VIOLIN FINAL REFLECTION:
(1-2 PARAGRAPH(S) PER ACTIVITY)

This year violin really has been a challenge for me, not only through learning and developing the ability to play, but finding the time and committing myself to playing. 

In the beginning it was rather easy, I was assigned a piece of music and was too finish it before the next lesson, recently this style has changed and I’ve found myself do exactly the same piece and correct fine details, though this may sound easier, believe me when I say it really isn’t. Not only was it partly tedious, but also often the small habits we develop are hard to correct, and you’ll play with mistakes without even realizing it! 

         But lets look at this in a broader overview, or in a more reflective manner. This year, though at times challenging, and I mean biting nails, hair-pulling struggle with time signatures and tone, I did in fact learn to be a better musician, for the first time in my life I can identify the time signature or tempo of a piece merely by listening to it! I can play a piece keeping in mind the posture my arm should be in, making small conscious decisions concerning my posture that will enhance or change the sounds of the violin. Such as vibrato (the strained and vibrating noise it makes), staccato (short and precise) or legato (smooth and fluent). Overall not only did violin level, vibrancy in song selection and stamina greatly improve, but my own understanding of the foundation of music, everything from the theory to rhythm, and hopefully that will show in my exam next week Thursday, wish me luck!

      

Save the Rino Article/Report
        Save the Rhino is a student led interactive club, which for the first time in ISK has become available for students to join. The cub, lead by Christine Jong and Josh Smith-Sreen is a service club in which students are given the opportunity to discuss, organize and create events that either spread awareness or raise funds for the club. Essentially to support the more global network of Save the Rhino. Which, located throughout Asia and Africa is centered around saving the dying species from Poaching for Ivory, and common and yet gruesome resource that is popular throughout the black market. 

     The group has started out well, with a large turnout and a everyone with a cooperative and helpful attitude. The first activity was planned and successfully raised 5500, all from a Bake Sale! Followed by another cupcake and brownie sale at the Swim Meet, where members spent their Saturday participating the selling or marshaling at the races. This was only topped when the new creative idea to hold an tai-food/Indian lunch sale, which blew the last figure out of the Park, raising a 37,000ksh This is a brilliant and promising start for the club, all going towards a honorable cause. 


IMPORTANT DATES

15TH FEB. - This was the first official meeting of the Club, All awaiting members joined.


MAR 1ST - This was the second meeting, as well it were we organised the Bake Sale

MAR 29th - We counted and confirmed the income of the Sale, planned further events.    


MAR 19th - The Next Meeting is scheduled, but look out for the next event!

Peponi Swim Meet

I'll keep this short and sweet: last week we had a out of school swim meet at Peponi Secondary 2, where everyone (from any school) had to swim only one individual event and 2 relays. This meant that it was short meet and everyone was swimming their best events. Though it was a strange new pool to be in, I swam a gold in my individual event; 100m breastroke and we got gold twice in the 200 Medley and 200 Free relay. Where I was swimming 50 free and breastroke again in the relay. even though we didn't set personal bests our team still did incredibly and with the team spirit and effort we came home with 1st place in the U15 Girls age-group, and in the Open-Boys, and completing a 5-year long tradition of taking home the trophy for best overall team! 
Go Lions!

Oh well, at least I only have the Roslyn Meet left this year. . . 

.OVERALL KANGEMI FINAL REFLECTION. 

 Wednesday was the last visit I will have to Kangemi Resource Center this semester, and to think back on it, I would say that though there are things I would like to change, there were some pretty brilliant moments too. 
The art Project, or so we call it was the activity in which we debated activities, games or other means of entrainment or necessity we could provide for the children. We went through funds and I created (being the leader despite Jacob's best attempts) a thorough schedule of how we would manage the activity, a shopping list revised with other's as well as my own suggestions, and a place and time in which we would meet, shop and how we would use those resources. Followed by last but not least an artistic and timely plan where we would create a huge poster demonstrating an academic and social message of piece, through "fun/ free-time" time we have every wednesday.
     It went extremely successfully and after shopping we were thrilled to present them with paint-brushes and paints, large paper and once finished we even had extra for individual artwork and drawings. We hung those up yesterday, and though slightly funning looking, managed to have a 12 by 3 A2 paintings of a hand shaking above a globe saying "Peace is in our Hands", alongside a couple sweet and strange pictures they drew/painted of what they wanted. Yesterday we also played a french game, and piggy in the middle with them the week before, it was fantastic to see some of them and our students really come out of their shell. And last but not least we finished of the trips by having biscuits, singing and juice with them yesterday, though the huge number of kids from another school mean't we sort of had to hide. It's no trouble including the street-kids when we're playing or have enough resources, but when 50 show up and we can barely teach our own kids we had to make some tough decisions. 

Here is the Shopping List, followed by a schedule and plan I created. 
Created by Sabrina and Jacob

Tomorrow (the 27th March) we plan to go shopping and in the process use the given funds to supply
necessities to the individuals we teach, play with and spend time with.

Shopping List:

(Art day involving teachers)

-Paint
-Large Paint-brushes
-Small Paint-brushes
-Templates (optional)

Basic Shopping list for overall Kangemi Service Trip:

-Calculators
-Hand sanitizer
-Chalk
-Pencil sharpener
-Eraser
-Soccer Ball (for them)


For when the adults arrive:

-Show them where we plan to paint (this consists of the metal corridors, the wall above the
“playground”, within the classrooms.

-Discuss the ideas we consider best to paint (paw-prints, sums, alphabet, flowers, education
images; for example a globe?)

-Assign and divide teachers certain parts to paint and what colours or shapes they are to
paint.


Hope this clarifies things a little better.

JOURNALISM 

(Creativity/ Service)   

         Well even though we have bright, intellectual and good writers I still can't help but think that the paper could be so much better than it is. It's good, don't get me wrong. It just has so much potential. To begin with we are all collecting up the final pieces of people's writing. Within this spring issue the various topics I covered were a) Mount Kenya for 9th grade. In this I cover not only the experience I had, but who and why we go up that mountain every year, speaking from a personal opinion/type view this was definitely my longest, and yet easiest articles to write. It being a near 3000 words. Next I covered a short but sweet overview of "Save the Rhino" club, in this I discuss the clubs arrival to ISK, how it's gone so far and it's leaders. Last but not least, I hope to squeeze in a short article about a (should-be-recognised) individual called Alex Alverson, though he doesn't know it yet I've written something, with the help of one of his colleagues about how he competed and won the Young Musician's award for KENYA! Which I think is outstanding. 
    

      Now, to talk about what I mean by means of improvement, well I'll just say that there are many brilliant word templates we could be using for the paper, but which, unfortunately we are not. These templates would look brilliant when in color and presenting the work of our students. Through setting the right impression of excellence, we could reach an esteemed reputation. I think I'll make it my goal to lead this project into not only 4 season publication, but to the point where it's about people, who want to read about them. And which, one day (to cover printing cost) we could sell. Obviously at a low price, but really we could have a proud student led news letter like many colleges, schools and organisations world wide!

MOUNT KENYA FINAL REPORT

(and article for the Paw Print)

When standing in that front row, ready to toss the gold, or navy or crimson cap off your 
head, smiling in those rows of people who, like you have finished it all, and are ready to 
open a new chapter, so many lions, like us look back, and regardless of where you finished
HighSchool, where you moved or how many changes have taken place since, one of the
things they always seem to look back on was the trip up Mt Kenya, and what that meant to
them, then and now. 
    

Last Week Monday, Exactly one week ago, almost 90 Ninth graders, where
all sitting adgitatingly on a bus ready to climb the 2nd Highest Mountain In Africa, their goal
to reach and stand upon the Summit. Or Lannana as it is known in swahili, the highest point you can reach without have a minimun of 6 years climbing expertise. In the beginning the trip seemed to be path, a winding trail that led to what we would call victory, because once we cleared the distance, and finally conquered it that would be the end, the goal achieved, etc, but it was as we were climbing, and especially towards those last days, the profoundness of it all began to sink in. And 90 15-year-olds began to understand what few adults do today; that despite the challenges, and your friends who get there faster, what really matters is that you keep going, just like in life when rough seas storm calm water, that it doesn't matter if you fall down seven times, as long as you stand up eight. 

Day 1 was comprised of mainly briefings, and after piling onto buses, the general tone of 
excitement began to slip away when confronted with a 5-hour-long-drive. It was surreal really, we all sat as if to go away on a trip, the strange thing was, we knew not what to expect, only that in 5 days time, we would be home-bound. Anyway after arriving we found our bags, and ate, what some people could call lunch followed by a quick group photo before embarking on our first trek. Now, to put this walk into context, on day 1 we complained about having an hour  left, by day 5 it was met by cheers and smiles, so you can only imagine what it was like to have to make 40 adolescents, packing 10 kilo bags move up hill for 4 hours. It was painful. In fact the only thing that made it oddly bareable was each other, and the bizarre, slightly disturbing and random conversations we created amongst each another. 

Now as every day must have an end, every walk must come to a stop, and I don't think I've
ever seen teenagers as giddy as they were upon arrival. People were ridiculous, and I think the phrase "i love you" has ever been so overused. We all peeled off our bags, and after
arriving at camp, we got the first wake up call of the trip. The dorms, now, if your imagining
the typical lined up, steel-framed beds of the dormitary stereotype, then your wrong, believe
I would have traded these for those anyday. No, what we were faced with was bare-wood,
mist-filled, short of 5 beds, rat-infested, 2-degree bedrooms. Oh and I nearly forgot, without any lighting what so ever. Now, I can't pretend that I haven't seen worse, but after falling asleep in cosy douvets and air-freshened homes of Nairobi, it was a definite shock to our systems. 

Every evening and early morning prior or after a climb we would assemble relentlessly into groups of around 10 people, on the first day the experience was rather mild, a few awkward personal introductions followed by a reflection on how the day went. That evening, as we settled amongst our groups we got the first taste of the cold, and it wasn't sweet. Evening had snuck upon us and the only warmth was amongst the small fragmented sunlight that stood between the trees. 

But the surroundings. . .If nature came in the form of reward, then this was it. Pure, natural and more to the point breath-taking reward. 

Our camp was just located around 1 kilometer of the treeline and the temperature in the evening was no higher than 5 degree's celcius, and yet with the excitement, the relief and the need to be around one another, that comes with a first night away we barely noticed. The settings helped too. We were entrirely surrounding by ancient forest, tall, tired trees that had stood in enternal silence, apart from the rare sound of insect at work, or the beat of a birds wing against the wind., vines intwined, and moss lacing them for enternity. There was simply such an air of peace about the place, a wild presense, one can feel when we are no longer in a place we belong, when we know that we are merely visitors, passers by, that before long shall continue on our way. This was a place that belonged to untouched wilderness, one of the few places humanity had never fully conquered. For all we knew, it was one of the wild places, that a few of us didn't even know existed. That night we slept at a time only a few 8-year olds would agree to, and at 7:30 lights out, we began to finally settle into our sleeping bags, the bare tips of our noses exposed to the cold. 

It was up at dawn on day 2, and apart from the fact that we couldn't feel our toes we were well on our way by 8:30 am. We walked in variouis groups, and it slowly became clear who wished to arrive there faster than others.Half way through the forest trek the reality of our walk became ever clearer and the bustling and rustling of those who wish to lead eventually quieted as we passed the treeline, and it was only after the first few hours that we realized just how tough it would be.

PRESIDENT'S AWARD- BRONZE 

Well, my last official meeting was yesterday, I met with mrs Stenning as usual and we discussed as normal how bronze was going, if my goals were being achieved, if my advisor had finished signing  my book, we were more or less just going through the motions, and then she said something which really got me thinking that the end of the year is nearly here. 9th grade is almost over, woosh, just like that. 

Anyway after that brief shock to my system she said it was about time I got things wrapped up and reported, I began thinking about it as I spoke to her, and there was the plain truth, I'm in the last stages of PA, I've done my skill, and am coming up to my exam, I've actually made the time I've being waiting to achieve and am going on my last service trips in the beginning of April. And of course mt Kenya is done and dusted, anyway all I have left to do is the last few service trips, one music exam and then I'm set. And following the submission of my report (which I hope is up to standard) It will simply be a matter of moving up to silver. Things have gone quickly. . . 

KANGEMI RESOURCE CENTER

Well, that was not at all as I expected. 
       Kangemi Resource center is an entire house/small yard dedicated to educated hundreds of children through the slum, everywhere from brightshine (200 meters) to kabete primary school (3 miles away) seem to go there, and the schedule is so condensed that barely any school receives more than 5 hours per week. If that is bad enough the school is located right in the middle of the slum-district, and in order to reach it you have to precariously travel over a sea of potholes, followed by traffic containing everything from tuc-tucs to matatu's, to jaguars. Now, its quite alright in the bright and sunny weather we've been having, the roads dusty, and the school really quite hot, but I can't imagine what it must be like during the rainy season, when the roads turn to mud, and the leaks leave damp throughout the center. And the children who walk all that way to learn, have to march through kilometers and kilometeres of mud. 
    Life clearly isn't easy for these children, and yet like the ingenuity, ever-inspiring ability of most children, was deeply admirable. We taught them, well after the briefing and their exicitment, and more over eagerness was brilliant. After assessing their abilities I began serious math class, and the pure level of knowledge and eargness to answer (correctly) each question was so unfortunate and heartwarming at the same time. Unfortunate, because people like us complain about homework, and how much there is, and the dreadful teachers, blah, blah, blah and yet these children, with barely nothing, were fighting over who would answer the question. However it was also heartwarming, and the reason for that being their enjoyment of working, and their dedication and pride in figuring out and raising their hand with the right answer in mind. And credit ought to be given where it's been earned and so I must admit, they are very clever. 
       Anyway, following class and the occasional game in between in was time to go, and as we did we packed up the supplies, books, toys and utensils we had brought with them. In the bus we did the general overview; what went well, what time, etc and then had a tired discussion about what we ought to get them, and unfortunately, due to the lack funds, the list we made was quite limited. 

First Days Back,              TRACK SEMESTER 2

        Sorry it took so long, but either way, better late than never! Here is the blog for CASL semester 2. It will contain moaning, and quite a lot of disgruntled reflection. First I'll cover what has happened in the sporting areas, so basically horse riding, gymnastics, track and field, and swimming, but moreover I'll give my opinions on such topics, which despite their idleness, express quite frankly, what really happened.


    I suppose the first lap around the field is the hardest, the first dive into the pool, and naturally, that moment when you mount a horse, after a good couple of months is when you know your in for trouble.  It was evident, that after working out over break, I hadn't quite lost the ability to move, however the first few training sessions, in particular swim sessions where more than simply challenging. To begin with we had to shift suddenly to early mornings, which, if you've ever woken up to the sound of alarm, you'll know that at that time in the morning, the sound may as well be the sounds of the sirens which plagued world war 2 , if thats not enough, the pool awaits, and you can be sure it won't be warm. Anyway, the way I was able to tell that (in the swimming department) my level had degraded, was due to the fact that the water slowly took on the form of mud, and slowly oil, the longer I swam. As well as the dying swan motion that possessed my fly (butterfly stroke, that is). 


 Now, I know we've all said we've had those dreadful teachers, the ones that make us rewrite tasks over and over again, and those teachers who find nothing quite so delightful then to scream for (what feels like) hours on end, but believe me when I say, no child, on this earth has had such a demonic coach, as the famous Coach Smythe. I simply do not agree with her methods, however I must admit she clearly value's track as a major part of the ISK athletic department

       

I Know its been a while. . . . 

           HERE'S A LIST OF WHAT I'VE DONE WHILE I'VE BEEN GONE!

- Accomplished all my basic level 4 Moves for Floor Gymnastics. (DONE)

- Climbed Mt Kenya! (All the way to the top). (DONE)


- Began a new service trip to the Kangemi Resource Center for Slum Children. (DONE)


- Come the last stages of PA for bronze (DONE)


- Writing an article for and international audience concerning my Mountain Experience and published my last article. (DONE)


- Attended the Nationals for Swimming (and missed 5 other meets . . .)


- Malindi/Watamu Beach Clean up (setting the monthly record). 


- Chosen my pieces and Registered for my Violin Exam (DONE)


- Joined the "Save the Rhino" Group

St. Andrew's TRACK MEET.

Here stands the proud lions after our amazing victory, scoring 2 trophies and first over all for the cross country category  in the open girls age group (our only girl's team) and our U15 boys (1 of our 2 boy's teams). It was an amazing experience and as it was our first a very mixed experience too. We began by a 3 hour bus ride all the way to Nakuru, where despite the beautiful scenery we were met with nothing but potholes for about 40 miles. Having risen 200ft we very quickly learned after taking one step out of the bus that the climate resembled something of a alaskan autumn and was far from warm. 

Not only did mist cloud over, we were to camp in dew covered meadow. After the general hustle and bustle of putting up a tent, we resorted to unpacking and taking a look around. It was a beautiful a campus, and despite the biting cold it was worth it, yes people weren't particularily friendly and yes my side of the tent got wet through. But in the end, when the sun came out the next day, and complete exhaustion of that run wore off, we were all incredibly proud of ourselves, and though we were only a small group we cheered insanely loud as Sebestian, and McKenna recieved a 1st and 2nd Place medals, they really deserved it. Anyway to summarize it up it was an amazing experience, tiring and exciting and I would, without a doubt do it again next year, only this time I'd pack a extra pair of socks!

TRACK ENTRY 3    

 It may sound unlikely given that I've done track for 3 years, but the last week was the first week I've ever really enjoyed running, not only did I push myself the point of exhaustion, I loved every moment of it. Sure it was hard, and I hated it at the time, but I felt strong and at the end, and there's nothing more rewarding then the sensation of improvement as you know or feel yourself being able to run faster, for longer and to stand it. 
        As well, track no longer feels like such an isolated activity, these days I run and its not only the fact that we run in a group, but rather the fact that we all feel exhausted, we all talk and we somehow get closer as the weeks progress. Either way I've gotten to know the people in my Long-distance group way better, and of that reason it is becoming far more bearable as well as  encouraging. Previously I would feel contempt or even jealously for the people or person ahead of me, these days, because I know the strength it takes to go that fast, I have a new found respect for them, I congratulate them. And Coach Z leads an excellent example of positive reinforcement and encouragement every practice, I don't think I've once heard him say "bad job", its a really positive atmosphere. 
        Our first Meet  occurred last weekend, and coming in on a PB of 27 minutes in 5 kilometers, I felt pretty confident, however as the race was at 2 in the afternoon, I definitely did not at the time. It was tough, and a little embarrassing at times (given my pace up the hill) but I was proud of myself for finishing, and am so looking forward and a bit nervous for the Turi Meet on the 5th!

Roslyn Swim Gala (September/November) 
 Though we'd only just started swimming, I still felt as though this meet held something I needed to prove, if your talking medals, then no, but in terms of times, this was the point where I was forced to confront whether I was improving of slowing down, sadly, it was option 2.
        

 I know it may sound ridiculous, considering the fact that I have at least 8 meets a year, but the first one of every year is always extremely nerve-racking, though completely impossible you consider all the possible swims, a) you've improved and you swim your regular time, b) you jump into the pool and forget how to swim, and then comes the unrealistic c) you've morphed into a young Michael Phelps.... and that's all before the whistle even blows. Despite the fact that I didn't swim my best time, I was in some way relieved to see I hadn't quite become incapable at the sport. It was a relief and a comfort.  Still, I wonder what it would be like if I had both the hard training from swimming last year, with the newly demanding track training.... *sigh*
     

 Anyway I did come home with one ribbon, one in the relay and I missed one by 1 point at the 100 breast, and the most unfortunate thing was; Kenya's leading Olympic swimmer was handing them out! I got a photo, but I still wish I'd been handed a 3rd place ribbon by him. Oh well, another goal for next semester I suppose. 

Violin Entry 2
        This year has started off great, last week I completed more than 4 days practice, which by my own personal standards is excellent, previously I was terrible at practicing, this year commitment has made a huge step forward. Anyway the piece I'm playing; Bourree is still sounding shakey, but atleast I've got it covered and have all the notes down, not only that but today I learn't how to play the B flat scale, which starts on G. That being the lowest string and B starting on two fingers, either way it also leads to the highest notes I've learn't yet, and I'm quite flattered to have got this far.
       It just shows how much practice can really reflect on you work, I guess that's why they say "practice makes perfect". However I am a bit concerned that when the homework and amount of work increases, I might just not be able to practice as much. Still no better at the whole "whispering thing", so this week I'll really have to look at tone, and how that affects my pieces.    





SPORTS ENTRY No.2

     Well, I've completed my first week of sports and I happy and glad to say all and none have changed, in that, despite my fear of being seriously under trained  this week has proven potentially otherwise and that, with my own contribution of hard-work and effort, that I can achieve an even higher level of fitness. The Ironic thing is, just when I needed a better track coach one came along, however just as I had a good swim coach, a less demanding one came along. I'm not sure but for once I think track might actually be the more physically challenging or improving sport this year. However I'm quite concerned about my practices, after all my parents are reluctant to me more than 2 practices, my aim would be a minimal of 3 for each. I feel that out of all my sports, this one particular issue will be the most demanding. Either way, track was good and the goals we have begun to set in place, though seem impossible are definitely motivating, after all I can already see track reflecting in PE. Its a chain-reaction I guess, In a way.  

OTHER ACTIVITIES ( SKILL, ARTS ETC)
Well having been inspired by another Student I've decided to Join President's award, having discovered it is the same as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, I just knew it would be an exciting if slightly challenging new experience. As it turns out, it involves a great deal of paper work, and unfortunately it takes 3 years to complete, oh well, I better start somewhere!
     I've also started riding again every Wednesday at 4:30 pm, as well I've done so with a new riding instructor, she's Austrian and very professional, and extremely tough and well, her personality is far larger then her minute frame. She paid me a few compliments, such as my balance, however I got the general impression that there still exists a great deal of work to be done, and I dread it. My goal is to enter at least 2 Show Jumping competition in 2013, which allows this semester to exist as a prep.
        Gymnastics in Kenya is borderline impossible, however our trainer; Mr Barnard has been coaching me  for just about a year, and now its up to me to begin routines, as he comes to our house we do not have a particularly large environment to train in, however I feel there's just about enough space to begin a simple floor routine. That will be my goal for this year. 

  





VIOLIN ENTRY 1 
       Well This will be the end of my second year of Violin, and I can proudly state that today, having gone away to another continent and returned all without my violin, that I still didn't make a fool of myself. Yes I'll admit playing after so many weeks without it was a challenge, however now that I've finally done it I can say it's good to be practicing with it, and just a few minutes ago I discussed with My teacher the New expectations set in place.
      First of all this year it is all about technique, no more whispering playing but instead strong and solid bow strokes, no more screeching, I should conquer those high notes. And Last but not least; its time to start paying attention to the detail or rather the grammar of music, in that when dynamics, instructions or notes are put in place, its time to start incoperating them into the pieces.  My New piece is called the Bouree and so far its not been particularly challenging, however I must say the rhythms a bit too simple .




SABRINA'S SPORTS ENTRY 1

         Well today I tried out for both of my favorite, and past sports; Swimming and Track. Not only were new people trying out, a new swim coach was too! It felt so odd and unusually tiring that Practice, and an eyeopener onto just how unfit I had become over the Summer. I had run a few K's each day, however that was nothing compared to the new expectations my coaches seem to have. 
            First of we have a New swim coach, I must say he seems exceptional, however I still find myself missing our old coach; Marybeth Melecki. There will and could not be any coach that can replace her. Anyway the new coach is really revolved around technique, and though we were suppose to be "taking it easy"... I have a feeling we might just be taking it TOO easy. 
            The new track coach seems nice enough, we are to call him Mr Z and to be honest he is one of the few coaches I've ever had who runs, supports and trains with us, which is not only motivational, but a refreshing change. Its nice to have someone who knows how tiring those last few meters are. This year I seriously hope to improve, and perhaps . . . if possible win a few medals.
Anyway that's all for now!