St. Mary's School, Nairobi
Encyclopedia
St. Mary's School, popularly known to many Nairobi
ans as Saints, is a day school
owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. It was founded in the Parklands
area of Nairobi
in 1939 and was long run by Holy Ghost Fathers
from Blackrock College
in Dublin in Ireland.
. The present day school buildings were completed in 1954.
Both boys and girls are admitted to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Course which is a post O-Level programme offered by the school since 1982. Entrants are chosen on the basis of their KCSE, GCE
and IGCSE
results. The school enrollment averages 1400. The school year runs from January to November.
The school is practically joined with its neighbouring sister school, Loreto Convent Msongari, separated only by a fence and a gate.
Students are highly encouraged to participate in extra curricular activities, which include sports, clubs, music and drama, indeed this is one of the most defining aspect of the school. All the school's sports teams are nicknamed Saints, just like the school's nickname.
team have recently won the Prescott Cup twice in a row (2008 and 2009) but lost to Mang'u High School
in the 2010 finals. They also host and have won the Blackrock Rugby Festival
11 times so far (1993 to 1999, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011) and have been runners-up twice so far (2003, 2006), recently winning the 28th edition final, alongside many other cups.
Saints I — Pool A:
Saints II — Pool E:
Saints I — Main cup:
Saints II — Bowl trophy:
and means 'Goodness, Discipline, Knowledge'.
formation of the human person.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
ans as Saints, is a day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. It was founded in the Parklands
Parklands, Nairobi
Parklands, Nairobi, commonly referred to simply as Parklands, is a neighborhood in the city of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya. It is divided into numbered avenues. The name arises from the proximity of the area to City Park, Nairobi....
area of Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
in 1939 and was long run by Holy Ghost Fathers
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
from Blackrock College
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
in Dublin in Ireland.
History
In 1946, the school was moved to a temporary structure on an 85 acres (343,983.1 m²) site on the land belonging to the St Austin’s Mission in the Muthangari area of WestlandsWestlands
Westlands is a neighborhood in the city of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya.-Location:Westlands is located , by road, northwest of the central business district of Nairobi...
. The present day school buildings were completed in 1954.
Present day
From the outset, St Mary’s has always had a combined primary and secondary school. The school admits only boys up to O-Levels. It has an entrance test for the primary school, and an entrance examination for the secondary school.Both boys and girls are admitted to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Course which is a post O-Level programme offered by the school since 1982. Entrants are chosen on the basis of their KCSE, GCE
General Certificate of Education
The General Certificate of Education or GCE is an academic qualification that examination boards in the United Kingdom and a few of the Commonwealth countries, notably Sri Lanka, confer to students. The GCE traditionally comprised two levels: the Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level...
and IGCSE
IGCSE
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is an internationally recognised qualification for school students, typically in the 14–16 age group. It is similar to the GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Standard Grade in Scotland or Junior Certificate in the Republic of...
results. The school enrollment averages 1400. The school year runs from January to November.
The school is practically joined with its neighbouring sister school, Loreto Convent Msongari, separated only by a fence and a gate.
Students are highly encouraged to participate in extra curricular activities, which include sports, clubs, music and drama, indeed this is one of the most defining aspect of the school. All the school's sports teams are nicknamed Saints, just like the school's nickname.
Rugby
In line with its Irish origins, Rugby is a central concern and a key activity designed to foment "spirit". Their rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
team have recently won the Prescott Cup twice in a row (2008 and 2009) but lost to Mang'u High School
Mang'u High School
Mang'u High School is a national high school established in 1925, located near Thika, Kenya.-History:The school was started in 1925 by a Dutch priest, Father Witte, C.S.Sp. at Kabaa. In 1939, the school was moved to a new site at Mang'u Village on 22 acres of land and because of accessibility it...
in the 2010 finals. They also host and have won the Blackrock Rugby Festival
Blackrock Rugby Festival
The Blackrock Rugby Festival , is an annual school's rugby union competition held at St. Mary's School, Nairobi, Kenya. It is claimed to be the biggest high school tournament in East Africa. The first tournament took place in 1983, and also featured a club rugby competition...
11 times so far (1993 to 1999, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011) and have been runners-up twice so far (2003, 2006), recently winning the 28th edition final, alongside many other cups.
2011 Blackrock Rugby Festival results - Saints
Saints I — Pool A:
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints I | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 0 | 6 | |
| Ofafa Jericho | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 3 |
| Le Pic School | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 63 | ||
| 0 |
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| May 21, 2011 | Saints I | 42 - 0 | Le Pic School |
| May 21, 2011 | Saints I | 21 - 0 | Ofafa Jericho |
| May 21, 2011 | Le Pic School | 0 - 21 | Ofafa Jericho |
Saints II — Pool E:
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rift Valley Academy Rift Valley Academy Rift Valley Academy is a Christian boarding school located in Kijabe, Kenya, founded in 1906 by Charles Hurlburt.-Early years:Having met with Hurlburt in the White House in 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt visited Kijabe shortly after leaving office four years later... |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 6 | |
| Makongeni Secondary School Makongeni Makongeni is a part of Kibera slum in Nairobi. Makongeni has been built for rail workers in the mid-20th century. The councillor for Makongeni ward on the Municipal Council of Thika is Stephen Marubu Mwangi of AGANO party. A Makongeni Primary School exists in Jerusalem and a Makongeni Secondary... |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 14 | ||
| 1 | ||||||||
| Saints II | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 21 | ||
| 1 |
| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| May 21, 2011 | Saints II | 0 - 21 | R.V.A. |
| May 21, 2011 | R.V.A. | 14 - 0 | Makongeni |
| May 21, 2011 | Saints II | 7 - 7 | Makongeni |
Saints I — Main cup:
Saints II — Bowl trophy:
Football
Football is also a popular sport in the school, with recent honours in the recent past, such as the Umbro Plate runner-up finish for the high school team in 2010 and the Strathmore Under-11 Football Cup win for the Under-11 team in 2008. The current (2011) high school team has been noted as the team to progress the farthest in all tournaments, including the Nairobi Provincial Schools' Tournament.2008 Strathmore Under-11 Football Cup results - Saints
| Stage | Opponent | Highlight | Result | Win/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Riara | Run from defense and goal by Wilfred Kiboro Jr. of Riara | 3-0 | Loss |
| Group | Lukenya B | None | 2-0 | Win |
| Group | St. Christopher's School St. Christopher's School St. Christopher's School is the name of several schools around the world, including:*St. Christopher's School, Bahrain*St. Christopher's School, Richmond, Virginia, USA*St. Christopher's School, Metairie, Louisiana, USA... |
None | N/A | Win |
| Quarter-finals | St. Austin's Academy | Free kick by Davy Kamanzi of Saints striking the post | 2-0 | Win |
| Semi-finals | Riara Springs Academy | Goal from a long range shot by Kairu Jomo of Saints | 2-1 | Win |
| Final | Lukenya A | None | 0-0 (5-0 pen. Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ) |
Win |
Swimming
Under the guidance of some of Kenya's finest coaches, the school has consistently produced strong swimmers who have dominated local competitions and gone further to represent Kenya in Continental and International championships. They include Phillip Omamo, Falgun Bhojak, Stig Njiru, Shafiq Manji, Nimit Shah and Sahil Shah.Motto
The school Motto, which appears underneath the crest on the school badge, is 'Bonitas, Disciplina, Scientia', which is LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and means 'Goodness, Discipline, Knowledge'.
Vision Statement
To make the school a united family of God known for excellence in theformation of the human person.
Notable alumni
- Uhuru KenyattaUhuru KenyattaUhuru Muigai Kenyatta is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and MP for Gatundu South Constituency. He is the Chairman of Kenya African National Union , the former ruling party, which is currently part of the Party of National Unity...
, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance - John GithongoJohn GithongoJohn Githongo is a former Kenyan journalist who investigated bribery and fraud in his home country and later, under the presidency of Mwai Kibaki, took on an official governmental position to fight corruption. In 2005 he left that position, later accusing top ministers of large-scale fraud...
, Anti corruption expert - Gideon MoiGideon MoiGideon Moi is a Kenyan politician. He is the youngest son of Kenya's second president, Daniel arap Moi, and Lena Moi.Gideon's primary school education was at the elite Kenton College Preparatory School. He was one of 24 students enrolled to attend Strathmore College when it opened its doors to...
, Former Member of Parliament for Baringo Central Constituency - Jeff KoinangeJeff KoinangeJeff Koinange is a Kenyan journalist and chief reporter at TV station K24. He previously served as the Africa correspondent for CNN and CNN International from 2001 to 2007.-Background:...
, Noted Journalist and Former CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Africa Anchor - Eric WainainaEric Wainaina (musician)Eric Wainaina is a Kenyan singer-songwriter. His career was launched with his debut album, Sawa Sawa, in 2001. Wainaina's music is a blend of Kenyan Benga rhythm and East African guitars, with some modern harmony.- Childhood :...
, Renowned Afrofusion Musician - Ian DuncanIan DuncanIan Duncan is one of Kenya's most successful rally drivers. He was Kenyan Rally Champion six times , and achieved outright victory in a World Rally Championship round when he won the 42nd Trustbank Safari Rally in 1994...
, rally driver - Kizito Muliro, Noted Biomedical Scientist and Son of Pioneer Politician, Masinde Muliro
- James Boyd McFie, Long serving Professor of Finance, Strathmore University, Nairobi Kenya