S.I – 2024 PARENTS’/TEACHERS’ MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2024
AT 2:00PM IN THE SHALLOM HALL
Agenda: -
1. Prayer
2. Introductory remarks
3. Election of the S.1 – 2024 Class Committee
4. Communication from the newly elected Chair
5. Headmistress’ Address
6. Students go out for orientation
7. Discussion
Headmistress’ word of welcome to the S.1 – 2024 Parents and Students:
Dear parents and students of S.1 – 2024, on behalf of the entire St. Joseph's family namely: the staff, Students, Parents-Teachers Association, the Board of Governors of this school and the Bishop of Lugazi Diocese, I wish to warmly welcome you to our school. You are all most welcome and I thank you very much for turning up for this meeting. I wish to congratulate you and your children upon having been admitted to St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School Naggalama.
This is a great day for the entire school fraternity. It is the day when we, the Senior one parents come together to get to know each other and our school so as to be able to actively participate in the integral development of our children, management and steady development of this school.
We have a policy in this school of parents and teachers of a particular class coming together whenever deemed necessary, at least once a year to discuss matters concerning that class and fully participate in monitoring the academic progress of the students. We strongly believe that with the parents on one hand, the teachers on the other and with the students in our midst, nothing can deter the students from achieving the goal of success. We therefore need to work together and speak the “SAME LANGUAGE” when it comes to educating our children.
It is for this reason therefore, that we are meeting today. We have called in the students because we strongly believe that they are now mature and their contribution can highly influence the development of our school. However, we will be asking them to leave us after sometime.
The School:
St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School Naggalama which started in 1967, is a Catholic founded, non-profit making private co-educational day and boarding school under the management of Lugazi Diocese and the parents. The school aims at promoting the unique development of each student intellectually, socially and spiritually; by providing an environment “Where young people maximise their potential in light of Christ’s teaching to confidently face future challenges” (School Vision).
The school’s mandate statement is “I chose you and commissioned you to go out to bear fruit, fruit that will last”. John 15:16
To realise the school vision, the school endeavours to produce “God fearing, Christ-centred, disciplined and self-reliant individuals by imparting quality integrated education and instilling Christian values (School Mission).
To this end, emphasis is placed on self-discipline and hardwork, as embedded in the school motto: “Disciplined we succeed.”
In order to achieve the above, the following objectives were formulated:
To attract self-driven young people who want to excel through discipline and hardwork.
To attract and retain competent staff.
To provide state of the art of learning media and innovative learning experiences.
To produce purposeful, self-reliant, upright, Christ-centred and God loving people.
To groom future leaders.
Core values:
The following are our cherished core values:
Self-discipline
Prudence
Integrity
God-fearing
Exemplary life
Team work
Self-reliance
Their officially approved acronym is “SPIGETS”
In order to achieve our objectives, the school has put in place guidelines and rules to enable each one of us contribute towards the integral development and formation of our children.
I hope that each one of us has had enough time to study and understand the school rules with our children. We will therefore expect STRICT OBSERVANCE of these rules.
Among these rules, I would like to highlight the following whose violation would lead to serious consequences: -
1. Respect and obedience
Our school has different categories of leaders. All those in positions of leadership at any rank MUST be obeyed and respected. Failure to obey and respect the school leaders leads to dismissal.
2. Acting against the Catholic Faith
Whereas students of various religious denominations are admitted to the school, the official form of worship allowed at the school is that of the Roman Catholic Church. Every student shall publicly acknowledge and respect the teachings, practices and symbols of the Roman Catholic Church as well as the time of worship set by the school. Violation of this leads to INSTANT DISMISSAL.
3. Sexual immorality
Students shall not engage in amorous relationships like adultery, fornication, homosexuality or lesbianism nor be together in secluded places. Any student who aids and abets the above shall be INSTANTLY DISMISSED.
Note that: Homosexuality and lesbianism are sins and are against the laws of Uganda. Breach of which leads to prosecution.
4. Escaping
No student is allowed to leave the school without an explicit written permission from the Headmistress’ Office. Violation of this rule leads to INSTANT DISMISSAL.
5. Theft or attempted theft
Any student who takes or attempts to take possession of another person’s property without the explicit permission of the owner shall be deemed guilty of theft.
6. False testimony
Students should be truthful to themselves and others. The giving of false testimony against another person or the school, or spreading false and libellous information about another person or the school is unacceptable.
7. Alcoholism
No alcohol or intoxicating drinks nor smoking is allowed at school at all times. Culprits of this will be dismissed at the first time.
8. Fighting and teasing
Fighting and teasing also lead to automatic dismissal.
9. Vernacular Usage
The only acceptable language at school is ENGLISH, save for the time when students are learning other languages. Students violating this rule are given varied punishments ranging from mopping to high dusting. Should a student persist in this habit he/she will be suspended.
10. Take note of the following prohibited materials at school: radios, mobile phones, MP 3 players, DVD players, cameras, flash discs, CDs, condoms, pills etc. The possession and use of combustible materials and match boxes, candles, kerosene lanterns or stoves is also prohibited. If a student is found with any of these, he/she will be punished by instant dismissal.
11. Anti-social behaviour/ Immoral acts
The school does not condone nor tolerate any immoral and anti-social behaviour like possession of pornographic materials, indecent exposure of one’s body and any form of sexual perversion. Any student who is reported to be engaged in such activities will be dismissed.
12. Rainbow colours
It has been discovered that the promotors of homosexuality have got a number of items/objects /signs/ colours e.t.c. which they use to identify themselves and each other. It is therefore against this fact that this school has banned all rainbow branded or coloured items of any nature. This has been adopted as one of the measures to safeguard our students against such on-going homosexual acts.
13. Religion
The school caters for the following religions: the Catholics, Protestants and Moslems. It is not a policy of this school to discriminate against students because of their religious affiliation. However, there are some practices of certain beliefs that are NOT accepted in this school, it is not that we are against such beliefs but we do not fully understand them and for that matter cannot guide our students appropriately. “SAVED GROUPINGS” and RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM are strictly prohibited to practice in this school.
Please note that Non-Catholics should NEVER attempt to go for Holy Communion in our Church on the days when we have Mass together.
14. CCTV cameras
For greater security and safety, the school installed CCTV cameras all-over the school premises. All students must respect and protect these CCTV cameras. Any student who will block, destroy or interfere with the proper operation of any of these cameras will be punished by immediate suspension or discontinuation.
15. Academic Performance
The school offers Arts and Science subjects at both Ordinary and Advanced levels of the Uganda National Examinations Board curriculum. It admits academically sound students with good academic performance in both P.L.E. and U.C.E. results and nurtures them to become star performers at the corresponding higher levels. In that respect it prides itself in being the best value addition school in the country.
16. Acceptable eats at school
I wish to inform you that bringing of cooked food, all types of cakes, cookies into the school is PROHIBITED. However, students are only allowed to bring in dry ratios: roasted groundnuts, daddies, biscuits, pop-corns, juice, hard-corns, bread, mineral water, packed UHT milk.
(a) U.C.E. Results 2023
The 2023 Uganda Certificate of Education Examinations (U.C.E.) results were excellent. We presented 293 candidates for U.C.E. and 291 candidates scored quality first grades which translated into 99.3%. Two students scored a quality second grade.
In the Dairy Monitor of Friday 16th February 2024, our school was ranked the 3rd best National Academic Giant in the country among the schools that posted big numbers of students who scored the much coveted 8 in 8. In addition, the Weekend Vision of 17 and 18th February ranked our school the 7th National academic giant country wide using the class average. We give glory and honour to the Almighty God for this profound academic milestone.
Six students scored the maximum 10 distinctions in their 10 done subjects. This is a rare achievement!! In addition, Twenty one candidates scored the much coveted aggregate 8 in the 8 best done subjects. We congratulate and commend them as they appear in the table below.
NO
|
Name |
Agg. in best 8 |
Agg.in 10 |
PLE |
Division |
| 1 |
YIGA ELTON RYAN |
8 |
10 |
8 |
1 |
| 2 |
KITARA POWEL LUKALA |
8 |
10 |
7 |
1 |
| 3 |
MUKIIBI JOASH MUSASIZI |
8 |
10 |
6 |
1 |
| 4 |
TALEMWA JOSHUA BRIAN |
8 |
10 |
8 |
1 |
| 5 |
MUKINDA JOHANES NIMROD |
8 |
10 |
6 |
1 |
| 6 |
IKOMBA BRIGHT THIERY |
8 |
10 |
7 |
1 |
| 7 |
NANGOOBE LAURITAH REBECCA |
8 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
| 8 |
NABAKIIBI PRETTY PARVIN |
8 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
| 9 |
NAKIBONEKA SANDRA ALICE |
8 |
11 |
7 |
1 |
| 10 |
NANGAI ETHAN |
8 |
11 |
8 |
1 |
| 11 |
NABANGI JOVIA PATIENCE |
8 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
| 12 |
NAKALEMA BETTY |
8 |
12 |
7 |
1 |
| 13 |
NOWAMAANI BRILLIANT |
8 |
12 |
7 |
1 |
| 14 |
KIRABO DORCUS CYNTHIA |
8 |
12 |
7 |
1 |
| 15 |
SSEMAYIZZI TENDO |
8 |
12 |
5 |
1 |
| 16 |
WADAMBA MARIA WEGOSASA |
8 |
12 |
8 |
1 |
| 17 |
NIYE RAPHAEL ODOCH |
8 |
12 |
8 |
1 |
| 18 |
ACHILLA ARTHUR CALVIN |
8 |
12 |
6 |
1 |
| 19 |
NABUKEERA MARY SYLIVIA |
8 |
12 |
7 |
1 |
| 20 |
KICA JOSEPH KINYERA |
8 |
12 |
11 |
1 |
| 21 |
NASSUUNA KIRABO CANDACE |
8 |
13 |
7 |
1 |
| 22 |
KABUYE BENEDICT |
9 |
13 |
7 |
1 |
| 23 |
NAMULI CATHERINE SYLIVIA |
9 |
13 |
9 |
1 |
| 24 |
LETARU GLORIA PEACE |
9 |
13 |
7 |
1 |
| 25 |
NIMARO MICHELLE OOLA |
9 |
13 |
8 |
1 |
| 26 |
WASAJJA SYLIVESTER DDEMBE |
9 |
14 |
8 |
1 |
| 27 |
OKELLO EMMANUEL IAN |
9 |
14 |
4 |
1 |
| 28 |
KUSIINGA PATIENCE |
9 |
14 |
7 |
1 |
| 29 |
OTAANA MARY KSIBUBI |
9 |
14 |
9 |
1 |
| 30 |
ALINAITWE MELANIE |
9 |
14 |
7 |
1 |
| 31 |
NTANZI LAWRENCE |
10 |
14 |
6 |
1 |
| 32 |
YIK JOHN PAUL |
10 |
14 |
12 |
1 |
| 33 |
AJORENG ESTHER DESIRE |
10 |
14 |
8 |
1 |
| 34 |
KASIRI HANNA |
10 |
14 |
7 |
1 |
| 35 |
LUBANGAKENE EMMANUEL |
10 |
14 |
8 |
1 |
| 36 |
NASSANGA RACHEAL ANN |
10 |
15 |
7 |
1 |
| 37 |
MAPESA DAVID |
10 |
15 |
7 |
1 |
| 38 |
BUKIRWA JOSLYNE BERNA |
10 |
15 |
7 |
1 |
| 39 |
SSEWANYANA CYRUS |
10 |
15 |
8 |
1 |
| 40 |
YIGA JONATHAN JASPER |
10 |
15 |
8 |
1 |
| 41 |
SSEKAMATTE AARON MISUSEERI |
10 |
15 |
10 |
1 |
| 42 |
OPOK ANTHONY OLWEDO |
10 |
15 |
9 |
1 |
| 43 |
MODI ALLAN JONATHAN |
10 |
15 |
9 |
1 |
| 44 |
MUHUMUZA JASON KAKAMA |
10 |
15 |
9 |
1 |
| 45 |
OYESIGYE TERRY CALVIN |
10 |
16 |
10 |
1 |
| 46 |
OKETCHO ELIJAH .E. MISINDE |
10 |
16 |
8 |
1 |
| 47 |
NAMAKULA RACHEAL MARGARET |
10 |
16 |
9 |
1 |
| 48 |
MUHANGI RYAN |
10 |
17 |
8 |
1 |
| 49 |
SSUUBI JOEL NVIIRI |
10 |
17 |
8 |
1 |
We wish to congratulate and thank our candidates of 2023 upon performing outstandingly well as reflected in the summary in the table below.
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE IN THE U.C.E. RESULTS OF 2023
| AGGREGATES RANGE |
NUMBER OF STUDENTS |
| 8 |
21 |
| 09 – 10 |
28 |
| 11 – 12 |
25 |
| 13 – 14 |
36 |
| 15 – 16 |
40 |
| 17 – 18 |
38 |
| 19 – 20 |
45 |
| 21 – 22 |
14 |
| 23 – 24 |
20 |
| 25 – 29 |
17 |
| 30 – 33 |
09 |
We are filled with boundless joy to report that all our U.C.E. candidates are coming back for their Advanced Level Education. We are eternally grateful to God for these excellent results and in a special way, we congratulate the 21 students who scored 8 in 8 in their best done subjects and the six candidates who scored the maximum distinctions 10 in their best 10 done subjects. We applaud the school fraternity and all the other stakeholders for this profound milestone. We also appreciate our dear parents of S.4 2023, for their invaluable support and vote of confidence in our school in the four years academic journey.
High value addition
A candid and detailed analysis of the U.C.E performance of 2023, juxtaposed with the candidates’ P.L.E. entry results clearly indicates that the school has continued to be a leading ‘high-value-addition institution. This has been the trend
(b) Failure to cope academically
We effectively and competently assess all our students in academic performance regularly. The academic rating of performance oscillates between Outstanding, Moderate and Basic. If a student fails to cope with the required academic standards, he/she will be advised to repeat a class. Note that such a decision taken by the Academic Board is FINAL. However, a number of warnings will be given to the concerned students, which in turn will be communicated to you before the final decision is taken. It is upon each student to work hard to post outstanding academic performance. This class’ pass mark will be based on the Annual Average Score.
(c) S.1 and S.5 Students admission
We are delighted for our improvement trajectory in the entry grades of our S.1 and S.5 students as a result of our excellent performance reflected in the U.C.E. and U.A.C.E. results over the years. However, we were overwhelmed by the big number of applicants within a short period of three days. Note that if among you there some parents who are still requesting for placement in S.1, admissions were closed.
(d) Visitation Days (Gazetted Sundays)
These Sundays are not optional; all parents are expected to strictly observe them. They are meant to allow parents check on the students’ academic performance and discipline. This term’s visitation days are scheduled on Saturday 9th March 2024 which is our School Day and Sunday 7th April 2024.
A visitation card with passport size photographs of both parents and the student will be presented to you. This will be a prerequisite for entry into the school on every visit. We shall be expecting parents in the school between 11:00am to 5:30pm.
OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN:
(a) Dress code:
Parents are expected to respond whenever called upon to come to school for a meeting like this one we are having today. Parents are also expected to be presentable to the students and the entire school community. This especially regards the way we dress when coming to school. We discourage the wearing of trousers by the female parents when coming to our school because we cannot regulate its decency.
(b) Academic Reports/Circulars
Another area of concern regards the parents’ interest in the academic reports and school circulars. We request that these are considered with seriousness.
(c) Other Official Visits:
Offices are open from Monday to Friday. Parents should never come to school over the weekends for official matters. The offices are closed during weekends. However, for any serious matter, say loss of a parent, one may call the school attention. Note that the parents have a leeway to check on our children’s academic and discipline progressive performance between Monday and Friday during the week, preferably between 1:00pm – 2:00pm and at 5:00pm.
(d) Leadership
Dear parents, one of our noble aims is grooming future leaders. In order to enhance this virtue, assist us and encourage our Senior One children to take up leadership responsibility in our school administration immediately.
(e) School Parenting
Adolescents are faced with social, moral and intellectual problems. They therefore must be assisted by the people they trust. It is a policy of this school for each student to have a school parent of his/her choice. These are selected from the teaching staff. They offer guidance and counseling to their school children. Biological parents are always encouraged to interact with the school parents to be kept abreast of the progress and data concerning their children.
(f) Health
We do admit students in the school with all health ailments for example asthmatic, epileptic cases etc. However, it is a habit of some parents to conceal some health information and concern of their children rendering us unable to handle them appropriately.
May I call upon parents who had not revealed such information on the application forms for fear of their children being left out, to do so to the school medical staff before they leave. A thorough medical check-up is usually carried out by doctors from St. Francis Naggalama Hospital to ascertain the health status of our students.
(g) Counselling services
I am happy to inform you that our school has a fully-fledged counselling department with three resident counsellors. These handle students with psycho – social and psychiatric needs raging from stress, and severe depression. This is a unique arrangement of our school after a realisation that the adolescents we handle need some special treatment in a way of counselling beyond teaching.
(h) St. Joseph’s/School Day Celebrations
This day normally falls on 19th March. It is a day when we thank God for our life and the achievements made in the school each year. It is our public holiday and a day of celebrations in our midst. However, the Bishop of Lugazi Diocese has the discretion of allocating to us any day in March for this purpose. Therefore, this year’s St. Joseph’s Day celebrations will take place on Saturday 9th March 2024 under the theme, “Oh Lord, Let Me See Again”
(i) Career Days
I wish to inform you that the school has a programme where different professionals (Resource Persons) are invited to educate our community about what is in the competitive world of work and what is required of one to be there. So I request parents who can come as resource persons to talk to our school community to do it. They should register with the headmistress so as be allocated time.
(j) Projects
The school has a strategic development plan on whose priority is now the construction of a five storeyed girls’ dormitory which commenced in August 2022. The strategic development plan also has the construction of a modern classroom block in the next five years. These are a clear manifestation of the Board of Governors commitment to steadily modernise our physical infrastructure to suit the calibre of the contemporary students and changing circumstances of learning.
We are proud of and commend the parents who undertook a number of projects and accomplished them in time. Projects which were voluntarily funded by the parents include: the swimming pool construction by the S.6 students of 2020 and S.6 students of 2021, furnishing Fr. Ssempala Hall and the construction of public waterborne toilets. We welcome any technical support in this area of infrastructural development.
(k) The Five Storeyed Girls’ Dormitory
The school undertook a massive project of constructing a five storeyed girls’ dormitory which accommodate all the girls. The construction commenced on 8th August 2022, and is progressing very well according to schedule. The completion time of this dormitory is projected to be 30th August 2024. This implies that its occupation will be effective from Term Three 2024.
(l) Swimming pool
The school has a modern swimming pool. However, the students allowed to swim are the only ones whose parents/guardians would have signed the Release and Waiver of Liability Form. For that matter a RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY FORM has been provided to you seeking your consent for our children to swim. No student will be allowed to swim without this signed form by his or her parent.
Please note that the school management has put in place ALL POSSIBLE precautions to ensure that each student who swims is given utmost care.
SKILL-BASED LOWER SECONDARY CURRICULUM
Dear parents, I wish to draw your attention to the new “Lower Secondary Curriculum” which started at the beginning of the 2020 academic year with the S.1 class of 2020 before the abrupt and prolonged closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our current S.4 students are the pioneer students in this New Lowe Secondary Curriculum. The new curriculum is competence-based emphasising the learners to be at the centre of the learning. It puts more emphasis on learning outcomes compared to the previous curriculum.
Learners are expected to do twelve subjects at S.1 and S.2 out of which eleven subjects are compulsory while one subject is an elective. At S.3 and S.4, a learner is expected to exit with a minimum of 8 subjects and a maximum of 9 subjects out of which seven subjects will be compulsory.
The Chinese language was added to the menu of foreign languages, while Kiswahili, Physical education and Entrepreneurship education are compulsory for the learners of S.1, S.2, S.3 and S.4. For us as a school, we chose to do Information Communication Technology (ICT), as a compulsory subject right from S.1 so as to give them a wider scope of choices when they reach S.3. Likewise we chose to do the French and Luganda languages as electives.
Time-table
Classroom teaching was reduced to Five hours a day. Lessons start at 8:30am and end at 2:50pm. This is meant to allow learners to do research project work, clubs, games and sports. Besides, learners are given time for self-study and reflection on what has been taught for 1 hour and 40 minutes and the school day ends at 4:30pm. However, our timetable has been adjusted to suite our internal academic needs.
Assessment modalities
The assessment modalities were changed to criterion (Principle) referenced, with both formative and summative assessment. Formative assessment scores form part of the total learner’s score at the end of the cycle. This was agreed at 20% for formative of school – based assessment and 80% for summative of end of cycle assessment.
NOTE:
The teacher is expected to observe the learner for any signs of acquisition of values, skills and change of attitude and in turn take a record and compile the marks that will be captured throughout the four years. The average of these marks is then computed into a score for each individual learner and submitted to UNEB for the overall grading of the learner.
Summative assessment
Summative assessment of UNEB will be administered at the end of the cycle. UNEB results together with the results of the formative assessment will lead to the award of a Uganda Certificate of Education (U.C.E.) for both certification. With this, the learner will have a chance to progress to the next level.
Subjects of the Lower Secondary School Curriculum
Compulsory Subjects:
1. Mathematics 10. Kiswahili
2. History and Political Education 11. English language
3. Geography 12. Entrepreneurship Education
4. Physics
5. Biology
6. Chemistry
7. Physical Education
8. Religious Education
9. Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Elective Subjects:
1. Agriculture
2. French language
3. Luganda
4. Literature in English
5. Art and design
6. Performing Arts (Music, Dance and Drama)
NOTE:
A student chooses one elective subject; to do a total number of thirteen subjects. It is our school arrangement for all students of S.1, and S.2 to do Information Communication Technology (ICT) because it helps students to excel in other subjects.
Projects:
The projects chosen by the school are in the following areas; Agriculture, Fine art and design, Performing Arts (Music, dance and drama). A student should take on one project only.
As parents, we should be prepared to support our children with the required learning materials as may be recommended from time to time by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
As a school, we made adequate preparations to implement this policy through staff retooling and upgrading of infrastructure as well as learning support systems like the computer laboratory. We shall continue to do more as we wait for further instructions from the Ministry of Education and Sports.
It is extremely important to note that students under the New Lower Secondary Curriculum are assessed differently as reflected in the format shown in the table below.
| KEY |
IDENTIFIER |
DESCRIPTOR |
| 0.90 – 1.49 |
1 |
BASIC |
| 1.50 – 2.49 |
2 |
MODERATE |
| 2.50 – 3.00 |
3 |
OUTSTANDING |
Our students are being encouraged to work hard and obtain outstanding grade descriptor which implies excellent performance.
Other important information:
We are inspired to enthusiastically look to the future with a focus namely;
We shall continue to benchmark for further goals attainment and success.
We have analysed our recent achievements and have continued to review our programmes so as to identify achievement gaps and have put in place new strategies for greater success.
Conclusion:
Finally, let us forget that we are parents of an individual child hence the need to help and support each child whenever deemed necessary. We therefore call upon you to give us prompt feedback regarding the behaviour of our children whether here at school or outside the school. This will help the school to take appropriate action to save the situation in case of misbehaviour.
Once again thank you very much for accepting to cooperate with us and for choosing to come to St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School Naggalama. You will never regret it. I am sure you will be like the many parents who have been very instrumental in the steady development of this school before. And on our side, we pledge to give you value for money as we offer integral formation (full package) and academic excellence to our children so as to soar into the future and bear fruit that will last.
“Disciplined we Succeed”
May God bless you.
For God and my Country.
Agnes Nsubuga (Mrs.)
Headmistress