion

Meet the Students’ Individual Needs

Two Educational Tracks

The Nambale Magnet School will offer three educational tracks to address each student’s individual innate talents

College Preparatory

The Vocational Program

While some students will be academically driven others will find a vocational route the means to a productive life. A vocational program such as mechanics will enable these students to master a profession that will enhance their lives and contribute to their families and their community.

The Agricultural Program

Subsistence farming is prevalent in Nambale. However, skilled farming production and animal husbandry is not at a level that can financially sustain families and their communities. Modern agricultural skills are essential for the development of a self-sustaining community.

Employ a Social Worker

Employing a social worker to assist the students, especially the orphaned children, who need to address significant emotional issues in order to succeed in this new environment

The orphans, in particular, will be experiencing an adjustment period and will need support

Additionally, the extreme emotional difficulties inherent in being an orphan need to be addressed to allow for successful emotional development.

Construction of the School

Architectural Design

The construction is designed for efficiency and permanence that will enable it to stand the test of time and become a symbol of stability to the region.
The school is designed to easily convert classrooms to dormitories, as more space is needed for the coming grades.
- The first constructed building has both classrooms and dormitories for up through 3rd grade. When the second building is constructed to meet the needs of the 4th – 8th graders, all dormitories will then be under one roof, and all classrooms will be in the second building.

Environmental Elements

We are studying “off grid” ways of pumping water from the ground, solar energy to power electricity, cooking and heating water. We hope to use an innovative and inexpensive sand filtration system to ensure pure drinking water. The agricultural program will look into the latest hydroponics planting techniques for maximizing crop yields.

Financial Sustainability

Orphans The Nambale Magnet School is designed to be financially self-sustaining at its completion.

Anticipated sources of income to support the school will be derived from:

Conference/Retreat Center
Paying student’s tuition
School produced goods and services for sale

Additionally, our use of alternative energy sources will minimize operating costs and increase efficiency

As is the case with most private schools, donations will always be appreciated to improve the school. However, the day-to-day operational costs will be covered with these built-in income streams.

Construction Stages

Construction of any one building on campus will not begin until all funding is obtained for that building.

Accomplishments to Date:

2003 - Birth of the concept of the Nambale Magnet School
2005 - Acquired a seven acre building parcel of land
2006 - Architectural Design and Drawings completed
2007 – Ground Breaking Ceremony
2008 – Completion of buildings for K- 3rd grades
Includes classrooms, dormitories, dining hall, kitchen facilities, bathing
and bathroom facilities
2009 - Doors to opened to our first elementary class January 12, 2009.

Future construction will include:

A Building to house and educate the 4th – 8th grade

Teacher housing on campus

Building for high school students

Land will also need to be acquired for the high school. We estimate a need of approximately 60 acres, to hold the high school, vocational and agricultural centers, and the Conference Center

Construction of the Conference/Retreat Center

This element is critical to meeting our financial self-sustaining goal. In addition, The Center will enhance community involvement.

There is a significant demographic need for a gathering place in the Busia District for civic organizations, business groups, and church retreats. This conference and retreat center will fill this gap within the community.

This center will serve as a meeting place where information is gathered and shared among the community